Harrogate Business Improvement District is preparing to host the town’s first three-day music weekend.

Harrogate Music Weekender will include live performances, street entertainers and special offers to drive footfall to the town’s hospitality venues.

The weekender, from Friday, October 13 to Sunday, October 15, will begin with an Ibiza-themed event at The Yorkshire Hotel, followed by singo bingo — a mixture of bingo and music — at The Crown Hotel the following night.

With more acts to be revealed, visitors can also expect live performances from local musicians and artists at The Den, Piccolino, and Revolucion de Cuba.

A walking DJ booth and immersive street performances will also be on offer over the weekend.

The BID, which is funded by a levy paid by town centre businesses, organises initiatives that boost the town centre.

BID members in the hospitality industry told the organisation trade dips between summer and Christmas – leaving them with a gap ahead of the festive season.

It hopes the event will combat this by encouraging locals and tourists to spend more time in the town centre.

The weekend will be soundtracked by a range of music from rock and acoustic to live DJs and throwback hits.

Bethany Allen, business and marketing executive at Harrogate BID, said:

“A number of our BID members fed back to us that October can sometimes be a bit of a challenging gap between the summer and Christmas.

“With the confidence of a new five-year term, the BID team set about launching a new fun and exciting campaign that will showcase Harrogate in a different light.

“We are very excited to launch the first ever Harrogate Music Weekender and, with around 30 venues showing interest in being involved, it should be a weekend to remember.”

Bobs Cormack, manager at The Den, added:

“It’s awesome to see our town rallying behind musicians, especially the venues that are taking on the challenge of hosting live music for the first time.

“I’ll, of course, be busy down in The Den – I’m very jealous of everyone who gets to explore the town centre, catching the fantastic acts along the way. It’s going to be an incredible weekend.”

The two opening events are ticketed and bookings can be made online.

The rest of the events are free to attend.

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The occupation of the pavilion in Harrogate‘s Crescent Gardens by a group of rough sleepers shows no sign of ending.

The rough sleepers, who have refused offers of accommodation, have been living in the pavilion for 12 days.

The Stray Ferret first reported concerns about anti-social behaviour last week.

Nearby residents continue to express frustration while police and council officers say resolving the situation is complex.

North Yorkshire Council told the Stray Ferret last week the people in the pavilion had been “offered accommodation daily”.

In an update yesterday, Andrew Rowe, the council’s assistant director for housing, said:

“We continue to work with our partners to tackle this complicated issue.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police, which had not previously commented, said:

“Local officers and PCSOs have attended the location regularly and will continue to engage with the individuals going forward.

“Homelessness is a complex issue that requires the input of a number of local partners to resolve.

“We are committed to working jointly with partners, local businesses, and residents to find a solution for everyone involved.”

Nearby residents remain frustrated by the apparent stalemate.

Kirk Wilber-Moran, who wrote a letter to us expressing his concern last weekend, said this morning:

“Whilst the amount of people there has reduced the armoury of belongings and/or rubbish has doubled, if not tripled, since the weekend.

“We still have people using the bandstand as a hangout base to congregate and drink and are there into the late evening. Still lots of noise and yesterday a woman aggressively shouting at people walking through the gardens.

“Nothing seems to be happening and no one seems to care as it’s not on their doorstep.”

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• Concerns over encampment of rough sleepers in Harrogate’s Crescent Gardens
• Crescent Gardens rough sleepers offered accommodation ‘daily’, council says

A section of Darley playground has recently undergone a facelift and the results were unveiled last Friday.

The new playground, which is run by the Darley Playing Fields Association, combines 12 different play features for young ones to enjoy.

With a mini climbing wall, a rope wall and balancing beams, it was designed to improve balance, coordination and strength of mind.

Garry Raisbeck, a trustee of Darley Playing Fields Association, told the Stray Ferret the design and delivery of the playground were led by the preferences of children in the village.

He added:

“We hope that the new equipment helps families to get outdoors and enjoy the playing fields other facilities that include a football pitch, basketball court, boules court and village shop and café.

“It is also a great place to start a river walk along the River Nidd on the Nidderdale way.

“Darley Playing Fields Association is planning to build on this success with further improvements in future.”

The equipment is made from a natural, rot-resistant hardwood sustainably sourced from Europe.

Mr Rasibeck noted it was chosen “to blend in with the beauty of the local area.”

Darley Playing Fields Association is a charity that strives to keep the people of Darley healthy, while maintaining the playing areas of the village.

The project received a total of £15,500 in grant funding from RWE Renewables, the Harrogate Local Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.

The association then raised some extra funds itself.

The funding process took almost 18 months to complete.

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A Ripon fire crew rescued two people from a car that got stuck in a ford across the River Skell this afternoon.

Firefighters were summoned to the ford at the end of Firs Avenue at 4.34pm today.

A small Fiat, which was attempting to cross from the Priest Lane side of the river, was towed out.

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North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s incident report said crews rescued two people and winched the car out of the river.

Nobody was injured in the incident, which occurred after recent heavy rain saw the Skell running higher than usual.

The high water has led to red and white tape being put in place on both sides of the ford to stop vehicles from crossing.

The ford has been closed to vehicles.

Firefighters at the scene.

Our readers will soon be able to plan 2024 with the Stray Ferret charity calendar, however we need your help to decide which images will be included!

Using our photo of the week entries, we will be creating a calendar that showcases the beauty of the Harrogate district.

From our furry friends enjoying the snow to misty mornings on the Stray, vote for your favourite images to be included in the winter months.

See the contenders in our gallery below and vote for your winner via our competition page!

This story is sponsored by Tadatuft.

Two friends who embarked on a journey to Leeds for university studies found themselves caught up a lasting love affair with the West Yorkshire city. Two degrees later, the pair have launched the city’s greatest tufting business and see no sign of slowing down their success.

Owners Kai and Lulu first crossed paths at a tufting workshop in their hometown of China in 2019 and later, quite serendipitously, realigned at a house party in Leeds.  The friends had dabbled in tufting before; Lulu sold her fuzzy creations in lockdown, while Kai brought her creative flair from design school to the craft. After graduating, they saw the perfect opportunity to transform their shared love for tufting into a business venture – from there, Tadatuft was born.

Simply put, tufting is akin to painting with yarn and dates back to 5 BCE. It employs a specialised machine to weave colourful threads through a base layer of material, crafting intricate patterns and designs along the way.

Kai and Lulu said:

“Picture it as sculpting a soft, textured masterpiece using yarn as your medium, like making art on a cosy canvas.”

Customers can bring their creative designs to life.

As with many start-ups, Tadatufts journey hasn’t been without challenges – particularly being in a lesser-known industry. Kai and Lulu have taken social media by storm, posting regular tufting tutorials and finished results — amassing thousands of followers along the way.

Just nine months later, the friends now boast a loyal client base and the biggest tufting business in Leeds.

And now the people of Leeds and the Harrogate district can try their hand at tufting! Whether you’re on the hunt for a new rug, tote bag, wall hanging or fluffy mirror, Tadatuft will bring you the ultimate cosy DIY experience.

Located on Park Square East, the small and intimate workshops invite anyone and everyone to begin their creative journey. Suitable for friends, families, colleagues and even wedding parties, Tadatuft provides a session of guaranteed fun and relaxation, while teaching people a new craft and skill to gloat about at Christmas.

Tadatuft welcomes tufters of all ages and ability. No previous skills are required and all materials and guidance will be provided in the workshops.

Your only job is to choose a dazzling design, send it to Tadatuft beforehand and show up ready to tuft!

They continued:

“At Tadatuft, our mission is simple: we aim to create a welcoming space where you can discover a new skill, while enjoying quality time with friends and family.

“We firmly believe that everyone harbours an innate sense of creativity, and through our unique teaching methods and guidance, we can help you transform your ideas into meaningful pieces of art.

“Whether you’re a confident artist or someone who’s never considered themselves ‘creative’, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.”

If that wasn’t enough, Tadatuft also offer commissions and tufting kits for those that wish to tuft at home or cannot attend a workshop.

Customers simply send in their requested designs and Kai and Lulu can work their tufting magic to bring your cosy rug to life.

Kai and Lulu added:

“Our journey at Tadatuft has been nothing short of amazing. In just nine months, we’ve had the privilege of sharing our passion with over a thousand individuals.

“Witnessing our students’ incredible creations and their smiles of satisfaction continues to be our greatest reward.

“We look forward to many more months and years of creative adventures!”

Tadatuft pricing begins at £55 per person for a beginners’ workshop. They say money can’t buy you happiness, but a Tadatuft workshop definitely can!

In a review, the workshops were described as:

“An amazing experience! It was great to be able to try something completely new and to have such professional and helpful hosts! We were there for 6+ hours and enjoyed every minute of our rug making. The rugs turned out brilliantly – such a great experience and you get to keep your creation forever too!”

Find out more:

To find out more about Tadatuft or to book a tufting workshop, visit https://www.tadatuftuk.com/ or email Kai and Lulu at enquiries@tadatuftuk.com.

Knaresborough Lions is inviting local organisations to apply for grants.

The Lions organises annual events such as Knaresborough Bed Race and the town’s beer festival and is using funds raised to support organisations in Knaresborough, surrounding villages and the wider Nidderdale area.

The Lions Community Fund will award grants to one-off projects.

The charity advised applications “will be considered only from properly constituted organisations rather than from individuals”.

Knaresborough Lions president Bob Godsell said:

“We have staged similar funding opportunities in the past before the outbreak of covid. Though we maintained help for local people during the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the effect of these was to seriously reduce our fundraising activity.

“Happily, over the past couple of years, matters have recovered, and we are now once more in a position to help. We welcome applications from any local groups involved in providing services in their community.”

Lions president Bob Godsell (left) and past president Richard Hall.

Applicants are advised to indicate the costs of the proposed project and the amount of grant requested.

There is no upper limit to applications, but, in previous years, requests have ranged from £100 to £1,000.

Applications forms must be submitted by November 30 at 5pm.

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Thousands of people are expected to attend Nidderdale Show when it makes its annual return next weekend.

The show is the last local agricultural event of the year.

Last year, it moved from its traditional Monday slot to Sunday due to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Organisers Nidderdale Agricultural Society have decided to stick with the Sunday slot and next weekend’s event will be open from 7.45am until 6pm.

For the 151st year, the event on the Pateley Bridge Showground will feature some of the finest animals and agricultural products the country has to offer.

From dairy, beef and store cattle and sheep, pigs, and goats, to show jumping, heavy horses and sheepdog trials, the event will present over 200 awards to a wide range of animals and handlers – all hoping to take home first prize.

Horticulture, farm crops, dry stone walling, home produce and fur & feather competitions can also be enjoyed throughout the day.

With a funfair, children’s entertainment, terries racing, a forestry exhibition and even a digger area, the show will offer fun for all the family.

Sunflowers Day Nursery will provide a family area where little ones can relax. The area also includes a nappy changing area, bottle warming facilities and a quiet area for nursing mothers.

Credit: Jemison Photographer

The show will also include trade stands selling local produce and goods, as well as a range of food and drinks vans.

Foodies can expect a two-course carvery, an afternoon tea selection and a range of hot meals and sandwiches in the public dining marquee.

Parking is free and a tractor park and ride service between the showground and Bewerley car parks will be available.

Dogs are welcome on short leads.

Tickets can be bought online and cost £13.50 for over 17s.

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The publication of Boroughbridge High School’s Ofsted report this week means all local state schools have now had recent assessments.

The government schools’ inspector’s stricter regime means the ratings for local schools have been mixed since the pandemic.

Only one is rated ‘outstanding’ but four are graded as ‘good’.

Three others received ‘requires improvement’ assessments, which is the third highest score. None are rated ‘inadequate’ – the lowest of the four options.

Here’s how each one fared in its latest inspection.

Boroughbridge High School – requires improvement

This week Boroughbridge High School was rated ‘requires improvement’ in a report published by Ofsted.

The school was previously rated ‘good’.

The inspectors noted:

“Not all teachers have high enough expectations of pupils’ behaviour and do not routinely challenge low-level disruption in classrooms.

“Although many pupils feel safe in school, some do not. Some pupils in lower year groups say they are worried or concerned about the behaviour and conduct of some older pupils.”

The report added school behaviour is “not always calm and orderly”.

Despite this, the school, which is now part of a federation with King James’s School in Knaresborough, was assessed as ‘good’ for its quality of education and personal development.

Harrogate High School – requires improvement

Harrogate High School was also downgraded to a ‘requires improvement’ rating from ‘good’ when it was assessed in June this year.

The school, which is part of the Northern Star Academies Trust, has seen a decline in the quality of education and older pupils in particular do not achieve well in exams, according to an inspector.

The report said some students with bad attitudes were “not challenged quickly enough” and some truant pupils were “disrespectful to staff and cause disruption.”

It added:

“Teachers do not consistently check if pupils know or understand what has been taught. As a result, misconceptions are not always identified and addressed.”

The inspector did note, however, the new school leaders understood the problems and the actions “have secured improvements in the quality of education.”

Headteacher Sukhraj Gill responded to the report:

“This is an exciting time for Harrogate High School. Inspectors have recognised the improvements we have already made and confirmed that we are on the right track to make Harrogate High a great school. We have achieved a great deal at Harrogate High School – with a lot more to do.

“We will continue our relentless drive to make Harrogate High the best school it can be for all the young people that we educate.”

Ripon Grammar School – good

 After 11 years of holding an ‘outstanding’ status, Ripon Grammar School was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in April.

The personal development and sixth form provision remained ‘outstanding’, according to the report, but “a very small minority of staff do not speak to pupils in an appropriately encouraging manner” – which was a contributing factor to the downgrade.

It added the behaviour policy “is not always consistently applied” and “behaviour is weaker in a small minority of classrooms, particularly where a substitute teaching is leading the lesson.”

Despite this, the inspector said:

“Across the school, and particularly in the sixth form, teachers challenge pupils and students to stretch themselves academically and to take risks in their learning.

“Pupils benefit from the broad range of provision offered by clubs and societies, for example, in science, the arts, humanities and sport. Pupils are eager to seize the extensive opportunities presented to them.”

Pupils and students “achieve very highly in the GCSE and A Level examinations”, it also noted.

A letter to parents signed by headteacher Jonathan Webb and chair of governors Elizabeth Jarvis, said:

“Overall, we are pleased with the headline conclusions that RGS is a school which offers students a culture of high expectations, an ambitious curriculum, high academic achievement, strong teaching, outstanding opportunities for personal development and strong community-based relations, as well as effective and secure safeguarding.

King James’s School – good

King James’s School in Knaresborough retained its ‘good’ rating following an inspection of a good school report by Ofsted.

The report, which was published in March, said the school had a “caring environment where pupils learn well” with a “strong focus on ensuring that everyone feels welcome.”

The inspector added the “vast majority of pupils are keen and engage confidently in their learning” and bullying is “rare”.

Despite the praise, the report also said King James’s provides “insufficient opportunities for pupils to engage meaningfully with the world of work” and “pupils who struggle with reading do not receive effect interventions routinely”.

Schools graded ‘good’ are usually visited once every four years to confirm its status – a process known as an ungraded inspection.

Saint John Fisher Catholic Academy – good

Harrogate’s Saint John Fisher Catholic Academy was also rated ‘good’ following a report published in February.

It was the first inspection since it was converted into an academy in 2021.

All areas received a ‘good’ status, and the inspectors praised the “rich set of extra-curricular opportunities”.

The report said:

“[Pupils] leave well-equipped for their next step in education, employment or training.”

However, the inspectors did add “a small but significant minority of parents do not feel that communication between school and home is effective.”

Rossett School – requires improvement

Rossett School in Harrogate still ‘requires improvement’ according to the inspectors for the second time in four years.

The report, which was released in January, said high staff turnover, disruptive pupils and extremely high absence rates in disadvantaged students were all among concerns highlighted.

It said:

“Most pupils who communicated with inspectors feel safe at school, but the conduct of the minority makes some pupils feel unsafe at times.

“Some pupils’ conduct out of lessons is variable, with overly boisterous behaviour. Some pupils ignore staff requests and instructions.

“Some staff do not apply the school’s behaviour policy consistently. A minority of pupils are regularly late to lessons, or have to be rounded up by leaders and escorted to class.”

However, the school, which is part of the Red Kite Alliance, was described as “warm, friendly and welcoming.”

The report added:

“Leaders, governors and staff are deeply committed to the pupils who attend the school. A strong determination to be inclusive and supportive permeates the school.”

The school was rated ‘good’ for quality of education, personal development and sixth-form provision and ‘requires improvement’ for behaviour and attitude, and leadership and management.

John Hesketh, chair of governors, said the school was “incredibly disappointed” by the report.

St. Aidan’s Church of England High School – good

St. Aidan’s School received a ‘good’ rating from Ofsted in July last year – just six months after being rated ‘inadequate’.

Prior to the ‘inadequate’ grading – the lowest of the four Ofsted grades – the Harrogate school was declared ‘outstanding’.

Usually, an ‘inadequate’ school has to wait up to three years before another full inspection, however after the first routine monitoring visit, inspectors felt the rating was “not a fair reflection of the school”.

As a result, the inspection was revised.

The most recent report found the school to be “a happy school with a positive and nurturing environment where pupils flourish”.

It added the sixth form was ‘outstanding’ and pupils “demonstrate a real love of learning”.

The report said:

“Teachers have strong subject knowledge. They bring their subject to life for pupils with the clarity of their explanations and richness of examples. Pupils are captivated in lessons and are keen to answer the questions that teachers ask.”

Chair of governors, Jo Wicks, said:

“We are truly delighted that we can end the year so positively and hope that we can build on the recent success when Ofsted next visit us to secure an outstanding judgement overall.”

Nidderdale High School – good

 Ofsted said “Nidderdale High School continues to be a good school” in a report published in March.

Like King James’s, it was only a short inspection due to its previous ‘good’ rating, but the inspectors praised the school for its ethos and “high ambitions”.

The report said:

“There is a full personal development programme in place for pupils. This has a clear focus on important issues such as careers education, personal safety and relationships, sex and health education.

“Morale among staff is high. They feel valued by members of the leadership team, who are mindful of their workload. All staff who responded to the staff survey said that they were proud to work at the school.”

It did also cite areas of improvement and said “where behaviour is not as strong in some lessons, learning activities are not as challenging as they could be”.

Headteacher Kath Jordan responded:

“We were delighted to see the importance of strong relationships highlighted through our emphasis on ready, respectful and safe.

“The new inspection framework places great emphasis on curriculum development and we were very pleased that the school’s ‘high ambitions’ were recognised and that our ability to provide a ‘wide curriculum offer’ is also noted.”

The school became part of the Red Kite Alliance in August.

Harrogate Grammar School – outstanding

Harrogate Grammar School is the only Ofsted rated ‘outstanding’ school in the district following a report published in March last year.

It retained the status from its last inspection 15 years prior.

Inspectors described the school, which also a member of the Red Kite Learning Trust, as “an extremely rewarding place to learn” with “an exceptional curriculum”. They added:

“Effective teaching and assessment enable pupils to learn well. This depth of knowledge is sustained from key stage 3 to the sixth form.

“Through sports, outdoor pursuits and performance opportunities, pupils develop their skills and self-confidence. Pupils are articulate and polite. They are keen to engage in discussion and debate. Teachers make sure that pupils’ views are heard.”

The report also said “the headteacher has built a very strong team of leaders at all levels.”

Headteacher Neil Renton responded to the report:

“It makes us very proud to see the exceptional commitment that we experience every day from our community, being recognised in this way.”

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A choir that hopes to improve people’s mental health has launched in Knaresborough.

Singing is Mental had its first meeting on Monday and hopes not only to improve people’s mental health, but also raise money for The Ostrich Foundation – a Harrogate charity which works towards suicide prevention in young people.

Founder Rhiannon Gayle said the choral sessions will be fun and fast-paced, with a wide variety of music genres, ranging from rock music to sea shanties and world music.

The choir will put on a small concert in January, with the hope of hosting a combined concert alongside Ms Gayle’s other choirs in July next year.

The combined concert will focus on Zimbe – a style of African music and song.

Ms Gayle said:

“The main focus of the choir is to keep the voice and brain healthy.”

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Ms Gayle, who was a professional soprano before teaching and running choirs, has been a long-term advocate of the benefits of singing to both physical and mental health and says “singing as a group helps many health conditions and is often recommended by GPs”.

She has over 40 years of choral experience and has run many choirs. She currently teaches singing at Ashville College and runs a girls’ choir, Sonorous, which she hopes could be involved in the combined concert.

Singing is Mental will meet every Monday in the castle room at Gracious Street Church in Knaresborough from 7.30pm to 9pm.

Any age is welcome but children must be accompanied by a parent.

Membership costs £39 per half-term and 10% of the fee and concert profits will be donated to The Ostrich Foundation.

Those interested in joining can contact Rhiannon Gayle on 07752 468102 or email singingismental@gmail.com.