OTLEY’S popular Wildlife Arts Festival will return this autumn with a packed programme celebrating nature through art, music, photography, film, books and talks.
The Otley Wildlife Arts Festival 2026 takes place from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25 and marks its fifth year of bringing together people with a passion for wildlife and the natural world.
The festival opens on Friday evening with a special appearance from television personality and Wildlife Friendly Otley patron George McGavin.
His talk, It’s a Wild Life – Tales from Television, will be held at Wesley Hall at Otley Common, Walkergate, starting at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 6.30pm.
Drawing on careers in both academia and broadcasting, Mr McGavin will share stories from his journey exploring the natural world and explain why, despite the climate and nature crises, his enthusiasm for wildlife remains as strong as ever. A question-and-answer session will follow.
Mr McGavin, who has a background in zoology and entomology, spent 30 years in academia before becoming an award-winning broadcaster. He is also an honorary research associate at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the author of books including The Hidden World and The Good Bug.
Saturday’s programme at Otley Common will feature an art exhibition, stalls, workshops and a series of free short talks. Topics are set to include badgers, nature recovery in Otley, toads, healthy rivers, adders, the Broughton Rewilding Project and insects.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in creative workshops inspired by nature. Sessions include Natural Forms with Mixed Media led by Miriam Laville, Autumnal Woodland with Collage & Acrylics with Tony Driver and Drawing Birds with Posca Pens led by Kim Coley.
On Saturday evening, the festival will celebrate nature through music and spoken word, with Sarah Smout, Amy-Jane Beer, Chris Brain and Matthew Hedley Stoppard appearing at The Chapel at Otley Common.
A new feature for this year is a community project to create a mosaic pond and bench highlighting local wildlife and the environmental pressures it faces. Otley mosaic artist Frances Taylor will lead a series of workshops, with some sessions already filling up.
The workshop on the morning of October 4th is already fully-booked, and the one that afternoon has only a few spaces remaining, but the two on October 11th have still got availability, and at least one more will be organised. They cost £10 (£15 for two) and can be booked by contacting neil-griffin@outlook.com.
Organisers say the festival aims to showcase the many ways people connect with nature, whether through creativity, science, storytelling, photography, music or simply spending time outdoors.
The Otley Wildlife Arts Festival takes place on October 23, 24 and 25. Visit https://www.wildlifefriendlyotley.org.uk/2026wildlifeartsfestival
Tickets for George McGavin’s talk cost £22, with concessions priced at £16.50. For more information and bookings visit www.tickettailor.com/events/otleycommon/2333241.
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