Brayton Barff Through the Seasons.
Set in the Vale of York, South West of the market town of Selby and between the villages of Thorpe Willoughby and Brayton, lies Brayton Barff, a sandstone Hill approximately one hundred and fifty feet in height which was formed by glacial movement during the last Ice Age. It is a significant landmark in an otherwise flat landscape.
Today the site is primarily owned by Yorkshire Water with Selby District Council owning a small patch of the land adjacent to the A63 Selby bypass. A large underground reservoir occupies the centre of the site which delivers water to around 4.7 million customers throughout Yorkshire.
Within the Barff woodland over 40% of the trees are Sessile Oak which are generally found in semi natural woodlands in the north of the country. These trees are so called because its acorns are not held on stalks, like those of the English Oak (Pedunculate), but attached directly to the outer twigs. There are also several English Oak trees as well as some cross-hybrid oaks. These trees are known to support many species of flora and fauna, invertebrates, mosses, lichen and fungi.
During the Victorian times it is thought that the shipbuilders on the east coast would come over to the Barff for selected cuts of timber to build their sea going vessels.
The Barff also has a variety of other trees including Silver Birch, Beech, Sycamore, Holly, Rowan, Scots Pine, Alder, Hawthorne and European Larch. There are also several Yew, Willow, Hazel, Horse Chestnut and Wych Elm. As with similar woodlands there are a variety of bushes, including Honeysuckle, Elderberry, Gorse, Broom and Buddleia.
The history of Brayton Barff is quite vague, apparently during 1803 a beacon was lit on the Barff when the country was threatened with an invasion by Napoleon. In May 1935, to celebrate King George V's Silver Jubilee, a Bonfire was lit on the Barff as part of the celebrations.
Early issues of Ordnance Survey Maps dated 1903 clearly show a rifle range on the Barff, extending out to Mill Lane. During the 
Second World War 1939-1945 a Prisoner of War Camp was built on the site. Today, nothing is left of these buildings less some areas to the South and West of the Barff where some of the brick foundations may be seen.
Between 2001 – 2004 the A63 Selby bypass, 10km twin lane single carriageway was constructed which severed the South West corner of the Barff, adjacent to Selby Golf Course and resulted in a slight redesign of several holes on the golf course. Wooden fencing was erected as a result of this new road running alongside of the Barff and a footbridge constructed over the ‘new road’ following the line of the Bridal way which extends from Mill Lane. Around 2005/2006 a definite 2metre wide limestone aggregate footpath was laid forming a circular path around the outer edges of the woodland. This footpath is approximately 1.2 miles in length and takes about 30 minutes to circumnavigate at a leisurely pace.
In 2012 the Barff was declared an Ancient Oak Woodland and as such throughout 2012 and 2013 significant work had been carried out by the relevant agencies to cut and remove large swathes of non-native trees, creating at that time huge scars on the landscape. Some three years later the planting of the native trees have become well established and are flourishing. Ongoing maintenance work on the footpath around the bottom of the Barff was completed during the Summer of 2016.
A second phase of woodland maintenance commenced during the Autumn of 2019 with the removal of many old and diseased trees and the cutting back of the Gorse and Broom bushes, especially adjacent to the ‘bypass trail’, this work continued through till March 2020 with re planting continuing into April 2020.
Brayton Barff is a popular site for walkers and bird watchers alike and a path circling the outer perimeter of the Barff makes a pleasant thirty minute walk, giving views looking over towards Selby and the village of Brayton as well as the power stations of Drax and Eggborough..jpg)
For the early risers it is a great place to see some stunning sunrises over the villages of Brayton looking towards Drax Power Station, the same with the Sunsets looking over towards Eggborough and Monk Fryston.
The Barff changes with the Seasons and every visit can reveal something new, the woodland is a haven for wildlife. Records show that since 1982 one hundred and twelve species of bird have been seen in the woodland and at least 40 of those have bred here, including Tawny Owl, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, Spotted Flycatcher, Goldcrest and Nuthatch to name just a few. On average over 70 species of bird are recorded each year. Further details of the bird life on the Barff can be found on the Brayton Barff Group Facebook page, especially the posts from Derek Cooper. Today ‘The Friends of Brayton Barff group’ led by Derek and a small team of volunteers help keep and maintain the cleanliness of the site as well as recording the wildlife and bird sightings.
The Barff is also home to fifteen different species of mammals, including Muntjac Deer, Pipistrelle Bat, Fox, and Field Vole.
Over eighty species of plant and wildflowers have been recorded, included Bee Orchid, Northern Marsh Orchid, Wood Anemone, Marsh Ragwort, Bluebell, White Bluebell, Bittersweet and Purple and White Foxgloves. Over twenty species of Butterfly have been recorded, including Marbled White, Brown Angus, Speckled Wood, Comma and Brimstone.
During the Autumnal months fungi thrives in this woodland environment, species including Fly Agaric, Beefsteak Tree Fungi, Chicken of the Wood, Sulphur Tufts, Stinkhorn, Ink cap, Puffballs and Hoof Bracket are just some of the many varieties that can be found here.
Click on the galleries shown below to expand the albums.
Tuesday 30th September 2025
As we enter the first week of Autumn we have had a mixed bag of unsettled weather this September, the morning air temperature has dropped to single figures at times, though the afternoon temperatures have still managed to hover around 20c. The warm sunny periods have been interspersed with some welcomed heavy rain showers and although we are still experiencing a ‘drought’ situation we still need significantly more rainfall across the county for it to be lifted anytime soon.
Autumn colours have been changing for the past few weeks with many of the trees preparing for the cooler months by shedding their leaves much earlier than usual. It looks like it is going to be a bumper year for Acorns, the south westerly winds of late have dislodged many much sooner than they normally would have, the ground especially around the old ancient Oak swing tree is covered with them. The woodland ferns are changing colour week on week and are now a beautiful golden-brown colour with some already beginning to die back.
Work continues behind the tall privacy barriers on the top summit meadow, and this will be continuing for some significant time. Heavy plant machinery and piling equipment is still being used. The smell of diesel exhaust fumes fills the air, especially first thing in the morning (7.00am) when the machinery is starting up. All the Rabbits and voles which had made this area their home have been displaced to other areas on the summit with fresh piles of rabbit poo appearing daily.
It has been a good month for fungi, Beefsteak fungi continue to appear around the woodland, as well as Beech Polypore, Bracket and Hoof fungi, Sulphur Tuft, and Parasol mushrooms, with new species appearing daily, especially towards the end of the month. There is still a plentiful supply of Sloe berries on the bushes along the bypass trail. The Sunflowers in the corner of the field adjacent to the golf course have now passed their best and will provide a ready food source for many on the finches and overwintering birds in the woodland. Most of the Rosebay Willowherbs have died back along with the Creeping Thistle and Common Ragwort.
Birdsong has been quite sporadic around the woodland, with some days quieter than others, the liveliest area being around the car park where Robin, Wren, Blackcap, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great and Blue Tit along with Crows, Squawking Magpies, and Wood Pigeons can be heard daily, if you are lucky, you may hear and catch sight of the Buzzard which is still active around the old pump house and surrounding areas.
Wetter autumnal weather arrived during the middle of the month, be it during nightfall or in the early hours, some of the showers being quite intense, if you got caught in one you would certainly have known about it. A yellow weather warning was issued for moderate rain on Saturday 20th when it rained heavily for well over twelve hours, with a good 43mm of rain falling over the weekend, that said, I have just read that Cumbria had seen 98 mm of rain fall in the same twenty-four-hour period! so we got off quite lightly. This type of persistent heavy rain went a long way towards dampening down the wildfires on the North Yorkshire moors which had been burning for several weeks now, especially on the Langdale and Farndale moors.
The Oak, Beech, Sycamore and Silver Birch trees continue to prepare themselves for the colder months, their leaves turning a beautiful bronzed golden colour, the Ferns are now changing colour and beginning to die back in certain areas, fallen acorns are covering the woodland floor, making it quite crunchy as you walk over them. Hawthorn and Dog rose bushes are full of bright red berries as are some of the Holly bushes.
It has been good to see the ‘Friends of Brayton Barff’ volunteers working alongside the Water board rangers team tidying up and cutting back the Bramble bushes around the Barff summit towards the end of the month.
The council’s workmen have been busy relaying the drainage channel across the car park which had sunk several inches especially under the height barrier as you enter the car park.
Despite the unsettled weather I have had some very pleasant autumnal morning walks with Meg and Gracie this month, the kaleidoscope of colours amongst the trees and ferns is a fine sight to see and embrace, despite the shorter days and longer nights. With the first frosts just around the corner it is just a reminder that things are about to get a little colder in the weeks ahead.
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