Progress has continued apace, with our contractors and volunteers undergoing approved disinfectant precautions in order to combat the spread of 'Foot & Mouth disease', which unfortunately still restricts public access to the site. Work underway can however still be viewed from Wells Road, alongside the Green.

The major new feature completed is the platform of the Millennial Vision belvedere which has been constructed to take advantage of the wide views available from the highest point of the site. This overlooks the ghyllside which has been cleared of bracken and bramble scrub, to encourage the resurgence of a wide variety of wildflowers and ferns, complemented by replanting with native species such as snowdrops, daffodils, primroses, bluebells and cowslips.

The view includes Hillside Court (originally named North View) and Wells House, both of which were used for accommodation by Charles Darwin during his stay in Ilkley. We are now planning seating for the belvedere, and plantings to complement the feature, which we hope will provide a welcome spot to rest and admire the scene. The viewpoint is entered from the recently laid Sand Walk and will also be accessible to wheelchair users.

The panorama extends to White Wells and the Hangingstones ridge of Ilkley Moor, which are both represented in a pictorial plaque mounted on a boulder beside the feature. The plaque, which has been fashioned by Jean Stockham - a well-known former tenant of White Wells, celebrates the achievement of the Darwin Gardens Trust in translating vision into reality in the shape of Ilkley's own Millennium Green.

In addition to the developing wildlife hedge, all the larger trees planted within the past year are now in leaf and showing promise of becoming well established. These include oak, chestnut, cherry, lime, field maple and paper birch trees, dedicated by local community groups and individuals, and providing both a lasting benefit to the environment and a source of pleasure for visitors for many years to come.

As the 1st anniversary of the Green's official opening day beckons, we should like to thank the local community for their continuing encouragement and support over the year, and for coping with the current restrictions imposed by FMD precautions. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we are advised that public access can be restored, and hope that you will enjoy discovering the new features that are evolving here!

Please Note:  more severe restrictions are currently being imposed locally to combat FMD and it is increasingly probable that all work on site will have to be temporarily suspended.