Taking action for nature together

Working with you, EPIKS cares for a range of habitats across Kirklees and beyond. Kirklees is home to a range of sites designated for their biodiversity interest including Ancient Woodland, Special Areas of Conservation and Local Wildlife Sites.

Our habitats

Kirklees habitats include scrub, grasslands, woodland, including important riparian woodland, heath and blanket bog. These habitats are home to many birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and the all-important insects and plants.

Our wildlife

This year EPIKS volunteers working along the River Colne have spotted Kingfishers, Dippers, Goosanders, Cormorants, Buzzards, Sparrow hawks, Goldcrests and many other woodland birds including Ravens and Red Kites. At a recent bat walk event four species of bat were detected at Snow Island. These sightings show the importance of the urban habitats in the Huddersfield Riverside Nature Park.

Threats

Although the River Colne has improved greatly over the last 30 years there are still many threats, including those from untreated sewage and agricultural pollution, waste and litter, and invasive non-native species (INNS) like Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam. EPIKS works with partners to help remove these with “Balsam Bashing” a popular task in late spring for our volunteers.   

We have also lost – and are still losing – many wildlife species from the district although efforts are now underway to recover some of these species such as the water vole.

What we’ve done

EPIKS has been taking action to look after nature in Kirklees since the 1990s when the poor quality of the River Colne and dumping in the river corridor acted as a catalyst for Greenstreams, a river stewardship project. You will still see some Greenstreams signs like this one out and about around Kirklees.

What we’re doing

Our volunteers are out every week taking on practical tasks like managing vegetation and habitat to maximise biodiversity, path maintenance and litter clearance. You can read more about how you can join our volunteers on our volunteering page.  

Our volunteers are often joined by staff from businesses looking for opportunities for their employees to enjoy some time outside making a difference to nature in Kirklees- see our corporate information page for how your company can be part of that. 

But our work for nature doesn’t stop there.

Everyone in Kirklees is part of the work that needs to happen to make our area one where nature thrives alongside people and business. People often tell us they are concerned about the environment and loss of nature but don’t know enough about it and don’t know where to start. Being aware of what is on our doorsteps and how to take care of it is crucial to community cohesion and wellbeing.

Spreading the word

Through our social media channels, information boards, signage, our program of walks and volunteering, and our work supporting schools and colleges to use the river facilities as outdoor classrooms EPIKS seeks to inspire our communities to value and care for nature.

Corporate Environmental Stewardship

Through our Corporate Environmental Stewardship scheme we invite businesses in Kirklees to join us in making our area cleaner, greener and healthier for everyone and everything that lives here. Visit our Corporate information page here.

Landscape Recovery Project

Through our new work with the Landscape Recovery Project we’re looking at improving the forest mosaic and showcasing our area through production of the Two Valleys Trail, a long distance accessible cycle way along the Colne and Calder Valleys. Watch this space !