What's on your doorstep - Nature Reserves
/A Nature Reserve is an area where animals and plants are protected and undisturbed, and we are lucky enough to have a few in the Huddersfield area.
My local one at Dalton Bank has a small car park that fits about a dozen cars, and has a good mixture of wildlife, flaura and fauna.
To extend your walk around the Dalton Bank Nature Reserve there is a footpath alongside the River Colne, where we have seen Roe Deer, American Mink, Kingfisher, Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, Grey Squirrel and Green Woodpecker. For more details on our extended 3 mile route visit:- /dalton-bank-nature-reserve
Another of the Nature Reserves in the Huddersfield area is at Upper Park Wood near Honley which is a bit more difficult to get to but still worth a visit. Again we have seen Roe Deer there, plus a wide selection of trees, flora and fauna.
Thunder Bridge Meadow is very pleasant but has limited parking in the valley, so it’s worth parking on Wood Lane (Boothroyd Woods) and including the woods in your walk down to the meadow. This means a bit of a climb back up through the woods to get back to your car, but it will help keep you fit. In the meadow is a good variety of plants, you may also see Mallard, Grey Heron, Pied Wagtail, Dipper and if you’re lucky you may see the resident Barn Owl.
Stirley Community Farm near Castle Hill is run by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. There are some decent short walks in the area, and the farm itself has restored an old barn into an education facility, built a food garden, planted an orchard, introduced bee hives and provides conservation training for young people. https://www.ywt.org.uk/places-visit/flagship-sites/welcome-stirley-community-farm-huddersfield
Further afield at Brighouse, the Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve attracts lots of visitors, and it also has some feeding stations which attracts dozens of species of birds. There is also a small seating area for the budding wildlife photographers amongst you, and outside of lock down is definitely worth a visit. https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/nature-reserves/cromwell-bottom-local-nature
Marsden Moor Estate is probably the largest nature reserve in the area, and is run by the National Trust. On the remote moors you can expect to see Red Grouse, Golden Plover and at twilight look out for Short Eared Owls. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/marsden-moor-estate
Other Nature Reserves just outside the Huddersfield area include Pugneys Country Park, Newmillerdam, Seckar Woods, Bretton Country Park, and although Ingbirchworth Reservoir isn’t a designated Nature Reserve it needs a mention. Ingbirchworth has some bird feeding stations, a little picnic area off to one side where Yellowhammer and Tree Creeper have been spotted, and with various Gulls, Divers and Grebes visiting the water, it is definitely worth a mention.
These Nature reserves provide an opportunity to spend some time in a green space which can benefit your mental and physical well being. Even spending 5 minutes observing and interacting with wildlife in their natural environment, can improve people's feelings of wellbeing, and connection to nature.
Nature Reserves are also a great way to introduce the kids to the outdoors, you could download one of our Nature spotters sheets as a homeschooling lesson, or have a look at our top tips for walking with kids for some ideas on how to keep them entertained during walks.
Not being able to travel to my beloved mountains in Scotland because of lock down, has certainly put a damper on things, but these green spaces, some of which are right on my doorstep have been an entertaining distraction for me and there is plenty to see.