Work has restarted on re-instating the canal bridge. Contractors Land and Water will be pouring concrete over the next few weeks to provide the base for the new bridge which will be constructed off site but there is no change to the likely completion date of October. Meanwhile the Reserve will continue to open on Sundays for visitors using the canal towpath and look forward to seeing you between 9.00 and 5, or 10 and 4 if you’re intending to come into the Visitor Centre.
A further schedule of work has now been received from the Developer which, unfortunately, indicates that the completion of the engineering work to the swing bridge and access road is now likely to be mid October.
Further representations have now been made stating that the revised schedule is not acceptable. The Trust will continue to work closely with local councillors, Leeds City Council planning officers and Yorkshire Water to ensure rapid progress is made to protect the interests of the Reserve, its users and local communities.
In the interim the Sunday opening arrangements will continue with access via the canal towpath.
The Trust will continue to post information as soon as it becomes available.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust, 28 May 2022
The Reserve has been closed to the public to permit works to the canal swing bridge to proceed safely and with respect for residents.
It is now possible to re-open on Sundays 9.00am until 5pm from 3rd April for a trial period.
Until the bridge works are complete, access is restricted to CANAL TOWPATH USERS.
Trustees request that visitors take special care in parking, whether in Ross Mills, Rodley or Newlay, so as not to cause any inconvenience to residents.
We look forward to seeing you back.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust
The proposed development of the derelict Airedale Mills site adjoining the access to the Reserve will involve the replacement of the old canal swing bridge together with additional road works to the approach on Moss Bridge Road. Outline planning permission has already been granted and the development is now planned to go ahead in the new year.
The developer has assessed that this could take up to 5 months and during this period there will be no access for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians over the canal and the Trust has no option but to close the Reserve to the public after Sunday 2nd January. The closure period is uncertain and will depend on weather conditions and how work progresses – information about a reopening date will be posted on the website and social media as soon as it is known.
Trustees are aware of the importance of the Reserve to both wildlife and the community and will strive to minimise the duration of the closure.
The Trust regrets the necessity for the closure but looks forward to welcoming back our many visitors, migrant birds, butterflies and moths in the spring of 2022.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust
24 December 2021
Restrictions are being relaxed
As from Saturday 26th June the Reserve will operate as follows –
OPENING TIMES –
SATURDAY, SUNDAY and WEDNESDAY 9am UNTIL 5pm
All the following facilities will be available –
- Visitor Centre – 10am until 4pm – no internal seating and subject to volunteer availability
- Toilets
- Hides
- Supervised Pond Dipping – please refer to website/social media for details.
- Car Parks
Visitors must continue to observe Government advice regarding social distancing and face coverings, particularly when entering viewing hides.
Specific HIDE RULES will apply and will be posted at each hide entrance.
We ask our visitors to be considerate and allow each other the time and space to enjoy the Reserve.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust
19 June 2021
Restrictions are to continue
The Trust has reviewed the current situation and for the time being the restrictions detailed in Statement 11 will continue. Should the situation continue to improve the Trust will plan towards a safe easing of restrictions at Step 4 from 23rd June.
OPENING TIMES WILL CONTINUE AS FOLLOWS –
WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY 1pm UNTIL 5pm
Please note the Visitor Centre will close at 4.30pm
OPEN – Visitor Centre (sales from the door)
Toilets
Viewing Screens
Car Parks
CLOSED – Enclosed Hides
Pond Dipping
Visitors must continue to observe Government advice –
SOCIAL DISTANCING MUST BE APPLIED AT ALL TIMES
WEAR FACE COVERINGS WHERE SOCIAL DISTANCING MAY BE DIFFICULT AND WHERE YOU MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR GROUP.
We ask our visitors to be considerate and allow each other the time and space to enjoy the Reserve.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust
18th May 2021
Revised Restrictions
Following further advice from DEFRA received via the RSPB it will not now be possible to open viewing hides as previously planned. The Visitor Centre (sales from the door only) will, however, reopen as planned from WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL. This is in addition to previously opened facilities.
The Trust apologises for this late change to the easing of restrictions.
OPENING TIMES WILL CONTINUE AS FOLLOWS –
WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY 1pm UNTIL 5pm
Please note the Visitor Centre will close at 4.30pm
Pond Dipping activities will remain closed.
The safety of our visitors and volunteers remains paramount and the Trust will keep the situation under continuous review and should the situation change it may be necessary to consider further appropriate measures.
Visitors must continue to observe Government advice –
SOCIAL DISTANCING MUST BE APPLIED AT ALL TIMES
WEAR FACE COVERINGS WHERE SOCIAL DISTANCING MAY BE DIFFICULT AND WHERE YOU MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE YOUR GROUP.
We ask our visitors to be considerate and allow each other the time and space to enjoy the Reserve.
Rodley Nature Reserve Trust
11th April 2021
Following an assessment of the effectiveness of the current Duck Marsh habitat it’s great to be able to announce that, in partnership with Yorkshire Water, the area is be completely redeveloped and landscaped.
The area will provide a series of spits and islets with various water depths across the 3 acre site – positioning of the features will provide the optimum viewing from the two hides. An improved system for controlling water depths to the area will also be introduced.
The project will significantly improve the area’s diversity and hopefully attract a variety of new species for the benefit of our visitors.
Work is planned to start during January 2021 and is likely to take 10 to 15 days and, unfortunately, will cause disruption to the area.
The Trust would like to thank Yorkshire Water Services for their investment in the Reserve and for their technical assistance which is greatly appreciated.
It’s great to be able to announce that the Co-op Local Community Fund has chosen to support the Reserve’s access path project for 2020-21
A further 165m of hard path is to be constructed to link the Willow Path to the access road completing a full circuit of accessible pathway – thanks to Co-op funding.
Please support the project by joining as a Co-op member or, if already a member, by choosing the Rodley Nature Reserve as your local cause.
Digging the Lagoon in 1999
28th July 2020 is an important date in this year’s calendar as it marks the 20th anniversary of the official opening of Rodley Nature Reserve. It’s hard to imagine that not much more than a year before the official opening our four main wetland areas were just rough grassland. So much has been achieved since then.
Sadly, due to Covid-19 we are unable to celebrate the anniversary as we would have wished but there is something to look forward to this autumn – a new fully illustrated book entitled “Rodley Nature Reserve” – The First Twenty Years” which explains how the Reserve was created and how it has developed over this time.
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