Picking Gill Nature Trail
Picking Gill Nature Reserve is a four acre community nature reserve, owned and cared for by Grantley, Sawley, Skelding and Eavestone Parish Council. From 1799, for about 100 years, sandstone was extracted from this former quarry to build walls and roads in the area.
In 1799 it was one of four quarries awarded to the township of Sawley enabling the extraction of stone for the construction of local buildings, walls and roads. Quarrying finished in the early 1900s.
In 2005 the Parish Council and local volunteers took on the task of creating and managing the site as a nature reserve and a place of contemplation. It does not matter whether the sun is shining, the wind is blowing or there is driving rain or snow, the fantastic, panoramic views of the north of England are for all around and serve to remind us what a dramatic place this is.
There are ponds, benches and pathways to explore as well as an visitor information board.
Picking Gill is the home to many types of wildlife.
Starting earlier this year the area has been treated to an extensive work program. The Skell Project, an initiative headed up by the National Trust and the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has been instrumental in hedge laying other tasks in need of attention. Look up the blog that tells the story. Thank you to all the volunteers and organisers for this great piece of work. Copy and paste this link into your browser to see the team at work:-
https://nidderdaleaonb.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2022-02-08T09:10:00-08:00&max-results=10.
At the very top of Picking Gill is the War Memorial. The story behind the War Memorial is fascinating. All three men on the stone were from Eavestone. They have their own tragic stories. The stone gate post that forms the memorial came from land that one of them used to farm. It was put up about 15 years ago by members of the Parish Council.
There is a commemoration service every 11th November at 11.00 o'clock. At other times it is a peaceful place for quiet reflection.
