Bradford Council is joining forces with other councils and organisations in Yorkshire and across the Pennines to form an ‘alternative National Park’ – South Pennines Park.

The Park will cover 460 square miles between the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire. In our district it covers Addingham, Baildon, Bingley, Haworth, Ilkley, Keighley, Queensbury, Shipley, Silsden and Thornton. It includes urban and rural areas and 660,000 people live within its boundaries.

The scheme aims to raise the profile of the area and pool financial resources for the only upland in England which is not part of a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The scheme aims to aid collaboration and cross boundary working on key projects, such as flood protection, tourism, transport, heritage and conservation. It offers a new model for how non-designated areas can contribute to the government’s objectives on levelling up and restoring our natural environment.

Pennine Prospects has drawn up the blueprint and is working in partnership with local authorities in the park area, Natural England, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, the National Trust, transport companies and a range of community and conservation groups. Pennine Prospects will also be renamed South Pennines Park.

Helen Noble, Chief Executive of South Pennines Park, said: “We are bringing together communities, public and private sector bodies, and other stakeholders and together we have a shared vision for the South Pennines Park. We are all committed to working together champion the area.

“As well as bringing together communities in the South Pennines, we are also talking to Government and MPs about our approach. Without the Park each body is left to compete against each other for funding. This approach means they can pool resources and drive collaboration in key areas like conservation, tourism, transport and hospitality. But a common thread for all our partners is ensuring we connect people to nature.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “While the South Pennines Park is made up of three counties with very distinct identities, we are united in wanting to protect, preserve and provide the best services, support and experiences for those that live, work and visit the area. This venture will help us work together to deliver on these outcomes for a more sustainable future for all.”

Pupils at Riddlesden St Mary’s Primary School are growing their own food, after creating an 'edible playground' – including peas, chard, potatoes, carrots and lettuce – after creating an ‘edible playground’.

Their produce - which includes peas, chard, potatoes, carrots and lettuce - is being cooked up in a variety of meals, including a chard curry.

The £30,000 gardening project is the result of funding from Trees for Cities, Bulb, Keighley Big Local and the school, and has been constructed by Juniper Forestry.

Each year-group has its own green oak planter, which the children are tending as part of school gardening activities, led by outdoor learning mentor Joel Howard Birt. The area is also being used as an outdoor classroom. Other plants, such as sunflowers and nasturtiums are also being grown.

Twelve months of support is being provided by outdoor learning organisation Grow to School.

Cllr Caroline Firth, ward councillor for Keighley East and Assistant Executive Member for Climate Emergency, said: “This whole project is wonderful and goes to the very heart of what grassroots climate projects should represent. It is a practical example of the culture the council is trying to build in the district to empower people and groups to help us care for our little bit of the world.”

Mel Frances, Trees for Cities project development co-ordinator for the north, said: “This Edible Playground fits so nicely into the existing school grounds and gives pupils and teachers the chance to grow, cook and eat their own food – supported by Grow to School – as well as providing a space for nature and learning.” 

Bradford Council is the first local authority in the region to lay a road surface that contains recycled tyres.

The used tyres would otherwise go to landfill or incineration, but have instead been granulated and used to replace cellulose fibres in the new surfacing, which is called Ultipave R.

Ultipave R, which is manufactured and trademarked by construction firm Tarmac, also has lower carbon emissions than traditional asphalt, as it is manufactured and supplied at lower temperatures, saving on average 3.5kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per tonne. It is approved for use on motorways and the strategic road network and also offers lasting texture and skid resistance for road users.

A section of Otley Road in Eldwick, between Warren Lane and Spring Lane, is the first in the region to have been resurfaced using the product. Around 700 tonnes of the greener rubber asphalt was laid at the site by Bradford Council’s Highway Maintenance North team. Seven tonnes of recycled rubber were used - keeping 1,000 tyres out of landfill or incineration.

Pictured above: the new surface being laid on Otley Road Eldwick.

Plastic Free Keighley is holding a Campfire event to discuss how residents, businesses and local groups can reduce their use of single use plastic.

The event, supported by Big Local, takes place from 6.30-8pm, on Thursday, 16 September at 2^nd Riddlesden Scouts HQ, East Riddlesden Hall.

It is free to attend, but places are limited and need to be booked on Eventbrite.

While governments, businesses and big organisations around the world are being urged to make changes towards net zero by 2050, we as individuals can also do our bit.

The United Nations’ ActNow campaign  aims to inspire each of us to make changes to our lifestyles to help limit global warming and protect the environment.

The ActNow app provides simple suggestions and easily digestible information on actions we can take which can make a difference. It starts with ten actions, from simple steps, such as air drying laundry or turning the tap off to brush your teeth to bigger changes, such as getting wind or solar energy. The app enables users to track their habits and measure their impact.

Professor Tim Benton, a leading national and international expert will be speaking at an event hosted by Climate Action Ilkley later this month.

Prof Benton is a fellow of the Chatham House International Affairs think tank and has worked with UK governments, the EU and G20. He has been a global agenda steward of the World Economic Forum and is an author of the IPCC’s Special Report on Food, Land and Climate (2019), and the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment. Most recently he was involved in hosting John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, for his major speech at Kew Gardens.

His talk, taking place at 7.30pm on 27 September, at Ilkely’s Clarke Foley Centre, is entitled ‘Climate politics and COP26: what’s at stake for the UK, and the world?’

In this, Prof Benton will look at why the forthcoming COP26 summit is so important and vital for world leaders to commit to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, why the stakes are so high and what individuals can do to help our own politicians.

The event is free but places need to be booked via Eventbrite.