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Boar's Well Urban Wildlife Reserve

Clearing the spring at Boar's Well
BEES have been involved in the management of the Reserve since the year 2000

Boars Well pond clearance in Oct 2005Boars Well pond clearance in Oct 2005Boars Well Urban Wildlife Reserve sits on the hillside above Canal Road. It is council land and the responsibility of the Countryside and Rights of Way team. . Our key tasks involve keeping the pathways accessible. BEES have been involved in the management of the Reserve for the past 8 years, controlling the spread of Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam, management of the wildflower meadow and the pond.

The Reserve is on a south facing slope and is a popular site for butterflies and birds. Kestrels nest on or near the site each year and can often be seen hunting over the hillside.

Geolocation

53.807309, -1.752372

Conservation Work

Friday 17th July, Boars Well Urban Wildlife Reserve, Kings Road, BD2

Day of the TriffidsDay of the Triffids

Another wet Friday but 10 volunteers successfully completed tasks to maintain open pathways and to remove invasive species. 

BEES have been cutting Japanese Knotweed in several areas of the Reserve for 9 years. Although we can record success it does still continue to grow. The task of controlling it is now made more difficult by the colonisation of other species - nettle is dominant and makes the task uncomfortable. 

We also work to control the Himalayan Balsam. This plant is easier to get under control than the Japanese Knotweed but eradication will be difficult as many of the plants are on inaccessible slopes. The site was once used as a rubbish tip and the ground is uneven and unpleasant.

 Not much sign of the wildlife that we usually enjoy at the Reserve today, all sensibly hiding from the elements.

 

 

 

Friday 6th November 2009: Boar's Well Urban Nature Reserve, Kings Road, BD2

6th November 2009: Meadow area cut and rakedMeadow area cut and raked 

Today we carried out a number useful tasks that will improve the potential for wildlife for the site. The two remaining meadow areas were cut and raked following the management technique of an upland grassland, the wildflowers and grasses will of set seed and removing the vegetation will allow them to regrow next next year. Further work was carried out on the pond removing the dominant species which will give more open water to allow insects to visit the habitat. We also tidied up the trees that had been chopped down poorly by vandals, these were coppiced to a suitable hieght that will allow them to regrow.   

Today we worked with 11 volunteers.

Click here for more photos of the day.