Led by Brian Walker

Maps:   1:50.000 OS Map 101 (Scarborough, Bridlington & Filey)

            1:25.000 Explorer OL27 (North York Moors, Eastern area)

Meeting place: Parking is limited within the valley but the main meeting place for registration and health and safety information will be in the central car park at SE984871 at 10am.

There are three car parks in Forge Valley. Sieve Gate Gill car park is at the East Ayton end of Forge Valley (SE989858) with the remains of a limestone quarry on the right hand side.  Going north up the valley the next car park is a fairly large one on the left at SE984871; the last, with the bird feeders, is also on the left at SE983874. There is a further car park round the corner on the low road into Raincliffe Woods at SE985876.

Indoor Meeting: West Ayton Village Hall will be open from 4pm for tea and cakes and reports from the different sections. The Village Hall is just off the A170 before the turn up to Forge Valley on the left hand side. The contact for the Village Hall is Joy Tomlinson on 01723 862170.

The area: It is over 10 years since the YNU last visited the area and several changes have happened or are about to happen. Discussions have been taking place to hand over the day-to-day management of the adjoining Raincliffe Woods from Scarborough Borough Council to a local charitable trust. The main area of Forge Valley is now managed by Fallon Mahon and his team at Natural England, and they require more up to date information on the flora and fauna of the valley. It is over 60 years since the Scarborough Naturalists’ Society published the first volume of The Natural History of the Scarborough District, edited by G.B.Walsh & F.C. Rimington, and many alterations and additions to our knowledge of the area have been made since that date.

The western side of the River Derwent has had a wooden walkway running most of the length of the valley for many years but the West Ayton end has never had access to this walkway from the eastern side of the River. Some discussion has taken place about a bridge across the River at the weir opposite Sieve Gate Gill to access the walkway or that the walkway should be replaced or even removed, which would make the western side almost inaccessible due to the marshy nature of the area. The access paths into the forest from the northern bridge have had to be repaired and the wet woodland was drained to allow this work. Recent studies noted that this has had a drastic effect on the flora and fauna as well as the development of tufa in this very wet area.

All members of SFN are affiliated members of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union.   YNU website: http://www.ynu.org.uk/events

David Renwick, Director of Conservation at North York Moors National Park will give a talk about conservation issues in the National Park, including connecting environments.   

Led by Ian Glaves

Led by Ian Glaves

Meet at 9pm at the Raptor Viewpoint carpark, Wykeham forest at 9pm

Bring insect repellant!  There are midges and ticks in the forest.

We will listen out for the tutle doves, then move on to other parts of Wykeham Forest to seek out the nightjars.

Directions: At Wykeham, by the Downe Arms, take the lane northwards.  Continue up to the top end of the forest. Turn sharp left along the tarmac road, and the Raptor Viewpoint car park is a few hundred metres along on the right hand side

Please be on time

Jugger Howe layby (NZ 945 002) (formerly the original route of the A171, since moved into a cutting).  From Scarborough take A171 and start looking just after you leave Harwood Dale Forest.  The road gently rises and swings to the left at the entrance to the cutting.  Look out for a left turn.

Led by Steve and Kathy Bushell (from Broadhead Farm)

Background There are 2 fen systems (base rich springs) emanating from Corallian limestone within Broadhead Farm. Such fen systems are nationally rare, found only in Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Anglesey and North York Moors. These types of fen support rich fen flora and distinctive insect fauna. A cranefly Limonia occidua (commonly found in Scotland) has been recorded here – one of the very few English locations for this species.

The farm is run on low input principles meaning no artificial fertiliser, minimal organic manure put on pasture.  The two fens are farmed under Higher Level Stewardship with no inputs at all. Interesting plants include Marsh Helloborine Orchid, Butterwort etc.

This field trip should be of particular interest to botanists, invertebrate specialists and birders.

Park at Cockmoor Hall car park (SE915868) then follow road north west down hill, continuing west when road bends north.  Meet at double gates at bottom of hill (SE909875) at 6 p.m. Wear waterproof footwear.

Led by Chris Bradshaw

Details TBA.

This is a private site not accessible by the public. The recent creation of a number of wetland scrapes makes this site of particular interest for its birdlife, as well as its flowers and insects.