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Lapwing credit Carl Watts

Plan your Ground Nest Fest

Start planning your Ground Nest Fest

Join us on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th for Ground Nest Fest with activities taking place in Settle and Lawkland on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. 

There is something for everyone, with activities for all ages including talks, walks, music and more. 

Saturday 18th April Sunday 19th April How to get there  

Saturday 18th April

three willow curlews standing on the open grassy plane of Ingleborough on a sunny blue sky day.
Event

Drop-in crafts

Crafts for all ages including mask-making, badge-making and poster designing.
Curlew from behind with its head turned to the right standing in shallow water
Event

Drop-in stalls

Browse information stalls to discover more about the ground nesting birds that live in our uplands, and the habitats they rely on.
Golden plover
Event

Ground Nest Fest Talks

Join for an afternoon of talks on our ground-nesting birds and their upland habitats. Hear from speakers Dr. Amy-Jane Beer, Colin Price, Suzannah Rockett and Dr. Tim Thom.
Two people wearing large, detailed bird costumes with long, curved black beaks are walking across a grassy area. The costumes resemble curlews, with brown and white mottled wings. One person is in the foreground, wearing dark blue leggings and brown boots, in motion. Another person, partially visible behind the first, wears grey pants and brown shoes. The background includes a tree, a brick building, and a glimpse of a cloudy sky.
Event

Ground Nesters on Parade

Gather with Cathy the Curlew and friends to celebrate our ground nesters in a short parade around town

Help Yorkshire's ground nest birds flourish

Species across Yorkshire have been pushed to the brink of extinction, but you can help.
£

Sunday 19th April

Two people stand in front of a newly built wooden bird hide on a sunny day. The hide is rectangular, with an open doorway and built-in wooden deck. A woman in a grey zip-up jacket and denim shorts stands left of the door, and a man in a black t-shirt and dark pants stands right. They are positioned against a backdrop of green fields and a blue sky.
Event

Guided Farm walk – Ground Nest Fest / Festival Bowland 2026

Join Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Forest of Bowland for a guided farm walk at Lawkland Hall Farm.
View of Bellfields Pasture - rolling meadows and grassland, broken up with some drystone walls
Event

Family Guided Farm walk – Ground Nest Fest / Festival Bowland 2026

Join Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Forest of Bowland for a family-friendly farm walk to learn about some of the ground-nesting birds who call the farm home.
Oystercatcher credit Mike Snelle
Event

Ground Nest Fest Presents: Bird Song in concert

An evening of traditional and original music inspired by birds, nature and the landscapes of the North – curated especially for Ground Nest Fest.

How to get there?

Settle

Most of our events are taking place in Settle. Settle is a small market town situated in the Yorkshire Dales. It is accessible by car and public transport.

Events in Settle are at either the Quaker Meeting House or the Victoria Hall:

  • Friends Meeting House, 21 Kirkgate, Settle BD24 9DX
  • Victoria Hall, Kirkgate, Settle BD24 9DZ

By car

  • From Skipton – follow the A65 towards Kendal, then the B6480 into Settle.
  • From Kendal/ the Lake District – follow the A65 towards Skipton, then turn left onto the B6480 after you pass The Courtyard Dairy. Follow the B6480 through Giggleswick, then turn right onto Kirkgate and follow the road into Settle. 

Parking

There are several car parks in Settle, located close to the Friends Meeting House and Victoria Hall.

  • Ashfield Car Park (2 minutes’ walk away): BD24 9AA
  • Greenfoot Car Park (5 minutes’ walk away): BD24 9RB
  • Whitefriars Car Park (5 minutes’ walk away): BD24 9JD

 

By public transport 

Train

Settle station is located on the Leeds-Carslie railway. It is only a 4-minute walk from the station to the Quaker Meeting House or Victoria Hall. 

Bus

The service 580 and 581 serves Settle, from Skipton / Gargrave / Austwick / Clapham / Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale. Find more information here: Craven Connection Buses 75, 81, 82, 580, 581 & 583

 

Lawkland Hall Farm

On Sunday 19th there are guided walks at Lawkland Hall Farm.

Address: Lawkland Hall Farm, Lawkland, Austwick, Lancaster, LA2 8AT

By car

By public transport 

There is no public transport that stops directly at the farm. If you can’t arrive by car but are interested in attending, please contact us at wild.ingleborough@ywt.org.uk.

Aerial map of rural green landscape with roads and labeled locations, including "The Dalesbridge Campsite and Cabins," "JR & D L Ogden," "The Courtyard Dairy," "The Natural Wine Company," and "Lawkland Hall," with a red location marker indicating a specific point.