The Village of Bardsey cum Rigton is set in a varied ecological environment. It has the advantage of a rural setting where land and generous treescapes have reduced the impact of the built environment in the five loosely linked communities. Trees are important to the character of the village and a number of trees are subject to Tree Preservation Orders.
The village still maintains a surrounding boundary of fields and woodland, helping maintain its individuality.
Bardsey’s hills and valleys, giving long distance views across fields, streams, woodland and farmland present some of the most remarkable panoramic views in the area.
Conservation measures are taken to safeguard, for example, mature trees, historic hedges, rights of way and open spaces. Parts of the village lie within Conservation Areas
Woods and woodland
Part of Hetchell Woods, which is ancient woodland, is to be found within our boundary. The Hetchell Wood Nature Reserve is owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and the site is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and contains an abundance of flora of ecological importance. Footpaths and trails lead through the wood to Hetchell Crag – a gritstone cliff, and to the Roman earthworks known as Pompocali – dug out when this was a quarry.
Willan’s Wood lies adjacent to the A58 and is a small densely grown area with trees and shrubs. This Spring (2025) it will be surveyed as part of our baseline biodiversity assessment (see section on biodiversity).
Verges, Hedges and Trees
The Parish Council, together with Leeds City Council and in many cases private residents, maintain grass verges. The emphasis is two-fold: to maintain sight-lines so that drivers have a clear view of the road ahead (safety being of paramount importance) and to encourage the growth of native wild flowers and grasses. This is something of a balancing act. Some verges are cut 14 times during the summer; others are not cut between March and September/October. Regular monitoring of the grass cutting schedule takes place and if necessary the appropriate authorities are contacted to request changes.
Hedges are variously maintained by LCC, the Parish Council and individual residents. It is the responsibility of all landowners, council and private, to keep hedges trimmed so as not to impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic on footpaths or roads, but hedges should not be cut when birds may be nesting (between March and September) and at other times if active nests are seen.
Bardsey Parish Council keeps a watchful eye on all trees in the village. This Spring (2025) an arborist will look over the trees on the council’s landholdings to check that they are safe.
It is the responsibility of all landowners to ensure the safety of any trees on their land, especially if those trees are close to footpaths or roads, where falling wood could pose a serious threat to people, animals or vehicles.
You may notice that some “deadwood” in the Parish is left in situ IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. This is because deadwood is a vital component of a properly functioning ecosystem. It plays an important role in sustaining biodiversity, soil formation and nutrient cycling. In the UK up to a fifth of woodland species depend on dead or dying trees for all or part of their lifecycle and many of these species are rare or threatened.
Bardsey Fields
Bardsey Fields is owned by the East Keswick Wildlife Trust who bought it in 2022 in order to create a nature reserve. This is a fantastic resource not only for Bardsey but for the entire wider neighbourhood, and a wonderful legacy for future generations. It is exciting to be part of all this from its very beginning.
Bardsey residents were consulted on what they would like, and what they would not like, to see in the reserve, and how they would like to see it used. Final plans are yet to be drawn up, but the raw beginnings are taking shape. This Spring, Dexter cattle are being used for conservation grazing, and Yorkshire Water is working with the Wildlife Trust to slow the rate of rainwater drainage from the top field to the beck.
The Parish Council maintains close links with the Wildlife Trust: two Trustees live in Bardsey, and one is a Parish Councillor.
Biodiversity
Bardsey Parish Council, along with all other parish, town and city councils, now have a Biodiversity Duty. (This new law came into being in January 2023 as an extension of the 2021 Environment Act.)
This means that we have a duty to include enhancement of biodiversity alongside its conservation.
Bardsey Parish Council takes its Biodiversity Duty seriously and in March 2024 adopted its Biodiversity Policy (to be found on our Policies and Procedures page).
This sets out our commitment to maintain and improve sustainability, quality and biodiversity of the natural environment.
Already we are looking at the way grass verges are maintained, at how we deal with deadwood, at ways we can all eradicate non-native species such as Himalayan Balsam and Himalayan Blackberry.
In late Spring 2025 an ecologist will carry out a biodiversity baseline survey on four of our major landholdings. This will tell us what species of flora and fauna we have on our land, and will help us to plan ahead to increase biodiversity.
Climate Change
Recently, two of our councillors attended a six-week course on Climate Change, its effects on ecology, weather, and the way we live. Small changes by all of us will help.
If you are interested in more information please click the following link
A Link for further information on Leeds City Council’s policy on climate change