Local Wildlife and the Yorkshire Nature Triangle
From the beginning we have strived to preserve and create a habitat where our guests and wildlife can reside in harmony together. We were careful to protect the natural environment during building work and continue to work closely with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to identify, protect and encourage wildlife to Wolds Edge. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the bird feeders and wireless camera nest boxes that are positioned around the grounds (wireless nest boxes Deep Dale and Fairy Dale Lodge).
We’re located perfectly for you to explore all that is on offer in the amazing Yorkshire Nature Triangle – bringing together some of the UK’s unrivalled wildlife experiences, from seabirds to red kites, (red kites in the Yorkshire Wolds) buzzards and otters and even Whale Watching. The area surrounding Wolds Edge is full of beautiful native wildlife. Detailed below are a few of the highlights but please let us know if you spot anything else!
On our doorstep…Our infra-red wildlife cameras have recorded badgers and foxes around the site, so a little patience as you sit on your Lodge or Snug Hut steps at dusk may be rewarded! The mill pond, village stream and Pocklington Canal are all home to kingfishers, water voles and we think even the occasional otter as well! Wildlife in the Yorkshire Wolds
Keep your eyes to the skies, as the Yorkshire Wolds are now home to the red kite, and these majestic birds of prey are often seen in the woods on nearby Garrowby Hill. Look out for the classic ‘V’ shaped forked tail, unique to the kites. Numerous buzzards have been spotted as well, listen out for their tell tale cries as they circle above.
Our Local Wildlife Hero – Robert Fuller
If you enjoy wildlife then a visit to the Robert Fuller Gallery in Thixendale is a must. The home of Yorkshire’s best known wildlife artist, Robert E Fuller, this is more than simply a wildlife art gallery.
Robert Fuller, who specialises in detailed, lifelike oil paintings and bronze sculpture, spends hours out in the field watching and recording his wildlife subjects before he even picks up a paintbrush. His photographic and video studies are on display alongside his artwork and include video footage relaying live images from cameras hidden in the nests of garden birds, owls and even a weasel.
His research has led to some very unusual captures of animal behaviour and the artist regularly appears on BBC1’s The One Show with news of his latest incredible wildlife sightings. He also writes a monthly column for the Yorkshire Post.
The gallery holds two exhibitions a year, one in the summer and one at Christmas, and runs a number of wildlife events to accompany each. These include nature walks to visit red kites, owls and badgers as well as bushcraft classes for children. For more information or to book a nature event visit www.robertefuller.com or call the gallery on 01759 368355.
Kings of the river (45 mins)
Tophill Low nature reserve is a huge wetland haven nestling in the Wolds. Visit quiet lagoons for a glimpse of a kingfisher, water vole or otter (try the otter cam too!) and stake out the meadows for barn owls, butterflies, dragonflies and the elusive grass snake. In winter, Tophill comes alive as thousands of brightly dressed ducks drop in from northern Europe.
Humber highlights (30 mins)
For the keen wildlife watcher, the Humber estuary offers plenty to seek out. North Cave Wetlands is well worth a visit all year round with highlights including breeding avocet, while winter sees huge flocks of ducks and visiting birds of prey. A little further east at the RSPB’s Blacktoft Sands there’s an amazing array of reed bed wildlife including bitterns, bearded tits, marsh harriers and an impressive winter roost of hen harriers and other raptors.
Why not hire bikes and enjoy the wildlife on two wheels or join a local wildlife tour. How about an adventure on the Spurn Safari’s Safari Truck, discover the military history of Spurn, climb the light house for amazing views and visit the brand new Spurn Point Discovery Centre (new for 2018) find out more about the wildlife.
At the seaside
Puffins and More – Flamborough Head (45 mins/1 hour to the coast)
The chalk grass land of Flamborough Head offers sanctuary to one of the largest and most important seabird colonies in the UK. The unspoilt reserve is the perfect place to view Puffins, Gulls, Gannets and Auks. The area is stunning with a multitude of wildflowers that attract both birds and insects throughout the year. From April to July, the puffins are easy to view, and in their black and white dinner jackets you can watch them make a home in the ‘seabird cities’ of RSPB Bempton Cliffs & Seabird Centre. This area is also home to the UK’s largest seabird, the gannet and together with Flamborough Head, the two world-renowned spots together host 250,000 globe-trotting seabirds. A variety of boat trips can get you even closer to the action too. If the weather’s not so kind, why not dive into the Living Seas Centre at Flamborough.
Whale Watching – Whitby (1 hour to the coast)
Minke, Fin and Humpback whales have all been spotted regularly in the North Sea and you can now make your own journey off the coast to try and catch a glimpse. Every August – October, but peaking in September, Minke whales grow in numbers as they feed on herring offshore. Join a trip where porpoises, dolphins and seals add to the cast of potential stars beneath the waves. It is advisable to book your trip in advance to make sure you get a place. Please visit the website www.whitbywalewatching.net for further information.
Rockpooling – Boggle Hole (1 hour to the coast)
For younger children there is nothing better than exploring the unspoilt Jurassic coast. When the tide is out, this infamous smugglers haunt of days gone by, reveals fossils, dinosaur footprints and a plentiful number of rockpools to search for hidden starfish, crabs and fish. For more formal tours visit www.hiddenhorizons.co.uk
Not sure where to start?
Visit the Yorkshire Nature Triangle website for a range of self-guided trips, pick up a FREE guide in our reception when you arrive or follow Facebook and Twitter for the very latest wildlife sightings. Download a Wildlife Calendar to help with your visit.
