The Garth is owned and managed by the Parish Council on behalf of the village. Councillors Luker, Lloyd and Horsfield are Garth Wardens; please contact them if you are aware of any issues. Alternatively, our Clerk has a dedicated phone line and email.
The footbridge & path from Bishopdyke to Broad Lane is part of the Wolsey Walk and as such is maintained by North Yorkshire Council.
The Garth is subject to restrictions regarding the pond which is the habitat of the protected species, the Great Crested Newt and is also subject to regulation as a Site of Interest in Nature Conservation. SE53-02 Castle Garth citation 2021
https://www.arc-trust.org/great-crested-newt
The pond has several picnic tables around it for public use and a viewing platform to look more closely at the inhabitants but, please, no pond dipping. A lifebelt is available for emergencies.
We had some large Willows coppiced and made log piles for wildlife. Other trunks were carved into the big toadstools in use at the play area.
In 2021 a snowdrop walk was instigated as a community project when contributions of snowdrops in the green were planted along the footpath. 75 additional clumps were planted in 2022 and 50 more in 2024
In 2023 an Oak sapling was planted to commemorate the coronation of King Charles 111
The Garth is within the Conservation Area and its rich archaeological heritage involves English Heritage regulation. It and Gill Green are classed as Scheduled Monuments.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1011518
Scheduled monuments
Scheduled monuments (known previously as scheduled ancient
monuments) are designated 3
at national level and consents are
administered nationally too, by Historic England. Scheduling
is a stronger and less flexible form of protection than listing.
Virtually all works to scheduled monuments need consent. The
impact of development on a scheduled monument or its setting
would be a material consideration in planning decisions.
What remains of the Castle is grade 1 listed. It and land to the front is owned and managed by Landmark Trust.
with thanks to Edward Croot
In summer, the Parish Council pay to have the grass cut and cleared. This is used for animal fodder so we urge residents to please clear up after their dogs.
Sheep graze through several months of the year, when electric fences are employed.
4thCASTLE GARTH MANAGEMENT PLAN (1)
Map of Garth for maintenence (1)
Children at Cawood School act as Guardians of the Garth and Gill Green . They help clear vegetation, pick up litter, paint signage, paint the footbridge and make insect, bird and animal shelters.
They have created a Nature Trail which has 8 etched slate plaques to make rubbings. The map has nature notes on the back.
We hope to encourage the children to sow wild flower seeds under the new Whitebeam trees and possibly create a wildflower area at Gill Green. A snowdrop path is being developed along the school hedge side of the path.We are creating dead hedging along some boundaries and will be planting new mixed hedging on other boundaries in Autumn.
Information boards have been installed near the pond, log piles and bug hotel. We hope some picnic tables will be painted to create friendship tables. Bird nesting boxes have been installed, including one for Barn Owls. We are still trying to establish a partnership with a local college or Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to help us go forward with looking after the land and wildlife. As part of the Jubilee commemorations, we created a Deed of Dedication with Fields in Trust. A locally grown Oak tree was planted in the Autumn to mark the Coronation.
Guide created by Heritage Group:
http://www.cawoodheritage.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/last-very-best-copy-guide.pdf