Lofthouse is a fairly new nature reserve although it was reclaimed in the late 1980’s following the pit closure in 1981, a lottery grant utilised in 2013 has meant that the paths are now much improved.

Coming up to the gate on Lingwell Nook Lane red valerian, corn sow thistle, woodruff and wild sage grew along the roadside; turning left onto the gravelled path the first clearing was full of ribbed melilot, wild carrot, red bartsia and bird’s foot trefoil. The morning began to warm up bringing out numbers of meadow brown, gatekeeper and ringlet butterflies. Great willowherb, upright hedge parsley, common centaury, ox-eye daisies and many common spotted orchids brightened our path with tansy just coming into flower.  Returning up the slope we identified this spindle tree but I’m sure there were others to see, the seed heads turn rosy-red when ripe and split open to display orangey red seeds.

Spindle Tree

The three young peregrines have now fledged successfully, without mishaps. The first youngster to fly from the box did so on Saturday, 11th July and it found itself on the roof of the jeweller’s shop Herbert Brown. It spent most of the day there, occasionally exercising its wings and doing short test flights along the apex of the roof, entertaining a lot of Saturday-afternoon shoppers. Late in the afternoon, it made a failed attempt to get back to the box and it ended up on the roof of the nave but it founded its way back to the box at some time before the following morning.

Now, a week later, all three juveniles are flying freely. They travel between the cathedral and the blocks of flats and they spend a lot of time demanding food from the adults.

juvenile peregrine at the nestbox – Francis Hickenbottom

Juvenile peregrines – Julie Knowles

Juvenile peregrines – Julie Knowles

Juvenile peregrines – Julie Knowles