On Yer Bike hits town

Local people of all ages came together in Bank Square on Saturday, 23rd October, to enjoy music and cycling as the On Yer Bike event came to Wilmslow.

Part of the Festival of Nature, which is running throughout the coming weeks, the carbon zero event saw high school students Fondabath, Luke Carter, Sam Pendrill and Year 11 trio Maggie, Alice and Lola taking to the stage, as well as local bands Blacksheeplad, Joel Gardner and 12 Bar Brawl.

A constant rotation of committed pedallers, including a team from the Cheshire Mavericks Cycling Club, ensured that the music kept going as it was an entirely bike powered event.

With 10 bikes of varying sizes, it is estimated that the group of cyclists did the equivalent of a round trip to Aberdeen – something like 750 miles. All the pedalling was to show that it is possible to have a good time whilst not wasting resources.

MC'd by Erik Garner, speakers including Head of St Anne's Fulshaw Clare Daniel, Local GP and committed cyclist Dr Ayaz Damani, Professor Sarah Bridle and Wilmslow High School student Naomi Crook also spoke to the crowd between the musical acts, reinforcing the messages of the festival and what everyone can do to help reduce climate change.

Bez from the Happy Mondays took to the stage to be interviewed by Heidi Cowen, then helped the cyclists before closing the event with a DJ set – there was plenty of dancing both on stage and off as children joined him to dance to some Manchester classics.

Several hundred residents came and enjoyed the event which ran until it got dark. There are hopes that this will become a regular event.

Festival organising team member Georgie Johnson said "We were so pleased that everyone really entered into the spirit of the event. So many people of all ages volunteered to cycle to make sure that the amps kept working and it was great to see them all.

"We're also very grateful to the amazing local talent that we have in Wilmslow for supporting On Yer Bike - our youngest performer, Luke Carter, was just 13! Everyone gave it their all and we showed that you can have a great time without costing the earth."

There are still plenty of free events taking place over the coming weeks with a focus on this week for half term. Visit www.festivalofnature.co.uk for full details.