Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Flamborough Cliffs

Flamborough Cliffs reserve forms part of the Flamborough Headland Heritage Coast. The site’s international importance is underlined by its designation as a candidate Special Area for Conservation and as a Special Protection Area for birds. The reserve forms a transition from the sea caves, providing a unique habitat for specialised algae and rare lichens, to the coastal grasslands on the cliff tops. Erosion by the sea has formed impressive bays, headlands, arches and caves in the chalk cliffs.

Large numbers of seabirds nest here in the spring and summer, with fantastic views of puffins, razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars from the cliff-top path. The cliff tops support a varied flora; some are typical chalk grassland species such as kidney vetch, salad burnet and pyramidal orchid, others are maritime specialties such as thrift and sea plantain. Wet flushes on the slopes support northern marsh orchid and marsh marigold. Linnet and yellowhammer use the hedgerows for breeding and occasionally corn buntings breed.

Flamborough is also an important feeding and sheltering point for migratory birds, and fieldfares and redwings can be seen in their hundreds. In the summer, small tortoiseshell, meadow brown and painted lady butterflies as well as several species of bumblebee may be found in sheltered areas. Mammals regularly seen in Holmes Gut include bank vole, stoat, weasel and fox. 

Reserve Management

• Active management involves improving the botanical diversity of the grassland beyond the coastal slopes through grazing by traditional hardy breeds of sheep, cattle and ponies to control the amount of coarse grasses.
• Within the Holmes Gut area, gorse and bramble scrub is cut back to safeguard the botanical interest.
• Away from the coastal slopes, the former arable fields and pastures have been oversown with locally collected wildflower seed whilst grassland species already present on the banks and ditches, such as lady’s bedstraw and bird’s-foot trefoil, could spread naturally into these fields.

Facilities

• Public footpath runs through the reserve
• Pay-and-display car parking at North Landing, Flamborough
• Refreshments available at the café at North Landing (open Apr–Oct 10am–5pm) and in Flamborough village
• Toilets in North Landing car park (open Apr–Oct)

Printable PDF

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