Leeds is one of the greenest cities in Europe and is very underappreciated when it comes to the wildlife it has to offer. To raise the profile of the city, Leeds birdwatcher, Linda Jenkinson of Start Birding and Rodley Nature Reserve decided to team up to bring you the Leeds Birdfair. The aim of the fair is to celebrate the wildlife and green spaces of Leeds and to signpost people to the many groups and conservation organisations that are available in the Leeds area. This year’s Leeds Birdfair takes place on Saturday 23rd June from 9:30am to 4pm.
Find out more on www.startbirding.co.uk/leeds-birdfair/, Facebook and Twitter.
Rodley Nature Reserve is just 4 miles from the centre of Leeds, nestled in the floodplain of the Kirkstall valley adjacent to the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The reserve was developed by dedicated volunteers, after the decommissioning of Rodley Water Treatment Works in 1993. Man-made lagoons, dragonfly ponds, grassland and woodland were created which has attracted a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The Aire Valley is a recognised ‘flyway’ for wildfowl and waders on migration and the reserve provides a valuable feeding station for birds on their journey in spring and autumn.
The reserve is a registered charity run by a board of trustees and managed entirely by passionate and committed volunteers. Their hard work was rewarded this year when they won the BBC Countryfile Magazine’s Nature Reserve of the Year award. Visit the reserve on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
