Leyburn Old Glebe Nature Reserve

The Trust purchased the field from the Church Commissioners in 1982, with support from the Countryside Commission, English Nature, World Wide Fund for Nature and the family of the late Miss Cherrill Ingram, a former Honorary Secretary to the Trust. Leyburn Old Glebe is an immensely rich and colourful haymeadow, characteristic of a habitat that would, at one time, have been everywhere in the lower part of the Yorkshire Dales.

The Reserve of 2.6 hectares is the richest remaining fragment of Ellershaw, a district known to naturalists since early in the 19th century. The steep south-facing slope commands a fine view of Wensleydale across the River Ure, to Penhill and to the ridge above Coverdale, which rises towards Great Whernside. The soil is calcareous, the site lying below the limestone scar of Leyburn Shawl. A small stream runs across the north-west corner of the field. Stone walls form the northern and southern boundaries; elsewhere there are fences, hedges and a few trees.

Over 80 plants have been listed in recent surveys, many of which are typical of calcareous grassland. Cowslips are a wonderful sight. They thrive on the south-facing slope covering the field in spring, which is probably the best time to visit the reserve. The cowslips are followed by a fine display of summer flowers. These include quaking grass, agrimony, salad burnet, fairy flax, common milkwort, hoary plantain, eyebright and moonwort. Ten species of butterfly have been recorded including common blue and small skipper. Lapwing and curlew nest in the vicinity. Various species of finch and tit visit the reserve regularly. The nearby River Ure attracts common sandpiper, oystercatcher and heron. Hay is cut from the field in July/August. It is intended that the reserve shall remain in use as a winter pasture on traditional lines, so it is grazed in winter by a limited number of sheep.

Directions

The reserve is on Low Lane, half-a-mile east of the village of Wensley, which is on the A684 in Wensleydale. Low Lane joins the A684 to the A6108. A wide roadside verge gives
parking space opposite the reserve. A public footpath from Leyburn to Wensley crosses the northern edge of the field.