Questions raised after Knaresborough floods

Some people were forced to evacuate their homes last night after flash floods hit Knaresborough.

An intense storm hit the town and some nearby villages at about 6pm last night, with reports that two inches of rain fell in two hours. Remarkably, many nearby places stayed virtually dry.

The Stray Ferret published a live blog last night giving updates on the situation.

One person commented on our Facebook post relating to the article that they were forced to book their parents into a hotel because of the state of their home.

Two other people posted their homes were also uninhabitable. One said:

“Our downstairs is destroyed, at least a foot of water has run through the whole of the downstairs and ruined everything, the drains just couldn’t cope with the sheer volume of the water and how quickly it came down.”

Another said:

“My parents’ bungalow was completely flooded under a foot of water, have had to move them out, its completely uninhabitable for them, everything completely ruined.”

Cllr Mat Walker, who represents Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council, said on the thread:

“I’m aware that a number of homes in Knaresborough have been flooded. I’ve activated North Yorkshire Council’s major incident response team who are working with Knaresborough Town Council to ensure those affected have accommodation to stay in tonight.”

Cllr Walker told the Stray Ferret he was aware “a number of people have been evacuated” and he would seek an update from the council ‘s major incident response team this morning.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report this morning said it received calls for almost two hours from 6pm last night of flooding in the Knaresborough area.

“Fire appliances from Knaresborough, Harrogate, Tadcaster and Acomb responded and assisted various premises affected by flooding, by pumping water away when they could, cleaning up work and transporting vulnerable people to places of safety.

“North Yorkshire Council and local council resources also assisting with the aftermath, together with police.”

However, the sheer volume of rain caused chaos, with one person saying they had to rely on neighbours with buckets to help them remove water from their homes.

Many comments today are questioning the state of the town’s drains.

We will continue to cover this issue today by putting questions to North Yorkshire Council. If you were forced to evacuate your homes last night please get in touch by emailing us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or send us a direct message on Facebook.

Pic: The view over High Bridge outside Mother Shipton’s last night.

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Council faces calls to reconsider charging parents £792 for school bus

Opposition groups are calling on North Yorkshire Council to reconsider a move to increase the basic home to school transport charge for post-16 students to nearly £800 a year, saying access to education is supposed to be free and equal.

Criticism of the proposed six per cent rise to be put to meeting of leading councillors behind closed doors on Tuesday (May 7) comes as the council this week received a petition from several hundred parents over its cost-cutting plan to limit free transport for under-16s to a child’s nearest school.

Both proposals have emerged as the council looks to stem impact of the cost of providing home to school transport, which continues to rise faster than inflation, increasing by more than £3m in the last year.

Meanwhile it is tackling a recurring annual deficit of about £40m in its budget, of which school transport is the third largest item of expenditure at £42m a year.

If the post-16 proposal is agreed, school transport would cost families an average between £2.04 and £7.33 per day – up to £792 a year for each child. The charge would represent a 60 per cent rise since 2018/19.

An officer’s report to the corporate director and executive members’ meeting states an above inflation increase was discounted because the Department of Education is expected to publish fresh guidance on post-16 transport later this year, leading to potential major changes.

However, it underlines a 50 per cent discount on the charges should be offered to low income families.

The report states North Yorkshire’s geography presents challenges for young people who are expected to remain in education, employment or training until aged 18.

It adds:

“The council’s current decision to provide assistance beyond year 11 is a discretionary commitment to improve access to education for young people aged over 16.

“The application of adopting a single contribution fee, irrespective of distance travelled is to ensure that young people in rural communities are not disadvantaged when compared to those living in towns.

“The recommendation to offer a reduction to low-income families increases the opportunity for young people to move into further education and supports aspirations of higher education and employment.”

The authority’s executive member for education, Councillor Annabel Wilkinson, has been approached for comment.

Leaders of the authority’s opposition groups said while access education was supposed to be free and equal to all, parents of post-16 not in walking distance of a school, college or training venue were facing huge bills.

Independent group leader Councillor Stuart Parsons said while the Government was insisting post-16 children remained in education or training parents were facing having to pay a “ludicrous amount of money”.

He said:

“It’s almost like paying bed and breakfast rates in prison. This will impact on many low income families. Children will feel guilty they are costing their parents a fortune. Rishi Sunak’s government is penalising youngsters who live in rural communities.”

Councillor Steve Shaw Wright, who leads the Labour group, said high post-16 transport costs would put some families off.

He said:

“In North Yorkshire unless you live in a town with a sixth-form you are in trouble. If we don’t encourage people to go, then it becomes only the people with money who can go.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Bryn Griffiths said the council had received a Government funding windfall which could have been used to offset home to school transport costs rather than being “parked in the authority’s reserves”.

He added:

“For families who are struggling it is getting silly and is another nail in the coffin for people who are trying to do their best by their children. So much for free education in this country.”

Read more:

Homes flooded and roads under water in Knaresborough

Homes flooded and roads were left under water in Knaresborough following flash floods this evening.

A sudden and intense downpour forced homes to be evacuated after two inches of rain fell in less than an hour.

Here’s what happened. If you were affected, please let us know what happened by emailing contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This is what happened,

8.02pm: Downpour on River Nidd

Rachel at the Watermill Cafe down on Waterside has sent us this video of ducks making the most of the downpour on the River Nidd at about 7pm tonight. Thanks, Rachel!

 

7.52pm: Firefighters reducing flooding on Eastfield

The latest from Eastfield, thanks to Emma Knights…

“The amazing fire brigade are there pumping the water down the storm drain so they’ve blocked the road off for now, but the water has definitely gone down.”

8.01pm: Ducks enjoying the downpour on River Nidd

Rachel at the Watermill Cafe down on Waterside has sent the following image showing ducks having fun on the River Nidd.

 

7.41pm: Two inches in less than an hour

The North Yorkshire Weather Updates Facebook page is saying an astonishing two inches of rain fell in Knaresborough in less than an hour.

7.35pm: Questions about drainage 

The floods have posed questions about drainage. Ryan Kett, who we wrote about at 7.21pm, has said:

“Will now be looking at how I can improve drainage as I suspect these may become a more common occurrence with climate change.”

Simon Gibson has sent us this image of water cascading down at Knaresborough rail station and said:

“Northern needs to sort the gutters out on the platforms, water running down the walls and through the entrance to the station.”

7.31pm: Floating wheelie bins on Eastfield

Emma Knights has posted this image of Eastfield this evening. Please let us know how things are where you are.

7.25pm: Leeds to Harrogate line blocked

Rail operator Northern has just posted this on social media.

https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1787543226666426563

7.21pm: Narrow escape for homeowner

Knaresborian Ryan Kett, who is on the Hay-a-Park estate near Halfpenny Lane has posted about his narrow escape from flooding on X.

https://twitter.com/ryankett/status/1787544629958611418

 

7.13pm: Photos show state of roads

These images show how badly High Bridge and Eastfield have been affected.

 

 

6.58pm: Homes flooded, trains and roads affected

Homes on Halfpenny Lane have been floded and the road outside Mother Shipton’s is under water.

Homes just a few minutes away escaped with virtually no rain.

LNER is warning of delays

https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1787527102910058857

We will publish more details as they become available.

Photos from North Yorkshire Weather Updates Facebook page.

Read more:

Homes flooded and roads under water in Knaresborough

Homes flooded and roads were left under water in Knaresborough following flash floods this evening.

A sudden and intense downpour forced homes to be evacuated after two inches of rain fell in less than an hour.

Here’s what happened. If you were affected, please let us know what happened by emailing contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

This is what happened,

8.02pm: Downpour on River Nidd

Rachel at the Watermill Cafe down on Waterside has sent us this video of ducks making the most of the downpour on the River Nidd at about 7pm tonight. Thanks, Rachel!

 

7.52pm: Firefighters reducing flooding on Eastfield

The latest from Eastfield, thanks to Emma Knights…

“The amazing fire brigade are there pumping the water down the storm drain so they’ve blocked the road off for now, but the water has definitely gone down.”

8.01pm: Ducks enjoying the downpour on River Nidd

Rachel at the Watermill Cafe down on Waterside has sent the following image showing ducks having fun on the River Nidd.

 

7.41pm: Two inches in less than an hour

The North Yorkshire Weather Updates Facebook page is saying an astonishing two inches of rain fell in Knaresborough in less than an hour.

7.35pm: Questions about drainage 

The floods have posed questions about drainage. Ryan Kett, who we wrote about at 7.21pm, has said:

“Will now be looking at how I can improve drainage as I suspect these may become a more common occurrence with climate change.”

Simon Gibson has sent us this image of water cascading down at Knaresborough rail station and said:

“Northern needs to sort the gutters out on the platforms, water running down the walls and through the entrance to the station.”

7.31pm: Floating wheelie bins on Eastfield

Emma Knights has posted this image of Eastfield this evening. Please let us know how things are where you are.

7.25pm: Leeds to Harrogate line blocked

Rail operator Northern has just posted this on social media.

https://twitter.com/northernassist/status/1787543226666426563

7.21pm: Narrow escape for homeowner

Knaresborian Ryan Kett, who is on the Hay-a-Park estate near Halfpenny Lane has posted about his narrow escape from flooding on X.

https://twitter.com/ryankett/status/1787544629958611418

 

7.13pm: Photos show state of roads

These images show how badly High Bridge and Eastfield have been affected.

 

 

6.58pm: Homes flooded, trains and roads affected

Homes on Halfpenny Lane have been floded and the road outside Mother Shipton’s is under water.

Homes just a few minutes away escaped with virtually no rain.

LNER is warning of delays

https://twitter.com/LNER/status/1787527102910058857

We will publish more details as they become available.

Photos from North Yorkshire Weather Updates Facebook page.

Read more:

Stray Ferret backs campaign to save Ripon’s military heritage

The Stray Ferret is today backing a campaign by Ripon Military Heritage Trust to save key parts of the city’s military history.

Government agency Homes England has planning permission to build 1,300 homes on army barracks at Clotherholme.

But there are fears it will bulldoze sites of international significance, including huts built by Neville Chamberlain’s government in 1939 and training bridges that shaped international warfare, to make way for the housing.

The trust accepts the homes will be built but is campaigning to preserve a number of surviving structures on a site at Laver Banks.

It wants to repurpose huts that would otherwise be demolished not just for heritage reasons but also so they can be used for employment and community use.

They would then feature in a newly created military heritage centre and a military heritage trail that would tell the story of Ripon’s part in international warfare.

We have launched a petition urging people to back the campaign to save Ripon’s military heritage.

If 500 people sign then North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon area constituency committee will be obliged to debate it, which will present an opportunity to raise awareness of the issue.

You can sign here.

The trust has adopted the campaign slogan ‘heritage worth fighting for’.

Trustee Michael Furse said:

“The wooden militia camp is unique because it is the last one standing.

“We are not proposing to stop the development. What we are saying is we would like to preserve some of the most important structures from it on a different site.

“We would then like to display those structures in a way that shows them off in a cohesive manner.”

The campaign will run up to the 80th anniversary celebrations of D-Day when Winston Churchill’s great grandson will be in Ripon for the city’s commemorations.

John Plummer, editor of the Stray Ferret, said:

“We fully support this campaign. Ripon’s military heritage should be treasured — not destroyed.”

In the weeks ahead we will provide updates on the campaign and, with the help of the trust, tell the remarkable story of Ripon’s vital role in defending Britain over the years.

Read more:

Call to halt succession of North Yorkshire rural school closures

Liberal Democrats are calling on the Conservative-led North Yorkshire Council to place a moratorium on school closures until the first county-wide Local Plan development blueprint is adopted in 2028.

Members of the 14-councillor political group have tabled a notice of motion for the next full meeting of the authority later this month to highlight “the loss of key facilities from our communities” across North Yorkshire.

The motion follows the council repeatedly launching consultations over the closure of village primary schools, saying Department of Education rules leave it with little option but to recommend they close their doors despite communities developing action plans to rescue them.

Last autumn, the authority’s children’s scrutiny committee heard the succession of rural school closures was “only likely to get worse” with a looming oversupply of places, despite attempts to prevent an increasing number of schools going into the red.

Andrew Smith, the Diocese of York’s director of education, issued the bleak situation facing many communities in North Yorkshire as councillors were told some 16 primary schools had closed in the past six years.

Some of the closed schools include Drax, Horton in Ribblesdale, Rathmell, Ingleby Arncliffe, Swainb, Ings, Burnt Yates, Arkengarthdale, Clapham, Whitby, Kell Bank, Weaverthorpe, Baldersby St James, Harrogate, Hovingham and Skelton.

Councillors heard financial pressures on the county’s smaller schools were rising, with the average school deficit soaring from £16,400 in 2015 to £57,900 last year year.

Meanwhile, the number of primary school age pupils was set to fall in every area of the county except the Selby area and Craven.

The proposal underlines how the closure of rural schools in North Yorkshire has many significant negative social impacts on residents, communities and children – an observation which has regularly been raised by some prominent Tory members of the authority.

The motion states:

“The loss of schools and other associated infrastructure leaves villages without the necessary services to support families now and into the future.”

Liberal democrat councillor for Amotherby and Ampleforth division Steve Mason said:

“The recent news about the potential closure of St Hildas in Ampleforth, following the closure of Hovingham school last year highlights the need for NYC to step in to protect these valued services for the future.

“In the past five years alone we have lost 11 primary schools in North Yorkshire and no doubt more will follow. Clearly something is broken.”

Councillor Andrew Murday, who represents Pateley Bridge and Nidderdale, said the council had a responsibility to support the county’s many rural communities.

He said:

“Primary schools are a vital component of those communities and without them the community gradually collapses. We need the council to rethink its policy otherwise there will be progressive depopulation. Only last month we saw the loss of Fountains Earth School at Lofthouse. It should not be allowed to continue.”

The council’s Conservative leadership have been approached to comment.

Read more:

Kids are using harmful skincare products, warns Harrogate skin care specialist

A Harrogate mum has launched a series of information sessions following a rise in teenagers and pre-teens using potentially harmful skincare products.

Skin care specialist, Debbie Songhurst was so concerned after her 11-year-old daughter started asking for products which are not suitable for young skin that she is now trying to raise awareness of the issue among children and their parents. She said:

“Although I’m a skin specialist, I wasn’t really aware that children were using these products. I thought, this is quite scary. So I started asking people what products their children were using, then looking into those products and what was in them. I was so shocked at what I found.”

What Debbie discovered was a wide range of products using ingredients that are unsuitable or even damaging for young skin. Many have only ever been tested on adults and contain potentially harmful active ingredients intended for adults only. These include exfoliating acids and anti-ageing properties which can provoke serious side effects on young skin.

But with their appealing packaging and gushing reviews from social media influencers, these products are becoming must-haves for a younger audience. Added to that is the pressure teens and pre-teens feel to aspire to unrealistic images of flawless skin, and to buy products that all their friends are using. Debbie said:

“Children are talking about having ‘problematic’ skin or needing to use anti-ageing or firming products. They are using ingredients that are too strong and not safe for their young skin. This can cause skin irritation, early ageing and premature pigmentation. It can break down the skin barrier and can have long-term implications on their skin.”

“Approach children’s skincare with caution”

Debbie, a former pupil at Rossett Acre Primary School and Harrogate Grammar, trained as a medical tattooist and now works as a consultant for companies such as modelling agencies, educating people on how to look after their skin.

She said concerns around under-18s’ skincare is growing; a recent BBC report highlighted the issue, while the British Association for Dermatologists has warned of children as young as eight using skincare products that could leave them with irreversible skin problems. Debbie said:

“I wouldn’t let my children use the products that I use. Teen and pre-teen skin is much more delicate than adults’ skin and using unsuitable products makes it vulnerable. These products absorb a lot quicker into children’s skin and break down the protective barriers.

“When it comes to children’s skincare, it’s essential to approach it with caution and prioritise safety. Using gentle products specifically formulated for their age group is crucial.”

A ‘minefield’ – with added ‘natural’ confusion

Even with more education, Debbie said it can be hard for people to know exactly what the ingredients on a skincare bottle are, as there are so many different words for the same thing. One lady she worked with was using three different products that were basically all the same.

Adding to the confusion is the myth that ‘natural’ ingredients or products are safer. An example of this is the anti-ageing ingredient glycolic acid, sometimes called sugar cane, which is unsuitable for children’s skin. Debbie said:

“It’s a minefield. So many parents have said to me, ‘My kids are using this product because it’s natural’. But ‘natural’ doesn’t necessarily mean good, and often there are synthetic equivalents.”

Skincare seminar

Debbie Songhurst hosts one of her skincare seminars for teens and pre-teens.

Ingredients to avoid

Although there are so many ingredients out there that it’s hard to be specific, Debbie mentioned the following as being harmful for younger skin:

Recommended skincare routine for teens

While she said it’s not a bad thing to have a skincare routine at any age, Debbie stressed that it’s not necessary for pre-teens and teens to use lots of products. She said skincare for children should be “really uncomplicated” and recommends this three-step routine using products designed for sensitive skin:

Debbie added that other simple things can also help teen skin that’s prone to breakouts, such as changing pillowcases regularly and cleaning your phone as this harbours a lot of bacteria.

She added that if teens have especially problematic skin, they should see a specialist who can devise an individualised approach to address the issue.

Skincare education events

Debbie’s first two teen and pre-teen skincare information sessions, held in Harrogate last month, were so popular that she is planning a third event in June. She is also looking at potentially offering sessions for schools. She said:

“The aim is to raise awareness among children and their parents about the importance of looking at the ingredients in products, like we do with food. I don’t want to scare people; I just want to help them question the benefits and possible problems of putting certain skincare products on their skin.”

The next information session is on Tuesday, June 4, at the West Park Hotel in Harrogate. Book tickets here.

Read more:

Readers’ Letters: Harrogate’s cycleway extension is an ‘extraordinary waste of public funds’

Readers’ Letters is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.  

 This letter follows news of the cycleway on Harrogate’s Otley Road being extended.

I’d like to echo the furore over plans to extend the cycleway. It is an extraordinary waste of public funds and has created more confusion and danger.

I walk it every day and I fear a cyclist using the path (perfectly legally) will plough into the back of me at 30mph. I’m reliant on their sense of speed, but I may hear the “whoosh” too late as my back is to them.

It’s the minority that cycle a little slower as they hit the dual area of pedestrians and cyclists – but it is not a road.

The joy of a stroll has been taken away. I can no longer amble along this route – it will be lights out for me if I do.

Then there’s the Prince of Wales roundabout. Most drivers don’t even indicate!  This only exacerbates the dangerous lottery of trying to cross the road.

A pelican crossing would surely be a fantastic safety investment and a tiny cost compared to the cycle path.

Shaun Bohan, Harrogate

I can’t help but feel the authorities just want a ‘quick fix’ for our roads…

This letter is in response to several stories about potholes and footpaths poor condition in the Harrogate district.

Further to your stories about the state of our roads and footpaths, one problem is the people repairing potholes have no idea how to do it properly.

It’s not the answer to just pour tarmac in the hole and ram it smooth. It should be dug out, a heavy base put in first, then a topcoat should be applied and sealed with hot tar. That’s how they did it fifty years ago and it worked.

I can’t help but feel the councils and government just want a quick fix to appease the likes of me…

Phil Turton, Harrogate

The plans for Victoria Avenue will only increase traffic in the town centre

This letter is in response to North Yorkshire Council’s decision to scrap plans to create cycle lanes on Victoria Avenue. The move means new measures, such as parking metres and making the Belford Road junction left-turn only, could be put in place. 

There is a simple first principle to managing traffic congestion for a town, which is to direct incoming traffic to peripheral car parks and then when traffic leaves, guide it back out without it passing through the town centre.  The current plans for Victoria Avenue seem to overlook this.

Tower Street has two public car parks with capacity for approximately 400 cars. Although there is signage to these car parks for vehicles arriving from the south, there is currently no signage as to how those vehicles should then exit the town.

The proposal to make the Belford Road junction with Victoria Avenue left-turn only will increase the number of cars that find themselves back on West Park, heading towards Parliament Street, then either cutting down Montpellier towards Cold Bath Road, or looping back round by the station.

There needs to be a sharper focus on the town centre map to plan exit routes from the Tower Street car parks.

Turning right out of Belford Road is actually optimal to take traffic away from the centre and maybe the infrastructure changes should make that easier and safer.

John Wann, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Read more:

Kids are using harmful skincare products, warns Harrogate skin care specialist

A Harrogate mum has launched a series of information sessions following a rise in teenagers and pre-teens using potentially harmful skincare products.

Skin care specialist, Debbie Songhurst was so concerned after her 11-year-old daughter started asking for products which are not suitable for young skin that she is now trying to raise awareness of the issue among children and their parents. She said:

“Although I’m a skin specialist, I wasn’t really aware that children were using these products. I thought, this is quite scary. So I started asking people what products their children were using, then looking into those products and what was in them. I was so shocked at what I found.”

What Debbie discovered was a wide range of products using ingredients that are unsuitable or even damaging for young skin. Many have only ever been tested on adults and contain potentially harmful active ingredients intended for adults only. These include exfoliating acids and anti-ageing properties which can provoke serious side effects on young skin.

But with their appealing packaging and gushing reviews from social media influencers, these products are becoming must-haves for a younger audience. Added to that is the pressure teens and pre-teens feel to aspire to unrealistic images of flawless skin, and to buy products that all their friends are using. Debbie said:

“Children are talking about having ‘problematic’ skin or needing to use anti-ageing or firming products. They are using ingredients that are too strong and not safe for their young skin. This can cause skin irritation, early ageing and premature pigmentation. It can break down the skin barrier and can have long-term implications on their skin.”

“Approach children’s skincare with caution”

Debbie, a former pupil at Rossett Acre Primary School and Harrogate Grammar, trained as a medical tattooist and now works as a consultant for companies such as modelling agencies, educating people on how to look after their skin.

She said concerns around under-18s’ skincare is growing; a recent BBC report highlighted the issue, while the British Association for Dermatologists has warned of children as young as eight using skincare products that could leave them with irreversible skin problems. Debbie said:

“I wouldn’t let my children use the products that I use. Teen and pre-teen skin is much more delicate than adults’ skin and using unsuitable products makes it vulnerable. These products absorb a lot quicker into children’s skin and break down the protective barriers.

“When it comes to children’s skincare, it’s essential to approach it with caution and prioritise safety. Using gentle products specifically formulated for their age group is crucial.”

A ‘minefield’ – with added ‘natural’ confusion

Even with more education, Debbie said it can be hard for people to know exactly what the ingredients on a skincare bottle are, as there are so many different words for the same thing. One lady she worked with was using three different products that were basically all the same.

Adding to the confusion is the myth that ‘natural’ ingredients or products are safer. An example of this is the anti-ageing ingredient glycolic acid, sometimes called sugar cane, which is unsuitable for children’s skin. Debbie said:

“It’s a minefield. So many parents have said to me, ‘My kids are using this product because it’s natural’. But ‘natural’ doesn’t necessarily mean good, and often there are synthetic equivalents.”

Skincare seminar

Debbie Songhurst hosts one of her skincare seminars for teens and pre-teens.

Ingredients to avoid

Although there are so many ingredients out there that it’s hard to be specific, Debbie mentioned the following as being harmful for younger skin:

Recommended skincare routine for teens

While she said it’s not a bad thing to have a skincare routine at any age, Debbie stressed that it’s not necessary for pre-teens and teens to use lots of products. She said skincare for children should be “really uncomplicated” and recommends this three-step routine using products designed for sensitive skin:

Debbie added that other simple things can also help teen skin that’s prone to breakouts, such as changing pillowcases regularly and cleaning your phone as this harbours a lot of bacteria.

She added that if teens have especially problematic skin, they should see a specialist who can devise an individualised approach to address the issue.

Skincare education events

Debbie’s first two teen and pre-teen skincare information sessions, held in Harrogate last month, were so popular that she is planning a third event in June. She is also looking at potentially offering sessions for schools. She said:

“The aim is to raise awareness among children and their parents about the importance of looking at the ingredients in products, like we do with food. I don’t want to scare people; I just want to help them question the benefits and possible problems of putting certain skincare products on their skin.”

The next information session is on Tuesday, June 4, at the West Park Hotel in Harrogate. Book tickets here.

Read more:

Yemi’s Food Stories: food as a universal language of love and connection

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the area’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

In a world of diverse cultures and traditions, food serves as a common ground that transcends boundaries. Sharing a meal with loved ones or strangers alike is an act of communion, where stories are exchanged, laughter is shared, and bonds are strengthened. Food has the remarkable ability to evoke emotions, ignite nostalgia, and create unforgettable experiences.

Some words transcend all languages and they include ‘yummy’, ‘yum’ and deep sighs of ‘hmmm’. When you hear them, you immediately know the deliciousness of a dish is the subject matter. Looks are shared, smiles are exchanged and heads are nodded towards strangers when one is enjoying great food. That is the power of food.

Food also has a role in healing and connection due to its remarkable ability to heal and uplift spirits during challenging times. Whether it’s preparing a comforting dish for a loved one or sharing a meal with neighbours, food acts as a conduit for empathy and compassion. In times of celebration or sorrow, a shared meal has the power to bring solace, foster camaraderie, and remind us of our shared humanity.

Growing up in Nigeria, many vegetables, roots, spices, herbs and seeds were used to nourish people back to health, fatten brides ahead of their wedding days or help a nursing mother to produce enough milk for the baby. Some dishes helped mothers regain their bodies after child birth. Some dishes’ aromas were reputed for making your spouse stay at home.

Food is best enjoyed when shared with others and it really doesn’t have to be fancy. A simple green salad with grilled chicken, boiled potatoes tossed in herby butter and a dressing followed by a bought-in dessert is enough to share with others.

Many of us wait for the perfect time to get together with others but it rarely ever happens that all the stars are aligned. I haven’t hosted a barbecue in recent years but I’m hopeful that this is my year.  

Here is what you can do to get ready for entertaining at a moment’s notice:

Set the stage

Get your barbecue out, give it a good clean, and make sure you have gas. Alternatively buy a disposable one and have it ready. Spring clean your kitchen.

Source your ingredients

Get your ingredients ready and store them in the freezer; season what can be seasoned. This can include prepping your chicken, fish and buying your sausages or part baked breads. Ketchup and mayonnaise have a decent shelf-life so you can buy in advance and homemade chilli oils will last a couple of weeks.

Invite others

Let people know in advance that you are committed to sharing a meal with them and pencil in some tentative dates. Watch the weather reports and be ready to enjoy the sunshine at short notice.

Leverage shortcuts

Ask people to bring a drink, side dish or salad so it’s not all on you; most people would want to bring something anyway. Prepared salads and dips will lighten your workload. Elevate shop bought baguettes with garlic butter, balsamic glaze or chilli oil.

Asparagus and Ricotta Tart

Connecting over food takes intentionality but we can make it happen. As the world gets more insular with loneliness a societal challenge, we can leverage the emotive power of food to connect, uplift, and inspire through gathering around the dinner table with family or new friends.

Here is an easy recipe that comes together quickly allowing you to entertain friends at a moment’s notice.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Read more: