A new chapter has been created in the story of Minera Quarry, when it opened as a new nature reserve on Saturday June 2.

The site, which will be managed by North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT), was officially opened to the public by naturalist and broadcaster Mike Dilger.

Video and images by Simon Warburton

Mr Dilger, as a Bangor University graduate and one time warden of Cemlyn nature reserve on Anglesey, said he was excited to be returning to North Wales.

He said: "As someone with a degree in Botany, my love of anything chlorophyll is very well known, and I can think of nothing more exciting than getting down to orchid-level in a limestone quarry to this most charismatic group of plants."

The quarry was operated most recently by the company known as Tarmac, who used the limestone quarried as aggregate for road construction, but this work ceased in 1994 and in September last year, they sold the site to NWWT for just £1 and donated £100k to them to make the site safe for pubic access.

Frances Cattanach, CEO of NWWT said: "The Wildlife Trust has worked hard for many years with local interest groups, in particular the Minera Quarry Trust, to secure the site as a nature reserve for people to enjoy for generations to come."

The day was filled with lots of activities and the children had lots of fun recording as many different plants, animals and fungi as part of a "Bio-Blitz".