YWT Stirley

15/07/2026

Are you passionate about wildlife and looking to start a career in nature conservation? We’re looking for an enthusiastic and hardworking intern to join our team and gain real, practical experience across a wide range of conservation work. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop new skills, work alongside experienced staff and make a genuine difference for nature.

You can find out more about the role and how to apply through the link.

York Head Office Project Assistant (North)  Apply for this jobJob SummaryApply for this jobSalaryWithin the range £23,750 - £24,768 per annumHours35 hours per weekContract typeFixed-TermLocationYork Head OfficeAttachments  Apply for this job

09/07/2026

Last week, the Stirley team headed out on a field trip to join River Holme Connections at a nearby grassland site which was bursting with yellow rattle, an important wildflower.

Using a special brush harvester, we collected yellow rattle seed from the meadow. The next step is to spread the freshly harvested seed out on tarpaulins to dry before it can be safely stored and eventually sown.

We are happy to share that some of this seed will be used on the meadows at Stirley, helping to boost our meadow restoration work. River Holme Connections will also be using seed from the harvest in their own restoration projects.

Did you know?
Yellow rattle gets its name from both its bright yellow flowers and the distinctive rattling sound made by its ripe seeds when the plant is disturbed.

08/07/2026

A warm welcome Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, to our YWT Stirley reserve this morning, on the day we also welcome the launch of West Yorkshire’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which will protect wildlife and improve people’s health and wellbeing by connecting them with nature. A crucial document we've been closely involved in creating, with evidence and data and support.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

03/07/2026

Excited for tomorrow at Stirley — Mikron Theatre is performing Wensleydale Whey.

There will be tea and coffee available to buy on site, so just bring your own chair and settle in.

The performance begins at 1pm, but please arrive with enough time to park and get comfortable. It’s going to be a lovely afternoon.

29/06/2026

We recently welcomed a shearer to Stirley to give our Hebridean sheep their annual trim and remove their thick winter fleece.

Shearing day is always a hive of activity, with our fantastic volunteers working together to guide the sheep through the pens, on to the shearer, over to the vaccination station, and then safely back out into the field.

With their heavy wool coats removed, the sheep will be much more comfortable - particularly in this weeks heatwave. They may look a little different without their fleeces – some even resemble goats at first glance – but we're sure they're enjoying the lighter feeling!

27/06/2026

While visiting the site to ring the barn owl chicks, Karen also had the chance to ring a brood of pied wagtail chicks that had made their home inside one of our barns – a lovely surprise for us!

We had spotted the parent birds regularly darting under the barn door carrying food, so it was exciting to discover the chicks safely tucked away inside. They're certainly much smaller than the barn owl chicks we featured a few days ago, but just as fascinating to see.

25/06/2026

Join us at Stirley Food Festival - back for 2026! 🥕🌼

Are you a local trader, artisan, producer or community group passionate about sustainability and nature-friendly practices? We'd love to hear from you!

We're currently looking for stallholders to be part of our annual festival, celebrating the very best local, sustainable and environmentally conscious organisations, makers, growers and producers. 🍏

This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your products, connect with the local community and be part of a vibrant event dedicated to supporting people and businesses that care for nature and the environment.

If this sounds like you, or if you know someone who would be a great fit, please get in touch for more information and to reserve your space.

Email [email protected] or DM us.

24/06/2026

We were delighted to welcome one of our team members, who is a qualified bird ringer, to YWT Stirley last week. During her visit, she discovered 5 healthy barn owl chicks in one of our boxes - fantastic news!

This is a wonderful sign that the birds are thriving and the habitat is providing the birds everything that they need, with plenty of small mammals living in the rough grassland for them to feed on.

Watch the video below to see one of the chicks and find out more about the important work of bird ringing and how it helps us monitor and protect these stunning birds.