The Stray Ferret is running a live blog from the Great Yorkshire Show, brought to you by Harrogate BID.

Keep checking back for the latest stories and pictures from the showground throughout the event.

The 164th Great Yorkshire Show began at 8am this morning and a total of 140,000 people are expected to pass through the gates of the showground over the next four days.

Here’s what happened during an opening day that included visits from the farming minister and the Duke of Gloucester.

5.22pm: Big queues as cars start to leave

The first day of the show is in its final hour. It’s been a successful start, marred only by a couple of short but fierce downpours and the inevitable traffic problems.

We will publish a round-up of news from day one shortly. In the meantime, here’s a picture to brighten every teatime — a hall full of cheeses.

4:39pm: Harrogate man sold rare horse to emperor of Japan 

Cleveland Bay breeder Steven Pullan has one of the most unusual claims to fame of anyone at the show.

Steven, who lives at Braithwaite, near Dacre in Nidderdale, has sold horses to the Pakistan government and the emperor of Japan over the years.

The Cleveland Bay, which originated in Yorkshire, is the oldest horse breed in England. But it was recently close to extinction with fewer than 300 mares worldwide.

Steven won the Cuddy class at the show in 2014, with a Cleveland described as “the greatest of all time”.

The Cleveland Bay Horse Society, whose patron was the late Queen Elizabeth II, uses the Great Yorkshire Show as an opportunity to promote the breed in the hope of increasing the population.

Steven’s son, Jamie, said winning a Great Yorkshire Show class with a Cleveland Bay was “the equivalent of winning the FA Cup”.

Steven was not competing this year, but is at the show to cheer on the Cleveland Bays.

Competing Cleveland Bays

4.05pm: Harrogate BID bangs the drum for business 

Another organisation with an uncertain future until recently was Harrogate Business Improvement District.

The group, which charges Harrogate town centre businesses a levy that it spends on schemes to encourage more shoppers, is approaching the end of its first five-year term.

Businesses were balloted last month on whether they wanted to continue funding the BID — and a resounding 76% voted ‘yes’.

It means the BID will exist until at least the end of 2028, and chief executive Matthew Chapman and his team are promoting what they can do for businesses at the show.

3.39pm: Black Sheep bar back

The Black Sheep Bar has been a big part of the show for years.

But its continuation looked uncertain when the Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery went into administration in May.

London investment firm Breal Capital brought the firm back from the brink in a deal later that month.

It continues to trade, much to the delight of show-goers. Fellow Masham brewery T & R Theakston also has a stand here.

2.44pm: Pateley Bridge prize cows

Pateley Bridge cattle farmers Chris and Caroline Prince have cleaned up with three rosettes this morning.

Their three Long Horn beef cows placed third, fourth, and sixth on the first day of the show.

The Prince family described the annual show as “a real family affair” and will be camping on-site until the end of the week.

The cows will be competing in a young breeders’ competition later this week.

Ms Prince said:

“It’s a week of exhausting fun!”

2.26pm: Resurrection Bikes promotes cycling

Volunteers from Harrogate’s Resurrection Bikes, which saves old bikes from the scrapyard by doing them up and selling them to raise money for charities, is among the local good causes exhibiting today.

It is challenging passers-by to see how far and fast they can pedal on two if its recycled bikes.

Cycling is definitely the quickest way to get around Harrogate during show week.

1.58pm: Downpour!

This morning’s kind weather has given way to an almighty downpour. Rain is forecast on and off this afternoon until later on.

1.38pm: Extra day means more space to move

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society turned the traditional three-day show into a four-day affair during covid, limited the attendance and made the event all ticket.

The changes were introduced to comply with social distancing measures but have been retained since.

It has certainly made walking around easier — the photo above was taken alongside the main ring, where it used to be very difficult to get around at peak times.

The society planned to introduce an app this year to help visitors get around but it was not ready on time.

12.48pm: Ripon Farm Services’ boss prepares for royal visit

Geoff Brown (centre)

It wouldn’t be the Great Yorkshire Show without Geoff Brown, managing director of Ripon Farm Services, or as he is now known Geoff Brown MBE.

We bumped into Geoff while he was waiting to meet the Duke of Gloucester. Will Paxton and Paul Russell, who run rival agricultural machinery firms Paxtons and Russells, were also waiting to meet the duke when we pounced for this photo.

Ripon Farm Services has three pitches at the show, close to the main ring, cementing its reputation as the main exhibitor.

12.09pm: Local businesses on show

There is a strong Harrogate contingency at the show, including regular stall-holder Tim Yarrow.

Tim, who played a key role managing the vaccine rollout here at the showground, owns local scuba diving company Dive Shack and regularly takes divers on trips abroad. He is seen here modelling one of his face masks.

10.24am: Farming minister launches new dairy farming regulations

Mr Spencer answering questions at today’s media briefing.

Farming minister Mark Spencer is at the show today to announce new dairy farming regulations, which he says will “promote fairness, transparency and accountability across the dairy supply chain”.

The regulations have been introduced in response to concerns dairy farmers are not getting a fair price for milk.

Mr Spencer said:

“Farmers must be paid a fair price for their produce and these regulations will provide price certainty and stability for farmers by establishing written milk purchase agreements with clear and unambiguous terms.”

At a media briefing this morning, the Stray Ferret asked Mr Spencer what specific differences the regulations will mean to farmers. He said they could more confidently challenge cases of perceived unfairness with suppliers.

9.28am: Countryfile presenter Adam Henson is here

Countryfile presenter Adam Henson is one of many celebrities here over the next few days. You can catch a short interview with him on our Facebook page.

Adam insisted on having his photo taken with Stray Ferret commercial director Emma Harris. Or maybe it was the other way round…

8.35 Traffic starting to build 

There’s heavy traffic on Otley Road approaching Harrogate. It’s a main route for traffic coming to show from the west.

Traffic is also very slow on, Leadhall Lane,  Hookstone Road and on Oatlands Drive close to the show ground as show traffic combines with the school drop off.

Oatlands Drive 

8.25am: Dry until the afternoon?

The Met Office is forecasting there is the chance of a shower this afternoon and perhaps more persistent rain in the afternoon.

Ever since the washout of 2012 the show has mainly been blessed by good weather and although it might not be as warm this year it is still pleasant for walking around.

7.50am: Traffic building up

Traffic measures are in place throughout the week in the area around the showground. Remember, Wetherby Road is inbound to Harrogate only.

You can read full details of the measures here.

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A new promotion and networking event is being launched in Ripon to help companies connect and trade with each other.

Moot Ripon will follow a ‘business market’ format with exhibition stands of companies showcasing what they offer. The one-day event in October is open to all businesses in the area who are looking for local B2B opportunities.

Following advice from Ripon BID, the Federation for Small Businesses (FSB) and the North Yorkshire Growth Hub (LEP), the event is being organised by Ripon-based marketing and events firm Colour It In.

Managing director Mark Lancaster said:

“The Ripon area has a wealth of companies of all sizes operating across a huge variety of sectors.

“We wanted to bring them all together to get to know each other, re-establish connections, and do business together in a traditional face-to-face environment.”

Mr Lancaster is a former president of the Harrogate District Chamber of Trade and helped launch the Harrogate Business Market in 2005. He said he created Moot Ripon after struggling to find a similar local exhibition-style event to showcase his company to other businesses in the area.

Moot Ripon takes place at Ripon Racecourse on October 2.

Businesses of all sizes are invited to exhibit or attend the event but they must be based in the Ripon, Thirsk, Northallerton, Bedale, Masham, Pateley Bridge, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough and Harrogate areas.

Exhibitor spaces start from £250, and visitor entry is free.

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The owners and founders of Crown Jewellers In Harrogate have been nominated for an award by Professional Jeweller Magazine.

Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street is one of six companies in the country to be nominated for ‘Jewellery Team of the Year’.  Steve and Sue Kramer were nominated anonymously.  The winners are decided by retailers and suppliers who will cast their votes at the end of the month. Winners will then be announced in September.

Steve Kramer said:

“This is a fantastic accolade for Sue and I, one which we were surprised and delighted by. To be nominated independently for this award by our peers is testament to our hard work and dedication over the years.

“We genuinely love working together, even after all these years, and looking after our customers too – many of whom we have known now for a very long time! In fact, we have been invited to many of their weddings which is an honour!”

As well as running Crown Jewellers, Sue Kramer is president of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and plays a lead role in promoting the Commercial Street family of shops.

Anyone elected onto North Yorkshire Council should declare if they are a member of secretive Freemason organisations, a councillor has claimed.

Masonic lodges have operated for centuries and give millions to charity every year. However, they have long faced accusations of nepotism in fields such as business and the law.

All councillors must declare, in a register of interests, if they are part of organisations such as political parties or charities.

But according to the council’s code of conduct, councillors only have to declare themselves a Freemason if they are part of a lodge’s charitable arm.

Monika Slater, Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange & New Park, said the code of conduct was “wrong” because she believes that Freemasons pledge an allegiance to the organisation they’re in “above all else”.

She added that members of staff working for the council must declare all memberships related to Freemasons, unlike councillors.

Cllr Slater said:

“Surely that’s of interest to residents if they are a member of a lodge. If officers need to declare it why don’t members as well? It doesn’t feel right.”

North Yorkshire Council’s assistant chief executive Barry Khan addressed Cllr Slater’s request at a meeting in Northallerton last week.

He promised officers will produce a report that looks into whether councillors should declare if they are a Freemason.

Mr Khan said:

“The position under the previous code in regards to masonic lodges was if a member was involved with the charitable arm then they were a member of a charity and that would be registered. If it wasn’t a charitable arm, then the advice was that that it didn’t need to be registered.

“That’s been the position that has carried on [into the new council].

“However, I think there’s been some concern from members that this process should be open and transparent and all memberships should be declared. We’ll bring a report that discusses these issues and a further recommendation will go to full council.”

People with a passion for the outdoors are being invited to apply for membership of a group set up to improve access to North Yorkshire’s countryside.

The North Yorkshire Local Access Forum advises North Yorkshire Council and others on how people can make the most of opportunities to get out and about.

It is recruiting new members who could possibly be ramblers, runners, cyclists or horse riders with a keen interest in shaping the future of the county’s green spaces.

The forum’s work includes issues such as footpaths, bridleways, byways and open access land within North Yorkshire, but outside of the boundaries of the two National Parks for the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.

Other areas include:

• Motor vehicles and motorcycle use.
• Youth services and organisations.
• Disabled and disadvantaged groups.
• Visitor economy.
• Ethnic minority communities.
• Local businesses.

Footpaths are part of the group’s remit.

The forum works to maintain rights of way, ensure communities remain connected and improve links to places of interest.

There are generally three meetings a year and members may also attend site visits, workshops, training events and conferences as appropriate.

Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member with responsibility for public rights of way, said:

“North Yorkshire’s countryside is the jewel in our crown and ensuring it remains open and accessible to all is incredibly important.

“This has to be balanced with the needs and requirements of the people who live and work here as well and this is why the work of the Local Access Forum is so valued.

“Its volunteers bring a wealth of ideas and expertise and guarantee all views are represented and their voices heard.”

Applications are being invited from today until Friday, August 4.

Interviews will take place in late August to select new members before the next meeting of the Local Access Forum on September 25.

Applicants can request an application pack via email from democratic services officer, Harriet Clarke, at harriet.clarke@northyorks.gov.uk or telephone at 01423 556068.

You can also visit here for more information and an application form.

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North Yorkshire Council is set to launch a “once in a generation” economic strategy in an effort to support growth in the county.

The authority’s proposed economic growth strategy, which will first be considered by the council’s transport, economy, environment and enterprise scrutiny committee on Monday (July 10), has been drawn up to recognise the area’s unique scale and character and reflect the diversity of its component parts.

The document states: 

“This economic growth strategy is a key milestone, marking an exciting new phase for our economy.

“One where we take the lead on tackling some of the big economic challenges of our time such as net zero and energy security, and harness our strengths to combine accelerated economic growth with a carbon negative economy and outstanding quality of life.”

The document states the proposed strategy would provide business, investors, and other partners with a clear sense of North Yorkshire’s growth ambitions.

It adds: 

“These can only be achieved by partners from all of these groups working together in partnership to realise our collective ambitions for this great place.”

A final round of consultations, to be completed this month, is focusing on feedback from councillors, council bosses, and key external stakeholders to ensure the strategy aligns closely with other council strategies and plans for the new mayoral combined authority to be launched next year.

Cllr Derek Bastiman, the authority’s executive member for open to business, said the launch of the authority in April had presented a chance for a strategy that would not have been possible with seven different district council strategies.

He said: 

“I am quite excited as this document will benefit the whole of North Yorkshire.

“When there were seven different district authorities the boundaries did not give the ease and freedom to deliver a strategy targeting specific areas like this.”

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He said it was important north-south A1 corridor and east-west A59 and A64 corridor connectivity was identified as it would be the driving force for the economy of the county.

Cllr Bastiman said: 

“We must not take our eyes off what the market towns and larger villages, along with what smaller picture postcard coastal villages offer us.

“It is extremely important we take cognisance of all the area and the peculiarities, and I mean that in the nicest of ways, of such areas are taken into account because we don’t want to leave anybody behind with this. We want to bring people with us and consult all relevant bodies throughout the whole of North Yorkshire.”

Cllr Bastiman said he hoped the mayoral combined authority would play a supportive part in what North Yorkshire was trying to achieve.

“We do know the city of York will work with us on it, which is vitally important in delivering a cohesive, well thought out plan for the whole of North Yorkshire.”

In the past few weeks, three local hotels have opened new outdoor spa experiences to customers.

Swinton Estate, Grantley Hall and Rudding Park are hoping to attract guests with the promise of ‘reconnecting with nature’.

In June, Swinton Estate offered up a new wild swimming experience in its private lake at the heart of the hotel’s grounds.

A week later Grantley Hall opened a ‘Nordic spa garden’ complete with outdoor ice baths and a sauna for immersion therapy.

Gillian McGraffin, spa and wellness manager at Grantley Hall’s Three Graces Spa, said:

“With the increasing trend of cold-water immersion therapy making more noise in the wellness space recently, we knew that we wanted to offer guests something new that had many incredible health benefits.”

Shortly after Grantley announced this new spa addition, Rudding Park opened a woodland spring bathing experience, equipped with mineral-enriched freshwater tubs.

Sarah Johnson, head of the hotel’s spa, said:

“Woodland spring bathing is a wonderful way to relax; the stillness of the water promotes a sense of calm, heightening the connection with nature.

“Offering guests something new and embracing our natural environment is really important.”

Read More 

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All three additions demonstrate the increasingly popularity of outdoor spa and wellness experiences – often referred to under the broader term of ‘ecotherapy’.

It encompasses a number of therapies and practices which promote interactions with nature as valuable tools for improving psychological and physiological health.

The demand for outdoor spa experiences has grown significantly since covid.

According to data collected by the People and Nature Survey last year, nearly half of adults in England spent more time outdoors than they did before the pandemic. Meanwhile, 39% also said that after the pandemic, nature and wildlife had become more important than ever to their well-being

Commenting on the trend, Ms Johnson told the Stray Ferret:

“The popularity of embracing the outdoors to boost well-being shows no sign of slowing down.”

A nurse in Harrogate has retired after more than five decades of service to the NHS.

Lynne Henwood spent 50 years working for Harrogate hospital, 37 of them in the operating theatre.

She then transferred to the outpatients department where she worked until she finally retired after 54 years in the NHS, which this week marked its 75th anniversary.

She told the Stray Ferret things had changed considerably during her career:

“When I first started, we didn’t have the instrumentation, the knowledge, the technology. Things changed and evolved into a completely different world.

“The skill base is completely different. You just evolved. As they say, you never stop learning and I would say every day was a school day.

“Working within the team changed. When I trained, doctors were doctors and nurses were nurses. Then it became that doctors and nurses were part of the team.

“We supported the doctors and our knowledge was respected by the doctors.”

Mrs Henwood trained as a nurse in her home city of Liverpool at the age of 18, in January 1969. She said the training in those days was on the wards, with the 42-hour weeks over six days preparing her and the other student nurses for the hard work their first jobs would entail.

Training on the wards in Liverpool

However, she didn’t get off to the smoothest start.

“My first day on a ward, I fainted. I remember thinking, ‘that’s me done, I’m out now’. I had seen nothing in life, I was quite naive.

“But the sister said, ‘that’s quite normal, you’ll be fine’. And I was – it never happened again.”

After working in Liverpool for three years, Mrs Henwood took a job in Wakefield for just a few months before relocating to Harrogate in 1973, where she remained for the rest of her career.

She was quickly promoted to sister the following year and was based at Harrogate General Hospital until it closed.

Mrs Henwood transferred to the district hospital and worked at several satellite units around the district over the years.

Right, in scrubs, meeting the Queen when she visited Harrogate District Hospital

After almost four decades in the operating theatre, she moved downstairs to the outpatients department, working in clinical investigations as a staff nurse.

She reduced her hours 13 years ago with a plan to retire in summer 2020 – but everything changed with the arrival of the pandemic in March that year.

“I stayed in the outpatients setting, where we were still face-to-face with patients. I just decided I should stay.

“Some people said, ‘why aren’t you leaving like you planned?’ but I felt I should be there.”

In PPE during the covid pandemic

Three years on, Mrs Henwood decided it was finally time to retire. She said:

“I just thought I would like to do pilates on a Wednesday! I thought the only way I could do that was by fully retiring.”

Also awaiting her in retirement is more time with her husband and two daughters, as well as the opportunity to go walking, enjoy her garden at home in Boroughbridge, and read more books.

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Her final week of work, however, was reminiscent of her first day as a trainee. A fall on a day off left her with a broken elbow and bruising on her face, meaning she missed her last shifts.

But her colleagues in outpatients ensured she had a good send-off, with a lunch in the department followed by drinks in Harrogate on the Friday evening, and a fitting collection of gifts and flowers.

Reflecting on her career, Mrs Henwood said:

“It was just a train journey I didn’t get off. I didn’t regret any of it and I wouldn’t tell anyone not to be a nurse, but I would say it’s not easy.

“I would like to thank everyone who I have worked with over the years for all their support and kindness.”

A yellow weather warning has been issued for the Harrogate district this weekend.

The weather forecast includes thunder storms and heavy rain tomorrow, and the weather warning lasts from 9am until midnight.

Issued by the Met Office, it warns of possible dangers caused by flash-flooding resulting from heavy downpours.

It says:

“Flooding of homes and businesses could happen quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

“Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life.

“Where flooding or lightning strikes occur, there is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services. Spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

“Some communities might become cut off if roads flood. Power cuts might occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost.”

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Police have found two teenage girls reported missing from home in Harrogate last night.

An urgent search was launched for the pair on Thursday night.

Police called on the public to look out for the pair, who were believed to be missing together and also have links to Boroughbridge.

Police requested that any possible sightings were reported immediately by calling 999, quoting reference NYP-06072023-0603 for Leah and NYP-06072023-0601 for Grace.

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Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones has called on his Liberal Democrat rival to apologise for wrongly claiming Harrogate train station ticket office was due to close.

Rail operator Northern said this morning it planed to shut 131 ticket offices — but Harrogate’s would be one of 18 to remain open. It is part of a nationwide cull of hundreds of ticket offices.

Some four hours after the news was announced, Tom Gordon, the Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Harrogate and Knaresborough, published a press release titled ‘Lib Dems call on rail bosses to save Harrogate ticket office’.

It said the “the closure of the ticket office at Harrogate station will lock so many people out of being able to access tickets and travel by train” and urged the government and rail leaders to “think again”.

Not closing: Harrogate train station ticket office.

An hour later Harrogate and Knaresborough Lib Dems issued an ‘updated press release’ in which Mr Gordon called for “reassurances on the future of Harrogate ticket office”.

His initial press release prompted Mr Jones to say:

“Harrogate ticket office is remaining open.  It doesn’t need saving.  It was never threatened with closure.

“Assuming they didn’t know the facts, although this may just be political scaremongering, all the Liberal Democrats had to do was read the Stray Ferret, any other local news outlet or my Community News website and they would have known the actual situation.

“The news had been up on those sites for hours before they issued their erroneous press release.  An apology to the customers and staff who have been worried by this false claim would seem to be an appropriate thing to do.”

The Stray Ferret asked Mr Gordon for a response to Mr Jones’ comments and whether he would issue an apology but had not received a response by the time of publication.

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