Wildlife havens ranging from a sewage works to ancient woodland have been earmarked by Bradford Council as areas to be preserved and enjoyed by the public.

The new list of 150 designated areas has been compiled by the authority's countryside service so people can find out which are accessible and what they contain.

The wildlife includes butterflies, bats, herons, song thrushes, great spotted woodpeckers, toads, dragonflies, bluebells and woodland.

Council rights of way officers have pooled their knowledge with organisations including Bradford Urban Wildlife Group and Wharfedale Naturalists to produce the list for the first time.

Today the Council received praise from a national conservation organisation for the project.

English Nature conservation officer Brian Davies said: "We are very supportive and we are keen to encourage people to go out and enjoy them.

"People's perceptions of Bradford are of it being urbanised. But there are some wonderful unspoiled areas.

The list includes the former East Morton sewage works, home of grey herons, and disused settling lagoons at Marley sewage works which has a host of birdlife living there, including waders, waterfowl and many other species.

And buildings such as Low Mill, at Addingham, have been listed with its increasingly rare skylarks, kingfishers, warblers, owls and bats making the place their home.

Also on the list is the disused railway at Burley-in-Wharfedale, said to have a good variety of wildlife including foxes, bats and birds and there is some access along the public footpath.

Shipley railway station is recorded as having ten types of butterflies, including the Common Blue. Baildon Moor is also said to be a haven for wildlife, while the golf course is interesting to industrial archaeologists because there is evidence of mining.

The Council's executive member for the environment, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, pictured, said: "The number and quality of these sites shows just what valuable and interesting wildlife we have in Bradford.

"By designating these locations as wildlife areas we can protect them, raise awareness about them and encourage people to get outside and enjoy them. We'll also have done our bit to save our natural environment for future generations

Susan Stead, secretary of Bradford Urban Wildlife Group said she was delighted to see a project which would give information to the public and enable them to enjoy wildlife sites.

Information about the wildlife areas can be obtained by ringing the countryside and rights of way service on (01274) 752475. The service can also be contacted on the third floor of the Council offices at Jacobs Well, Bradford.