Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve

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Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve

message us for group visits. Please contact Steve Parkes on 07770 840156 for further details.

Next to the Wharfe this special place has marshy grassland with orchids, wild garlic woodland, ponds and an excellent spot to view wildlife of the river including kingfisher sand martins and if you're lucky otter. Wharfedale Naturalists Society manage the site in conjunction with the owners Bradford Council.This page is about promoting the benefits of visiting the reserve and the opportunity to join our working parties that take place on the 2nd saturday of the month 9.30 to 12.30. For parking if there is no space in the layby Moss & Moor garden centre have kindly offered use of their car park please use the back of their car park leaving the front for their customers.

29/09/2026

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🦦

Otters have been spotted in and around Bradford, so keep your eyes peeled when you’re out enjoying our green spaces.

If you’re lucky enough to spot one, please remember that otters are wild animals. 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺.

If you come across an otter that is injured or in distress, find out what to do and who to contact on our website 👇

🔗 𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀.𝗼𝗿𝗴/𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱-𝗮𝗻-𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀-𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁-𝘆𝗼𝘂-𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄/

13/07/2026

Found at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve on Saturday morning. Please message if they are yours

12/07/2026

Wonderful family day yesterday which we hope will make lasting memories..chidren netting grasshoppers in the meadow, fishing newts out of the ponds, discovering the musky scent of otter pooh and moths the size of your hand. Thanks to all the volunteers who made it possible. If you would like to support the work Wharfedale Naturalists Society at Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Local Nature Reserve we have just set up a page on People's Fundraising- see the last photo for the QR code

10/07/2026

Bring your little monsters to meet our little monsters. Family Fun day Saturday 11th 10.30 to 2.30 pm.
The fairies have been busy cleaning their front doors. The dragons are flying.
We also have lots of lovely shade and a cool breeze from the river ..

05/07/2026

Come and see our resident kingfishers at our Family Fun Day Saturday 11 July 10.30 to 2.30. Discover the calls they make so you're ready to spot them when they appear throughout the day. Thanks to Sam Howcroft for these excellent photos.

30/06/2026

Today in the sunshine.. stunning display including a giant bellflower in a sea of foaming white hedge bedstraw

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!

Address

Coutances Way, Wharfedale
Bradford
SE144477

Telephone

+447770840156

Website

http://benrhyddingnature.org/

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