Project begins to restore habitats at North Yorkshire nature reserve

A project to restore habitats at a North Yorkshire nature reserve has begun. 

The conservation work at Hell Wath in Ripon is part of the £2.5 m, four-year Skell Valley Project, a scheme co-led by the National Trust and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Skell Valley Project is working with Harrogate Borough Council to deliver the Friends of Hell Wath Nature Reserve management plan, which is part of a wider scheme of work to help nature thrive in the Skell Valley and Ripon.

Bee Orchid is one of the many wildflowers found at Hell Wath (Bernard Dupont).

Hell Wath is a wildflower-rich grassland, home to species such as Common Spotted Orchid and Cowslip, as well as botanical jewels including Adder's-tongue Fern and Bee Orchid. Invasive scrub is spreading across the open grasslands, swamping out the wildflowers and reducing feeding opportunities for butterflies and other pollinators.

Councillor Andrew Paraskos, Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said: "Scrub, the bushes and thicket that develop at the edge of woodland, is an important wildlife habitat but left unchecked it can lose its value for nature and overwhelm the delicate grassland. While it can seem counter-intuitive to remove trees to help nature, this work is about maintaining the overall importance of the habitat at Hell Wath so that as many species as possible can flourish."

The scrub removal is part of a wider scheme of work that will be delivered at Hell Wath as part of the Skell Valley Project. During winter, a silted-up pond will be reinstated to restore habitat for amphibians and dragonflies. In coming years, the project will work to improve footpaths on the reserve, with better waymarking and interpretation.

Nabil Abbas, project manager for the Skell Valley Project, commented: "By working with our partners at Harrogate Borough Council and the Friends of Hell Wath, the charity established by volunteers to care for the site, we can make a real difference for nature in Ripon and for the people who enjoy visiting this lovely green space.

"We're passionate about encouraging people to get involved in caring for the nature, wildlife and heritage around them. Next year there will be a programme of events giving people the opportunity to learn more about the wildlife in their local area."