Country diary: To the old quarry, for a Triassic quest | Jennifer Jones

Storeton Wood, located in Wirral, presents a fascinating contrast of past eras. The area was once bustling with workers quarrying sandstone for Liverpool's construction. This sunny day revealed a landscape recovering from recent rain. The wood is now a secondary woodland, displaying various trees and a layer of fallen leaves. The forest floor was alive with fungi and patches of sandstone. Great spotted woodpeckers added to the natural symphony of sounds. The writer stood near an old quarry track, imagining the activity of 1838. Workmen discovered strange markings in the stone, initially interpreted as evidence of a biblical flood. Scientists later identified these markings as ancient footprints. These fossilized footprints belonged to Chirotherium storetonense, a crocodile-like creature from the Triassic period.