This article is sponsored by RHS Garden Harlow Carr

As summer begins to bloom in the Harrogate district, don’t forget to add these dates to your diary!

In the last year, RHS Harlow Carr has been a wonderful place for local residents to enjoy the fresh air. As the seasons change and restrictions lift, Harlow Carr is increasing its capacity for visitors.

As well as being a spectacular place to connect with nature, the garden is now able to plan special events and activities again. These give people the opportunity to source wonderful locally-produced items and also develop their own skills and discover new pastimes.

In the Bath House from 22 May to 27 June, the Designer Makers Market features original art and crafts by local practitioners, including textiles, ceramics, glass, paper collage and wood art to browse and buy.

Visitors can also enjoy daily demonstrations by visiting artists. The Bath House is open every day and admission is included with garden entry.

For those who found solace in creativity during lockdown, the RHS has the perfect programme of courses and workshops to develop your skills further. Each course is led by a friendly and knowledgeable tutor and places are limited. There’s a whole host of topics covered, starting on 24 June with an Introduction to permaculture.

For avid gardeners, other courses include one focused on aquatic plants and ponds on 7 July, advanced propagation on 15 July and a range of other one day workshops on different aspects of growing and garden design. Creative craft workshops include floristry, textiles, printing, photography and wood carving.

The garden will also be welcoming Harrogate & Ripon Beekeepers Association for a number of one day courses through the year, which will inspire many more keen gardeners to foster these vital pollinators.

The full courses and workshops programme has been confirmed for the rest of 2021, so why not take a look and see if you can find inspiration in them?

The Garden Centre at Harlow Carr stocks a comprehensive range of plants, seeds and tools and the friendly team is always on hand to offer advice, giving visitors the opportunity to take inspiration home to their own garden. The shop also stocks a beautiful range of high quality gifts, stationery and books. The garden centre and shop can be visited without booking a garden ticket.

Watch this space for more 2021 events and garden features which will be announced in the coming weeks. Whether you’re an avid gardener, a complete beginner, or someone who doesn’t garden but likes to admire the amazing work of the horticultural team at Harlow Carr, there is always a reason to visit.

This article is sponsored by Energy for Business 

What would you do with a spare £777 a year?

That’s the amount an average micro-business could save by switching from a variable price to a fixed-price contract option. Every business’s energy needs are different, but many could save around 21%.

Small business owners have enough to think about, without worrying about

• How accurate business gas and electricity bills are
• If direct-debit values are set correctly to ensure only the correct amount is paid
• Checking meter readings are up-to-date
• Not paying more than is needed for business gas and electricity

That’s where your local energy consultant, Ripon-based Energy for Business comes in.

After the most challenging of years for small business, the Energy for Business team will help ensure you’re not paying more than you need to for your utility bills.

Energy for Business is often asked… Why would a business use an energy consultant to check all these things when they can deal with suppliers direct?

Working with over 150 electricity and gas suppliers, recommendations are always based on experience of the supplier – for both price and service. Energy for Business helps cut through the jargon to save you valuable time and money.

Securing the most cost-effective gas and electricity contracts can be far from straightforward. With over 21-years’ experience and as one of the UK’s leading energy consultants, Energy for Business alleviates this complexity with its knowledge, expertise and supplier relationships.

The Energy for Business service includes:

• Pricing and contract negotiation for electricity, gas, water and broadband
• Bill validation & accuracy checks – including billing disputes and complaint resolution
• Direct Debit reassessment
• Meter reading updates and reminders
• Meter works including new meter installation
• Supply upgrades and siteworks for electricity and gas
• New connections

To arrange a free Energy for Business consultation by phone, video call or in-person at our offices at 38 Kirkgate, Ripon HG4 1PB, email enquiries@energy4business.co.uk

Based on an average usage, the fee for negotiating a contract on your behalf would be in the region of £70 (per contract). The fee can be recovered through the unit rate agreed or can be paid up-front, depending on your preference. We will always show you the savings we can achieve for your business, so that you are able to make an informed decision in respect of the cost of using our service.

This article is sponsored by Consilia Legal.

Microsoft entrepreneurs, Bill and Melinda Gates, publicly announced last week that their marriage had ‘irretrievably broken down’. The billionaire philanthropists have suggested that they want a conciliatory divorce to separate their assets, estimated to be worth $146 billion.

Local family solicitor, Sophie Arrowsmith, from Consilia Legal in Harrogate and Leeds, notes that the Gates family have been pioneers for change and forward thinking, which will stand them in good stead when entering discussions.

Sophie said:

“When the news story hit the headlines, the media were scrambling for information as to how the parties were going to begin to untangle their enormous wealth.”

“Although the circumstances of this particular family’s wealth may be uncommon, the unfortunate breakdown of their marriage is not. Helpfully, the pair have considered alternative dispute resolution when arranging their divorce. This public move to amicably settle matters will likely persuade others to consider mediation and other forms of resolution first to avoid lengthy and costly proceedings.”

“The Ministry of Justice have recently implemented a scheme of allocating £1million to provide vouchers, worth up to £500 per case, which will reduce the costs of mediation for separating families. The scheme has been praised for encouraging families to consider a constructive and conciliatory process outside of the courts.”

 

Consilia Legal offers a range of alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation services. Mediation is a process where separated couples meet with our accredited family mediators and explore options as to how to can reach important decisions for their family, whether in relation to children and/or financial matters. Mediation can lead to more amicable resolutions in a non-inflammatory way and can reduce the stress of complicated proceedings.

To discuss mediation, contact Sophie Arrowsmith or Laura Clapton at Consilia Legal in Leeds on 0113 3229 222, or email s.arrowsmith@consilialegal.co.uk and l.clapton@consilialegal.co.uk

Visit www.consilialegal.co.uk for more details of legal services available.

Property Gold is a monthly column written by independent bespoke property consultant, Alex Goldstein. With more than 17 years’ experience, Alex helps his clients to buy and sell residential property in some of the most desirable locations in Yorkshire and beyond. This month, Alex examines the effects of the flammable cladding scandal following the Grenfell Tower disaster. 

Cladding isn’t just cladding. Following the tragic events at Grenfell in 2017, it has come to light that a high proportion of ‘modern’ apartment blocks across the UK were built and fitted with inadequate and flammable cladding, balconies, cavity barriers, insulation, fire breaks, plus some concrete frame structural defects… shall I go on?

The Government stepped in in February this year to pledge a £5 billion fund to help with costs, however this only scratches the surface, as the impact and fallout from the cladding scandal goes much wider than perhaps you think.

Figures vary, but current estimates suggest around 4.6m people are affected in an unknown number of buildings dotted around the UK. These owners are now effectively trapped in their own homes – they’re unsellable, un-mortgageable and insurance is questionable.

It is a dire situation for these property owners, who are mostly Leaseholders, with many facing bankruptcy as a result of escalating costs to rectify matters in their buildings. One owner reached out to me this week to say his flat was worth nothing and it cost the development where he lived £61,000 per week to have a waking watch (a patrol at night looking for fire breaches).

If Freeholders resolve matters themselves, they will undoubtedly pass these remedial costs on to the Leaseholders via a one-off charge or an escalated service charge. Afterwards and even if a building is signed-off as being safe, owners still face an uphill battle. Afterall, if you were a buyer and given the media frenzy surrounding the scandal, would you buy an apartment in one of these buildings? The market for modern apartments has been spooked and trust broken for the long term.

The implications go further still. The Government feels the banks can absorb the risk with those defaulting on their mortgages, however are we now diluting the issue by involving the banks? If they are saddled with bad debt… well we know what happened last time.

My concern is that we will be left with ghost towns and tower blocks, a fragmented society with crumbling local economies, large parts of the property market blocked with millions of owners losing out because they unwittingly chose to buy the wrong type of home. What about those wishing to pass their property (or tied up capital) on to their children, pension funds, investors – they all lose.

Whilst the Government have put forward a fund, why are we the taxpayer liable when it’s not of our making? The PLC Developers have a history of cutting corners and there’s no smoke without fire.

If you have any comments or questions for Alex, please feel free to contact him on alex@alexgoldstein.co.uk

Read More:

• Property Gold: Playing the agency game
• Criticism over 560 homes plan for Otley Road in Harrogate

This article is sponsored by Deliveree

Going the extra mile…

Supporting independent restaurants 

Top-quality food 

Looking after their drivers 

Supporting the local community 

To order your Deliveree, download the app from the App Store or Google Play now.

This column is written for the Stray Ferret by Kimberley Metcalfe. Kimberley has an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Her company Pooches Galore is based in Harrogate and specialises in dog training and resolving canine behavioural problems.

This year more than ever we are going to be staycationing, and for many dogs this might be their first holiday. For those of us, myself included, who usually take our main holiday abroad or without our dogs, this year might be the first year that we holiday with our dogs.

Here are my top tips for stress free holidays with our dogs:

• If your dog is crate trained, but maybe you’ve not used it for a while, now is the time to dust off the crate. Reintroduce the crate and get your dog used to it at home. This helps to give your dog a secure space where they can feel reassured. This is also a requirement of many holiday homes, so starting in a safe environment is much easier.
• Work on your dog’s settle behaviour – being out in cafes, pubs and restaurants has been a rarity for most of our dogs over the last year. Although many dogs will love being out and about around people, (these are known as disco dogs!), others will find this much more challenging (we call these dogs library dogs!). I recommend to all my clients to work on teaching their dog to settle on a mat in easy environments and then work up to settling outside of café before sitting for long periods inside.
• The basics – no matter what we are going to do with our dogs on their holidays, recall and loose lead walking are going to make your life a lot easier. Take high value treats on your walks and work hard on rewarding these basics. Even if you feel your dog already has these, there’s no harm in brushing up their skills around high level distractions such as picnics!

Packing for an easy life would be in my top tips too, so apart from the obvious bed and bowl, this is what else I would be packing:

• Chews – lots of healthy chews to help settle dogs in lots of different situations.
• A settle mat – somewhere comfortable for your dog to lay on when they are out and about.
• A drying coat – if you have a dog that loves to be in the water, a drying coat will save you so much time.
• A travel bowl – always handy to have in your bag, so if you get stuck without access to a water bowl you have one to hand.
• A first aid kit – these are always useful to have on you when you are out and about.
• Contact numbers for local vets in the area you are staying in.

Hopefully these hints and tips will help you to have a happy holiday. And of course, if you are struggling with any of the above please do not hesitate to get in touch!

Read More: 

• Kim’s Canines: Has the last year made our dogs more reactive?
• Kim’s Canines: Protecting your pooch from dog theft

This article is sponsored by It’s Clean.

Want the good-as-new clean look without damaging your roof, driveway or house exterior? Look no further than It’s Clean’s Soft Washing service, which uses a unique gentle steam process.

The Harrogate-based commercial cleaning company formed in 1999 is one of the first in the UK to offer the new service.

To help convince you of just how well this new cleaning process works, take a look at these amazing before and after images…

How does soft washing exterior cleaning work?

A special eco-friendly chemical mix is applied to a building under low pressure, to get rid of damaging moss and algae, and remove stains. It’s then washed off (also with low pressure steam), taking all of the grime you want to get rid of with it. The final wash neutralises any chemical residue, and slows down any re-growth.

The soft washing system is ideal for older and more sensitive buildings because it is more sympathetic and less destructive than traditional jet cleaning methods. It can be used where you are refurbishing old buildings, but it is also a suitable exterior cleaning method for property development of any age or building type.

Because of the lower water pressure, unlike jet-washing, it won’t damage your rendering, roof tiling or leave you with annoyingly loose paving slabs and it’s a lot more environmentally friendly.

It’s Clean also offers a free survey, so you can find out exactly how soft washing exterior cleaning will work for your property.

Soft washing is better value-for-money and lasts much longer than jet washing. 

If you jet wash your roof or driveway, as well as damaging the surface, the algae and organic growth are just spread around and will grow back later. It’s Clean’s eco-friendly chemical mix actually removes algae and organic growth, so you won’t have to deal with it again as quickly.

For a free soft washing exterior cleaning survey or to find out more about It’s Clean’s soft washing services, call It’s Clean on 01423 566 785 or email info@itsclean.co.uk. 

This article is sponsored by Vivo Entertainment. 

Alfie Boe, Sir Willard White, Aled Jones, The Three Tenors and Queen Symphonic will headline three spectacular concerts at Harewood House this September, and tickets are available to buy now.

It’s been a long year of lockdowns, but now we have something spectacular to look forward to. Stars of the West End, Broadway, and international music arenas will gather for a rousing, spine-tingling extravaganza. Picnic Proms Summer Concert Series is a three day series of concerts in the magnificent Harewood House grounds, featuring musical theatre legends, orchestral icons, a symphonic spectacular and spellbinding silent firework displays.

The star-studded line up includes (clockwise) Sir Willard White, Alfie Boe, Sophie Evans, Rachel Tucker, Peyee Chen, Aled Jones MBE, Queen Symphonic and Louise Dearman.

Alfie Boe will open the series of concerts on Friday 3rd September 2021.

Alfie Boe exploded onto the music scene nearly 20 years ago, and is a veteran of the London stage and Broadway. He has racked up one extraordinary achievement after another including two UK Number 1 albums more than one million albums sold in the UK.

Having performed in some of the world’s greatest venues, he has the rare ability to bring all sorts of music lovers together.

Not many artists can lay claim to having appeared in both the West End theatre and Broadway. Alfie Boe’s starred as Jean Valjean in the ‘All Star’ concert of Les Miserables. His performance in La Boheme earned him a Tony award. And he featured on the spectacular orchestral classic rock album Quadrophenia.

He says:

“When I look at the crowd at my concerts, I can see I’ve got Who fans, musical theatre fans and jazz fans as well.”

Alfie will be performing some of his favourite songs and West End hits. He will be joined by special guests and fellow West End and Broadway stars Louise Dearman and Rachel Tucker.

On Saturday 4th September 2021, The Great Yorkshire Proms will feature another stellar line-up of classical talent.

The second performance will be hosted by singer and presenter Aled Jones MBE. Special guests include Sir Willard White, Sophie Evans, Peyee Chen and Tenors Unlimited, also known as the Rat Pack of Opera.

They will be accompanied by The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, which was specifically created to support freelance musicians from Yorkshire who have been hit hard by the pandemic.

The final night (Sunday 5th September) will see international rock band Queen Symphonic wow audiences with Queen’s greatest hits.

Queen Symphonic features exceptional vocalists, a world class rock band and the incredible 50-piece Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra. The unique sound blends symphonic arrangements with classic Queen songs, so expect to hear unforgettable tunes such as We Will Rock You, Don’t Stop Me Now and of course Bohemian Rhapsody.

Picnic Proms Summer Concert Series will take place in the stunning grounds of Harewood House

Saturday and Sunday’s performances will end with a silent live firework display, to ensure minimal disturbance to Harewood House’s gorgeous wildlife. Event guests are invited to bring their own food, drink, chairs and blankets, to enjoy a full Picnic Proms experience.

Ben Crick, conductor for Vivo Entertainment and the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, says:

“We’re sure event-goers can’t wait to enjoy live music once again and it’s our pleasure to present this spectacular series of outdoor events. Harewood House is the perfect setting for such prestigious artists and legendary musicians to showcase their talents. The Picnic Proms Summer Concert Series will be a truly magnificent series of events for everyone involved, including our wonderful audiences.”

The event has been created and designed to ensure potential government restrictions can be adhered to if required. Additional safety measures such as on-site hand sanitising stations and queuing systems will also be in place.

Event listings:

•   Friday 3rd September: Alfie Boe with special guests Louise Dearman and Rachel Tucker
•   Saturday 4th September: The Great Yorkshire Proms hosted by Aled Jones and featuring The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, Sir Willard White, Sophie Evans and The Three Tenors
•   Sunday 5th September: Queen Symphonic with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra

Ticket prices begin at £35 and are available to buy now. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.vivolive.co.uk.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of Harrogate animals in desperate need of a loving home. Could you help Ernie, Toby, or Amber? 

Ernie

Age: Ernie’s passport says he is eight, but he could be older.

Ernie’s story: Ernie arrived at Miss Mollie’s Rescue from Romania, about five weeks ago. The team at Miss Mollie’s think he had a hard life before being rescued. He is stiff on his legs and has a nasty scar on his face, but since arriving in Harrogate he has been taking joint tablets and is improving every day.

Temperament: Ernie shares his kennel with another dog, and likes being around dogs. He has started enjoying walks but his favourite things are rolling in the grass, sitting in the sun, his dinner and his bed.

Ideal home: Ernie would be well suited to an owner who is happy to have short walks. He would love to have a garden and a cosy place to chill out.

If your family has space for Ernie, contact Miss Mollie’s Rescue. 

Toby

Age: 16.

Toby’s backstory: Toby is looking for a long-term foster home. He is currently living alone at Harrogate Cat Rescue, after his owners became unable to look after him. Toby isn’t in the best of health and is suffering from liver disease. He is stable on antibiotics.

Temperament: Toby is an affectionate, laid-back boy. He loves nothing more than sitting on your knee, or watching the world go by from a sunny window ledge.

Ideal home: Toby will benefit from regular, gentle brushing and companionship. All his food and veterinary treatment will continue to be paid for by Harrogate Cat Rescue.

If you could be a foster carer for Toby, contact Celia at Harrogate Cat Rescue on 07749 461042.

Amber

Age: Three.

Amber’s story: This labrador cross lurcher’s previous owners lost their home in a fire and could not take her (and her sister Jade) to where they were staying.

Temperament: Amber is incredibly friendly and energetic. She can be bouncy and excitable when she is playing, so will benefit from someone taking the time to train her and take her on lots of walks.

Ideal home: Amber loves to chase small, fluffy things, so needs a secure garden (where she can’t run off chasing rabbits) and a home with no cats. Because Amber is so energetic, she needs to live with adults and older children. She can live with another dog that is happy to be around her lively personality.

If Amber could be the perfect fit in your home, visit Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs. 

Read More: 

• Kim’s Canines: Has the last year made our dogs more reactive?
• Stray Pets Rescue Club: Easter special

A much-loved Harrogate historian has joined forces with the Stray Ferret to bring Harrogate’s rich history alive online. The Malcolm Neesam Harrogate History Walks, sponsored by the Harrogate Improvement District (BID) are launched today.

History enthusiasts can follow two circular walks: the Golden Age of the Victorian Spa and the Heart of Harrogate Town walk.

Malcolm Neesam is a celebrated local historian and Harrogate treasure. His books include Harrogate in Fifty Buildings and A-Z of Harrogate. In 1996 Harrogate Borough Council awarded Malcolm the Freedom of the Borough for his services as the town’s historian. He has also worked extensively to develop an image archive of the town.

As well as devising the routes and penning the script, Malcolm has voiced both walks which can be listened to on mobile phones. Each walk takes in various locations in Harrogate town centre, with a specially recorded audio history at each site.

The Golden Age of the Victorian Spa walk tells the story of how Harrogate’s spa economy boomed in the 19th century. It includes the Royal Baths, Royal Pump Room and Valley Gardens.

The Heart of Harrogate Town walk explains how once open countryside developed into the commercial hub it is today and includes the Stray, railway station and library.

Mr Neesam said:

“When I was asked by the Stray Ferret to work with them to create a series of guided audio walks through the town, I jumped at the chance, as I felt their brilliant idea needed support. The opportunity to provide visitors and residents with an easy to grasp guide to some of Harrogate’s most interesting monuments, at the very time the town centre would be opening up, was too attractive to ignore – this launch being the result.”

Tamsin O’Brien, editor of the Stray Ferret added:

“These walks are designed to give a deeper appreciation and understanding of Harrogate’s rich history.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have someone like Malcolm, who has worked so hard to maintain an archive and document the history of this town. We felt that his work should be recognised and brought to a wider digital audience with the Malcolm Neesam Harrogate History Walks.

“The Stray Ferret is here to support the local community and we hope this project will encourage people into the town centre after a year of lockdowns.”

Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID said:

“We are delighted to be sponsoring these two brilliant walks created by Malcolm Neesam, which brings the history of our town centre to life. And importantly for us, they take those on the tour to different parts of the town, where in addition to learning about Harrogate’s past, they will see Harrogate’s ‘now’ and the fabulous shops, bars attractions that make the town a superb destination to shop, eat and drink.”

The history walks can be enjoyed by everyone. Because of the digital format, the audio histories can be used in care homes or schools.