Two Great Nature Reserves to See in Yorkshire
Yorkshire may already be known for its fantastic natural landscape with the likes of the North York Moors and Whitby's stunning countryside and coastline made famous by literature and the media, but it is also a place to enjoy some stunning examples of wildlife. With two great nature reserves, Yorkshire offers something truly great for nature enthusiasts visiting the northern county on holiday at any time of year, where the changing seasons bring with them new and exciting breeds and varieties of animals and plant life.
Main Lake, Nosterfield Nature Reserve - Former Sand and Gravel Quarry that has been converted to a Nature Reserve, with particular emphasis on the attraction of birds. - Source: geograph.org.uk / Chris Heaton; License: Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0); License link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en; Link: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3608591
Nosterfield
This wet grassland nature reserve sits as one of North Yorkshire's most idyllic spots for observing nature and birdwatching. The site is recognised as a significant habitat for wildlife, having achieved Site of Importance for Nature Conservation status in 1993 from the North Yorkshire County Council. It is also run as a part of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust, who are a charity that promote and support the area's local wildlife.
Thousands of birds are known to visit the site seasonally and it is the Hambleton District's first and only Local Nature Reserve, having been designated as such in 2001. The site acts as the home of many regional bird species, including that of the Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank, and Yellow Wagtails can be found during the summer months, making the site a key attraction for avid birdwatchers coming to the area.
St Nicholas Fields
St Nicholas Fields Local Nature Reserve is another reserve in Yorkshire that offers visitors to the North York area a chance to experience some truly great wildlife and natural habitats. Designated as a Local Nature reserve in 2004, the 24-acre site was used by monks in the Middle Ages for grazing their cattle. Since this time it has become a wide expanse of meadows and woodland, which is home to a wide range of species.
Birdwatchers can look out for goldfinches, chaffinches, bullfinches, bramblings, siskins, robins, wrens, sparrows, dunnocks, blackbirds and song and mistle thrushes. Migrant redwings can even be seen in winter. There are also a variety of butterfly species native to the reserve, including the common blue butterfly, holly blue butterfly, orange tip butterfly, ringlet butterfly and meadow brown butterfly.
Whether you're looking for a nice quiet retreat with your partner or are taking the family on a break in Yorkshire, these two fantastic nature reserves offer a great day out in the heart of the county. While in Yorkshire why not take a look around the local area and explore what the Yorkshire coast has to offer?
November 24, 2021
