Wildlife haven wins protection (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Wildlife haven wins protection

5:23am Tuesday 12th February 2008 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

A nature haven hidden between housing and industrial estates has been declared the first Local Nature Reserve in the Bradford district.

Lying near a railway line and a motorway, the 13-acre site off Railway Terrace, Low Moor, Bradford, is a popular haunt for walkers and a place to picnic. And now Bradford Council has granted the land Local Nature Reserve status to ensure its protection.

The Council-owned site is occupied by a wildflower meadow, grassland, a pond, birch woodland and heathland.

It also serves as an educational resource for school children who visit the reserve to study wildlife. It is patrolled by voluntary wardens and managed on behalf of the Council's Countryside and Rights of Way Service by the Cathedral Centre's Green the City project.

The area used to be British Railway sidings but now provides home for 68 species of flora and 15 types of butterfly and attracts foxes, birds and nocturnal mammals.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for the environment, said: "We are delighted to be declaring Railway Terrace as a Local Nature Reserve. This status reflects the importance of such areas, especially in the more urban parts of the district. It really is an oasis of nature among housing and industry and is well loved by local people."

The status has been awarded to the site under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act which gives local authorities powers to declare areas as Local Nature Reserves and also gives them nationally-recognised status.

Site manager Peter Boyd, of Green the City, said: "It's the only example of a lowland heath in Bradford and it's a rare habitat in Britain so we are excited. It will give it better protection against planning development.

"There's a high level of local community support for the management work and for this designation. I feel the Council is being very forward-looking in taking this initiative and hopefully now we can achieve the same at other suitable sites across the district."

Richard Clarke, bio-diversity officer at the Council, said: "It is a green area that has already been identified but is now better protected so that people can continue to enjoy using it. It is certainly a welcome decision and we will designate another site later this year."

Site managers, Green the City, seeks more volunteers to help monitor the site. Anyone interested in joining the team can contact the project on (01274) 308707.