YWT Harrogate Supporters Group

YWT Harrogate Supporters Group We are a group of volunteers that carry out tasks on YWT reserves in the Harrogate / Knaresborough / Ripon area.

The Supporters Group carries out tasks on YWT reserves at Staveley, Ripon Loop, Ripon City Wetlands, Bishop Monkton Railway Cutting, Burton Leonard Lime Quarry and Upper Dunsforth Carrs. Further information about the reserves is available from the YWT web site at http://www.ywt.org.uk/reserves.

Thanks to Steve for these photos from today at Bishop Monkton: mowing, raking and stacking vegetation along the length o...
06/10/2026

Thanks to Steve for these photos from today at Bishop Monkton: mowing, raking and stacking vegetation along the length of the old railway cutting. 😃

Today, Laura Harman (YWT Nature Reserves Manager) led the task day - raking & stacking the mown vegetation from the larg...
01/10/2026

Today, Laura Harman (YWT Nature Reserves Manager) led the task day - raking & stacking the mown vegetation from the larger of the mosaic areas (near to where Tower Hide used to be!), more wildflowers next year! 😃
Laura says "top work & finished by lunchtime! It was so nice to be away from the desk, though my arms might hurt in the morning 😂"
Great teamwork everyone, as always. 😃
Photos: Laura.

Many thanks to volunteer, Bob Elliott for these photos from today at Staveley.Matt, Tom and Bob fenced off the 'unsuitab...
29/09/2026

Many thanks to volunteer, Bob Elliott for these photos from today at Staveley.
Matt, Tom and Bob fenced off the 'unsuitable' hay bales before the sheep moved into that field.
The volunteers headed into the community orchard 🍏🍎🍐 to rake & stack the mown vegetation.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Today's task - mowing, raking & stacking! 😃Effective management of species-rich grassland relies on maintaining low soil...
22/09/2026

Today's task - mowing, raking & stacking! 😃
Effective management of species-rich grassland relies on maintaining low soil fertility.
Matt had already mowed this section (& moved on to keep ahead of the volunteers! 😁) so we set to with rakes & forks to 'remove' the mown vegetation to stop nutrients returning to the soil - wild flowers thrive in poor soil conditions.
Also a couple of volunteers cut some willow for use in an upcoming wreath making workshop.
As always, great team work from everyone! 😃😃
Photos: Mike, Rachel, Ros & Steve.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Thanks to volunteer, Mike Gilsenan for these photos from today's task at Staveley Nature Reserve - species rich grasslan...
15/09/2026

Thanks to volunteer, Mike Gilsenan for these photos from today's task at Staveley Nature Reserve - species rich grassland management or put more simply 'mowing & raking'! 😁
Over time this will improve the biodiversity by reducing the amount of nutrients going back into the soil - wild flowers thrive better in poor soil conditions. 🌼🌺🌸

As always, absolutely stunning photos from regular nature reserve visitors Philip & Helen - thank you so much for sharin...
10/09/2026

As always, absolutely stunning photos from regular nature reserve visitors Philip & Helen - thank you so much for sharing. 😍
📷 Staveley Nature Reserve - Saturday 5th September.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

08/09/2026

Great to see volunteer, Bob Elliott back in action! 😃

08/09/2026

Rounding up the sheep in West Lagoon Pastures!

Today's task - species rich grassland management or in layman's terms, mowing & raking! 😁Hopefully in time this will imp...
08/09/2026

Today's task - species rich grassland management or in layman's terms, mowing & raking! 😁
Hopefully in time this will improve the biodiversity by reducing the amount of nutrients going back into the soil - wild flowers thrive better in poor soil conditions.
The more nutrients in the soil means more 'aggressive & invasive' grasses (eg canary grass) & these will always outcomplete our more 'delicate' native plants / flowers.
Also, we moved the 40 Hebrideans from West Lagoon Pastures to The Hay Meadow - a change of grazing area!
As always, great teamwork! 😃
Photos 📷: Ben, Rachel & Ros

02/09/2026

If you ever wondered how many birds are currently 'stopping' at Staveley watch this short clip taken shortly after a military cargo plane flew overhead will give you some idea....…make sure you turn up the volume! 😃
🎥 Mike Gilsenan

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1 St George's Place
York
YO241GN

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