Jacob’s Ladder

Did you know that the steps up from the Rocky Valley onto the Dick Hudson’s Path over the Moor are known as ‘Jacob’s Ladder? Well I didn’t and I have lived in Ilkley and been involved with the Moor for about 45 years. However, diligent research has produced several people who do know of this usage. Perhaps now that we have repaired these steps, this old usage can be brought back into everyday use. Because (and this is the important bit) our volunteers have completely restored the steps up onto the Moor. We had wanted to do this for many years, but had thought the task beyond us. But now that we have such a large and experienced group of volunteers it has proved possible.

About 10 loads of hardcore (weighing several tons) were driven to the base of the steps and then all this hardcore, plus wood shuttering etc, was carried up the steps by our volunteers. I have to say that I have been out on volunteer work parties for many years, but carrying these loads was beyond me. It is a tribute to the fact that we have been able to recruit so many fit and active volunteers that this massive repair job has been possible.

The original Victorian steps had been used by countless walkers in the last 100 years or so, to access the top of the Moor. We hope that, for the next 100 years walkers will profit from the labours of our excellent volunteers.

So, what’s next. Perhaps we should now look at the steps in Panorama Woods.

Middleton Woods

At our AGM, I raised the possibility that we should extend our remit to cover Middleton Woods. This was in response to a request from BMDC that there was need for a ‘Friends’ group to assist in conservation activities in the woods.

Our constitution is very tightly worded to confine our activities to Ilkley Moor. Although our volunteers have, from time to time worked in Middleton Woods, our constitution does not  allow us to raise money for work off the Moor. Having carefully considered the issue (including a report on fund raising issues from our excellent Project Officer, Tracy Gray) your committee has unanimously recommended that we should investigate the amendment of our constitution to allow us to extend our remit to cover the publicly owned areas of woodland in Ilkley (Middleton Woods east and west of Curly Hill including Hudson Wood, Stubham Wood and Coppy Wood, Crabtree Ghyll, Beanlands Island, Yewbank Terrace, St Margaret’s Wood/Park, Heber’s Ghyll, Panorama Woods Wheatley Raikes, The Riddings and Mill Ghyll).

Currently, we regard Heber’s Ghyll, Panorama Woods, Wheatley Raikes, The Riddings and Mill Ghyll as falling within our sphere of influence since they came into ownership of Ilkley as part of the original purchase of Ilkley Moor from Francis Marmaduke Middleton in 1893. Your committee does not propose that there should be any change in the name of our charity. “The Friends of Ilkley Moor’ is now a well-established and respected brand name. We do not see any reason why it should be changed.

What all this means is that, if we change our constitution, we shall remain the largest and most successful Friends group in the area and that we shall have extended our remit to cover all of Ilkley’s  most precious natural, green spaces.

One thing that must be said, loud and clear, is that our prime focus will remain on Ilkley Moor. It is by far and away the largest of all green spaces in the area and it is proper that this most iconic of all landscapes should remain our priority. It is just that, if we change our constitution, our reach will become a little larger.

Flailbot

The Flailbot has been in use, for several days, cutting (or crushing) bracken; on the old golf course and around the Cow and Calf.

Some of this work has been funded by FoIM (we have just paid £2000 towards this) and some by BMDC. This is part of a long term plan for bracken control. It must be continued year after year if it is to have a lasting effect. We are hopeful that we shall be able to obtain funding to continue the work.