Pulfin Bog Nature Reserve

Pulfin Bog Nature Reserve Credit Kirsty Brown

Pulfin Bog Nature Reserve

In spring a visual feast of marsh flowers can be enjoyed at this small spring-fed River Hull Valley nature reserve, whilst in early summer marsh orchids abound.

Location

Pulfin Bog is two miles north east of Beverley. The nearest parking is at Hull Bridge. From Beverley take the A1035 eastwards and after crossing the River Hull, turn right for Tickton and then right again immediately afterwards.

Park on the roadside on Weel Road near the footbridge and then walk north along the public footpath for about 1.5 miles until you reach a large lake. Turn left along the bank between the lake and the river, then right at the row of trees. The nature reserve starts where the trees end.
Beverley

OS Map Reference

TA 04865 44029
A static map of Pulfin Bog Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
15 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

On roadside at Tickton Hull Bridge

Walking trails

River Hull linear footpath.

Access

Access is via a long walk along grassed floodbank of river Hull. No/limited access for wheelchair users. Deep springs and ditches are obscured by vegetation. It is possible to get stranded at the spillway due to deep flowing water at high tide.

Dogs

No dogs permitted

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

June to September

About

Pulfin Bog is very rich in plantlife. Fenland plants such as common meadow-rue, common valerian and marsh woundwort can be found during the summer along with yellow and purple loosestrifes and the rare marsh pea. Patches of scrub occur, most of them dominated by grey willow, but bay willow is also present.    

The opening of one of the springs has been greatly enlarged to form a pool providing habitat for aquatic plants including water soldier. In the shady understory below the willows the rare marsh fern can be found. Both sedge and reed warblers regularly breed around the margins and water rail, kingfisher and reed bunting can be found throughout the year. There have been 16 species of dragonfly seen, with large red damselfly and hairy dragonfly two of the first species to emerge in spring. Otters are present on the river and roe deer use the site regularly. Keep an eye on the sky as hobbies regularly hunt dragonflies during the summer.

Management takes place in autumn to reduce the spread of the more competitive reeds and to stop the spread of scrub on the drier areas.  Changes to the water levels and hydrology across the site have led to alterations in the species mix of plants and this is being monitored to assess the impact on the habitat overall and the species present.

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring: Invertebrates - Hairy dragonfly; Large red damselfly; Birds - Sedge warbler.
  • Summer: Plants - Yellow flag iris; Yellow loosestrife; Marsh pea; Water soldier;  Inverterbrates - Brown hawker
  • Autumn: Inverterbrates - Common darter; Migrant hawker; Birds - Snipe; Reed bunting
  • Winter: Birds - Kingfisher; Water rail; Mammals - Otter

History

Pulfin Bog is remnant of the extensive fens that once occupied the valley of the River Hull and probably owes its survival to the springs that emerge as pools on the surface. The name Pulfin is believed to be a corruption of “pool fen”, the name given to the site in a 14th Century document. The nature reserve is bounded on three sides by the River Hull and on the fourth side is an old flood bank. When the site was acquired by the Trust a ditch was clearly visible bisecting the site into northern and southern sections. The northern half, dominated by reed sweet-grass, was grazed until 1955.

Directions

Public transport
Buses from Beverley stop in Tickton.

By car
Pulfin Bog lies about two miles north east of Beverley. The nearest parking is at Hull Bridge, on the old part of the A1035. From Beverley take the A1035 eastwards and after crossing the River Hull, turn right for Tickton, then right again immediately afterwards. Park on the roadside near the footbridge over the river. Walk north along the public footpath on the east bank of the river for about one-and-a-half miles until a large lake is reached. Turn left along the bank between the lake and the river, then right on reaching a row of trees. The nature reserve starts where the trees end.

Accessibility 

Many of our reserves are small and beautiful but remote. Visitors will have different access needs and abilities and we want to provide some basic information about the reserve to help you decide whether this is a place you would like to visit and to help you plan. 

Walking at Pulfin Bog

Only the north east area of the reserve is accessible to visitors. Here it is flat, grassy and uneven and reached via two kissing gates. It is a 1.5 mile walk to the reserve.

For safety, there is no access to the south of the site where there is a reedbed with hidden springs, pools and ponds. The North West of the site is also covered in glyceria grass and the water levels fluctuate in both areas throughout the year making these sections unpredictable and unsafe to visit.

Parking

There is no parking for this reserve. Please park responsibly on Weel Road (A1035) AT Tickton Hull Bridge and walk north for 1.5 miles along the river bank. Turn left through High Eske (Environment Agency reserve) around the lake river on your left to reach Pulfin.

Facilities 

Mobile phone coverage on the reserve is reasonable depending on your provider. 

The nearest public toilets and shops are in Beverley about 15 minutes drive away. 

The What3Words code for the reserve entrance is relocated.undulation.stir.

Nearby