July is the peak of summertime glory. Warm summer days are punctuated by the hum of insects; our butterflies and moths flittering their way through our grassy green spaces and bees buzzing in search of nectar. Birds dance their way through gloriously blue skies, and many of our mammals emerge to bask in the summer sun.
Yorkshire’s meadows and grasslands come alive in summer too. Orchids surge into being, bellflowers, plantain and field scabious turn their faces to the skies, and globeflowers spread out across fields in a sunny spectacle. Hoards of butterflies and moths flutter in amongst the stems, as skylarks sing at height overhead.
There are many different types of meadow, including grassland meadows, hay meadows and floodplain meadows, all with unique wildlife that relies upon them to survive. The recent State of Yorkshire’s Nature report found that landscapes, including meadows formed on limestone and wetland landscapes are key wildlife habitats in Yorkshire. Both habitats protect our most important Yorkshire Stronghold Species, those found in few or no other place, and give a home to many Species of Conservation Concern.
Wildflower meadows are also often found on areas of poor soil, usually those which have never been ploughed or had fertiliser added. Many of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s spectacular wildflower reserves have steep valley sides, impractical for ploughing or agriculture, and are carefully managed through conservation grazing with enigmatic Highland cattle or Hebridean sheep.
Seek out and ramble through pastel-coloured fields this summer and see what butterflies, moths, beetles and birds you can spot. Here are Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s top wildflower meadow reserves to visit this summer: