The Stray Ferret is to introduce a small subscription fee shortly after we launch our new website and app in May.  

The new website and app will include many features that readers have asked for — more investigations, notifications, more lifestyle content and the ability to comment on stories on the website rather than just on social media.  

Subscribers will also benefit from exclusive discounts from local businesses which aim to cover subscription costs and will not be offered anywhere else. 

Since 2020, we have taken pride in covering the stories that matter most to residents across Harrogate, Ripon, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Masham and Pateley Bridge.

We passionately believe that a quality, local news service for the area provides an important, trusted platform for debate and information for local people.  

The media landscape is financially tough and while we’ve previously adopted an advertising only model, it has not been enough to meet our costs.  

We have watched as other local news organisations have cut the number of  journalists, lowered the quality of the stories they publish and covered pages with pop-up ads which make it unreadable. We didn’t want to do this.  

By paying a small fee you will be investing in an improved news service. By keeping adverts, we can keep the subscription price to readers as low as possible.  

We did not take this decision lightly, but we feel this is the only way to keep serving the area to the standard it deserves, by providing a platform to raise awareness about issues that affect local people.  

We’ve also moved into Harrogate town centre, so we can help anyone who has problems with signing up to the subscription service, the app or newsletter.  

So from May we will be asking readers to subscribe to the Stray Ferret for £4.99 a month. Or you can pay annually at £49.99 which would save you about £10 a year.

In the coming weeks, we will be explaining how the subscription service will work and how to sign up, as well as tackling any frequently asked questions.  

We hope you subscribe — by doing so you will be investing in quality, local journalism.  

Dear Stray Ferret reader,  

This week we announced that we will be introducing a small monthly charge to read the Stray Ferret when we launch our new website and app in May.   

I’d like to explain why we’re doing this and hope that you consider subscribing.  

For the past four years, we have worked hard to give people living in the Harrogate district as much information as possible. We believe in the power of good local journalism, how it can highlight issues and encourage debate.   

I hope you feel the Stray Ferret is doing this and has kept you very informed.  

We have tried to fund our work solely through advertising but over the past year it hasn’t been enough to meet our costs.  

After much thought, I took the decision to improve what we do and ask readers to contribute. The alternative option was to cut down the number of journalists and reduce the quality. But I know from talking to readers that, above all, it’s the quality of the news we provide that you value the most.   

We live at a time when quality, local news across the UK is in danger of ceasing to exist. If this happens people will either get no local information, or have to rely on what is posted on social media group chats and channels. It is not reliable. We are trained journalists whose work is as accurate, fair and balanced as we can make it. We carry out investigations on behalf of the tax payer, check our sources and ask questions.  I believe it will be a bad day for local democracy if local news services don’t survive.  

As well as covering daily news and investigations we also work to celebrate the area – its beauty and the wonderful things people are doing who live here. I personally love our Photo of The Week every weekend. We want to support our community by both asking questions and celebrating success.  

I hope my explanation helps you understand why we’ve taken this decision.  

In May, the new website and app will have many of the features that you, as a regular reader, have asked for. It will have images that you can expand, the ability to comment on the website and join the debate, it will have more lifestyle stories and exclusive discounts just for subscribers.  

We will not stop having adverts – they help keep the cost of subscription as low as possible to £4.99 a month or £49.99 if you wish to pay annually.  

So I would ask that you please consider subscribing because you value what we do. By doing so you will be investing in quality, local journalism for your area.   

We are in the centre of Harrogate now and can help you subscribe and answer any questions you have, so please come and see us.  

Best Wishes

Tamsin

Founder, The Stray Ferret

Read More about The Stray Ferret team: 

• Meet the team – Flora Grafton
• Meet the team – John Plummer
• Meet the team – John Grainger
• Meet the team – Lauren Ryan
• Meet the team – Calvin Robinson
• Meet the team – Tim Flanagan

A number of trees have fallen blocking roads across the Harrogate district tonight as high winds and heavy rain continue to batter the region.

This evening, trees have fallen on Valley Drive and in the Oval in Harrogate and on Greyston Plain Lane next to Northern Energy in Hampswaithe.

Flood alerts continue to be in place for the Upper and Lower Nidd and Upper and Lower Ure areas.

The government’s flood alert, last updated at 5.30pm this evening, said river levels remain high on the Lower River Ure. Affected areas include low-lying land including agricultural land and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.

The alert said in the Upper Nidd area which covers Pateley Bridge and Summerbridge  rain is falling on an already wet catchment.

The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for wind for up to 11.45pm.

The weather though it set to ease tomorrow.

Read More: 

• Wind warning for Harrogate district tomorrow
• Village floods as Harrogate district warnings remain

This article is sponsored by Park Playground. 

Who knew a group of eight middle aged women could have so much fun romping around a distant planet, fighting aliens and solving the world’s clean energy crisis in about an hour?

When I suggested a virtual reality experience at Park Playground to members of my Harrogate book club, it’s fair to say they were a little sceptical. This was tech that they’d no idea about but, I successfully argued, would make us pretty cool with our kids and grandchildren.

I had already been to Park Playground on a wet August day with an eleven year old and had a blast…literally.  I was convinced Book Club would also find it hilarious.

Group of visitors to Park Playground in Leeds, Photograph provided by Park Playground

Off we set from Harrogate for a night out in Leeds, beginning with our session at Park Playground.

Ahmad was hosting us and we began by taking a virtual lift to the top of a sky-scraper. Once at the top, the doors opened and we each had to walk a plank off what felt like the top of the Burj Khalifa. If you can’t stand heights like me, it’s so real it’s terrifying. I couldn’t do it – but some of my fellow book lovers did it, egged on by the rest of us, shouting encouragement.

So the scene was set for our main session – a journey to a distant planet to collect a crystal which produces clean energy. We fought aliens (big and small) and an enemy army so we had to work as a team. Team work is very hard when you all start acting like teenagers and spend much of the session screaming and howling with laughter.

Our mission was eventually accomplished and we had saved the planet. Pheww. Book Club were awesome!

The technology is so impressive – you feel as though you really are jetpacking and the aliens who come at you are intimidating. It’s serious fun.

Park Playground is not just for the kids – it’s for everyone. I think every Book Club should go – as should every work team.

You enter another world, you are immersed in your new surroundings and it’s one of the best hours I’ve had this year.

Transport yourself to another world for half the price and double the fun, with our exclusive vouchers.

Enjoy 50% off a 60-minute VR experience at Park Playground in Leeds for 4 people!

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

Ripon BID is to launch of a loyalty scheme to boost the local economy and support the city’s independent businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

Totally Locally Ripon aims to encourage support for local businesses. Residents and visitors who spend money with participating independent businesses will get their ‘Ripon Passport Poster’ stamped.  Once they get enough stamps on their passport, they’re in the chance of winning cash or vouchers.

The BID is encouraging businesses to get involved. For more details visit the Ripon BID website.

Ripon’s late night Christmas shopping event is on Thursday 30 November.

Read More: 

• Business Breakfast: Investment to supercharge growth at Harrogate firm
• Knaresborough banking hub officially opens

Masham based W E Jameson & Son Ltd have celebrated success at The Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards 2023.

W.E. Jameson & Son Ltd provide animal feed, farming services and advice to farmers.

Organised by The Family Business Community, the awards were held at The Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.

WE Jameson were announced as the winner of the wholesale category.

A spokesperson for the company said:

“We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of all the staff. The company was founded by Eddie Jameson, a family man, in 1930. He would be very proud that the company still holds true to his family values and has continued to do business with many farming families over the generations.”