Right in the heart of Barnsley, Dearne Valley Country Park is criss-crossed by inviting paths, taking you through woodland and grassland, with riverside wildlife to enjoy along the way.

In an area shaped by mining and farming, you can still see evidence of this reserve’s past as you enjoy its diverse range of present-day wild wonders.

A small, sloping limestone grassland on the edge of Dalby Forest, Ellerburn Bank is crammed full of wildflowers, and is at its best on sunny days in June and July.

With over 70 species of plant, many of which are locally rare and nationally declining, this botanically important reserve is a hidden gem

The last remaining freshwater marsh of any size in the area, Filey Dams is a magnet for migratory birds but is also a haven for plants, small mammals and amphibians.

High in the Yorkshire Dales on Malham Moor, close to Malham Tarn, is one of our smallest and oldest reserves. It’s named after its brightest and best-known attraction – the globeflower.

Discover delightful Grass Wood, a woodland full of character and wildlife in beautiful Wharfedale.

Vivid cerise marsh orchid spikes grow within grassy glades surrounded by hawthorn scrub. Large pastured fields that attract whimbrel in autumn are surrounded by mature hedgerows, home to farmland…

This reserve’s woodland and grassland habitats are home to a wonderful array of plants, which grow in the undulating ‘ridge and furrows’ created by medieval farmers using oxen-pulled ploughs.

As you stroll through the orchard, woods and grassland of peaceful Kirkstall Valley, you’ll completely forget that you’re close to the urban heart of one of the UK’s biggest cities.