Ripon City Wetlands
Please note that contractors will be on site during the week commencing Monday 19th October. Please take care while visiting. Work should be completed by the weekend.
You may see bitterns, avocets, little ringed plovers, kingfishers and otters among the reedbeds and in the water. Wander along the marked trail and settle down to watch the wildlife at one of our two viewing places.
Location
Boroughbridge Road
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
The car park is open 9am to 5pm, but you can access the nature reserve by foot via the canal towpath from dawn until dusk. When the car park is closed (out of hours and on race days) you can park in Littlethorpe village and access the nature reserve via Renton’s Bridge which crosses the canal (grid reference SE330 685).The visitor car park will be closed to the public on race days at Ripon Racecourse, but the nature reserve will be open to pedestrians entering from the towpath. You can view the dates of race days on the Ripon Racecourse website: www.ripon-races.co.uk . Please note any temporary signage on site.
Best time to visit
Throughout the yearLocation map
Directions
By foot - The nature reserve is mainly accessed from the car park – see below. Alternatively, you can access via the canal towpath, having walked south from Ripon, or enter over Renton’s Bridge, accessed off Green Lane, Littlethorpe, HG4 3LR (approx.).
By public transport - There is a bus stop for the Racecourse on the B6265 just west of the site entrance.
By car - The nature reserve is just south of the B6265 east of Ripon. From A61 in Ripon head east on the B6265 towards Boroughbridge and the A1.
After 1.1km turn right into the entrance, signed Ripon City Wetlands and Ripon Racecourse. After 150m, bear left into the car park for the nature reserve.
If arriving from the A1, follow the B6265 for around 6km, until you cross over the River Ure. Take the first left turn (after 150m) into the entrance.
The entrance has two large YWT signs marking it. Follow the track leading from the southwest corner of the car park to enter the reserve.
About the reserve
Ripon City Wetlands is a wetland site lying 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.
Large numbers of wildfowl and waders are attracted to the site, including tufted ducks, teal, gadwall and shoveler. In spring, the purpose-built reedbeds are alive with the songs of sedge and reed warblers, while flocks of sand martins fly overhead seeking insects. Large numbers of damselflies emerge in the summer months, providing food for birds including reed warblers and spectacular hobbies.
Seasonal highlights
Spring
Invertebrates - Brimstone butterfly
Amphibians - Toad
Birds – Sand martin; willow warbler; sedge warbler; lapwing; little ringed plover; tufted duck; mute swan
Summer
Plants – Ragged robin
Invertebrates – Common blue damselfly
Birds – green sandpiper
Autumn
Birds – Teal; snipe; curlew; redwing
Winter:
Mammals – Brown hare; fox
