Three Hagges Woodmeadow

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Three Hagges Woodmeadow & the assets and activities of Woodmeadow Trust are now managed by Plantlife.

Three Hagges Woodmeadow and the assets and activities of Woodmeadow Trust are now managed by Plantlife.

20/10/2026

Just a reminder to get in touch if you would like to help shape the access and activities at the Woodmeadow

13/10/2026

Celebrating our survey volunteers 🐝🦋

While many visitors enjoy the flowers and wildlife at Three Hagges Woodmeadow, a dedicated team of volunteers is helping us understand just how important this special place is for nature.

Throughout the spring and summer, our survey volunteers carry out regular surveys, walking the same route around the woodmeadow and carefully recording the butterflies or bumblebees they spot along the way. By repeating these surveys over time, we can track changes in wildlife populations and build a clearer picture of how the reserve is supporting pollinators. The information collected helps us better understand the biodiversity of the woodmeadow, guide our conservation work, and contribute to wider efforts to monitor the health of our countryside.

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A huge thank you to all our survey volunteers for donating their time, enthusiasm and expertise. Your efforts are helping us protect and enhance this special place for wildlife. 💚

📸Andy Jennings-Giles

10/10/2026

Moths are far more than brown and boring! 🦋🌙

When people think of moths, they often imagine small, brown insects fluttering around a lightbulb. But the truth is that moths come in an astonishing variety of colours, shapes and sizes, with some species every bit as beautiful and fascinating as butterflies.

From brightly patterned moths that resemble bird droppings or lichen-covered bark, to large hawk-moths and delicate micro moths no bigger than your fingernail, these remarkable insects are an important part of our ecosystems. They are vital pollinators and an essential food source for birds, bats and other wildlife.

We're incredibly fortunate at Three Hagges Woodmeadow to have local moth expert, Terry, regularly bringing his moth traps to the reserve. Thanks to his knowledge and dedication, we're building up an impressive list of moth species found across the woodmeadow and learning more about the rich biodiversity of the site.

Some of the highlights from the latest moth trapping have included Spectacle moth, Iron Prominent, Canary-shouldered and Light Emerald moth✨

The next time you hear someone describe moths as "brown and boring", remember that there is a whole world of nocturnal beauty waiting to be discovered after dark! And even some day-flying moths which may be mistaken for butterflies!

A huge thank you to Terry for helping us uncover the hidden wildlife of Three Hagges Woodmeadow. 💚

08/10/2026

🍄🍄Join us for an autumnal fungi walk through the woodmeadow and discover the fungi that calls the woodmeadow home 🍄🍄
👉 Tickets available on Eventbrite

07/10/2026

Art inspired by nature at Three Hagges Woodmeadow 🌿🎨

Did you know that Three Hagges Woodmeadow is home not only to a wonderful variety of wildlife, but also to a talented group of botanical artists?

The Florilegium, a group of botanical artists, regularly meets at the woodmeadow, drawing inspiration from the rich diversity of plants, flowers, trees and fungi found across the site. Armed with sketchbooks, pencils and paints, they carefully observe and record the beauty and detail of the natural world through their stunning illustrations.

Huge thanks to Florilegium artist, Pamela Sutton, for allowing us to share her incredible work. © Pamela Sutton 2026

From delicate wildflower petals and twisting grasses to the colours of autumn leaves and orchard fruits, the woodmeadow provides endless inspiration throughout the seasons. Their work celebrates not only the beauty of nature butalso encourages us to look more closely at the remarkable plants that surround us every day.

We're always delighted to see the creativity that Three Hagges Woodmeadow inspires and the unique way the Florilegium captures the character and diversity of this special place. 💚

Have you ever sketched, painted or photographed something that caught your eye at the woodmeadow? We'd love to see it! 📷🎨

06/10/2026

Path Improvements Updates

The contractors have been slightly delayed and should start work on the paths on 13th October.

Please follow any directions from staff or contractors in order to visit the woodmeadow safely while the works are ongoing.

04/10/2026

Have you ever heard of a Woodmeadow?🌲🌷

🌼 Known as an excellent example of 'habitat mosaics' -they are species-rich hay meadows with stands of trees - an ancient form of combining agricultural meadows with forestry! Long established woodmeadows can support extraordinary levels of botanical diversity, with some ancient European examples supporting 70+ plant species per square metre.

🌳 Our Three Hagges Nature Reserve, near York, is an incredible example of woodmeadow habitat which hosts an abundance of plants and invertebrates. Spot native British trees such as Small Leaved Lime and Hazel, which grow alongside some of our most iconic meadow species such as Ox-eye Daisy, Ragged Robin and Meadow Buttercup.

🚜 Lots of important work has been taking place at this site recently, including the use of a Profihopper - which cuts and collects vegetation! It clears areas for new wildflowers to grow, increasing the biodiversity. We cut in September to ensure that any existing wildflowers have had time to set seed, while preventing tall grasses and vegetation from building up and crowding out more delicate wildflower species . In the autumn and spring, we will be planting species such as Common Dog Violet, Primrose and Meadow Cranesbill into the cleared areas.

Many thanks to for their generous funding, helping to improve the biodiversity of this wonderful nature reserve🎉

📸© Laurie Campbell

02/10/2026

From fungi to forensic science – there's a whole world of biology to explore this October!

From 8–18 October, the Royal Society of Biology is celebrating Biology Week, with events and activities exploring the incredible diversity of biology and nature.
Plantlife's Waxcap Watch is part of this year's programme, and we're very grateful to the Royal Society of Biology for supporting the project. 🍄💚

But there's lots more to discover during Biology Week! You could:
💻Learn about how citizen science, AI and technology can inform conservation
🌱 Discover more about plant health
🍄 Delve into the hidden world of fungi
🐧 Explore Antarctic science and wildlife
🦡 Become a badger detective
🔬 Explore careers and discoveries from across the biosciences
There are online and in-person events across the country, as well as activities and resources to explore in your own time – so whether you're a budding biologist or simply curious about the natural world, there's something to get involved with.
👉 Explore the Biology Week programme: https://www.rsb.org.uk/events.html?eventtype=10

29/09/2026

🌿🚜 Opening Up the Woodmeadow for Wildlife 🚜🌿

Managing a woodmeadow is about much more than simply letting nature take its course. Sometimes, wildlife needs a helping hand!

One of the ways we do this at Three Hagges Woodmeadow is through profi-hopping, using specialist machinery to tackle dense vegetation and areas of old growth that the tractor can't access. This helps us restore open woodmeadow habitats and prevent more vigorous plants from dominating.

By creating a mosaic of different habitats, from open meadow and wildflower-rich grassland to scrub and woodland edge, we can support a greater variety of plants, insects, birds and mammals. Many species rely on these sunny, open areas, and careful vegetation management helps ensure they continue to thrive.

Profi-hopping is particularly useful in hard-to-reach areas where traditional mowing isn't practical, allowing us to maintain the balance between preserving valuable habitats and preventing them from becoming overgrown.

The result? More space for wildflowers to flourish, better conditions for pollinators, and a richer habitat for wildlife across the reserve. 🌼🦋🐝

Thanks to support from and National Lottery players - thank you to everyone who buys a ticket and makes projects like ours possible! 🙌

23/09/2026

International Day of Sign Languages at Three Hagges Woodmeadow 🌿🤟

Today, on the International Day of Sign Languages, we celebrate the many ways people connect with each other and with nature.

At Three Hagges Woodmeadow, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the beauty, wonder and wellbeing that nature provides. From the rustle of leaves in the trees to the vibrant colours of wildflowers and the changing seasons, nature speaks a language that can be enjoyed by all.

Through our Pathways to Nature project, we are working to create a nature reserve that is welcoming, inclusive and accessible, helping more people build meaningful connections with wildlife and the outdoors.

This International Day of Sign Languages, let's celebrate communication, inclusion and the shared joy of spending time in nature. 💚🌼

Address

Three Hagges Woodmeadow, York Road, Escrick
York
YO196EE

Website

http://www.plantlife.org.uk/

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