The rugged, heather embellished moors that inspired the famous Brontë sisters are officially set to be protected as part of a brand new nature reserve.
Announced today, the Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve is set to be the first of its kind in West Yorkshire, as part of the King’s Series of National Nature Reserves. The initiative will bring 25 new ‘National Nature Reserves’ to the country by 2027 – with Bradford being one of the lucky areas to benefit.
Spanning a whopping 1,274 hectares, the new reserve will link up eight nature sites in the area, including Ilkley Moor, Baildon Moor, Harden Moor, Penistone Hill Country Park, Shipley Glen and much more.
Each area is home to priority nature habitats, including peat bogs, heathlands, and wetlands, offering varied sights and landscapes for all to enjoy.
It is hoped the new reserve will encourage young people living in surrounding urban areas to visit the local countryside. Protections will also be added, helping endangered wildlife such Adders, Curlew, and Golden plover, who call the land home. In collaboration with local universities and colleges, the reserve will also offer opportunities for field studies and research.
Natural England said in a statement: “The establishment of this reserve will bridge this gap between the city of Bradford and the countryside by highlighting a range of important habitats just a stone’s throw from people’s homes.
“A National Nature Reserve next to one of the UK’s youngest cities will also help to break down barriers for young people accessing the countryside in one of England’s most nature-deprived areas.”
The stunning landscape famously inspired the Brontë sisters, who wrote acclaimed novels such as Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Shirley and more – all set within the Yorkshire moors that graced their Haworth doorstep.
[Featured image: Photo © Raymond Knapman (cc-by-sa/2.0)]
Read more: 10 Of The Most Beautiful Bluebell Walks In Yorkshire
