We Take to the Streets

The climate and nature groups around Wharfedale - including Climate Action Ilkley, Otley 2030, Climate Action Menston, Menston Area Nature Trust and Climate Action Silsden – all participated in the the Let's Talk Climate project in spring 2026: see item below.

We formed two Challenge Groups, each with 6-8 people, which met online every week for six weeks. We learnt much more about how to have conversations about climate and nature. And we challenged each other to have at least one climate conversation each week. This was often with people whose views we did not know. It went really well.

As a result we decided we need to build on our experience by taking it onto the streets using a 'sticker board' of questions. Our objective is to make the 'invisible consensus' on climate visible and open up space for more ambition.

First up was Ilkley on Saturday 15 August 2026. We asked people to put a coloured sticker in whichever boxes best reflect their views. And obviously we were happy to have a conversation if they wish.

The result exceeded our dreams - at least 140 people talked to us and put on their stickers. The colours are purely random.

One lady said “I am so glad you are doing this - I felt like I was going mad; all this happening and no one talking about it”.

We got coverage in the Ilkley Gazette and Ilkley Chat. We plan to repeat the exercise in late September/ October 2026.

People's Emergency Briefing

Fri 15 May 2026 6:45 PM - 9:00 PM

Ilkley Grammar School, LS29 8TR

Last November saw a National Emergency Briefing on the climate and nature crises held in Westminster. Hundreds of parliamentarians, peers, business leaders, faith leaders and celebrities were presented with evidence from scientists and other experts about the threats facing our country, for example from food, national security, and extreme weather events, together with what are often win-win solutions for climate, nature and economy.

The government’s publication in January of an intelligence committee report highlights the real and present dangers posed by these crises to our national security and prosperity. The Times reported that an unredacted version outlined even more alarming scenarios that could result from ongoing unaddressed climate breakdown such as “mass migration and nuclear war”.

As part of a nationally-coordinated series of local events (almost 2,000 throughout the UK have already been confirmed at time of writing), we are hosting a briefing for Ilkley. This will include the screening of a film based on the Westminster briefing and an open discussion regarding the actions we need to take. Attendees already confirmed include local politicians (including Robbie Moore MP) and leaders from local businesses, schools, and community and faith leaders.

Come along and join our community in facing up to the truth of what's going on. Even better - invite a friend, neighbour, colleague or family member who may not be so aware of our current predicament to come along too. (Please note that the film is recommended only for those aged 16 and over.)

This event is supported by the leadership team at Ilkley Grammar School, Ilkley Community Network, Churches Together Ilkley, Wharfedale Naturalists, Friends of Ilkley Moor, the Clean River Group, and the U3A Environment Forum.

Local groups unite to start climate conversations

People in Wharfedale and beyond are being offered the chance to learn how best to talk about climate change starting with a free online workshop at 19:30 on Tuesday 24 February 2026.

Tickets are free and available to everyone here. Places are limited so early booking is advised.

Conversations are at the heart of big social change – for example with equal marriage in the UK, or abortion rights in Ireland. But surveys show that while 3 in 4 of us think climate is a serious threat, not just globally but here in the UK, more than half of us rarely or never talk about it.

‘Let's Talk Climate’ is all about changing that through giving people the confidence, motivation and skills to have positive, hopeful conversations about climate - in the post office queue, over the garden fence, at the school gate, by the water cooler - and in doing so, make the 'invisible consensus' on climate visible and open up space for more ambition.

The climate and nature groups around Wharfedale - including Climate Action Ilkley, Otley 2030, Climate Action Menston, Menston Area Nature Trust, Climate Action Addingham, Climate Action Silsden – have been given the opportunity to offer this programme free of charge thanks to Larger Us with funding from the European Climate Foundation.

The programme is open to all and starts with a 2-hour online workshop that will help people identify the reasons why they might find it difficult to have climate conversations and give practical tips on how to get them started and keep them going positively. Graduates of the workshop can then deepen their learning by joining ‘the Challenge’. As part of a small group they will set conversation goals each week, chat through experiences with their group and focus on key topics to supercharge their skills.

The Challenge will start in the week commencing 16 March and run until w/c Monday 27 April. Group meetings will probably be on Tuesdays or Thursdays in the evening - exact dates and times to be agreed with participants.

Notes

Over the last two years the national charity Larger Us has run Let's Talk Climate with a range of partners - from big national membership organisations like the National Trust, Wildlife Trusts and Women's Institute and UNISON to local groups in places up and down the UK - involving hundreds of people and resulting in thousands of conversations. They are currently working with the European Climate Foundation in Yorkshire specifically.

DIY Draught-Proofing Events

Please join us for one of our 1.5 hour DIY draught-proofing events with Wrapt Homes on Sat 14 February 2026 at Clarke Foley, 11am-12:30pm OR 1:30pm-3pm. Each workshop will include a brief introduction to draught-proofing and healthy (ventilated) homes, followed by an hour of hands-on DIY draught-proofing practice.

Booking is essential. Tickets are £10 for CAI members and £17 for non-members, including materials. There are a small number of free/subsidised places for those in financial hardship - please contact us directly to enquire about availability.

The sessions are run by Wrapt Homes, a local company specialising in making homes more energy efficient.

Follow this link to book tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/climate-action-ilkley-120731771668

Annual General Meeting - Thursday 15th Jan 2026, 7-8:30pm

Our 2026 AGM is taking place at All Saints Church House. We will have a run down of activity from all of our projects and our plans for 2026. We'd love it if you could join us!

Mike Berners-Lee at Ilkley Literature Festival, Friday 17 October 2025, 18:30

Not to be missed! Mike Berners-Lee is one of the leading thinkers on climate change and the other elements of the polycrisis facing the world. He is back by popular demand following his sold out King’s Hall appearance in 2019.

Mike will explain why raising the standards of honesty in our politics, media and businesses is the crucial step if humanity is to thrive in the decades ahead. Not only is this possible, but each of us can have radically more impact on the issues we care about by turning our attention to this simple principle.

Click here for tickets - general booking opens 26 August.

CAI takes part in Bradford UK City of Culture

Climate Action ilkley has successfully bid for a grant of £300 from Home | Ark Bradford to host a meal. This is part of the programme of Bradford UK City of Culture 2025. The full programme is shown here.

This is a great opportunity for us to get together 15 of our dedicated volunteers and partners from Ilkley and the wider area. We will celebrate and reflect on our achievements and talk about how we can better achieve our vision of a sustainable, climate resilient town where everyone is part of a thriving community living within the planetary boundaries: our Ark.

We respond to Bradford's Climate Action Plan

Bradford Council published its draft Climate Action Plan 2025-2028 in May and opened it for consultation till 12 August 2025.

Climate Action Ilkley (CAI) has given its response to the plan as part of the Council's consultation process. The Plan is intended to be a step in progress towards their target to the Bradford district achieving net zero by 2038, with significant progress by 2030.

While welcoming the work the Council is doing to create the Plan, CAI note that it is short on measurable targets for the actions included and limited in scope, leaving out significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly air travel and diet.

Commenting on the Plan and CAI's response, Mark Stidworthy, Chair of Trustees of Climate Action Ilkley said:

"Drought and recent extreme temperatures remind us that global climate change affects us even here in Ilkley and Bradford. This should add urgency to local carbon emission reduction alongside adaptations for the challenges already triggered by rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. We are pleased that Bradford Council has made its ambitions clear with this Plan and look forward to doing what we can to support its development and delivery. Our response identifies areas where we feel the plan could be improved, and in particular we urge Bradford Council to aspire to clearer targets to reduce carbon emissions and clarity on local adaptation to the changing climate. We believe that projects we have led here in Ilkley, such as the Ilkley Thingery and our Active Travel Hub, can be used as examples for the whole district. We offer to share our experience with the Council. I encourage everyone to read Bradford's Plan and use the consultation process to have their say.''

Thursday 26 June 2025, from 18:30 at Ilkley Moor Vaults.

Summer Celebration - all welcome!

We’re seven years old and we’re holding a summer event to celebrate what we’ve achieved since 2018. The event will take place from 6.30pm, Thursday 26 June at Ilkley Moor Vaults, starting off in their very pleasant beer garden if fine. Optional food (which this place does very well!) is plant-based Asian eats at £15 per person, consisting of:

Veggie aubergine & tomato toast, sriracha sauce, furikake
Edamame bean, smoked sea salt
Crispy tofu with pickled cucumber & Korean BBQ sauce
Cauliflower leaf bhajis, mint & lime mayonnaise
Salt & pepper chips

They call them nibbles but they’re pretty substantial. We need to know numbers for food by noon on Sunday 22 June. To book or for more details please email Steve Peel: steve.peel@climateactionilkley.org.uk.

Saturday, May 10 2025, 10:00 to 12:00 Heat Pump Open Day

Are you interested in seeing how heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle chargers work?
What do they look like?
How much energy/money do they save?
How good are they in providing heating, hot water and electricity for a house?

Visit some of our members’ homes in Ilkley and Burley on Saturday 10th May, 10am to 12pm. Full details below. Please go to the address. No need to book, or email energy@climateactionilkley.org.uk for more information.

103 Grove Road LS29 9QE, Detached: EV charger & heat pump.
1 Far Mead Croft, Burley, LS29 7RR, Detached: solar panels, EV charger, heat pump.
25 Wharfe View Road, LS29 8DY, Terrace: Solar panels & heat pump

Sunday, May 4 2025, 10:00 to 15:00 Ilkley Real Food Market

Come along and have a chat to us at the Climate Action Ilkley stall at Ilkley's Real Food Market. We'll have information on solar panels, heat pumps and other aspects of CAI's work such as the community orchards, e-bikes and The Thingery.

Dan O'Neill

In the recent UK General Election all of the large parties insisted that economic growth is essential. But is it sustainable or will it in fact make our environmental crises even worse?

Thursday, November 21 2024, 19:30 to 21:00, Online

Achieving a sustainable economy beyond growth: what's needed & where are we now?

with Daniel O'Neill

Dan O'Neill is Professor of Ecological Economics at the University of Barcelona, President of the European Society for Ecological Economics, and Coordinator of a major European research project called MAPS (short for “Models, Assessment, and Policies for Sustainability”). His research focuses on the relationships between resource use and human well-being, and the changes that would be needed to achieve a sustainable economy within planetary boundaries.

In this webinar Dan will challenge the need for economic growth and discuss alternatives. He will speak for about 30 minutes and the remainder of the time will be available for questions and discussion.

Here is Dan's presentation

There are several excellent videos on Dan's YouTube channel here. Note particularly 'Are there limits to growth?' and 'What is a steady-state economy?'

If you ask a climate scientist what’s the most important thing we can all do,they are likely to say ‘talk about it’. But many of us find having a conversation about climate change with friends, colleagues or acquaintances really difficult

So we are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity:

Thursday 7 November 2024, 19:30 to 21:00, Clarke Foley Centre

Learning how to have better Climate Conversations

with Alex Evans

Alex Evans is Founder and Exec Director of Larger Us which works to inspire and support change-makers to use psychology to bridge divides, build broader coalitions and bring people together. He has previously worked as an adviser to UK Secretaries of State and the UN Secretary-General’s office, Campaign Director at Avaaz and is Visiting Professor at Newcastle University. We are fortunate that he lives in Wharfedale and is keen to lead this live workshop for us:

The Big Idea – this session will demonstrate why conversations matter so much to the climate movement and how this training can help members to overcome the barriers they have to talking about it in their community.

For those that wish to take it further there may be more detailed sessions available.

This is a free event, coffee/ tea and maybe cake will be available. You can sign up on Eventbrite here.

Alex Evans

Car Free Festival, Sunday 22 September 2024

The Car-Free Festival in Ilkley is a community event now in its 4th year, in which we will join in a global event. Every year on 22 September, people from around the world get together in the streets to remind us that we don't have to accept the total domination of towns by cars. Between 11am and 4pm we will hold a festival on the Grove, the central thoroughfare in Ilkley, for games, arts and crafts, music, cycling, demonstrations of alternative mobility options such as E-bikes, information about low-carbon energy (e.g. solar panels and heat pumps); and other activities.

But we don't want just one day of celebration and then a return to "normal" life. The Festival attempts to persuade people to think about how they might reduce their reliance on cars. And the temporary pedestrianisation of our premier shopping street will help remind us what it is that the car takes away from our public spaces.

As the climate heats up, World Car-free Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet and put it on town planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport.

In addition this year we are partnering with the Ilkley Clean River Group who will hold a public meeting entitled 'Cleaning Up our Rivers Lakes and Seas - The Answers' in Christchurch on The Grove, 12.30 - 16.30.

Speakers include Prof Jamie Woodward, Prof Rick Battarbee FRS and lead campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage, Wild Fish, Save Windermere, Windrush Against Sewage as well as national journalists.

Heat Pump Open Day

Are you interested in seeing how heat pumps and solar panels work?
What do they look like?
How much energy do they save?
How efficient are they in providing heating, hot water and electricity for a house?

Visit some of our members’ homes in Ilkley this Saturday 4th May 2024, 10am to 12pm. Full details below. Please go to the address. No need to book, or email energy@climateactionilkley.org.uk for more information.

Grove Road LS29 9QE, Detached: EV charger & heat pump
6 Craigmore Drive, LS29 8PG, Semi: Solar panels & heat pump
25 Wharfe View Road, LS29 8DY, Terrace: Solar panels & heat pump

Your World, Your Vote

2024 is a General Election year and the climate and ecological emergencies should be major election issues. We are planning a series of live events in the Clarke Foley Centre under the theme of "Your World, Your Vote" aimed at raising awareness of current and potential future policies.

Wednesday 21 February, 19:30: What Future for Waste?, Martin Hyde, sustainability specialist. Martin's presentation (PDF).
Wednesday 20 March, 19:30: Your Lives in Their Hands, Doctor Noel Cass, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds. Noel's presentation (PDF).
Tuesday 16 April, 19:30: Renewables - Can They Keep Our Lights On?, Professor Peter Taylor, Sustainable Energy Systems, University of Leeds. Peter's presentation (PDF).
Thursday 9 May, 18:30: You ARE the Climate Majority - how together we can make ourselves SAFER even as climate breakdown unfolds. Rupert Read. Recording of Rupert's talk (YouTube - audio only).

For more details see Events and Meetings tab.

Community Orchard Maintenance Days

2nd & 3rd March 2024 there will be winter pruning & maintenance days at the two community orchard sites:

Saturday, 2nd March: Ben Rhydding Community Orchard, Wheatley Lane Recreation field (Behind Tesco garage)
Sunday, 3rd March: Ilkley Community Orchard, East Holmes Field (next to the skate park)

10:00 - 13:00

Please come to help prune, weed, mulch and retie the fruit trees.

Bring gloves, a spade, trowel, bucket, wheelbarrow if you are able to.

All are welcome. No experience required.

For more information, please contact: orchard@climateactionilkley.org.uk

The River Wharfe

The River Wharfe is one of our town’s greatest assets. Most of us are deeply saddened about its condition, which is not what it could and should be. The good news is that there are numerous simple actions we can all take that will help to improve water quality in the river. This leaflet describes a few of them. Take a look.

Ilkley Thingery

Ilkley's "Library of Things" is open!

This not-for-profit community project will allow people to borrow items such as power tools, ladders and pressure washers for a short period of time rather than buy them with aim of promoting sustainability and reducing waste.

For more details and to browse the available items have a look at www.ilkleythingery.org.

Ilkley Active Travel Hub

Climate Action Ilkley has been successful in securing grant funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to set up a Community Active Travel Hub.

What the Active Travel Hub project will do?

The Ilkley Active Travel Hub will provide support, advice and assistance for people wanting to take up walking, cycling and wheeling.

We will provide information and advice on appropriate opportunities to suit different people’s needs and preferences, including walking and cycling routes, social rides and walks, e-bike loans, training and equipment loans.

Further information about the project is available on activeilkley.org.uk.