Aerial view of Gosling Sike nature hub & wildlife garden
Tarraby Woods at Gosling Sike © Andrew Heptinstall
Lapwing © Jim Higham
Longhorn cattle © Emma Hesseltine
Snipe © Margaret Holland
Common darter dragonfly
Enjoy visiting a wildlife garden that’s buzzing with life; walk though pasture, wetland, and woodlands to see farming and nature working in harmony, and bring the family to seek The Lost Words.
Location
Houghton
OS Map Reference
OS 1:50,000. Sheet No. 85Grid reference: NY 410 588
Getting here
By car:
From M6 junction 44, take the A689 east. After 1km/0.5 miles, turn right onto Houghton Road. Drive through Houghton and Gosling Sike is approximately 200m/215 yds further on the right, after The Croft farmhouse.
From Carlisle centre take the A7 north. Turn right on the B6264. Follow the road for just over 1km/0.5 miles and turn left on to Houghton Road (by the pub), sign-posted to Houghton. Gosling Sike is on the left-hand side, just after the turn off for the housing estate on the right. Car parking is available at Gosling Sike.
A Pod Point Electric Vehicle charging station is on-site and visitors are welcome to use it..
By bicycle:
Gosling Sike is 2km/1.25 miles from National Route 72 Hadrian's Cycleway.
By public transport:
A main line train service goes to Carlisle. Buses run from Carlisle to Houghton and stop near the entrance.
View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
When to visit
Opening times
Open all year roundBest time to visit
April to JulyAbout the reserve
What makes Gosling Sike so special?
Situated on the edge of Carlisle, Gosling Sike is ideally positioned for people to access this unique site or to enjoy a tranquil walk. The site has plenty going on from education and training to The Lost Words wildlife garden, giving a great example of a green oasis where wildlife meets organic farming.
Wildlife highlights
- Discover farmland birds including snipe and curlew
- Visit the scrapes and pools to see warblers and other waterbirds
- Dragonflies and damselflies can be seen in the wetland during the summer months
- A wildlife garden, buzzing with life from hedgehogs to hairy-footed flower bees
Recreating wetland habitats
Comprising a wetland with several ponds, hay meadows and pasture, established hedges and areas of woodland, it's an ever-improving landscape for wildlife.
The Trust embarked on a programme of work to re-meander Gosling Sike and create temporary pools to help recreate wet meadows, which are brilliant for wildlife.
Work is also being undertaken to manage the hedgerows, the woodland and the ponds to improve the biodiversity of the reserve.
A working farm
Part of the reserve is used for farming by Susan’s Farm CIC; an organic, Pasture for life working farm.
Recent History
Gosling Sike Farm was given to Cumbria Wildlife Trust by Susan Aglionby. The transfer of the land was completed in 2012.
Species
Contact us
Did you know?
Susan's Farm is a registered charity that provides opportunities for learning and practical work experience. Activities focus on educational visits, therapeutic working to support people's mental health and alternative provision for learning.
Upcoming events at Gosling Sike Nature Reserve
If there are any upcoming events at Gosling Sike Nature Reserve we'll show them to you below.
Support our conservation work on this nature reserve,
and protect Cumbria's wildlife & wild places.
Further information about Gosling Sike Nature Reserve
Thanks to individuals and funders who made a donation to make this project possible.
