UPDATE 10 : 30 April 1999  'OPENING IN THE SUN'

Dates for the official opening of Darwin Gardens are now being considered, the most promising of which seems to be around Midsummer Day in Millennium Year. Several events are being planned to accompany the opening ceremony. Proposals include:

‘The Procession of Time’ - featuring groups costumed to represent various creatures illustrating evolutionary development, to the accompaniment of a song specially composed for the occasion.

‘The Descent of Man’ - a fun-run in the form of a relay of runners representing our hominid ancestors, descending from White Wells to Darwin Gardens.

‘Half a Mountain’ - a short play in a light-hearted vein involving the character of Charles Darwin in his association with Ilkley.

‘Dancing the Maze’ - a community dance event based on the fylfot symbol from the famous ‘Swastika Stone’, a design that also forms the basis for the proposed Millennium Maze, which will complete the first phase of the Darwin Gardens scheme.

One of our supporters - Frazer Irwin - who first suggested the idea of transforming West View Park as a Millennium scheme for Ilkley, has contacted one of Ilkley’s more famous daughters - the authoress Jilly Cooper - as a possible celebrity to open the scheme. She has replied that she would be ‘honoured and delighted’ to perform our opening ceremony, (assuming that she is not prevented by her literary commitments).

A presentation of the scheme has been made to the Rotary Club of Ilkley, who enjoyed the chance to find out more about this exciting project to benefit our town and local community. We welcome all contributors, whether as individuals, local businesses, or school and community groups to demonstrate their interest in this unique opportunity to celebrate the Millennium in Ilkley. By helping to create an inspirational, educational and recreational feature, of enduring value to both residents and visitors of all ages, we can all show our respect for Ilkley’s past history and our determination to act positively for the future of our town and its surroundings.

If you can also offer assistance in any of the following ways: