Skipwith Common

Skipwith Common is a National Nature Reserve in North Yorkshire, England. It is part of the lowland landscape around the Vale of York.

It is one of the most extensive remaining areas of lowland heath in northern England. Its acidic soils support plants and animals adapted to heathland conditions rather than ordinary fertile farmland.

The common supports characteristic heathland vegetation such as heather and other plants tolerant of acidic soils. Its mixture of heath, grassland, scrub, and wet areas creates several distinct habitats within North Yorkshire.

Conservation management maintains the open heathland structure and prevents scrub and woodland from taking over every area. This is important because lowland heath is a specialized habitat that depends on active management.