Who we are and what we want to do
Who we are
We are Bridestones Rewilded, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. We are a group of naturalists, ecologists and members of the local community with diverse backgrounds, skills and experiences, united by our love for nature and passionate about ensuring as many people from all walks of life can enjoy and benefit from nature just as we do.
Our Mission
Our mission is summed up by 3 words: Conservation, Education and Community. We have come together to realize our vision for Bridestones Moor. To restore the land for nature and for people. We will enhance biodiversity, so once again Bridestones will teem with wildlife and provide opportunities for all to become closer to nature, through nature-based educational activities and volunteering opportunities. Our objectives are heartily supported by Calderdale Council.
Photo credit: RSPB
Conservation priorities
Peatlands are carbon-rich wetlands that occupy only 3% of the global land surface, but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests. Peat is hugely important to the environment, acting as a major carbon store and as a flood controller. Bridestones is a peat bog, but it has been degraded over decades by draining the land to support intensive agriculture. We can reverse this trend by re-wetting the land to ensure that carbon is locked in, mitigating against climate change and recreating a wild and wonderful landscape supporting many species.
Nature-based education
Our beautiful moors are wonderful, essential places and we want everyone to be inspired by this vitally important landscape. Our job is to help people understand why protecting them is important. We will arrange nature-based activities for the local community. This will include everything from bird-watching, moth breakfasts, plant identification, keeping a nature diary, and citizen science projects. We will ask people to record information about moorland plants and animals that they spot while they’re out and about, using a mobile App for this purpose. Encouraging people to get together in citizen science projects develops relationships and understanding amongst local communities as well as collecting useful data for our project.
Community engagement
The great outdoors is good for the mind, creating a sense of well-being, an opportunity for developing new skills, fostering engagement with others and increasing self-esteem. There will be opportunities for volunteering throughout all phases of our project, from the initial baseline surveys, through planting out sphagnum plugs, blocking drainage gullies and maintaining footpaths, stiles and fences. We will improve access to the reserve for all members of the community so everyone can enjoy the wonderful landscape. This will involve the re-design of gateways and making paths on the site more user friendly.