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)
Waxcaps are found in grassland which hasn't been fertilised or ploughed; an increasingly rare habitat. Normally they prefer well drained sites but there are several patches of this species here, showing its presence by producing mushrooms this year.
There has finally been enough rain to get the grass green again but the only flowers still in abundance are the purple loosestrife by the pond.
The magnificent horse chestnut tree has some beautiful conkers again. The brown patches on the leaves are caused by a leaf-mining moth which was first found in the UK in 2002.
The hay has been made so it feels like another season is over. The vegetation between the newly planted trees will be cut and removed by hand to help maintain meadow plant diversity there for as long as possible.
NEYEDC have been moth trapping again. They've now recorded 53 species over five trapping sessions (2024 and 2025). All moths are released after identification.
In the foreground there are a few wild carrot flowers. Most of the plants in the meadow area are now seeding. It will soon be cut for hay.
On the left is a normal plant. On the right is a plant showing fasciation (stems which look like they're made up of several stems). Do an internet search to find out about this bizarre phenomenon!
This magnificent moth was caught (and released) during a survey by NEYEDC. See the wildlife surveys page for more information.
The meadowsweet is now in full bloom, forming honey-scented clouds in ever-changing pattern of different flowering grasses and wildflowers.
The classic wet-meadow combination which makes this a special site, albeit not so wet this year.