About the reserve

Wildlife highlights

• A dazzling array of flowers including globeflower, melancholy thistle, lady’s-mantle, common knapweed, wood crane’s-bill, great burnet and devil’s-bit scabious can be seen between May and September.
• Broad-leaved helleborine can be seen in the birch, ash and willow woodland – it’s found here at its highest location in Cumbria
• Beautiful orchids such as frog, fragrant, common spotted and twayblade 
• In spring - flower display of bluebells, primrose, wild garlic along with herb paris and globe flower
• In summer - the upland hay meadow is at its best and orchids are in flower
• In autumn - the whole pasture is transformed into a blue mist of devil's bit scabious

Throughout the year you can explore the evidence of the industrial past and archaeological remains.

What makes Augill pasture so special?

The pasture is a particular type of species-rich grassland known as upland hay meadow.

With fewer than 1,000 hectares remaining in just a few valleys in the Pennines and Lake District, this landscape is extremely rare.

Wildflowers abound in the pasture  

The area of open grassland known as the pasture is a wonderful area of species rich grassland.

From May to September you can find a huge variety of different flowers here including melancholy thistle, lady's mantle, knapweed, wood cranesbill and great burnet.

In summer you will come across orchids such as fly orchid, fragrant orchid,  heath spotted and common spotted orchid.  If you look carefully you might also spot the unassuming frog orchid. 

September is the time when the meadow area takes on a wonderful purple hue when devil's bit scabious is in flower.

Rare mountain hay meadow

This type of grassland, known as mountain hay meadow, is extremely rare in Britain with less than 1,000 hectares remaining in just a few upland valleys in the Pennines and the Lake District.

The pasture was probably used for grazing pit ponies whilst the mines were in operation.

Woodland areas

Since the smelt mill was abandoned at the end of the 19th century, the woodland you now see has been able to regenerate.

The main tree species are birch, ash and willow with a shrub layer of hazel and rowan. 

In late summer, look out for the magnificent broad leaved helleborine which grows here at its highest location in Cumbria.

Keeping it special

In 1990 the site was threatened by the widening of the A66 but fortunately the road was re-routed and the nature reserve was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Management involves cutting and grazing to maintain the diversity of plant species found here.

Industrial history

Augill Pasture is now a haven for wildlife but during the 19th century it was at the heart of an industrial area.

Within the nature reserve are the remains of a lead smelt mill dating from 1843 (now leased by the North Pennines Heritage Trust) together with associated structures.

People's Meadow

Augill Pasture has been suggested by members of the public as a People's Meadow. These are people's favourite places to see meadow wild flowers. They encompass a range of sites; many with public access, some historic and others modern. Whilst these submissions have not been verified against the criteria of the Coronation Meadows project, they remain valuable places for people to enjoy our wonderful flora.

Recent history

Augill Pasture is owned by Plantlife and has been leased to Cumbria Wildlife Trust since 1998.