Christmas Message

Path restoration

One of our fundamental remits is nature conservation. We take the view that one of the best ways in which we can conserve the Moor is by restoring and maintaining paths. An unsurfaced path can give rise to major degradation and erosion. We maintain and restore paths in two ways: by paying for hard-core and contractors etc., and by the hard graft of our volunteers (under the supervision of Richard Perham). During the last year our principle concerns have been with the path from Willy Hall’s Spout to Spicey Gill (more work needed), with the drainage on the path around the Tarn (much more work needed) and with the resurfacing of the path from Spicey Gill towards the Swastika Stone. We must record the generosity of the Ilkley Gardening Association in paying for the hard-core for this path.

Flood mitigation

When Ilkley was built, in the 19th Century, the water, for domestic use, was drawn from the Moor. Now, the overwhelming bulk of Ilkley’s domestic water supply comes from elsewhere and there is only one reservoir in use that draws water from the Moor (the Panorama Reservoir taking water from Black Beck). But the same volume of water falls on Ilkley Moor now as it did in Victorian times, so, as this water is not being used for domestic water consumption, it increases the run-off from the Moor and increases the ground water levels in the valley.
Recently there has been much interest in Bradford’s Flood Risk Management Strategy, particularly in relation to proposed new building developments. FoIM has noted, with some concern that Bradford does not appear to keep any systematic list of incidents of flooding in Ilkley, arising from run-off from the Moor. We are not sure if they have a regular programme of inspection of the culverts and watercourses on the Moor (we are not completely sure that they even have an accurate record of culverts). Thus we are proposing to remedy these defects by entering into a conversation with Bradford on the subject of flood mitigation and by keeping an on-going record of any flooding incidents, no matter how small. After all a small flood in year one, unless properly noted and remedial action taken, may lead to a much more substantial flood in years two and three.

Dog control

At the AGM there was considerable discussion about dog control. We had considered compiling our own leaflet on the subject, but having come across two excellent leaflets – one from the Countryside Service and one from Natural England, we are trying to obtain bulk supplies so that we can give them to any member who would like copies.

Nature for all

We have been extremely fortunate in obtaining a large grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for our Nature for All Project. This is too big an issue for me to deal with in this newsletter so, we will be sending you a detailed report in January, prepared by our fantastic Project Officer, Tracy Gray.

Signage

We have been conscious that many visitors to Ilkley do not have a very clear idea about where on the Moor, many of the more famous features are located. We have been in discussion with the Parish Council and have commissioned a local artist, Hattie Clark, to make a schematic map of the Moor to be displayed in Darwin Gardens. We are very pleased with the initial design and we may well adapt it, so that it may be used in other locations. At the same time we are renewing the information panels at the White Wells car park and at the Cow & Calf car park. We know that a lot of walkers, going to the Swastika Stone are confused about which path to take when they come to the divide in the ways, where the path from Spicey Gill goes either to Heber’s Ghyll or to the Swastika Stone, so we are arranging for a finger post to be erected at this point.

Website

Our estimable Membership Secretary, Jon Copland, has been engaged in the task of updating our website (which had become rather dated). He has completely redesigned the website and I hope that members visiting it will be as impressed as I have been, by the improvement.

A history of Ilkley Moor

We have had meetings with a couple of our members who are engaged in compiling a history of Ilkley Moor using the archives of the Ilkley Gazette and their own independent research. We have high hopes that we can set up an accessible record of events involving the Moor, that members will be able to access. A further meeting is due to be held in January. If there are other members who would like to be involved in this project, please contact our Treasurer, David Whitehead on email at Treasurer@IlkleyMoor.org

Volunteers

Our volunteers engage in major tasks, such as the path restoration mentioned above, and also in many more minor (but just as necessary) tasks. They have helped clearing vegetation and have planted bulbs in Darwin Gardens, they are helping to restore St Margaret’s Wood, they go out litter picking, they clean the paddling pool and repaint and strim around the memorial benches. The list is endless and this year we felt we should acknowledge their hard graft by paying for a Christmas lunch for them.

Membership recruitment

We need more members. The demographic that joins voluntary organisations is getting steadily older, so at the moment, we lose as many members through death and through the fact that they go into Care Homes etc. as we gain new members. Our efforts to recruit new members have produced scant results. We need more, and we need your help. What better Christmas present for the person who already has enough ‘stuff’ than a gift subscription to FoIM?
One area we have had some success is in recruiting new corporate members from Ilkley’s business community. We hope to continue in this and perhaps offer more services to those members.

And finally

You can see that we have had a very busy year. I am very conscious that this would not have been possible if we had not had a very active and able committee. So a big ‘thank you’ to all off them and to our hard working group of volunteers.
And finally, a very Happy Christmas to all our members

Owen Wells
Chair, Friends of Ilkley Moor