Noddle Hill Fishing Lake and Community Woodland

If you look at a local map, the low-lying areas north of Hull, around the river, are littered with toponyms including 'Ings' and 'Carr'. This is evidence this area was is flooded in the past, and, despite being crisscrossed by drains and ditches, is still easily flooded today. A 'carr' is a waterlogged wooded terrain, where common trees are alder, willow and sallow, whereas 'ings' is an old Yorkshire word for water meadows and marshes. Some examples are North Carr, Nun Carrs, East Carr, Swine Carrs, Carr Hill, Turf Carr, Carr House, Skidby Carr, The Ings and New Ings.

A view of North Carr, the diagonal line towards he right is the Holderness Drain. Note the whitish areas that, despite being in the middle of crop fields, are temporary ponds where regular flooding occurs. Drains and ditches also mark the limits between fields.

The place where we went today is placed on an edge of North Carr. It is a fishing lake surrounded by fields that were planted a few years ago (1996-99) and now are developing into a woodland and wet grassland. Two names are used for the site, Noddle Hill Fishing lake and Bransholme Fishing lake. This site is likely to become the first local nature reserve in Hull. It is well known for its dragonflies, fourteen species have been recorded here (check this website from the British Dragonfly Society for info and the latest sightings).

Great Culvert Pumping Station next to Holderness Drain.

Foredyke Stream

A view of the lake

The resident pair of Mute Swans

There are several marked paths, a Woodland Path and a Pond Path, and several other shorter ones with suggestive names. The Woodland path is a circular walk around the perimeter of the site, there are broad views of North Carr and Foredyke Stream (a drain in fact). The paths are being improved for access, but there are still many muddy sections. There is a small educational pond surrounded by bullrushes and with a dipping platform and many benches and tables for picnicking.
 Foxes, rabbits, squirrels and harvest mice can be found in the site or nearby areas. As for birds, Barn Owls, Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Reed Buntings and Skylarks among many others have been sighted. A plant list can be found here.

Today there weren't many birds at the site. This is our bird list:

1. Carrion Crow
2. Blackbird
3. Robin
4. Mallard
5. Moorhen, several immatures.
6. Goldfinches
7. Mute Swan, pair, not ringed.
8. Wren
9. Dunnock
10. Woodpigeon
11. Collared Dove

Where to find it:

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