Ballowfields Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is a small but fascinating area of land which is teeming with wildlife. It is a road-side site owned and managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
Here, the stream Eller Beck runs through an area of grassland that has built up on lead mining spoil. As a variety of different plant communities can be seen here. Metallophytes such as thrift, pyrenean scurvygrass and spring sandwort can be seen on the lead mining spoil close to the beck, meadowsweet can be seen in the wetter marshy areas and devil’s-bit scabious and harebell can be seen in some of the drier areas.
In addition, butterflies can be seen here on calm, dry days. A visit to this nature reserve would be ideal as part of a longer walk or day of activities. Ballowfields LNR is part of the larger Ox Close Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Pyrenean Scurvey-grass – Credit: Lynn O’Hagan 
Hoverfly on Devils bit scabious 
White Harebell – Credit: Judy Dunford 
Spring Sandwort – Credit: Fran Graham YDNPA