Welcome to the Friends of Calverley Woods

We are a local group of like minded people living near Calverley Woods (between Leeds and Bradford in West Yorkshire).

Our objectives are to:

• Preserve Calverley Woods as a natural woodland for the benefit of the local community
• To promote improvements to the site whilst preserving the wildlife habitat
• To liaise with appropriate authorities in addressing problems of misuse of the site

There will be a minimum of six meetings a year and the first Committee Meeting took place on 11th March 2003. As a result of this meeting a grant request has been submitted to cover the cost of replacing the gate on Eleanor Drive and the Environmental Health Dept have been contacted regarding sewage spillage of storm drains overflowing into Fagley Beck.

For the past ten years Leeds City Council has leased Calverley Wood from Yorkshire Thornhill Estates for a peppercorn rent. Although this lease expired in February 2003, new terms are being negotiated and both parties continue to act on the basis of the old lease for the time being.

LOCAL HERITAGE INITIATIVE (LHI) GRANT

We hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised — as we have received a grant from the Local Heritage Initiative for almost £25,000 and intend to use it to preserve and protect our woods — so keep a look out. Following our AGM in February 2004 we have planned many and varied events and welcome anyone who hasn’t yet got involved to come and join us. This site is dedicated to ensuring that everyone knows what’s on and when! You will find a separate schedule of events on the Events page We are a friendly and informal conservation group and would really like your support to help achieve our aims.

Please check out our News and Progress sections and look up the next Event to see if it interests you.

If you care about your environment and want to help preserve and improve it then please get involved. Come to a committee meeting and give your views or give an hour of your time on a clearup. Please don't assume there will be enough volunteers - many hands make light work!