Bradford Countryside and Rights of Way and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have been doing some vital management work at Raw Nook LNR.
For many years the woodland within the reserve has grown increasingly dense, and the closed canopy has reduced the amount of light reaching the woodland floor. As a result, ground‑nesting birds and many woodland wildflowers have declined. To restore a healthier structure, a small number of mature trees have now been selectively felled.
This will allow sunlight to reach the understory again, encouraging a richer ground flora and improving habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife. The felled timber will remain on site, where it will create valuable deadwood ecosystems that support fungi, invertebrates and small mammals — an important part of a naturally functioning woodland.
Peter Gurney from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust agreed to cut the wildflower meadow and arranged volunteers from Solenis Chemicals and NG Bailey both Low Moor companies.
Cutting was done by Peter and with so many volunteers raking the work was not so back breaking.
Our conservation group would really like to thank all the volunteers from Solenis Chemicals and NG Bailey and our good friend Peter Gurney YWT for all their dedication and hard work and ensuring that the wildflower meadow will be full of flowers and pollinators for next year
