Words: David Nesham
Photos: Barbara Murphy
Regarded locally as a “hidden gem” Rodley Nature Reserve is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
On 28 July 2000 the Minister of State for the Environment Michael Meacher MP formally opened the Reserve to the public.
No-one at that time knew that the Reserve would develop into a significant award-winning asset run entirely by volunteers.
Back in the day the Reserve had very little in the way of money or amenities, just a single shared toilet and an old church pew and table as furniture in the Visitor Centre. The old tea table is still in use in the outside picnic area!
Bird hides were merely converted storage containers which were not particularly user friendly and paths were unmade and mainly mud from November to March.
Volunteers were in short supply and so it was only possible to open to the public Saturday and Sunday during the summer months.
Over the early years there were set backs – including arson attacks, theft of the tractor, the 2015 floods and more recently, Covid.
The response of the local community to these events was truly heartwarming – the Boxing Day floods in particular resulted in whole families turning out to clean up and help clear away all the debris and the Reserve was open to the public again within two days.
The past 10 years, however, has seen significant developments to both the habitat and facilities including user-friendly hides, a sand martin nest bank, accessible footpaths, wheelchair ramps, Visitor Centre extension and new toilet facilities.
There are now excellent volunteer teams operating the Visitor Centre, working on habitat maintenance and supporting educational and youth group visits although the Reserve will always welcome new recruits.
Bruce Budd, a long serving maintenance volunteer, said: “I was encouraged to come down as a volunteer during a visit to view the wildlife and I was immediately struck by the peace and quiet the Reserve presented together with the friendliness of the volunteering teams – that was back in 2008 and I’m still here.”
The Reserve is proud that the efforts of the volunteer teams has been recognised over the last 10 years.
In 2018 The Reserve was awarded the BBC’s Countryfile Magazine Nature Reserve of the Year and the same year the Reserve received the Open Country’s Good Access Award for making the Reserve so accessible for visitors with a disability.
In 2019 a Landscape Stewardship Award was presented to the Reserve at the Leeds Architectural Awards ceremony and more recently in 2023 a BBC Wildlife Magazine poll voted the Reserve as the favourite wildlife spot in Yorkshire and Humberside.
Over the years the Reserve has received excellent support from Yorkshire Water, Natural England, the CO-OP Community Fund and grants from the Landfill Tax administered by Biffa and Green Leeds Ltd together with many generous donations.
With continuing support it is hoped to progress with the steady development of the Reserve – and now for the next 25 years!
To mark this 25th anniversary the Reserve is holding an afternoon tea party on Sunday, 3 August 12pm until 3pm to which everyone is invited.
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