This cache series has been placed by kind permission of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) who manage this site, with the permission of Selby District Council. This is a trail around a lovely local wildlife site, with walks of a varying length, and wildlife waymarkers and benches as marked on the map linked below. Please feel free to print off the map and mark off as you go round.
http://data.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/Wildlife%20Trail%20Barlow%20Common_0.pdf
You may also find some dens along the trail, as this is a great place for children, and the young at heart, to love and appreciate the great outdoors, but please be respectful of the nature that may be there, and keep all dogs on a lead. As members of the YWT, we frequently visit many YWT sites, however this is by far our favourite. There is a small but free public carpark at the co-ordinates N053 44.765 W001 02.111. Please note this car park is closed after dark. Do not attend after dark or try parking on the track on the NE side of the site. There is a camera that will pick up anyone trying to park on this track, and there is a team of security personnel who will come and investigate any parking here, or activity on the site after dark and will move you along. Please remember to respect these rules.
There is a small building at the start of the trail, which has a toilet for public use when it is open (not currently open due to the Covid-19 pandemic). As with all outdoor activites and wild walks, please be prepared for any any event or turn in the weather with appropriate clothing, snacks and a drink. Although this is a short walk, it often takes us a couple of hours to get round, and we often like to take a picnic too.
Barlow Common Nature Reserve has abundant flora and fauna which can be enjoyed the year round. Once common grazing ground, it has now been declared a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) by Selby District Council, in consultations with English Nature. This important status recognises its special interest and the conservation of wildlife and habitats to safeguard their future.
Barlow Common Nature Reserve is now managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. For details about the Trust visit - www.ywt.org.uk. To find out more about Barlow Common visit their page dedicated to the nature reserve.
Fishing Permits
Selby District Council no longer issue fishing permits for Barlow Common Nature Reserve. To obtain a permit, please contact the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust - www.ywt.org.uk or telephone 01904 659570.
History and Natural History
For centuries, Barlow Common was used by local parishioners for turning out cattle, pigs and sheep to graze; for firewood and for sand and gravel. The land value fell to almost nothing during the agricultural depression and it was acquired by the local railway company in 1908. It was used intermittently as a ballast tip for over 50 years.
Remnants of the original common can be seen around the northern and western margins. This consists of maturing oak, birch and willow woodland, marsh, reedbed, significant for its breeding reed warblers and four large ponds. Two of these attract wild fowl and migrating waders, including shelduck, greenshank and sandpiper. Almost 140 types of bird have been seen at Barlow Common.
In 1983, tipping ceased and British Rail took the initiative to reclaim the land by covering the former tip with earth. This took the form of clay excavated from a nearby field. The resulting depression was specially shaped, allowed to fill with water and now forms the mere. Selby District Council acquired the site in 1986 to create a nature reserve.
Many trees have been planted since 1984 to create woodland. Consisting of oak, birch, wild cherry, rowan, willow, alder, hazel, hawthorn and elder. It is a rich wildlife habitat particularly suitable for small birds such as dunnocks, tits and willow warblers.
The rest of the tip area has been allowed to colonise naturally and now supports over 200 species of wildflower such as evening primrose, ox-eye daisy, teasel, vipers bugloss, red and white campion and bird's foot trefoil. This rich flora provides a home for a great variety of insect life, notably 21 different types of butterfly. Meadow brown, common blue, and small copper are often seen. A visit to the common in spring is worthwhile to hear the nesting skylarks singing.
Small mammals such as water voles, wood mice, weasels and stoats are present. Occasionally, fox and roe deer from neighbouring woodland are seen
This cache is a micro so you will need to bring tweezers and a pen/pencil.