Seasonal Strolls around Skipwith Common
A National Nature Reserve in North Yorkshire, England
Living near York in England, I am lucky to have easy access to lots of wonderful nature reserves and gardens. One place I never tire of visiting is Skipwith Common, a National Nature Reserve not far from Selby, North Yorkshire.
Skipwith Common has a range of habitats including rare lowland heath, woodland with beautiful ancient trees and a number of ponds. There are several trails and boardwalks around the reserve, making it a great place for a lengthy stroll in any season.
The reserve has a huge variety of plants, and is a great place for spotting wildlife. The cry of a buzzard soaring overhead is a common sound, squirrels scurry along the branches, lizards bask on rocks during the summer, and I often see deer in the adjacent fields.
Livestock also graze on the common, so you never know what you will encounter. For this reason dogs should always be kept on leads (not everyone does this — despite the clear signs!)
One of the great things about visiting a site regularly is being able to appreciate the seasonal changes. And nowhere are seasonal changes more apparent than in woodland.
In spring the trees burst back into life with their vibrant fresh leaves, wildflowers start to appear, and the woods are full of birdsong.
Summer can be a season of lush green growth or drought, depending on the weather conditions. The trees provide welcome shade from the hot sun and shelter for countless creatures. Dragonflies hunt over the ponds and bees are busy seeking out the wildflowers.
Late summer is a very special time when the heather flowers, turning the heath into a beautiful purple landscape, alive with butterflies and bees.
In the woodland it is of course autumn that is the most colorful season. The foliage turns to orange and yellow, and the bracken becomes a beautiful golden shade.
Autumn is also a great time for spotting fungi, which are very common in the reserve.
The starkness of winter brings its own beauty, revealing the true form of the trees and making birds easier to spot. On a sunny winter day Skipwith Common is a wonderful place to stretch the legs and get some fresh air.
I have always been fascinated by nature, and am so lucky to have special places like Skipwith Common to visit. If you ever find your self in the York area, and fancy a good stroll surrounded by nature, be sure to seek it out. There is always something interesting to see — whatever the season.
Practical Information
Car parks
No toilets
Network of excellent tracks and trails (some can be muddy after rain)
Several benches and picnic tables
Dogs must be kept on leads
Location details and further information available from this page at Natural England
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This site sounds great Angie and your shots are super. Thanks for telling us about it.
What a lovely and diverse place. I'd never heard of it before, but I've found it on the map and noted it for a visit some time when I travel south.
Well done for producing so many posts in quick time. I started at a similar time, but am trying to stick to once a week.