Wildlife trust buys farm at centre of wetlands nature reserve

ACQUISITION: An aerial view of North Cave Wetlands. Picture credit: Paul Wray

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has bought a farm at the centre of its North Cave Wetlands nature reserve.

The purchase of Dryham Farm was made with the help of The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The trust said the purchase, announced today, marks a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure an incredible space in the middle of one of the trust’s most significant wildlife reserves in Yorkshire”. It includes the original North Cave farm buildings, the last remnant of the farm, with the fields having been acquired by a quarry operator prior to their restoration to wetland.

Once part of a huge 5,000-acre marsh called Wallingfen, North Cave Wetlands was turned over to agriculture and then became a gravel quarry in the 1990s.

The trust’s ongoing partnership with Breedon Ltd has seen the reserve gradually expand from its original 40-hectare site in 2001 to its current size of 140 hectares, with each completed area of quarrying progressively restored by Breedon with wildlife in mind before being passed over to the trust’s management – including an additional 70-acre section due to open to the public next year.

North Cave Wetlands reserve manager Tony Martin said: “North Cave Wetlands is a very important and locally-beloved nature reserve, a fantastic example of a 21st century nature reserve for people and wildlife.

“We are delighted to be able to add another piece of North Cave Wetlands’ history to the puzzle; the newly-purchased land and farmstead forms the historic heart of the site, and will help us to secure the trust’s long-term investment in the reserve.

“This purchase of the land will help us to plan for the next phases of North Cave Wetlands’ future; both by minimising disturbance for the wildlife that relies on the vital habitats we are restoring and managing here, and improving the visitor experience for the increasing number of visitors flocking to the reserve. We are grateful to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting this purchase.”

North Cave Wetlands nature reserve is one of the region’s most important wetland sites, supporting 16 red-listed and 26 amber-listed breeding bird species, up to three per cent of the national breeding population of avocets, one of Yorkshire’s biggest sand martin colonies and up to 2,000 pairs of black-headed gulls, a nationally significant number.

In winter, the reserve is a paradise for wildfowl, welcoming large flocks of ducks and geese, and in summer it fills with fledgeling birds, dragonflies and damselflies, grass snakes and more.

Helen Featherstone, director of England North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are delighted to support Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with the acquisition of Dryham Farm, centred in their North Cave Wetlands.

“Protecting the environment is a priority for the Heritage Fund, and thanks to National Lottery players, this purchase will protect the natural heritage, wildlife, and habitats of the land and prevent other threats to the wetlands.”