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Overview
Situated less than 8km from the centre of Leeds, this small reserve is ideal for visiting if time is tight. Located on the bank of a large bend in the River Aire, you can get around the reserve and do justice to the entire habitat in a couple of hours. As the reserve is manned by volunteers, the opening times are restricted.
Birds
Notable Species
Rarities
The reserve did play host to a Spotted Crake in October 2005, and had a possible wild Marbled Duck the previous year
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Ruddy Duck, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Kestrel, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Water Rail,Northern Lapwing, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Northern House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Eurasian Blackbird, Greater Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Common Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Eurasian Magpie, Eurasian Jay, Eurasian Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, Eurasian Linnet, European Goldfinch, European Greenfinch, Eurasian Bullfinch, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer
Other Wildlife
There is evidence that an Otter Lutra lutra may have visited the reserve, Red Fox Vulpes vulpes are often seen.
Site Information
History and Use
A former sewage sludge facility for Yorkshire Water, the possibility of a reserve on the site was first mooted in 1992 and eventually in May 1999 work began on the site, with it opening to the public in 2000. The reserve also hosts outdoor meetings of the Leeds Astronomical Society.
Areas of Interest
There are 3 main wetland habitats on the reserve, a large open shallow lagoon (Main Lagoon), a more marshy area with reeds (Duck Marsh) and a wet meadow, as well as scrubland and a small feeding station area (the Manager's Garden). The dragonfly ponds have a good range of aquatic inhabitants and there are several species of dragonfly resident on the reserve.
Access and Facilities
The reserve can be reached from the city centre by public transport. The 670 Leeds-Bradford as well as the 760 Leeds-Keighley routes, both stop on Rodley High Street (A657) close to the reserve entrance.
If coming by car, turn off Rodley High Street at the reserve sign on the factory wall, cross the swingbridge and the reserve gate is to your left.
Opening times are 10.00am to 4.00pm Wed, Sat and Sunday, the restricted opening is mainly due to the lack of volunteers available during the week. There is a small café for hot drinks and biscuits etc, unfortunately no meals though. There are toilets on site.
Contact Details
[email protected] Mr P Murphy the Rodley Nature Reserve Trust Secretary
External Links
Rodley Nature Reserve on Streetmap
"Content and images originally posted by Keith Dickinson 10 December 2008",,
