Jubilee Pasture
A community project to create a special place for people and wildlife
Thanks to National Lottery Players
Half way between Bugthorpe and Kirby Underdale, where the road crosses the beck, there is a triangle of grassland with some trees in the corner. In 2022, Halifax Estates (the landowner) supported the idea of a community project to transform this site into a small wildlife haven, and create a special place where local residents and visitors can appreciate our countryside. The project commemorates The Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Being located next to Pasture Farm, we have called the site Jubilee Pasture.
Jubilee Pasture, June 2023.
Bugthorpe and Kirby Underdale Parish Council received generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Together with the time and energy of many volunteers, this enabled us to undertake the initial development work required to fulfil the project’s aims. This work was undertaken over eighteen months in 2022-2023. With continued support from our community, Jubilee Pasture will be an asset for people and wildlife long into the future.
Drone images kindly provided by NEYEDC, taken in 2024.
Although the newly planted trees are too small to be seen, you can already see an effect of cutting the vegetation around them using brushcutters in winter, rather than cutting with a tractor in late summer like the meadow area.
How to get involved
The Parish Council has responsibility for ensuring ongoing management to fulfil Jubilee Pasture’s aims. However, day-to-day management needs will be identified by a core team of volunteers, who will also continue to arrange volunteer sessions for ‘Friends of Jubilee Pasture’. Everyone is welcome to come to these sessions and participate in whatever way they can. When volunteer activities have been planned, notices will be put up on the boards in Bugthorpe and Kirby Underdale. To receive emails about planned activities, to ask any questions about being involved, or if you have any suggestions, please contact Janet at bugthorpevillage@gmail.com.
Gallery (most recent first, click to see full image and description)
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The buttercups have now seeded and been followed by meadowsweet, great burnet and grasses. Amongst these taller species, there is an abundance of other flowers which can be enjoyed by walking through the meadow.
....with a few devil's bit scabious in the foreground.
Meadowsweet, great burnet, devil's bit scabious, betony (seen for the first time at this site this year) and meadow buttercup, amongst a variety of grasses.
Meadowsweet, great burnet, devil's bit scabious, common knapweed and meadow buttercup amongst a variety of grasses.
Meadowsweet, great burnet, devil's bit scabious, common sorrel and meadow buttercup amongst a variety of grasses.
Common knapweed, devil's bit scabious, common sorrel and meadow vetchling amongst a variety of grasses. Note the meadow brown butterfly centre left. Butterflies are in abundance at this time of year.
This year is the first time I've seen betony here, presumably having grown from seed in the green hay spread in 2022. It's not normally found in these conditions so it will be interesting to see if it persists.
One of many butterflies feeding on common knapweed in the sunshine.
Hoverflies and parasitoid wasps are less conspicuous than butterflies but are important insects, many species of which are dependent on flowers.
What a change in a month! Flowers and insects are now abundant and the impact of managing the area for wildlife is clear.