Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve
A Visit to Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve with Active Calderdale
For those who don’t know where Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve is or want to know exactly what to expect before visiting, Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group, working with Active Calderdale and Accessible Calderdale Access Forum have created two self-guided walking booklets and a video.
Accessible to all
Maintained by a group of committed volunteers, the 74-acre site is home to flower meadows, dry and wet woodland, a lagoon, ponds and numerous bird viewing areas. It’s also one of the most accessible nature reserves in the area and almost the whole site can be accessed by wheelchair.
Which route will you take? Plan your visit now!
Dedicated to Conservation
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group is dedicated to the conservation and development of this important site. They are keen to work with local organisations, such as Active Calderdale, to collaborate and access funding that can unlock the reserve’s true potential for the benefit of the whole community.
What’s on Offer
The reserve is an ideal place to relax and take in the beauty of nature. There is free onsite parking, visitor’s centre (opening times Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays 9:30am-4pm), toilet and baby changing facilities, including an accessible toilet (only open when the visitors’ centre is open), among other things.
You can find all of this here:
A Visit to Cromwell Bottom | Active Calderdale
Access the new self-guided walk booklets and the video here:
Self-guided Walk Booklet Accessible Routes_FINAL.pdf (calderdale.gov.uk)
Self-guided Walk Booklet WEB.pdf (calderdale.gov.uk)
Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve Free Open Day August 6th
Don’t forget the Free Open Day at the Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve this Saturday 6th of August from 10am to 4pm.
Meet best selling author M.G.Leonard, winner of the 2022 ‘Crimefest’ children’s crime novel award for her book called ‘Twitch’ also winner of the Sainsbury’s 2021 book award, based on her experiences at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve. You will have the opportunity to buy a signed copy of her book.
There will be a birds of prey display, guided walks, pond dipping, face painting, stalls, raffles and refreshments.
We look forward to seeing you!
Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve
Elland Road, Brighouse HD6 2RG (just off the A6025 Brighouse to Elland Road)
Free parking
Rastrick Around the World Community Walk Sunday 21st August
Active Calderdale invite you to a guided walk, suitable for everyone through Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve. We will walk for about 1km but you are welcome to walk further. Likely to be a few slight gradients.
Meet at the cabin at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve on
Sunday 21st August 1.00pm
There will be some snacks available afterwards (limited) and the chance to win several Love2shop vouchers.
Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve Free Open Day August 6th
Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve and Wildlife Group invite you to their open day on Saturday 6th of August from 10am to 4pm.
Meet best selling author M.G.Leonard, winner of the 2022 ‘Crimefest’ children’s crime novel award for her book called ‘Twitch’ and buy a signed copy of her book.
Other celebrities include birds of prey and all the bugs and creepy crawlies you can spot!
There will be guided walks, pond dipping, face painting, stalls, raffles and refreshments.
We look forward to seeing you!
Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve
Elland Road, Brighouse HD6 2RG (just off the A6025 Brighouse to Elland Road)
Free parking
Dads Event: Woodland Explorers at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve June 18th
Happy Father’s Day for all Dads, Grandads and male carers!
Join Sure Start Children’s Centre and Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve to a Woodland Adventure this Saturday June 18th from 10am – 12pm.
We will be looking for creepy crawlies and help us fill our bird feeders. Who knows, we may even get a glimpse of the birds coming to feed!
Children will receive a free pack lunch and an activity pack.
Venue: Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve, Elland Road, Brighouse, HD6 2RG
June 18th 10am – 12pm
Booking is essential, Please contact the Family Support Team
on 01484 386621 to book your place today
Places may still be available
Staying Well community event outcome March 30th
On the 30th March, our Lower Valley Staying Well Workers linked with Healthy Minds and Focus 4 Hope to deliver an event in Brighouse, showcasing local community provision as well as developing a chance for community consultation.
Community stalls included the Memory Lane Cafe, Our Place, Turning Point, The Space at Fieldlane, Rastrick Big Local, Salvation Army and their craft group, Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve, and a local Theatrical group.
Beside the stalls, a number of other people came to the event including the community champion from Morrisons in Elland, the Lower Valley Active Calderdale worker and the Lower Valley Better Living trainer.
The event took place from 11 – 2pm, with plenty of time for people to come in from the snow and have a lovely warming drink and a cake, take part in decorating heart shaped biscuits and painting rocks, talk to the many stall holders and discover how what is available in their area can enrich their lives.
Richard and Louise introduced the event in a fun, friendly way, and people relaxed and enjoyed themselves. A tasty sausage casserole and vegetarian chilli was provided by Focus 4 Hope, as well as fresh wood fired pizza from Alex at Crust and Crumb.
Once the food had time to settle, Marsha and David of Tai Chi Tigers got everyone moving. The effect of gentle movement, tapping and breathing made everyone feel more relaxed and positively energised.
We have received positive feedback from the event with many participants saying they felt uplifted.
Click on images to view them larger
Arts and crafts
Some of the guests
Information stalls
Food
Tai Chi activity
Feedback
“It was a wonderful event run by all. Meeting new people, not feeling as anxious and just nice to manage to leave the house”
“This is the first time I’ve been in a group meeting since losing my husband to Covid 18 months ago. Thank you”
“Good event well organised. Thank you for your hard work”
“A good all-round event enjoyed the time spent with lots of info. Thank you”
Stay tuned to the Calderdale Lower Valley Blog and Staying Well for similar upcoming events!
Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve, Elland
Have you ever visited your local nature reserve?
As the days get brighter and longer and we venture more and more outdoors, how about discovering one of our local hidden gems?
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group are a registered charity of volunteers . We work in partnership with Calderdale’s Countryside Team to sustain its beautiful surroundings and diversity of wildlife, for the public to enjoy.
A great place to explore for so many reasons.
Visit our Facebook page for more information, or better still, come have a look at the reserve itself!
Bird Walk and Survey at Cromwell Bottom
Join Mike Henshaw and members of the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group (CBWG) outside the cabin at Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve on Saturday 21 April, 9.45am for a 2-hour walk (about 2 miles on easy paths) to observe and identify birds on the Reserve.
The walk is FREE, but donations to CBWG would be welcome. Refreshments will be available at the end of the walk.
Contact cromwellbottom@gmail.com for further information.
There will also be similar walks on Saturday 19 May, Saturday 16 June, Saturday 21 July and Saturday 18 August.
Also NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 1st Annual General Meeting of Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group will be held at the Mulberry Suite, Brighouse Sixth Form College HD6 1AY at 7.30pm on Wednesday 25 April 2018.
Wildside – Cromwell Bottom Practical Days
Join service staff and members of the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group to help manage this unique and diverse Local Nature Reserve with a variety of practical activities.
14 January 2017, 11 February 2017 and 11 March 2017
Meet at 9.30am – Contact Robin Dalton on 07712 867619 for further information.
To find out more about the Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group visit cromwellbottom.blogspot.co.uk
Calderdale Lower Valley blog 