Stray Foodie recipes: a heart for St Valentine’s Day

Stray Foodie Lockdown Recipes are written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years.

“I’ll be bringing you some of my favourite recipes each week. I’d love to see how you make the recipes your own – let me know by using #StrayFoodie or tagging @thestrayferret in your social media posts.”

 

This is an old fashioned St Valentines Ginger Cheesecake with a heart for every member of your family. February 14 celebrates St Valentine, the patron saint of love and romance, also known as the feast of St Valentine. What could be nicer than to make a delicious cake for a special occasion that all the family can enjoy to celebrate love and romance? It is an appreciation of special people in your life.

A proper cheesecake, in our opinion at Paradise, is a baked cake and not some gelatinous mousse! At the beginning of the century, New York had a great reputation for what we call original cheesecake. This is a similar recipe, adding a ginger puree and yellow sultanas to the base and using pastry rather than biscuit (which I always feel is cheating!)

To garnish this cake we made some red jelly hearts out of rhubarb juice mixed with red orange juice. Not only is this fun and pretty but once again cuts the richness of this very moor-ish cheesecake. This cake keeps well and it is important not to make it too thick, otherwise the richness of it detracts from the enjoyment.

For the pastry base you will need:

For the filling you will need:

Method:

Rub the butter in to the dry ingredients using your food processer.

Add the egg.

Remove from the machine, bring together and chill for 30 minutes.

Grease a 30cm x 20cm tray with a 3cm depth.

Roll out the pastry and line the tray.

Mix a handful of yellow sultanas with a dessert spoonful of ginger puree.

Spread on top of the pastry.

For the Cheesecake you will need:

Method:

Mix the cream cheese with the eggs, sugar and cream together in your food processor. Blend well and pour on top of the pastry.

Put in the oven at 140c / 150c for 30 – 35 minutes depending on oven variation. It should be slightly risen and firm.

For the Jelly you will need:

Method:

Boil together and reduce by half.

Add the gelatine leaves.

Cool and pass through a sieve.

Place on a tray lined with acetate or use a non stick tray.

Set up in the fridge.

Cut out hearts to decorate.

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High hopes for Washburn centre’s anniversary celebrations

An historic building is gearing up to mark a significant anniversary, despite having been closed for most of the last year.

The Washburn Heritage Centre, which sits close to Swinsty Reservoir, was extended in 2011 to create exhibition and meeting space as well as a tea room.

The 10th anniversary of its opening falls this month, but covid restrictions mean celebrations have been put on hold. However, its members are making plans for a month of events in June to ensure the occasion is not missed.

The centre has proved increasingly popular since it opened, attracting visitors from West Yorkshire and Lancashire, as well as more locally. Walkers appreciate the opportunity to refuel with some of the cakes made by volunteers, while the exhibitions about the rich local history have also proved a draw to visitors.

However, the last year has seen the tea rooms open for just a few weeks for take-away food and drinks. Volunteer Sarah Stead said:

“We have lost a lot of money and members, but we’re still keeping things going. A lot of the members are elderly and that puts them off coming and volunteering, but we hope they will come back in future.

“There’s still a lot going on online, and we have some great plans for the anniversary. We’re hoping we’ll be able to have an exhibition about the last 10 years, and a variety of talks from people involved from the beginning, like the architect and the people who started it all going.”

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While plans are yet to be finalised and will depend on any covid restrictions still in place, the volunteers are doing their utmost to keep people interested even while they can’t visit.

A series of online talks and events is planned, beginning with a look at a project to increase local populations of the spotted flycatcher, which is under threat in the UK.

The centre’s website also has an online archive of local photos and is posting regularly on its social media accounts. News about the anniversary plans and future events will be announced when covid restrictions are eased.

Future of Bewerley Park outdoor centre under threat

Bewerley Park Outdoor Learning Centre faces an uncertain future because of the impact of covid and the need for significant investment in its facilities.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive is due to meet next week to decide whether to mothball the site in the short-term, as it is not currently in use.

The long-term future of the site is also under consideration, with staff posts likely to be lost and no certainty of reopening after the coronavirus crisis.

Amanda Newbould, assistant director of education and skills at NYCC, has written a report recommending a review of the site’s viability. The report said:

“The Bewerley Park site requires significant investment to maintain and improve the facilities; there is a capital maintenance backlog and the design and layout of the current buildings do not meet the demands and function required by a modern outdoor education centre.

“A strategic review of the service was planned in early 2020 but was put on hold due to the pandemic.”

As a result, the Nidderdale site – which last year celebrated its 80th anniversary – has seen its income fall dramatically from around £2.25 million, with a deficit of just under £80,000 in 2019-20.

This year, its forecast deficit is almost £1m.

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NYCC’s other residential site, East Barnby near Whitby, is also set to be mothballed and have its future reviewed.

Most of the 42 outdoor learning service staff across the two sites have been furloughed, with five redeployed to local covid response services until the end of March. A number of short-term contracts and traineeships have not been renewed.

Even when residential visits are allowed, the report says it is likely to take some time before schools are on site again to generate income:

“The effect of the current public health and economic situation and their impact on schools and parents’ willingness to commit to residential learning experiences is not yet understood.

“The prospect of sufficient confirmed bookings of residential visits with numbers to produce a viable income for the service to balance its budget is unlikely to improve in the next financial year.

“When residential visits are permitted it is likely that risk mitigation measures will lead to much smaller sized cohorts accessing the residential centres at any time and this will significantly affect levels of income.”

Bewerley Park

Bewerley Park requires significant sums spending on it to meet modern educational needs. Photo: North Yorkshire Outdoor Learning Service.

The planned long-term review will look at the overall need for outdoor education across the county and how this can best be provided. Among the options being considered are partnerships with voluntary and community organisations.

The report proposes mothballing Bewerley Park at the end of the financial year, at a cost of £36,000. This would include ‘winterising’ and draining down services and installing CCTV, with a £20,000 budget to the council’s property services department to keep the site secure.

Consultation on job losses

Some of the staff could be redeployed to other departments depending on need, and the report recommends doing this as soon as possible.

Once the long-term review is complete, a consultation would have to be held about the number of staff retained to work at the two sites in future. The estimated cost of making staff redundant would be just over £200,000.

The report said the earliest the posts could be lost was the end of August this year, following the required consultation and notice period. A “small number” of staff also have tenancies at Bewerley Park linked to their employment, requiring notice to be given for them to move out.

Impact on education

The report also recognises the implications for children’s education. In 2019, 133 schools from across North Yorkshire visited one of the two venues, along with some from outside the county.

Last autumn, a survey indicated 97 North Yorkshire schools were planning to visit again, but covid restrictions have prevented any from doing so. However, the report also says that all the schools planning a visit “said they would consider an alternative delivery model if the residential element were not possible”.

Cllr Graham Spooner, chairman of Bewerley Parish Council, said he was unaware of the proposals until contacted by the Stray Ferret, but was concerned about the impact on the community and the region’s school children.

“If it was going to close, it would be a loss for employment within the area. And a lot of kids from all over Yorkshire come here and would miss it.”

Council chairman rolls up sleeve for covid vaccine

The chairman of North Yorkshire County Council has urged people to follow his example and get the covid vaccination when it is offered.

Cllr Jim Clark, who lives in Harrogate and represents Harrogate Harlow division, received his vaccination at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

He said:

“It is a very efficient operation, despite challenges posed by the weather, and everybody who attended for their jab at the same time as me was very pleased with the service from the NHS and the many volunteers on hand and ready to help.

“We have all come to value the work of the NHS more than ever during this pandemic and the staff working on the frontline in very challenging circumstances and the best way we can show our continuing support is by taking up the offer of the vaccination.

“This is the biggest contribution we can all make, along with following social distancing and hand hygiene rules, to reducing the pressure on our hospitals and to saving lives.”

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Cllr Clark, who is 73, recalls being vaccinated for the first time when the NHS was formed after the Second World War. Since then, he has been inoculated for serious illnesses including mumps and diptheria, as well as taking up his flu vaccine each winter.

He was vaccinated by Dr Ian Dilley, a GP partner at East Parade Surgery in Harrogate and clinical director of the Mowbray Square Primary Care Network. Dr Dilley said:

“The vaccine rollout is going extremely well and it is great to see so many people enthusiastic to have their vaccination. All the staff have worked very hard to ensure our systems are smooth and well organised and we hope all our patients experience a process that is safe, reassuring and friendly.

“The combined effort across primary care, the incredible voluntary sector, NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and many other organisations has resulted in a service the whole county should be proud of.”

Crown court trial for Bishop Monkton man accused of attacking police

A man from Bishop Monkton charged with a string of offences against police officers and property faces trial at crown court.

Kevan Michael McGrail, 54, of Hungate Lane, appeared before York Magistrates’ Court on Friday to face 12 charges.

They included four counts of assaulting people by beating them, including three police officers, three counts of making threats to kill police officers, and two counts of damaging police vehicles.

He was also charged with damaging another vehicle, possession of a claw hammer, and possession of cannabis. The offences are alleged to have taken place at Harrogate Police Station and in Settle on October 25 last year.

McGrail will face trial at Bradford Crown Court on a date to be set. In the meantime, he was made subject to a curfew with electronic monitoring, requiring him to be at his home address from 7pm to 7am each day.

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Gritting services to return to council control by next winter

Gritting and plouging services across the Harrogate district will be taken over by a new organisation from next winter.

NY Highways Ltd, a company set up and run by North Yorkshire County Council, is set to begin operations this summer and will be running gritting services from then on.

In recent years, highways services including gritting have been sub-contracted to Ringway, with a contract value of £40 million. Instead, by next winter NYCC will directly control the work through its new local authority trading company or ‘Teckal’, with a revenue budget of £20m, a capital budget of £35m, and an expected turnover of £60m.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, NYCC executive member for access, said:

“Having our own company gives us greater control and flexibility over our highways service delivery, while removing the contractual constraints that exist with the current arrangements.

“Through more direct accountability for the works on the ground we aim to deliver a ‘right first time’ service with the customer continuing to be at the heart of everything that we do.

“A very large proportion of the highways team live in North Yorkshire, they are passionate about their communities and take pride in delivering services which are used by their own friends and families. We believe the new company will ensure that we get the maximum benefit from that local pride and passion.”

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The news has been welcomed by Pateley Bridge Town Council, which has issued a letter about the arrangements for winter gritting and ploughing after residents raised concerns.

The Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Cllr Mike Holt, explained NYCC’s role and priorities in bad weather, and said he hoped the changes over the summer would bring improvements by next winter.

“At the moment NYCC subcontract all this work and much more to outside contractors but later this year, after many years they are bringing these services back in house.

“This should mean a more efficient cost-effective service and also through local knowledge, potentially a different set of priorities, concentrating on the worse affected areas instead of just following a scheduled programme.

“Certainly when the changes occur, you can be assured that Pateley Bridge Town Council will be monitoring the situation.”

New snow warning issued for Harrogate district

Residents across the district are bracing for another spell of wintry weather, with warnings in place for snow and ice in North Yorkshire until the middle of next week.

The Met Office has today issued new yellow weather warnings for snow and ice from first thing on Monday until Wednesday lunchtime.

It had already issued warnings of snow and ice from Saturday afternoon until Monday night, saying there may be disruption to travel and icy patches on pavements.

However, the Harrogate district looks set to escape the worst of the conditions, with amber warnings having been issued for the south-east of England and parts of Scotland. In North Yorkshire, snow showers are expected from Saturday evening until Monday afternoon, with the forecast currently showing significant breaks between them.

However, the weather is expected to remain cold for at least another week, with more snow forecast for the district from Thursday onwards.

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Meanwhile, Pateley Bridge Town Council has issued a reminder to residents about gritting and ploughing in the area after a number of queries were raised during bad weather over recent weeks.

Chairman Mike Holt said roads were gritted on a priority basis by North Yorkshire County Council, with tier one roads such as bus routes treated first, followed by tier two, including the B6165 from Ripley to Pateley Bridge. He said:

“Once these roads are clear the third tier is tackled. These are the minor roads and side streets that make up the remainder of the road network.

“Bearing in mind that the county has over 5000 miles of roads I do believe it is understandable that more often than not, the snow clears before they can get to tier three, or sometimes even the second tier.

“NYCC also employ local sub-contractors to plough and grit their local area. Unfortunately this costs extra money which NYCC does not have, so this facility is not used as often as it possibly should be.

“I am led to believe that the grit bins are each allocated two refills per season. Extra refills can be arranged but at a considerable cost and of course when the weather is poor, it is impossible to say when those top-ups might occur.”

If the snow causes disruption over the coming days, the Stray Ferret will provide live updates about road conditions, school closures and more. Keep checking our website and social media for the latest news.

Gross misconduct hearing for Harrogate crash detective

A police officer found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving in Harrogate is set to face a gross misconduct inquiry.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it has recommended the inquiry into Detective Constable Quita Passmore after investigating the collision.

North Yorkshire Police had already said an internal investigation would be held, but the IOPC today confirmed its recommendation for a gross misconduct inquiry had been accepted by the force. The organisation had passed its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service, saying DC Passmore had driven through a red light at high speed without stopping, colliding with another car.

IOPC Regional Director Miranda Biddle said:

“We recognise that police officers undertake a difficult role within our communities however it is necessary that when undertaking their role they follow the policies, procedures and guidance set by their forces. On this occasion our investigation found that DC Passmore drove dangerously when responding to an emergency call which resulted in two members of the public receiving serious injuries.

“The two women and their families have understandably suffered a great deal of stress and anxiety since the incident and we hope that [this] verdict offers them a degree of closure.

“We believe that DC Passmore has a case to answer for gross misconduct. North Yorkshire Police have accepted our recommendation and a hearing will be scheduled by them in due course.”

DC Passmore was this week handed a 10-month jail sentence suspended for two years after being found guilty at a trial at Bradford Crown Court. She was banned from driving for two years, after which she will have to take an enhanced driving test.

The court heard she was responding to an emergency call and driving through the junction of Otley Road and Cold Bath Road in May 2018. She hit a red Vauxhall Corsa, causing broken bones and a punctured lung to driver Patricia Bulmer and passenger Janet Roberton. DC Passmore was also injured.

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Police appeal after man punched and spat at in Ripon

Police are appealing for help to trace a man following an assault in Ripon.

A man was punched and spat at by another man on Bondgate in the city, on Friday, November 27 last year, around 2.30am.

North Yorkshire Police has now issued an appeal for witnesses and information to help with its investigation, saying:

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and in particular we are appealing for anyone who can identify the man pictured as we believe he may have information which could help the investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two, and ask for Katie Bell. You can also email katarina.bell@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, to report information anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200211252.

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TV show to go behind the scenes at Swinton Park

An historic hotel near Masham will be featured on a national television series later this month.

Swinton Park, part of the Swinton Estate, will be on BBC Two’s Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, which looks behind the scenes at some of the world’s most extraordinary hotels.

In the second of three episodes, newspaper columnist and restaurant critic Giles Coren and international chef Monica Galetti will visit the Yorkshire Dales and work at Swinton Estate, the ancestral home of Lord and Lady Masham. As well as the 32-room castle hotel, it includes a cookery school, country club and spa, and the Swinton Bivouac, a tree lodge and glamping retreat.

Work is currently under way to transform the coach house into 10 further hotel rooms.

Swinton Park

Seeing the once private estate now opened up for guests to enjoy, the presenters explore the challenges of bringing a historical home into the modern world. Proprietor Felicity Cunliffe-Lister said:

“We were thrilled to be included in this series, alongside some of the real grand dames of the hotel industry. We loved welcoming the film crew ‘back of house’ to meet our amazing staff and experience some of the unique activities available to our guests.”

The show is due to air on BBC Two on Thursday, February 18 at 9pm.

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