‘A national treasure’: reaction to Rachel Daly’s England retirement

Famous faces from football and beyond have paid tribute to Rachel Daly’s England career following this week’s news of her retirement.

Harrogate-born Daly announced her decision on Wednesday, just a day after the Lionesses 2-0 win against the Republic of Ireland.

The Aston Villa forward, 32, featured in some of England’s most pivotal matches during her eight-year international career, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup final and as a Euro 2022 winner.

News of her departure therefore sparked a lot of tributes.

England and Arsenal footballer Beth Mead praised Daly on social media:

“So proud of you, no words to describe how gutted I am but what an international career it’s been. So happy to have been a part of it. Love you Rachy.”

England captain and Chelsea defender, Millie Bright, said she was the “proudest best friend” of all Daly has achieved in her international career, adding:

“I don’t have many words right now. I’ve shed a lot of tears knowing this was coming.

“You’ve given your heart and soul to your country over and over again. I love you.”

Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps, who shared the pitch with Daly at last year’s World Cup, called her a “national treasure”, while Manchester City’s Alex Greenwood said she is “one of the best, on and off the pitch”.

(L) Mary Earps’ Instagram post and praise from the Prince of Wales. (R)

Former England men’s player Ian Wright said Daly had an “unbelievable” international career, and reminded her she is a “European champion”.

Even the Prince of Wales, an Aston Villa fan, praised Daly’s England career. On the Prince and Princess of Wales’ X account, formerly Twitter, the royal wrote:

“Thank you for so many unforgettable performances with Lionesses. Plenty more goals for Villa now! W.”

Daly began her football career at Killinghall Nomads Football Club.

She has since gone on to play for Leeds United, Lincoln Ladies and even Houston Dash in the USA before she returned to England to play for Aston Villa in 2022.

She amassed 84 senior caps throughout her England career and scored 16 goals.

Daly will continue her club football career at Aston Villa.

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A new era for assisted living in Harrogate

For 11 disabled people preparing to move into their own flat within a new assisted living development in Harrogate, there are mixed emotions.

There’s a natural apprehension about the change and challenges ahead, as they make their desired move towards more independence and control over the way they live their lives.

But there’s also excitement at the prospect of having their own key to a home that is theirs alone. For most, it will be the first time in their lives that they will have their own front door. Their fully-accessible, modern and spacious apartments will bring them a new level of independence. They will be able to use their space as they wish – to relax, entertain, cook and have friends round.

The £7.5 million St Roberts Grove development was unveiled on Wednesday by the charity and social enterprise, Disability Action Yorkshire. It will replace the organisation’s existing 20-bed residential care home for younger adults on Claro Road.

The scheme is designed to empower people with disabilities to be independent and live their life to the fullest, as they want to live it, while ensuring that support is on hand for them when they need it.

Each flat has its own kitchen, living area, bedroom and en-suite wetroom, and has been custom designed for the individual needs of its inhabitant. Staff from the charity will be on site 24 hours a day to provide personalised care and support. Each flat will also have a call bell system so tenants can ask for assistance if they need it.

‘Nervous and excited’

Supported living development in Harrogate

Jacqueline Kelly, left, with Claro Road support carer Tracey Wilson.

Jacqueline Kelly is among the first group of residents, mostly aged between 18 and 45, who will be moving into their new homes on Monday.

Attending the official opening of the development last Wednesday, Jacqueline had just a few bits left to pack over the weekend. For the last 24 years, she has been living at Claro Road, where she’s had her own bedroom and en-suite wet room but has shared a communal living room, dining room and kitchen. So this will be a big change for her. She said:

“I’m nervous but I’m excited about having my own space. I’ve been to see my new flat and have been trying to imagine it with my furniture in there. I want to be relaxed in it and make a good job of it, to make a life. I want to enjoy it.”

‘This is just the next challenge’

Supported living development in Harrogate

Nick Moxon outside his new flat.

Nick Moxon feels the same way. He’s slightly apprehensive about moving into his own flat after 14 years at Claro Road. But, at the same time, he’s looking forward to being more independent and is relishing the challenge ahead of him. He said:

“This will be the first time I’ve lived on my own. It’s a bit daunting and a new experience. I’ll need to adapt to my new support package and the set times that I’ll have help, but it should make me more independent. Sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone, but you take it step by step.”

Nick said he’d gained a lot of self-confidence during his time at Claro Road and had met some great people, who he would miss. He said:

“I’ve been used to living in a community, so I’ll miss seeing the other people as often. I’m quite active socially so I’ll be inviting them over – I’ll able to have people round to the flat when I want to.”

Nick said he was very impressed by the spaciousness of the flats, with the size of the bathrooms really standing out for him.

And once he’s settled in, there’s one thing that he’s set his sights on achieving this year. He said:

“I’m looking forward to doing some cooking. I won’t be able to cook completely independently and will need a bit of support, but by the end of this year I want to have mostly prepared a meal by myself. I’m going to cook a meal and have my family over as my first visitors to try it. If I can cook a meal for them, I’ll be dead proud.

“It’s the little things that people take for granted that for people like me are so emotional. Last year I went to Norway on a cruise and this is just the next challenge.”

Setting the standard

The facility is owned by Highstone Housing Association, with Harrogate-based Disability Action Yorkshire providing care and support. The first phase of the development comprises 23 individual one and two-bed apartments. A further 12 will be built on the site of the existing care home, which will be demolished later this year. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.

“St Roberts Grove sets the standard,” said Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, a multi-gold-medal-winning Paralympian and now Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire. She was at the official unveiling and open day, and was impressed with the new development. She continued:

“It’s lovely. It’s so good for people to have their own space and to have decent quality accommodation. It helps them be more independent, fitter and healthier.

“I’ve looked around one of the flats and it was lovely, with two bedrooms and two big bathrooms. Having that support on site is really important for the residents, as well as having their own living space. It’s personalised. It’s something that other places can really learn from.”

The kitchen at the new St Roberts Grove assisted living development in Harrogate

The kitchen of one of the new assisted living flats.

Baroness Thompson’s words were echoed by the Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, who cut the ribbon on the new development. Congratulating Disability Action Yorkshire, he described the new supported living scheme as a major project for the charity and one to which they’d aspired for a long time. He said:

“This is an absolutely fantastic facility that sets the standard for what supported living can look like in our area. These are beautiful apartments and they are unique in our area. This is what the future of care looks like.”

Andrew Jones MP cuts the ribbon, with Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson pictured second from left, along with residents of the current care home, community representatives and charity staff and trustees.

‘The same opportunities as everyone else’

The best thing about the open day for Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, was getting the chance to show Jacqueline, Nick and the other residents around the development. Some hadn’t seen their flats before, while others were visiting with an interest in moving there. Jackie said:

“From the people that we work with at our care home, we identified the demand for this development. Some of them didn’t need to have the 24-hour care that was available in the care home. They told us they wanted their own front door, they wanted their own homes. They wanted to live independently. We’ll be providing the care and support they need to enable them to live their lives as they want.”

Jackie said demand for flats had been high and encouraged people to register their interest. More people will be moving in over the next few months, leaving the new accommodation almost fully occupied.

It has taken nearly a decade for the scheme to be completed, after multiple false starts and the pandemic meant it took longer than expected, said Jackie. She added:

“There’s supported housing in the area but a lot of it is group living. This scheme is quite unique and it is needed.

“Eight years ago we started working on how we could move away from residential care, so it’s amazing to see it come to fruition. Disabled people should have exactly the same opportunities as everybody else.”

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Yemi’s Food Stories: top tips for cooking with limited ingredients

Yemi Adelekan is a food writer and blogger who was a semi-finalist in the 2022 series of BBC TV’s Masterchef competition.

Every Saturday Yemi writes on the Stray Ferret about her love of the area’s food and shares cooking tips – please get in touch with her if you want her to review a restaurant, visit your farm, taste the produce you sell or even share a recipe.

In our busy lives, finding time to cook can be challenging, let alone with a limited pantry. With the increasing cost of living crisis, many people need a helping hand with providing delicious food for their family.

Unhealthy food and microwaveable meals are often cheaper than their healthier counterparts so it can be tempting to fill your shopping trolley with them. This is a time to buy better ingredients in lesser quantity and get more creative with limited ingredients.

Cooking with limited ingredients doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour or nutrition. With a bit of creativity and these helpful tips, you can whip up tasty meals that are both satisfying and easy to make.

Embrace staple ingredients

The key to cooking with limited ingredients is to rely on pantry staples that can be used in multiple ways. Ingredients like rice, pasta, flour, canned beans, sweetcorn, eggs, frozen vegetables, and canned tomatoes are versatile and can form the base of many dishes.

One-pot tomato rice and peas

Keeping a well-stocked pantry with these basics ensures you always have something to work with. With flour, eggs and bacon, you can whip up home made pasta with carbonara sauce. Involving the children will create memories of making an elegant dish from basic ingredients.

Use seasonings and herbs

Even the simplest ingredients can shine with the right seasonings and herbs. Invest in a few quality spices like garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and dried herbs such as oregano, thyme, or basil.

A splash of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce or a squeeze of lemon juice can transform a dish instantly. Experiment with different combinations to discover your favourite flavour profiles.

Keep it simple

Remember, cooking with limited ingredients doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on simple recipes that highlight the flavours of the ingredients you have on hand. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make substitutions based on what you have available.

Potatoes, sausage and tomatoes

Batch cooking and freezing

Simplify your cooking routine by preparing meals in batches. When you have the time, cook larger portions of meals like stews, soups, or casseroles, then freeze individual portions. This way, you’ll always have a homemade meal ready to go on busy days.

In my fridge or freezer, I always have ingredients for my base sauces – pepper, onion and tomato blend; ginger, garlic, and spring onion blend; and ginger, garlic and onion blend.

I also have different types of homemade stocks, roasted or confit garlic, peppers and baby tomatoes and frozen vegetables. This allows me to create exciting dishes. Let’s dive into some recipes that are perfect for busy days or when you’re short on ingredients:

Yemi’s recipe: Sweetcorn fritters

Sweetcorn fritters topped with sautéed peppers

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Finely dice the shallot, spring onion and onion; add to a bowl
  2. Add all the remaining ingredients apart from the flour and mix well
  3. Add just enough flour to bind the ingredients together
  4. Fry in a nonstick pan with a little oil
  5. Serve topped with a poached egg and some fried onions or with some spiced or flavoured mayonnaise.

Yemi’s recipe: Udon noodles with tomatoes and onions

Udon noodles with tomato and peppers

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet or pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic, onion or shallot and sauté until fragrant; add the chilli flakes
  2. Pour in canned tomatoes with their juices and bring to a simmer
  3. Add the Udon noodles and stir
  4. Season with salt and pepper; check and adjust seasoning
  5. Top noodles with a boiled egg or leftover chicken

By embracing the concept of cooking with limited ingredients, you’ll discover a new level of creativity in the kitchen.

With these tips and recipes, you’ll be able to prepare delicious meals effortlessly, even on the busiest of days. So, grab those pantry staples and get cooking.

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What are the options for Harrogate Convention Centre?

In an anonymous-looking office in south-east London, a handful of thirtysomethings are racking their brains to come up with a sensible plan for the future use of Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC). 

The exercise to “explore opportunities in the marketplace and appraise the best options for taking the venue forward” comes after North Yorkshire Council (NYC) decided last month to abandon the proposed £57 million development of HCC, citing complexities and costs. 

The centre needs investment, and it currently relies on a £2.7 million subsidy. Two applications for grant funding from the government have failed, so new thinking is needed.  

As the Stray Ferret revealed this week, North Yorkshire taxpayers are handing the team from London consultancy 31ten £23,000 plus VAT for the “soft market testing” project, which is due to conclude by “late spring”. So what might the consultants suggest? 

A report for the council’s ruling executive that took the decision to ditch the redevelopment stated: 

“Options may include, but are not limited to, alternative delivery and funding models, partnership working, alternative uses for parts of the site, and asset ownership.” 

In other words the council, which is looking to make serious savings over the coming years, is open to pretty much any suggestion, so long as it sounds viable. Everything, it seems, is on the table. 

Harrogate Convention Centre, which is earmarked for a £47 million renovation.

In January, the Stray Ferret discovered the council had already spoken to private companies about the possibility of selling the convention centre. 

Council chief executive Richard Flinton told Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce that the council wanted to “understand private sector interest in the building” although he added “that doesn’t necessarily mean the council will look to offload it”. 

A more likely scenario could see parts of the site sold off, rather than the whole thing. That’s an option Simon Kent would be tempted to take. Mr Kent worked at Harrogate Convention Centre for 15 years from 2004, leaving in 2019 after more than six years as director. He told the Stray Ferret: 

“The main part of the convention centre is integrated, with parts of it underground, so you couldn’t knock bits of it down. But the exhibition halls are different. If some events were moved elsewhere, those could potentially be sold and redeveloped for other uses.  

“So perhaps there could be an option to move some of the events to the Great Yorkshire Showground and connect them to Harrogate via a shuttle bus. Whatever happens, we need to keep events coming to the town, even if they don’t come to Harrogate Convention Centre. From an economic point of view, the business would remain in Harrogate, so the impact would still be there.

“Clearly, the business is important to the town, so we have to be creative and make sure it stays in the town.” 

The business is indeed important to the town – it’s estimated to be worth £45 million a year to the local economy – which is why the council is looking at some radical options. 

Not many are as radical as the one suggested to the Stray Ferret by Andrew Williams. As North Yorkshire councillor for Ripon Minster and Moorside, he’s long been vehemently opposed to using public money to prop up the convention centre, which he believes is of no benefit to taxpayers beyond Harrogate. He told us: 

“I very much welcome North Yorkshire Council’s decision not to go ahead with investing £57m – more than the original £33m cost of building it – in what I think is a white elephant. It would be very helpful to get some private equity investment in so that it wasn’t as much of a drain on public finances.” 

He thinks the convention centre should put its money on a more imaginative approach. He said: 

“When conventions aren’t taking place, it should be used for more leisure activities. I’ve always thought a casino would be a good idea. 

“York has considerable trade in bachelor and hen weekends – go out in York on a weekend evening and it’s packed with young visitors – but Harrogate doesn’t have any of that, because there’s nothing to attract them. 

“Harrogate should be marketing itself as a destination for leisure activities in a way it clearly isn’t at the moment.” 

The idea of repurposing some of the site already has currency, albeit not yet in the form of casino chips. Paula Lorimer, director of the the convention centre, would like to reconfigure some of the conference rooms to create breakout space, a move she believes could bring in an extra £1 million a year. 

The Stray Ferret contacted Ms Lorimer – who, with an annual salary of £121,818 was recently revealed to be one of this district’s best paid public servants – for this article many times over the course of more than a month, but she did not reply.

Photo of Paula Lorimer outside Harrogate Convention Centre.

Paula Lorimer, director of Harrogate Convention Centre

Failing these options – selling it off, selling off parts of it, or repurposing it – there is another route the consultants could go down. Partnership working can yield benefits all round, allowing each party to play to their strengths. It’s an approach tentatively favoured by Kim Wilson, co-owner of The Camberley B&B, which is just across King’s Road from the convention centre. She said: 

“Parts of the convention could possibly be run by other bodies – for example, the Royal Hall could easily be run by Harrogate Theatre – so we’ll just have to see what’s out there. 

“It really comes down to what we want the convention to be. Is it a public asset with government support, or is it better as a privately-owned venture that goes out chasing business more aggressively? 

“My husband thinks it should be a protected asset, but I’m less fixed in my view. If it does get a partner in, they’ll have to be very careful when they’re choosing them – it’s about getting the right fit.” 

For Paula Lorimer and her team, what to do with a convention centre faced with unprecedented competition from – among others – London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Brighton and Blackpool is clearly a conundrum worth spending money to solve. 

But for Simon Kent, who has been entrusted with the archives of late local historian Malcolm Neesam, it all seems quite familiar. He said: 

“This isn’t the first time the convention centre has come to this point – there have been lots of exercises like this. In 1990-91, it looked at getting private-sector investment – it was the first thing the Liberal Democrats did when they got in. Then in 2000 there was another effort to get funding through Yorkshire Forward.

“People often think it all started in 1982 when the conference centre opened, but we were doing conferences and trade fairs in Harrogate as far back as the 1880s, so it was the natural thing to invest in that as the spa industry declined.

“It’s still a viable business, and people clearly still like coming to Harrogate, so it must have something. It’s just a matter of understanding what that is and capitalising on it.”

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By-election suggests tactical voting may topple Tories in Harrogate and Knaresborough

It may only have been a council by-election but this week’s Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone vote in Harrogate provided some fascinating insights into the local political landscape at a crucial time.

Andrew Timothy won the seat vacated by the resignation of fellow Liberal Democrat Pat Marsh.

His 44% share of the vote was down on the 52% achieved by Ms Marsh in 2022 after a bruising campaign in which the Lib Dems were reported to the police for wrongly stating the Green Party was not fielding a candidate.

But the 326-vote margin of victory over Conservative runner-up John Ennis was comfortable enough and brought relief to the Lib Dems, who were in danger of losing control of the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee in a difficult by-election triggered by Ms Marsh’s anti-semitic comments.

Cllr Timothy left the count at Woodlands Methodist Church without giving interviews but Tom Gordon, the Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said in a statement afterwards the result “proves elections here in Harrogate and Knaresborough are a two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives”.

He added:

“We will take the new members, new deliverers, new activists, new councillor and momentum forward into the general election to win back the parliamentary seat from the Conservatives.”

‘Labour supporters voted tactically’

Labour candidate Geoff Foxall did little to challenge Mr Gordon’s view that Harrogate and Knaresborough was shaping up to be a straight fight between the Tories and Labour — and hinted tactical voting was the way to go.

Despite his party riding high in the national polls, Mr Foxhall finished last with just 116 votes yet he appeared far from downbeat.

He said:

“The Liberal Democrats should be thankful for the many Labour voters who have voted tactically. I hope Lib Dem voters reciprocate in the mayoral election.”

Mr Foxall said “voters in Harrogate are sophisticated” and frequently voted tactically. He highlighted how Labour did “particularly badly” in Harrogate and Knaresborough in 1997 when Barbara Boyce polled just 9% despite Tony Blair securing a national landslide, paving the way for Phil Willis to win locally for the Lib Dems.

Mr Foxall said Labour was “used to getting squeezed” locally and even suggested it would be open to a coalition with the Lib Dems and Greens at county level, where he said the parties were “akin on most issues”, and together could end the Conservatives’ dominance.

Asked what voting advice he would give Labour supporters in Harrogate and Knaresborough at the next general election, he said:

“Vote according to your conscience.”

For the Conservatives, so long the dominant force in North Yorkshire, it was a disappointing night.

During the campaign Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, wrote to Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urging him to take action against local party members following the police complaint.

The ill feeling was apparent on the night when the Lib Dems complained to election officials about the number of Tories witnessing the count.

Mr Ennis and local activists campaigned hard in Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone but he still finished a distant second with 31%. The party polled 35% in 2022.

Speaking straight after the result, Mr Ennis said he had “campaigned in good faith on local issues, offering a positive message”.

He acknowledged “the national situation hasn’t helped” but added it was “difficult to extrapolate” conclusions from a by-election and he remained “confident we can hold the parliamentary seat”.

He also said the situation in next month’s mayoral election was “looking hopeful”.

Some Green Party members had hoped to claim second place but Gilly Charters still finished well ahead of Reform UK and Labour in third.

Ms Charters was upbeat afterwards, saying “a Green vote was a hopeful vote”, adding:

“The Greens will be back — and we hope we won’t have to call the police in next time.”

As for Reform UK, its 6% was below its national polling but it still finished above Labour. John Swales, its candidate, said:

“From a standing start and around four weeks to prepare we are building our presence in Harrogate and further progress will come in time.

“It was a good experience for us and we learnt a lot, performing with integrity and honour during the campaign and we would like to thank all the voters who supported us this time and we look forward to future campaigns with confidence.”

Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election result

The turnout was 41%.

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Pets Corner: could you give one of these North Yorkshire dogs a forever home?

The Harrogate Dog Show is taking place on Saturday, April 13, in front of  Victoria Shopping Centre, and attention will be on the pampered pets as they compete to win accolades in categories such as ‘Cutest Puppy’.

April is also officially National Pet Month – but there are many animals, including dogs, across North Yorkshire who are still waiting for their chance to find a forever home.

This month, the Stray Ferret has found a few furry faces to feature, from the RSPCA York, Harrogate & the District branch. All these dogs are currently available to adopt – although hopefully not for much longer.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Drizzle.

Age: 12 months.

Breed: Lurcher.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Plenty of adventures, and exciting walks.

Dislikes: Spending too much time alone. 

About: The RSPCA describes Drizzle as a ‘gorgeous dog’ who ‘loves to live life to the max.’ At 12 months old, he’s still got plenty of puppy energy and exuberance – but that can mean he sometimes forgets his manners, and can be a bit boisterous, especially with other dogs.

However, he’s got bags of potential and needs experienced adopters who will be able to help him along the way and give him lots of exercise – as well as the fuss and attention he deserves.

Find out more about Drizzle here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Buster.

Age: 12 years old.

Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Sitting on a lap for cuddles. 

Dislikes: Being left alone for long periods.

About: Don’t let his grey face fool you – Buster is 12 years fun, and still loves getting out and about on his daily walks.

Sadly, his beloved owner passed away which is how he ended up at the kennel, and he’s been having a tough time settling in. He’s affectionate with people and would benefit from joining a loving family soon.

Buster is sociable with other dogs and could live with a compatible companion after a successful meet at the centre, and he could also live with children aged 13 years and over.

Find out more about Buster here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Henley.

 Age: 5 years old.

 Breed: Lurcher.

Sex: Female.

Likes: An endless supply of cuddles.

 Dislikes: Being apart from her people for too long.

 About: Sweet-natured Henley was cruelly thrown out of the back of a van before coming to the RSCPA, and while the culprits were never found, it hasn’t dampened her shine.

She’s a serious lover of snuggles, and is looking for an individual or a family with children over the age of eight to start her new life with.

While she can’t live with cats, small animals or small dogs, she is friendly with larger breeds on walks, and has previously lived with other lurchers.

Find out more about Henley here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Cheddar.

Age: 3 years old.

Breed: Husky cross.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Hanging out with his favourite humans.

Dislikes: Being misunderstood.

About: Poor Cheddar has had a tough start to life and was brought to the shelter via an inspector who discovered his needs were not being met.

Cheddar needs will need experienced adopters who can tackle his insecurities and give him plenty of support to bring out the best in him.

Once he’s comfortable he is a very affectionate and loyal dog who will make a wonderful companion for the right person.

Find out more about Cheddar here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Hedgehog.

Age: 14 months old.

Breed: Large crossbreed.

Sex: Male.

Likes: Socialising with other dogs.

Dislikes: New places which can be a bit intimidating at first.

About: Hedgehog is a ‘super friendly lad who can bring a smile to your face in an instant’, but unfortunately he missed out on the chance to properly be a puppy.

For this reason, he’ll need patient and experienced adopters who can make him feel comfortable in new situations, and can support him through some of his insecurities. Once bonded however, he’s a loyal and loving dog.

Hedgehog is a sociable boy, and relishes the company of other dogs – ideally he’ll be able to live with another confident dog in an adult-only home.

Find out more about Hedgehog here.

(Image: RSPCA)

Name: Lady.

 Age: Around 1 years old.

 Breed: Dobermann/Mastiff Cross.

Sex: Female.

Likes: Being active and getting lots of exercise.

 Dislikes: Meeting new people – especially children – at first.

 About: Lady is the definition of a gentle giant, as this nervous girl can find new situations and people quite frightening. However, once her confidence has built she’s a happy and playful pup, who loves to stay active.

She’ll need an adult-only household where someone is home most of the time, and who can help her realise the world isn’t so scary after all.

Lady is very good with other dogs and gains confidence around them so it would be beneficial if she could live with another neutered dog who can show her the ropes, and be a companion for her.

Find out more about Lady here.

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Editor’s Pick of the Week: Costly consultants, a bad tempered by-election and Brian Deane

Some stories seem to go on forever, achieving little beyond years of work for consultants and council officers.

Take the Harrogate Convention Centre refurbishment. A response to a Stray Ferret freedom of information request asking how much has been spent on consultants discovered the sum was £1.9 million since 2016.

The vast majority went on a firm whose plans were recently scrapped. The solution? Hire new consultants to come up with a fresh vision!

An in-depth article by my colleague John Grainger this weekend looks at the refurbishment options. Convention centre director Paula Lorimer, who was named in the annual Taxpayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List this year for her £121,828 salary, declined to speak to us for the article.

It’s been a big political week with the Liberal Democrats winning the Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone by-election. The ill-feeling between local Lib Dems and Conservatives was palpable at Thursday night’s count. On the previous night, the Stray Ferret chaired a mayoral hustings event in York.

Brew York announced it was coming to Knaresborough but my personal highlight this week was news of a Beatles exhibition coming to Harrogate. Not so much because it’s the Fab Four but because sharp elbowed former footballer Brian Deane, who often pops up in Harrogate, retweeted our post on X about it.

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Hornbeam Park is a hive of activity for kids

You may be already be aware of some of the activities for kids at Hornbeam Park – especially at The Zone – but did you know that there are all of these activities on offer? Almost one for every day of the week. Now that will keep them busy.

World of Their Own

World of Their Own

You wouldn’t expect to see an imitation of the Wild West on the industrial business park of Hornbeam Park, but World of Their Own is exactly that. Designed to spark the imagination of children, grown-ups are also sure to be impressed with the immersive play town that’s somewhat of a hidden gem.

Kids can take part in activities including escaping the sheriff’s jail, making and drinking their own mocktail from the Cowgirl Saloon Bar, robbing the Wild West bank, exploring inside the spooky gold mine and taking aim for a prize from the shooting range, to name just a few of the experiences on offer.

World of Their Own

Not forgetting the Wild West toy pony rides of course, and the kids that run riot as they shoot water at each other (and the grown-ups) with water pistols.

And to stop those tears when either the 2.5-hour morning or afternoon session comes to an end, kids can enjoy a chocolate coin from the treasure chest.

Why not try…? The Fairytale Ice Cream Parlour.

Good to know: don’t miss the holiday themed specials. 

The Ice Cream Parlour at World of Their Own

Harrogate Gymnastics

Harrogate Gymnastics

The largest purpose-built gymnastics facility in the Harrogate area, Harrogate Gymnastics features all the equipment a budding gymnast needs; from a sprung floor to beams, bars to trampolining, there’s something for everyone. Classes take place from the age of 2.5 years and there’s open free play sessions too.

Why not try…? The holiday inflatable fun sessions or the drop-off Ninja Camps?

Good to know: it has recently started offering SEND sessions, and it also hosts adult gymnastic classes too. 

Gracie Barra Harrogate

Gracie Barra

There are many benefits to martial arts including learning how to focus, be disciplined, be persistent, learn cooperation and have respect. Gracie Barra on Hornbeam Park offers all this and more through its Brazilian jiu jitsu lessons for kids and adults.

Classes take place from the age of three, and each attendee can work their way up over the years to achieving five belts: white, blue, purple, brown and black.

Why not try…? A free taster session.

Good to know: it has a drop-in fee, or the option to buy a block of five or 10 classes for non-members. However, its monthly memberships work out the best value for those wishing to train regularly.

Surge Padel

Surge Padel

Padel is the go-to sport of the moment and Surge Padel on Hornbeam Park offers junior group coaching lessons on Saturday mornings for under 8s and under 11s. As well as taking part in lots of games that aid hand-eye coordination, juniors get a deeper understanding of the sport which will set them in good stead to play matches in the future.

Why not try…? Hiring a court for extra practice.

Good to know: junior classes are just £7.50 but can get booked up in advance, so ensure you reserve your spot.

Live For Today Climbing Centre

Marc Wise and Dan Miller

As you may have read in The Stray Ferret, Live For Today has recently taken over from Parthian Climbing Centre and is looking to introduce more classes and offerings for young ones. Last month one of the new owners, Marc Wise – who met his business part Dan Miller at the climbing wall 12 years ago – said:

“Acquiring the climbing wall is really significant and special as it is where it all began.

There’s been criticism about the lack of indoor activities and things to do for young people, so the climbing wall is a huge asset for the area.”

Why not try…? Some of the 25 other adventures that Live For Today offers such as caving, rock climbing and canoeing in the Yorkshire Dales.

Good to know: it has plenty of climbing equipment to hire.

Indulge

Indulge playroom

Parents and caregivers with small children can sometimes avoid cafés and restaurants, especially if they don’t seem particularly family friendly. However, there’s no need to worry at Indulge as it actively welcomes children and is often the go-to place for those with babies, toddlers and primary school-aged children.

Offering a playroom with an assortment of toys, as well as a range of food and drink for both kids and grown-ups, it’s a fail-safe way to spend a few hours. And you may just get that hot coffee in peace too. Bonus.

Indulge

Why not try…? A pink sprinkle doughnut.

Good to know: the café is also dog friendly.

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College revamp plans ‘will cause parking chaos’ at Hornbeam ParkDisability charity unveils assisted living flats in Harrogate

A disability charity has opened its new assisted living development in Harrogate.

Disability Action Yorkshire, which offers support and residential care to people with a range of disabilities, unveiled the St Roberts Grove development on Wednesday, April 10.

The building, which is also owned by Highstone Housing Association, aims to provide disabled people with a space to live independently.

The development consists of 35 accessible flats, 23 of which are now open, which all have their own kitchen, living area, bedroom and wet room.

Support staff will also be on site 24-hours-a-day to provide people with personal care and support when required.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones, who cut the ribbon alongside Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomson, said the development is “what the future of care looks like”.

The charity said residents of its current care facility, 34 Claro Road, would move into the new flats on Monday, April 14.

The existing care home, which is located next door to St Robert’s Grove, is scheduled for demolition later this year. This will allow for the final stage of development to begin, the charity said, adding it expects the project to be complete by spring 2026.

The charity’s chief executive, Jackie Snape, said:

“The hardest task was finding land, and after a number of false starts we finally realised that our own land on which our current care home stands, along with a small piece of land owned by the council was the solution.

“We are so excited that, finally, our ambition to be part of providing accessible housing is coming to fruition. Being a disabled person doesn’t mean that you have to live in a care home with a large number of people you haven’t chosen to live with; the right to a home of your own is one that should be extended to everyone.”

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