Founded 1889 – Affiliated to Yorkshire Naturalists' Union

Jun
6
Sat
June 6th . (Saturday) – Visit to Castlebeck Woods, Lownorth & Jugger Howe Becks. Meet 10am at Chapel Farm SE953967 @ Outside Chapel Farm
Jun 6 @ 10:00 – 15:00

June 6th . (Saturday) – Visit to Castlebeck Woods, Lownorth & Jugger Howe Becks.

 

Meet at 10am at Chapel Farm on the Helwath Road which runs due North from Harwood Dale and passes the Mill Inn.

Park on the grass verge where it is safe to do so.

 

5 mile round trip maximum lasting approximately 4 to 5 hours (finish 2 to 3pm).

 

Stout shoes/boots recommended as some uneven ground and slopes.

Jun
23
Tue
June 23rd . (Tuesday Evening) – Sawdon Dale Glow-worms and Botany. Leader: Ian Glaves. Meet up 6.30pm Sawdon Village Hall @ Sawdon Village Hall (north of village) SE939853 – there is plenty of parking space
Jun 23 @ 18:30

On Tuesday evening, 23rd June, we will walk half a mile up the lane to the path into the top of the dale, then wander down the bottom of the dale listening to birds and looking for flowers, etc.  This should take about 1 1/2 hours.  At the bottom of the dale we will enter private land (the owners will join us) for wild flowers and possible dragonflies if any are about on the pond.  The cold weather has delayed May flowers.   The owners haven’t been down the dale at dusk for some years, so don’t know if the glow-worms are still there.  As it’s just past the longest day, we may not want to stay long enough for it to get dusk, but we can always return at a more suitable time.

After this we will walk up out of the dale, up the main street and back to the cars.  Total distance about 2 1/2 miles.
The path down the dale is a bit rough, a little steep in places and always wet in parts, so stout waterproof boots (a stream to cross) are advised.
 

Parking:          Sawdon Village Hall (north of village) SE939853 – there is plenty of parking space

 

Time:             Meet 6:30pm

 

Conditions/Terrain:  Field trips are never rushed but always take extra care when walking ‘off path’.  

The path down the dale is a bit rough, a little steep in places and always wet in parts, so stout waterproof boots (a stream to cross) are advised. 

Please come equipped for a walk in the countryside and bring waterproof clothing. 

 

Young people under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and children should be kept under close control.  Dogs are not permitted. 

Ticks (tiny spider-like creatures) are found all over Britain in especially in woods.  They are much more likely to attach themselves to you when walking ‘off path’ or through vegetation such as bracken and can give you Lyme disease.  You are best protected by wearing long trousers tucked in and rubbing insect repellent at easily accessed areas like the ankles and waist.  Check yourself for these usually pin head sized creatures after visiting local woods if you have been off path.

 

Leader:            Ian Glaves

Jul
11
Sat
July 11th . (Saturday) – Visit to Driffield Beck/Canal and Tophill Low. Meet 10am Crown Tavern Falsgrave Road, Scarbrough for car sharing.
Jul 11 @ 10:00 – 15:00
Dear Member,
 
Subject:  Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Visit to Tophill Low Nature Reserve – Saturday, 11th July
 
 
This coming Saturday we will meet at the Crown Tavern, Falsgrave Road at 10:00am and from there, car sharing where possible, drive to Tophill Low, 4 miles from Watton village on the A164 Beverley to Driffield road.  Post code for those of you with Sat Navs:   YO25 9RH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tophill Low NR is an active Yorkshire Water Treatment Works and features 12 hides spread across a 300 acre site that flanks the River Hull.  The two reservoirs ‘D’ and ‘O’ dominate the reserve and have SSSI status for their massive wildfowl numbers.  Around the perimeter a network of marshes, ponds, woodlands and grasslands result in an annual 160+ bird species.  There are toilet facilities in the car park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet:          10:00am Crown Tavern (corner of Falsgrave Road and Scalby Road)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time:           10:00am – 3:00pm  –  bring a packed lunch

 

Admission Charge:    – 

Per person £3.30 for adults and £1.50 for concessions (16 and under / 65 and over / registered disabled).  Day tickets are available from the car park ticket machine.  Please keep your ticket with you rather than displaying in the car as you may be asked to produce it around the Reserve. 

 

 

Leader:            Janice Morritt 

 

Conditions/Terrain:  Field trips are never rushed but always take extra care when walking ‘off path’.   Please come equipped for a walk in the countryside and bring waterproof clothing. 

 

 

 

 

 

Access to most of the reserve is via easy access paths in general, though the few mown paths can become muddy when wet.  Currently the ‘D’ Reservoir car park, North Marsh, Hempholme Meadows, North Lagoon, South Lagoon Main and South Marsh East hides are wheelchair accessible.  

 

 

 

 

 

Young people under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and children should be kept under close control.  Dogs are not permitted on the reserve nor are to be left in cars. 

 

 

 

 

 

Sep
22
Tue
22nd September. Evening Visit to Ravenscar Quarries & Old Railway Track. CANCELLED
Sep 22 all-day
Oct
24
Sat
24 Oct. (Saturday). Fungus Foray. Saturday Field trip. Fordon – see below for location.
Oct 24 @ 10:30

RE: Fungi Foray
Saturday 24th October – 10.30 am

Meeting north of Fordon (on the Flixton-Fordon Road) at the head of Lang Dale, where the Centenary Way leaves the road and heads westTA048777.
Plenty of parking on the wide verge, though for those with ordinary cars they are better parked nearer to the footpath gate as it is more even there. 

The area we will look at is the Nicker Pits bit of Lang Dale, which though not a SSSI is a lovely bit of unimproved chalk grassland with a really good chalk flora – lots of rock rose, thyme, clustered bellflower, salad burnet etc.  It is open access.  As it is not SSSI it is heavily sheep grazed which seems to be perfect for grassland fungi.  Last year it had a fantastic range – lots of different species of Entoloma, Wax Caps, Earth Tongues, Puffballs, Galerina etc in huge abundance. So if the weather conditions have been favourable then there should be plenty to look at. 

The hillside is rather steep, but otherwise not particularly hazardous (mainly short turf), and will especially suit people with one leg longer than the other!  So boots with good ankle support are advised.   Young people under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and children should be kept under close control.   

Apr
23
Sat
Dawn Chorus in Forge Valley
Apr 23 @ 05:00 – 07:30

Members and friends.

Please join us to listen to the dawn chorus which should include some of our summer migrants.

Meet in the Old Man's Mouth Car Park (the car park alongside the river near the footbridge to the boardwalk i.e. to the south of the bird feeding car park) at 5am. Look out for a man in a HiViz vest at the entrance!

This is intended as an introduction to common bird song and just to enjoy one of nature's most beautiful moments.

The board walk can be VERY slippery so please bring shoes with a good grip. It is cold at that time in a morning so wrap up well!

 Binoculars would be useful but not essential as this is more about bird song!

 

 

May
28
Sat
Ancient trees. A rare chance to see the most important ancient trees in England north of Sherwood Forest. @ Deer Park, Helmsley
May 28 @ 10:30 – 15:30

Start 10.30 Finish 3.30ishMeet at entrance to Waterloo Plantation (SE584814) approx. 3 miles west of Helmsley on A170 on N side of road.  Bring lunch. Boots preferred. No dogs.  Cars need to drive on ‘forest’ road. Some off-road/off track walking.  Depending on group & fitness we may walk to the entrance of one of the Windy Pits.

May
31
Tue
31/05 Tue Late p.m. Nightjars & general walk. A walk round part of Wykeham Forest and a chance to hear nightjars recently arrived from Africa. Raptor Viewpoint Ian Glaves Start 9.00 pm Raptor Viewpoint car Park (SE937888). Bring torch. Boots preferred. No dogs. @ Raptor viewpoint.
May 31 @ 21:00 – 23:00

31/05 Tue

Late p.m.

Nightjars & general walk. A walk round part of Wykeham Forest and a chance to hear nightjars recently arrived from Africa.

Raptor Viewpoint

Ian Glaves

Start 9.00 pm Raptor Viewpoint car Park (SE937888).  Bring torch.  Boots preferred. No dogs.

Jun
18
Sat
18/06 Sat All day Maritime & Museum. Fisheries Protection boat visit and then Whitby’s Pannett Park Museum @ 10am Endeavour Wharf, Whitby
Jun 18 @ 10:00 – 16:00

18/06 Sat

All day

Maritime & Museum.  Following on from last year’s talk on Marine protections and conservation Dave McCandless and his team show us their boat. In the afternoon we will visit Whitby Museum

Whitby

Brian Walker

Meet at 10.00 at Endeavour Wharf, Whitby. 

Jul
5
Tue
05/07 Tue Late p.m. Glow worms, Bats, Moths & More. An opportunity to see and hear some of the areas night life especially Glow worms Pexton Bank, Dalby John Hume/Brian Walker et al Meet at 9.00 pm at Haygate Car Park, Dalby. (SE853860).Bring torch. Boots suggested. No dogs. Finish 11.00 onwards. @ Haygate Car Park Dalby
Jul 5 @ 21:00 – 23:00

05/07 Tue

Late p.m.

Glow worms, Bats, Moths & More. An opportunity to see and hear some of the areas night life especially Glow worms

Pexton Bank, Dalby

John Hume/Brian Walker et al

Meet at 9.00 pm at Haygate Car Park, Dalby. (SE853860).Bring torch.  Boots suggested.  No dogs.  Finish 11.00 onwards.