The first of 20 Events organised by The Fiends of Ilkley Moor started on Saturday, 12 May. The Moorland Bird Walk led by Ernie Scarfe of Wharfedale Naturalists Society set off in the morning at 9am in glorious sunshine from White Wells, on the path to Hebers Ghyll, returning at 11.30. Among the birds identified, willow warbler, long-tailed tit, chiffchaff, tree pipit, meadow pipit, robin, blackbird, magpie, Red grouse, chaffinch and carrion crow. 
The second Event in the afternoon, Footsteps in the Stone Age for (7-11 years) led by Pippa Rochford (Kidz Archaeology), started from the Cow & Calf Rocks Car Park. The group climbed the steep hill to the top path before continuing on to the Haystacks Stone, where they sat for a while to hear the story how primitive hunter-gatherers went about their lives 8,000 years ago. They also got to handle replica stone tools and artifacts.
Later they paused to sketch the Idle Stone – a fine example of Neolithic Rock Art, and evidence of ancient civilisation on the moor. The last call was at the Backstone Beck Bronze Age enclosure, which was restored in 1982-87 by Ilkley Archaeology Group.
The tired, but happy party returned back to the Cow & Calf almost three hours later having followed in the footsteps of Stone Age hunters.
Other Events which continue through May to September can be downloaded from the friends Events & Learning Programme on this website or collected from Ilkley Information Centre and shops in the Town.
The walk was funded by Pennine Prospects as part of the Watershed Landscapes Project.
From Barry Wilkinson Press Officer FOIM
For more information please contact Tracy Gray 07854-447947