Climate activists and residents from Ilkley Extinction Rebellion (XR) are inviting people to gather with them on Sunday for a 'World Water Wedding'.
Meeting at Ilkley's Old Bridge at 2pm on Sunday 22 March, the one-hour ceremony, part of the United Nations' World Water Day, is to celebrate and connect with the River Wharfe.
The Ilkley event will feature a short, family-friendly procession led by the Blue Water Beings, whose flowing blue costumes symbolise water and the life it sustains. The procession will be followed by a reading and a simple offering of flowers to the river.
Those attending will be invited to make a personal pledge to look after the Wharfe and to share what they love about the river, while activists speak with the public about the pressures facing local waterways, especially the River Wharfe, including pollution and biodiversity loss.
Emmeline, a local walker said:
"People have celebrated water through rituals and ceremonies for thousands of years, and we're doing the same, right here in Ilkley. I'm coming because the river is part of our everyday life, and it deserves our care in return. We’ve talked to a lot of people as we’ve walked along the riverside over the past few months and we know how important the river is to people. We want to give them an opportunity to come together to share their love for the river and to commit to helping it."
Christine, resident and swimmer from Ilkley added:
"This ceremony is our way of showing love for the Wharfe and asking for practical change to match it".
The March 22 ceremony is part of a national and international wave of "water weddings" encouraging communities to symbolically commit to standing up for our environment, including their local rivers, lakes and seas.
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