Newsletter – May 2025

Friends of Wharfedale Greenway logo

Newsletter
May 2025

Welcome


Dear Friends,

As we step into May, it’s incredible to reflect on the progress made in support of the Wharfedale Greenway over the past six months. From hands-on volunteering efforts to growing political support, the momentum behind the Wharfedale Greenway has never been stronger.

On Saturday, 30th November 2024, Friends of Wharfedale Greenway hosted their first Volunteer Recruitment Day at Beech Hill Church in Otley. The event aimed to gather individuals interested in volunteering their time and skills to support the group’s mission of creating a traffic-free route along the Wharfe Valley. The turnout was impressive, with attendees offering a diverse range of skills, from engineering to communications, which will be invaluable in advancing the project.

In April, we hosted our first practical volunteering event, where a dedicated group of supporters helped clear vegetation, improve drainage, and enhance accessibility along a stretch of pathway in Otley. The enthusiasm and teamwork on the day were truly inspiring, and we’re excited to build on this success with future events. We have already been receiving some positive feedback on our efforts so thank you very much.

Meanwhile, our advocacy efforts have gained significant traction. Anna Dixon MP has been championing the Greenway in Parliament, highlighting its benefits for active travel and sustainability. Her calls for government funding have been met with positive responses, and we’re thrilled to have the backing of other local MPs who recognise the Greenway’s potential to transform our communities.

We’ve also been working hard behind the scenes to improve our digital presence, making it easier for supporters to stay informed and get involved. Whether through our website, social media, or direct outreach, we’re committed to keeping the conversation going and ensuring that everyone has a chance to contribute to this exciting project. Make sure you are following us on our social media channels, now including BlueSky!

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support, whether through volunteering, advocacy, or simply spreading the word, is what makes the Wharfedale Greenway possible. Let’s keep the momentum going!

An aspirational map of the Wharfedale Greenway

Otley to Burley in Wharfedale

Sustrans have secured funding to review route options and bridge designs on this section including liaising with landowners.  This work which is expected to complete in March 2026 will help map out the way forward on this section.

Ilkley to Addingham

The working group on this section have started liaising with landowners on a potential route.

Support from our MP’s


Anna Dixon MP speaking in parliament

Anna Dixon MP has been a vocal advocate for the development of the Wharfedale Greenway, championing its benefits in Parliament and pushing for government investment in active travel infrastructure. In a recent debate, she highlighted the positive impact that increasing active travel could have on public health, citing fewer GP visits and reduced sick days as key benefits.

She urged the Minister for Local Transport to arrange a meeting between Active Travel England, her and the Friends of Wharfedale Greenway to explore funding opportunities for the project, emphasizing its potential to create a sustainable travel corridor in Wharfedale.

Her efforts have already yielded promising results. The Minister responded positively, confirming that over £17 million has been allocated to West Yorkshire for active travel and expressing willingness to arragne a meeting. Additionally, Active Travel England has been asked to engage with the group to discuss the project further. This marks a significant step forward in securing the necessary support to bring the Greenway to life.

Anna Dixon is not alone in her advocacy—other local MPs have also voiced their support for the initiative. Ilkley MP Robbie Moore praised the Friends of Wharfedale Greenway for their dedication, recognising the Greenway’s potential to create a traffic-free corridor into nature and encourage more people to embrace active travel. The overwhelming public backing for the project, as demonstrated by our 2023 survey with 95% support, further strengthens the case for investment and development.

Volunteer Recruitment Day


On Saturday 30th November, Friends of Wharfedale Greenway hosted our first Volunteer recruitment Day at Beech Hill Church in Otley.

We were thrilled with the turn out of people who came along to talk to us about how they could contribute. Their skill sets will be invaluable to supporting us in our next steps. Find out more about the volunteer event.

First Practical Volunteering Event


volunteers improving a pathway

On Sunday, April 27th, Friends of Wharfedale Greenway took a significant step forward in their advocacy efforts by carrying out our first practical improvement work along the potential route.  A small group of  volunteers worked on a small section  of the old railway line  that runs parallel to Bradford Road Otley  to tackle a key drainage issue, making small but important improvements to the path surface and drainage which will  enhance the user experience. Find out more about what we achieved.

Route Monitoring


image of a family walking under a bridge on a greenway

Our  stakeholders and supporters in district councils have told us it is important to  create a baseline of users along various sections of the proposed route that are currently public  footpaths.  This helps demonstrate the benefits of any interim path improvements  we do in terms of a change in users  and the latent demand for a better quality route between our towns and villages. 

Gathering this data will be a manual count  of users, possibly accompanied by a simple questionnaire, at agreed  times and durations.  We would appeal to any of supporters who could assist with this activity  and will provide full instructions on what is required.  Gathering this data  will be an important element in supporting the business case for building the greenway and lobbying for funding

Yorkshire Dales National Park Survey


Yorkshire Dales National Park Logo

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is in the process of creating an Active Travel Plan to provide better opportunities for visitors and residents to travel actively into and around the National Park.

They are asking for residents, visitors and organisations for their opinions on the proposed draft active travel network.  The draft active travel network has been created with support from an initial public consultation in October 2024, consultation with user groups, and utilising data and evidence to underpin the overall network. 

Further details about the active travel public consultation process can be found on their Active Travel Webpage.

We ask our supporters to take part in the consultation and to mention the Wharfedale Greenway in the the Malhamdale and Wharfedale Corridor survey as a positive connection to the Active Travel routes.

Please note the deadline for submissions is 18th May 2025.

Dates for Diary


Below are our upcoming events so far that we’re attending:

7th June 2025 – Otley Environment Day

August 2025 – Burley Summer Festival

22nd September 2025 – Ilkley Car Free Day

More events maybe planned in. Keep an eye out for announcements.

Other Useful Sites


If you’d like to get in touch with Friends of Wharfedale Greenway, it’s easy! Whether you have questions, want to volunteer, or simply wish to stay updated, you can reach out through our Contact Us page. There, you’ll find an email address for direct inquiries, a form to sign up for our newsletter, and links to our various social media channels.

Your support and engagement help bring the vision of the Greenway to life—so don’t hesitate to drop us a message!

Scroll to Top