Free, revamped nature trail set to open at Harrogate’s Horticap

Harrogate charity Horticap’s newly revamped nature trail, which is free to visit, will open on Monday.

Horticap, which is based at Bluecoat Wood Nurseries, provides adults with learning and other disabilities training in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills.

A £5,000 donation enabled it to invest in in making its nature trail more accessible to all.

Full of hidden nooks and places to explore, the new nature trail has been built with a focus on green energy and sustainability.

It includes educational signs telling visitors about the local landscape and the animals living within it.

The aim is to encourage people to look more closely at what is around them.

The trail also has large, communal areas to allow people to just sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

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The charity has also just finished renovating its Hopkins cafe and shop.

The charity was able to use money left by a previous student, Peter Hopkins, to renovate the cafe to bring in extra income and offer students work experience.

Swinton Estate to increase woodland by half with £85,000 government funding

Swinton Estate has received £85,551 government funding that will enable it to increase its woodland by half.

The 20,000-acre estate near Masham includes Swinton Park Hotel, Swinton Bivouac and Swinton Country Club and Spa.

The funding, from the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs will be spent on extending the estate’s woodland from 700 hectares to 1050 over the next 20 years.

Using a new business model, the estate will generate revenue from the sale of ecosystem services produced by the new woodland, including carbon, biodiversity units, water management and recreation.

Organisations could apply for up to £100,000 to help with nature projects that tackle climate change from Defra’s Natural Environment Readiness Fund.

Mark Cunliffe-Lister, owner of Swinton Estate and chair of the CLA Forestry and Woodlands Committee said,

“We are delighted that our funding bid for this ambitious project has been successful.  We have set ourselves this goal, of increasing our woodlands by 350 hectares, because we know the environmental gains that woodland delivers.

“The NEIRF grant will enable Swinton Estate to deliver valuable environmental benefits for years to come.”

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Funding has been awarded to 27 environment projects nationally.

One of the ways it is hoping to make money is through the sale of timber.

Holly Story, senior environmental management consultant at GSC Grays, who helped the Estate design the application said:

“Our aim is to generate income on a par with or exceeding that that would be achieved from the sale of timber alone, creating an innovative new business model for forestry that can be replicated across the country.”

Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning and happy Thursday. The roads will be busier this week due to the Great Yorkshire Show so keep checking the blog for live updates.

We will be running this blog longer than usual to keep you up-to-date on the Show traffic.

The blog, brought to you by the HACS group, will show you where the traffic hotspots and temporary traffic lights are and tell you of any train and bus delays.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 if you get experience any delays.

11am – Full Update 

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⚠️We are currently experiencing disruptions to our #The36 and #The7 buses this morning, so please allow extra time for your journey.

Our apologies for this, and thank you for your patience.

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) July 15, 2021

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⚠️We are currently experiencing disruptions to our #The36 and #The7 buses this morning, so please allow extra time for your journey.

Our apologies for this, and thank you for your patience.

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) July 15, 2021

8.15am – Full Update 

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8am – Full Update 

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https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1415566742970060803

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6.45am – Full Update 

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Traffic is still looking ok so far this morning but make sure to keep checking the blog. On previous Show days it has been building from 7.30am.

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6.30am – Full Update 

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Traffic is looking ok so far this morning but make sure to keep checking the blog. On previous Show days it has been building from 7.30am.

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Get set for a month of roadworks on Jenny Field Drive

More roadworks are coming to Harrogate after Yorkshire Water announced it will carry out essential work on Jenny Field Drive next month.

The work will begin on August 2 and last until the 29th — the day before the August bank holiday Monday.

Delays are likely as the company carries out work to construct new pipework.

A short diversion will be in place on the area of Jenny Field Drive, close to the playground, to allow engineers to complete the project.

The full extent of the road closures isn’t yet known.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“We are making investments in the local water network to ensure that we can continue to provide high quality drinking water to our customers.

“In order to carry out the work, we will need to temporarily close part of Jenny Field Drive to ensure that our contractors can work safely.”

Read more:

 

Harrogate man jailed 15 years for child sex offences

Harrogate man Ricky Clench has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for child sex offences, including the rape of a child under 13.

Clench was sentenced following a series of offences starting in August 2017 until September 2018 when one of his victims came forward to the police.

At the time Clench was living in Northallerton.

On Tuesday he appeared at Teesside Crown Court and was found guilty of raping a child under 13, assaulting a child under 13 by penetration and of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Clench denied all offences throughout the police investigation and court hearings.

As well as the 15-year sentence he was issued with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

Detective Constable Jason Roper, of Northallerton CID, said:

“The significant sentence handed to Ricky Clench reflects the gravity of the offences he has committed. He is a predatory and manipulative paedophile who has shown no consideration for his victim throughout the investigation and the court proceedings.

“Thankfully he is now behind bars for a very long time and has been made subject to two lifetime protection orders, preventing him from inflicting harm on any other innocent victims.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the victim for their bravery and courage in coming forward to report such a harrowing experience, and also to their family for the support they have shown throughout the investigation.”

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Art becomes therapy for Pateley Bridge grandma with dementia

Joan Thomas says her grandson James’s art has helped with her dementia.

Mrs Thomas moved to Pateley Bridge to be with family during the first lockdown after struggling to live alone. Since then she has been working with her grandson on a number of pieces.

During lockdown, James Thomas created a piece of art inspired by his grandma called ‘Isolation’. The piece is made out of discarded scratch cards.

The pair have always shared a love for art and Mr Thomas said his grandma often recalls memories from years ago when she helped him with his art.

Mrs Thomas, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2017,  said art helps her feel calm and focused. She also enjoys colouring herself:

“I like going to James’s exhibitions and seeing the art he’s done at home on display. I really enjoy doing art and spending time with him. There’s just a lot of things I can’t remember but art keeps me calm.”

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Mr Thomas said he was pleased with the effect his art had on his grandma’s health:

“It’s a form of therapy for her and it helps her. Now she can be a part of the pieces I create from start to finish.

“She does her colouring completely alone, even though she can’t do anything else she can do that which is pretty marvellous.”

Mr Thomas added his grandma’s choice of colours and style is “perfect”.

Mr Thomas is currently putting pieces together to take part in some local exhibitions including the Nidd Art Trail and the Mercer Gallery REACT exhibition.

Live: Harrogate traffic and travel

Good morning, today is the first day of the Great Yorkshire Show so long delays are likely. We will be running this blog longer than usual to keep you up-to-date on the district’s roads.

The blog, brought to you by the HACS group, will show you where the traffic hotspots and temporary traffic lights are and tell you of any train and bus delays.

Give me a call on 01423 276197 if you get stuck in any traffic.

12pm – Full Update 

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The closure on the A1M slip road at J47 has now reopened.

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11.45am – Full Update 

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11.15am – Full Update 

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10.30am – Full Update 

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If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

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10.15am – Full Update

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10am – Full Update 

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9.45am – Full Update 

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9.30am – Full Update 

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9.15am – Full Update

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9am – Full Update 

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If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

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8.45am – Full Update 

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8.30am – Full Update 

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8.15am – Full Update 

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8am – Full Update 

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7.45am – Full Update 

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7.30am – Full Update 

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7.15am – Full Update 

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7am – Full Update 

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If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

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6.45am – Full Update 

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The roads are getting busier already this morning, but no traffic hotspots yet. Make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

If you’re heading to the Show today, be aware that traffic approaching on the northbound A1M must use J46 for Wetherby. If travelling south on the A1M, please use J47.

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6.30am – Full Update 

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The roads are looking pretty clear so far this morning but make sure to keep checking in as traffic grows due to the Show.

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WATCH Harrogate keeps high spirits despite England’s loss last night

Harrogate came out in force to support England last night and stayed optimistic after the team’s defeat.

England started off strong with a goal in the first five minutes but a further goal by Italy in the second half meant the England squad had to face penalties.

This was where Italy grabbed the trophy leaving England fans gutted.

The loss didn’t dampen Harrogate’s appetite for victory too much with many football fans staying positive for a win in next year’s World Cup.

Read more:

Harrogate celebrates post-Euros

Jymbo and Johnny are keeping their hopes high for next year’s World Cup.

Harrogate district records over 100 new cases today

For the second time this week the Harrogate district has recorded over 100 covid cases in a day.

According to today’s Public Health England figures, 107 infections have been reported. The total number of cases since March 2020 is now 9,418.

On Tuesday, the highest number of cases since January was reported with 108.

The district’s covid rate has also risen again, it now stands at 392.3 people per 100,000. This is the second highest in North Yorkshire.

In North Yorkshire the rate is 328.8 and England’s is 322.6.

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A total of 218,303 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 120,348 people receiving a first dose and 97,955 second doses.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11.

Harrogate district covid rate rises again today

The district’s covid rate has increased to 388 people per 100,000 as case numbers fall slightly from yesterday.

The Harrogate district’s covid rate is now the highest in North Yorkshire. The county has an average of 317 per 100,000.

Today a further 86 covid cases have been reported in the Harrogate district according to Public Health England figures, four down on yesterday.

It takes the total number of cases in the district since last March to 9,311.

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A total of 217,486 vaccinations have been given in the district, according to Public Health England statistics.

The number includes 119,967 people receiving a first dose and 97,519 second doses.

No covid-related deaths have been reported at the hospital since April 11.