Swaddywell was sold in 1924 and quarrying resumed. During the second world war it was used as a bomb dump. After the war the original site was filled and returned to agriculture, whilst quarrying moved further east and north, creating the current pit. During the 1980s, the quarry was a rubbish tip. More recently it was used as a racetrack, but it then lapsed into neglect and became a venue for occasional raves and fly tipping. Now Swaddywell is being returned to some of the natural glory John Clare would have known. It boasts many wildflowers typical of limestone grassland and is home to great crested newts and many species of dragonflies, butterflies and other insects. Large numbers of farmland birds, including nationally declining species such as reed bunting, yellowhammer and tree sparrow, find food, shelter and nest sites here.

The limestone grassland

Limestone grassland used to be a common habitat around Swaddywell. Now rare, such relic areas of grassland provide a vitally important habitat for wildlife.

The large meadow at the top of the reserve was once a quarry and more recently a rubbish tip. When the tip was capped, it was quickly re-colonised by many species of grassland wildflowers. Look out for bee orchids at the southern end of the reserve during June. John Clare wrote about the bee orchid in another poem dedicated to Swordy Well.

Ive loved thee Swordy Well and love thee still

Long was I with thee tending sheep and cow

In boyhood ramping up each steepy hill

To play at roly poly down and now

A man I trifle oer thee cares to kill

Haunting thy mossy steeps to botanise

And hunt the orchis tribes where natures skill

Doth like my thoughts run into phantasys

Spider and bee all mimicking at will . . .