About Us

Originally Launched in July 2006, and redesigned in October 2007, this site is dedicated to providing specific information about the Chevin Forest Park and the escarpment known as Otley Chevin.
By using the links above, you may obtain information such as the history of this wonderful Local Nature Reserve, details of events, Ranger Service and view photographic images.

What’s special about the park?
• Over 180 hectares of mixed woodland, moorland, grassland and rocky crags with an extensive network of paths.
• Located immediately south of Otley town centre, approximately one mile from the busy Leeds & Bradford International Airport and 10 miles from Leeds, Bradford and Harrogate.
• A place of outstanding beauty with Surprise View offering one of the finest panoramic views in Yorkshire, with views of up to 60 km.
• An estimated yearly visitor count of 480,000. (Source Leeds Parks & Open Spaces Residents Survey 2005).
• Leeds Nature Area (LNA) - Site of local or district wide importance for the enjoyment, study or conservation of wildlife, geological features and landforms.
• The whole site was declared a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) in 1989 - recognising the importance for the enjoyment, study or conservation of wildlife.
• The presence of nationally and regionally important geological features (parts of the site have been declared as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Regionally Important Geological Site)
• Several nationally important Scheduled Ancient Monuments – showing features of Iron Age occupation and rock-carvings dating back to the Bronze Age.
• Full public access with 5 free car parks surrounding the park.
• Forestry Authority Centre of Excellence Award 1994 recognising excellent forestry management.

There are a number of different woodland types within the Chevin Forest Park including pockets of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland amongst more recent plantations of mixed broadleaved and coniferous woodland.
Following wartime felling, the Danefield Estate was given to the people of Otley by Major General Horton-Fawkes in memory of those who lost their lives during the war. Planting began in 1952 using a mixture of broadleaves and conifers. The vision of those early foresters has created an attractive, well-forested estate, which is used today for a wide range of activities. This includes the production of quality timber, the income from which is re-invested into the park to improve facilities for local people and visitors.
The central area of the Chevin ridge was purchased by Leeds City Council between 1979 and 1988. It contains mature broadleaves, such as sycamore, beech and oak as well as a number of different species of conifer.

Great Dib Wood was designated SSSI status due to its special geological interest. This includes features such as the exposures of rocks from the Namurian series, in particular the fossil rich bed known as the Otley Shell Bed. An interpretative panel on site explains the fascinating geology of the area.
The entire Forest Park has been made a Local Nature Reserve (1989). The major attraction of the park is its extensive woodlands, which provide a habitat for numerous birds and mammals. The trees are important for both resident and migratory birds, including the Woodcock, Goldcrest and Redstart. There is also a small population of roe deer. The wetland areas of the park provide a home for the only specimens of bog asphodel in Leeds and the bilberry on the park provides the only breeding site for the green hair streak butterfly in Leeds. The woodland area is the largest woodland area (and the heather moorland is the second largest) owned and managed by Leeds City Council.
There are several areas of archaeological interest across the estate. Trees on two of these sites were felled in 1997 and are maintained as open ground to preserve features which, preliminary research indicates, may be of national importance. These features are thought to date from the late Bronze Age to Romano-British times (c.1000BC - 400AD).
In 1998, a Forest Design Plan for the Chevin Forest Park was published, which graphically illustrates how the estate will evolve over the next 50 years (full copies can be viewed in Otley Library). Today, there is a Management Plan that incorporates the Forest Design Plan, and sets out how the site will be managed over the next 10 years.

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