Created as the founding reserve of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in 1946, Askham Bog sits nestled between the A64, the railway and the York ring road. The lowland peat bog has a rich history and is home to an extraordinary range of species, many of them extremely rare; from willow tits and great-crested newts to over 800 species of moth and ancient royal ferns, some of which are over 500 years old. 

Professor Alastair Fitter, President of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and dedicated British naturalist, said, “Askham Bog is an astonishing and truly wild place. For its size, it is the richest spot in Yorkshire for biodiversity and has been a magnet for naturalists for over 200 years – and yet it has survived inside the York ring road, just two miles from the Minster. The reserve is an exceptional part of Yorkshire's heritage, and urgently needs our support if it is to remain one of our wild crown jewels.”

Over the years, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has worked hard to carefully restore the rich habitat at Askham Bog; from creating new ponds and reducing the number of trees, to stopping the spread of invasive species and introducing conservation grazing cattle to roam the boggy meadows. As a habitat that thrives on absorbing large quantities of water which it then releases slowly, the reserve is also vital in York’s battle against flooding as a vital buffer to slow the flow. However, increasingly unpredictable weather and hot, dry summers mean the reserve is at increasing risk of drying out. 

Dave Powell, Askham Bog’s reserve manager, said, “It’s vital that we make Askham Bog boggier. Many of the reserve’s rarest species, particularly plants, thrive in wetter ground and we know the wildlife is there just waiting for an opportunity to flourish. Recent periods of heavy rainfall have seen the return of some species, like slender sedge, thought lost forever – helping the reserve to store more water could see more exciting returns like this.

“Having well cared-for peat bogs doesn’t just benefit our wildlife, it benefits us too. Our peat bogs are brilliant at holding on to water during flooding events, and a healthier Askham Bog will retain more water to help prevent flooding in York over the autumn and winter. However, peat bogs have a point of no return; once they get dry enough during extreme heat events, their peat can’t be rewetted and they will start releasing carbon.”

The Trust is hoping to raise money for an Askham Bog Protection Fund, which will fund work over the next five years to help the Bog to remain wet; such as creating small dams, a tilting weir and new ponds for species like great-crested newts. They are also hoping to more actively manage scrub on-site, reducing the pressure vegetation places on water resources and the peat base.

For generations, Askham Bog has been deeply-loved by naturalists, visitors and the local community, who spend hours wandering its boardwalks in search of ancient ferns, moths and dragonflies. The reserve has endured more than its fair share of challenges through its history, from plans to put the outer ring road through the reserve in 1967 to the threat of local development in 2019. On both of these occasions, people have come together to support the reserve and its wildlife: in 2019 the Council unanimously rejected plans after more than 7,600 people wrote in support of the Bog. 

Dave added, “Askham Bog has survived because people chose to defend it. Both the Askham Bog Protection Fund and our work to improve the reserve infrastructure are a commitment to the future of Askham Bog, and to the future of Yorkshire’s wildlife and wild spaces. Nature is a necessity, both in our urban spaces and across our green county, and vital, special places like Askham Bog are at the forefront of how we adapt to a changing climate. We hope communities will come together as they have done before to protect something irreplaceable.”

The work is being carried out in Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s 80^th anniversary year, and Askham Bog has now closed to allow for vital renovations to the boardwalk and visitor infrastructure. The Trust is working with contractors to replace the existing boardwalk with sustainably-sourced materials that have better longevity and durability, to improve the route layout to manage visitor flow, and to create wider sections and smoother surfacing for improved accessibility. The Trust hopes to reopen the Bog during the summer.