A GROUP is helping to breathe new life into an area with “spectacular” views of the city, but which has been the target of fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour in recent years.

The Friends of Scaly Hills began meeting back in 2019 and since then have worked hard to improve paths and steps running across large green space, which stretches from Wibsey Bank, just off Manchester Road, to Brownroyd Hill Road, near St Enoch’s Road.

Their plans for 2020 were put on hold because of the pandemic, but instead they have progressed with the improvements to the paths and will relaunch other activities this summer.

The group, which includes people from Wibsey and the Carrbottom area of Bankfoot, won funding from different sources for the following:

  • Signposts in four locations to help people find the entrances to Scaly Hills
  •  Work to pipe a stream under a path at steps close to Spiers Garth, off Wibsey Bank
  • Levelling up uneven stones on two sets of steps and restoring a third set of steps with limestone chippings
  • Cutting a new set of steps into a slippery slope and improving path surfaces 

The new steps are the final piece of the jigsaw in ensuring Scaly Hills offers a good walk on sound paths from Brownroyd Hill Road right over to Wibsey Bank, in an area which is otherwise completely built up with no alternative green space except Wibsey Park.

The team have also dug out paths which had become narrow, while Bradford Council’s Rights of Way team has also installed new decking on a boggy path and contributed to other improvements.

Councillor David Green (Lab, Wibsey) chairs the group and said: “Scaly Hills is a great place to go for a short walk close to home – the views of the city are spectacular in some places, and you can really feel away from it all. 

“We’d like more people to get the physical and mental health benefits it offers for free, and we welcome anyone wanting to work with us on taking care of the area.”

The group, whose work began in April 2019 with the first clean-up when they removed more than two tonnes of fly tipping, is once again organising litterpicks to try and keep the area clean, as well as cutting back vegetation from path sides. 

There are also plans to install an information board to help people appreciate the history of Scaly Hills and its wildlife, and hopes to develop accompanied health walks with volunteers.

If you would like more information about the Friends of Scaly Hills, contact Liz Parker on liz.parker@bradford.gov.uk/01274 431155.