It is six years since animal lovers Jacqui and Peter Morrell set up the HAPPY hedgehog rescue centre in Ripon.

Since 2014, they have saved the lives of  hundreds of the endanger creatures through Hedgehog Appreciation Prickly Pals Yorkshire – an acronym that Jacqui thought up on a day out in Scarborough.

From that trip to the coast, the couple could hardly have expected the demand that there would be for their services, which have seen them involved in the rescue of up to 1,000 hedgehogs.

Jacqui told the Stray Ferret:

“We get calls day and night from people in many parts of the country who have found an injured or poorly hedgehog. If they are calling from somewhere that is a long way from Ripon, we refer them to the hedgehog rescue centre that is closest to them.”

HAPPY is part of a nationwide network of hedgehog rescue and preservation organisations and Jacqui and Peter can also refer callers to centres in Italy and Cyprus if required.

In good hands – a hoglet that is being looked after by HAPPY

The need for these organisations has increased year on year. In July The International Union for the Conservation of Nature put hedgehogs on its Red List for British Mammals classified as being ‘vulnerable to extinction’.

It is ironic that the announcement should come in a summer when rescue centres across the UK have had fears for their own survival, as fundraising and awareness events, including Hedgehog Awareness Week in May, were cancelled because of the coronavirus crisis.

Jacqui, pointed out:

“We feel we are the forgotten victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that the need for our services has increased.”

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HAPPY, which is registered with the British Hedgehog Society, has achieved a 75% success rate in the rehabilitation and return to the wild of creatures that are among the country’s best-loved animals.

Jacqui and Peter, who have become skilled in the care and treatment of the animals in the HAPPY Hogspital Unit and the hedgehog hotel they have created in their garden, are thankful for the support received from Bondgate Pet Supplies, Bishopton Vets practice and the Ripon community.

With fundraising activities such as talks to community groups currently suspended, the need for help in cash and kind continues and anybody who would like to help them in their work can find out more on the HAPPY Facebook page.

Sightings of an otter in Ripon Canal, have provided a silver lining to a lockdown summer overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic. The animal recently featured on social media and recorded at play in the canal.

Jonny Hart-Woods, the Canal and River Trust’s senior environmental specialist for Yorkshire and the North East, told the Stray Ferret:

“The great news is that improvements in water quality brought about by environmental legislation, have seen increased fish stocks and when the right conditions come together wildlife will return.”

Sightings remain rare, but Mr Hart-Woods pointed out:

For the European otter, the dish of choice for most days is salmon or sea trout and the rivers and canals, where these fish are in plentiful supply,  provide the ideal habitat for this large top of the food chain predator.

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In addition to water quality improvements, the work of the Canal and River Trust in maintaining bankside trees and bushes and looking after adjacent wetland areas, has created an environment that has attracted birds and other creatures that feature in a hungry otter’s daily diet.

Sadly the otters are also vulnerable to being killed by cars with one recently killed on the Boroughbridge road.

Mr Hart-Woods said:

“Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for otters to be killed or injured while crossing a road. While it is sad, people who are thrilled by the thought of one day seeing these incredible creatures, can take heart in the knowledge that the otter population in the river Ure catchment is increasing.”

North Yorkshire Police are continuing to investigate an incident in which graffiti, including an expletive, was daubed on a wall across the road from Ripon Cathedral.

The offensive message targeting the Conservatives has now been removed after being reported to the police last Friday morning.

Harrogate Borough Council tweeted today that although the graffiti did not appear on council land, it had decided to remove it “given the language used”.

Police ask anybody who has information about the perpetrators to call 101 and quote the reference number 12200150072.

The wall is yards from the cathedral on Minster Road – one of the main traffic and pedestrian thoroughfares in Ripon.

The graffiti is another example of anti-social behaviour in the city.

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Other incidents include vandalised windows and fly-tipping.

Some of the anti-social acts have been carried out by children and earlier this year Ripon police called for parents to be more vigilant.

Sergeant Clare Mayes of North Yorkshire Police’s Ripon Neighbourhood Policing Team said:

“Parents, please take responsibility and find out where your children have been, what they’ve been up to and who they have been with – before you receive a knock on the door from a police officer.“

Many of the reports received by the police identify young people at the heart of the problems being experienced in the community.

Sergeant Mayes added:

“We all have a part to play in helping everyone to stay safe and feel safe in their homes and any behaviour which undermines this will be dealt with accordingly

“We are absolutely committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and will be doing everything we can to ensure our communities remain safe and pleasant places to live.”

She added:

“We know that lockdown has caused many of our community members to become isolated from their normal social groups and practices, but nothing excuses the unacceptable behaviour we have recently seen and had reported.”

Ripon Neighbourhood Policing Team says it is working with partner agencies to deal with incidents that are reported, but would urge the public to ensure reports are made by calling 101.

Independent Ripon Councillor Andrew Williams has called on the actress Dawn French to distance herself from Bauer Media following the demise of Stray FM.

Bauer rebranded Stray FM as Greatest Hits Radio today in a move that has upset many local people.

Ms French has been the voice of Greatest Hits Radio since signing a deal with Bauer in December 2018.

Cllr Williams, who serves on Ripon City Council, wrote to her agent Kate Davie of United Agents saying he thought Ms French “would not wish to be associated with the closures of Stray FM and Minster FM”.

He added:

“Perhaps your client might wish to distance herself from such a travesty. She risks her own reputation being tarnished and damaged.”

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Cllr Williams claimed the switch from Stray FM to Greatest Hits Radio was a “complete decimation of the local radio stations that have played an integral part within our local communities for decades”.

He said he had emailed Ms French’s agent both as a private resident and as a member of Ripon City Council, which falls within Stray FM broadcast area.

At the time of publication, neither Cllr Williams nor the Stray Ferret had received a response from Ms French or her agent.

In a press release in December 2018, when Ms French was announced as the ‘voice of the station’ Greatest Hits Radio, said:

“Nothing short of a comedy legend, Dawn embodies the station’s brand values and is well known to the UK public for decades of award-winning comedy and acting roles including playing the irrepressible Geraldine Granger in The Vicar of Dibley.”

A seven-year-old Ripon girl will carry out a double act of kindness to help others next month.

Lacey Dyason is donating her hair to The Little Princess Trust, while also taking part in the Macmillan Cancer Support Brave The Shave fundraising challenge.

A pupil of Ripon Cathedral Church of England Primary School, Lacey decided to donate her long brown hair after seeing a television programme featuring children who have lost their hair because of illness.

She asked her parents Louise and Barry:

“Will they get bullied by other children because they haven’t got any hair?”

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Louise told the Stray Ferret:

“She couldn’t bear the thought of another child suffering embarrassment or hurtful comments because they have lost their hair through an illness and her mind was made up – she wanted to help.”

The Little Princess Trust provides free real hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

Lacey, pictured with her parents Louise and Barry Dyason

 

While finding out more about the work of the charity, Mr and Mrs Dyason spoke with Lacey, asking her if she was absolutely sure she wanted to make the donation. The answer came back ‘yes’ every time.

As well as seeing the programme about the children who lost her hair, Lacey saw television advertisements about the Macmillan Cancer Support Brave the Shave challenge.

After talking about it with her parents it was agreed that she could also take part in this fundraiser and attempt to raise £500.

At the time of going to press she had beaten the original target on her fundraising page https://bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/lacey-dyason in a matter of days and hopes more people will support her.

Louise, added:

“She is a thoughtful, but determined girl and Barry and I and her elder brother Mckenzie are so proud of her.”

The cutting and collection of Lacey’s hair will be carried out at the Saks salon in High Skellgate, which works with The Princess Trust.

The head shave will go ahead after her long locks have been safely packaged in readiness to send to the charity.

Louise added:

“We decided to select October for both the hair cut and the shave, so that we can let Lacey’s teachers and friends know in advance what she is doing and why she is doing it, so it won’t come as a shock when they see her temporary changed appearance.”

Since 2006, The Little Princess Trust has supplied more than 8,000 wigs to children and young people and invested £5 million into ground-breaking childhood cancer research.

More than 30 organisations operating in the Ripon area – including the city council, retailers, the cathedral, schools and heritage attractions – are featured on a colourful community jigsaw organised and assembled by the Jennyruth Workshops charity.

The project, in which participants were each given a single jigsaw piece to decorate with messages and logos, was made possible with a grant from Ripon City Council.

Anna Smith, Jennyruth Workshops’ publicity and media officer, said:

“Our aim was to involve as many people, places, organisations and establishments that make up the wonderful city of Ripon as we can, in creating a vibrant and unique jigsaw-style display to be showcased around various venues in the city.”

She added:

“It paints a picture of our community and all the diverse ways that we work together, live alongside each other, help and support each other and forge links together, through good times and bad.”

The Pet Shop in Old Market Place, Ripon, is the first to display the jigsaws in its window and owner Jane Fisher told the Stray Ferret:

“We are delighted to be involved with this community project. Jennyruth is a wonderful charity, doing great work and producing very high quality items.”

The jigsaws will remain in The Pet Shop window for two weeks and then move on to another prominent location in Ripon.

The Jennyruth Workshops charity was founded by Barrie and Sue Evason and provides learning through work for adults with learning disabilities.

With support from full-time staff and a team of volunteers, the workers make brightly-painted wooden goods at the charity’s base in Bridge Hewick near Ripon, with products ranging from bee homes and bird houses to Christmas decorations and bespoke goods.

One of the two community jigsaws produced by the Jennyruth Workshops charity

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Despite the coronavirus lockdown, production has continued with the workers – who are aged from 19 to 73 – working from their homes and maintaining contact through daily zoom meetings and an online newsletter.

Barrie, who raised money to set up the workshops through a series of sponsored long-distance walks with son Jonathan, died in February and his ashes will be buried later this year in an urn at a memorial garden created on the workshops site.

On an August morning in the peaceful, pastoral setting of the St Andrew’s churchyard in Kirkby Malzeard, it can feel as if time is standing still – and it is.

With a look up to the tower of the centuries-old parish church, villagers and visitors will see that the hands of time are currently unmoved and have been for more than a week.

Following the failure of a spring which saw its pendulum drop and stop swinging, the clock face froze at 11.38 and 30 seconds on Tuesday, August 18.

Parish sexton and verger Cristopher Slater at St Andrew’s Parish Church

The incident came four hours after parish sexton and verger Christopher Slater had checked the church and looked around its grounds, before opening the building for the benefit of regular worshippers and others wishing to make private prayer or simply enjoy the ancient structure.

Mr Slater’s daily visits to St Andrew’s, where he married his wife Mary 56 years ago, are a labour of love and he has particular reason for ensuring that the clock is keeping good time. In 2003, with the help of family, friends and the local community, he raised £3,000 to pay for the clock to have an electronic mechanism installed.

Mr Slater told the Stray Ferret:

“Before then, I had to wind it twice a week – with hundreds of turns each time – one to keep the clock going and the other to set the chimes. It was hard work.”

The new mechanism was installed 17 years ago, after the fundraising campaign which saw Mr Slater carrying a sandwich board around Kirkby Malzeard, containing a message calling for support from businesses and his fellow villagers.

He said:

“I had a lot of help from my friend Kevin Ward, Mary and our daughter Susan. We held raffles with prizes provided by local companies, had open gardens events and sold home-baked cakes and scones.”

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With the target reached, RF Potts of Derby was appointed to convert the clock from one set by hand, to  an electronically-driven timepiece.

The company has carried out regular maintenance since and will be back in Kirkby Malzeard soon to complete the highly specialised work required to get the clock with its hourly chimes working once more.

In the meantime, Mr Slater will keep watch on St Andrew’s, carrying out the daily inspections, openings and closings of the building, that have been part of his life for 50 of his 79 years.

After setting up in the face of a crisis 20 years ago, Ripley Scarecrow Pigfest has been cancelled this year – because of the pandemic.

The event was due to celebrate its 20th anniversary with plans to stage the biggest and best festival to date.

It was launched in 2001 to attract people back to the village and wider countryside in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis. Now, in an ironic twist, another crisis means it will not go ahead this year.

Organiser Karen Evans, who lives near Ripon, came up with the idea for a scarecrow hunt, featuring pig-headed characters with imaginative names given by their creators.

For consistency of look she has, in the previous 19 years, made the papier mache heads for each Pigfest character – providing a subtle nod to Ripley’s boar’s head emblem.

Karen told the Stray Ferret:

“Unfortunately, we have become victims of our own success and couldn’t risk public safety, with hundreds of people in the confined space of the village.”

Boarglar Bill, one of the imaginatively-named characters who has featured at Ripley Scarecrow Pigfest

It has also brought another financial setback for the All Saints’ Church fabric fund which, over the years, has benefitted from donations of thousands of pounds raised through the entry fee for participants.

Karen, who is a warden at the Ripley church, pointed out:

“Combined with the fact that we have not been able to have the Wednesday cafe at All Saints’ open this summer, we have seen a loss of revenue totalling around £11,000.”

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Rather than bemoan the losses, she decided to literally get on her bike to provide another means of raising money, both for the church and the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre at Harrogate Hospital, which is dear to her heart, having been treated there herself.

Between September 21 and 24, Karen and friend Judith Nickols will do a 137-mile sponsored cycle ride starting from Whitehaven on the west coast and finishing in Tynemouth on the east coast.

Both are keen cyclists and are training hard in readiness for the challenging and hilly coast to coast course.

Anybody wanting to sponsor Karen can find further details about her fundraising for All Saints’ Church Ripley and The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre on her justgiving page.

A host of angels made from many different materials has started appearing around Dacre Banks and other neighbouring parishes in Nidderdale.

Rachel Ferneley, whose husband the Rev Alistair Ferneley is the vicar of Holy Trinity Church, has inspired parishioners and local people to make the angels as a means of thanking those who have helped others during the crisis and thinking of those who have died or are ill.

As well as being on display in gardens, windows of homes and businesses, they are decorating Holy Trinity itself.

At 10am tomorrow, the people who have made them are invited to bring their creations to the church for a socially-distanced open-air service led by Rev Ferneley. A rainbow of hope made up of the different written intentions will also be at the service.

Part of the Nidderdale Angels display at Holy Trinity Church in Dacre Banks.

Mrs Ferneley told the Stray Ferret:

“During the coronavirus crisis, the local community has pulled together and helped one another in many ways and I thought it would be appropriate to have a means of marking this with the Nidderdale angels.”

She added:

“This can be a way of thanking people who have acted like angels with help during the crisis, or a way of remembering loved ones who have died, or who are unwell.”

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The call for angels has sparked the imagination of the local community as the designs have come in many shapes and sizes, from the small cherub made out of chicken wire at the entrance to Holy Trinity to one made out of corks. More life-like are the two mannequins dressed in angelic clothing inside the church.

Mrs Ferneley is delighted by the response to the bank holiday event and pointed out:

“All we need now is for the angels to help us by bringing some dry weather on Sunday morning for our outdoor service!”

Plans to create Ripon’s first community arts hub have taken a significant step forward.

During the covid-19 lockdown, members of Ripon Amateur Operatic Society (RAOS) have been working behind the scenes to develop proposals that will transform their Allhallowgate headquarters and make them fully accessible to people with limited mobility.

Other objectives are to increase the versatility of the venue and make its space more suitable for the creative arts.

The work is estimated to cost £60,000 and in its quest to raise the initial £20,000 of its target, RAOS is working on a crowdfunding initiative with help and advice from the Aviva Community Fund.

The society is aiming to crowdfund an initial £5,000 over seven days and is asking supporters of its proposals to make donations online.

Aviva has assisted a wide range of community activities and facilities across the UK by providing practical and financial assistance, with its 16,000 employees playing a role in deciding which projects will receive money from the insurance company’s fund.

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RAOS committee member Hannah Ruddy told the Stray Ferret:

“Our aim is to create the Ripon Community Arts Hub. This would be an accessible, versatile and creative space, available to all, bringing together all arts disciplines including music, theatre, comedy, dance and also visual and sensory arts, such as art and photography exhibitions.”

Part of the £60,000 plan is to create new changing and toilet facilities for young actors (Photograph courtesy of RAOS)

The society, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, has presented its proposals in a three minute video, which can be seen via the fundraising page.

Hannah added:

“Lockdown has allowed us to look into what we can do with the space and what’s required for it to reach its full potential.”

To achieve its ambitions, the society plans to install a lift for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, along with a further toilet for disabled people and improved visual and audio aids in the building.

Other planned enhancements include provision of separate dressing rooms and toilets for boys and girls to meet safeguarding requirements, along with a backstage toilet for performers with disabilities.