Bolton-on-Swale Lake YWT North Yorkshire

Site Location Details

Site Details

Created through sand and gravel quarrying, this Yorkshire Wildlife Trust nature reserve is one of the few large areas of open water in this part of North Yorkshire and attracts a wide range of breeding and wintering waders and wildfowl. Once a working sand and gravel quarry, Bolton-on-Swale Lake has been landscaped to provide suitable habitat for a wide range of wetland bird species. Additional planting of trees and bushes at the edge of the lakes and sympathetic management of the surrounding farmland has provided further wildlife friendly habitats. During the winter months numbers of ducks, geese and waders can be very high, with nationally significant numbers of wigeon using the site. Smaller numbers of Goldeneye, Pochard, Tufted Duck, and Teal can also be seen here. Overwintering waders such as Lapwing, Curlew and Golden Plover rely on the permanent grasslands surrounding the lake for food and this is taken into account in the management of these grasslands as part of a working farm. The large assemblages of wetland birds can sometimes hold more unusual visitors; passage migrant species on site regularly include Common Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff and Whimbrel. Merlin, Pink-footed Goose and several species of tern have also been recorded on site. The nature reserve is managed by an agricultural tenant and as such access to the site is limited to the hide adjacent to the site car park, which provides excellent views out over the lake and surrounding fields.