Yorkshire Wildlife Trust buys historic heart of East Yorkshire wetland nature reserve

A farm at the centre of a “very important” East Yorkshire nature reserve has been bought by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT), enabling the charity to plan for the site’s future.

YWT received support from National Lottery players via The National Lottery Heritage Fund to buy Dryham Farm, a central part of its North Cave Wetlands nature reserve near Hull. The purchase marks a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure an incredible space in the middle of one of the Trust’s most significant wildlife reserves in Yorkshire.

This includes the original North Cave farm buildings, the last remnant of the farm, with the fields having been acquired by a quarry operator prior to their restoration to wetland. Once part of a huge 5,000-acre marsh called Wallingfen, North Cave Wetlands was turned over to agriculture, and then became a gravel quarry in the 1990s.

The Trust’s ongoing partnership with Breedon Ltd has seen the reserve gradually expand from its original 40-hectare site in 2001 to its current size of 140 hectares, with each completed area of quarrying progressively restored by Breedon with wildlife in mind before being passed over to the Trust’s management – including an additional 70-acre section due to open to the public next year.

Tony Martin, North Cave Wetlands reserve manager, said: “North Cave Wetlands is a very important and locally-beloved nature reserve, a fantastic example of a 21st century nature reserve for people and wildlife. We are delighted to be able to add another piece of North Cave Wetlands’ history to the puzzle; the newly-purchased land and farmstead forms the historic heart of the site, and will help us to secure the Trust’s long-term investment in the reserve.

“This purchase of the land will help us to plan for the next phases of North Cave Wetlands’ future; both by minimising disturbance for the wildlife that relies on the vital habitats we are restoring and managing here, and improving the visitor experience for the increasing number of visitors flocking to the reserve. We are grateful to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting this purchase.”

North Cave Wetlands nature reserve is one of the region’s most important wetland sites. It supports 16 red-listed and 26 amber-listed breeding bird species, up to 3 per cent of the national breeding population of avocets, one of Yorkshire’s biggest sand martin colonies and up to 2,000 pairs of black-headed gulls, a nationally significant number.

In winter, the reserve is a paradise for wildfowl, welcoming large flocks of ducks and geese, and in summer it fills with fledgling birds, dragonflies and damselflies, grass snakes and more. Helen Featherstone, director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We are delighted to support Yorkshire Wildlife Trust with the acquisition of Dryham Farm, centred in their North Cave Wetlands.

“Protecting the environment is a priority for the Heritage Fund, and thanks to National Lottery players, this purchase will protect the natural heritage, wildlife, and habitats of the land and prevent other threats to the wetlands.”