The beauty of Ilkley Riverside Parks is blooming brighter than ever, thanks to the continued hard work of the local charity, Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks (FOIRP).
Founded in 2018 in response to concerns over the parks' upkeep, FOIRP has been dedicated to ensuring these green spaces remain a cherished destination for locals and visitors alike.
Since its formation, the charity has been at the forefront of a transformation journey. Through its master plan, which was developed to address infrastructure and maintenance issues, the parks have been undergoing steady improvements. These changes have been particularly visible in 2024, building on the successes and momentum of the past few years.
Tom Harris, one of FOIRP’s Trustee said:
"The improvements we've seen in the past year are a testament to the hard work and passion of everyone involved, We're thrilled to see the parks thrive, and we look forward to even more progress in the future!"
In 2024, alongside their regular activities like litter picking and caring for the parks vibrant flowerbeds, the FOIRP team were been busy with several other key projects. The east end entrance to Riverside Gardens received a makeover, with a section of the embankment cleared and replanted. Local landscape gardener Helen Taylor designed the planting scheme, and the area complements the beautiful flowerbeds around the War Memorial.
Special thanks go to volunteers from Virgin-O2, SmartSearch and High Speed Training for lending a hand in clearing the area. Helen also assisted with the renovation of the triangular flowerbed at the entrance from New Brook Street. The wildflower patch on the parks southern slope is starting to bloom each spring as hoped, thanks to the planting of both annual and perennial species. Though it’s a slow and steady project, the FOIRP team are excited to see the results and can’t wait to watch it flourish over the years.
Doug Mowat, organiser of the groups work parties said “It would be impossible to talk about all the progress we’ve made in the Riverside Gardens without giving a special thanks to Stefan, one of our brilliant volunteers. Stefan has been hard at work restoring some of the park’s beloved benches. His craftsmanship will be missed when he eventually returns to his homeland of Ukraine.”
Looking ahead to 2025, FOIRP is gearing up for even more improvements, including the installation of new circular planters around the raised flowerbeds near the Riverside Hotel. Plans are also in motion to install a new storage container to provide a more secure place for the group to store their ever-growing collection of tools required for the parks upkeep. The group also have plans to focus on sustainability by working with local schools to design, build and install bug hotels in more secluded areas of the park. Whilst plans are still in the embryonic stage, FOIRP are looking to develop the southern embankment adjacent to the balcony. The plan is to clear the area of nettles and dock leaves but to leave the slope semi-wild by planting some pollinators and small shrubs.
“I would like to thank all the people who support us with donations, not only our individual supporters but also the local organisations and companies like High Speed Training, Ilkley Carnival and the Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale,”
said Ed Duguid, the group’s chair.
“Local support is really important to us as we feel this reflects the value that we hope to add to the local community.
When I look back it’s amazing to think much we’ve achieved since our beginnings back in 2018” commented one of the groups regular volunteers, Glynis Mowat. “I’d strongly recommend anyone interested in getting outdoors and making a difference to Ilkley’s riverside green spaces come down and volunteer with FOIRP.”
For more information on the Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks you can email foirp2@gmail.com or reach out to the group via their Facebook page.
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