Dry Sandford Pit

The exposed rock face reveals the story of the Jurassic period—around 160 million years ago—when shallow seas covered this landscape. You can actually spot fossil ammonites pressed into the limestone layers, genuine remnants of creatures from that distant past.

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust manages the reserve now, and the quarrying work itself created something valuable. As extraction stopped, different habitats emerged—fen, grassland, scrub, and heath—and they support remarkable wildlife diversity. The reserve has become particularly significant for bees and wasps, so it's definitely worth visiting if you're interested in insects and conservation work.

The reserve covers just over 4 hectares, making it an easy afternoon visit. Abingdon-on-Thames sits right nearby with shops, cafes, and plenty more to discover. What's striking about this place is how geology, paleontology, and modern ecology converge in one accessible location. Walking around, you experience firsthand how human extraction eventually becomes nature's gain—how the landscape itself records immense stretches of time and how we can help restore what's been changed. It's a tangible reminder that restoration doesn't always mean returning to wilderness; sometimes it means working with what's already there and letting nature take advantage of the space we've altered.