AIRE Valley's great variety of heritage and history will be celebrated at a forum for local groups in a church which has just won Lottery funding.

The Local Heritage Exchange event next month in Shipley will bring together more than 25 different organisations, such as the Friends of Roberts Park and the St Ives Estate.

Organiser John Bromley, who helped set up the Northcliffe Park heritage project, said in tough financial times the aim was to encourage and strengthen links between different Friends and volunteer groups from Shipley to Skipton.

"With reduced funding to public services it is imperative that residents work against the many pressures on our local landscape, environment and heritage," Mr Bromley said.

"One of the main things we want to show is just how much history and heritage there is in Aire Valley."

The event will run from 10am until 4pm at St Paul's, in Kirkgate, Shipley, on Saturday, July 4. It will include displays, speakers, slides and a chance for groups to talk to each other.

St Paul's has just received a £145,000 Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant for structural improvements and that was partly-based on it promoting local heritage, said its rector, Chris Clough.

"Part of our agreement with HLF is that we should raise that awareness.

"For example, a lot of people don't know St Paul's is a Waterloo Church paid for by the government to celebrate the victory over Napoleon, which has it's 200th anniversary on June 18 this year," Mr Clough said.

Richard Freeman of Friends of Roberts Park said it would be attending the forum.

"I think it's a fantastic idea. It's a great chance to network and a great way to get new people to volunteer," he said.

Friends of St Ives will also be attending and plans to have a display of its work at the natural beauty spot above Bingley, said the group's chairman, Pam Laking.

"There is always strength in numbers and meeting up like this will add to our shared knowledge of how to run different projects," she said.

Jeff Nutter of Friends of Prince of Wales Park, Bingley, added: "These things are useful as exchange of ideas always helps people."

The programme for the Local Heritage Exchange includes local archivist Tish Lawson who will ask participants to think about Who Lived in Your House?

There will also be an opportunity to see unique historical slides of Baildon and Shipley compiled by Ian Watson and Mike Lawson.

Heritage educator Dave Weldrake will also ask representatives, Is Your Heritage Safe in a Time of Change?

Further details are available from John Bromley at lclheritage@outlook.com or by calling 01274 580875.