Bradford Pennine Gateway
{{Short description|Nature reserve in West Yorkshire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Bradford Pennine Gateway
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| image = Signpost on Penistone Hill - geograph.org.uk - 2752401.jpg
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| image_caption = Signpost on Penistone Hill
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| type = National nature reserve
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| nearest_city = Bradford
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| coordinates = {{coord|53.846|-1.843|display=inline, title}}
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| area = {{convert|1,274|ha}}
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| created = 2025
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| manager = Bradford City Council
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Bradford Pennine Gateway is a national nature reserve (NNR) around Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. The site covers an area of {{convert|1,274|ha}} around northern Bradford, in Haworth, Harden, Bingley, Baildon, Shipley, and Ilkley. It is the first national nature reserve in West Yorkshire, and one promoted as part of King Charles' "King's Series" of national nature reserves.
Background
King Charles III has "..expressed a deep love and concern for England’s wildlife, natural and rural places, frequently reflecting on his love of walking and its role in promoting a healthy mind and body."{{cite web |title=King's nature reserves to leave lasting legacy for people and nature |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/kings-nature-reserves-to-leave-lasting-legacy-for-people-and-nature |website=gov.uk |access-date=13 May 2025}} The King's Series project will designate five new NNRs every year between 2023 and 2027, making 25 new reserves in total.{{cite news |title=King Charles III's coronation marked by nature reserves announcement |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-65447721 |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=BBC News |date=1 May 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Ben |title=Brooding Brontë moors are site of new coronation nature reserve |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/brooding-bronte-moors-coronation-nature-reserve-w7r25j7sh |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=www.thetimes.com |date=12 May 2025|url-access=subscription}} Natural England noted that Bradford has a population of 500,000, but is considered one of the most nature deprived cities in England.{{cite news |last1=Siddiqi |first1=Hanaa |title=Massive Bradford Green Space Transformed into Expansive New Nature Reserve |url=https://www.sustainabletimes.co.uk/post/massive-bradford-green-space-transformed-into-expansive-new-nature-reserve |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=Sustainable Times |date=13 May 2025}}
Designation and areas
The Bradford Pennine Gateway was created in May 2025 and consists of eight sites across north and western Bradford, covering an area of {{convert|1,274|ha}}, which is twice the size of Ilkley Moor.{{cite news |last1=Heslett |first1=Charles |title=Bradford landscape that inspired Brontës to become nature reserve |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c365pzrd8eko |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=BBC News |date=13 May 2025}}{{cite news |editor-last1=Mitchinson |editor-first1=James |title=Bronte landscapes now part of nature reserve |work=The Yorkshire Post |date=13 May 2025 |page=6}} The designation allows for greater protection of certain habitats such as wetlands, heathlands and peat bogs, which are home to adders, short-eared owls, golden plovers and curlews.{{cite news |title=Bronte Country to become country’s newest National Nature Reserve |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bronte-country-to-become-countrys-newest-national-nature-reserve |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=gov.uk |date=13 May 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Horton |first1=Helena |title=Brontë country to become protected national nature reserve |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/13/bronte-country-national-nature-reserve-bradford-pennine-gateway |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=13 May 2025}} Just over 40% of the designated NNR will be newly protected, with {{convert|738|ha}} being designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). The reserve covers areas in and around Baildon, Bingley, Burley, Harden, Haworth, Shipley, Stanbury and Ilkley.{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Chris |title=Huge area of Bradford green space becomes new nature reserve |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/25156990.huge-area-bradford-green-space-becomes-new-nature-reserve/ |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=Telegraph & Argus |date=13 May 2025}} All of the sites contained within the reserve are managed by Bradford City Council, and it is hoped that the reserve will be the subject of field studies and research by local colleges and universities.
The reserve is the first NNR in West Yorkshire, and is the seventh reserve to be developed in the King's Series.{{cite news |last1=Speare-Cole |first1=Rebecca |title=Landscape that inspired Brontë sisters’ books made a nature reserve |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bradford-pennine-gateway-bronte-sisters-b2749561.html |access-date=13 May 2025 |work=The Independent |date=13 May 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e41bb8f356a2dc0e39b4f2/bradford-pennine-gateway-nnr-declaration-maps.pdf Mapping of the sites]
{{National nature reserves in Yorkshire and the Humber}}
Category:National nature reserves in England