Beechwood Park, North Halifax

The aptly-named Beechwood Park is a former army camp (demolished 197 ) in the Illilngworth and Ovenden wards of North Halifax and provides a large greenspace between two areas of multiple deprivation (recognised Nationally) plagued with anti-social behaviour. By poplular request it will shortly be established a local Nature Reserve under the ‘Wildspace’ programme (English Nature) complete with ‘Friends of…’ group. Through abandonment, the 11.4 hectare informal ‘park’ area now provides habitat for a large number of species. With housing and schools on all sides, this is truly a wildlife oasis in the midst of urban sprawl – ripe for formalised recreation and activities