Calderdale Countryside and Woodlands Team

04/11/2026

With Bonfire night on the horizon, please remember to check your bonfire before lighting in case hedgehogs have chosen the bonfire as a place to hibernate. Find out more here: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-check-your-bonfire-hedgehogs

02/11/2026

Ogden car park closing time

A reminder for visitors that the car park shuts at 5pm from 1st November - 28th February. Please make a note of this if you are visiting Ogden Water to avoid getting shut in the car park and having to pay to get the gates unlocked

30/10/2026

Please do not put pumpkins out in woodlands after you have finished with them after Halloween.

Despite the posts on social media in recent years, pumpkins aren’t a natural food source for wildlife and feeding them to birds and other animals can make them seriously ill. This is especially concerning for smaller mammals like hedgehogs who can get severe diarrhoea from pumpkins, which can lead to dehydration and even death. Even if they recover, loss of condition at this time of year when they are about to go into hibernations can be deadly. Please don’t put pumpkins in woodland or parks after Halloween this autumn. You can find out more here:

As Halloween approaches, millions of pumpkins will be carved into spooky lanterns across the UK, adding festive flair to doorsteps and windows.

29/10/2026

1st November marks the start of the main bird feeding season. This is the time when it is ok to start feeding the full range of bird food to the birds that visit your gardens including seeds and peanuts. This applies right through winter until 30th April.

To find out more about feeding birds seasonally to protect species such as Finches from disease, follow the link to https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/how-to-help-garden-birds

14/10/2026

Ever heard of Great wood-rush Luzula sylvatica ?

We hadn't, until we were asked to grow it 3 years ago. It's the lush tussocky rush that clings to the riverbanks at NT Hardcastle Crags. It is deep rooted and evergreen, slowing surface water and protecting topsoil. It also seems to hold its own against himalayan balsam. This year over 1000 great wood-rush plants were grown at The Calderdale Plant Sanctuary from locally collected seed and planted back into local woodlands. Thanks to our amazing volunteers. 👏 🌱 🌳.

12/10/2026

Location: Halifax Salary: Scale 5, SCP 12-17, £29,542 - £32,046 Package: 37 hours per week, permanent The Countryside and Woodlands team is seeking to recruit an Assistant Countryside Officer to provide site management and improvement of countryside sites on behalf of the Council. The main areas ...

05/10/2026

Interested in joining the Calderdale Countryside and Woodlands Team?
We have a paid position as a Assistant Countryside Officer
Salary: Scale 5, SCP 12-17, £28,598 - £31,022 per annum
Package: 37 hours per week, permanent
Please click the below link
Please share

Location: Halifax Salary: Scale 5, SCP 12-17, £29,542 - £32,046 Package: 37 hours per week, permanent The Countryside and Woodlands team is seeking to recruit an Assistant Countryside Officer to provide site management and improvement of countryside sites on behalf of the Council. The main areas ...

05/10/2026

We have a vacancy for an Assistant Countryside Officer in our team, closing date 18/10/26. Find out more here:

02/10/2026

Cromwell Bottom Community Day Saturday 10th October

Meet at the community cabin in the compound at 9.30am for a variety of activities. Hoping to carry out some reed management in the lagoon on this day (TBC).

 Wear suitable clothes and sturdy footwear.
 Bring a lunch or snacks.
 Session ends around 2pm.

The nature reserve is located just off the Brighouse to Elland road, A6025. When travelling in either direction you will see a brown tourist information sign. Turn onto Cromwell Drive, just at the side of Oils Well and a red brick building. There is also a blue car park sign leading you to the car park, an opening to the left of the lane.

Postcode: HD6 2RG
GPS: N53.35.5.18 W001.50.272 what3words
///public.slides.sheets

For more details, phone Robin Dalton: 0771 286 7619 (mobile).

01/10/2026

Change to Ogden Water car park closing times

Just a reminder for visitors to Ogden Water that the car park shuts at 7pm during October. Please share.