The Natural History of Yorkshire in 100 Species

Steve’s chosen species is a real jewel of our vulnerable grasslands, the Pink Waxcap Porpolomopsis calyptriformis.

Steve works as the Ancient Grasslands Project Officer for the National Trust, focusing on grasslands of conservation concern which might otherwise be overlooked as botanically mundane. He is interested in CHEGD fungi, a group restricted to undisturbed ancient grasslands. The most well-known of these fungi are the Waxcaps, often striking and colourful species.

Tanya’s chosen species is the most commonly seen reptile in Yorkshire, the Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara.

Tanya is Education Officer on Fylingdales Moor in the North York Moors, a conservation moor encouraging biodiversity. Having worked there for 12 years, Tanya is paid through a Stewardship Scheme to share this wonderful wild landscape with groups ranging from schools to Guides and the Women’s Institute.

Peter’s chosen species is the beautiful Dark Bordered Beauty moth Epione vespertaria.

Peter is a Senior Lecturer in Ecology at the University of York where he has worked since 1998. His research interests include the ecology and evolution of insects; about which he has been involved in a broad spectrum of projects. He has has been part of the team monitoring the Dark Bordered Beauty moth in Yorkshire since 2013.

Barry’s chosen species is Moonwort, Botrychium lunaria.

A primitive fern species, it looks nothing like what most people would call a fern. It is small (<10cm), but occasionally 15cm. It is also unlike many ferns people will be familiar with in that it grows in the open in grasslands, usually unimproved short turf swards.

Ziggy’s chosen species is the Fig Ficus carica. Native to hotter climes, how did this species end up here?

As well as his role at Sheffield City Council, Ziggy also works within the Sheffield & Barnsley Biological Records Centre. He is interested in all aspects of natural history, especially fungi and what are termed ‘invasive species’. He is the recorder for the Sorby Fungus Group.

Jon’s chosen species is the enigmatic and often elusive Water Vole Arvicola amphibius.

Jon has worked for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for over 20 years. His first role was as a dedicated ‘Water Vole Officer’, and it was then that he first came across this enigmatic little mammal. Now Jon is Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Landscape Manager for the Wolds and Holderness areas of East Yorkshire, and whilst this sometimes takes him away from wetlands, water vole conservation is still an underlying thread in his life and career.

Paul’s chosen species is the rare butterfly, the Grayling Hipparchia semele.

Paul has worked for the Countryside Service (and its various derivatives) of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council since 1986, and he is currently 12 years into his role as manager of the Rotherham Biological Records Centre.

Alastair’s chosen species is the rare and impressive Royal Fern Osmunda regalis.

Alastair Fitter is Emeritus Professor of Ecology at the University of York and is a plant ecologist with interests in soil ecology, especially plant roots and mycorrhizas, and in plant and microbial behaviour in response to climate change.

Sarah and Bethany’s chosen species is the much-loved garden favourite, the Greenfinch Chloris chloris.

Sarah and Bethany both started training as rangers in June 2021 at St Nicholas Fields, a local nature reserve charity in York. St Nicks also supports other organisations to deliver practical conservation work across ‘corridors’ through the city. Both Sarah and Bethany finished their traineeship in October, and since then have been lucky to continue working at St Nicks.

John’s chosen species is the unassuming but intriguing plant gall, Taphrina carpini.

John has been involved with wildlife surveying for over 45 years. He was President of the Yorkshire Naturalist’s Union in 2013, previously Secretary and Treasurer for too many years. Currently he lives in Dorset, where he is a Volunteer Specialist for the National Trust (Nature Evidence Team) based with the West Dorset Team.

John’s chosen species is the cryptic Alcathoe Bat Myotis alcathoe, a species quite new to us here in Yorkshire!

John is Emeritus Professor of Animal Ecology and Conservation at the University of Leeds and an advisor to a wide range of conservation organisations. He is interested in all aspects of nature, but his primary research interest is bats.

Keith’s chosen species is the delicate and beautiful Small Red-eyed Damselfly Erythromma viridulum.

Keith is semi-retired from professional horticulture and has had a lifetime interest in nature and conservation. He is the British Dragonfly Society County Dragonfly Recorder for North West (Vice County 65) and North East Yorkshire (Vice County 62) and is involved in the verification of records and the promotion and conservation of dragonflies.

Ian’s chosen species is an icon of Yorkshire’s fens, the White Willow Salix alba.

Ian Rotherham is Emeritus Professor at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University. Former Principal City Ecologist for Sheffield City Council, he is a landscape historian, ecologist, and specialist in wildlife tourism development. He works on projects with local groups and with regional and national conservation organizations.

Kelly’s chosen species is an icon of species-rich meadows, Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor.

Kelly helps manage nature conservation projects and also looks after the species, habitat and environmental data collected by the Nidderdale AONB and its volunteers each year. Kelly runs a meadow restoration project each summer, helping to restore and enhance wildflower rich hay meadow habitat.

Nathan’s chosen species is the unassuming rust fungus, Puccinia bistortae.

Nathan is a mycologist, historian, and curator focused on the how and why of studying fungi. He is the Recording Network Co-ordinator for the British Mycological Society and the Fungarium Operations Manager at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Doug’s chosen species is the majestic Red Kite Milvus milvus.

Doug has been interested in wild bird protection and more general nature conservation since the late 1970s, for which he was awarded an MBE in 2007. Since 1999 he has been involved with this spectacular species, as Project Officer for the reintroduction of Red Kites into Yorkshire.

Kate’s chosen species is the Common Toad Bufo bufo.

Kate is the Project Officer for a partnership project ‘Saving Nidderdale’s Priority Ponds’. The Freshwater Habitats Trust has joined forces with Nidderdale AONB to undertake work to save priority ponds from being degraded and lost across the area.

Tim’s chosen species is the delicate Water Violet Hottonia palustris.

Tim is the ecologist for Scarborough Borough Council, and has a broad interest in all things nature, gardening, and the outdoors.

In another double-bill edition of The Natural History of Yorkshire in 100 Species, Richard’s chosen species are the Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, and the Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur.

Richard is currently the Director of Yorkshire Coast Nature, an independent eco-tourism company, and Wold Ecology, a professional environmental consultancy. He is also the North Yorkshire Turtle Dove Project Officer.

Vicky’s chosen species the tiny but beautiful Tormentil Mining Bee Andrena tarsata.

In her role at the Species Recovery Trust, Vicky leads invertebrate conservation projects in the North of England and overseas. Her current projects include the UK’s dazzlingly iridescent Tansy Beetle Chyrsolina graminis, as well as the threatened invertebrate endemics of the islands of St Helena, Ascension Island and Monserrat, which are all rich in incredible invertebrate species.