Many see August as the perfect month to get out and savour the summer warmth and light – whether that’s a family day out or a solo ramble for a moment of peace in nature. Here are a few Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves to make the most of the last summer days
The lake at Potteric Carr. John Potter Potteric Carr, Doncaster
Famed for its wetland birds including bitterns and marsh harriers, YWT’s Potteric Carr is a wild oasis just waiting to be explored. Nestled between motorway and railway, it’s a remnant of the vast fenland that once stretched all the way across the Humber basin to the coast. Whether you’re looking for a much better alternative to a motorway service station, a wild ramble with the family or a full-on wildlife experience, there’s something for everyone at this amazing reserve.
Potteric Carr is a whole day out in its own right. With a family-friendly café, shop and toilets on site it’s the perfect place to base yourself for an adventure out into the wild – and there’s certainly plenty to see. The reserve has several walking routes, from loops around the reedbeds to rambles through the reserve’s meadows, and for those wanting to make a full day of it there’s even the option to cross over to nearby Carr Lodge nature reserve.
August is arguably the best time to visit Yorkshire’s moors and heathland as they come alive with rich hues of purple and pink, buzzing with pollinators. Yorkshire’s uplands and lowland heath in late summer are awash with swathes of purples and pinks that so characterises our glorious county, and there are two brilliant YWT reserves near York to enjoy heather in all its abundance.
Strensall Common nature reserve near York is a fabulous large heathland, where the pink heads and grey green leaves of cross-leaved heath intermingle with the purple spikes and green foliage of ling heather. You might be lucky enough to spot the occasional common lizard basking in the sun or a bird of prey wheeling overhead, and listen out for the occasional rumble of a train whizzing by on its way to Scarborough.
Allerthorpe Common nature reserve is also wonderful at this time of year and absolutely saturated in purple, with damselflies and dragonflies darting around the pools on the reserve, the occasional early morning roe deer, and our much-beloved Exmoor ponies who have recently relocated here from nearby Askham Bog.
YWT’s North Cave Wetlands is beautiful wetland reserve filled with lakes, reedbeds, grassy banks and meadows. It’s also constantly getting bigger, as more areas managed by the local aggregate quarry company are turned over to nature.
This reserve is practically brimming with wildlife. It is most famous for birds, with an extraordinary array of wetland waders, birds of prey – including kites and an abundance of owls – and warblers. Dragonflies, stoats, deer and more are regularly spotted by visitors – but North Cave Wetlands is also just a beautiful reserve to walk around, with golden reedbeds swaying in the breeze and shallow, glimmering pools on a sunny day. Much of the reserve is accessible for people who use mobility aids or families with pushchairs, and there’s even a butty bus available for lunchtime snacks between Tuesdays and Sundays.
Brockadale, near Pontefract
Brockadale nature reserve near Pontefract is one of Yorkshire’s most famous wildflower meadows, with more than 320 species of plant including the distinctive bee orchid, 450 species of moth and 30 species of butterfly. A walk here is definitely not complete without stopping to see what you can see and hear amongst the grassland meadows. Pyramidal orchids, clustered bellflower and subtly beautiful hellibores are just a few of the many species here to delight you, with rarities including daphne, purple milk vetch and spring cinquefoil. The strikingly patterned marbled white, dark green fritillary and silver-washed fritillary are just three of the butterfly species attracted to the abundant wildflowers.
Want to go wilder in Yorkshire?
Join the Trust as a member at Potteric Carr nature reserve or online for just a few pounds a month. Support our work across Yorkshire and help us to keep these incredible spaces for wildlife special. Find out more at ywt.org.uk.
