RSPB St Aidan's Nature Park

West Yorkshire > United Kingdom

Just a stone’s throw from the centre of Leeds, St Aidan’s is a stunning nature park to explore.

Added* by Gavin Orr
Most recent update 17 November 2022

Description

St Aidan's Nature Park has a variety of habitats including reedbed, wetland, meadows and woodland. St Aidan’s was an opencast mine for many years and it has now been restored to a birdrich nature park. Four trails lead you through woodland glades, alongside reedbeds, around lakes and ponds, and onto a hill with panoramic views. Nice birds you can see here include Great Bittern, Black-necked Grebe, Avocet, Black Tern, Eurasian Skylark and Meadow Pipit.

Details

Access

By train: The nearest railway station is Woodlesford, which is 3 miles (5km) away or Garforth, which is 4 miles away. There is a taxi firm based at Garforth station and taxis can access Woodlesford.

By bus: Buses run to Allerton Bywater from Leeds City Centre and Castleford (bus service 167). The nearest bus stop is Bowers Row stop number 45010157. This is 0.2 miles from the visitor centre.

By bike: The nearest Sustrans Cycle routes are the National Route 67 - Trans Pennine Trail Central, Yorks and Derbyshire and the National Route 697. Both of these run right next to the site.

By road: Leave the M1 at junction 46 towards Garforth follow the Selby Road/A63, turn right at the roundabout onto A642, turn left after 1.4 miles onto Astley Lane, the reserve is on the right after 1.5 miles. Click on the P in the map to get directions to the parking place.

There are 12 km of trails and four marked trails from 1 to 3 miles.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Grassland , River , Reedbeds , Lake , Scattered trees and bushes

Conditions

Flat , Hilly , Open landscape , High water possible

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring , Winter , Summer , Spring migration , Autumn , Autumn migration

Route

Wide path

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Wheelchair

Birdwatching hide / platform

Extra info

In the autumn thousands of wading birds pass through the Aire Valley on their migration, such as green sandpipers and black-tailed godwits. Large numbers of starlings start to gather and as the autumn progresses, the murmurations build. Watch huge flocks of starlings dance and swoop down into the reedbeds just to the side of the path to go to sleep safely for the night.

Links