Three Hagges Woodmeadow

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Three Hagges Woodmeadow & the assets and activities of Woodmeadow Trust are now managed by Plantlife.

Three Hagges Woodmeadow and the assets and activities of Woodmeadow Trust are now managed by Plantlife.

05/11/2026

5 November – Bonfire night

A Wildlife-Friendly Bonfire Night 🦔🔥

Bonfire Night can be a wonderful time to gather with friends and family, but it's also important to remember the wildlife that shares our countryside and gardens. We've been lucky to capture this hedgehog on the wildlife cam alongside a host of other creatures that call the woodmeadow home.

Hedgehogs and other small creatures often see piles of logs, leaves and bonfire materials as the perfect place to nest or shelter. Before lighting any bonfire, please take a few moments to carefully check for wildlife. If possible, build your bonfire on the day you plan to light it, or gently move the pile before ignition to ensure no animals are hiding inside.

At Three Hagges Woodmeadow, we're reminded that even small actions can make a big difference for nature. By taking a little extra care, we can help keep Bonfire Night safe for wildlife while still enjoying the celebrations. 💚🌿

Have a wonderful Bonfire Night, and don't forget to look out for our prickly friends! 🦔✨

04/11/2026

🍄 A Fantastic Fungi Foray at Three Hagges Woodmeadow! 🍄

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on Saturday morning for a wonderfully successful fungi foray at the woodmeadow. It was great to see so many enthusiastic eyes searching the woodland floor and meadow edges for our fungal treasures!

The highlight of the morning was undoubtedly the discovery of the Spectacular Rustgill (Gymnopilus junonius), a species never before recorded at the Woodmeadow and a fantastic new addition to our site list. Other new records included Deceiver (Laccaria laccata) and the Coconut milkcap (Lactarius glyciomu). We also found some wonderfully colourful (on the inside) Scaly earthballs (Scleroderma verrucosum), the intriguingly named Candle S***f Fungus, and the beautiful Glistening Inkcap among many other species.

Since recording began in 2019, we've now documented an impressive 72 species of fungi at the Woodmeadow and its immediate surroundings, demonstrating just how rich and important this habitat is for wildlife.

A very special thank you to Rhona for sharing her expertise and leading such an informative and successful morning. Your knowledge and enthusiasm made it a memorable event for everyone involved.

We look forward to seeing you all again on future wildlife walks and surveys. Keep your eyes peeled, there's always something fascinating waiting to be discovered at the Woodmeadow! 🌿🍄✨

31/10/2026

Spooky Creatures of Three Hagges Woodmeadow 🦇🎃

As Halloween approaches, it's time to celebrate some of the wonderfully spooky wildlife that calls this reserve home! There are over 1,000 invertebrate species here, including earthworms, slugs and snails, spiders and millipedes.

🦇 Bats silently swoop through the dusk, hunting insects with their incredible echolocation skills. Common and Soprano Pipistrelle, Daubenton and Brown Long Eared have been surveyed here at the woodmeadow.

🕷️ Spiders weave intricate webs sparkling with autumn dew, creating natural masterpieces throughout the meadow. 10 different species of spider have been recorded here including the Marbled Orb-weaver Spider and Scarce Candy-striped spider.

🦉 Barn Owls and Tawny Owls have been spotted emerging under cover of darkness, their haunting calls echoing through the evening air.

🐍 Grass snakes may give some people a fright, but these fascinating reptiles are completely harmless and an important part of our ecosystem.

🍄 And let's not forget the mysterious fungi that appear as if by magic at this time of year, transforming thefloor into a world of strange shapes and colours.

While Halloween may be full of tales of ghosts and ghouls, we think the real magic lies in the amazing wildlife all around us. So next time you're exploring the reserve, keep your eyes peeled for these spooky stars of nature! 👀✨

What’s your favourite spooky species? Let us know below! 👇

29/10/2026

Autumn Fungi Walk at Three Hagges Woodmeadow 🌿🍄

Join us for a fascinating guided walk exploring the wonderful world of fungi at Three Hagges Woodmeadow.

Autumn is the perfect time to discover the incredible diversity of mushrooms and toadstools that emerge across the reserve. From colourful waxcaps to mysterious woodland fungi, we'll be taking a closer look at the important role these remarkable organisms play in our ecosystems.

Whether you're a complete beginner or a keen fungus enthusiast, this is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about identifying fungi and uncovering the hidden wonders of the woodmeadow.

📅 31 October

🕙 10:00am

📍 Three Hagges Woodmeadow

Wrap up warm, bring sturdy footwear, and join us for a morning of autumn discovery! Booking essential as spaces are limited

🍂 Booking details: Fungi Walk at Three Hagges Woodmeadow Tickets, Saturday, October 31 • 10 AM - 12 PM | Eventbrite or scan the QR code

27/10/2026

Meet the Hebridean Sheep of Three Hagges Woodmeadow 🌿🐑

If you've visited Three Hagges Woodmeadow, you may have spotted our flock of Hebridean sheep hard at work in the meadows. They graze the hay meadows in the autumn, ensuring that wildflowers have set seed but before new spring growth occurs.

This native, hardy breed is perfectly suited to conservation grazing. Their thick fleece helps them cope with all kinds of weather, from winter frosts to autumn rain, and they're more than happy exploring the rougher corners of the reserve that other livestock might avoid.

As they graze, they help maintain the species-rich grassland, keeping more vigorous plants in check and creating the varied habitat structure that wildflowers, insects and other wildlife depend upon. It's a natural and sustainable way of managing the meadow, with the sheep playing a vital role in the ecosystem.

So next time you see our Hebrideans, remember they're not just enjoying the scenery, they're helping to care for this special place and the wildlife that calls it home. 💚🐑

Have you got a favourite photo of our sheep? Share it in the comments below! 📸

24/10/2026

In celebration of Biology Week a few weeks ago at Three Hagges Woodmeadow! 🌿

Biology Week is the perfect time to celebrate the incredible wildlife that calls our woodmeadow home, including one of our most fascinating residents... the grass snake! 🐍

With its mix of rough grassland, ponds, sunny glades and sheltered corners, the woodmeadow provides the ideal habitat for grass snakes to thrive. These harmless reptiles are excellent swimmers and play an important role in the ecosystem.

Did you know? Grass snakes can be identified by the unique patterns on their bellies, much like a fingerprint? These markings help researchers tell individual snakes apart and learn more about their lives. Nick from Project: WILD CIC has been surveying the grass snakes at the woodmeadow for the last few years, building up an important picture of the population here at Three Hagges.

As part of the management of Three Hagges Woodmeadow, we leave piles of cut grass and other organic material around the reserve. These untidy piles are valuable wildlife habitats:

🌡️ As these piles break down, they generate gentle warmth, giving grass snakes a cosy place to hibernate over winter.

🥚 In summer, female grass snakes lay their eggs in the warm, rotting vegetation, where the natural heat helps incubate them until they hatch.

It's a great example of how thoughtful conservation management can support wildlife throughout the year. 💚

Next time you visit, keep an eye out for signs of our reptilian residents, but remember to admire them from a distance if you're lucky enough to spot one!

22/10/2026

Join Waxcap Watch This Autumn! 🌈🍄

Did you know that waxcaps and other grassland fungi can help us identify rare, species-rich grasslands? These colourful fungi are often found in ancient meadows, helping conservationists locate and protect these precious habitats for the future.

Species-rich grasslands aren't just important for the hundreds of wildflowers and insects they support. They're also powerful allies in the fight against climate change, storing significantly more carbon than species-poor grasslands.

🔍 Want to take part? Waxcaps can be found in:

🌾 Hay meadows and permanent pasture

🏞️ Heathland and upland grassland

🌊 Coastal grasslands and sand dunes

🏛️ Parks, churchyards and cemeteries

🚗 Roadside verges

The best way to look for them is to walk slowly in a zig-zag pattern, keeping your eyes peeled. Some species are only a few centimetres tall and can be easy to miss!

Every record helps build a picture of where these important fungi are thriving and helps protect some of our most valuable grassland habitats.

🍄 Ready to take part? Head to Waxcap Watch: Survey Britain's Grassland Fungi | Plantlife and become a grassland fungi detective this autumn!

Have you spotted any waxcaps? We'd love to see your photos in the comments! 📸

📸 Scarlet Waxcap ©Lucia Chmurova

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20/10/2026

Just a reminder to get in touch if you would like to help shape the access and activities at the Woodmeadow

13/10/2026

Celebrating our survey volunteers 🐝🦋

While many visitors enjoy the flowers and wildlife at Three Hagges Woodmeadow, a dedicated team of volunteers is helping us understand just how important this special place is for nature.

Throughout the spring and summer, our survey volunteers carry out regular surveys, walking the same route around the woodmeadow and carefully recording the butterflies or bumblebees they spot along the way. By repeating these surveys over time, we can track changes in wildlife populations and build a clearer picture of how the reserve is supporting pollinators. The information collected helps us better understand the biodiversity of the woodmeadow, guide our conservation work, and contribute to wider efforts to monitor the health of our countryside.

🌼

A huge thank you to all our survey volunteers for donating their time, enthusiasm and expertise. Your efforts are helping us protect and enhance this special place for wildlife. 💚

📸Andy Jennings-Giles

10/10/2026

Moths are far more than brown and boring! 🦋🌙

When people think of moths, they often imagine small, brown insects fluttering around a lightbulb. But the truth is that moths come in an astonishing variety of colours, shapes and sizes, with some species every bit as beautiful and fascinating as butterflies.

From brightly patterned moths that resemble bird droppings or lichen-covered bark, to large hawk-moths and delicate micro moths no bigger than your fingernail, these remarkable insects are an important part of our ecosystems. They are vital pollinators and an essential food source for birds, bats and other wildlife.

We're incredibly fortunate at Three Hagges Woodmeadow to have local moth expert, Terry, regularly bringing his moth traps to the reserve. Thanks to his knowledge and dedication, we're building up an impressive list of moth species found across the woodmeadow and learning more about the rich biodiversity of the site.

Some of the highlights from the latest moth trapping have included Spectacle moth, Iron Prominent, Canary-shouldered and Light Emerald moth✨

The next time you hear someone describe moths as "brown and boring", remember that there is a whole world of nocturnal beauty waiting to be discovered after dark! And even some day-flying moths which may be mistaken for butterflies!

A huge thank you to Terry for helping us uncover the hidden wildlife of Three Hagges Woodmeadow. 💚

Address

Three Hagges Woodmeadow, York Road, Escrick
York
YO196EE

Website

http://www.plantlife.org.uk/

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