Wildflower planting programme launched at Ripon nature reserveThe Skell Valley Project is inviting people to help restore wildlife habitats at Ripon’s Hell Wath nature reserve.
The £2.5 million project aims to provide a sustainable future for 12 miles of the River Skell through Dallowgill Moor and Ripon an on to the vale of York.
Throughout January, the project team will be working with the Friends of Hell Wath and Harrogate Borough Council to carry out habitat improvements by restoring areas of grassland and continuing to remove areas of scrub.
The areas for clearance have been selected with the aim of creating a rich environment for a wide range of animal and plant species.
The conservation work is part of the Friends’ management plan for the site developed in liaison with the four-year Skell project, which is led by the National Trust and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
On Saturday January 14, members of the community can find out more about the wildflower planting programme and how they can become involved by meeting at the Ripon City Panthers clubhouse at Hell Wath, where a drop-in session will be held between 10am and 3pm.
Following the public event, scrub clearance will continue throughout the week with various volunteer groups. Information boards and maps throughout the site are being put in place to provide details of what’s happening.
Red Admiral is one variety of butterfly playing a key role in pollination at Hell Wath. Picture: Ripon Photographic Society
Hell Wath is a designated local nature reserve important for its grassland and contains species such as the common spotted orchid and adder’s-tongue fern.
Work so far has helped wildflowers recover and rare bee orchids have reappeared in key areas. This month’s work will ensure these wildflowers are not swamped by the encroaching scrub and woodland, which will create more feeding opportunities for pollinating insects.
The project’s area ranger Gabby Crisp said:
“We’d love the local community to come and give Hell Wath a hand by joining us on Saturday January 14 at a drop-in practical session we’ll be holding on site.
“We’ll be hand-cutting some scrub to allow space for the grassland and the wildlife it supports to thrive. It’ll be a great way to kick off the new year with some fresh air and a chance to burn off some Christmas calories too!’.
Jeremy Dunford, secretary of the Friends, added:
“Growing the wildflower population of the large grassland meadows is a key part of the management plan for Hell Wath. This will increase the range and number of butterflies and other insects in this area which will in turn see a larger variety of birds and small mammals at the nature reserve.
“Those unable to make the public event can still get involved in helping nature thrive in this special place from the comfort of home. Friends of Hell Wath are asking the local community to help by cultivating wildflower plugs to plant on Hell Wath in the autumn.”
For a £5 donation, the Friends will provide a pack of wildflower seeds, a tray of 12 biodegradable seeds pots, peat free compost to fill the trays and an instruction leaflet for cultivating the seeds provided.
- The first AGM to be held by the Friends of Hell Wath since it gained charitable status will be held at South Lodge, from 7pm on January 19. All are welcome to attend, although voting is open only to members of the charity. For more information click here.
Read more:
Conversion of former Ripon pub to new homes moves a step closer
The conversion of a famous former Ripon pub into flats as part of a new housing development is moving a step closer.
In October 2021 Harrogate Borough Council granted planning permission to convert the Ship Inn on Bondgate into five two-bedroom flats.
The vacant site has attracted various incidents of anti-social behaviour since the pub closed in 2020.
The new development will see the construction of four terraced houses and a detached dwelling on the site.
Original proposals to redevelop the site, which include the creation of 14 parking spaces, were submitted by Leeds-based NRG Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd.
Now Sharow-based firm Watson Batty Properties LLP has applied to the council to vary the planning conditions to allow for the external use of brick and render in the development.
Planning documents submitted to the council say the development should begin on or before October 13, 2024.
Read more:
At the time of submitting the planning application NRG Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd. said:
“The site is now better suited for residential use, which help bring a more appropriate residential feel for the community, limited to scale and type which does not cause nuisance.
“The provision of new residents will potentially have some benefit to local enterprises and will add to and consolidate the general activity of Ripon.”
Ripon revellers singing in the rain to celebrate the New Year
When hornblower Allison Clark (pictured below) set the watch on Market Square at 9pm, only a handful of people were present, but by the stroke of midnight Ripon’s New Year’s Eve revellers were singing and dancing in the rain.
Yesterday’s heavy showers that threatened to turn the evening of celebration into a damp squib, relented by 11pm and the crowds poured in to enjoy the free music that heralded in 2023.
Mayor Councillor Sid Hawke, who joined with his wife and Mayoress Linda, Ripon city councillors and other civic dignitaries in a torchlit procession from the cathedral to Market Square, led the countdown to midnight, flanked by the Bishop of Leeds The Rt. Revd Nick Baines and the Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson.
The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke, pictured with The Bishop of Leeds The Rt Revd Nick Baines and The Dean of Ripon The Very Revd John Dobson
The Bishop and Dean John, were among the clergy who had taken part in the Watchnight Service at the cathedral that preceded the procession to Market Square, where a blessing was given.
Throughout the evening the tribute acts Exelle, Beyond Faith and Parklife, braved the elements to perform a broad repertoire of songs, ranging from the chart-topping numbers of girl bands to George Michael classics and the Britpop tunes of the 1990s.
The Weather Girls’ 1979 hit It’s Raining Men, was among the songs performed by Exelle (pictured above) while George Michael lookalike and soundalike Beyond Faith (pictured below) also wowed the crowd.
Last night’s concert organised by Ripon City Council, saw the curtain come down on an epic year that saw the city’s ancient square stage historic events including celebrations of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June to the mourning of her death in September and the subsequent proclamation of Charles III as King.
Read more:
Christmas tree disposal service provides vital funding for Ripon Walled GardenWith the time to take down Christmas decorations fast approaching, people living in the Ripon area are being urged to support a local charity and help the environment.
Once again, Ripon Walled Garden, operated by the Ripon Community Link charity, is running its popular and environmentally friendly tree collection and disposal scheme to raise funds to support the delivery and development of the services it provides for adults with learning disabilities.
The charity’s chief executive Victoria Ashley, said:
“Our Christmas fundraising campaigns are vital to the charity, every penny raised through our tree sales and tree collection service directly benefits local people with learning disabilities by helping to pay for staff costs and gas and electricity bills throughout the year to provide services, five days a week to over 55 individuals living with a learning disability.
“The monies raised from suggested donations for the tree collection and recycling service has never been more needed as we all feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
Ms Ashley, added:
“We are extremely proud to partner with Lightwater Quarries and Rudding Park Hotel who are both supporting the Tree Collection Campaign.
“In addition to volunteering to help us collect the Christmas Trees, Lightwater quarries over the last 3 years helped us purchase of a new minibus; supplied the concrete foundations for a new green house and a much needed toilet block, foundations and fundraising for a new classroom building as well as transform the look and feel of the charities main retail area, all of which ultimately help to provide much needed ongoing funds.
“Rudding Park has provided support in so many ways, on site, with events, teams helping us manage our woodland, providing golf sessions for our service users, and we are especially grateful for their donation of an overnight stay at Rudding Park as our Christmas Raffle prize which has helped us raise £2,430 this Christmas.“
Carolyn Sands, chair of the charity, pointed out:
“Ripon Walled Garden provides day care and learning opportunities for so many individuals and respite for their families.”
People living within a five mile radius of Ripon Walled Garden’s HG4 3HN postcode can book the service up until 5pm on Wednesday (January 4) via the Ripon Community Link website: www.riponcommunitylink.org or by calling 01765 609229.
The suggested donation is £7 for a tree up to 10 foot in height and £10 for a tree of 10 foot and above.
Read more:
Ripon set to welcome in the New Year with city eventRipon will welcome in 2023 in traditional style on Saturday evening, with residents and visitors invited to the city’s New Year’s Eve gathering on Market Square.
The celebrations begin at 9pm when a member of the hornblower team will signal the setting of the watch with blasts of their horn at the four corners of the obelisk.
The ceremonial event, dating back to 886 AD – the year in which when Alfred the Great became the first Anglo-Saxon King of England – will provide the prelude to a night of free entertainment.
The watch will be set by a member of the Ripon hornblower team prior to the start of the musical entertainment
Following the hornblower, three tribute acts will take centre stage for the final concert of the year organised by Ripon City Council.
The acts are Beyond Faith, performing the songs of George Michael and Wham, Xelle with the favourite numbers from the best-known girl bands and Parklife, singing Britpop hits of the 1990s.
Shortly before midnight a torchlit procession of civic dignitaries led by the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda, will make its way from Ripon Cathedral to Market Square, in time for the countdown that heralds in the New Year.
The procession will follow the Watchnight service at the cathedral which begins at 11.15.
Read more:
No.5: Concerns remain over spiralling costs of Ripon leisure schemeIn this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the ongoing saga over Ripon leisure centre, its delays and increasing costs.
The end is in sight for Harrogate Borough Council — but will decisions it made about building a new Ripon swimming pool and refurbishing the existing leisure centre at Dallamires Lane come back to haunt council tax payers after the authority’s abolition in April?
Money already spent on the project stands at £14.5 million and still to be added is £3.5 million for extra ground stabilisation on site and a further £300,000 for a temporary gym due to open in the New Year.
The contract awarded to construction company Willmott Dixon in November 2019 was for delivery of the new pool and refurbished centre in May 2021 at a cost of £10.2 million. But the need for ground stabilisation works ahead of the pool’s construction added to the cost and caused delays.
The subsequent discovery in September 2020 of a ‘void’ close to the leisure centre entrance led to an investigation by engineering consultancy Stantec which identified ground stability issues under the leisure centre and a requirement for extensive remediation works to keep the building in use.
Opening of the temporary gym will enable the 27-year-old centre building to be vacated while work is carried out to shore up its foundations, but HBC has indicated that the need for more funding may be identified when this is underway.
The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre, including a newly-constructed six lane swimming pool, opened in March – more than nine months behind the original schedule
A report to a meeting of council’s cabinet in August said the authority had made “every effort to provide an accurate estimate” of the costs of the remediation works but added these could rise further once the ground stability works begin.
Concerns raised by Ripon City Council
Ripon City Council raised concerns about the costs for the additional ground stabilisation and called for an end to the spending on the multi-million pound project and for HBC to fully investigate other options, including building a new leisure centre at a different location where ground conditions are stable.
At its full meeting in October, Independent city council leader Andrew Williams, said the works would take the total spending on the project at Dallamires Lane to £18 million – some £8 million above the original budget.
He added:
“They (HBC) can’t continue ploughing money into this site, with its known history of ground stability issues, including a sinkhole that opened up on the leisure centre car park in 2018.”
Response from Harrogate Borough Council
The call to search for an alternative location for the centre has been rejected by the borough council. A spokesperson for the council, said:
“Building a new leisure centre at another site in Ripon would cost a significant amount of money and would result in two separate facilities to maintain, two sets of running and staffing costs, for example.
“It would also involve purchasing land in a suitable location that we don’t currently have, going through the planning application process and disposing of the existing building safely, all of which would take time and a considerable amount of money. And there is no guarantee that a different site wouldn’t have similar ground conditions.
“Co-location of both wet and dry leisure facilities is also important for increasing and sustaining participation in exercise, as well as optimising revenue and cost recovery.
“The new gym combined with the pool on one site is proving to be extremely popular, and will be further complemented by two new activity studios, sports hall, a spin studio as well as meeting facilities.”
The spokesperson added:
“Our consulting engineer has advised that a do-nothing approach is not advised. And although there is no immediate change in the geological risk profile to the building – that was originally built in 1995 and has provided sport and leisure services for more than 25 years – it is recommended that ground stabilisation works are undertaken to ensure people in Ripon can keep fit and active for years to come.”
Read more:
Sun shines as hundreds of Ripon pilgrims walk to Fountains AbbeySt Stephen’s Day in this busiest of years for Ripon Cathedral started with a Eucharist service, followed by a leisurely four-mile walk to Fountains Abbey.
The annual Boxing Day pilgrimage linking the two internationally famous and historic religious sites has been taking place in all weathers since 1976.
Bright sunshine and clear skies saw hundreds of pilgrims participate in this morning’s walk, following a procession led by the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson and children, who took it in turns to carry a cross along the way.
The pilgrims on the start of their journey head up Kirkgate.
With celebrations during 2022 to mark the 1,350th anniversary of the cathedral’s foundation by Wilfrid, this year’s walk had an added significance. as the pilgrims again retraced the steps of the 13 Benedictine monks who were the original founders of the abbey in 1132.
A group of pilgrims arrive at Fountains Abbey
At the abbey, the hundreds who completed the walk from the cathedral were joined by hundreds more (pictured below) for a carol service held in the cellarium.
The service included readings, prayers and traditional carols, with musical accompaniment provided by the Stray Brass Ensemble.
Read more:
No. 3: A landmark anniversary year for Ripon Cathedral
In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at a historic year for Ripon Cathedral.
Throughout this milestone year for Ripon Cathedral the iconic building has been at the heart of the local and regional community, playing a central role in events of celebration and sadness.
Its landmark 1,350th anniversary coincided with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June and Her Majesty’s death and funeral in September.
The cathedral captured every emotion, from the joyous bells that rang out to mark the monarch’s history-making 70-year reign, to flags flown at half mast to signal her passing.
During 2022, it provided a fitting setting for activities ranging from the spectacular Rome to Ripon exhibition of artworks depicting the life of its founding father Wilfrid, the city’s patron saint, to the hosting of civic services for North Yorkshire in June to celebrate the jubilee and in September to mourn The Queen’s death.
The cathedral was a focal point for mourning following The Queen’s death in September
The ancient church, whose crypt dates back to 672 AD, is the foundation stone upon which Ripon has developed over the centuries and encapsulates many aspects of the city’s history through carvings, sculptures, stained glass and monuments.
For Wilfrid, a patron of the arts who studied at Lindisfarne, the Rome to Ripon exhibition, provided a modern twist in the telling of his story, including three centrepiece paintings by internationally-renowned Syrian artist Sara Shamma.
The 1,350 celebrations ran for six months from April until October and also included dancing in the nave, a beer festival in the cathedral grounds, a pilgrimage from Bradford Cathedral, a Son et Lumiere, lectures from historians, a series of tours taking visitors behind the scenes, and an organ festival.
As a further lasting reminder of the patron saint’s work in Ripon a ledger stone at the entrance to the quire, was dedicated to Wilfrid at a service attended by the Archbishop of York, The Most Revd and Rt Hon Stephen Cottrell and Bishop of Leeds, The Rt Revd Nick Baines.
The ledger stone dedicated to Wilfrid
Who was St Wilfrid?
Wilfrid – one of the greatest and most controversial English saints – was born into a noble Northumbrian family. He studied at Lindisfarne before embracing the Roman ways, was deposed on more than one occasion, and yet helped unite England behind a single Christian tradition.
It is said he was born in flames, survived shipwrecks and exile, and his jailers could not keep him chained. He was a healer, he kept people from hunger by teaching them to fish, and it is said that the moon and stars shone so bright for him, that a lunar rainbow appeared on the anniversary of his death.
In his early twenties, he made a pilgrimage to Rome and was much inspired by the lives of the saints there, and the great basilica churches. He brought some of the beauty of Rome back to England with him.
Read more:
Ripon BID announces Christmas windows competition winnersThe winners of the Ripon Business Improvement District Christmas windows competition have been announced.
In the online public vote, the silver salver and first prize went to the Wakeman’s House Cafe in Market Place South, while the window display created by young people at Ripon YMCA in Water Skellgate (pictured below) received the judges’ award and silver cup.
Both of the winning entries caught the eye of the independent judging panel, which included the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda and the Dean of Ripon the Very Revd. John Dobson.
BID manager Lilla Bathurst, said:
“This is the first year that we have run the competition and we were pleased to receive 23 entries from across the city.
“The theme that we set was peace and sanctuary and the judges and online voters were asked to bear this in mind when assessing the window displays.”
The Wakeman’s House Cafe entry with its doves, crib, and small, cosy Christmas houses captured the theme perfectly with a window design created by Jenny MacNair.
Ms MacNair, who works at the cafe, told the Stray Ferret:
“We are absolutely delighted to win the public vote. All members of our team contributed to the display by bringing in ornaments and other decorations.”
Devolution could end ‘half a century of under investment’ in RiponThe leader of Ripon City Council has said he hopes devolution in April will end “almost half a century of under investment” in Ripon by leaders in Harrogate.
The new North Yorkshire Council unitary authority will come into effect on April 1, when Harrogate Borough Council will be abolished.
At the city council’s full meeting this month, members resolved unanimously to submit an expression of interest in taking over the running of key assets that have been under the control of Harrogate Borough Council since 1974.
The assets range from the town hall to public toilets and the list also includes Market Square (pictured below) the Wakeman’s House and Hugh Ripley Hall.
Independent City Council leader Andrew Williams, who was elected to North Yorkshire County Council in May, said:
“As part of the Harrogate district we have suffered from almost half a century of under investment that has held Ripon back, but I am convinced that we can emerge from the doldrums by having greater involvement in running assets and ensuring that their potential is fully realised.”
He added:
“You only need to look at Ripon Town Hall, which has been left largely empty under Harrogate’s control, when it could have been providing valuable space for businesses and earning money for the city.
“By contrast, the city council has successfully managed Hugh Ripley Hall under a long lease from Harrogate and following our investment in upgrading the building it has become a very well used and profitable facility.”
Hugh Ripley Hall has been operating profitably under the management of Ripon City Council.
The route to greater involvement in running Ripon’s assets lies in the the double devolution proposals announced earlier this year by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).
NYCC has said:
“The new council will work with any town and parish council that wants to do more, for example, to deliver or commission services; providing they are able to demonstrate value for money and the ability to deliver.
“If these conditions are met then the new council will be open to funding the arrangements. The council would work with a first wave of forerunner town and parish councils to develop the concept.
“Other town and parish councils could then follow. Representatives from parish and town councils have worked with us to identify the types of service that could potentially be devolved from the new council if your local parish or town council would like to take them on.”
Ripon is aiming to be one of the forerunner councils to be selected to pilot the double devolution scheme.
Read more: