World Wetland Day 2023 in Yorkshire

It's a special day to celebrate the precious ecological benefit that wetlands bring to the world. Thursday 2nd February 2023 is World Wetland Day. Those who preserve these special places are aiming to highlight the importance of these precious habitats.

Here are some wetlands in Yorkshire:

Ripon City Wetlands - YWT

"Ripon City Wetlands is a natural floodplain next to Ripon Racecourse, east of Ripon. Formed from former gravel workings, a modern wetland nature reserve has been created in the footprint of the quarry.

"The site lies between the River Ure which sometimes floods the site, and the Ripon Canal."

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Malham Tarn

Malham Tarn is a glacial lake near the village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales, England. The lake is one of only eight upland alkaline lakes in Europe. At an altitude of 377 metres (1,237 ft) above sea level it is the highest marl lake in the United Kingdom.

Malham Tarn's geology, flora and fauna have led to it being listed under a number of conservation designations. The site is currently owned by the National Trust.

The original lake shrunk due to silting at the western shore; this has formed a boggy region called Tarn Moss.

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North Cave Wetlands

"A mixture of shallow and deep water lakes and reedbeds provide outstanding habitat for passage, breeding and wintering wildfowl, waders, terns and gulls."

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Marfield Wetlands, Masham

"A former sand and gravel working with lakes, ponds and surrounding fen, wet grassland and woods."

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Calder Park Wetlands Nature Reserve

"The Calder Wetlands is an area to the east of the M1 motorway at Junction 39, north of Denby Dale Road (A636) and south of the River Calder (Calder & Hebble Navigation).

"This area was formerly farmland and then excavated for sand and gravel, hence the two big lakes (the Calder Lagoons) that now exist on the site.

"Now it is part wetlands (the two lakes or lagoons) and part business estate, with a hotel and two conveniently located pubs - the Red Kite and the Swan & Cygnet."

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RSPB Adwick Washland - Dearne Valley - Nature Reserve

"What was once an area of farmed fields has since been transformed into water meadows and marshes, home to lots of fascinating wildlife such as wigeons, redshank and kestrels."

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