We had our first small Workgroup on since covid-19 lockdown with new Safe working practices in place agreed with Bradford council. Good views of kingfishers, blackcaps and a sparrowhawk a few sand martins nesting, brimstone, ringlet, meadow brown, small tortoiseshell butterflies,. Froglets on riverside path and toads under metal sheet.. Mini meadow looking great. Orchid decline continues now down to less than 30 due to long dry spells over last few years. Great to see more young families enjoying the reserve only one dog..on a short lead

We had another small Workgroup  on 30 June, our focus was to make a 40m stretch of steep and crumbling river cliff safer for our younger visitors. We were able to make a thick “dead hedge” along the bank using the hawthorn we had cut in the winter. Plants will grow through it over time and a family of blackcaps were already exploring it as we left. Birds included singing garden warbler and chiffchaff. At least 4 nesting sandmartin despite how high the river got to to, kingfisher, flock of 20+ long tailed tips, kestrel and 1st view of little egret for a very long time, rather overcast for butterflies but saw ringlets and a nice large skippere