Hill Rise, Bedford Explained

Hill Rise is a 0.9 hectare Local Nature Reserve (LNR) located in the Harpur area of Bedford. It is owned and managed by Bedford Borough Council.^{[1] [2]}

The site was the Bedfordshire Training Home for Girls, founded in 1882 to prepare poor girls for domestic service. This closed by the 1970s, and the land became a derelict dumping ground. In the 1990s local residents campaigned for the site to become an LNR, and this was achieved in 1996.^[3] The small site is surrounded on three sides by houses, but it has a variety of habitats, woodland, meadow, scrub and two ponds. Wildlife includes muntjac deer, foxes, birds, dragonflies and butterflies.^{[1] [4]}

There is access from Park Road North.

References

52.1487°N -0.4705°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hill Rise. Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 18 February 2013 . 19 November 2015.
2. Web site: Map of Hill Rise. Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 19 November 2015.
3. Web site: History. Hill Rise Nature Reserve. 19 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120083006/http://www.hillrisenaturereserve.org.uk/history.html. 20 November 2015. dead.
4. Web site: Welcome to Hill Rise Nature Reserve. Hill Rise Nature Reserve. 19 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151120042042/http://www.hillrisenaturereserve.org.uk/index.html. 20 November 2015. dead.