A delightful pocket of ancient woodland in north Leeds is reaping the benefits from a welcome spruce up.
Local Councillors Neil Walshaw, Janette Walker and Jonathan Pryor (Labour, Headingley) are delighted with the improvements at Batty Wood in Woodhouse Ridge.
£11k worth of funding for the initiative was secured from Grantscape and the Forestry Commission, in partnership with the Woodhouse Ridge Action Group (WRAG).
Funding for the initiative was secured by the Woodhouse Ridge Action Group (WRAG), who with the council, have carried out a range of improvement projects in the area.
Set within Meanwood Valley in a large piece of woodland known as Woodhouse Ridge, which dates back to at least 1600 AD, Batty Wood is a haven for wildlife and home to a wide variety of species including the great spotted woodpecker, pipistrelle bat, tawny owl and roe deer.
Along with WRAG, the Council’s Natural Habitats Team carried out the improvements. A range of trees and shrubs including rowan, hazel, downy birch, small-leaved lime and oak were planted as part of various work undertaken last winter, along with the thinning out of some of the trees, which will help the growth of wildflowers and shrubs and encourage more insects, particularly pollinating species such as butterflies, moths, bees and hoverflies, which are currently in decline.
Councillors are pleased that the improvements were praised during a recent inspection for the renewal of the Council’s United Kingdom Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) accreditation.
Councillor Neil Walshaw (Labour, Headingley) said:
“Woodhouse Ridge is a fantastic area of ancient woodland and green space cutting through the city and we are delighted that work has been carried out at Batty Wood. The work will allow new trees and smaller plants to grow and encourage more wildlife to come to the area. Our thanks and appreciation goes to Parks and Countryside staff and volunteers from the Woodhouse Ridge Action Group who have made this possible.”
