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29
Sept 2021
Harrogate's Horticap opens revamped free nature trail
A Harrogate nursery has reopened its free nature trail this week after a nine-month refurbishment of the grounds.
Horticap, which is based at Bluecoat Wood Nurseries on Otley Road, is a charity that provides adults with learning and other disabilities training in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills.
Parts of the trail were badly churned during construction of a new tearoom and shop at Horticap, which opened earlier this year in June.
The Hopkins at Horticap cafe is named in honour of former Horticap student Peter Hopkins, who left his house in Bilton to the charity after he and his mother Marjorie died.
The Banks Community Fund, a Durham-based charity linked to The Banks Group, donated £5,000 to make the work possible.
The trail includes additional seating areas, interpretative boards and new pond screening.
Read more:
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While a new sunken garden has been created to provides a social space that can be used by visiting schools and community groups.
The work has been led by Horticap’s operations manager Phil Airey, supported by local contractors and long-term supporters.
Some of the Horticap students were also able to assist when it was safe to do so.
The charity hopes the new facilities will extend its role in the local community.
Mr Airey said:
Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at The Banks Group, said:
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