Dog owners are being reminded to keep their pets under control in Middleton Woods, on Ilkley Moor and across all of Bradford District’s National Nature Reserve and Local Nature Reserve sites.
Bradford Council wants to encourage responsible behaviour since the recent designation of eight new Local Nature Reserves and the Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve earlier this year.
While dog walkers are welcome in these picturesque havens of wildlife, trees and plants, there is concern that dogs let off a lead can harm or disturb wildlife, as well as damaging plants and habitats.
Advice for owners is:
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Always bag and bin dog poo or take it home
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Keep dogs on a lead at all times for the safety of wildlife and other people
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Keep dogs out of and don’t let them drink from streams, ponds, rivers and all other watercourses.
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places, said:
“Protecting wildlife, encouraging biodiversity and giving more people access to nature are the ethos of both the local and national nature reserve sites. We also want everyone to safely enjoy these places. This includes dog owners, many of whom already visit these sites. However, in order to protect the wildlife, habitats and watercourses, owners need to keep their pets on a lead and under control.”
Eight new Local Nature Reserves were created in June 2025, selected because of their value for wildlife and for having active Friends Of or other groups and management plans. The sites were Judy Woods (Royds and Wyke); Littlemoor Park (Queensbury); Low Wood (Craven); Middleton Woods (Ilkley); Northcliffe Park (Shipley); Park Wood (Keighley); Prince of Wales Park (Bingley) and Undercliffe Cemetery (Bolton and Undercliffe).
The Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve (NNR), officially launched in May 2025, spans 1,274 hectares and will be managed by Natural England and Bradford Council. A public engagement strategy is being developed to increase the diversity of visitors and encourage positive action. The NNR links eight sites – Ilkley Moor, Penistone Country Park, Shipley Glen, Baildon Moor, Trench Meadows (near Shipley Glen), St Ives Estate, Harden Moor and Bingley North Bog.
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