birdman
Орнитол&
Potteric Carr is owned (or managed or whatever) by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Also, the East Coast Mainline runs throughout the reserve, along with a few sidetracks.
There is no need to venture onto the Mainline, but it is necessary to cross some of the sidetracks to visit many of the best parts of the reserve.
For this, your are required to be in possession of a permit, which costs £8 for a family at one address per year (and a bit less for an individual permit).
Crossing the lines without the permit is a criminal offence, and although I have never been asked to show my permit, the consequences could be, I suppose quite dire.
Permits can usually be acquired on the reserve, either in the car park on Sundays, or from the small field centre that opens on Tuesdays (if I remember correctly). There are plans for the field centre to open more times during the week sometime during this year. (When open, food is served.)
Otherwise, you should contact the Head Office in York. I can't give you the address, but I'm sure there must be a website...???
If you arrive on spec, without a permit, you are given permission for "one visit - keeping to the blue nature trail". Unfortunately, you'd miss most of the action.
Potteric Carr consists of a number of reed-fringed lagoons, each served by at least one hide. Some of the hides require you to climb a number of steps to enter! There are also extensive woodlands, and as is often the case, adjacent fields. Once again, a wide variety of habitats.
A suitably sturdy path runs from the entrance to the field centre, enabling wheelchair uses to enter, but the majority of other paths are (I imagine) difficult terrain for wheelchairs. In long dry periods, I am sure some of these paths would become easier, but when wet, there is extreme mud. Also, any paths that cross the railway tracks and embankment do so via (sometimes many) steps.
The big birding speciality at Potteric Carr, is the Bitterns. I am not sure what the track record for successful breeding is, but they are present each year, and booming can be heard (although not by me yet!)
Grid Ref is SE593007 and it's as easy a pie to find with directions. Coming along either the A1 or the M1 take the M18 Eastbound and come off at Junction 3. (The M1 merges into the M18, whilst the A1 joins at M18 Jct. 2). If you happen to approach travelling westbound, you can still exit at Jct. 3
Then head towards Doncaster (you have no other option at the moment), but when you reach the first roundabout, follow the Potteric Car Nature Reserve sign.
Another 100 yards and you're there!
Reminder…
You will need a permit!
There is no need to venture onto the Mainline, but it is necessary to cross some of the sidetracks to visit many of the best parts of the reserve.
For this, your are required to be in possession of a permit, which costs £8 for a family at one address per year (and a bit less for an individual permit).
Crossing the lines without the permit is a criminal offence, and although I have never been asked to show my permit, the consequences could be, I suppose quite dire.
Permits can usually be acquired on the reserve, either in the car park on Sundays, or from the small field centre that opens on Tuesdays (if I remember correctly). There are plans for the field centre to open more times during the week sometime during this year. (When open, food is served.)
Otherwise, you should contact the Head Office in York. I can't give you the address, but I'm sure there must be a website...???
If you arrive on spec, without a permit, you are given permission for "one visit - keeping to the blue nature trail". Unfortunately, you'd miss most of the action.
Potteric Carr consists of a number of reed-fringed lagoons, each served by at least one hide. Some of the hides require you to climb a number of steps to enter! There are also extensive woodlands, and as is often the case, adjacent fields. Once again, a wide variety of habitats.
A suitably sturdy path runs from the entrance to the field centre, enabling wheelchair uses to enter, but the majority of other paths are (I imagine) difficult terrain for wheelchairs. In long dry periods, I am sure some of these paths would become easier, but when wet, there is extreme mud. Also, any paths that cross the railway tracks and embankment do so via (sometimes many) steps.
The big birding speciality at Potteric Carr, is the Bitterns. I am not sure what the track record for successful breeding is, but they are present each year, and booming can be heard (although not by me yet!)
Grid Ref is SE593007 and it's as easy a pie to find with directions. Coming along either the A1 or the M1 take the M18 Eastbound and come off at Junction 3. (The M1 merges into the M18, whilst the A1 joins at M18 Jct. 2). If you happen to approach travelling westbound, you can still exit at Jct. 3
Then head towards Doncaster (you have no other option at the moment), but when you reach the first roundabout, follow the Potteric Car Nature Reserve sign.
Another 100 yards and you're there!
Reminder…
You will need a permit!
