A celebration of otley's
wonderful wildlife
in mosaic
As part of our fifth wildlife arts festival, we are creating a beautiful wildlife mosaic for Otley town centre. This will depict a pond - the best thing to add to a garden or field to increase its biodiversity.
Six half day workshops
You can help make a work of art which will enhance Otley for year's to come.
No experience necessary - learn a new skill under the guidance of
Frances Taylor of MosaicMania Mosaic Mania | mosaic | Ashfield Place, Ilkley Road, Otley, UK
Sunday September 20th 10am - 12
Sunday September 20th 2 - 4pm
Sunday October 4th 10am - 12 fully-booked
Sunday October 4th 2 - 4pm
Sunday October 11th 10am - 12
Sunday October 11th 2 - 4pm
£10 for half day, £15 for a whole day (or two halves)
Book by emailing neil-griffin@outlook.com
what wildlife are we celebrating?
Otley and the surrounding area, with its varied habitats, has a rich variety of wildlife. Around the river we see Kingfishers, Dippers and Goosander, Otters, Daubenton Bats and Willows. On the Chevin there are the Woodcock, the Orchids, the Beech trees, the Green Hairstreak butterflies and the Bilberry Bumblebees. At Gallows Hill there are the newts and the woodpeckers; while at Weston Woods the bluebells and wild garlic are only a few of the many treasures of the natural world on show. In the gardens, yards and even the town centre there are amazing examples of the natural world: Swifts screaming overhead and Peacock Butterflies meandering below. Beautiful, fascinating and often spectacular creatures abound if you know where to look and what to look for. LINK TO OUR WILDLIFE PAGES
Unfortunately, a significant number of Otley's species are struggling. Whilst some are thriving, and others, such as the Red Kite and the Greenfinch, are bouncing back, the numbers of some are plummeting and they need our help. Hedgehog numbers are dropping rapidly, as are Swift, and when did you last see a grasshopper? The representation of a pond will enable one focus to be on the issues around local bodies of water, such as the struggles of our toad populations and pollution in the river Wharfe. Fortunately, there are a lot of things we can do to arrest this decline, from feeding wildlife to creating wildlife corridors enabling animals to move around safely to find food and shelter. LINK TO OUR PAGES
what will it look like?
The installation will take the form of a mosaic pond, featuring local animals and plants chosen by participants and formed into an attractive design by mosaic artist Frances Taylor (mosaicmania.co.uk). The mosaic tiles will be manufactured from recycled window glass. A mosaic bench will be positioned next to the pond with a design inspired by representations of the neural pathways triggered by exposure to the natural world. People will be able to rest on the bench and enjoy the artistry of the pond and the surrounding area. There will also be an explanatory display board, with links to pages of the Wildlife Friendly Otley website highlighting local wildlife, alerting people to the challenges it faces, and signposting the ways in which people can help and connect with it.
What is happening to otley's wildlife?
how will it benefit otley, its people & wildlife?
The installation will be an attractive addition to the town for years to come, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The combination of beautiful artwork and informative text will inspire people to engage with local wildlife and in turn work to support it. There are now many research papers linking exposure to the natural world with improved physical and mental health. The project is a perfect fit as an element of our wildlife arts festival celebrating both local wildlife and the creative work of our local community. A maintenance programme led by Wildlife Friendly Otley will ensure the installation stays in prime condition.
Frances will also run a mosaic workshop at Ashfield school, with Year 5 children creating fifteen stepping stones representing local animals or plants of their choosing. These will be installed in the school grounds.
This project is part of the Seasons of Culture Programme funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council through the Leeds Cultural Investment Programme.