Curlew Fields – Yorkshire

A downward curving beak and long legs used to wade through marshes and wetlands are just two features of this magnificent bird that we call a Curlew. (Numenius arguata if you’d prefer). Found near estuaries and marshland, poking its beak into soft mud to feed on worms, crabs and molluscs or roaming on heather moors and rough grasslands, the Curlew has pride of place on this pretty bottle from Curlew fields farm. The farm takes its name from the Curlews, which nest in the vicinity.

The farm occupies a delightful patch of land in the village of Hessay in Yorkshire. The Ordnance Survey was named the village as the centre of Yorkshire in 2012, although I understand there is some dispute, and the honour may go to the hamlet of Cattal several miles west of Hessay. Let’s not get bogged down with who is or isn’t the centre because if you are visiting Curlew Fields farm, the only thing you will be concerned with is vending some fresh farm milk fresh from the herd of Holstein milking cows into this gorgeous bottle.

Suppose you do find yourself with some time to spare? In that case, you could take a four-minute walk towards the north of the farm along New Road and see the old fashioned manually controlled gates at the railway crossing. While waiting at the gates to watch a passing train, you might notice the abandoned platform of Hessay Railway station, which closed in 1958. Alternatively, you could take a longer stroll to the west of the farm along New Road and onto Shirbutt Lane (the name Shirbutt lane is derived from Shire Butts, from when the village was used as a jousting location), then head along Roman Road back onto New Road and approach the crossing from the northside, taking in the lovely views and maybe spotting a Curlew.

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