Rothwell Pastures Nature Reserve

Rothwell Pastures Credit Danny Hill
Yellowhammer on gorse

WildNet - Amy Lewis

Bladder campion credit Joanna Richards
Cinnabar moth caterpillar © Derek Parker

Cinnabar moth caterpillar © Derek Parker

Rothwell Pastures is branching out! As part of a woodland creation scheme in Leeds, new tree-planting is giving the reserve’s existing habitats and wildlife a natural boost.

Location

Stone Brig Lane Rothwell
Nearest town: Leeds (6.1m/9.8km)
West Yorkshire
LS26 0XE

OS Map Reference

SE 34314 28217

View on What3Words

A static map of Rothwell Pastures Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
13 hectares
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Entry fee

Free
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Parking information

Church Street Car Park, Rothwell, LS26 0QL.

Walking trails

The Rothwell Greenway runs for 3 miles from Long Thorpe Lane in Lofthouse to Haigh Road in Rothwell, right through Rothwell Pastures.

Access

This wide, surfaced route is suitable for bikes, buggies and walkers. There are a mix of surfaced and un-surfaced paths across the nature reserve. Not suitable for wheelchairs. 

Dogs

On a lead

Please respect the resident wildlife and keep dogs on a short lead. 

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times. We recommend a half day trip for this reserve, and close to other reserves in the Lower Aire Valley if you fancy making a day of it.

Best time to visit

March to September

About the reserve

Woodland isn’t new to Rothwell Pastures. The land was granted to Ilbert de Lacy by William the Conqueror in 1069, when a vast woodland covered the district. This then became a hunting park, where wild boar and deer were hunted until 1339. The land was also the site of grand mansions, but all that remains of those is a stack of stones, known locally as Rothwell Castle. With a history of royal visitors including King John and Edward II, Rothwell Pastures now welcomes visitors of a different kind. You might still be lucky enough to see the odd king – a kingfisher, that is –on one of the ponds or becks, where you may also glimpse a rare water vole, along with frogs, toads, mallards and moorhens.

The disused railway connects a variety of smaller habitats, providing an important corridor for wildlife. Butterflies including common blues, speckled woods and meadow browns, and the day-flying cinnabar moth, are attracted to wildflowers in the large meadow. The longer-standing woodland and scrub is already a good source of food and shelter for songbirds, and hawthorn, oak and ash trees produce nuts and berries that provide vital nourishment for bullfinches, goldfinches, greenfinches, yellowhammers and others. Around the edges, you might spot a kestrel hovering as it hunts for prey. The younger trees are part of Leeds City Council’s woodland creation scheme, which aims to plant 5.8 million trees over 25 years at sites around the area, helping Leeds to become carbon neutral.

Contact us

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Contact number: 01904 659570
Contact email: info@ywt.org.uk

Did you know?

The collective noun for a group of goldfinches is a 'charm' – seems appropriate for these charming little birds!

Cinnabar moth credit Richard Burkmarr

Magical Wildlife Moments...

A cinnabar moth stretching out its wings to reveal its striking red-and-black pattern. Credit: Richard Burkmarr. 

A tree top canopy with a blue sky.

Guy Edwardes/2020VISION

Let’s go wild for Yorkshire's wildlife!

From the heights of Ingleborough to the tip of Spurn, our nature reserves are a home (often the only home) to Yorkshire’s rarest and most incredible wildlife. Will you help us continue our work and provide these vital sanctuaries for nature?
£