A mystery carver is turning felled trees into seats in Nidd Gorge.

Since the weekend, at least two trees have been transformed into seats — and the artisan even appears to sign his or her work.

Paul Haslam, the Conservative councillor for Harrogate Old Bilton on Harrogate District Council, posted about the phenomenon after noticing it twice since the weekend.

He told the Stray Ferret the trees, believed to be conifers, were probably felled as part of a policy to remove non-indigenous species, and they appeared to have been lying on the ground for years.

Both seats that have appeared bear this symbol, which suggests the carver is signing the work.

Cllr Haslam added it appeared the person uses traditional hand tools, adding it was a great use of natural resources.

His job as an executive coach involves teaching people to lead stress-free lives and he said being close to nature could help to achieve this.

He added on his Facebook page:

“Thank you for creating places for people to sit and appreciate the tranquility. Being in nature is vital to our wellbeing.”

Read more:

• Vandalised Nidd Gorge bench to be replaced for free
• Fire crews save Labrador from Nidd Gorge ravine

Druids Cricket Club, the historic Harrogate club founded in 1915, has appointed Garry Irvine as its president.

Mr Irvine is a former Druids captain as well as an outstanding rugby union player who captained Harrogate RUFC and represented an Anglo-Scots XV against the All Blacks.

His appointment follows the death of previous president Simon Corner, a much-respected figure in the Harrogate area.

Druids is a nomadic social cricket club that celebrated its centenary in 2015 with a match against the famous MCC.

Such is the club’s standing that it was invited to play Yorkshire as part of former England Test bowler Ryan Sidebottom’s testimonial year.

Mr Irvine said:

“It’s an enormous honour to be appointed president of this famous club, following in the footsteps of the legendary Simon Corner.

“I’m determined to carry on the great work that Simon and previous presidents have done over the past 100 years in maintaining the great traditions of fun and fair play that the Druids were founded upon.

“As a club, we’d also love to welcome new people to become part of this great Harrogate institution, whether as players or supporters.”

The club plays friendly fixtures against other social or local Harrogate clubs, usually on Sundays.

Players of all abilities and supporters are very welcome to join the Druids.

For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page or contact club secretary Mark Moorby at melmoorby@hotmail.com.

Read more:

• From Knaresborough’s Aspin estate to playing cricket for Yorkshire
• Phoebe Graham to promote women and girls at Harrogate Cricket Club

There are calls for greater action to reduce the number of homes lying empty across the Harrogate district while thousands of residents remain stuck on the social housing waiting list due to a “desperate” lack of affordable properties.

Official data shows 774 homes have sat empty for more than six months – a figure which has fallen slightly from 838 in 2019 but councillors and campaigners say must come down at a more dramatic rate in order to get to grips with the housing crisis.

About 1,700 households are in the queue for council housing, and with property prices reaching record heights the fear is many may be stuck there for some time unless greater action is taken by Harrogate Borough Council.

The council itself has previously said there is a “desperate” need for more affordable properties but has defended its record on empty homes, with its cabinet member for safer communities and housing, councillor Mike Chambers, saying “every effort” is made to work with landlords and that tougher action is taken whenever necessary.

Councillor Chambers said:

“In the last two years, through this proactive approach, we have seen a 25% reduction of properties empty for more than five years.

“Our dedicated empty homes officer is working hard to identify empty properties, engage with owners and look at what else can be done to increase this reduction.

“It is important that everyone living in Harrogate district has the opportunity of a decent and quality home. We are committed to providing this and have a number of plans in place – such as requiring developers to provide a specific amount of affordable housing as well the aims of our own housing company Bracewell Homes – that will support local people into affordable rented homes or to get on the property ladder.”

Over the last 12 months, the council has carried out just two compulsory purchase orders where efforts to bring empty homes back into use have failed and legal action is taken against landlords as a last resort to force them to sell their properties.

The opposition Liberal Democrat group on the council said a stricter approach on compulsory purchase orders was needed to reduce empty homes, which are “compounding deeply entrenched problems” including high property prices, the lack of affordable homes and long stays in temporary accommodation.

Liberal Democrat leader councillor Pat Marsh said:

“I know there is a cost to compulsory purchase and the refurbishment of properties, but it still must be cheaper than buying on the open market and it means less green space being taken away.

“Alternatively, the council could actively build houses on land it owns, such as at Pannal.

“We cannot stand by and allow people to live in bed and breakfast or hostel accommodation for weeks on end and then the only accommodation we build is temporary on Spa Lane in Starbeck. People need homes on a permanent not temporary basis.

“With 1,700 people on the waiting list we need action now. Relying solely on the delivery of affordable homes from planning permissions for large development is never going to address this issue.

“When will this council start to take the issue of homelessness and lack of affordable housing seriously?”

What is the national picture?

Action on Empty Homes, which is England’s leading campaign group on the issue, has published figures which show numbers hit a record high in 2020 with 268,385 long-term empty homes across the country.

It is calling on the government to launch a national empty homes strategy backed by a £200m fund and new powers to support local authorities.

Through this fund, it wants to see a streamlining of compulsory purchase orders powers and more cash for community-led projects that sustainably refurbish long-term empty homes.

Read more:

• Is the future of Harrogate town centre more homes, less shopping?
• Housing plans set for ‘eyesore’ Dunlopillo office block in Pannal

Speaking earlier this year, Will McMahon, director of Action on Empty Homes, said:

“In 2020 there was a 20% rise in long term empty homes numbers with increases in nine out of every ten local council areas. That is a national scandal of wasted homes that mirrors our national housing crisis – and that calls into question why these homes are not being brought back to use to help address that.

“That’s why we call for a new programme of government investment and why we back local councils’ calls for better and simpler powers to act where owners and landlords won’t or can’t.”

Why are homes left empty?

There are numerous reasons properties can lie empty. In some instances, landlords cannot afford to renovate their property to sell or rent out.

Properties may also have been inherited and the new owners don’t know what to do with them. Rentals can also fall below safety standards which means they sit vacant until the problems are fixed.

What else can be done? 

As well as carrying out compulsory purchase orders, the government has also given councils powers to charge an additional 100% council tax on properties that have been empty for two years.

Empty Dwelling Management Orders can also be issued for long term empty properties that are attracting vandalism and causing a nuisance to the community.

Harrogate Town have been given permission by the English Football League to open an academy for budding professionals aged 16 to 18.

The club revealed today it had received a licence to operate a category four academy.

The academy will be led by former Knaresborough Town manager Paul Stansfield, supported by professional development phase coach Ross McKay.

Phil Priestley will act as goalkeeper coach and Josh Walsh as academy secretary. Lee Barraclough has been appointed head of recruitment.

Based at West Riding FA along with the current first team, the academy will compete in the EFL Youth Alliance North East, allowing regular competitive fixtures and a pathway through the ranks.

First team manager Simon Weaver said:

“This is a massive step in the right direction for the club in terms of fulfilling the vision of where we started and what we foresee being our future.

“Our under-19s, under-17s and under-19 Alliance teams will continue to run and compete in their respective leagues, alongside the newly established academy.”

Read more:

• Harrogate Town launches football academy
• Harrogate Town releases seven players

Read more:

• HG1 Radio’s future under review after sister station closes
• Harrogate Hospital Radio takes to the air for 24-hour fundraising marathon

More than 200 students have completed outdoor sections of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award challenges at Harrogate Grammar School this month, in another sign of life getting back to normal.

Eighty year 11 students spent May Day bank holiday weekend completing the practice DofE bronze award expedition, which was called off when lockdown was imposed last year.

They then went straight on to the two-day expedition, which was the final challenge of the award that tests young people’s problem solving, life skills and resilience.

The next weekend an unprecedented 144 year 10 students completed training expedition walks aimed at developing their teamwork, communication and camping abilities ahead of their qualifying DofE bronze award expedition in June.

Neil Renton, headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School, said:

“It’s wonderful to see our students getting back to normal school life, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenge.

“Learning is not just about being in the classroom, the skills they develop through our wide range of extra-curricular activities will serve them well for life.”

Teachers Jake Kempton and Laura Chesworth organised the expeditions and said students were delighted to be back outdoors.

Read more:

• Record number of Oxbridge offers at Harrogate Grammar School
• County council invests £723,000 in Ripon SEND school

Mr Kempton said:

“Seeing the looks on students’ faces and receiving feedback from parents shows the scheme has had such a positive impact.

“It would have been easy to cancel the expeditions again this year but after the challenging 12 months these young people have had we thought it was massively important to go ahead.

“We were particularly proud to deliver the expeditions this year as it felt like a fitting tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh. As teachers we take great joy in being out there with the students as part of an experience that creates lifelong memories.”

Ms Chesworth said it was crucial the year 11 students completed the outdoor expedition as they had spent the last two years completing the award’s other qualifying sections, which involve physical challenges, learning new skills and volunteering. She said:

“They’ve shown resilience, flexibility and worked hard to adapt their challenges to still meet the criteria during lockdown.

“We wanted to do them justice by seeing them complete the award as a whole.”

To satisfy the demand for DofE expedition places, extra staff volunteered to help supervise, and outdoor adventure organisers the Lupine Adventure Cooperative provided trained and qualified DofE expedition leaders.

Other school trips are now being planned as Harrogate Grammar School eases back towards normal teaching life.

Year 11 and year 13 are both having a day of fun at Flamingo Land next week.

Year 12s studying a BTEC in outdoor education have already resumed their practical studies and are taking part in their own expedition in Swaledale and Wensleydale.

Year 7 are looking forward to the humanities visit to Bolton Abbey and geography fieldwork trips are in the pipeline.

Plans are being made for a year 9 residential trip to the Lake District next spring.

PE fixtures have resumed for the summer term.

North Yorkshire Police has urged dog owners not to take weapons on daily walks amid growing concern about the crime.

The police issued the advice today as part of a move to reassure people that dog theft remains rare.

It said in a statement there have been 11 reported dog thefts so far this year, compared with 10 from July to September last year

The statement added:

“We have heard reports of dog owners taking weapons on daily walks and we strongly advise against doing so.

“Carrying a weapon is illegal and could result in injury to yourself and/or others.

“Dog theft is an issue which can understandably be very worrying for our communities, however these type of incidents are rare.”

The statement added people should be wary of believing social media posts about dog thefts “as some issues may not be as they appear”.

Read more:

• Police commissioner candidate promises action on dog thefts
• Discarded dog poo bags leaving Harrogate ‘disgusted’

The Red Lion pub on the A61 in South Stainley is to reopen on Wednesday under new owners and with a new name.

Partners Graham Usher and Matt Rose have bought the pub, which has been renamed The Inn South Stainley, reflecting its village location between Harrogate and Ripon.

For years, the pub was popular with families because of its Wacky Warehouse soft play area.

The previous owners of The Inn South Stainley, which closed in March last year, invested £1.5m on converting the original standalone building into eight bedrooms, refurbishing the interior and creating another four guest rooms on its first floor.

The venue will offer accommodation and serve gastro pub meals, drinks and snacks. It is planned to open the restaurant and function suite in July.

There are also plans for two teepees with fire pits in different parts of the inn’s extensive grounds, to host private functions, including private wedding parties.

On 36 bus route

The Inn South Stainley will be managed by Mr Usher and Mr Rose’s hospitality consultancy, Mattgray Hospitality.

Launched in January 2019, the business already operates Selby pubs The Castle Inn and the Drovers Arms.

To replicate their formula at South Stainley, the two men have brought with them the Drovers’ long-standing head chef, Shane White, and recruited Chris Lawton as general manager.

Mr Usher said the pub was “exactly what we were looking for”, adding:

“It had recently been refurbished to a very high standard and included guest rooms. And with the number 36 Ripon, Harrogate, Leeds bus stopping right outside, it’s ideal for staff and customers who want to leave the car at home.”

Read more:

• Planning submitted to add to Knaresborough pub re-development
• A big thank ewe to the NHS from South Stainley farmers

Mr Rose said:

“Many people still call it by its previous name, The Red Lion, and talk about it being the place to go to eat and drink. Our intention is to make this well-known pub a must visit destination again for those who love great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere.”

More information about The Inn South Stainley is available here.

Residents of Shaw’s Trailer Park in Starbeck have signed a petition against a 66 per cent increase in car parking fees.

The site, which has 140 permanent park homes, has also hiked the cost of renting porches by 78 per cent.

The weekly parking increase from £3 to £5 amounts to an extra £104 a year.

The cost of porches has also increased from £1.40 to £2.50, meaning an extra £57.20 a year.

Those who pay for both, including bus driver Chris Taylor and his wife Maxine, will therefore have to pay an extra £161.20 a year.

Mr Taylor, who moved to the park from Bilton four years ago, said about 30 residents had signed the petition opposing the “blatantly unfair” level of increase. He added:

“We can pay it but there’s a lot of people here who are old and not well off who will struggle. It has caused a lot of ill feeling.

“I would accept the increases if they were by an appropriate amount, such as in line with inflation, but a 66 per cent increase in parking is outrageous.”

Read more:

• Starbeck Baths: frustration grows over re-opening uncertainty
• Knaresborough pet store to close and go mobile

The Stray Ferret called the park, on Knaresborough Road, and was told the owners did not wish to discuss the matter.

According to Companies House, the three current directors are John-Barry Noble and Anthony Shaw, both of Harrogate, and Nicholas Shaw, of Scarborough.

The site warden wrote to residents on April 27 notifying them of the increase. The letter, seen by the Stray Ferret, said:

“As you are aware there have been a lot of changes in the running of the park in recent months.

“Having gone back over our previous records we realise there has been no increase in the cost of your car parking and porch fee for many years. However, the running and maintenance costs of the park have continued to rise year on year.

“With this in mind, we feel it is necessary to increase the fees for your car parking and porch from June 1.”

‘They shouldn’t have to pay’

Not all residents pay for car parking and porches so those that do — including Mr and Ms Taylor — feel it is wrong that they are having to pay extra for the running and maintenance costs. Mr Taylor said:

“We absolutely love living here. It’s like being on holiday all year round. It’s a lovely little community that nobody knows much about unless they visit but this is unfair.”

Ken Bell, who has lived on the site for eight years, does not rent either a porch or parking space but he said he supported the move to oppose the price increases.

“It’s absolutely unfair. They should not have to pay it.”

Joanne Sadler, who has lived on the park for nine years and also doesn’t pay the charges, also showed support.

“I just think it’s wrong. They shouldn’t have to pay it.”

Harrogate’s Stonefall Cemetery is holding free tours on Friday next week as part of a bid to encourage more visitors to British war graves.

With covid preventing people travelling to pay their respects to fallen soldiers in France and Belgium, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is highlighting alternatives in this country.

Stonefall is one of the largest war grave sites in northern England and one of only five directly maintained by the commission.

It therefore looks very similar to sites abroad, with rows of immaculately maintained white graves of even size.

Junior soldiers at Harrogate’s Army Foundation College, who usually travel to war graves in Normandy, recently visited Stonefall and the commission hopes the covid travel restrictions will encourage others to do likewise.

Read more:

• Smaller scale for Harrogate Remembrance service at Stonefall
• Increased police patrols after vandalism at Stonefall park

Stonefall will be the focus of the final day of the commission’s first War Graves Week from May 21 to 28.

Tours limited to 10 people will take place throughout the day at the cemetery off Wetherby Road, which is open 24 hours a day to visitors.

Tours are free but places must be booked in advance.

Stonefall Cemetry

Elizabeth Smith, public engagement coordinator for the commission in the north-east, said:

“We are trying to draw people’s attention to the fact that we have a lot of war graves in this country,. People are aware of them abroad but less so here.

“Harrogate is a really special site for us.”

Stonefall’s Canadian connection

Stonefall has more than 1,000 graves, mostly of soldiers from the Second World War.

About two-thirds are Canadian, as its air force was based in North Yorkshire. But there are also also almost 100 Australian graves, five Caribbean graves and also the grave of the only Fijian who flew with the British Royal Air Force.

Stories of those who gave their lives will feature prominently in the tours.

A private closing ceremony for the week will take place at Stonefall on the 28th. It will be broadcast live on a Facebook as part of the commission’s digital festival.

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, the mayor of Harrogate and the Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire are expected to visit Stonefall that day.