THE Otley Nature Network launched a Nature Recovery Plan for the town at an event at Otley Parish Church, with help from local school children and a special celebrity guest.

The church was filled with around 60 invitees who enjoyed four inspiring presentations, including a talk by academic, TV presenter and explorer, George McGavin, as well as speeches from Westgate primary school and members of Prince Henry’s ‘Ecommittee.’

The Nature Recovery Plan has been developed by the Otley Nature Network, which is a network of diverse organisations brought together by community group Otley 2030. The organisations include Wildlife Friendly Otley, Wharfedale Naturalists, Yorkshire Rivers Trust, and the Yorkshire Rewilding Network. Otley is one of the first town councils to declare a ‘biodiversity emergency’, acknowledging years of hard work from Wildlife Friendly Otley and particularly Jane Smith, local rewilding champion.

The launch was opened by River Six, Coordinator of the Otley Nature Network, who introduced a group of Year 2 children from Westgate Primary School to talk engagingly about the importance of trees. Pupils from Year 5 then took the microphone to speak passionately from the perspective of our damaged earth, asking the audience and humankind to start looking after it, before it’s too late.

Head teacher, Helen Carpenter, said: “We were delighted to be part of this launch. Our children are passionate about looking after the environment and they loved having their voices heard.”

Five students from the ‘Ecommittee’ at Prince Henry’s Grammar School had written their own speech and talked about how they have been inspired and supported by Wildlife Friendly Otley to act on improving biodiversity at the school, putting up bat boxes and thinking about measures to help wildlife during the development of the new 3G sports pitch.

Yr. 9 student, Ben Simpson, said: “The event was amazing, I really enjoyed meeting all the amazing people that were there. I learnt a lot from the ecologist, and I was interested in what he does!”

George McGavin gave the final presentation and talked about how impressed he was with the young people who he had heard speaking so passionately.

He talked about the huge biodiversity losses he had seen in his lifetime saying: “We need as many animals and plants around as we can possibly get. For far too long we have treated ourselves as apart from the natural world, not a part of the natural world.”

During his speech, he commented on Otley’s Nature Recovery Plan, saying: “I am delighted that Otley has made a Nature Recovery Plan, I hope in the next couple of years that we’ll also see some action (nationally) and we’ll see nature being put on the road to recovery…but it starts at grassroots level! I want to come back here next year and see what you’ve put in place. I want to see how biodiversity has increased.”

Mr McGavin has written a foreword for the Otley Nature Recovery Plan and offered to visit both Prince Henry’s and Westgate.

The event was a great success and attendees included Chair of Otley Town Council, Richard Hughes, Cllrs Colin Campbell and Paul Carter, and Town Mayor, Cllr Linda Hoare.

Local businesses such as Sinclairs were represented, along with Yorkshire Water, Leeds City Council, and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Wharfedale Naturalists, the Yorkshire Rewilding Network and Otley wildlife charities, Wildlife Friendly Otley, and Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue.

Coordinator, River Six said: “It can feel like the big problems of the world, like climate change and biodiversity loss are so massive, we can’t have any effect on them. But, by doing our little bit, and gathering with like minds we can make a difference to our immediate environment and inspire other towns and cities around the country to do the same.”

Councillor Richard Hughes said: “I am delighted that Otley Town Council has adopted a biodiversity plan which owes much to the input of Otley Nature Network and Wildlife Friendly Otley. It was good to be at the launch of the Nature Recovery Plan for Otley, to see the level of interest in the plan and to see how the community is coming together for such an important cause.”

A highlight of the event for many (especially the children) was the beautiful Nature Recovery cake made especially by Patisserie Viennoise, with a beautiful dandelion design. Mr McGavin was joined by local ecologist and convener of the Otley Nature Network, Gordon Haycock to cut the cake and everybody went home with a slice, as well a packet of wildflower seeds to kickstart nature recovery in gardens and window boxes across Otley and beyond.

Yr 9 student, Emma Walters, summed up the positive feeling at end of the event, saying: “This is the starting point of a green revolution for Otley! Community spirit and wildflower seeds - a step in the right direction.”

For more information on the Otley Nature Network, go to otley2030.com/projects, or find out about biodiversity action projects in Otley at www.wildlifefriendlyotley.org.uk