Our common purpose is to protect and maintain the rural environment of this, the oldest part of Harrogate.  A community was first recorded here in 982 AD, indeed Harrogate’s earlier name was ‘Bilton-with-Harrogate’, before the Victorian town of the 1850’s swallowed up Bilton as its suburb.

Originally Bilton was a small village in the depths of the Ancient Forest of Knaresborough.  Surrounded by dense woodland, with the River Nidd as its northern boundary in a deep ravine (Nidd Gorge), Bilton had a quiet rural existence for many centuries disturbed only by the King’s visits to his Royal Hunting Park, established here in the 12th century.

The Royal Hunting Park (Bilton Park) fell into disrepair in the 17th century and has largely served as agricultural land with some small scale coal mining (bell pits), flax and corn mills and forestry as its principal activities.  The coming of the railways in 1847 brought a viaduct, railway sidings and a mainline junction to disturb the rural calm, followed by Harrogate Town’s own narrow gauge gasworks railway.  By 1970 the railways had vanished and the disused industrial land gave way to weeds and debris.

Bilton Conservation Group was formed on 19th May 1982, determined to recover the wasteland from its decay.  Today the wildlife has returned, wild flowers flourish, many thousands of trees have been planted and over 200 acres of prime woodland and riverside have been bought by public subscription and put in the hands of the Woodland Trust.  The disused gasworks railway yard became a small nature reserve in October 2000.

Bilton Conservation Group continues to serve the community by its traditional conservation activities – bird boxes, bat boxes, habitat improvement, pond digging, footpath work, guided walks, slide-talks, school field trips, minibeast demonstrations, wildlife recording, fundraising, tree planting, mass bulb planting (urban roadside verges), amphibia breeding/release programmes, wild flower restoration etc.

NIDD GORGE LOCAL HERITAGE INITIATIVE 2002 – 2003. On 1st December 2001 we launched a joint programme of conservation work throughout the Nidd Gorge Conservation Area, with the Knox Valley Residents’ Association, this includes interpretation of an archaeological site, publishing footpath guides, waymarking, signage and boardwalks.  There is scope for a range of voluntary skills from carpentry to photography.

WOODLAND TRUST – VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2002 Bilton Conservation Group has been recognised as “Volunteers of the Year 2002 (North of England)”, by the Woodland Trust which manages two hundred acres of woodland between Bilton & Knaresborough. Secretary Keith Wilkinson said: “The conservation group and Knox Valley Residents have worked almost 1500 hours on Nidd Gorge footpaths this year.  This special award is a tribute to our committed volunteers who work whatever the weather to enable the public to enjoy the area.”

To learn more about the activities of the Bilton Conservation Group or to volunteer your services, please e-mail the Secretary on info@biltonconservationgroup.co.uk