Our response to Covid-19
Wildlife and nature has provided us all with solace and joy over the last year, and we hope it will continue to do as we deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. You'll find the latest information about how coronavirus is impacting our visitor centres, nature reserves, events and volunteering on this page.
Please keep yourself and others safe
Government's restrictions continue to apply across England.
This is the latest information if you are planning to visit our reserves;
✅ Our nature reserves are open - please minimise travel and stay at home if you have any symptoms of coronavirus
✅ Please wear a face covering when passing through visitor centres and scan the QR code for track and trace. Link below to download the app.
✅ Potteric Carr nature reserve has now reopened including take away from the cafe.
✅ Spurn Discovery Centre, car park and Spurn National Nature Reserve are open. Light take away refreshments are available.
✅ We are starting to run some events again but restrictions will apply - take a look at our events page!
❌ All hides remain closed, following Government guidance.
❌ Volunteering remains suspended for new volunteers. If you are a current volunteer, please contact your volunteer manager for more information.
Thank you, as always, for your support and patience. Stay safe, Yorkshire.
Welcoming you back - a message from our CEO
At Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, we’re getting ready to welcome you back safely to all of our nature reserves so that you can reconnect with each other and our wonderful wildlife.
Our CEO Rachael Bice welcomes you back in her latest blog, and gives some advice for visiting safely.
Visitor centres
Our visitor centres have reopened with safety restrictions in place.
Please wear a face covering
Please scan the QR code
Refreshments available to take away
Please follow any signs
Please stay local, stay safe, stay wild!
Keeping safe on our nature reserves
You can help to keep our nature reserves safe for visitors, wildlife and our staff by following the following rules:
- Minimise travel- please reduce non essential journeys or combine trips where possible
- Keep a 2-metre distance from all other visitors and staff at all times
- Follow any signage on site, and don't use any bird hides during lockdown
- Stick to the paths and trails, and check if dogs are welcome or need to be on a lead
- Take your litter home, as it's harder for us to empty bins regularly
(C) Peter Cairns/2020Vision
Dogs on nature reserves
We all love to get outdoors with our dogs, for the fantastic exercise and the chance to explore together. Please be an aware and responsible dog walker and help us keep Yorkshire’s wildlife safe this spring.
(c) Tom Marshall
Test and Trace
When open, our cafes are required to collect the name and contact details of at least one member of every party of visitors (up to six people). The Government is strongly recommending the NHS COVID-19 app for Test and Trace which you can download in advance.
If you cannot/do not want to use this app then we will record your contact information on pen and paper, which will be stored securely. Legally we must comply with the new Test and Trace rules, We are sorry but we cannot serve you if you do not provide contact details for Test and Trace.
Risk assessment
We have developed a coronavirus (COVID-19) risk assessment and put in place measures to help protect our personnel, visitors, contractors and the communities within which we work. View our risk assessment.
