TOWN CLOSE HILLS / BILLY WOOD

Description : Known locally as Billy Woods, the site forms a prominent knoll of magnesian limestone to the south of Kippax. It comprises a steep sided grassland plateau with woodland, wild flower meadows, extensive scrub and a disused railway cutting with exposed limestone and shallow spring fed pools.

Town Close Hills nature reserve is particularly important for its grassland. This forms one of the few remaining sites where wildlife has not been banished by artificial fertilisers and herbicides nor by extensive ploughing. Today, the grassland is actively managed to prevent the invasion of rank grasses and shrubs and minimise damaging soil erosion from the unlawful use of motorbikes.

Important grassland species found on the site include yellow rattle, cowslip, clustered bell flower and bee orchids.

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