Carolina Heath – Preliminary visit in advance of the Nats Excursion on 3 June 2026

On route to the Went Hills Nature Reserve on Tuesday 12 May, Les and I made a preliminary visit to Carolina Heath off Carolina Way, Lakeside, Doncaster.

Historically, this sandy field formed part of the Doncaster Carrs and was situated on the south-western perimeter of the wartime Doncaster aerodrome. In more recent decades it has formed a curved oblong parcel of land, potentially reserved for urban or commercial development adjacent to the newly developed Carolina Way.

In its neglected undeveloped state, it has been subject to fly-tipping of building and road management materials, fires and dog-walking. However, natural forces have taken hold in the form of intense rabbit-grazing and shrub-woodland development from self-seeding of several Cotoneaster varieties, Sea Buckthorn, Common Oak, Hawthorn, Elder and Rowan and suckering from adjacent Grey Poplars. All invasive species have entered the site from the boundary (landscape architect designed) hedgerows.

Significant visually-obvious phenomena were the rabbit-influenced browse-lines below the invasive shrubs and the areas dominated by grey Dog Lichen Peltigera membranacea and areas dominated by a species of Cladonia (Reindeer Moss) Lichen.

This is an ecologically fascinating site which the council ecologists are keen to know more about and may produce some interesting discoveries when we visit on 3 June.

In the landscaped road-side flower beds of the HS2 Academy, a neighbouring site adjacent to Carolina Way, we were delighted to see clumps of Sea Kale Crambe maritima surviving from the original planting and indeed seeding around. This is my favourite amongst the Cruciferae, more usually occurring in coastal sand and shingle areas, the nearest sites being Spurn and Teesside. However, since it is seeding naturally, it is probably justifiable to add it to the local plant list. An irony of its introduction here may have been to presage the time when the rising waters of the North Sea reach Doncaster shorelines!

CAH & LC