Harrogate Cat Rescue unable to take in any more pets

Harrogate Cat Rescue has said it is unable to take in any more cats or kittens.

The Harrogate charity shelter cats and cares for them until they can find their forever homes.

It said in a statement today it had received a record number of animals this year and due to slow adoption rates did not have the capacity to take in any more.

The organisation is not a traditional cat rescue with an animal shelter where it can host cats; it relies on foster carers for cats until they are adopted.

Technically it does not have a maximum capacity but the charity currently has more than 80 kittens in its care, not including older cats. and needs more volunteers to help shelter cats until they can be adopted.

Volunteer Lisa Francis told the Stray Ferret the cost of living crisis and education about the care cats needed were the biggest factors limiting the adoption process. She said:

“We know that times are tough, and this is very noticeably reflected in the rate of adoptions.

“Normally, there is a reasonably steady flow of enquiries and subsequent adoptions, which in turn adds to our resources and frees up foster space to allow us to take in other cats and kittens in desperate need.”

“Due to the incredibly slow rate of adoptions, we are currently stuck, unable to take in any more cats and kittens until we can free up space through adoptions.”

Many people buy young kittens without doing any research first and they the animals later end up in care. The charity currently has cats in foster care ranging from young kittens, older kittens (6 months+) to cats over 1 year all ready to be adopted.

The charity educates people on the advantages of adopting an older cat or kitten. Including that older cats do not need so much attention and are less demanding, they don’t have to be closely monitored with young children, they can be homed alone and they generally already know house rules.

Ms Francis added that pressure on the charity would be reduced if people considered adopting older cats. She also said cat owners can help the situation by neutering their pets.

She said:

“Many people don’t realise that kittens can get pregnant after four months and after having a litter they can be pregnant again within two weeks.”

The charity urged anyone considering getting a pet to speak to them prior to buying a cat.

Ms Francis said:

“People might want to buy a cat but can’t afford one at the moment. Fostering can be a great opportunity for this situation, we cover the main costs such as medical bills and someone gets a cat to look after.

“Please bear us in mind if you are looking to adopt a cat or kitten and talk to us about options. Quite often what people think will be right for them isn’t, and we can help you find the right new addition to your family.”

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Primary school near Harrogate rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

Long Marston CE Primary school has received a ‘good’ Ofsted rating in its latest report.

In a report published this past week, the Harrogate district school was described as “a small school with large ambitions”.

Inspectors added the curriculum is “well-designed” and “effective”, it said “pupils are safe and feel happy within the nurturing, family ethos.”

The primary school was last inspected in November 2021 and received a “Requires Improvement” rating.

Inspectors at the time said:

“The school has faced a challenging time with a high staff turnover and turbulence in leadership. These changes have affected the quality of education.”

The school is now rated as “Good” with its early years provision rated “Outstanding.”

The new report said:

“Since the last inspection, leaders have made improvements to the quality of education.

“Pupils are proud of their inclusive school. They value kindness and friendship.

“Staff emphasise positive relationships as the key to pupils’ success.”

Long Marston Primary School

The small village school is part of the TIG Federation (Togetherness Inspires Growth), alongside Kirk Hammerton CE Primary School and Staveley Community Primary School.

Executive headteacher, Ms Lauren Evans said:

“I cannot thank the school community enough for the support they have shown the school throughout this year.

“We are exceptionally lucky to have staff who go above and beyond and work tirelessly to provide the very best for our pupils. The report reflects the hard work we have put into making Long Marston the very best place to learn. I am exceptionally proud of how far we have come.”

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Hundreds set to take part in the Nidderdale Walk this weekend

The Nidderdale Walk is set to return this weekend for its 30th anniversary.

This year’s walk will take place on Sunday (May 19), starting in Pateley Bridge and heading into upper Nidderdale.

The walk is made up of six routes between 4 miles to 26 miles, with a new 18-mile hike added this year.

The routes take walkers through Wath, Ramsgill, Lofthouse, Gouthwaite, Fountains Earth Moor, and Scar House Reservoir.

The walk first took place in 1994 and has since raised more than £970,000 for local and national charities.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Harrogate, it generated £24,000 last year alone.

Nidderdale walk 2023. Image: Rotary Club of Harrogate

Brian Stuttard, chairman of the walk committee, told the Stray Ferret more than 300 people have signed up already.

The most popular walk is set to be the four mile journey from the Nidderdale valley and around Wath. There are already 93 walkers signed up to take part on the route.

Meanwhile, 59 people already signed up for the 26 mile marathon walk with a further 36 to take part in the new 18 mile hike from Pateley Bridge.

Mr Stuttard said:

“So far over 300 people have signed up, we expect around 400 people by the weekend. A lot of walkers check the weather before committing. Thirty years is a great milestone, and it will be an enjoyable day, the 18-mile walk has been created to celebrate the anniversary and is quite an arduous walk.”

In total 348 walkers have signed up to take part in the event this weekend.

Nidderdale walk 2023. Image: Rotary Club of Harrogate

He added it is difficult to predict the amount raised until after the event but they are hoping it will exceed £30,000 as that would mean the overall total raised would reach the £1 million milestone this year.

Walkers will also be able to attend refreshment stops at checkpoints along the way. Registration begins at 7am and those taking part in the 22-mile and 26-mile routes are expected to depart by 8am.

It costs £10 for adults to enter (£5 for the four-mile walk) and you can enter on the day. To sign up online or for more information on this year’s Nidderdale Walk click here.

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Holiday chalet plans on Beckwithshaw farm withdrawn

Plans to create three holiday cabins on a farm in Beckwithshaw have been withdrawn.

Messrs K Swires & Co applied to North Yorkshire Council for three chalets to be erected at Moor Park.

The application was part of long-term proposals to diversify the existing farming business, according to planning documents.

The chalets were to each have a living area, bathroom and two bedrooms, with hedges between and private parking.

However, the application received 37 objections and was withdrawn on May 7.

A design and access statement prepared on behalf of the applicant by Rose Consulting said brothers Gary and Steven Swires farm in partnership with their mother Marjorie.

It said the applicant owned 778 acres at High Moor Farm and Shaw Head Farm, together with the majority of Moor Park and further blocks of land at Spofforth and Plompton, adding:

“It is a long-established farming business that revolves around a large dairy herd and a significant beef rearing herd, but also with a significant beef rearing herd.

“Volatility is a major factor for dairy producers and this farm is a prime example of how agricultural businesses are forced to adapt and accommodate the constantly changing market conditions.”

The statement added “large swings in (milk) price of nearly 40% present a massive financial risk to this business”.

It said the applicants already offered clay pigeon shooting at Moor Park and hoped to add accommodation to the package.

The proposed site at Moor Park, which is just over half an acre, is sheltered with woodlands to the north and south .

Beckwithshaw cabin plans

The statement added:

“Chalets and glamping pods which provide accommodation for tourists, are an example of where there is a functional need to locate in the countryside.

“They can make a significant contribution to the provision of overnight accommodation for tourists, which in turn are needed in the area to increase the tourist economy in line with the council’s visitor economy strategy.”

However, the application did receive objections, which cited issues such as the impact on Moor Park and nearby residents.

Mr Swires told the Stray Ferret:

“The application has been withdrawn as we are reassessing certain elements of the application. We hope to improve our chances and potentially resubmit plans at a later date.”

“The cabins would help us to diversify, something the government are pushing farmers to do. It would give us a separate income, farming has ups and downs and since covid there have been a lot of downs financially for farmers.”

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Rural schools raise thousands of pounds in Harrogate charity concert

Eleven local rural primary schools took part in a charity concert in Harrogate.

The schools aimed to raise in excess of £6,500 for The Harrogate Robert Ogden Centre and Lauren Doherty Road Safety.

Over 250 pupils took to the stage for the annual concert, which has been held since 2015, with the exception of the covid years.

The finale saw all the children sing together on stage conducted by Helen Potter.

Sarah Bassitt, the organiser of the event who retired as Killinghall Church of England Primary School headteacher last year, said that she wanted the legacy of the concert to live on.

The Federation of Ripley, Beckwithshaw and Kettlesing Schools will now lead the annual event.

Executive headteacher Victoria Kirkman said:

“We are delighted to be leading this event moving forward and hope to significantly raise the profile of North Yorkshire small, rural schools.

“This event not only raises vital funds for key charities, but shows the world the outstanding standard of musical performance and talent that can come out of the smallest schools.”

The schools involved in the concert were:

The show includes choirs, instrumentalists and dancers and will be extended to more schools next year.

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Police seek man after woman assaulted in Harrogate

North Yorkshire Police has launched an appeal to find a man after a woman was assaulted in Harrogate.

Michael Craggs, 27, is wanted in connection with burglary and criminal damage as well as assault.

He has been recalled to prison and a warrant has been issued for his immediate arrest.

Police said the assault and criminal damage happened in Harrogate.

Officers said in a statement:

“He has links with a number of areas of West Yorkshire too, including Ilkley, Bradford and Otley, where he is wanted in connection with a burglary.”

Anyone with information about his current location is urged to call 101. If the sighting is immediate, call 999. Quote reference number 12240052245.

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Harrogate Bus Company apologises for Jennyfields and Bilton cancellations

The Harrogate Bus Company has apologised after a number of bus journeys in the Harrogate area were cancelled this morning.

Passengers in the Jennyfields and Bilton areas faced delays and cancellations, especially around the morning rush hour.

The number 2, Harrogate to Bilton, and number 3, Harrogate to Jennyfield, buses were among those affected.

Sylvia Young got in touch to say she and many others were “sick of the bus service”. Ms Young sent this photo of this morning’s cancellations.

She added:

“It’s not now and again it is nearly every day the buses people need for work are cancelled. Two hours of no buses in or out of Jennyfield. It’s a disgrace.”

The cancellations attracted numerous social media comments, with some people claiming the problems were due to problems with the company’s new electric buses, including charging the batteries.

The Stray Ferret put these claims to the Harrogate Bus Company, which is owned by French firm Transdev.

We also asked if services would continue to be affected.

A spokesperson for the company said:

“We are aware of a small number of journeys to Jennyfield and Bilton which were unable to run this morning due to a vehicle-related issue.

“We apologise to any customers affected and remind our customers that they can track their buses in real time using the free Transdev Go app.”

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Dog from Ripley becomes first to climb every mountain in England

A dog from Ripley has become the first to claim every mountain in England, according to its owner.

Jon Birtle, a civil engineer, and Bentley, a nine-year-old Yorkshire Jack Russell terrier, completed the challenge this month.

Mr Birtle said Bentley had become the first dog to ever climb all of the mountains in England.

Their escapades date back to 2019 when Mr Birtle turned 50 and wanted to “do something out of the ordinary”.

So to celebrate his landmark birthday, the pair set out to climb Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales. They enjoyed the challenge so much Mr Birtle decided to attempt the other two Yorkshire peaks with Bentley.

After that, Mr Birtle began researching all of Yorkshire’s mountains.

After climbing all 41, he upgraded the challenge to taking on all 180 mountains in England above 2,000 feet (610 metres), which are classed as Hewitts.

The pair battled bad weather, lockdowns, exclusion zones and injuries to complete this feat.

Man and dog averaged a climb every three weeks over five years in an adventure that has taken them from the Yorkshire Dales to the Peak District, the Lake District and Dartmoor.

They trekked over 600 miles and Bentley has recorded over half a million steps. Their climbs have now achieved the equivalent of scaling Mt Everest more than 15 times.

Bentley on Scafell in Cumbria

Mr Birtle took a date stamped photo of Bentley on every summit and soon amassed a keen following on social media who watched their journey.

He said:

“Our last summit was a bit emotional. Five years ago I didn’t even like walking now we have climbed every mountain in England. There are plenty of times I have wanted to turn around and Bentley has been running up in front, so we have pushed on.”

“We are going to carry on doing something, I love it and Bentley lives for it. As soon as I get my backpack on, he knows we are going. He is always in front waiting for me up the mountains, it is good for us both. Bentley may be nine, but he is still fit, I’m probably going to have to retire before him.”

After each mountain climb, the pair finished the day in a pub to celebrate with a lager and a treat for Bentley.

Mr Birtle added:

“My favourites have been Pen-y-ghent, because it was our first and was a wonderful experience, and Fountains Fell, which we did twice because I loved it. The most challenging has been the harshness of the North Pennines where there are almost no paths — it is a bit like a maze.

“The mental health aspect has been great, all the pressures of life are left up at the top of the mountain – it is like a soul cleanser.”

Jon Birtle and Bentley at Crag Hill summit.

Mr Birtle said he is now looking at taking on more long walks and is considering a coast-to-coast route for his next challenge.

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Two arrested after man stabbed in Harrogate

A man was stabbed in the Mayfield Grove area of Harrogate last night (May 12).

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement today it received reports that a man had suffered stab wounds just before 7.30pm last night.

The statement added:

“Officers attended and found a man had suffered an injury to his hand.

“A short time later two men were arrested in connection with the incident. A 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and a 32-year-old man was arrested for wounding with intent. Both currently remain in police custody.

“Following the incident, the victim received treatment in hospital for minor injuries.

Police reassured residents today by describing it as an “isolated incident”.

Superintendent Teresa Lam, senior commander for the Harrogate district, said:

“Thankfully incidents of this nature are extremely rare in Harrogate, and they will not be tolerated. An investigation is now underway to establish the full circumstances.

“I would like to stress that we are treating this as an isolated incident and do not believe that there is any ongoing wider threat to the general public.”

Mayfield Grove

Mayfield Grove

However, it is not the first serious incident in the Mayfield Grove area in recent years.

Vitalijus Koreiva, 37, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court in 2022 for murdering Gracijus Balciauskas in a flat on the road.

In the previous year Daniel Ainsley was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murdering 48-year-old Mark Wolsey at a bedsit on the road.

Police urged anyone with information about the latest incident or doorbell footage to call them on 101 and quote incident number 12240083406 or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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Knaresborough community centre under new ownership

A community centre in Knaresborough is under new ownership.

Inspire Youth Yorkshire, a charity providing independent youth support in the Harrogate district, has taken over the former Balance Wellness Centre (Yorkshire Yoga) building and has created a community hub.

The centre on Halfpenny Close was taken over by the charity in the last few weeks after the Balance Wellness Centre struggled to recover after Covid. The space is now open as a fully accessible Hub for all ages.

The charity was established in 2019 and offers people aged 8-18 across the Harrogate and surrounding areas support and a chance to engage in activities.

The centre still houses the wellness centre but is focussing on youth provision. It has spaces for treatments, therapies and classes and wellness activities including Yoga, Tai Chi and Dance.

Jess Ward, CEO and founder of Inspire Youth Yorkshire, said:

“The space will continue as a community building it will just be overseen by us and we are going to develop our youth provision elements. We have had some renovations to do including fixing a leaking roof.

“The centre had been underused, but it can offer a good, positive, accessible space for young people. We are an open access centre so it doesn’t matter about your background or needs we provide opportunities and activities and create a sense of belonging.”

The centre is free to attend with some activities charging a small fee to go towards the upkeep of the space. The charity relies on grants and funding from the local community.

Inspire Youth Yorkshire plans to develop their offering to open a senior youth club, martial arts, boxing and a sensory space.

Ms Ward began Inspire Youth Yorkshire after seeing the lack of provision for young people in the area. As a mother and part of the Knaresborough community she set out to provide what she felt the town was missing

Jess Ward CEO and founder of Inspire Youth Yorkshire

She added:

“Inspire Youth Yorkshire wants to keep young people safe and offer a space with trusted adults who provide meaningful experiences and opportunities that allow young people to grow.”

“We also offer support for families, often a new hobby or sport can be a big commitment and a financial strain meaning young people can miss out on opportunities, we want to provide these chances and create a community space.”

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