About us
Supporting Wharfedale Greenway
Our Story
About Friends of Wharfedale Greenway
Friends of Wharfedale Greenway is a group of passionate volunteers dedicated to raising awareness and advocating for the creation of a beautiful greenway along the Wharfe valley. We strive to connect communities, promote sustainable transportation, and preserve the natural beauty of the area.
Our organisation serves the diverse communities along the Wharfe Valley, including residents, visitors, and local businesses. We collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure the greenway project meets the needs and desires of all those who will benefit from it.
Please note that the Friends are not leading on planning the Wharfedale Greenway, which is being undertaken by a steering group of Town and Parish Councils along the route, with local authorities, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and Sustrans. The overall aim of the Friends is to raise awareness of the Greenway along the valley, demonstrating the support that the project enjoys. Once the first sections of the route are completed, we expect to contribute to maintenance, promoting the Greenway as a community resource, and encouraging its use by as many people as possible.
We are currently set up as an unincorporated organisation. If you’d like to know more about how we operate, you can read our constitution.
Our Approach
Our Approach to Building the Greenway
Community Engagement
We believe in the power of community voice. Through surveys and public consultations, we actively seek the opinions and ideas of the people who will use and enjoy the Wharfedale Greenway. This enables us to make informed decisions and ensure the project aligns with the community’s priorities.
Collaborative Partnerships
We foster strong partnerships with local organisations, businesses, and town/parish councils. By working together, we can leverage a wide range of skills, resources, and expertise to overcome challenges and accelerate the progress of the greenway project. These collaborations allow us to create a seamless and sustainable route.
Our Progress
What have we been up to so far
Community Events
We have attended a number of events across the communities on the planned route to raise awareness and support for the Greenway such as:
- Ilkley Car Free days
- Ilkley Real Food Festival
- Burley Summer Festival
- Otley Cycle Race
- Otley Sunday Market
- Addingham Environmental Weekend
- Menston
- Pool in Wharfedale
- Otley Vintage Fair
If you think there is an event that we could attend and support please contact us.
Greenway Walks
We have hosted a number of social walks along various stretches of the proposed greenway route to show people where it could go and what the possibilities could be.
Greenway Talks
We have hosted a number of talks at various locations to inform interested residents about the greenway proposals and answer any questions we can.
Public Consultation 2023
In October 2023 we launched a public consultation to gather thoughts about the proposed greenway….
We plan to launch the results in Spring 2024…
