the quarry was established to provide chalk and marl for the sundon cement works, which operated between 1899 and 1976. the site is part of a large complex of disused chalk quarries, and its varied habitats are fen, lakes, chalk grassland, scrub and woodland. it has one of the most important assemblages of insect species in bedfordshire, including sixteen species of dragonfly and damselfly and twenty-one of butterfly. there are also breeding amphibians and the largest english colony of the chiltern gentian gentianella germanica.