YWT Bolton Percy Station - 15 June 2013

This lovely site was taken on by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in the 1960s when Ringlet butterflies were first recorded. Fifty years ago, this species was much rarer in Yorkshire than it is today. A small site, it can be accessed by turning right just before the railway bridge on the way out towards Tadcaster from Bolton Percy village. You can also park by the gate just before the bridge. The site is the old sidings and platform where apparently cattle were loaded and unloaded going to and from Ireland. A variety of habitats from moss and Stonecrop covered bare ground through to mature Hawthorn scrub can be found, and the presence of the railway line close by entertained by three year old! A few nice plants here including Figwort and Bird's-foot Trefoil, though I didn't find Columbine. Plenty of Swifts overhead and Whitethroats and a Chiffchaff singing.

The old railway platform can be seen on the right on the bottom photo.