LOCAL parks group, Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks have received a grant from Olicana Freemasons to allow them to purchase more small tools to help them carry out their work in the park.

Chair of Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks, Ed Duguid said: “We have made large strides in the last year, including the development of the Embankment area at the east end of Riverside Gardens and the construction of new stone raised beds at car park end. We have increased the number of flowerbeds and therefore the maintenance requirements and needed more small tools for our volunteers. The Freemasons came up trumps to help fund their acquisition. Yet another example of local organisations helping each other achieve a great result ultimately for Ilkley park visitors.”

Ilkley Gazette: The volunteers hard at work in IlkleyThe volunteers hard at work in Ilkley (Image: FOIRP)

Olicana Freemasons Worshipful Master, David Marshall, said: “We think it’s good to see local people volunteering to look after a much valued town asset and we were only too pleased to lend our support and fund the additional tools the Friends required. We look forward to seeing the next improvements they make to the riverside parks.”

During 2022 the group also coordinated the improvement of the new Playground with Bradford Council, and with the help of local people and organisations helped to raise an additional £50,000 to supplement the funds provided by Bradford Council to ensure a new high quality and safe Playground was available for the children of the area.

“We have more plans for 2023,”, said Ed, “We intend to develop the other side of the Embankment at the east end of Riverside Gardens and create further beds and seating alongside the new stone Raised Beds, so watch this space!”

Ilkley Gazette: Work being carried out by the Friends of Ilkley Riverside ParkWork being carried out by the Friends of Ilkley Riverside Park (Image: FOIRP)

If anyone would like a full copy of their latest Annual Report or would like to join as a member or become a volunteer they can contact the group at foirp2@gmail.com You can also find Friends of Ilkley Riverside Parks on their website athttps://friends-of-ilkley-riverside-parks.com/ as well as Facebook and Instagram pages and on their Twitter feed where you will find lots of examples of their work and what’s happening in the riverside parks.