Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve

07/06/2026

Male broad-bodied chaser dragonfly and the intricate mating of common blue damselfly at the new pond last week

06/06/2026

Great display of orchids at the reserve following the sunshine and rain. Will peak about 14th June. Photos don't do them justice estimate about 300 flowering spikes.

21/05/2026

The rain held off on Tuesday's Invertebrate evening. We had a great turnout focussing on the ponds and river. One of the highlights was this Diving Beetle larvae. Similar to a dragonfly nymph but with the addition of a pair of powerful pincers. Know as "water tigers" they can give you a nip!

18/05/2026

We will be going ahead with our invertebrates and pond evening Tuesday 19th May as planned. Forecast doesn't look great but it didnt today and it's been pretty good!

06/05/2026

All invited to this Wharfedale Naturalists Society event at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve 7pm 19 May. This session is to help learn about some of the smaller inhabitants at the reserve. Specialists will be on hand to help ID species. This event is aimed at Adults & Students. We will be hosting a Family Day on 11th July. Please follow us for updates

04/05/2026

As we approach the 6th anniversary of this horrific event... a reminder to all dog walkers that they need to keep their dogs under control and on leads at all times of the year. In April it was frustrating to see a family put their golden retriever on a lead on 2 occasions only when they saw a work party present and only metres away from ground nesting birds. We review our policy every year as to whether to continue to allow dogs and are considering a complete ban

"THIS was the saddest, most traumatic nature sighting that I have ever been witness to."

15/04/2026

Work group have been busy again. Very rewarding work with the lovely comments we get from visitors. Trying not to let the disrespectful atitude of the bulldog and labrador owners spoil the day. New bench opposite the pond using the seat from the old bench. Just need to cut the top of the bolts off so please be careful in the meantime. Plus a simple stump seat. The pond is coming to life. The lesser pond sedge is just coming into flower as is the kingcup or marsh marigold.

14/04/2026

Catch them whilst you can.. .we have a few singing male blackcaps on the reserve. Known as the "Northern Nightingale" for their fabulous song .They are easiest to see now before all the tree leafs unfurl.

04/03/2026

Delighted to get the new bench in position today. Thanks to Steve Amos (pictured) for his generous donation and other workgroup members for their help today. Its mounted on quick drying concrete. Once its fully dry it will be bolted in place so please use with care until you can see the fixings are in place.

03/03/2026

Our 1st summer visitor of the year Chiffchaff. You'll recognise it by its song ... chiffchaff..chiffchaff, once heard never forgotten. A few birds now over winter in the UK but this one probably flew up from North Africa or the Mediterranean. We had our 1st record on the 8th March last year so a few days earlier (stock photo)