Welcome to the Harrogate & District Naturalists' Society
Since 1947, the Harrogate & District Naturalists’ Society has been inspiring people to engage with the wonderful wildlife found within this beautiful part of the world. We are a friendly group of natural history enthusiasts with a wide range of members, from complete beginners to wildlife professionals. Together we celebrate, observe and record the natural world in towns, gardens and the countryside surrounding Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and the whole of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Get Involved
From heather moorlands and broadleaved woodlands to
species-rich hay meadows, waterways and reservoirs, the Harrogate District is full of special habitats for wildlife. There are many ways you can get involved, ranging from becoming a member to submitting a sighting or venturing out and visiting local wildlife sites.
Become a Member
Joining is is easy and your annual membership fee gives you access to a range of benefits. Our members regularly get together to share their knowledge and experience with each other and join in lively discussions. You will also have the chance to get involved with the running of the Society, from wildlife recording to volunteering at Farnham Gravel Pit.
Latest wildlife sightings
Cuckoos at Staveley
2 Cuckoos calling and seen at Staveley Nature Reserve through most of May.
Otters
One otter running up bank and going under a large fallen tree. Multiple squeaks heard then a much bigger otter ...
Palmate Newt?
Spotted when moving paving slabs, pinkish underbelly with spots, very small approx 3cm nose to tail, possibly juvenile? I have ...
Our next events
Burton Leonard Quarry
Unfortunately, the Visit to Bishop Monkton Ings with Kevin Walker will have to be changed, due to the presence of threatening cattle!
Instead, Kevin will lead a grasses and sedges “refresher course” at YWT Burton Leonard Quarry. This is a lovely little site on the magnesian limestone with particularly diverse flora – there will be many interesting plants to see as well as the grasses and sedges, and butterflies too if the weather obliges.
In the afternoon, if time allows, we will visit Bishop Monkton Railway Cutting, another YWT site nearby.
Meet at 10 AM at the reserve entrance, NGR SE 32440 63193. You will need to park in the village and walk down Lime Kiln Lane.
BOOK WITH MUFF
July 12, 2025 at 10:00 am
Meet at 10 AM at the reserve entrance, NGR SE 32440 63193. You will need to park in the village and walk down Lime Kiln Lane.
Fylingdales Moor
The Wildflower Society have kindly offered to open this meeting to members of HDNS.
Meet at 10.30 in Jugger Howe layby. Parking is free. Latest finish will be 3.30 pm. Postcode: YO22 4QH; Grid Ref: NZ945002; what3words: ///mondays.wimp.rashers. Driving north from Scarborough on the A171, the unmarked layby is at the top of a slope, one mile north of the Falcon Inn. https://maps.app.goo.gl/7hokcWETU1fQt62F7
Nearest toilets include Spar Garage at East Ayton. From there it is a 25-minute drive up Castlegate through the National Nature Reserve of Forge Valley to the meeting place.
Wendy English, Botany Recorder for Whitby Naturalists and Tanya Eyre, Education Officer for Fylingdales Moor will be our guides.
Tanya writes, “Come and discover the wonderfully wild SSSI of Fylingdales Moor on the east side of the North York Moors.” At least two of the three heather species will be flowering, plenty of sedges and wet moorland mires harbour specialist plants including Bog Asphodel and Butterwort. There is a steep descent into and back out of the valley, but we will go slowly. We are privileged to have adders, but they are shy. Long trousers and socks minimise risk of ticks. If muggy there can be midges. Underfoot is often wet so it is best to wear wellies. We also have wonderful dragonflies.
In 2021, we produced a FSC Guide to Moorland Wildlife of the North York Moors. We appreciated a contribution to the production cost from the WFS.
https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publications/moorland-wildlife-of-the-north-york-moors/. I will have some for sale at £3 on the day.
One suggestion of somewhere to stay if needed: 10-minutes drive from the meeting place. From £95 bed and breakfast. They offer bookings for evening meals and we could book afternoon tea for the Saturday for 4pm including for folk not staying there. https://www.grainary.co.uk/king-rooms. “.
To book, contact Janet John wfs.meetings@gmail.com and mention you are a member of HDNS.
July 19, 2025 at 10:30 am
Meet at 10.30 in Jugger Howe layby. Parking is free. Latest finish will be 3.30 pm. Postcode: YO22 4QH; Grid Ref: NZ945002; what3words: ///mondays.wimp.rashers
Reports of our most recent trips
Farnham Village and Farnham Mires - 14 June, 2025
An early arrival gave me time to walk around some of the back lanes of this attractive village. A few hedgerow plants were found, including Black Bryony (Tamus communis), White Bryony (Bryonia dioica), Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and Field Bindweed...
Winskill Stones and Malham - 11 June, 2025
We have tended to be unlucky with the weather on our field trips to the Dales – last July we did Cowside Beck in full winter clothing. But the forecast for our designated date for Winskill Stones was so dire that we took the decision to postpone until...
Latest News
Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation
A public consultation for the North Yorkshire & York Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) will be launched on Monday 30th June for a six-week period & will close...
Birk Crag Chestnut Click Beetle Hunt
North Yorkshire Council are encouraging visitors to Birk Crag in Harrogate to keep an eye out for the Chestnut Click Beetle (Anostirus castaneus), which only has modern records...
Farnham Gravel Pit
Farnham Gravel Pit is a site rich in wildlife. Designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), this 80 hectare area located one mile from Knaresborough includes two lakes and a range of habitats. Closed to the general public, members of the Society have special permission from the landowners to visit the site
Locations
There is amazing diversity of habitat and wildlife in our area. Here are some of our favourite locations for you to explore.
