Potteric Carr Nature Reserve
| Potteric Carr Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
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Series of bridges crossing over the Mother Drain at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve | |
| Location | Mallard Way, Balby, Doncaster, England DN4 8DB |
| Coordinates | 53°29′45″N 1°05′49″W / 53.49574°N 1.09698°WCoordinates: 53°29′45″N 1°05′49″W / 53.49574°N 1.09698°W |
| Created | 1968 |
| Operated by | Yorkshire Wildlife Trust |
| Status | Site of Special Scientific Interest |
| Website |
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Potteric Carr Nature Reserve is a nature reserve at Potteric Carr, south of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England and managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as their flagship - and largest - reserve.[1]
The reserve was established in 1968, and since then has been developed and extended and now covers 200 hectares (490 acres). It comprises a mixture of habitats from open water and marsh through reed fen, wet woodland (carr land) and scrub.[1] In places, there are remnants of the kind of habitat that existed 300 years ago.
The reserve has around 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) of paths (5 kilometres (3.1 mi) accessible to wheelchairs, unassisted), 14 viewing hides (10 suitable for people with disabilities) and a field centre with a café, where local produce is used whenever possible.[1]
The reserve is bisected by railway lines[1] and has been designated by Natural England as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its reed fen communities.[1]
Wildlife
Among notable bird species at the reserve are overwintering Bitterns.[1] Around 70 species breed there, including Common Kingfisher, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Woodcock.[2]
Marsh plants include Great Spearwort, Lesser Water-plantain, Lesser Reedmace, Greater Tussock Sedge, Purple Small-reed, Great Water Dock, Yellow-wort and Traveller's-joy.[2]
Twenty eight species of butterfly have been recorded including White-letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak and Brown Argus. Seventeen of the twenty species of dragonfly recorded are known to have bred.[2]
Within the reserve is Sedum House, the head office of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers which also serves as a secondary office for YWT and also as the visitor centre and shop of the reserve.
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