The Wild Watch project was a three year National Lottery Heritage funded project (2017-2020) which carried out Nidderdale National Landscape’s biggest ever systematic survey for wildlife.

It empowered people to get involved with their local wildlife and gain new natural history skills through learning about and enjoying Nidderdale AONB’s natural heritage.

The data collected helped create detailed habitat maps and has informed conservation strategies, ensuring that the unique wildlife and habitats of Nidderdale are preserved and enhanced. The project was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

With the help of volunteers and ecological consultants, we carried out:

• Bird surveys recording sightings of woodland and wading birds.
• Riverbank surveys looking for signs of otter and water vole, sightings of kingfisher, dipper, and grey wagtail, and recorded occurrences of some invasive plant species such as Himalayan balsam.
• Plant surveys looking for bluebell, common spotted orchid, mountain pansy, and other varieties, as well as some invasive species, such as Himalayan balsam.
• Invertebrate surveys recording sightings of specified species such as garden bumblebee, mountain bumblebee, green tiger beetle, wall butterfly, and small heath butterfly.
• Pond surveys carrying out eDNA analysis of small samples of pond water looking for traces of great crested newt DNA.

The project culminated in a State of Nature Report for the area. The State of Nature Report provides an overview of the wildlife and habitats found within Nidderdale National Landscape, summarizing the pressures on the natural environment and outlining actions needed to protect it.

It serves as a baseline for monitoring changes in nature and guides future conservation efforts. The report highlights the importance of the area’s diverse habitats, including moorland, grassland, woodland, and wetlands, and emphasizes the need for large-scale action to protect these environments.