WHO WE ARE

Established in October 2018, Wildlife Friendly Otley is a small charity working hard with the people, businesses and schools of Otley and other local nature and environmental groups to make Otley the first 'wildlife friendly town' in the UK.

Public interest in nature is high but British wildlife has declined by more than half in the last 40-50 years and is under continuous threat.

By declaring Otley as the first wildlife friendly town, we can set an example of how towns can be rich in nature and wildlife; whilst giving nature a helping hand and making Otley an even more attractive place to live, work and visit.

Wildlife Friendly Otley is now a charity registered with the Charities Commission and our objects are:

To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation of the wildlife and wildlife habitats and protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Otley and the surrounding area.
To advance the education and appreciation of the public regarding the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.

What we do

1

Encourage individuals, families, schools and local organisations to become more wildlife friendly.

2

Celebrate and raise awareness of Otley's rich natural environment and the need to protect it.

3

Promote Otley as the first wildlife friendly town.

4

Increase participation in local wildlife organisations.

5

Campaign for more measures to protect and enhance wildlife and habitats in and around town.

Trustees

Neil Griffin

I joined WFO through the contrasting emotions of love for wildlife and fear of the biodiversity crisis. As a teacher I'm particularly keen to engage the younger generation with nature, just as I got that rewarding connection with wildlife as a seven year old. It's great to work as part of a team with a variety of talents, all working towards the same important goal.

River Six

In the beginning, my drive to create Wildlife Friendly Otley was informed by my frustration with the national conservation charities continued growth whilst wildlife was still declining. I strongly belief the local approach to conservation Wildlife Friendly Otley represents is the most effective way we can make a difference.

Cathy Burton

I've worked as an ecologist for many years and was keen to put my skills to good use in the local area. I saw the action that Wildlife Friendly Otley was taking to directly address the biodiversity crisis and wanted to be a part of it. I can often be found making wildlife habitats and leading minibeast walks.

Rob Tindall

I am a huge wildlife fan and I worked with WFO to help make the garden where I work more wildlife friendly. By becoming a trustee it means I can be that bit more involved in really making a difference in the town of Otley.

Claire Blindell

I started helping out with publicity and community engagement back in 2019. More recently I've been supporting WFO's work on community orchards and habitat restoration. These sorts of projects are so important for nature recovery on a local and national scale - it's great to be part of a small team making a big difference to wildlife and to people.

Mark Trewin

I am really interested in how we can support people in small towns like ours to take simple actions that support wildlife. I am also currently leading the barn owl subgroup that is busy putting up owl boxes and working with landowners across the district to support the expansion of this beautiful bird.

Jane Smith

I’m passionate about reversing the rapid decline of our biodiversity. We have lost more than half of our wildlife, and urgently need to restore and create as much habitat as possible. We are trying to change the way our green spaces in Otley are managed by planting community orchards, restoring habitat, reducing the use of herbicides, pesticides and helping our community to support its flora and fauna.

Simon Padfield

Like many people concerned with the state of the environment but not sure what to do about it I joined WFO because of the commitment to local community action and making a tangible impact. I work as a public health doctor and feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful area. I would love to see more health and social sector involvement with local wildlife organisations and I'm really excited to be part of such a dynamic and imaginative charity like WFO.

Jo Riggall

I used to be a long-suffering child of ecologists, but I'm now the one who drags people out on walks to ogle at wildflowers and spiderwebs. I think that there's such potential for local people to make a difference for nature in their area, and it's exciting to be part of WFO.

Ben Simpson

My interest in the environment began in primary school, where I was particularly interested by marine life. Throughout secondary school, I actively participated in the eco group and engaged in a variety of activities. Joining WFO felt like a natural next step in my commitment to the environment.