This story was covered by the BBC
The Dawoodi Bohra community has partnered with the Bradford Council’s Countryside Service and the Aire Rivers Trust to launch a major restoration project at Bingley North Bog — a 10,000-year-old bog regarded as one of the Bradford district’s most precious natural sites.
Funded entirely through Project Rise, the Dawoodi Bohra community’s global philanthropic initiative, the project will help protect the habitat, mitigate flood risk, increase biodiversity, and improve public access to the reserve. The restoration programme began on 21 August and will feature a dedicated team of local Bohra and Aire Rivers Trust volunteers working in collaboration with council specialists.
Initial work has already begun with the removal of invasive species and groundwork for new walking paths. Upcoming phases will include:
- Re-meandering of a beck to reduce flooding
- Planting of 1,000 native trees to create a new hedgerow and improve biodiversity
- Installation of a wildlife observation screen
- Sustained community engagement and volunteer programmes to foster local participation
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, expressed his gratitude, stating: “It’s great to see that this project is progressing and a plan is in place for how it will move forward. The project will help Bingley North Bog continue to be a great natural asset and haven for nature. Thank you to the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community for their generous donation which has made this all possible.”
Raj Cochin, speaking on behalf of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Bradford, highlighted how the initiative aligns with the guidance of His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, on environmental stewardship: “Conservation is a fundamental part of who we are. Recognising the remarkable capacity of mangroves in carbon sequestration, our communities in coastal regions have, in the last few years, made strides to restore depleting mangrove forests. One of the reasons we have chosen to support the restoration of Bingley North Bog is that peatlands are the largest natural carbon store on land and help mitigate climate change”
Rachel Forsyth, CEO of the Aire Rivers Trust, added, noting the importance of community partnerships in effective conservation: “Projects like this show what is possible when we work together. We are proud to partner with Bradford Council and the Dawoodi Bohra community to restore this vital habitat for both wildlife and people.”
Located between the A650 and Five Rise Locks, Bingley North Bog is a remnant of a 10,000-year-old glacier, a peat bog and wetland that serves as a crucial habitat for a diverse range of wildlife. The area is a sanctuary for birds such as curlews, kingfishers, and herons, as well as insects like dragonflies and bats, and is a vital carbon store helping to combat climate change. This site is also one of eight included in the new Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve, which was officially launched last week.