AS a lockdown activity Neil and Sue Stevens created a tree trail entitled Introduction to Trees last year. The trail visits 35 trees around East Holmes Field and the Lido illustrating features that enable you to identify the individual trees. The trail proved very popular so they have gone on to create Trees in Winter, Town Centre Trees and Darwin Gardens and the Moor.

Sue said: “We have enjoyed creating these trails and have learnt a lot especially from the Botany Group in the Wharfedale Naturalists. We hope the trails will encourage people to take an interest in trees and appreciate how important they are for the character of our town.”

Local organisations including the Wharfedale Naturalists, the U3A, Commute Cafe and Climate Action Ilkley together with some individuals have supported the printing of the trails.

Neil added: “The generosity of these organisations has been outstripped by the demand for the trails, so we were delighted when Ilkley BID stepped in with the offer of paying for a larger and therefore more economic print run. We hope the trails will give people one more reason for visiting Ilkley.”

These trail booklets are now available, at no charge, from the Visitors Centre, the Grove Book Shop and the Clarke Foley Centre. The trails can also be viewed online at https://ilkleytrees.org.uk/treetrails/