Our common purpose is to protect and maintain the rural environment of this, the oldest part of Harrogate. A community was first recorded here in 982 AD, indeed Harrogates earlier name was Bilton-with-Harrogate, before the Victorian town of the 1850s swallowed up Bilton as its suburb.
Bilton Conservation Group continues to serve the community by its traditional conservation activities bird boxes, bat boxes, habitat improvement, pond digging, footpath work, guided walks, slide-talks, school field trips, minibeast demonstrations, wildlife recording, fundraising, tree planting, mass bulb planting (urban roadside verges), amphibia breeding/release programmes, wild flower restoration etc.
The group formed on 19.05.1982 at a public meeting of local residents concerned about the decline in the local countryside. From 60 members we have grown to almost 500, 40 of whom are very active. We have inspired two public appeals to buy prime woodland for the Woodland Trust. We maintain litter, clearance, tree planting, bird boxing, habitat management and fundraising programmes.
Current Aims 1. To complete our (present) major Local Heritage Initiative sponsored by the Lottery Heritage Fund – signage, footpath/bridleway improvements, interpretation of archaeological site, large interpretative boards (6′ x 4′), series of leaflets etc. 2. To revive a system of countryside wardening to mitigate urban fringe problems