Gallows Hill Nature Park
In the late 1980's the Town Council bought the old sewage settlement beds at Gallows Hill which lie to the East of Otley on the Southside of the River Wharfe. A nature park was created on the 14+ acres with paths laid out and tree planting instigated.
A voluntary organisation, Friends of Gallows Hill, have managed the environmental aspects of the park. The trees are now approaching maturity and the pond is a rich environment for amphibeans and insects. The flower meadow is steadily dealing with the high nitrogen content of the old settlement beds. Thanks to this environmental work the park has become known for its very high toad population.
The Town Council is working with the Ranger Service of Leeds City Council to achieve formal Local Nature Reserve status, which will bring more opportunities to increase the environmental aspects of the park.
Over the coming year it is hoped to improve the educational opportunities to the benefit of all visitors, especially school children, by creating a pond dipping area and more information, leaflets and signs within the Park.
The Council is keen to ensure that the Park remains accessible to all, so a path improvement plan will be introduced in 2006.
The Town Council has installed, with the generous support of Leeds City Council, log benches at approximately one hundred metre intervals around the main path. These benches not only act as resting places to break the walk into easily managed sections but also provide handy picnic stops for young families.
Friends of Gallows Hill are always looking for volunteers to help with the environmental work at the park and if you are able to assist on one of their Saturday morning outings please contact Mike Blackwell on 07906084148.
