The beautiful valleys and rolling pale chalk hills of the Yorkshire Wolds have for many years been considered worthy of protection as a National Landscape. A recent consultation could see Government award the new designation, recognising the Wolds on par with Nidderdale, the Howardian Hills and the Cotswolds, and help to protect and restore homes for stunning wildlife species. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust takes a wander through some of its best Wolds reserves and reveals more about the wildlife you can see.
The Yorkshire Wolds are a gem of countryside not to be missed, but often overlooked on the dash to the coast. Here you’ll find distinctive chalk landscapes, which have been shaped by erosion over thousands of years, and several picturesque villages, including Pocklington, Thixendale, Market Weighton, and Warter.
The Yorkshire Wolds are the most northerly chalk hills in the UK, and are home to the northernmost chalk stream in Europe, the Gypsey Race – of which there are less than 200 remaining worldwide. Yorkshire is also unique in having four major and individual limestone areas, and almost half of the plants of Conservation Concern set out by the recent State of Yorkshire’s Nature report were associated with limestone or chalk.
Abundant in wildlife, The Wolds represent one of the most important and wildlife-rich areas of our country. Time to explore:
Lapwings at North Cave Wetlands. Image: John Potter North Cave Wetlands, near Brough
From quarries and lorries to avocets and bitterns, the ongoing transformation of this working sand and gravel quarry into a shining example of a 21st-century wetland is truly extraordinary. North Cave Wetlands is positively dripping with wildlife, whatever the time of year. In winter, it’s a paradise for wildfowl, welcoming large flocks of ducks and geese, and spring heralds the full cacophony of the black-headed gull colony, accompanied by avocets, calling reed buntings, sedge warblers and Cetti’s warblers. All this can be enjoyed from the reserve’s six perfectly positioned hides and new accessible viewing screen.
There is a dedicated car park at North Cave Wetlands, visited on some days of the week by the wonderful Butty Bus providing warm walking fuel and drinks. Several of the paths around the reserve are suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs, as are three of the four hides. Please be aware dogs are not permitted on this reserve due the rare birds and fragile habitat.
A stroll through peaceful North Cliffe Wood on a still spring day – when the sight and scent of the woodland flowers are at their peak and birdsong carries through the air – is a glorious experience. Enjoy masses of bluebells spread out under the trees, smattered with primroses and greater stitchwort, and see if you can spot sleepy grass snakes emerging to sun themselves in the glades.
North Cliffe Wood can be uneven and muddy underfoot, particularly after rain. There is minimal parking for the reserve in a layby near the entrance, and dogs are not permitted because the habitat is fragile, with delicate plants and ground nesting birds.
Flamborough Head has one of the most important seabird colonies in Europe, nesting on its towering and striking 100ft chalk cliffs. Early spring is a fantastic time to watch migrant birds come and go, as well as birds of prey overhead and razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes wheeling about the cliffs – if you wait until May, you’ll even spot a puffin or ten! Both the base of the steps into Holmes and near Thornwick cottages are also fantastic spots for wildflowers in spring – look out for cowslips in the chalk grassland and northern marsh orchid blooming in profusion along the cliff edge.
North Landing car park serves Flamborough Cliffs nature reserve, alongside the Carousel café – please be aware this is pay-to-stay. The coastal footpath is very uneven underfoot, but dogs are welcome on leads.
Quarried until 1902, Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit must once have been noisy and dusty, but today this lovely spot, nestled in a classic rolling Wolds valley, is rather more charming. The white chalk cliffs of the reserve offset the gorgeous display of late spring wildflowers, from pyramidal, twayblade and common spotted-orchids to common and greater knapweed, field scabious, harebell and lady’s bedstraw. Hares bound their way along the valley bottom, and willow warblers and yellowhammers sing their hearts out from the scrub.
Paths around the reserve are often steep and uneven, and dogs are unfortunately not permitted on the reserve. Parking can be found in the Hudson Way car park 300m away – for a longer walk, why not enjoy a little of the Hudson Way itself?
Technically Skerne Wetlands is not within the bounds of the Wolds – but given its vital importance to chalk stream health and how stunning it is in early spring, how could we not include it?
The West Beck chalk stream runs through the centre of this old fish farm, and is a haven for a staggering range of wildlife from wild brown trout, grayling and brook lamprey, to water voles (see if you can spot the rafts we use to survey them!) and kingfishers easier to spot at this time of year. In spring, beds of water crowfoot flower, providing a carpet of white among the gravel beds where the fish spawn – and listen out for the invasive marsh frog, which sounds fascinatingly like a duck quacking!
A small car park is available at the end of long farm track from Skerne for the southern section of the site – please take care as the surfacing on this track degrades often. The surfaced track runs most of the way through the middle of the south part of the site, although there are additional grassy paths not suitable for wheelchair access. Dogs are not permitted.
If you’re interested in exploring more of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves, why not pick up our handbook Discover Yorkshire’s Wildlife – available to buy in Waterstones and from our online shop ywtshop.org.uk
