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History Of Hob Moor
Hob Moor, part of the Strays of York, was referred to in 1374 as "yhorkesmore" and originally consisted only of the Ancient Common area, bounded by watercourses. North Lane Pasture was added in 1824, part of Hob Moor Field in the 1930s and the back-filled Kelsey's Pond area behind the Swimming Baths in the 1950s.
The Ancient Common has been used from time immemorial for the grazing of animals, the only exception being during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s when, together with other areas of the York Strays, it was horse-ploughed for the production of food crops. The narrow ridges and furrows can still be seen where the grass is short. Today, cattle are put out to graze on the whole area from May Day to Hallowe’en. Evidence of ploughing during the Middle Ages can be seen in the medieval ridge and furrow in Hob Moor Field and North Lane Pasture. The broad curved ridges, created by ox ploughing over several centuries, are particularly well preserved in North Lane Pasture.
Documents from the 16th and 17th centuries mention a water mill in the north-east corner of Hob Moor; it is possible that the old track was already in existence at that time, maybe even as early as Roman times. Between 1920 and 1946, Railway Institute members had their golf course on Hob Moor and remains of greens can still be seen near the Green Lane access and near the Triangle.
Kelsey's Pond was a former claypit, one of the many worked in the 19th and 20th centuries in this area. It was a popular place for angling competitions and a wildlife haven, with swans nesting.
Wildlife of the Moor
Hob Moor is an area of old unimproved pastureland, with a rich diversity of grasses and wild flowers. On the Ancient Common area in particular, these include buttercups, common sorrel, self-heal, greater stitchwort and, on the damp patches, lady’s smock. Towards the Triangle the soil is sandier and there are harebell, pignut, gorse, common knapweed, bird's-foot trefoil, cat's-ear and germander speedwell. The Triangle itself is an important area of sandy heath and tormentil, sheep sorrel, heath bedstraw and great burnet can be seen.
Between the Ancient Common and North Lane Pasture there is a very old, species-rich hedge containing English elm, elder, blackthorn, guelder rose, hawthorn and dogrose. The hedges around Hob Moor are mostly of hawthorn, an excellent habitat that can contain up to 150 species of plant-eating insects. At intervals round the boundary there are groups of recent plantings of trees including oak, rowan, ash, beech, maple, bird cherry, horse chestnut and sycamore.
The grassland habitat of Hob Moor is a mosaic of mown areas and tussocky pasture and is perfect for skylark and meadow pipit, both of which ground-nesting birds breed here. The songflight of the skylark high above the Moor from January to July is unmistakable. Many other birds can be seen on Hob Moor including finches (which feed on the thistle seeds), sparrowhawk, wren, corn bunting, yellow hammer, jackdaw, kestrel, and kingfisher visiting the becks.
Management of the Nature Reserve
The cattle you can see on the Moor from May until October are a key part of the management of the reserve. The practice of cattle grazing the pasture and then being removed from the site is beneficial for native wildflowers.
Hedgerows are cut annually and new trees and hedges are planted in appropriate places. This is all done in keeping with the historical and natural heritage of Hob Moor and helps to safeguard this heritage for future generations.
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