Wildlife Tag: Birds

Locations MapAll Locations

Bellflask Quarry

A former gravel working now managed as a private nature reserve. Several lakes are surrounded by reedbeds and scrub.

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Birk Crag, Cardale Wood & Oak Beck

Birk Crag, Cardale Wood & Oak Beck

A steep, wooded valley, with outcrops of millstone grit at the top. The rocky Oak Beck flows in the valley floor. Predominantly deciduous woodland with a diverse range of shade loving plants and bryophytes.

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Boroughbridge Weir, River Ure

Boroughbridge Weir, River Ure

The River Ure is an important freshwater habitat and, in particular, a spawning ground for River Lamprey. These can sometimes be observed from the bridge at Boroughbridge.

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Brimham Rocks

Brimham Rocks

A cluster of Millstone Grit tors that dominates the local landscape. They are surrounded by a variety of upland plant communities such as dry and wet heath, birch woodland and acid bog.

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East Nidderdale Moors

East Nidderdale Moors

High moorland on the eastern side of the upper Nidderdale valley, between Flamstone Pin and High Ruckles, including Dallowgill, Lofthouse, Pateley, Fountains Earth and Masham Moors. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

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Farnham Gravel Pits

Farnham Gravel Pits

Formerly gravel workings, the south lake is managed by the Society as a private nature reserve. Access is restricted to Society members only.

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Gouthwaite Reservoir

A compensation reservoir for the River Nidd, which is managed as a nature reserve by Yorkshire Water. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its breeding wildfowl and passage and wintering birds.

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Grange Quarry Wood

Grange Quarry Wood

Mixed woodland, mostly deciduous. The rocky Oak Beck runs the full length of the site. There are two grassy meadows and some outcrops of Millstone Grit.

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Great Whernside

Great Whernside

A very high plateau (>600 m) with the only montane heath in the HDNS area; the best site for montane plants in our area.

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Hackfall Woods

Hackfall Woods

Ancient woodland above the River Ure with abundant wildlife and some interesting 18th century historical features

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Haverah Park & Beaver Dyke Reservoir

Mixed farmland and the small Beaver Dyke Reservoir (also called John o’ Gaunt’s Reservoir due to the proximity of John o’ Gaunt’s Castle ). There is a path around the reservoir taking in the pathway over the dam. Two benches on the north side offer a good vantage point over the water (there is no access to the water‚’s edge). The larger lower reservoir was drained in 2015.

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High Batts Nature Reserve

High Batts is mixed woodland and clearings on the bank of the River Ure. It is a private nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are three hides, from which members can view the wildlife at the Reserve.

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Lumley Moor Reservoir

Lumley Moor Reservoir

A reservoir with interesting aquatic and marsh flora. The reservoir is owned by Yorkshire Water and is used to top up Swinsty Reservoir when necessary.

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Mar Field Fen

Mar Field Fen

A complex of fen meadow, carr woodland and basic flush plant communities on the west bank of the River Ure. One of the best examples of fen habitat in the Vale of York.

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Plumpton Rocks

Plumpton Rocks

Historic, landscaped woodland with a wide variety of trees and a large lake; spectacular outcrops of Millstone Grit.

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Ripley Castle Deer Park and Lakes

Ripley Castle Deer Park and Lakes

Two large, shallow lakes, formed by damming the Thornton Beck, which date back more than two centuries, set in open parkland with scattered, mature trees. The Castle has a walled garden.

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Ripon City Wetlands

Ripon City Wetlands

Recently acquired by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, this area of lakes (former gravel workings) and surrounding reedbeds is a favourite birdwatching site.

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Ripon Parks

A military training ground with no access but it can be viewed from the Public Rights of Way.

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Rossett Local Nature Reserve

Rossett Local Nature Reserve

This small urban nature reserve is located off a 400 metre long section of Rossett Drive, adjoining Richmond Avenue. There are several small, weedy ponds, along with some scrub and some grassland. It is a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation for its amphibians, particularly a breeding colony of Great Crested Newt.

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Scar House & Angram Reservoirs

Scar House & Angram Reservoirs

Two large reservoirs and surrounding boulder-strewn hillsides with rough grassland and moorland on the higher slopes. There is some mixed woodland below Scar House dam.

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Spa Gill Wood

The wooded valley of the River Skell as it flows towards Fountains Bridge has wet woodland and grasslands.

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Stainburn Moor

The large conifer plantation has been part felled, creating a substantial area of stumps, rotting branches and coarse grass. The plantation is surrounded by sheep pasture and heather moorland. Little Almscliffe Crag, a millstone grit outcrop, is nearby.

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Staveley Nature Reserve

Staveley Nature Reserve

Two large, flooded former gravel pits, fringed with rushes, along with several small pools and drainage channels. Some extensive grassland and small areas of woodland.

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Valley Gardens

A formal gardens in the centre of Harrogate, which is planted with an interesting variety of mature trees.

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West Nidderdale Moors

West Nidderdale Moors

The moors to the west of upper Nidderdale are a Site of Special Scientific Interest for their blanket bog and heather moorland habitats and breeding moorland birds. This includes West Nidderdale, Barden and Blubberhouses Moors, which stretch into Wharfedale.

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