Local nature reserves are natural sites that have a legal status. Find out more on the Natural England website.

Nature reserves are important because they:

• increase people's awareness and enjoyment of their natural environment
• provide an ideal environment for everyone to learn about and study nature
• build relationships between local authorities, national and local nature conservation organisations, and local people
• protect wildlife habitats and natural features
• offer a positive use for land which local authorities would prefer was left undeveloped
• make it possible to apply bye-laws which can help in managing and protecting the site
• give a very clear signal to a local community of the local authority's commitment to nature conservation because a local nature reserve is a statutory declaration.

You can find out about other wildlife sites in Yorkshire on the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website.