Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Filey Dams

Birdwatchers are well catered for with two viewing hides, but the reserve is also of botanical interest and is home to a number of mammal, insect and amphibian species, including an internationally important population of great crested newts. The general nature of the land and regular winter flooding ensure that a comprehensive wetland flora is present. The dominant species is soft rush, with water plantain, water-crowfoot, celery-leaved buttercup, nodding bur-marigold and adder’s-tongue fern all to be found.

Springtime is a period of rejuvenation for the fauna of the site, as the first mass of frogspawn appears on the marsh, and little grebe and moorhen compete for the best nest sites. Most visitors come to see birds. The insect-rich habitat and proximity to the coastal flyway have produced a variety of interesting species with over 220 recorded since 1985. Garganey are annual visitors and may have bred. Teal and tufted duck have already bred as have grasshopper and sedge warblers, reed bunting and lesser whitethroat. The colony of tree sparrows at the car park is especially prized. During the drier days of high summer the water level drops coinciding with wader migration. Bird life can be particularly impressive during these passage periods. Twenty species of butterfly have been recorded including clouded yellow, marbled white and comma. Several species of dragonfly breed and others visit.

The reserve is leased by the Trust from Scarborough Borough Council.

Reserve Management

• The area surrounding the ponds is neutral grassland, most of which is grazed by cattle.
• Some areas have been fenced to provide a sanctuary for ground-nesting birds and to encourage tall grasses to grow which are beneficial for insects.
• Soft rush is controlled and the water levels are managed.
• To minimise disturbance to the wildlife, visiting is restricted to the designated walkway and the viewing hides.
• Filey Dams lies in a small basin in hummocky glacial drift, which is drained by the Dams Goit. The water table is about one metre below the ground surface and soils are waterlogged for much of the year.

Facilities

• Permissive footpaths
• Car park
• Filey, a popular seaside town, has excellent visitor facilities
• Two viewing hides
• Disabled access to main hide only

Printable PDF

A printable PDF giving information on the reserve and a map of the site can be downloaded by clicking here.