Pulfin YWT and High Eske NR East Yorkshire

Site Location Details

Site Details

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Pulfin Bog Nature Reserve is remnant of the extensive fens that once occupied the valley of the River Hull and probably owes its survival to the springs that emerge as pools on the surface. It lies next to the High Eske Lake managed for wildlife by the Environment Agency. The name Pulfin is believed to be a corruption of "pool fen", the name given to the site in a 14th Century document. The nature reserve is bounded on three sides by the River Hull and on the fourth side is an old flood bank. When the site was acquired by the Trust a ditch was clearly visible bisecting the site into northern and southern sections. The northern half, dominated by reed sweet-grass, was grazed until 1955. The southern half, in which the springs emerge, is dominated by common reed. Pulfin is very rich in plantlife. Fenland plants such as Common Meadow-rue, Common Valerian and Marsh Woundwort can be found during the summer along with Yellow and Purple Loosestrifes and the rare Marsh Pea. Patches of scrub occur, most of them dominated by Grey Willow, but Bap Willow is also present. Keep an eye on the sky as Hobbies regularly hunt dragonflies during the summer. The opening of one of the springs has been greatly enlarged to form a pool providing habitat for aquatic plants including water Soldier and Marsh Fern. Both Sedge Warbler and Reed Warblers regularly breed around the margins and Water Rail, Kingfisher and Reed Bunting can be found throughout the year. There have been 16 species of dragonfly seen, with Large Red damselfly and Hairy Dragonfly two of the first species to emerge in spring. Otters are present on the river and Roe Deer use the site regularly. The Trust has no re-established grazing on part of the northern section and on adjacent grassland. Recent droughts are thought to have had a negative effect on some of the plant communities, particularly the common reed and the Trust is carrying out extensive monitoring on the site to get a better understanding of this.