Cow Myers is a

Site of Special Scientific Interest A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain, or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland, is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle ...

(SSSI) located in the

Nidderdale Nidderdale, historically also known as Netherdale, is one of the Yorkshire Dales (although outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park) in North Yorkshire, England. It is the upper valley of the River Nidd, which flows east from its source, the ...

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB; , AHNE) is one of 46 areas of countryside in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland that has been designated for conservation due to its significant landscape value. Since 2023, the areas in England an ...

(AONB), near

Ripon Ripon () is a cathedral city and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The city is located at the confluence of two tributaries of the River Ure, the Laver and Skell. Within the boundaries of the historic West Riding of Yorkshire, the ...

North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in Northern England.The Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority areas of City of York, York and North Yorkshire (district), North Yorkshire are in Yorkshire and t ...

, England. The site was designated in 1984 for its

fen A fen is a type of peat-accumulating wetland fed by mineral-rich ground or surface water. It is one of the main types of wetland along with marshes, swamps, and bogs. Bogs and fens, both peat-forming ecosystems, are also known as mires ...

and

alder Alders are trees of the genus ''Alnus'' in the birch family Betulaceae. The genus includes about 35 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, a few reaching a large size, distributed throughout the north temperate zone with a few species ex ...

carr habitat, which supports a diversity of

wetland A wetland is a distinct semi-aquatic ecosystem whose groundcovers are flooded or saturated in water, either permanently, for years or decades, or only seasonally. Flooding results in oxygen-poor ( anoxic) processes taking place, especially ...

plant life. Of particular interest are the bird's eye primrose (''Primula farinosa'') which is scarce in Yorkshire, and

early marsh orchid ''Dactylorhiza incarnata'', the early marsh-orchid, is a perennial, temperate-climate species of orchid generally found growing in wet meadows, and generally on base-rich soils, up to about 2100m asl. The species occurs widely in Europe and Asia ...

. There is no public access to this site, no vehicular access, and no public facilities.

Site history

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Cow Myers was in

foxhunting Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase and, if caught, the killing of a fox, normally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds. A group of unarmed followers, led by a "master of foxhounds" (or "master of houn ...

country, where the

Bedale Bedale ( ), is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Bedale Beck is a tributary of the River Swale, which forms one of the Yorkshire Dales. The dale has a predominant agriculture sector and its related small traditional t ...

Hunt would run.

Witch of the Woods House

This 17th century

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

is not within the SSSI boundary, but may have been historically associated with its land, being the nearest surviving dwelling to the north entrance. George Wells moved into it in 1717, having inherited it from his father Henry Wells of Cowmyers farmhouse or hamlet. It is not known when or how the house acquired its name. The inside of the building is no longer divided into rooms, and the house and its grounds are not accessible to the public.

Site location and designation

Cow Myers is a biological

(SSSI). There is no public access to this site, no vehicle access, and no public facilities. Its level and marshy land surrounds Kex Beck, where it flows between Ellington Banks and the hamlet of Cow Myers, north west of

, North Yorkshire. It is part of the

(AONB), and it is also a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). The site is fed by springs, and is surrounded by

carr. The marshy centre contains

with "species-rich

flushes Flushing is to become markedly red in the face and often other areas of the skin, from various physiological conditions. Flushing is generally distinguished from blushing, since blushing is psychosomatic, milder, generally restricted to the face ...

." Cow Myers was notified as an SSSI on 26 January 1984, for its variety of natural

habitats, and the diversity of plant species supported there.

Significant site content

''Note'': Unless otherwise indicated, the flora and fauna images in this article are for identification purposes only, and the photographs were not taken at this site.

Flora

The site contains various wetland habitats, with some flora preferring particular areas. The dominant tree, in the surrounding " broadleaved, mixed and

yew Yew is a common name given to various species of trees. It is most prominently given to any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus '' Taxus'': * European yew or common yew (''Taxus baccata'') * Pacific yew or western yew ('' Taxus ...

woodland" and carr, is

black alder Black alder is a common name for several plants and may refer to: *''Alnus glutinosa'', native to Europe and widely naturalized *''Ilex verticillata ''Ilex verticillata'', the winterberry, is a species of holly native to eastern North America in ...

. The common species across the site is ''

Phragmites australis ''Phragmites australis'', known as the common reed, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae. It is a wetland grass that can grow up to tall and has a cosmopolitan distribution worldwide. Description ''Phragmites australis' ...

'' or common reed. Where the stream runs close to the carr, there is

giant fescue ''Lolium giganteum'', giant fescue, is a woodland grass that grows on neutral to base-rich soils, often near streams or other damp places. It is native to Europe and much of Asia and has been introduced to parts of North America. Most publicati ...

, globe flower and marsh hawksbeard. Taxus baccata Lviv.JPG,

Yew Yew is a common name given to various species of trees. It is most prominently given to any of various coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus '' Taxus'': * European yew or common yew (''Taxus baccata'') * Pacific yew or western yew ('' Taxus ...

Alnus glutinosa. Umeru.jpg,

Black alder Black alder is a common name for several plants and may refer to: *''Alnus glutinosa'', native to Europe and widely naturalized *''Ilex verticillata ''Ilex verticillata'', the winterberry, is a species of holly native to eastern North America in ...

Phragmites australis (inflorescences).jpg,

Common reed ''Phragmites australis'', known as the common reed, is a species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae. It is a wetland grass that can grow up to tall and has a cosmopolitan distribution worldwide. Description ''Phragmites australis' ...

Atlas roslin pl Kostrzewa olbrzymia 3679 8317.jpg,

Giant fescue ''Lolium giganteum'', giant fescue, is a woodland grass that grows on neutral to base-rich soils, often near streams or other damp places. It is native to Europe and much of Asia and has been introduced to parts of North America. Most publicati ...

Trollius europaeus Spechtensee 01.JPG, Globe flower Crepis paludosa ENBLA01.jpeg, Marsh hawksbeard There is a clearing inside the encircling carr, and the fen here is populated by blunt-flowered rush. In the flushes within the fen there is a lot of marsh arrow grass and '' Carex lepidocarpa'' or long-stalked yellow sedge. Among these grow bird's eye primrose,

and

butterwort ''Pinguicula'', commonly known as butterworts, is a genus of carnivorous flowering plants in the family Lentibulariaceae. They use sticky, glandular leaves to lure, trap, and digest insects in order to supplement the poor mineral nutrition they ...

. The bird's eye primrose is scarce in England, growing mostly in the north-west of the country. It is rarer in Yorkshire. Juncus subnodulosus.jpeg, Blunt-flowered rush Triglochin palustris 02.jpg, Marsh arrow grass Carex lepidocarpa.jpeg, long-stalked yellow sedge Primula farinosa flowers 100704.jpg, bird's eye primrose Mannetjesorchis KW 1.JPG,

Early marsh orchid ''Dactylorhiza incarnata'', the early marsh-orchid, is a perennial, temperate-climate species of orchid generally found growing in wet meadows, and generally on base-rich soils, up to about 2100m asl. The species occurs widely in Europe and Asia ...

Pinguicula vulgaris, Japan 1.JPG,

Butterwort ''Pinguicula'', commonly known as butterworts, is a genus of carnivorous flowering plants in the family Lentibulariaceae. They use sticky, glandular leaves to lure, trap, and digest insects in order to supplement the poor mineral nutrition they ...

The more waterlogged patches contain greater reedmace alongside purple moorgrass. The site contains one patch of

cross-leaved heath ''Erica tetralix'', the cross-leaved heath, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to western Europe. Description It is a perennial subshrub with glandular leaves in whorls of four (whence the name). Appearing in summe ...

which can be seen among bog moss hummocks. Typha latifolia Finland.jpg, Greater reedmace Molinia caerulea habitus.jpeg, Purple moorgrass Glockenheide Erica Tetralix (1).JPG,

Cross-leaved heath ''Erica tetralix'', the cross-leaved heath, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native to western Europe. Description It is a perennial subshrub with glandular leaves in whorls of four (whence the name). Appearing in summe ...

Sphagnum.flexuosum.jpg, Bog moss Over 100 plant species, including the abovementioned, were seen by the Harrogate and District Naturalists' Society in May 2019, including

bog pimpernel ''Lysimachia tenella'', synonym ''Anagallis tenella'', known in Britain as the bog pimpernel, is a low growing perennial plant found in a variety of damp habitats from calcareous dune slacks to boggy and peaty heaths in western and southern Eur ...

, enchanter's nightshade,

twayblade ''Neottia'' is a genus of orchids. The genus now includes the former genus ''Listera'', commonly known as twayblades referring to the single pair of opposite leaves at the base of the flowering stem. The genus is native to temperate, subarctic ...

ragged robin ''Silene flos-cuculi'' (syn. ''Lychnis flos-cuculi''), the ragged-robin, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. It is native to Eurasia and Siberia and has been introduced to North America. Description ''Silene flos-c ...

, yellow pimpernel, '' Pedicularis palustris'' or marsh lousewort, ''

Valeriana dioica ''Valeriana dioica'', the marsh valerian, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to North America, Europe and Anatolia. It is typically found in calcareous fens. It is a dioecious species, with male and female flower ...

'' or marsh valerian, and early dog violet. On that day the Society also reported 35

bryophyte Bryophytes () are a group of embryophyte, land plants (embryophytes), sometimes treated as a taxonomic Division (taxonomy), division referred to as Bryophyta ''Sensu#Common qualifiers, sensu lato'', that contains three groups of non-vascular pla ...

species. Anagallis tenella Gors Goch.jpg,

20140711Circaea lutetiana2.jpg, enchanter's nightshade Listera ovata ENBLA01.JPG,

PedicularisPalustris.jpg, '' Pedicularis palustris'' or marsh lousewort Rhytidiadelphus.squarrosus.jpg, Bryophyte ''

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus ''Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus'' is a species of moss known as springy turf-moss in the United Kingdom, and square goose neck moss in the United States. It is widespread in Eurasia and North America, and has been introduced to the Southern Hemisphe ...

'' Orthotrichum stramineum (a, 144925-474542) 0632.JPG, Bryophyte '' Orthotrichum stramineum''

Fauna

The Roe deer,

red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...

and brown hare are present at Cow Myers. Capreolus capreolus p.jpg, Roe deer Rød ræv (Vulpes vulpes) scratching.jpg,

Red fox The red fox (''Vulpes vulpes'') is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere including most of North America, Europe and Asia, plus ...

European hare.jpg, Brown hare

Maintenance

In the flush and spring fen, the underground

aquifer An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing material, consisting of permeability (Earth sciences), permeable or fractured rock, or of unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt). Aquifers vary greatly in their characteristics. The s ...

s which waterlog this site contain particular minerals, and it is the combination of the minerals and water levels which affects the

diversity Diversity, diversify, or diverse may refer to: Business *Diversity (business), the inclusion of people of different identities (ethnicity, gender, age) in the workforce *Diversity marketing, marketing communication targeting diverse customers * ...

of plant life here. Thus the aquifers must be protected from agricultural and commercial

water abstraction Water extraction (also known as water withdrawal, water abstraction, and water intake) is the process of taking water from any source, either temporarily or permanently, for flood control or to obtain water for, for example, irrigation. The ex ...

, and from industrial contamination such as

pollution Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the component ...

and

fertiliser A fertilizer or fertiliser is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrition, plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from Liming (soil), liming materials or other non- ...

. Light grazing by cattle is recommended to keep the

spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a he ...

s clear, and light, seasonal trampling of the fen by cattle is considered an advantage. However enrichment of soil by cowpats and

animal feed Animal feed is food given to domestic animals, especially livestock, in the course of animal husbandry. There are two basic types: fodder and forage. Used alone, the word ''feed'' more often refers to fodder. Animal feed is an important input ...

is discouraged, because the protected fen plants require poor soil. Regarding the

lowland Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland. Definitions Upland and lowland are portions of a ...

wet

woodland A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with woody plants (trees and shrubs), or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the '' plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunli ...

, or carr, the recommendation is for minimum disturbance. This allows trees to mature, fall, and create clearings, while maintaining the delicate balance of fragile

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...

s. Clearings permit a variation of wind, sun and shadow, promoting growth of a variety of

understorey In forestry and ecology, understory (American English), or understorey (Commonwealth English), also known as underbrush or undergrowth, includes plant life growing beneath the forest canopy without penetrating it to any great extent, but above ...

plants. It might sometimes be necessary to clear vegetation, or even

coppice Coppicing is the traditional method in woodland management of cutting down a tree to a tree stump, stump, which in many species encourages new Shoot (botany), shoots to grow from the stump or roots, thus ultimately regrowing the tree. A forest ...

some trees, to maintain areas of light in the carr.

Natural England Natural England is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, ...

suggests that public access near deep pools and potentially falling trees should be restricted. Cow Myers is located in the Nidderdale

, and sometimes the organisation's volunteers are brought in to assist with maintenance.

Development and risk assessment

The site was last officially assessed in September and October, 2012. It was judged that Area One, of " broadleaved mixed and

woodland (

)," was in favourable condition. Area Two, of "lowland

marsh In ecology, a marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous plants rather than by woody plants.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p More in genera ...

and

swamp A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...

," was in unfavourable and recovering condition. Some parts of Area Two were in favourable condition with diverse

flora Flora (: floras or florae) is all the plant life present in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring (indigenous (ecology), indigenous) native plant, native plants. The corresponding term for animals is ''fauna'', and for f ...

including bird's eye primrose, however the fen areas needed more horse and cattle

grazing In agriculture, grazing is a method of animal husbandry whereby domestic livestock are allowed outdoors to free range (roam around) and consume wild vegetations in order to feed conversion ratio, convert the otherwise indigestible (by human diges ...

to prevent scrub from encroaching. Area Three, of "lowland broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland," was judged favourable, although encroachment of

Himalayan balsam ''Impatiens glandulifera'', Himalayan balsam, is a large annual plant native to the Himalayas. Via human introduction it is now present across much of the Northern Hemisphere and is considered an invasive species in many areas. Uprooting or cutt ...

was noted. In 2004, Cow Myers was considered for the

Flood Defence Scheme, by the Agriculture and Wetlands Technical Group, as a flood management area. This would potentially have had an effect on water levels and retention of biodiversity. In 2014 it was noted by the

Environment Agency The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1996 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with responsibilities relating to the protection and enha ...

that chemicals from slug pellets, possibly originating in agriculture further upstream, were contaminating the water at Cow Myers. In an undated document from

County Council A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries. Australia In the Australian state of New South Wales, county councils are special purpose ...

's Minerals and Waste Plan, the effect on neighbouring SSSIs including Cow Myers was considered.

References

External links

* {{cite web , title=Subsubfonds YWT/5/57 - Cow Myers/Ellington Banks , url=https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/ywt-5-57 , website=borthcat.york.ac.uk , publisher=Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York , accessdate=9 January 2020 , date=1971 (This reference represents one 1971 file in

University of York The University of York (abbreviated as or ''York'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public Collegiate university, collegiate research university in York, England. Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thir ...

archive) Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire Sites of Special Scientific Interest notified in 1984