A festival of the senses and short walks is on offer at Valley Road on 21st June as Friends of Bradford’s Becks (FoBB) host their 2025 festival and celebration of Bradford’s Becks.
“Its theme this year is about discovering what you can find on a walk along one of the becks,” said Barney Lerner, Chair. “What you can see, hear, touch, taste, smell, and not just in the Beck itself, but the birds, trees, flowers, insects and more. This festival is a chance to find out about these, but also about how to create something using these natural resources. We encourage people to bring a picnic and refreshments with them so they have a chance to sit between activities and appreciate the environment around them.”
Visitors will be able to take part in a variety of workshops by local artists themed around the sensory nature of a walk. For young families, Sandy Holden will lead a short walk to collect leaves or pebbles to make patterns on the ground, create dragonflies and chalk a beck on the ground with what’s been seen and heard. There’s also the family adventure trail ‘Dino Bugs Eye Spy’ hunting for ancient insects that outlived the dinosaurs: solve the clues and unlock a secret treat box designed by Nicola Murray.
Creative poetry sessions are being facilitated by writer Nabeela Ahmed using images of Bradford’s Becks as inspiration, as well as the new Discover Bradford’s Becks booklets – which will be available for everyone attending the event. Instead of painting a picture in words, artist Naseem Darby will be on hand to encourage people to have a go at sketching a personal image of the environment.
Since 2024, calligrapher Razwan Ul-Haq has been extracting pigment from Bradford’s Beck rocks. Two of the pigments were gathered by Joy and Chris from FOBB. In his workshop some of the ink that was made will be used with bamboo pens to write basic Arabic letters, and maybe even move onto words. Visitors can bring a small rock or stone (the softer the better) and do a basic test to see if it would yield some pigment!
Owl Adventures will be displaying a variety of their birds including owls and some raptors; visitors (for a small fee) will be able to handle some of the birds and during the event there’ll be a flying display too. The RSPB will be at the festival, with information on bird-spotting – from shape, size, sound and where to look for them.
But what about the water in the beck? FoBB will be there with information on Bradford’s Becks. They running many free guided walks from May to September that explore several of the becks, and people will be able to sign up for these at the event. The free ‘Discover Bradford Becks’ booklets will be available along with information on pollution prevention, volunteer opportunities and other events that FoBB run.
Aire Rivers Trust will have information on the work they do around rivers and becks, and their interactive ‘Save the Salmon’ game that was hugely popular at the 2023 Festival is back for another outing. Also popular in 2023 was the hands-on discovery of types of live bugs (invertebrates) in samples of river water which tell us how healthy the river is: the Environment Agency is back this year with this fascinating session.
Watery folklore tales will be shared by writer Irene Lofthouse and listeners can create their own model to take away. There’ll also be live music, many with a river theme from Bingley Ukulele Band, and folks are encouraged to singalong.
“We extend our thanks to Bradford Council for funding and supporting the event,” said Barney Lerner, Chair of the Friends of Bradford’s Becks, “which, along with our own resources, has enabled us to ensure that everything on the day will be FREE – except for a small fee for bird handling. Also to Bolton Woods Community Centre for their support. The FOBB team have been working hard all year to plan the Festival and we’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone to our afternoon of fun and discovery.”
The Festival runs from 12 – 4pm and takes place beside the cycleway along Valley Road and the Beck in Shipley, between Briggate and Poplar Road (BD18 2EJ). People are encouraged to cycle or walk to the event as there is no on-site parking: the site is close to the train station and there is a bus (A3) that runs along Valley Road.
Visitors are also encouraged to bring a picnic and refreshments as there are no on-site refreshments.
Toilets will be available.
All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
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