Whilst not as conspicuous as the wild flowers, Wheldrake Ings supports a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is a It is thanks to the fantastic In early JULY the meadows whole host of grasses and sedges, are ready to be cut for hay. In from the towering common reed in local charity working to support of our members, the past communities would the wet areas, to the tiniest fescues protect and conserve volunteers and supporters in the meadows. Key species to look Yorkshire’s wild places and that we are able to continue turn out in force to cut the Ings out for are meadow barley, timothy, meadow foxtail and Yorkshire fog. wildlife for all to enjoy. with this work. by hand, with families each Common blue resting on Yorkshire fog (Bob Coyle) having their own strip or ‘flat’ We care for over 95 nature Why not join us? which they took hay from to reserves throughout the Joining is easy! From a small amount per month you can support Yorkshire‘s feed their animals. Today half county and run loads of In early MAY, whimbrels gather each evening as they Wildlife and wild places and get a dozen local families tenant events so that everyone can involved with loads of fab activities WHELDRAKE pause during their northbound migration. Reed and the land from the Trust and get out and experience wild and events. grasshopper warblers, lesser whitethroats and garden Visit www.ywt.org.uk or ask a member take this annual hay cut. Yorkshire for themselves. of staff for details. warblers, fill the marshy areas and willow scrub with INGS Peregrine (Neil Aldridge) their songs. Orange-tip and brimstone butterflies flit By AUGUST the grass begins Get in touch along the sunny riverside path. Flotillas of young duck to grow again and sheep and families scoot into the overhanging willows around the Call: 01904 659570 cattle are turned out to graze the re-growth or ‘fog’ as Nature Reserve pool edges and cerise ragged robin flowers appear in Email: [email protected] it is known. Animals stay on the Ings until grass growth the grassland. Find us: YO19 6AS slows and river levels start to rise in LATE AUTUMN Grid reference: SE694444 causing the meadows to flood. Late JUNE sees the meadows at their best with up to A64 25 plant species per square metre. Look for the raspberry- A166 In WINTER, the floods attract a spectacle of thousands like heads of great burnet and the cream sprays of YORK of ducks, geese and waders. The most obvious species meadowsweet. Bright yellow meadow vetchling scramble A1079 are teal and wigeon, plus lots of pintail, mallard and through the grassland and the large showy heads of A1079 shoveler. Icelandic whooper swans sometimes use the Heslington ox-eye daisy can easily be seen from the riverside path. A19 site for roosting and large numbers of greylag geese A64 This type of meadow community is uncommon now, B1228 should be checked for pink-footed, white-fronted or and the area at Wheldrake Ings is of international tundra bean geese that occasionally drop in. On the importance, designated a Special Area of Conservation. deeper water overlooked by pool hide, tufted duck, pochard and goldeneye can be seen. Large groups of The nature reserve hums with insects during the lapwing and golden plover gather, with smaller numbers Wheldr SUMMER, including lots of dragon and damselflies ake Lane of ruff, dunlin and Wheldrake A19 and some very rare beetles. Fish such as pike and rudd Chu curlew. The hordes can be glimpsed in the ditches and otters have bred on rch Lane of wintering birds the reserve on several t attract predators n ke Lane e dra w occasions in the past hel r Mill Hill W e D including r B1228 e v few years. Look for them i peregrines. R from Pool Hide or along the river. Location Wheldrake Ings is 8 miles south-east Drive down to the bottom and park of York, 4 miles east of the A19. From on the stony area next to the bridge Teal (Martin Batt) Wheldrake follow the road (Carr Lane) over the River Derwent. York - Selby towards Thorganby. Half a mile after buses stop on the Wheldrake to the sharp right hand bend, look for a Thorganby road 25 metres north of narrow road to your left and the the top of the entrance road. nature reserve sign. Great burnet and meadow foxtails (Carol Warren) Designed & Produced by Designwing • [email protected] Designwing by Designed & Produced Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is registered in England No.409650 and is a registered charity No. 210807 Snipe are long-billed wading birds that can be heard calling ‘chipa-chipa-chipa’ high in the sky, especially early in the HISTORY morning or in the evening, before diving WHELDRAKE INGS NATURE RESERVE down with their tail fanned. This springtime A Yorkshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve since the early activity results in a vibrating hum caused by air rushing over the outspread tail 1970’s WHELDRAKE INGS sits at the heart of the feathers, known as drumming. Trail Navigation Map Lower Derwent Valley Living Landscape. Snipe (Jono Leadley) Management here is a fine balance of controlling water levels to support the wintering, passage and breeding For centuries WHELDRAKE INGS has been birds, whilst also creating the right conditions for the rare floodplain grassland to thrive. managed in a traditional way, working in O ld harmony with the natural cycle of the cou Derwent Hay cutting and grazing takes place annually and regular Main Entrance rse of River seasons and their effect on the land. maintenance and cleaning of the ditches and pools is required, which each winter receive deposits of silt as the River Derwent bursts its banks and spreads across its floodplain. Willow WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR scrub, though valuable in places, As WINTER floodwaters recede the rich 1 needs to be kept out meadows burst into life and cuckoo flower of the meadows, and and marsh marigold are the first to add invasive plants such splashes of colour to the landscape. Brown as ragwort, dock and hares and roe deer can be conspicuous. 4 Himalayan balsam are controlled. 2 In MARCH, spring is heralded by the Marsh marigold (Suzanna Bird) arrival of shelducks and oystercatchers and T h as wintering birds leave, scarce migrant species such as e Otter (Wildstock) 3 B black-tailed godwits and garganey can sometimes be seen. e c k APRIL sees a rush of summer visitors, with sand martins and swallows hawking insects over the marshes, Accessibility/Reserve information cuckoos, willow warblers and sedge warblers singing, Opening times: All the time. No dogs on site at any time. whilst the air is filled with Bird hides: There are four along the path the calls of displaying t Whimbrel (Bob Coyle) Car park: At the main entrance lapwing, curlew, redshank en Interpretation:Storyboards along the path and and snipe. Identification boards in hides KEY BIRD HIDES Paths: Muddy after wet weather. er Derw Special access kissing gate allows buggy entrance. v Parking l 1 Tower Hide Ri na Ca Footpath and boardwalk ton 2 Riverside Hide Pockling Hide 3 Swantail Hide 4 Pool Hide Interpretaon storyboard Nature Reserve 0 0.45km Permanent water and ditches Wet grassland/temporary pools Hare (Mark Davison) 500yds.