Bradford, United Kingdom
City population: 521035
Duration: 2003 – 2011
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 29826 m2
Type of area: Previous derelict area, Other
Last updated: October 2021

The Sun Lane nature reserve in Burley-in-Wharfedale is the second site in Bradford to receive the Local Nature Reserve (LNR) status. The land was used as a garbage dump and reclaimed in the 1970s. (ref1) Pollution from the landfill site was leaching into nearby watercourses and in 1993, Bradford Council undertook a scheme to cap the landfill and restore the site. They installed a reed-bed purification system, to eliminate pollution from contaminated water and add to the reserve’s biodiversity. The Burley Village Wildlife Group began conservation work to enhance biodiversity. (ref4) In 2003 a group of volunteers took over the maintenance of the area and now help to manage it in collaboration with Bradford Council (ref 5). As the site heals at its best, forty-two Common Blue butterflies were recorded together in 2006 (ref 5).

Sun Lane LNR
Sun Lane LNR
Source: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1477769&SiteName=sun%20lane&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Improvements to water quality
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Waste management

Focus

Transformation of previously derelict areas, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity

Project objectives

1. The Burley Village Wildlife Group aims to promote the conservation of wildlife areas in the village and manages the sun lane reserve (Ref. 2). 2. Maintaining habitats and maximize the biodiversity of the site (Ref. 2). 3. Maintaining good health of the site so that different mammals and other animals, birds and insects can re-colonise the area (Ref 6).

Implementation activities

The site was completely cleared and reshaped (reference 1). The reclamation work installed a reed-bed purification system (ref. 2). The Burley Village Wildlife Group aims to promote the conservation of wildlife areas in the village and manages the sun lane reserve. (ref 4). The rounded heads of purple Self Heal float in sheets of brilliant yellow Bird’s-foot Trefoil, a plant encouraged at Sun Lane to attract Common Blue butterflies. Forty-two Common Blues were recorded together in 2006. (ref 5)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
  • Protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect species

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Public engagement

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality
  • Citizens or community group

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Co-management/Joint management

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

A group of volunteers took over the maintenance of the area and now help to manage it in collaboration with Bradford Council. (REF 1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (A local natural reserve by Natural England under the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, UK (REF4))
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown (The Local Green Spaces listed and is protected from development under Local nature reserve (LNR) status. (REF4))

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved waste management
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved liveability
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Improvement in people’s connection to nature
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. The Wharfedale Naturalist. 2020. Sun Lane. Accessed: Source link [Updated April 2020]
2. Greaves A. 2013. A decade of help for Burley-in-Wharfedale nature reserve. The Wharfedale Observer. Accessed: Source link [Accessed 5 August 2020].
3. The Wharfedale Naturalist. 2006. Review of the year 2005. Page 23. Accessed: Source link [Accessed 19 July 2020].
4. The Yorkshire Post. 2011. Former council tip to open up as local nature reserve. Accessed: Source link [Accessed 5 August 2020].
5. BBC News. 2011. Wharfedale's New Nature Reserve. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 19 July 2020].
6. Ilkley Gazette. 2011. Tranquil Burley Nature Reserve Was Once Village Tip. [online] Available at: <Source link [Accessed 19 July 2020].
Sun Lane LNR
Sun Lane LNR
Source: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1477769&SiteName=sun%20lane&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=