ADDINGHAM Civic Society’s Environment Group held its first village environment day to showcase its activities over the last 12 months.

It was also a chance for other groups, both within the village and wider region, to demonstrate their environmental programmes.

The themes for the day were: Addingham's natural environment, Addingham and the Neighbourhood Plan, responding to climate change and celebrating Addingham's environment.

The Memorial Hall was crowded throughout the morning with visitors, including children who enjoyed the hands-on activities. An afternoon walk was also attended by more than 30 people taking advantage of the fine weather and expert commentary to learn about the natural history of the village.

Displays by members of the Environment Group included: Geology (Will Varley); Butterflies (Diane Morris); Notable Trees (Nicky Vernon and Heather Burrow); Birds (Harry Jevons, Chris Acomb, David Austin); Solar Panels and Renewable Energy (Richard Walton and Lizzie Hebbert); a 3-D scale model of the Village (Don Porritt) and Green Spaces and the Neighbourhood Plan (Jan Hindle).

The Neighbourhood Plan display included a presentation of photographs sent in by local residents showing their favourite view of the village as well as an invitation to fill in a questionnaire survey about village green space. Councillor Adrian Naylor in his welcome address emphasised the importance of the Neighbourhood Plan in guiding future developments in the village and stressed the importance of residents taking the opportunity to contribute to it to ensure environmental issues were fully represented.

Other village organisations represented included the Garden Friends who highlighted their ecologically sensitive approach to flower selection, the Allotment and Gardens Association, the Scouts who presented the results of their village litter-pick, the Primary School who displayed their award-winning project on “Up-cycling”, and Totally Locally who stressed the environmental importance of sourcing goods and services locally.

Organisations that attended from outside the village included Wharfedale Naturalists, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, The British Trust for Ornithology, the RSPB, the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT), Energy Saving Trust, Ilkley Real Food Market, Bradford Council, Rodley Nature Reserve and Hedgehog Emergency Rescue Bingley.

Displays were not limited to science. In the refreshment room artists Geraldine Thompson and Lisa Hinds exhibited their work focussing on painting influenced by wildlife and the natural environment and Sue Ross exhibited the work of her art group. A powerpoint slideshow by Don Barrett illustrating changes that have taken place in the village over the last few decades attracted much attention. There was also wildlife face painting by Natalie Munro and other activities for children, and on sale there were greetings cards based on village wildlife designed by Diane Morris, booklets of Addingham countryside walks designed by Don Barrett, Jonathan White and Will Varley (updating two of the walks originally published by Alison Armstrong in 1992) as well as second hand books. Music wasn’t forgotten as a recording of a concert of operatic arias organised by Hilary Thomas and made in the Methodist Church the previous Saturday played in the background. Hilary donated the proceeds of the concert to the Environment Group.

Tea and coffee with home-made cakes were provided by Brenda Crooks and her team.

Professor Rick Battarbee, an expert in environmental matters, who leads the group said: "The Addingham Environment Group Steering Committee would like to thank all those who attended the Environment Day especially those who helped in its organisation."