A horticultural nursery near Harrogate is to reopen after almost eight years.

Cliff Bank Nursery at North Rigton was run for years by Joe Maiden, who appeared on radio gardening shows for 40 years until his death in 2015.

Ben Preston, who was previously head gardener at York Gate Garden, and NHS worker Laura Kennedy have spent a year restoring the Harrogate Road site, which will re-open on Saturday, May 27.

The nursery will specialise in rare woodland plants, unusual perennials and ornamental grasses as well as offering a yearly selection of hardy annuals.

Mr Preston and Ms Kennedy, both 35, took on the challenge to bring the derelict nursery back to life in March last year.

Ben Preston and Laura Kennedy

They have cleared the overgrown site, installed new polytunnels and created selling space. A derelict glasshouse has also been refurbished.

The couple plan to grow everything at Cliff Bank by propagating from seed, cuttings and divisions.

Mr Preston, who is originally from Boston Spa, worked at gardens across the UK, including Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, before overseeing the expansion of York Gate Garden as head gardener fro 2017 to 2022. He is also a lecturer at Yorkshire School of Garden Design.

Ms Kennedy has worked in the NHS for nine years.

Mr Preston said:

“We’re really happy to be re-opening the gates at Cliff Bank. It has seen many horticultural chapters over the years and hopefully we’ll be here for many years to come growing unusual plants and providing inspiration and knowledge for gardeners.

“Being a local lad and having a passion for plants, it has been a dream to open our own nursery so close to where I grew up. Our aspiration is to become a popular local nursery with a national reputation for growing interesting and unusual plants here in Yorkshire.’

The greenhouse pre-renovation

The renovated greenhouse

Ms Kennedy added:

“We’ve got huge plans for Cliff Bank and I can’t wait to see them come to fruition, but in the meantime, we look forward to welcoming the gardeners of Leeds and Harrogate over the summer.”

Cliff Bank will open Wednesday to Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm until October.

Read more:

• Chainsaw sculpture completed at Ripon’s Himalayan Garden
• Man jailed for 140mph Harrogate police pursuit after being banned from driving

A man has been banned from driving after failing to stop and report a serious crash on Harrogate’s Cold Bath Road.

Harris Hendry-Hussain, of Swinton Court, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to three offences in relation to the crash in the early hours of March 6 last year.

The 21-year-old crashed his Volkswagen Golf into two cars, a Seat Ibiza and a Peugeot, causing “substantial damage” to both vehicles.

The crash blocked Cold Bath Road at 3.10am and left one passenger of the Volkswagen requiring hospital treatment for neck and back injuries.

In a statement at the time, North Yorkshire Police said it was “sheer luck” no one died.

Hendry-Hussain appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court for sentencing yesterday after admitting driving without insurance, failing to stop after a road accident and failing to report the accident.

The prosecution told the court that when police arrived at the crash on the morning of March 6, Hendry-Hussain was not at the scene.

Once he was found by officers and interviewed, he initially told police that he “did not know who was driving” the Volkswagen.

Read more:

• Police investigate serious crash on Cold Bath Road
• Police seek wanted man from Harrogate

The court heard that, after a forensic investigation of the car, officers interviewed the 21-year-old for a second time. He declined to comment.

He was later charged with three offences. Hendry-Hussain initially denied the charges, but later changed his plea at a hearing on April 24.

His defence told the court that Hendry-Hussain had “accepted the offences” put to him and that he had “done something really stupid”.

The court also heard that the defendant was already serving a community order for a separate offence, which was imposed by the courts after the crash.

Magistrates banned Hendry-Hussain from driving for 12 months.

He was given a 12-month community order requiring him to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and £150 in court costs.

A public meeting is being held in Ripon next week to hear views on how to shape a new tourism strategy for North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Council, which came into existence last month, is devising a strategy to boost the county’s multi-million pound tourism industry.

As part of this, the council is staging three free workshops, including one at the Old Deanery in Ripon from 11am to 1pm on Wednesday.

A council press release this week said the events would “gather information and views from key organisations and enterprises involved in the tourism sector to develop the first countywide destination management plan”.

Attendees will be asked about their priorities and aspirations for the tourism industry as well as the strengths, opportunities and challenges being faced by North Yorkshire’s visitor economy.

Newby Hall. Pic: Mervin Straughan

The council’s Conservative leader, Cllr Carl Les, said:

“The opportunity to develop the first county-wide plan to promote tourism is a major milestone for North Yorkshire.

“The views of businesses and organisations involved in tourism will be key to developing the strategy and the future of the industry as a whole.”

Read more:

• Harrogate council’s tourism body facing uncertain future
• Value of Harrogate district tourism up by £31m, new figures reveal

In-person events will also be held in Ripon, Skipton and Scarborough followed by two online sessions from 5.30pm to 7pm on Tuesday, May 23, and then from noon until 1.30pm on Thursday, May 25.

The draft destination management plan is due to be finalised by the end of June, before being presented to councillors the following month.

A bid is then due to be submitted to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in September for North Yorkshire to be home to a Local Visitor Economy Partnership, which would involve both the private and public sectors and would need to follow a new national process to be eligible for support and potential funding from the government.

Tourism in North Yorkshire accounts for 11 per cent of the county’s overall economy and employs 41,200 workers.

The county is home to two National Parks for the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, as well as Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, which is one of only two World Heritage Sites in Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire also has stately homes, including Castle Howard, Kiplin Hall and Newby Hall, as well as 23 English Heritage sites, including Whitby Abbey, Richmond Castle and Rievaulx Abbey, along with the recently acquired Thornborough Henges.

The county also has a wealth of famous food and drink producers responsible for brands including Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Wensleydale Cheese, Harrogate Spring Water and Yorkshire Tea.

Further details of the workshops are available here.

You can complete a 10-minute questionnaire on North Yorkshire’s visitor economy here.

Starbeck Baths is to reopen today — five weeks after it closed due to an “unforeseen mechanical failure”.

In a Facebook post yesterday, the swimming pool said it would welcome customers from 7.30am.

It added:

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Boroughbridge company is celebrating reaching a milestone as 200 employees have now worked for the firm for 10 years.

Reed Boardall, which is based off Bar Lane, was founded in 1992 and has gone onto become one of the biggest employers in the area with 745 staff.

The company operates in food logistics and reports a turnover of £66 million.

As well as over a quarter of staff having completed more than ten years of service, 31 have chosen to stay with the company for two decades or longer.

Andrew Baldwin, managing director of Reed Boardall’s cold storage division, said: 

“There’s no doubt that our high staff retention levels play a key role in the continued success of the business and our ability to consistently deliver on our promises to our customers. We don’t use any agency workers, instead all of our team are long term employees, many of whom have built up valuable understanding and knowledge about what we do and this gives continuity to the business, enabling us to be the reliable, responsive partner that our customers need.

“This constancy of approach is reinforced by the high numbers of family members all working here across the generations- we have numerous husbands and wives, a mother and daughter and several dads and sons as well as a husband, wife and father in law. What makes us unique is that we have the same staff, providing the same levels of service – it is all about the people and we’re proud that so many of our team choose to stay with us.”

Harrogate financial firm launches rebrand

A Harrogate financial services firm has launched a rebrand.

FinancialForce, which is based at Cardale Park, has renamed itself as Certinia.

The company was co-founded in 2009 by local businesswoman Deb Ashton.

The firm has gone onto employ more than 1,000 people at offices across five countries.

Speaking about the rebrand, Scott Brown, chief executive of Certinia, said:

“FinancialForce was the perfect name when the company was founded in 2009 describing its intent to deliver ERP on Force.com.

“Over the past decade, the company invested heavily to become the most trusted PSA solution in the market.

“Now, we have expanded our ERP leadership with the addition of FP&A, and recently launched new products in two additional markets with Customer Success Cloud and Services CPQ. Together, these are a comprehensive and tightly integrated platform for services businesses. It was time to ensure our name and brand align with all we do in the marketplace today.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Ripon auctioneers announces new name and sales structure
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate family launches UK’s first stocked German kitchen business

A Harrogate grandmother diagnosed with heart failure 18 months ago has set up a support group to help others in the same situation.

Mary Mann, who was 76 at the time, said she had been active all her life, but suddenly became very ill in November 2021.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“I was so ill, I couldn’t do anything. I’d come downstairs in the morning and stay there – I could only crawl up the stairs at the end of the day.

“With heart failure, you have absolutely no strength. Until somebody tells you what it is and starts giving you tablets, you think, ‘am I ever going to get rid of this?’

“I had been perfectly fit and healthy, but I had a chest infection and it all started from that.”

Although Ms Mann was in her 70s, she said symptoms can begin much earlier for some people, including some women who can have heart failure after having a baby.

Fortunately for Ms Mann, a mum of two, she could be treated with tablets, and soon saw an improvement in her symptoms.

She will take the medication for the rest of her life and will have regular check-ups, but has been able to return to doing the things she loves: walking, gardening, and volunteering at RHS Garden Harlow Carr and with Harrogate in Bloom.

Grateful for her new lease of life, she began looking into ways to give back to those who had supported her and came across the website for patient-led charity Pumping Marvellous.

Ms Mann said:

“Pumping Marvellous asked me to be a patient educator.

“I was reading these people’s stories. Some of them were so lonely. I’ve been very lucky, I’ve got a lovely family and friends, and a great cardiologist. Everybody has supported me.

“These people had nobody.”

The former primary school teacher decided to set up a support group to offer heart failure patients the chance to chat to each other and gain support from others.

It will meet at the Harrogate Chocolate Factory Cafe on the last Friday of every month, from 2pm to 4pm, and is open to everyone – even those who feel they have good support at home. Ms Mann added:

“It’s nice to talk about what’s wrong with you without your family and friends glazing over and thinking, ‘here she goes again’!”

The Harrogate Pumping Marvellous group will next meet on Friday, May 26 at 2pm. Anyone interested can just turn up on the day, or can email Ms Mann in advance if they prefer.

Read more:

• Dance group for over 50s to launch Harrogate classes
• CrossFit Harrogate prepares for charity challenge

Links between the UK and Ukraine will be celebrated at Eurovision in Liverpool this week – and the Harrogate district is ensuring it is part of the party.

Just as the UK hosts the event on behalf of last year’s winner, Ukraine, a celebration will be happening in Harrogate to bring together locals with Ukrainians who have made the area home over the last 14 months.

A total of 170 attendees will be watching the contest together at the Majestic Hotel, and while they may be cheering for their home countries, organisers expect it to be a friendly rivalry.

Sue Vasey of Chain Lane Community Hub, which has organised the party along with Harrogate District City of Sanctuary, told the Stray Ferret:

“Nobody will mind if Ukraine win – it’s not too competitive. We’ll just be happy if the UK doesn’t get ‘nul points’!”

The Knaresborough community centre has been supporting Ukrainians who have arrived in the area since Russia’s invasion of their home country last February.

It has worked alongside other local groups and supporters to help them make contact with others in the same position and settle into their new homes. Now, Sue said more is being done to ensure they become part of the community in the Harrogate district.

Aid trips

Around 350 Ukrainians have arrived in the area in the last year, and about 190 of those have been supported through Chain Lane Community Hub. Sue said the others already spoke good English or had family in the area so did not need as much help to settle.

Each week, working with partners including North Yorkshire Council, the hub hosts classes to help people with English, employability skills and more.

It has also formed a link with Bob Frendt, the retired lorry driver in Knaresborough who has made seven aid trips to western Ukraine.

The Eurovision event on Saturday night – which is sold out – will raise money to help fund his next trip to Volodymyr, which is set to be twinned with Knaresborough. it will include an auction of prizes donated by local businesses, from Bettys & Taylors and Morrisons to Mother Shipton’s Cave.

Bob and his wife Maureen will be guests of honour at the Majestic, which has allowed use of the room free of charge.

Asked whether he was a loyal Eurovision fan, Bob said:

“Not since Cliff Richard won! But for one night we’ll make an exception. I’ve been asked to say a few words too. It should be a good night.”

Read more:

• Support for plans to twin Knaresborough with town in Ukraine
• ‘Just one more trip’ for Knaresborough’s Ukraine aid hero

Meanwhile, Bob is continuing to prepare for his eighth and final aid trip to Ukraine, setting off on May 24.

Each trip across Europe costs at least £2,500 in insurance, fuel and ferry crossings, and takes around six days.

He has been collecting donations of sports kit, IT equipment and decorating supplies to help the school rebuild after much of its stocks were commandeered by the army.

Bob is still hoping to source at least one old fire engine to take to Volodymyr to replace those taken to be used in the war effort. but for now is concentrating on what he can fit into his lorry, including medical supplies for the hospital..

He is hoping to add more equipment for the school, an under-counter fridge, sleeping bags, wellies, mosquito nets, tinned food and more before he sets off in two weeks’ time. Anyone who can help can call Bob on 07836 514952.

To get the latest updates on Bob’s efforts before and during his trip, and find out how you can support him, join the Facebook group Knaresborough Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine.

This story is sponsored by First 4 IT.

The organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show have a lot to think about – visitors, exhibitors, parking, and even the weather – but one thing they needn’t worry about is technology. 

That’s because the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), which puts on the show each July, entrusts all its IT systems to Harrogate company First 4 IT – and has done for the last 18 years. 

Andrew Velvin, managing director of First 4 IT which is based at Hornbeam Park, said: 

“IT support is crucial for businesses, organisations, and events to ensure that technology systems are running smoothly and efficiently. In the case of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and Great Yorkshire Show, IT support is essential to provide reliable connectivity and technical assistance for exhibitors, vendors, visitors and indeed the organisation itself. Rapid response and quick resolution are also a critical part of our service delivery.” 

For a recent overhaul of the Great Yorkshire Show’s systems, First 4 IT undertook an in-depth assessment.

First 4 IT looked at the number of exhibitors, vendors, and visitors. The company considered the type of devices they use, and their connectivity requirements. Andrew said:

“Based on this, we designed a customised IT plan that addresses the specific needs of the event. We worked with the organisers to ensure that our plan is aligned with their vision and objectives for the event.”

A significant investment in IT

So ahead of this year’s Show, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society has made a significant investment in its IT systems.

First 4 IT’s support for the Show included setting up high-speed internet points throughout the showground. The team ensured that all areas have access to an encrypted network that can cope with streaming and card payments. 

Confidence in the Show’s online integrity is vital. So the company ensures that all data collected during the event – such as exhibitor registrations and visitor surveys – is secure. 

The team at First 4 IT will also be providing technical help and a troubleshooting service throughout the Show to exhibitors, vendors and visitors. 

And when the Great Yorkshire Show – one of the premiere agricultural shows in England – is all over, First 4 IT provides the YAS with post-event support. This includes analysing data collected during the event, providing a detailed report of the IT support provided during the event, including any feedback received, and providing recommendations for future improvements.  

High praise for First 4 IT

Allister Nixon, chief executive of the YAS, said:

“First 4 IT is not only located nearby but also demonstrates a high level of proactivity and quick responsiveness in addressing any issues that may arise.” 

Put simply, First 4 IT is one of YAS’s trusted partners and has been relied upon to put on many a successful show.

Andrew said: 

“We provide customised IT support that meets the specific needs of the event, ensuring that exhibitors, vendors, and visitors have a seamless experience. With our experienced team of IT professionals and state-of-the-art technology solutions, we ensure that the event runs smoothly and efficiently.”

The 164th Great Yorkshire Show will be held at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate from Tuesday 11 to Friday 14 July, 2023.

Find out more: 

Whether you’re putting on a great show or have more modest, but no less essential, requirements, call First 4 IT on 01423 859 370 to see how we can help, or check out our website at www.first4it.co.uk. 

A man walked out of court after being banned from driving and jumped straight into his car before leading police on a 140mph chase from Harrogate.

Jason Ryder, 45, was so furious at being found guilty of drug-driving and losing his licence at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court in March that he got behind the wheel of his Audi A3 and raced from police at astonishing speeds while weaving in and out of traffic on the A1(M) and bombing down the hard shoulder at speeds of more than 130mph.

Dashcam footage of the hair-raising police chase was shown at York Crown Court today when Ryder appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and without a licence.

Prosecutor Edward Steele said that Ryder was released from the Harrogate court on March 20 after being convicted of driving under the influence of drugs in a previous incident near Knaresborough and receiving a 12-month motoring ban.

He said that Ryder got into his black Audi “immediately after being released from the court” at about midday. 

Police switched on the blue lights, but Ryder didn’t stop and a 17-minute car chase ensued, firstly along the A658 John Metcalf Way in Harrogate where he overtook vehicles, causing motorists to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

He then “manoeuvred around” a heavy-goods vehicle and sped onto the A1(M)’s northbound carriageway, “moving across all lanes and travelling for long periods of time on the hard shoulder, at times at speeds of over 130mph in a 70mph zone”.

Mr Steele said that at certain sections, the Audi was travelling at over 140mph as it zig-zagged between dense traffic and overtook and undertook vehicles from one side of the road to the other.

You can watch police footage of the chase below.

Ryder then turned onto the A6055 towards Northallerton at 140mph on a wet road surface due to the rainy weather. 

Mr Steele added:

“The driving included overtaking and driving on the opposite side of the carriageway.”

Police laid a stinger on the road which deflated the Audi’s tyres and the car came to a halt. He was arrested and brought before York magistrates the following day, where he pleaded guilty to all three offences. 

The court heard that Ryder had a previous conviction for careless driving and failing to provide a specimen for analysis in 1998, for which he received an 18-month motoring ban.

‘Not thinking straight’

Defence barrister Gabrielle Wilks said that Ryder made a “split-second” decision to speed from police due to “heightened emotions” following the trial which went against him.

She said he was “not thinking straight” and was suffering from “mental angst” on the day in question due to personal problems.

Read more:

• Police use stinger after 140mph pursuit from Harrogate
• Audi driver pleads guilty after 140mph police pursuit in Harrogate

She added that Ryder, of Wellgarth, Bishop Auckland, had lost his full-time job and could lose his home if he were jailed. 

Recorder Anthony Hawks described Ryder’s driving as “appalling” and said that he could easily have killed someone.

He told Ryder: 

“The circumstances of the dangerous driving are…extremely serious, both as to how it started and the actual driving itself.

“I reject entirely the suggestion put forward (by Ryder’s defence counsel) that you didn’t understand the disqualification ran immediately. You had been disqualified before (and) you must have realised that following your conviction and sentence (for drug-driving) you were a disqualified driver.

“You had no business…in taking your car to the magistrates (court) in the first place.”

Mr Hawks said it was clear that Ryder was “angry” when he got behind the wheel because the trial “had gone against you”.

He added: 

“At any time during the 17-minute police chase, you could have come to your senses and stopped, but you didn’t. 

“The dangerous driving was appalling. There was heavy traffic. You were weaving all over lanes. You were driving at speeds up to 140mph. It’s extraordinary that nobody was seriously injured or killed.”

Ryder was jailed for 10 months and given a 23-month driving ban. 

North Yorkshire Council has proposed constructing a cycle priority crossing in Harrogate.

The £30,000 scheme where Bilton Lane dissects Nidderdale Greenway would give cyclists and pedestrians crossing the road priority over vehicles.

The road would be raised to make the crossing more visible to motorists.

The council has sent letters to Bilton residents to get their views. The letter says there has been an increase in the number of cyclists and pedestrians using the Nidderdale Greenway cycle network. It adds:

“As part of the council’s efforts to improve accessibility and promoting active travel, we are proposing to construct a cycle priority crossing on Bilton Lane at the crossing of Nidderdale Greenway.

“The crossing is designed with a raised table making it more visible to drivers and helping to slow them down. Priority will be given to cyclists and pedestrians to cross safely without having to compete with drivers on the road.

“People with mobility issues such as those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters can cross more easily with the crossing being at the same level as the footway. Apart from improved safety, other benefits include increased accessibility, better health outcomes and environmental benefits.”

The crossing would be 7 metres long, 6.6 metres wide and 75 millimetres high.

Paul Haslam, a Conservative who represents Bilton and Nidd Gorge on the council, said he supported the idea in principle.

But he added the Bilton Lane speed limit needed to be reduced from 30mph to 20mph and parking arrangements improved so the crossing was more visible to motorists.

Cllr Haslam also called on farmers, who often drive vehicles on Bilton Lane, to be consulted and for the car park next to the greenway and Bilton Lane to be resurfaced.

Read more:

• Publican says cycle path crackdown in Harrogate is ‘unreasonable’
• ‘Grim’ future predicted for Harrogate cycling after funding snub