As it happens, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has over 100 reserves stretched right across Yorkshire. Most people aren’t more than 15 miles from one, and many are much closer.
We have a huge variety of reserves to suit everyone, from families looking for a day out to the serious wildlife enthusiast, and all bar one of them are entirely free to visit. Many of them are very accessible, and the ones below are all reachable via public transport!
Once intensively farmed, Stirley is now an education centre with a garden, orchard and wildflower meadows. There are toilets and a picnic area on-site. Stirley is 20-minute walk from Berry Brow train station, accessible via Huddersfield, or you can get Bus 354 or 341 from Huddersfield.
A reserve actively turning from quarry into wildlife haven, and a great place to spot all sorts of birds. Footpaths are mainly grass and stone surface - all on a flat level for very easy walking, wheelchairs and pushchairs, and there is a food van and toilets on-site. Bus 55 from Hull stops at North Cave village close by.
The remnants of a once-immense fen bog nestled on the edge of Doncaster, Potteric Carr is a huge reserve of national significance both for its wildlife and habitat. Our only pay-to-enter reserve, Potteric has a visitor centre including a shop, café and toilets, and is entirely accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Get Bus 72 from Doncaster station to the B&Q nearby, and the reserve is a 5-minute walk.
Sunrise over sea and eroded chalk cliffs under bright autumnal sky at low tide along north east coastline along Flamborough Head in East Riding of Yorkshire, UK.
Stunning sea views, and the chance to spot dolphins, whales and seals – as well as a number of seabirds early in the year – make this an unmissable trip! There is a café and toilets at Flamborough Cliffs North Landing. Take Bus 14 from Bridlington to North Landing, or use the train station at Bempton for those of you who fancy a longer walk.
Adel Dam nature reserve (c) John Potter
A little gem of a woodland and wetland nature reserve on the edge of Leeds with regular kingfisher and duck visitors. Adel is accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs up to the first of the hides. Take Bus X84 from Leeds or Otley, and alight at Golden Acre Park.
A superb wetland site lying close to the River Tutt, with regular sightings of otters and several orchid species among the highlights. Staveley has good accessibility for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and Bus 21 from Knaresborough passes through the centre of Staveley village a short walk from the reserve.
If you do visit our reserve, please do tag us in your photos on social media – we love to see them!
