Ogden Water Nature Reserve

Have spent a some time today, keeping out the rain and updating our events page.
So now we have events listed to the start of the summer holidays, these include environmental art, beginners guide to birdwatching, Easter bunnies, Teddy bears' Picnics and our practical days. Check out the events page!!
Some of the events are booking only and will fill up fast, so if you are interested follow the link to the ticket source and book.
... We also have other events listed on our Countryside & Woodlands Team facebook page that take place at Jerusalem Farm, Manor Heath Park, Shelf Hall Park, beechwood Park, Roils Head, Scarr Wood, so check those out as well.
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There are always jobs and tasks to be done at Ogden Water. How about lending a hand in the management of the site. Our practical group meets to undertake work on site, from Christmas tree recycling, bird box building, fencing, walling, tree planting, access improvements, litter clearance, monitoring and wetland work.
New faces and hands always welcomed.
Please dress appropriate for the weather and with suitable footwear. All tools and training provided but please bring gard...ening gloves, sun cream and uinsect repellent with you (dependant on time of year for the last 2 items).
If staying all day then lunch is required, as are drinks and snacks.
Tea/coffee provided at beginning and end of day.
Sorry no dogs.
Please contact Chris on 07769 954956 for more details
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Bring your favourite Teddy to Ogden Water and enjoy a morning of fun and games in the woodlands. Aimed at pre-school children and their parents/carers.
Activities include a number of bear related activities and games. Please bring a picnic lunch to share with your bear!!
Suitable for aged 2 plus with level access for prams into the woodlands.... BOOKING ESSENTIAL Cost £4 per child (£3 Passport to Leisure Holders)
iNDOOR SPACE AVAILABLE IF WEATHER IS POOR.
Sorry no dogs.
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Come along to Ogden Water to make a rustic Easter Bunny out of wood and an Easter basket to collect things in on our seasonal scavenger hunt in the woodlands (with Easter Egg Prizes!!!).
SUITABLE FOR AGED 3 PLUS (no unaccompanied children)
Two sessions throughout the day but BOOKING ESSENTIAL
... Wear warm clothing and sturdy footwear.
Woodland session suitable for prams.
Cost £4 per child (£3 Passport to Leisure holders)
Sorry no dogs
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Come along to Ogden Water for a day creating art work indoors, led by members of the Piecemakers Textile Art group.
The morning will be spent producing land art installations, while the afternoon spent on textile art, including felt woodland creatures andTa communal rag rug.
To book a place please contact countryside@calderdale.gov.uk
... Cost £10 per person
Lunch required, sorry no dogs allowed.
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Join staff from Ogden Water for a 2 hour session for families to learn about birds. Get to know the basics of binoculars, garden bird identification and what to feed. Indoor session followed by the chance to put your new skills to the test.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Suitable for aged 5 plus
... Family ticket £10 (up to 2 adults and 3 children)
No dogs
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Due to the inclement weather and predictied heavy rain and high winds, we are sorry to say that the Ogden Water visitor centre will be closed over the next 2 days. We hope to be open on Thursday as normal.

A little joke . But it's not really. Please keep your dog on a leash. if you are walking on the moors above Ogden. In the past years we have had reports from the farmer about sheep been attacked and worried by dogs in lambing season.

A day building bird and bat boxes at Ogden Water. What better way to spend a Friday than making homes for over 40 bird families (small holed boxes, medium holed boxes and even woodpecker boxes). We even made a number of bat boxes these will be going out into the woodlands over the next few months.

Ogden Water car parks are open today, however the road in and all the car parks are covered with ice. Sorry but the toilets and the visitor centre will remain closed during Friday.
Please think carefully before visiting as the paths through the woodlands, down the lane and around the reservoir will be extremely icy . Why not visit Cromwell Bottom, Shibden Park Manor Heath or People's Park.

Due to the icey road conditions and ice covering the car parks, footpaths and roadways, Ogden Water including the car parks are closed today. Please visit one of the lower level parks and greenspace areas if you wish to walk.

Thank you we have reached over 4000 likes on the Ogden Water Nature Reserve page.. One big thank you from the staff and volunteers. Please keep sharing are posts and using the site. If you want to help out on any of the community days please get in touch. *RP

I am really angry and sad to have to write this but since Wednesday we have had a number of snare traps found around the Ogden Clough area at Ogden Water. These have been attached to trees/fenceline on green nylon lines and have been at knee to waist height.
With the snares being around knee height and higher it would appear that the person(s) setting them are after deer. Unfortunately these are at the same height that could snare a dog as they head out in the woodlands.
T...hese were found by a member of the public and handed in at the visitor centre and to staff on site.
They were found on small deer tracks and off the main paths and desire lines that most people like to use, however we do have visitors and dogs who like to get off the beaten track so please be vigilant. While initially found around Ogden Clough there may be others within the wider woodlands.
We have made an initial check at both the deeper regions of Ogden Clough and Skirden Clough (the two valleys that the feeder streams flow down).
If you should come across any snares or trap, please take care and if possible dismantle and bring to the Ogden visitor centre. Please leave your details and where you found them as well.
We have reported the matter to the police and they along with PCSO's, staff and safety wardens will be checking and visiting the area for the forseable future.
We are not wanting peole to read this and see it as a reason not to visit the area, but to raise awareness and hopefully help to keep Ogden Water safe for both the visitors (2 and 4 legged) and for the wildlife that lives here.
Thank you for your support with this.
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Just an update - due to overrunning and time commitments the bottom car park will be closed on Thursday 17th Jan to allow works to be completed. We will be filling in the pot holes and sorting out the vegetation at the entrance.
The upper car parks will be open as normal. If walking through the lower car parks to the woodlands please keep your dogs on a lead as machinery will be trundling around.

Lots of trees from this weekend (please don't block the gate and path!!!) Managed to shift 180+ to the sides of the reservoir today before the weather got the better of us.
Volunteers will be out from tomorrow putting trees into hedging layer. More trees going out tomorrow as well.

At Ogden Water we are again recycling your old Christmas trees. All tree will be put to good use, either as a barrier around the edge of the reservoir to deter access and help create/maintain the wildlife habitat or potted trees will be planted in the woodlands.
This year we are asking for a donation to go with your tree, an amount of money that you can leave in the visitor centre and that will go to the Friends of Calderdale's Countryside to be re-invested in Ogden Water.
...Trees can be dropped off outside the classroom or over the walls either side of the visitor centre. Donations can be left in the visitor centre.
We are recycling all January, so please dont' feel you have to come straight away with your tree. If you can hold it in the garden until mid January it would be helpful to us and allow us to clear the trees we already have had donated. Also if you can bring your tree midweek instead of the weekend, that is helpful aswell.
In addition if you are a group planning on bring loads of trees, please can you get in touch to arrange a drop off time - that way we can help you unload or direct you to a secondary drop off point.
Just to let you know we estimate that last year we had over 2500 tree (and we estimated that was about £87,000 pounds work of tree).
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The visitor centre will be closed Tuesday and Friday to allow essential maintenance and upgrades to occur. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes but the work is needed. The toilets will be open as usual.