The best wild reserves to visit this spring

As the days begin to warm, stunning seasonal colour begins to break through the brown and grey of winter. The weather is warmer, the days are longer, and our wildlife has finally started to emerge in all of its bright, colourful – and sometimes raucous! -glory.

If you’re looking for an adventure this spring half-term, whether you’re accompanied by young explorers or not, here is some of the very best of our wild Yorkshire…

Flower power

Bluebells, anemones and wild garlic carpet the floors of our woodland nature reserves in spring. North Cliffe Wood in the East Riding and Hetchell Wood near Leeds are two of our most famous wildflower reserves – but for something a little quieter and off-the-beaten track, try Stoneycliffe Wood near Wakefield or Barlow Common near Selby.

For young explorers, Moorlands near York is also a riot of colour at this time of year. A spectacular collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, some of which are very old, large and unusual, flowers from March to the end of June accompanied by a carpet of snowdrop, bluebell, primrose and wood sorrel.

Spring sounds

Our woodlands are also wonderful at this time of year because they are filled with the full-force cacophony of the dawn chorus. From wrens to finches to the occasional hammer of a woodpecker or coo of a woodpigeon, there’s plenty to listen out for on an early morning ramble around a woodland reserve. Here at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, we love anything that helps to engage a curiosity in nature and we think the (free!) Merlin Bird app is one of the best tools for learning about different bird calls.

Side view of a wren singing among tree branches. It's a brown bird with an upturned tail, and its beak is wide open.

Wetland wonder

On the Trust’s wetland reserves, spring migration and breeding season is in full force. Wetlands are a brilliant place for everyone to enjoy no matter how serious a wildlife-watcher they are; there are plenty of interesting birds to spot from our hides, dragonflies zip past the ponds at speed, and they are genuinely just lovely places to walk! On account of being fairly flat, the vast majority of our wetland reserves also have largely-surfaced paths, and are brilliant for pushchair users and mobility users alike.

For a half-day outing, we would recommend a visit to Staveley or Ripon City Wetlands near Ripon. Both reserves are brimming with wildlife at this time of year; Ripon City Wetland is perfect for those keen to spot some waders on the water, whereas Staveley has a bit of everything. For those keen to go further off the beaten track, the reed-fringed pools of Wheldrake Ings south of York await – or why not visit Adel Dam in Leeds and see if you can spot one of our famous kingfishers?

Seabird symphony

The seabird city of Flamborough Cliffs is at full capacity, with everything from gannets to kittiwakes and our tiny puffins making their voices known! The cliffs from Filey to Bridlington are home to the largest mainland seabird breeding colony in the UK, including 3,000 puffins, and late May is one of the best times of year to visit and enjoy. Park up at North Landing and enjoy a walk along the clifftop to see who and what you can spot – don’t forget to spend a little time gazing out to sea from the shelter of the beach, as those with sharp eyes may even spot a porpoise or minke whale. Check out Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s website for our guided puffin walks – and make sure to put Yorkshire Puffin Festival on the 6^th and 7^th June at North Landing in your diary!