DENSO CORPORATION | ECO's Room Ecological activities


DENSO MARSTON Nature Reserve

In 1991, DENSO MARSTON transformed 28000m² of pastureland between the factory and River Aire into a nature reserve comprising of woodlands, meadows and ponds, and allowed public access.

The local community, children from local schools and other organizations were involved in the development of the reserve planting trees and lakeside plants and carrying out a riverbank clean and continue to provide excellent help with the management of the reserve.

Community involvement is being increased with the formation of the Friends of DENSO MARSTON Nature Reserve to enable more people to benefit from and contribute to the reserve.

1990 Pastureland between the factory and river before the creation of the Nature Reserve

Managing the Reserve

The idea for the reserve came from a DENSO MARSTON Production Engineering Manager. He believed that the land, which was unusable due to occasional flooding, should be improved for wildlife and enjoyed by DENSO MARSTON associates and the local community. And this idea motivated DENSO MARSTON to create the Nature Reserve.

A part time warden is employed by DENSO MARSTON to maintain and manage the reserve. He records wildlife, leads monthly-guided walks and gives guided walks and talks to child and adult organizations. The warden also now regularly broadcasts information about the reserve on the local community radio.

Monthly work parties, consisting of volunteers from the local community and DENSO MARSTON Associates, assist the warden in managing the woodlands, meadows and ponds, creating wildlife habitats and maintaining the reserve in a pristine condition.

Reserve with pond and
maturing woodland

2004
Night Heron - A rare Mediterranean
visitor

February 2006 Start of Warden's Guided Walk through the Nature Reserve

November 2005 Volunteers clean up the pond

Newly created Nature Reserve between the factory car park, service road and the River Aire

November 2005 Volunteer work group installing an Owl Nest box

Andrew Clark
Environment
Department
(now retired)

The project is a good example of sustainable development and environmental cooperation by industrial developers and the local community

This Nature Reserve complements other green areas in the Aire Valley, and has steadily increased wildlife species. This project also supports the local authority biodiversity plans to environmentally enrich the area for the future generations. Many people are grateful to Denso Corporation for adopting the idea and making possible the creation and continued management of the reserve