Welcome to our web pages
The Friends of St Ives is a group of volunteers who first gathered in 2003 to ensure that future developments to St Ives, Bingley are in keeping with the way the estate was originally designed and to ensure that all users can enjoy its beauty for many generations to come. We are hoping to work with Bradford Council and help with repairs and the development of facilities. We arrange guided walks and events throughout the year. Please see Forthcoming Events for details.
The estate of St Ives, was sold to the rural town of Bingley, West Yorkshire and its people by the Ferrand family in the 1920s, for £38,000. The St Ives Estate offers rural tranquillity with its woodland walks and abundant variety of flora and fauna. Anyone wishing to help or become more involved in the Friends activities can contact the group by email projects@friendsofstives.org.uk or become a member by completing the application form that can be downloaded from this site.
Why not become a member and join in the fun. Click Here to download a membership form.
Many of our pages are quite long. You will need to use the scroll bar on the right hand side of your browser in order to see the whole page.
News
Ponds and Water Gardens
With help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the society has just received from the printers, a new pamphlet that describes the 'Ponds an Water Gardens', both as they are now and as they were when constructed by the Ferrand family. This pamphlet will be made available shortly but you can down load a copy at this link: Ponds and Water Gardens This is in '.pdf' format as used by Adobe AcrobatTM and the file size is about 1.8 Mb.
St Ives in the ice
Water fowl find some open water and reflections in Baxter's pond
Fungus walk
Early October saw another fungus walk lead by Bob Taylor from the STRI. The event was well attended by about 40 people. Once again we are gratefull to Bob for a splendid afternoon.
Photographs by Susan Hart
Coppice pond
Work to repair the banks and improve facilities on Coppice pond is now under way. There is a new duck feeding platform with pram and wheel chair access.
Photographs by Gillian Biggs
Other WREN funded work includes: fitting bird boxes to trees. The bird hide now has a green roof.
Photographs by Gillian Biggs
Play ground
Now fully functional, the new play ground had the official opening on Saturday 30th May. The committee set up a stall and arranged a quiz for the children. Questions were about the St Ives Estate and all entrants received a chocolate egg for a prize. The eggs having been kindly provided by Bradford Metropolitan Council. The warm sunny weather helped to make the day a success.
Photograph by Rachel Tyrell
Renovation of the play ground has been partly funded by money from the WREN award.
Birding information and news
The birds on coppice pond take their young out for a swim - or ride. Pictures taken on the 'Dawn Chorus' walk; lead by Mark Doveston on 2nd May.
Photographs by Susan Hart
The birds of St Ives are a constant source of interest for all ages.
Photographs by Rachel Tyrell
Photographs by Kath Gabbitas
From time to time, the bird feeders at the new bird hide, come under attack from squirrels.
For more birding information look up "Bradford Ornithological Group". To see their WEB site via our links page Click Here
Try this link to see video images: Link to YouTube birds at St Ives videos