Green Heroes – Stephen Priest and the Friends who are transforming urban woodland
Jan 1 2011 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Green Heroes – Stephen Priest and the Friends who are transforming urban woodland
All week we’ve been looking at the town’s Green Heroes. In the final part of the series, we look at the work of Stephen Priest and his team who are doing their bit to transform urban woodland. JOANNE DOUGLAS reports
HE’S dedicated seven years to helping reclaim and transform urban woods.
The idea started as a community tidy-up day but has led to several projects to enhance wooded areas in Huddersfield.
Stephen Priest and the Friends of Longley Woods brought the community together to help create urban woodland and he’s encouraging other communities to follow suit.
Seven years ago the Longley Woods were neglected, but members of the community working together have transformed the area.
The nature reserve just five minutes from Huddersfield town centre boasts mature trees, sunken lanes and the remains of an old quarry, along with wildflowers and birds.
The Friends have improved footpaths, cleared litter, planted daffodils and put up bird and bat boxes.
Founder member Stephen Priest said: “It could be people live near to woods which have become a bit of a dumping ground.
“Who wants to live next to that?
“If communities got together they could help transform the area, it then has a knock-on effect on house prices and it brings the community together.”
Mr Priest said there is a lot of neglected woodland in the Huddersfield area which communities could help transform.
One of them is Ashbrow Woods, where work is already under way on transforming the woods.
