St Nicholas Fields Local Nature Reserve

St Nicholas Fields is the youngest of the three York Local Nature Reserves (LNR) and rather different to the other sites. St Nicks became a nature reserve in February 2004 in order to conserve and maintain a diverse range of habitats sustaining wildlife surrounded by urbanisation. It lies on a former landfill site (see History), a mere mile from the city centre of York in between an industrial zone and a housing estate. Due to the clay capping directly over landfill waste in early 90's some areas of the Nature Reserve are slow to develop but on the whole it is already rich in both fauna and flora.

Many birds nest or regularly feed on the site including different kinds of Tits, Finches, Brambling, Kingfisher and Siskin. Over 20 species of Butterfly have been recorded along the Butterfly walk including Common Blue, Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Ringlet and Meadow Brown. There are all kinds of other insects and some animals too but those are much harder to spot.

There are many unusual flower species and a large variety of trees and shrubs. Some plants arrived via the city’s rubbish (e.g. apple and pear trees) while others came along an old railway line (chicory) and some by escaping the confines of people's gardens or being carried by animals and birds or wind blown. Fruit from the site has been tested and deemed safe for human consumption. Many pies, jellies and jams made in the local area originated at St Nicks. You might also like to try some of our recipes.

Click here for a more detailed account of the local habitats and their inhabitants, and a map of the site. But the best way to learn more is to come for a walk - open access all year round. See the Maps section of our website for directions.