Ackworth School

Ackworth School is one of the seven Quaker schools in England. The school is in the village of Ackworth,  near Pontefract, in West Yorkshire. The buildings, which are Georgian and made of sandstone, were originally used as a foundling hospital before the establishment of the school in 1779.

The grounds contain many mature trees. Some of the trees are native and form small stands of semi-natural woodland; many other trees are non-native. There are areas of mown grass and flowerbeds and areas which are managed less intensively. There is also an old orchard, containing apple trees, which receives minimal management.

The river Went runs alongside the gardens and there are two ponds. One of the ponds is in full sun and contains a number of plant species. This pond is home to frogs, common newts and great-crested newts and attracts damselflies and dragonflies. Water voles can be seen on the Went but mink have been seen recently.

Stone buildings on the site provide homes for bats and nesting places for jackdaws, stock doves, little owls and other species.