Campaign launched to buy waterfall beauty spot

A fundraising campaign has been launched to help a West Yorkshire community buy an ancient woodland and waterfall, preserving it for future generations.

Friends of Goit Stock Wood, a newly registered charity, is aiming to raise £195,000 by mid-September to buy the 70-acre Goit Stock Wood in Harden near Bingley.

The site, home to a spectacular 20ft (6m) waterfall, is a popular beauty spot and has been listed as an Asset of Community Value by Bradford Council.

Charity trustee Tom Wood said: "This is a once-in-a-generation chance to protect a unique woodland and give it back to the community."

He said the group had launched a business sponsorship scheme to "give local companies a simple way to get involved, and make a big difference to this community project".

Businesses are urged to get behind the scheme, with sponsorship packages starting at £50.

A wider crowdfunder will follow.

The woodland plot for sale is currently part of the privately owned Harden and Bingley Park, which also includes a static caravan home business.

Supporters will be featured on the charity's website, social media, and - if the project succeeds - on a sign in the wood. Higher-tier packages will allow individuals and businesses to sponsor a larger area.

Mr Wood said several local companies had already shown "a real appetite to help", and volunteers would be visiting businesses in and around Bingley over the next week.

"But we'd welcome support from further afield too," he added. "Every contribution brings us closer to our goal."

The campaign began with a public meeting in the village of Harden in January.

In April, Goit Stock Wood was designated an Asset of Community Value and a charity application was submitted.

Charity status was granted in June.

Over recent weeks, members of the charity have attended local galas in Harden, Wilsden and Cullingworth, gaining wide public support - with more events planned.

Once the wood is purchased, the charity said it aimed to "enhance biodiversity, create volunteering opportunities and educate visitors about the importance of protecting natural habitats".

It said community ownership would ensure the woodland, which has been on sale since last year, is preserved for future generations, free from commercial exploitation or unsuitable development.

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