Location

Site

Menston is situated in the attractive rural setting of Lower Wharfedale on gently rising land between 100 and 200 metres above sea level, safely above the valley bottom of the River Wharfe a mile to the north. The higher land to the west and south west Hawksworth Moor and the Chevin to the East a part of Guiseley Moor, rises to about 300 metres in height.

The village is surrounded by Green Belt land and the countryside to the west of the village centre has been designated a Special Landscape Area (S.L.A.) by the current U.D.P. for the Bradford District. This recognises the special character ot the unspoilt open aspect, lush pastures and attractive woodlands of the Wharfe valley, which contrast with the valley slopes which rise gently to the unique moorland plateau above. The land to the south of the village incorporating the High Royds Estate, has also been designated a S.L.A. The Estate is additionally registered as a Historic Park and Garden by English Heritage.

Geology

Hawksworth and Guiseley Moor form a ridge of gritstones and shales that were laid down on the edge of a large delta 300 million years ago in the Upper Carboniferous period. These sediments were subsequently compacted, raised and tilted to the south east which gives rise to the relatively gentle slopes of Hawksworth Moor and the steeper slopes of the north facing Chevin. Menston, but for a small ridge of gritstone at Derry Hill, is entirely covered by clays and rocks which were deposited by a glacier active in the Wharfe Valley 20,000 years ago. At some point this glacier came south through Guiseley to the Aire valley creating the gap in the moors that is now occupied by Menston.

Vegitation and wildlife

Most of the land surrounding Menston is pasture land suitable for grazing cattle and sheep. Everywhere there are small groups of trees which include ash, English oak, horse chestnut and sycamore and on the wetter land near becks there are often alders and willows. Hedgerows of blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel and elder are characteristic of the area. Many species of flowers and shrubs are to be found which, although not rare, certainly add colour to the countryside in spring and summer.

This flora supports over forty species or birds, including tawny owls, curlews, woodpeckers, herons and green finches. Small rodents such as voles and field mice inhabit the fields and hedgerows. Cockshafer beetles and moths, including Dark Arches and Yellow Underwings, can be found in the local countryside which are valuable food for bats, which are on the protected list.