Local charity Wildlife Friendly Otley is once again taking part in and running a packed calendar of events this year.

They will have a stall at the ever popular Otley Carnival on Saturday, June 17 where everyone is welcome to come and say hello. They are delighted as well to be part of the organisation of the Chevin Discovery Day on Sunday, June 25 which is an amazing event catering for all the family.

Otley’s Walking Festival have kindly invited them again to collaborate with their exciting programme of walks. Last year had a bigger emphasis on wildlife, with more walks focusing on local nature as a result of this collaboration.

The Wildflower Walk is being repeated due to its popularity, led once again by local ecologist and botanist Steve Heaton. Steve will also a lead a walk around Otley’s favourite trees, as nominated by local residents in a survey. The two-hour evening walk will cover tree folklore, ecology, uses, history and maybe a bit of evolution.

Wildlife Friendly Otley’s education officer, Neil Griffin, will lead the “Where to Watch Wildlife in Otley” walk. The three-hour walk will be gently paced (with some uphill walking), and will visit several of the best places in Otley to spot wildlife, based on the group’s own wildlife leaflet and map, which is available free from Otley Library.

The walks are in addition to popular festival walks “Early Birds in the Wetland” starting at 5am, and Linda Jenkinson’s Birdsong Walk in Otley (fully booked). There is a full programme of around 40 walks and evening events in the festival programme (24 June - 2 July) for walkers to enjoy our beautiful countryside and being in nature.

Full details are on the festival’s website https://otleywalkingfestival.co.uk/

Wildlife Friendly Otley’s map ‘Where to see wildlife in an around Otley’ can be found at https://www.wildlifefriendlyotley.org.uk/where-to-see-wildlife

The Otley Wildlife Arts Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8  this year with an even more ambitious and exciting programme of guest speakers, stalls, workshops and exciting new additions. Keep an eye on the Wildlife Friendly Otley website for the upcoming programme.

Rob Tindall from Wildlife Friendly Otley said: “We are so excited about this year’s calendar of events. Our aim is to help people to experience, enjoy and nurture the wonderful wildlife we are blessed to have on our doorstep.”