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  • Press Release

    The Friends of Ilkley Moor Launch The First of 20 Events

    The first of 20 Events organised by The Fiends of Ilkley Moor started on Saturday. 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

  • Annual General Meeting – 27 April

    The Friends of Ilkley Moor had an outstandingly successful AGM at the Clarke Foley Centre last Friday. Approximately 100 members attended out of a total membership of 475.

    Owen Wells, Chair of FoIM said "For a small voluntary organisation to be able to attract over 20% of its total membership to an AGM is an astonishing success."

    At the meeting in his Chair's Report, Owen Wells drew attention to the extraordinary amount of money that FoIM has raised in it's first five years - in round figures £180,000. This year FoIM has obtained a number of grants, the largest being £50,000 WREN funding.

    Owen Wells told the meeting about the projects for path improvements, bracken spraying and the educational programme on which the money will be spent this year.

    The meeting was held enthralled by a talk on the Rocks and Landscapes of Ilkley Moor delivered by Alison Tymon from the Yorkshire Geological Trust.

    The existing committee was voted in for a further twelve months.

    During the meeting members were able to question the committee on the work of FoIM and raised such diverse issues as rhododendron control, the shoot, mountain biking, fire damage to the Moor and bracken control. Afterwards members enjoyed wine and cheese and socialised with the committee.

    From Barry Wilkinson FOIM Press Officer Mobile 07831-505051
    For further information contact Owen Wells (Chair) 01943-602270

     

Video Introduction to the Friends of Ilkley Moor

  • The Management of Ilkley Moor

    The management of Ilkley Moor works to a plan and is not arbitary. Management prescriptions are determined by the Joint Nature Conservation Council and enforced by Natural England (the government’s advisors on nature conservation in England). NE sends all SSSI owners and occupiers a statement of what the ideal management should be.

    Click here for a more detailed explanation

     

  • Next Volunteer Day: 15th May 2012

    Habitat management, Ilkley Moor

    Come along and help us maintain the unique ecological interest of the heathland.

    Click here for details...