Page 24 - April_2018_Digital_Edition

Features

Editor’s Spotlight

his month the editor’s The reserve is an
spotlight falls on Staveley example of a successfully restored
Nature Reserve (SNR), a quarry. Formerly known as Staveley
sup
T erb wetland site lying Carrs, in the 18th century, the site
close to the River Tutt that holds year was part of an extensive natural
round interest for visitors with wetland known for its rare marsh
regular sightings of otters and several plants. The wetlands were drained
orchid species among the highlights. for agriculture in the 19th century
and quarried for building materials in
the 20th century. Quarrying for sand,
Getting there
By car, access the main car park gravel and clay stopped in the 1970s.
on the Staveley to Minskip road.
Please do not park along the road. The gravel pits were flooded and the
Disabled access is via radar key site allowed to regenerate naturally
from the track next to the church for many years. Its complex ecology
on Main Street. is now similar to the original
wetlands. In 2002, the Yorkshire
On foot, access the reserve on the Wildlife Trust (YWT) bought the
footpath by Carr Top Farm or the reserve, extending it in 2012, and
footpath by the side of the Royal local volunteers now work with the
Oak pub.
Trust on a continued programme of
restoration and maintenance.

The site is in two parts;
1. The East Lagoon edged with
natural vegetation that was allowed
to develop freely comprising of fen,
reed swamp and flower-rich
calcareous grassland and,
2. The West Lagoons, landscaped
with a limited number of trees
planted and the rest sown down to
pasture, which has since been
intensively grazed.

(Continued on page 25)

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