Previous Field Trips

The meeting begins at 10am and will last until early afternoon. You may wish to bring lunch with you. The kettle will be to hand. 

We will access this open limestone woodland via Grass Wood, having parked at Grass Wood Lane. The walk will be less than 4 miles in total but it must be borne in mind that it is uphill all the way. We will however be going at a slow pace. The group has visited this site several times so most will be familiar with the terrain.

The rare Scotch Argus butterfly should be on the wing as will Dark Green Fritillaries. It is towards the end of the flight period for Northern Brown Argus but some may still be about.

Toilets will be accessed in the YDNP car park. There are no cafe facilities in the woods.

Leader: John Gavaghan
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am. Cost: £8

We have previously visited Anglers Country Park at Wintersett, 4 miles from Wakefield, in the autumn for fungi forays, but at this time of year we’ll be looking out for damsels and dragons around the lake and plants in the various habitats of grassland, woodlands and wetland. There are walks of varying length from a flat 2 miles around the lake and 3 miles through Haw Park Wood to 4 or 5 miles on the Waterton Trail for anyone feeling energetic.

Toilet facilities and a cafe are available.

Leader: Stuart Tordoff
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am. Cost: £7

We will return Forest of Bowland area for another wildflower walk. This year we will park in the Gisburn Forest Hub (Stephen Park, GR SD 746 599) and our walk will start through the woodland, a mix of conifers and deciduous trees. We will pay a visit to the church yard at St James Chapel, before making our way to the meadows which are designated as a SSSI.

The walk of 3 ½ miles includes views of Stocks Reservoir and wooded areas so we hope there will be bird interest as well as flowers. The paths and tracks are generally easy, though could well be wet in places, and there are a couple of stiles. There are couple of ascents, but not too steep or prolonged. There are toilets at the parking place and a café which people can visit at the end of the walk.

Leaders: Julia Pearson and John Gavaghan
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am. Cost: £10

Nestled in a narrow Wolds valley near Market Weighton, Kiplingcotes Chalk Pit provides a haven for chalk loving plants and animal species. We will see a variety of chalk loving flora including Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchid also the nationally rare Red Hemp Nettle. Butterflies and insects should be abundant including the Marbled White butterfly.

Walking is easy on the flat floor of the quarry. The reserve is exposed so protection will be needed as we would hope to have a sunny day.

Leaders: Joan Dobson and Margaret Rees
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am. Cost: £10

Our annual visit to Sefton Coast will take us initially to a "new" area of sand dunes nearer to Southport and afterwards onto Birkdale Green Beach, which we visited a few years ago. As last year, we will commence our day at Pat Lockwood's house and hope to eat our lunches in her delightful garden. Philip Smith will join us there.

Afterwards we will follow them to the Selworthy Road area, where we hope to find orchids and other plants. From the sand dunes we will walk onto the Green Beach, which is a delight at every step. Our return to Bradford will be later than usual, mid-evening, after tea and cakes back at Pat's house, (all contributions of cakes from our excellent bakers are welcome!).

Leaders: Pat Lockwood, Philip Smith. Coordinator: Joan Dobson.
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am. Cost £12

Today's outing will be to two sites in the Low Moor area of Bradford. In the morning we will explore a new site off Dealburn Road, (grid.ref.SE164280).On this date last year Southern Marsh Orchids and Bee Orchids were discovered on the site. There are other interesting plants and the site is good for avian and insect life also. We will park at the far end of Dealburn Road near the roundabout.

After a lunch stop at Woodlands Cricket Club (toilet facilities available), we will proceed to Railway Terrace Nature Reserve, (grid.ref.SE166284), which we haven’t visited for five years. Walking is fairly easy on both sites and no great distances are involved. We will be accompanied on both sites by Martyn Priestley, who is known to some of our group and who records the wildlife in the Low Moor area.

Leader: Martyn Priestley. Coordinator: Joan Dobson.
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am. Cost £5.

We are returning to these Cumbria Wildlife Reserves site a month earlier than our visit last summer. We have timed this visit for a chance to see large heath butterfly and the rare white faced darter at Foulshaw Moss, itself the uncommon habitat of lowland raised bog. We can expect the Ospreys to be in the vicinity (though this has been written before they return from Africa so no guarantees) but the chicks will not have fledged. The short walk around Foulshaw is on level board walk. 

We will make a short journey to Latterbarrow. This reserve is a mix of grassland, woodland and scrub. The walk around the site is short, less than a mile, but slightly uphill and uneven. Both sites are open to the elements; it is hard to forget the temperatures we experienced last year, but equally we could be exposed to wind and rain. Come prepared. There are ticks present at Foulshaw Moss so you are advised to wear long trousers. 

Due to the distance we are travelling expect a relatively late return to Bradford. We are not stopping for a meal so bring extra provisions, though we might decide to stop for a drink before our return journey if conditions dictate.  

Leaders: Julia Pearson and John Gavaghan.
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am.  Cost £ 11

Scar Close is a botanically rich limestone pavement (fenced to prevent sheep grazing) path of the Ingleborough National Nature Reserve and managed by Natural England. We can hope to see lily of the valley, spring cinquefoil and bloody cranesbill. We will park near the Hill Inn and walk less than a mile, including a stile. This pavement can be treacherous so participants will have to be extremely careful will botanising, and the use of a pole will be advised to give support. If it is raining we will have to change our plans as it will not be safe, in which case we will visit Southerscales.  We will return along Ribblesdale and visit Brae Pasture where we hope to see a range of flowers and insects.  

Leader: Julia Pearson and John Gavaghan
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am.  Cost: £10

The 35 acre wood which is managed by the East Keswick Wildlife Trust is a delightful place to visit in springtime. A large part of the wood is on Magnesian limestone and slopes down to the River Wharfe. Charcoal burning takes place after coppicing. We will explore the wood and meadow area. 

It is a good habitat for birds; summer migrants, woodpeckers, kingfishers & raptors and also butterflies. We also hope to visit one or two other local sites time permitting. 

The route could include some uneven terrain so walking sticks are advisable. Total walking won’t exceed three miles. 

Leaders: Madeleine Massey and Lorna Leeming    
Minibus transport; depart Unitarian Church 9.30am.  Cost: £8