BARKIN GATE

ROEBURNDALE, NR LANCASTER

GEOLOGY

Barkin Gate is distinguished for its septarian nodules which can only be found in North Lancashire, as lines of shales through to Caton and back up to Clapham. They wash down into the river and some are as big as cartwheels.

FLORA

Several unimproved areas of grassland on the farm are botanically rich and are managed under the HLS scheme. Light grazing and no fertilizer ensure that this increasingly rare habitat is protected along with the invertebrate life that depends on it. Anthills of the Yellow Ant are found here as well as grasshoppers and a wealth of butterflies that feed on the wild flowers such as the Common Spotted Orchids.

The semi-natural ancient oak woodland on the farm is listed on the National Woodland Inventory and supports a rich variety of wildlife.

FAUNA

Barkin Gate is excellent for charismatic upland birds and as well as being important for wading birds. Hen Harriers and Short Eared Owls are regularly seen especially in winter hunting over the rough grazing.

Skylarks and Meadow Pipits nest on the open fields and Green Woodpeckers and Cuckoos can be found on the woodland edge with Buzzards regularly soaring overhead.

Oak woodland birds including Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts and the occasional Wood Warblers breed at Barkin Gate and nestboxes have been put up in the wood to provide more nesting sites for some of these birds.

Otters have also been seen in the River Roeburn and brown hares on the grassland.

 

 

Zwartble Ewe & Lamb