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Askham Bog

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Askham Bog

Askham Bog is the Trust's oldest reserve. In 1946, Sir Francis Terry and Arnold Rowntree, the York chocolate makers, gifted part of Askham Bog to the then Yorkshire Naturalists’ Trust. Askham Bog is 44.7 hectares in size. It is a remnant of a valley mire that has developed into a range of fen and carr habitats. The Bog is particularly renowned for its rare wetland plants and animals.  Askham Bog’s high species diversity is due to its location. It is surrounded on all sides by higher ground formed by debris left by retreating glaciers in the Ice Age. Drainage water from the higher ground is alkaline in nature because the glacial debris contains limestone. Having progressed from fen to raised bog it was brought back to fen by peat-cutting activities in the Middle Ages.

Askham Bog is a unique meeting place for the wetland plants and animals from the south and east on one hand, and the north and west on the other. Great fen sedge, characteristic of the East Anglian fens grows mingled with bog myrtle, a plant of the mires of the Atlantic coastline. Other specialities include the majestic royal ferns, spectacular water violet and an array of rare sedges such as the gingerbread sedge. The quality of the Bog’s insect life outshines even that of its plants. Some of the beetles and flies are found in very few other places. The nationally rare marsh carpet and dentated pug moths feed on meadow rue and yellow loosestrife respectively. In the winter large flocks of redpoll and siskin join the woodcock and lesser spotted woodpeckers that breed in summer. The reserve is a good place to get fine views of roe deer.

 

Reserve Management

  • Management aims to keep a variety of different wooded and open habitats.
  • Some meadows are mown, while others are grazed.
  • Regenerating birch and alder scrub is cut back.
  • Dams have been installed on some ditches to keep the water table high and prevent and bog from drying out.

Facilities

 

  • Permissive footpaths.
  • Car Parking is available at the entrance to the reserve.
  • By continuing along the A1036 towards York, facilities such as public houses, shops, toilets and restaurants can be found.

 

 Printable PDF

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

Map/ Location details

Map details: O.S. LANDRANGER 105
Grid reference: SE 575481
Latitude 53.92564
Longitude -1.12428
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Opening times

Open everyday, all year round.

Directions

The reserve lies two miles south-west of York, north of the A64. The Pike Hills Golf Course lies on three sides of the reserve.

It can be approached from the A64 or from the centre of York.

From the eastbound A64, take the A1036 exit. The car park is halfway along the sliproad, by the traffic lights.

Westbound, take the A1036 exit, follow the road through the underpass to the traffic lights. Turn left to the car park just before the next set of lights.

From York, take the A1036 Tadcaster Road towards the A64. Turn right at the Copmanthorpe traffic lights and the car park is on the right.

 

Exmoor Ponies (Photograph - Mary Sykes)

Please note that dogs are only permitted on the footpaths and must be kept on a lead.