Upcoming Events

The Perfect Christmas Gift!

Posted on 08/11/2026 by committee

A local artist has created this lovely 2027 calendar showcasing key local landscapes and highlighting the conservation work undertaken by the Friday work parties.

The paintings capture the natural beauty of the area and also feature some of the members as they work on the reserves. The calendars are priced at £10. 50% of the profits will be donated to the Trust to help fund its important local projects.

Buy from Setchfield Butchers on Main Street, East Keswick, or from the artist 07531208248 jcbek@hotmail.co.uk

Children’s Wildlife Art Competition Winners

Posted on 22/10/2026 by committee

Thank you to everyone who took part in the children’s wildlife art competition at East Keswick Art Show at the weekend. It is always difficult to pick winners, as all of the entries were lovely and showed that a lot of thought had gone into them. We have however made a decision for the two age categories and the winners are Zoe and Verity.

EKWT at East Keswick Art Show – 17th and 18th October, 10am to 4pm, Bardsey Village Hall

Posted on 14/10/2026 by committee

Once again the Wildlife Trust have kindly been invited to the East Keswick Art Show. We will have a stand and will be sharing information on our recent conservation projects and our plans for the future.

There will be a children’s wildlife art competition and the opportunity to buy our 2027 calendar which features paintings by a local artist.

Summer Bird Survey – Saturday 27th June

Posted on 22/06/2026 by committee

We will meet outside St Mary’s Church, Moor Lane, East Keswick at 10am. Please bring binoculars if you have them and the Merlin app is also very useful. We will be walking through the Marsh and then along Moor Lane towards Harewood Road. Bring along a drink and a snack and join us for as long or as short as you like.

Coppicing in Ox Close Wood

Posted on 03/06/2026 by committee

Coppicing is one of the oldest forms of wood management in the UK. Trees are cut down to their stumps, which are known as stools, to encourage new shoots to grow. The stools are cut in rotation and so the different areas of regrowth provide a wide range of habitats. Coppicing provides a renewable source of wood and the cycle can carry on indefinitely.

In Ox Close Wood, the hazel has been coppiced by Leeds Coppice Workers and the stools now need to be protected to prevent deer from eating the new shoots. This project has been led by two of our volunteers Nick and Lin. Stakes have been placed around the stools and cages made from brash placed around them. They have been assisted by Open Country, Leeds Wealth Fund volunteers and our Friday volunteer team.

Martin, Open Country volunteer, making a cage

Melanie and Mina, two of our Friday volunteer team

Bluebell Walk – Wednesday 29th April

Posted on 23/04/2026 by committee

Come and enjoy the annual bluebell spectacular in Ox Close Wood. Meet at the Crabtree Lane car park at 7pm.

Sunday Work Party 25th April 10.30 – 12

Posted on 21/04/2026 by committee

All ages are welcome. Please meet at the Elliker nature reserve in East Keswick at 10.30am. The entrance is between numbers 21 and 23 The Paddock. Bring gloves, a drink and a snack.

Calling all nature detectives! For children there will be a scavenger hunt and owl workshop to participate in.

For older children and adults we will be be laying a floor in one of our storage containers and making guards to protect our trees.

March Weekend Work Party

Posted on 15/04/2026 by committee

Our first weekend work party got off to a great start with approximately 40 adults and children attending. The children initially learnt about the Yellow Fish campaign, that only water should go down the drain, as in our village the drains lead directly into the beck. They then made harvest mice homes out of used tennis balls and placed them on stakes around East Keswick Marsh. Other members of the work party tackled the snowberry which has become an invasive species in the marsh.

Learning about the ‘Yellow Fish’ campaign

Stuffing the tennis balls with straw to make cosy homes for the harvest mice

Calling all budding Lepidopterists.

Posted on 06/04/2026 by committee

The Trust has acquired a moth trap that can be used by Trust, and their family, members.
It comes complete with a 5volt power pack, electrical cables and a moth identification guide.
It uses a low wattage UV LED bulb which emits little visible light so is unobtrusive when used in one’s garden.
For further information, please call Paul 07999339147 or email paul@ekwt.org.uk.

Weekend Work Parties

Posted on 06/03/2026 by committee

East Keswick Wildlife Trust

For Wildlife, For Our Community, For Our Future