Overview

• Natural England has officially designated the Bradford Pennine Gateway as a national nature reserve, covering 1,272 hectares of peat bogs, heathlands, and wetlands.
• This is the first national nature reserve in West Yorkshire and the seventh in the King’s Series, a programme to establish 25 reserves across England by 2027.
• The reserve connects eight sites, including internationally significant upland habitats, to enhance ecological connectivity and support endangered species like adders, curlews, and golden plovers.
• Approximately 42% of the area is newly protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with restoration efforts focusing on peat bogs for flood mitigation and carbon sequestration.
• The initiative prioritizes improving access to green spaces for Bradford’s urban population and celebrates the cultural heritage of landscapes that inspired the Brontë sisters.