LUCT NEWS
On this page you can find Nosterfield’s monthly Bird and Natural History Reviews
LUCT is an affiliated society to the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. Click below for a link to the YNU newsletter:
Community Engagement: January- April
The LUCT events programme for 2026 started off in March with pond dipping and the Sights and Sounds of Ripon, followed by April’s reserve tours and art workshops. Find out more about these events and what’s coming up soon in our community engagement report.
Habitat Creation Nursery Update: January - April 2026
It’s main growing season at the Habitat Creation Nursery! Find out more about the nursery team’s recent work, including techniques for safely planting Schoenoplectus (Club rush) in deep water in Sophie’s spring update.
Nosterfield Bird Review - March 2026
The onset of Spring led to the first sightings of many different species in March. Many thanks to Andy Hanby for his report.
Habitat Management Highlights, January - April 2026
Find out about LUCT’s management at Quarry Moor supported by Ripon City Council, how we use coppiced willow on the reserve and our March community work day where volunteers created fish refuges.
Creating a New Viewing Screen at Kiln Lake
Find out more about the planning and construction of the new Kiln viewing screen, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Nosterfield Bird Review February 2026
Visitors flocked to see the Waxwing whilst large numbers of moving Pink-footed geese were counted. Read on to find out what other birds were recorded on the reserve in February. Many thanks to Andy Hanby for his report.
Applications open for Assistant Reserves Warden role
We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate to play a hands-on role in protecting and restoring one of North Yorkshire’s most important wetland nature reserves, including the creation of a large new wetland area at Nosterfield Quarry.
Nosterfield Dragonfly Report 2025
The extended periods of sunny weather in 2025 resulted in a better year for damselflies and dragonflies, with dry conditions also having an impact in late summer.
Read about the species recorded on Flasks Fen, the Reedbed and Main Reserve in the annual report written by Keith Gittens.
Nosterfield Bird Review January 2026
Welcome to Andy Hanby’s first blog of the year - good numbers of Golden Plover, Fieldfare and Pochard were among the highlights in January.
Community Engagement and Events Update
Find out more about events and educational visits at Nosterfield Nature Reserve in autumn 2025, including woodland activities, fungi identification, practical conservation and autumn leaf Gelli printing.