Adel Dam Nature Reserve — Attraction in Leeds

Although this is a great site they have put in a new hide, it's great but attention to detail is sadly missing, you are sat down and right in front of you is a contaminated pool of water, it's contaminated by the workmen who built the hide , the feeders are all filthy you can see the residue of the cement everywhere this is the contamination i am talking about, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as big as you are need to speak to the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, they will give them pointers on how a site should look, lets face it your wife puts a roast dinner in front of you great but the plate is filthy would you eat from it, that's another thing the feeders the whole point of the feeders are to put some sort of seed etc inside them this will encourage more birds to come. now i say this is a great site it is there are plenty of small birds about what we would call the usual suspects but Jays are no longer here probably don't like the sound of chainsaws, now before YWT gets annoyed by saying it all takes time and money, yes i appreciate that but cleaning and filling the feeders should come before a Magnificent 3 meter high sculpture of a Kingfisher. there is a new wood structure being built but when i went he is on his tod so i can see it will take some time. i will be back but when, Harwood Hall and St Aidens is so inviting, one last dig (sorry about that) upto the first hide the paths are passable with my mobility scooter but the second hide needs a bit of thought, get on a scooter see what we have to put up with, fitting wooden pathways is great except getting the wheels onto it is a bit of a problem then when the path ends and big bump back onto terra firma is...

Patience is a virtue and there are surprises to be found if you just stop, listen and relax. It might take a while for the wildlife to trust you. Some parts of the circular path are in a poor state and some of the bridges are a bit wobbly. The building rubble at one edge of the reserve can't be a good for nature either.

The new bird hide is fantastic and I hope it stays that way. There are waterfowl here, however they seem to visit intermittently. The second small hide has been a bit ruined by childish graffiti.

You aren't going to be able to get a mobility vehicle or pram around the circular walk, sorry. There's nice seating area near the entrance and the first/main bird hide to get a taster of the rest of the reserve, if you have limited mobility.

The newer walking platform is great but now highlights where other parts of the path really need attention as get very muddy in the wet months.

If you walk around here very quietly and on days that the reserve isn't busy you might even see some dear!

If you feed squirrels here then bear in mind they destroy biodiversity, by eating the food other animals would eat. Squirrels and rats hang out together so if you hand feed them don't be surprised if you and your family become ill... Please don't encourage feeding of either squirrels or rats. Please no dogs or...

Someone's been busy while I've been away. New open access entrance with a big new shelter which includes a table and bench, and signage to encourage people in. A new open access view spot for the lake, replete with newly rebuilt water outlet. And a new 20m walkway at the back end of the trail which removes the worst of the muddy sections of the trail. Suitable for prams and wheel-chairs but you'll still struggle to get around other sections with those anyway. It also removes some of the natural charm. But no wellies needed. All this together with previous work to rebuild bird hide 1, and titillation to hide 2. Seems like they're serious about getting people to use the reserve. And they've finally unlocked and latched the top gate too (thank you) so you don't need to jump over the...