Brayton Barff Through the Seasons.
Set in the Vale of York, South West of the market town of Selby and between the villages of Thorpe Willoughby and Brayton, lies Brayton Barff, a sandstone Hill approximately one hundred and fifty feet in height which was formed by glacial movement during the last Ice Age. It is a significant landmark in an otherwise flat landscape.
Today the site is primarily owned by Yorkshire Water with Selby District Council owning a small patch of the land adjacent to the A63 Selby bypass. A large underground reservoir occupies the centre of the site which delivers water to around 4.7 million customers throughout Yorkshire.
Within the Barff woodland over 40% of the trees are Sessile Oak which are generally found in semi natural woodlands in the north of the country. These trees are so called because its acorns are not held on stalks, like those of the English Oak (Pedunculate), but attached directly to the outer twigs. There are also several English Oak trees as well as some cross-hybrid oaks. These trees are known to support many species of flora and fauna, invertebrates, mosses, lichen and fungi.
During the Victorian times it is thought that the shipbuilders on the east coast would come over to the Barff for selected cuts of timber to build their sea going vessels.
The Barff also has a variety of other trees including Silver Birch, Beech, Sycamore, Holly, Rowan, Scots Pine, Alder, Hawthorne and European Larch. There are also several Yew, Willow, Hazel, Horse Chestnut and Wych Elm. As with similar woodlands there are a variety of bushes, including Honeysuckle, Elderberry, Gorse, Broom and Buddleia.
The history of Brayton Barff is quite vague, apparently during 1803 a beacon was lit on the Barff when the country was threatened with an invasion by Napoleon. In May 1935, to celebrate King George V's Silver Jubilee, a Bonfire was lit on the Barff as part of the celebrations.
Early issues of Ordnance Survey Maps dated 1903 clearly show a rifle range on the Barff, extending out to Mill Lane. During the 
Second World War 1939-1945 a Prisoner of War Camp was built on the site. Today, nothing is left of these buildings less some areas to the South and West of the Barff where some of the brick foundations may be seen.
Between 2001 – 2004 the A63 Selby bypass, 10km twin lane single carriageway was constructed which severed the South West corner of the Barff, adjacent to Selby Golf Course and resulted in a slight redesign of several holes on the golf course. Wooden fencing was erected as a result of this new road running alongside of the Barff and a footbridge constructed over the ‘new road’ following the line of the Bridal way which extends from Mill Lane. Around 2005/2006 a definite 2metre wide limestone aggregate footpath was laid forming a circular path around the outer edges of the woodland. This footpath is approximately 1.2 miles in length and takes about 30 minutes to circumnavigate at a leisurely pace.
In 2012 the Barff was declared an Ancient Oak Woodland and as such throughout 2012 and 2013 significant work had been carried out by the relevant agencies to cut and remove large swathes of non-native trees, creating at that time huge scars on the landscape. Some three years later the planting of the native trees have become well established and are flourishing. Ongoing maintenance work on the footpath around the bottom of the Barff was completed during the Summer of 2016.
A second phase of woodland maintenance commenced during the Autumn of 2019 with the removal of many old and diseased trees and the cutting back of the Gorse and Broom bushes, especially adjacent to the ‘bypass trail’, this work continued through till March 2020 with re planting continuing into April 2020.
Brayton Barff is a popular site for walkers and bird watchers alike and a path circling the outer perimeter of the Barff makes a pleasant thirty minute walk, giving views looking over towards Selby and the village of Brayton as well as the power stations of Drax and Eggborough..jpg)
For the early risers it is a great place to see some stunning sunrises over the villages of Brayton looking towards Drax Power Station, the same with the Sunsets looking over towards Eggborough and Monk Fryston.
The Barff changes with the Seasons and every visit can reveal something new, the woodland is a haven for wildlife. Records show that since 1982 one hundred and twelve species of bird have been seen in the woodland and at least 40 of those have bred here, including Tawny Owl, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest and Nuthatch to name just a few. On average over 70 species of bird are recorded each year. Further details of the bird life on the Barff can be found on the Brayton Barff Group Facebook page, especially the posts from Derek Cooper. Today ‘The Friends of Brayton Barff group’ led by Derek and a small team of volunteers help keep and maintain the cleanliness of the site as well as recording the wildlife and bird sightings.
The Barff is also home to fifteen different species of mammals, including Muntjac Deer, Pipistrelle Bat, Fox, and Field Vole.
Over eighty species of plant and wildflowers have been recorded, included Bee Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid, Wood Anemone, Marsh Ragwort, Bluebell, White Bluebell, Bittersweet and Purple and White Foxgloves. Over twenty species of Butterfly have been recorded, including Marbled White, Brown Angus, Speckled Wood, Comma and Brimstone.
During the Autumnal months fungi thrives in this woodland environment, species including Fly Agaric, Beefsteak Tree Fungi, Chicken of the Wood, Sulphur Tufts, Stinkhorn, Ink cap, Puffballs and Hoof Bracket are just some of the many varieties that can be found here.
Click on the galleries shown below to expand the albums.
April 2024
My monthly round up from my wanderings around Brayton Barff with Meg and Gracie.
Well, here we are in the second month of Spring, April is a wonderful month for change on the Barff, it is a time when the woodland comes to life with colour and new growth. True to form we have had our fair share of rain and unseasonable weather during April. Nature is quite amazing and seems to adapt to the conditions on the Barff remarkably well. The Bluebells have had a very good month in flower, although not as many as last year, Garlic Mustard, Ferns, Stinging Nettles, and Brambles are growing at an alarming rate, Maple and Himalayan Balsam are shooting up through the Bluebells and come the end of the month will have covered all the Bluebells for another year.
Rainfall has been quite significant again, with the first four months of the year breaking several records since records began. As the month comes to an end, the Barff is still extremely wet underfoot, no sooner does it start to dry out then we get another deluge of rain, let’s hope we get some dryer spells in May.
It has been a delight to listen to the birdsong early in the morning, our main contributors being the Chiffchaff, Song Thrush, Wren, Robbin, Dunnock, and Blackcaps often accompanied by the drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpeckers, the purring of the Wood Pigeons and occasionally the Buzzard.
Wildflowers continue to thrive around the woodland, including Wood sage, Cow Parsley, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Hogweed, Coltsfoot and Garlic Mustard to name just a few.
Fungi continues to grow amongst the woodland in April, including Sulphur Tuft, Birch Polypore and Yellow Brain Fungus. Let’s hope we get some drier weather in May.
Here’s my diary of observations for April.
Wednesday 3rd April, My first day back on the Barff with Meg May is a little dryer and Gracie after a week’s holiday in Kent. It was a Dull, damp, drizzly morning’s walk, and quite a pleasant 10c. I cannot believe how much the woodland has changed since my previous visit, the Bluebells are in flower, and everywhere looks lush and green, probably from all the rain we have had recently. It was very wet this morning from overnight rain. Chiffchaff, Robin, Wren, and Great Tit where all very vocal, singing their heads off, along with a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers who were busily drumming away close to the car park entrance.
Cow Parsley is shooting up at an alarming rate and can be seen all around the perimeter footpath along with the Creeping Buttercups, Lesser Celandine and Nettles. I am a little bit concerned about the amount of dog poo I am having to walk over, and discarded poo bags just randomly left discarded on the ground. Why don’t people put it in their pocket bagged up and pop it in the bit when they get back to the car park, I do with my two dogs.
Thursday 4th April was a cold start to the day at 7.15am, it was overcast, dull, and quite damp with some heavy periods of drizzle, though it was nice to be back on my home patch with the dogs again.
Friday 5th April. Although I was on the Barff for around 7.00am we only had a short walk this morning as one of the dogs has gone slightly lame. It was quite a mild start to the day, which was nice, though very wet, and muddy underfoot, which makes some of the tracks away from the perimeter footpath, quite slippery, the only consolation being the sun did start to break through the low cloud as the morning progressed. Lots of Birdsong this morning which was nice to hear including Chiffchaff, Wrens, Great Tits, Dunnocks, and Blackcaps.
Saturday 6th April, we had another short walk this morning due to one of the dogs being quite lame. It was a dry and bright morning, 13c, but very muddy underfoot from last night’s overnight rain. The Bluebells were looking really blue this morning.
Sunday 7th April, and a dull, overcast, rainy wet walk this morning. The sun was trying to break through. The strong gusting south westerly wind was blowing my hair all over the place, should have worn my hat today. It was very muddy and slippery underfoot.
I heard several Nuthatches this morning, along with the usual Chiffchaff and Blackcaps.
Monday 8th April, A dull, cloudy, and overcast morning, with heavy drizzly on the walk this today, 10c. The Barff is greening up nicely. The sun was trying to break through the low cloud by the time we had finished our walk. The Bluebells were flowering nicely and putting on a good show though it will be towards the end of the month before they are at their best, weather permitting. Lots of birdsong again which is always nice to hear, led by the Chiffchaff, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Blackcaps, Song Thrush, and Dunnocks all produced a lovely melody. Fungi is shooting up all over the place, including Birch Polypore, and clumps of Sulphur Tuft.
Broom and Gorse are providing lots of colours with their lovely yellow florets, Wild Garlic continues to shoot up in large clumps around the woodland, and Wood Anemone’s are just beginning to flower.
Tuesday 9th April. A beautiful sunny morning, a pleasant 10c. Lots of birdsongs, the woodland is looking really lush and green this morning after last night’s heavy rain. The Maize field looks to have been finally ploughed over and reseeded. This afternoon we had some very heavy rain and storm force winds gusting between forty to fifty miles per hour.
Wednesday 10th April. A lovely, still sunny morning, cold, 3c, the tracks around the Barff are very muddy and slippery from yesterday afternoons storm. A huge Oak tree blew over across the main perimeter footpath yesterday afternoon between the work service road and the main car park. Lots of birdsong this morning especially from the Song Thrush being supported by several Chiffchaff, Dunnock, Blackcaps and Wren.
Thursday 11th April, Cloudy with Sunny periods, quite mild at 14c. The paths and tracks are still very muddy. Nice to see the council/Yorkshire water contractors have been and cut up the fallen oak tree today, and left it neatly stacked up at the side of the footpath. Lots of birdsong again, the Greater Spotted Woodpecker has been busily drumming away on the old rotten Silver Birch trees, the Song Thrush, Chiffchaff and Blackcaps all vocal too.
Friday 12th April, It was a dull, cloudy, and overcast morning, 13c, the Greater Spotted Woodpecker was very noisy drumming away not too far from the car park. Lots of birdsong.
Saturday 13th April, A dull and cloudy start to the day, The tracks and trails around the woodland are finally beginning to dry out a little. It was quite a mild start to the day at 13c. with a light westerly breeze. Lots of birdsong. So far this month North Yorkshire has seen 100 per cent of the monthly average rainfall for April, with less than half of the month gone. I am seeing more and more little mining bees around the woodland at the moment, their tell-tale signs can be seen in the worm light casts they leave on the sandy woodland floor. Lots of Dandelions are in flower, many have already flowered, I was photographing several of the docks this morning. Herb Robert, Wild Garlic, and Cow Parsley continue to flourish. The Bluebells are looking bright, colourful, and vibrant at the moment.
Sunday 14th April. What a beautiful morning, bright, wall to wall sunshine at 7.15am, 10c with a cold light westerly breeze. Lots of Bluebells in full flower and birdsong very busy, Greater Spotted Woodpecker drumming away, singing Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Blackcaps and Wood Pigeon.
Monday 15th April, well here we are just about halfway through the month. A cooler morning just 8c, with a strong South Westerly swirling wind (25mph). Muddy underfoot from the overnight and early morning rain, and rain showers this morning too, interspersed with glorious sunshine. The Barff is looking quite vibrant and lush this morning, the Bluebells looking a deep lilac colour today, they certainly photograph much better in the dull light than bright sunshine. Birdsong was lovely this morning, being led by the Blackcaps, Robins and Wrens, ably supported by the Chiffchaff, Dunnocks, and Wood Pigeons. It was nice to see several young Robins out and about this morning, they would run in front of me with a mixture of hops and skips and short flights before they disappear deep into the undergrowth. I think I heard a pair of Willow Warblers this morning, I’ll have to listen more carefully in the morning when hopefully the wind will have dropped a little. It is nice to see the tiny florets of Hawthorn blossom emerging on the bushes, now that the Blackthorn blossom has all but disappeared.
Tuesday 16th April, Dry, dull to start, then once the sun broke through the clouds it was a pleasant morning, though quite cool at 8c due to the cold Northwest wind, though not as strong as yesterday. Lots of kindling littering the woodland floor from yesterday afternoon strong gusting winds, fortunately no more trees down. The Barff is looking very lush and green today. The heavy scent of the Bluebells hung in the air this morning. It was nice to see that the paths are continuing to dry out after all the rain we have been having of late. Lots of birdsong as I walked through the woodland, Blackcap leading the charge this morning, accompanied by Robin, Song Thrush, Wren and Chiffchaff. The Hawthorn bushes are beginning to come into flower to add more colour to the woodland, Creeping Buttercup continues to creep alongside the perimeter footpath and Dandelions are flowering anywhere they can.
Wednesday 17th April, we had a lot of heavy overnight rain. This morning was cold, just 3c at 7.15am, at least it had stopped raining, it was dry and bright with lots of sunshine with no wind, it was one of those mornings when I could have spent the day amongst the trees listening to the birdsong with Meg and Gracie.
Thursday 18th April. Woke up to an early morning frost. It was a cold, dry, bright, and sunny morning, the Bluebells were looking absolutely beautiful, their scent filled the air, they are just about at their best at this time.
Friday 19th April, What a contrast from yesterday morning, heavy overnight rain has made all the tracks wet and muddy again, 10c at 7.00am. The woodland is looking very green and lush, Bramble briars are shooting up at an alarming rate, as are the ferns, withing the next week or so they will be smothering all the Bluebells. Foxgloves are beginning to grow width wise; the leaves are certainly getting much bigger. Walking over the top of the Barff this morning heading towards the old pump house I had to stop to listen to the birdsong that was especially loud and quite close to me. A Song Thrush was chief chorist this morning being accompanied by the Chiffchaff and Blackcaps, with the occasional interruption of the Greater Spotted Woodpecker and cooing of the Wood Pigeon. The tune soon continues with the Robin, Dunnock, Wren, and Great Tits. There were lots of Grey Squirrels about this morning, busily scurrying up and down the tree trunks at speed.
Saturday 20th April was a cooler morning at just 2c at 6.45am. There was a bitterly cold northerly wind which made it feel much cooler. I watched a solitary hare sitting in the field next to the old pumping station, it was sat upright with its huge ears pricked up, it eventually ran towards the fence and out of sight. Some of the tracks around the woodland are beginning to dry out a little. The Bluebells are looking really vibrant today, they look much better in the dull cloudy light than the bright sunshine. Cow Parsley is growing apace along the borders of the perimeter footpath along with lots of Garlic Mustard.
Sunday 21st April, unfortunately I had a day off today looking after one of my dogs who has suddenly gone quite lame again.
Monday 22nd April woke up to a cold wet and rainy morning, It was a very short walk this morning due to one of my dog’s lameness. The Bluebells were looking vibrant this morning, the scent hanging in the air under the canopy of the trees. I noted a lot of Grey rats under the bird feeders in the car park. Lots of Birdsong, main contributors were Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Great Tits accompanied by the Dunnocks, Robin, and Wrens.
Tuesday 23rd April, a cold and damp drizzly morning on the Barff, just 5c with a light westerly breeze. This morning’s dawn chorus was led by the Robin, ably accompanied by the repetitive chards of the Great Tit and Chiffchaff, and occasional solos by the Wrens and Dunnocks, it was lovely to hear. The Bluebells were still looking good in the dull light but within a week or so’s time they will be smothered by the emerging ferns which are shooting up at an alarming rate, along with the flowering Cow Parsley and Garlic Mustard.
Wednesday 24th April. A bitterly cold, overcast morning. The cold northerly wind felt much colder than the 5c it was showing on my watch face. The Barff was looking green and lush in the dull morning light. Pockets of sweet, scented air from the Bluebells drifted through the woodland. I watched at least three grey squirrel’s ln the car park this morning whilst on my travels around the woodland, jumping from one wooden barrier post to another, each one jumping in situ with the other across four of the posts, I wish I had my camera with me. Lots of emerging Maple shoots are forcing their way through the Bluebells, as are the ferns, nettles, and Brambles.
|
