Otley in Bloom

Ilkley Road gateway opened

A stunning looking stone cyclist has started greeting motorists as they enter Otley from the Ilkley direction. It is the centrepiece of a new dry stone wall gateway that has been installed beside the A660, near the turn-off for Wharfebank Business Centre. It was officially opened in February by Otley’s Town Mayor, councillor Nigel Gill.

The feature is the latest in a series of gateways that Otley in Bloom have been positioning on routes into town. Others are on Pool Road, Leeds Road and Bradford Road, near Ellar Ghyll. More gateways are planned for the future.

It was made by dry stone waller Gordon Simpson, who said “It’s a nod to the Tour de France, which came past this very spot, and Otley’s very long tradition of cycling. And having the wheels made out of millstones was a way of referencing Yorkshire. It took about three weeks to make. We actually built the wall at home in two pieces and then transported it.”

Grassroots Giving benefits Otley in Bloom

Otley in Bloom are celebrating receiving a £500 grant from Skipton Building Society’s Grassroots Giving scheme. Katie Burnett, secretary of Otley in Bloom explained; “We heard about the scheme when we used one of the Skipton Building Society’s windows for our Tour de France display. We were shortlisted from thousands of applications, and that is when it got interesting. The next stage to become a finalist involved a public vote via social media and email. We weren’t sure that many of our supporters would use social media, but we were wrong, and we are really grateful to everyone who took the time to vote for us.”

Otley in Bloom have pledged to use the funds to add to the sustainable planting around the town. They will be looking to add perennial plants which come back every year, but add more colour and flowers than shrubs. The first batch of plants will be some red perennial poppies for the memorial garden.

We have a new logo

Otley in Bloom have a new logo which you may have already seen on our lamppost planters, incorporating a photo of a rudbeckia. You’ll probably see more of it around town. We are keeping our existing logo, the lovely black and white image of Otley, but we also needed something clearer and simpler and brighter that can be seen from a distance, and we hope you like our new logo too.

Otley in Bloom is looking for new volunteers

Otley in Bloom is looking for new volunteers. Anyone who can spare an hour or two a month to help with gardening, watering, litter-picking, or helping us in any way with the annual Yorkshire in Bloom competition, please contact us.

Otley in Bloom’s Christmas tree

Otley in Bloom’s Christmas tree was on display in the Parish Church, along with 39 others, as part of this year’s Christmas Tree Festival. We decided on a Gold theme this year to celebrate our winning the Gold Award at this year’s Yorkshire in Bloom competition, and included butterflies, flowers and bicycle wheels to remind ourselves of what we’ve been doing this year.