A NEW leaflet is highlighting the history, nature and recent conservation efforts along one section of Bradford Beck.
The self-guided walk follows the Beck between Shipley and Poplar Road for a mile and has been produced by the Friends of Bradford’s Becks (FOBB).
Dedicated to preserving the district’s becks, the group is inviting residents to discover some of the watercourse’s secrets through the walk, entitled A Stroll Along Bradford Beck.
Barney Lerner, chairman of the group, said: “This is a short, easy walk which is suitable for everyone, including families.
“There are lots of points of interest along the way, such as the remains of an old, cobbled weir, the place where the stream from Heaton Woods, Red Beck, tips secretly into Bradford Beck, and where the Beck has been buried underground for no apparent reason.
“You can see how much of the Beck has been transformed from a winding, natural river into a straight man-made channel, but you can also see where recent improvements have been made, such as low-cost ‘fish passes’, which make it easier for fish to travel up and down the river.”
The leaflet itself includes information on the fish pass, a double weir, flood monitors and concrete blocks which replaced a section of a wall destroyed by flooding.
In addition, it details where an old weir can be seen, as well as where Red Beck ends, and a covered portion of the beck.
The self-guided walk is accessible year-round, so people can explore Bradford Beck at their own pace.
To find out more click here.
It is in addition to a series of walks that were unveiled by FOBB in previous years, including seven longer walks ranging from 4 to 9km in length.
The new leaflet is available at Shipley Library, the Dandelion café in Shipley or from Visit Bradford in the city centre.
There is digital version available online, where the other walks around Bradford’s Becks are also available.
As well as the walks, one of FOBB’s major projects in recent years has been marking the route of the beck where it runs underground through the city centre.
A Plaque Trail was completed in 2016, where stone markers were installed at 15 locations throughout the city centre to highlight the hidden beck.
The trail takes people along the route from Thornton Road, near the Bradford Live project and through to Lower Kirkgate, past the Midland Hotel.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here