Silsden Campaign for the Countryside

21/01/2026

21/01/2026

Caroline and Janet joined volunteers from Plastic Free Silsden tackling the huge amount of rubbish in the shrubbery at Steeton and Silsden station this morning

11/08/2025

Going,Going, Gone…. for £6.5m!

Yes, that’s what Persimmon Homes have paid out to local landowners for the destruction of a vital part of Silsden’s natural world.

The rural landscape between Brown Bank/Bolton Road and Hawber Cote, the home of flora and fauna and public delight, is set to disappear under concrete and tarmac following a massive exchange of cash.

Thanks to the Land Registry, we can reveal that Persimmon, one of the UK’s wealthiest developers, have paid:

£4,200,920 to the family of millionaire businessman Geoffrey Mountain (of North Rigton and Silsden)
£2,299,079 to the trustees of the late Silsden solicitor David Winstanley

Mr Mountain, who heads numerous businesses in the electric lighting, air transport and building sectors, is a well-known regular purchaser of countryside throughout the Silsden district. Some years ago, he snapped up land now known as the Bolton Gardens estate and made a successful appeal against Bradford Council’s refusal of development there. He subsequently sold the fields to Skipton Properties.

The Mountain family’s more recent Brown Bank acquisition came via a deal with a local landowner.

The Persimmon plan, approved by Bradford Council, is to build138 luxury homes across this lovely stretch of farmland, which has played a key role in Silsden community life since medieval times. It has a rich treescape, abundant bird and mammal life, and is criss-crossed by several footpaths which attract walkers throughout the year.

But it is still not enough for the developers! It is clear from the site plan, showing two new roads going right up to the site boundary, that even more housing is planned. Other documents back this up, meaning that they could open up more of the adjoining countryside for development if planning permission is received in the future. It seems that our whole rural landscape is under grave threat, with lust for money at its heart.

19/05/2025

There was a brilliant turnout for Sunday's community walk organised by Silsden Campaign for the Countryside.

Over 100 walkers of all ages took a route through fields around Hawber Cote, Swartha and Brown Bank to demonstrate the town's affection for this beautiful countryside and the widespread devastation that much of the land is due to be lost to housing development.

A giant curlew - the magnificent costume worn by conservationist Matt Trevelyan - led the walk, highlighting the threat which faces the feeding grounds of endangered curlews. Trees, hedgerows and footpaths were also a focus of the walk.

08/05/2025

A giant curlew, last seen crossing the Yorkshire Dales followed by TV cameras, will be landing in Silsden on Sunday May 18th.
Matt Trevelyan, a Nidderdale conservationist, is again donning his 10 feet tall bird costume to join the Community Walk, organised by Silsden Campaign for the Countryside, across the threatened Hawber Cote/Brown Bank fields.
Over 130 houses are planned there by Persimmon Homes, in association with local landowners, with possibly even more farmland losses in the pipeline.
At Easter, Matt in his hand-made costume walked 53 miles through the Dales to draw attention to the plight of the curlew, one of Britain’s best loved birds that is in steep decline.
“Curlews are often seen feeding in the Hawber fields, so it seems very appropriate that a giant curlew will help us demonstrate the sort of losses that the natural world is facing here,” say the Campaign.
Matt, who is a farming officer for Nidderdale National Landscape, believes that curlews are an integral part of local culture. “The call of the curlew is iconic, special, wild and magical. If children grow up never hearing that call, it’s a real loss to the richness of life.”
The walk, which will also highlight potential threats to other wildlife and to trees, hedges and footpaths, leaves at 2pm from the top of Silsden Park. The Campaign urges people to show their affection for this very popular stretch of countryside.

06/05/2025

We have a Dawn Chorus walk next Sunday (11th) at Beck Wood.The walk is lead by local ornithologist Mark Doveston. Mark really knows his birds and will identify individual bird calls amoungst the myriad of birds usually singing within the chorus. Useful if you are learning to identify bird song. Should be an interesting session.

23/04/2025

A LAST FAREWELL?

Our Campaign is organising a Community Walk through the threatened Hawber Cote fields on SUNDAY 18TH MAY AT 2PM
Please join us.
The walk, billed as a possible last farewell to popular fields at Silsden due to disappear under new housing development, will take place on Sunday May 18th.
The event aims to demonstrate the depth of local affection for ‘this special countryside which means so much to Silsden.’
Starting from the top of Silsden Park at 2pm, the circular walk will cross the threatened Hawber Cote fields towards the hamlet of Swartha and nearby Brown Bank, using centuries-old footpaths which are set to be diverted or closed entirely when Persimmon Housing move in to create 138 new homes on the site. Trees and hedges of special significance, including those with preservation orders, will be pointed out as features that need constant vigilance by the community and councillors.

07/03/2025

A new book of local walking routes, celebrating the Silsden countryside and its colourful history, has been published.
‘Discovering Silsden 2’ by Cathy Liddle includes walks for all abilities and reveals delightful stories about our rural heritage. It’s on sale at Silsden Post Office and at Kirkgate News at £8.50.