Village Green helps local people take climate action — with community spirit

On the gentle rise where the village green meets the first sweep of open fields, something quietly hopeful has been taking root.

What began as a handful of neighbours sharing flasks of tea and swapping gardening notes has grown into a full-fledged community effort to care for the land they love not through grand declarations, but through steady, cheerful action. 

At the heart of it all is the Village Green group: a gathering of keen souls who believe that small steps, when taken together, can ripple far beyond a parish boundary.

Their weekends are filled with the sort of tasks that warm the bones planting wildflower strips that hum with bees by midsummer, organising tool-sharing shelves in the old pavilion, and holding “mend-and-make-do” mornings where stories are traded as freely as sewing needles.

Children join in with mud-splattered enthusiasm, weaving willow wigwams or helping to water new saplings that will one day outgrow them.

Yet the heart of the project isn’t just the green space itself, but the friendships that sprout alongside the seedlings.

A pot of compost becomes an excuse for a chat, while a shared spade becomes a reminder that responsibility can be joyful. 

Their climate action feels less like duty and more like a neighbourly promise a pledge to leave the land a little richer, the air a little clearer, and the community a little closer.

As dusk settles over the village green, the newly planted hedgerows catch the last shimmer of light, standing as a quiet testament to what can flourish when people choose hope over haste, and togetherness over worry.

From ancient stones to modern quirks, Yorkshire never runs out of stories.

Which Yorkshire market town is said to have one of the oldest continuously running weekly markets in England?
Answer at the bottom!

Trivia’s fun, but resilience is priceless.

How to Say No to Things That Don't Support Your Goals

Saying no isn’t about shutting doors it’s about opening the right ones. Yorkshire folk have long been skilled at the gentle but firm “Nay, not today,” and you can learn the art too with a few simple habits.

1. Know your priorities.
Write down your top three goals for the season whether that’s learning a craft, improving your health, or carving out more quiet moments. If something doesn’t support those aims, it likely deserves a polite decline.

2. Practise kind refusals.
A warm but clear phrase works wonders: “I’d love to help another time, but I’m focusing on something important just now.” It respects both your needs and the other person’s feelings.

3. Create buffer time.
Give yourself 24 hours before agreeing to any new commitment. That pause allows your head to catch up with your heart.

4. Let boundaries be ordinary.
Treat them like brushing your teeth a daily habit, not a dramatic act. The more normal it feels, the easier it becomes.

5. Use small tools that support clarity.
A simple planner or notes app can be enough to keep your calendar aligned with your intentions.

Helpful resources:
– NHS wellbeing tips
– Mind UK boundary-setting guide

Wisdom’s great — but so are these nuggets of local lore.

"May your heart be as resolute as my exoskeleton, your spirit as unyielding as my resolve. Let the light of compassion guide your path, and the wisdom of ancestors illuminate your journey. In the face of adversity, may you stand tall, a beacon of hope for those in need. Embrace your vulnerabilities as stepping stones towards growth, and let your legacy be a testament to the power of courage and honor. With each step you take, may you inspire others to rise to greatness, leaving a lasting imprint on the world around you."

Move gently, choose wisely, and let each small step shape the path you truly want.

Otley — home to a market tradition stretching back to the Middle Ages.