The next meeting is next Tuesday June 3rd to Bolton Fields, West Bessacarr.

Meet off Stoops Lane DN4 7PH (SE612 006) at 1.30. p.m.

More details to come after Colin has done his recce on Saturday. 

Remember to send any records or photographs from this outing to the leader.

Best wishes,

Margaret Prior.

Doncaster Naturalists’ Society visit to Bolton Hill Field/Park, off Stoops Lane, Bessacarr (Grid Ref SE612 006; Post Code DN4 7PH).

Date: Tuesday 3^rd June 2025.

Start time: 1.30pm. Duration of visit: about 2 hours. Distance: ¾ mile max.

Leaders: Colin Howes and Jo Carreck.

Bus routes from Waterdale to Stoops Lane are the 358 and 359 and from Waterdale to Bawtry Road West Bessacarr are the 355 and 356.

We shall be gathering at the entrance gate off Stoops Lane at the southwest corner of the site where a Car Parking area for about half a dozen vehicles has been created in from the grass verge.

Hazards: Stoops Lane can be very busy and traffic is quite quick, so signal well and take care when turning off the highway. This is particularly critical if arriving from the traffic light controlled junction on Bawtry Road.

If the parking area is congested, the nearest public parking area is at the Nostell Place Shopping Precinct (at Grid ref SE605007; Post code DN4 7JQ) about half a mile back along Stoops Lane.

Apart from the steep slope up to the boundary hedge bordering Bawtry Road, the site is relatively flat and generally safe.  Sporting areas are well demarked and there are seats. However, there are occasional deep ruts concealed in the turf so wear stout foot-wear and keep vigilant. Nettles and Thistles occur in the taller vegetation.

Aims: Bolton Field, a one-time sand Quarry, wedged between Bawtry Road (the old A1 of Coaching Days, Dick Turpin and all that) and the ancient Stoops Lane (which since the 1960s became an artery of local urban development), so why is this dog-walk and kick-about futter field of any interest to the Nats ? … Well Geoff and Jo Carreck certainly found it of interest, discovering some remarkable plants, putting this mere field on the map as a potential local wildlife site.

The Local Authority has planted groups of broadleaved trees, leave strategic areas un-mown in summer, allowing wild plants to flower and set seed, mow access paths through the vegetation and are keen to find out from us what biodiversity has moved in.

Take photographs of anything you find of interest, bring identification guides and try to list the species you see and we shall see what we can discover.

CAH.