Otley Nature Network
Overview
The Otley Nature Network (ONN) was set up by Otley 2030 in 2021 in order to bring together local key stakeholder to develop a joined-up strategy to tackle the Biodiversity Crisis locally. Meetings are held bi-monthly and are usually attended by representatives from nature groups, businesses, landowners, and local government. If you would like to get involved, please email hello@otley2030.com.
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In November 2022 the ONN released it's much anticipated Nature Recovery Plan at an event attended by local politicians, school children, and ecologists. The key note speaker was TV entomologist George McGavin. George also wrote the forward to the NRP, which you can read by clicking on the image below.
Weston Nature Areas
The area adjacent to the football club, planted in April 2024 by Wildlife Friendly Otley volunteers, will be a mixture of bee-friendly flowerbeds and a wildflower meadow, with a bench kindly donated by Otley Coop Funeral Care. We have worked in close consultation with the football club committee and local residents on plans for this area.
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In 2024, Otley 2030 secured funding from Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to create two small nature areas at Weston Lane Juniors and behind the play park opposite. We will also plant a few fruit trees and flowers at Otley Social Club.
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These nature areas will provide important nectar-rich plants for pollinators, fruit for local people to help themselves to (in time), as well as beautiful places to meet and enjoy the flowers, birds and butterflies.
The area behind the play park will be planted in autumn 2024 with orchard trees, a native hedgerow and a wildflower meadow.
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We've been working closely with Friends of Weston Playpark on this area. Click here if you would like to learn more about their plans to improve the playground and donate.
Weston Woods
Otley 2030 are thrilled to announce that we, together with our partners including Menston Area Nature Trust, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Climate Action Ilkley, Addingham Environmental Group, Yorkshire Rewilding Network, Wharfedale Naturalists, Woodland Savers, and Protect Earth (the Friends of Weston Woods), have been successful in our bid to secure the Weston Woods, for nature, for community, forever.
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We also have to thank the wonderful philanthropist Julia Davies of We Have The Power, who has lent MANT a significant loan which enabled us to put in a competitive bid in a very short time.
So THANK YOU for all your support so far but the hard work continues – we need to pay back the loan as soon as possible, so Julia Davies can lend it to other projects like ours, and we also have to pay 20% VAT and lawyers fees for starters, so please keep donating and spreading the word!
Please note we will get more of your donation if you use the 'Donate Directly' button below, than through the Crowdfunder site, it will direct you to our partner's site (Menston Area Nature Trust).