UPDATE 20 : 2 February 2000  'EARTHWORK'
Foundations for the Millennium Maze have now been laid by contractors acting for Crest Homes, as part of Crest's commitment to support Darwin Gardens. The maze itself will be laid out using 1000 flagstones symbolising the 1000 years of a Millennium, and each stone is available for dedication by individuals, community groups and businesses.

Dedications of Millennium Maze flagstones continue to be available by post or personal call to: Parish Clerk's Office, The Town Hall, Ilkley, LS29 8HB. (01943 436212) (personal callers between 10 - 12 am on Mondays/Wednesdays/Thursdays/Fridays please). Prices are £5 for individual flagstones or £25 for business/community group feature stones, for which dedicators receive a uniquely numbered flagstone and dedication certificate. Groups and businesses will also be able to arrange to be present at the laying of their stone.

Recent feature stone dedicators include H Eaton & Son, Soroptimist International, Ilkley in Bloom and Olicana Historical Society. Kennedy Thompson & Davies have been awarded a feature stone in recognition of their generous donation of legal services to the Darwin Gardens Trust.

Volunteers have completed planting the community wildlife hedge supported by the Forest of Bradford. The 1000th 'family tree' was planted by 10-year old Andrew Maclean and his father Ewan. Some of the trees have been planted as single species 'groves' of blackthorn, crab apple, dog rose, dogwood, elder, guelder rose and hazel in suitable parts of the site. Any of these trees can be dedicated at £1 per tree (same arrangement as above).

A donation of £50 towards the Christian Millennium monument has been gratefully received from Christ Church, and Darren Yeadon 'Artist in Stone' has now started to carve the piece from a single block of gritstone, weighing more than 2 tons. Darren will be returning to continue the work in March, and welcomes comments from spectators at his temporary work area in Darwin Gardens.

Volunteers clearing bramble scrub from the steepest part of the ghyllside gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Ilkley Gardeners, a locally-based landscaping business. Bradford Council Landscape Services have also provided help by rotavating a previously overgrown area to prepare for the planting of bluebells and other woodland glade species, and are currently infilling a hazardous ruin to create a safe and attractive viewpoint.

We welcome all sections of our community - individuals, businesses, schools and societies, to become involved in this unique opportunity to commemorate the Millennium in Ilkley.

Note this green letter date in your diary! - our official opening will be on: 24th June 2000

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