Ledsham Bank Nature Reserve

About the reserve

Situated in a north-south-running valley on the magnesian limestone, the nature reserve supports vivid spikes of pyramidal, common spotted and fragrant orchids which are scattered around the site creating an amazing show in June and July. Other typical limestone loving plants here include hoary plantain, yellow-wort, and impressive stands of the bright yellow dyer’s greenweed – rare in Yorkshire. In spring there is a good show of cowslip across the site. Later in summer field scabious and common knapweed give showy purple and pink flowers. A mature hedgerow runs down the west side of the nature reserve, providing food and shelter for winter finches and thrushes. A surprising number of butterflies have also been recorded here including small and large skippers, common and holly blues and commas. The nature reserve is managed to enhance the limestone grassland by controlling invasive scrub and weed species such as ragwort, hogweed and burdock. Grazing cattle and sheep help with this management through the winter months.