Cromwell Bottom: Simon Day on caring for one of Calderdale’s special places
Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve is one of Calderdale’s special green spaces, loved by the people who visit and cared for by a dedicated group of volunteers.
After Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group won the Sustainability Award at this year’s Community Spirit Awards, we spoke to Chair Simon Day about how he first became involved and how Cromwell Bottom has grown over the years.
How did you first get involved with Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group?
My passion for nature goes right back to being a child. I was probably six or seven when that connection with wildlife and the natural world really started.
I first came across Cromwell Bottom about 12 years ago. I was walking along the canal one Sunday afternoon when I bumped into a neighbour, who told me there was a nature reserve nearby. I went for a wander, met one of the trustees and got in touch with the group.
At the time I was still teaching, so I volunteered during school holidays and the odd weekend. I wanted to learn, but I also wanted to help. Over time, I felt I could contribute more, so when a trustee vacancy came up, I stepped forward.
It linked nicely with my work in education too. Some of the things I learned at Cromwell Bottom fed back into my science teaching, so in that sense it was a double win.
How has Cromwell Bottom changed since you became involved?
When I first joined, it was a very different organisation. It was much more focused on the wildlife and the nature reserve itself. We did not have the premises we have now, and we were not working with the same number of schools, community groups or partner organisations.
When I retired, I always planned to give more time to Cromwell Bottom. The previous Chair later stepped down because of ill health and I decided to take on the role.
Since then, we have taken opportunities as they have come along. The core values are still the same: maintaining the nature reserve for wildlife and visitors. But the work has grown to include much more education and community activity.
It is very much a team effort. We have trustees and volunteers with different skills and backgrounds, and that is why it works.
What makes the volunteer team work so well?
The beauty of our volunteer team is that people come from all walks of life. Some have worked in education, some in engineering, some in farming, and all sorts of other areas.
Between us, there is not much we cannot turn our hands to. It is not just about the people who come down during the week to work on the reserve. It is also all the other work that happens around that.
Most of us are retired, so we bring our experience as well as our skills and knowledge. People are there because they want to be, not because they have to be. That makes a big difference.
“If people understand the natural world, they are more likely to care about it.”
What keeps you motivated on difficult days?
The difficult days are usually difficult because of the amount of work. We are down at the reserve two days a week, but I am probably doing something connected with Cromwell Bottom most days.
What keeps me going is the fact that I am still passionate about educating children. In a sense, I am still teaching, but in a different environment.
I also enjoy the camaraderie. There is a lot of good-natured ribbing, but we all get on. It is a great team to be part of.
What has this experience taught you about people and community?
It has taught me that there is a real need for places like Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve, perhaps more than ever.
That became especially clear after Covid. People had been restricted for so long, and then they started looking for places where they could get outside, meet people and feel better. We opened the picnic area, and at first people would come and sit on their own. From those small beginnings, it has grown and grown.
There is a demand for open spaces where people can experience nature, appreciate it and learn about it. We work with around 13 primary schools, and we can help children with parts of the science curriculum that are much harder to deliver in school.
We also work with community groups, adults with additional needs and people from communities who may not otherwise have easy access to nature. Different groups benefit in different ways, but the common thread is that being in a place like Cromwell Bottom is good for people.
What do you wish more people understood about the work you do?
I wish more people understood that Cromwell Bottom is a nature reserve.
We are dog friendly. We allow dogs, and we want people to enjoy visiting with their dogs. But we do ask people to keep them on leads.
It is about respect for the wildlife and for the site. If people want to let their dogs run off the lead, there are parks where they can do that without disturbing wildlife. Most people do comply, but there is a minority who ignore the signs.
It is one of the biggest frustrations for us. We cannot enforce it in the way we would like to, so it becomes an education process. We keep trying to explain why it matters.
What are you most proud of?
I am proud of the way we have diversified and managed the demand that has come with that.
We have been able to open doors to schools and community groups, and help people learn more about how important wildlife and the natural world are.
It is not about what I have done personally. It is about what we have enabled other people to learn. The more people learn about nature, the more they appreciate it.
What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering locally?
I get asked about volunteering all the time. We have to make sure there is meaningful work for people to do, so sometimes we do reach capacity.
There are still opportunities, though. On the second Saturday of each month there is an open volunteer session run by Calderdale Council, which we are involved in.
The important thing is making sure people feel useful and that we can support them properly.
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I would love the finances to be there to help more people get to the reserve.
For many schools, disability groups and community groups, the main barrier is transport. A short coach journey can cost a lot of money. We have had funding in the past that helped schools with transport costs, and that made a huge difference.
Parking is also a challenge at the moment. Sometimes people come down, find the car park full, and turn around. That means people who want to visit the reserve are missing out.
These might sound like simple things, but they really matter. Access is not just about whether a place exists. It is about whether people can actually get there.
Why is protecting local green space so important?
Local green spaces are vital because there are so few of them.
We all know people need somewhere to live, but we are seeing more and more pressure on green spaces. At the same time, we know that walking in green spaces is good for mental health and wellbeing.
When I was a child, we played outside all the time. There were more places to explore, and that helped create a connection with the natural world. Now, for many children, that connection has to be deliberately created.
There has also been a huge decline in wildlife over the last 40 or 50 years. Birds, butterflies and other species that used to be common are now much less common. Some children come to Cromwell Bottom with very little awareness of wildlife, but when they experience it, they love it.
Cromwell Bottom is a jewel in Calderdale’s crown. There is only one place like it, and it is vital that we keep places like this alive and thriving.
What small changes can people make that really matter?
Come and visit places like Cromwell Bottom. Listen to why they matter. Learn from the people who look after them, and spread the word.
A lot of it is education. If people understand the natural world, they are more likely to care about it.
There is a book called The Lost Words, which looks at words from the natural world that were removed from a children’s dictionary. Words like heron, magpie and kingfisher. If children do not read those words, and they do not see those things, how will they know about them?
It is the erosion of habitat, then the erosion of wildlife, and then the erosion of knowledge.
My phrase is: less screen and more green. Children come down with schools, and because there is no phone signal, they have to look around. They discover what is there, and it opens their eyes.
Have you seen attitudes towards sustainability change?
Yes. One example is our aluminium can recycling.
We collect empty drinks cans, and people bring them to us by the bucket load. We take them to the recycling centre in Halifax, and the money comes back to support Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve.
Last calendar year, we raised around £1,300 from cans, which is a substantial amount of money for us. People like it because it is not just recycling. It is recycling that directly supports the nature reserve.
People can bring cans down when we are open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. They can leave tied bags by the gates, and we will deal with them.
What is the most rewarding part of seeing nature thrive?
There are a couple of examples that stand out.
One is the moth population. Halifax Scientific Society come down in the summer months to set up moth traps, and then we have what we call a moth breakfast on the Sunday morning. People can come and learn about the different species. Some are quite rare, and some have only been seen in Calderdale.
Another success story is the orchids. Because we maintain the site properly and keep invasive species like brambles and Himalayan balsam under control, other species can thrive. We have hundreds of orchids now, and they are beautiful.
If you create the right habitat, wildlife moves in. It is a simple connection, but it takes work.
Quick Fire Questions
Sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise.
One word to describe community?
Potential.
What is your favourite place in Calderdale?
I would be shocked if I did not say Cromwell Bottom.
There are plenty of other lovely places, but Cromwell Bottom is my happy place. Even when I am there doing admin, you never lose that sense of appreciation. It looks different through the seasons, but it is always special.
Hidden talent?
I am a drummer in a worship band at a Methodist church in Brighouse. A lot of people do not know that.
Favourite comfort food?
Chicken and spinach balti. Preferably from Swadish in Brighouse.
What makes you smile instantly?
Seeing my grandchildren. Anything family-related, really.
