Visitors enjoyed an open day at a North Yorkshire nature reserve despite wet weather.

The Swale and Ure Washlands Project held an open day at Marfield nature reserve, in Masham, on Saturday.

Staff and volunteers for the project were on hand at the 38-acre former quarry, and the project's field officer Mark Hewitt led two guided walks.

The site is rich in wildlife diversity and most of it has been designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.

It has a range of habitats including open water, reed beds, established scrub and wet woodland.

The fen area, which is a designated SSSI, is accessible and includes rush, sedge and wet pasture with open pools.

Mr Hewitt said: "It was a successful day despite the weather which was a bit wild and woolly. There were large numbers of oyster catchers and about a dozen shellduck. There was also a biggish flock of greylag geese and quite a few tufted duck.

"We even discovered a single solitary cowslip in bloom, braving the elements."

The washlands project promotes an improved and enhanced historic wetland landscape, increasing biodiversity and improving everyone's experience of it.