A farm shop near Boroughbridge has added a children’s play barn to its attractions for families.
Yolk Farm, which offers a restaurant and shop as well as opportunities to meet and feed its animals, opened the new Yard@Yolk facility this week.
Emma Mosey, who has run the business near Minskip with husband Ben for the last six years, said she hoped it would add another reason for local families to visit.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“It all stems back from our mission and vision here which is educating kids and young families about farming, and being reconnected with food.
“A lot of the places that already exist are amazing, and can cost quite a lot to get in, particularly for a family with more than one child.
“Our aim is to make this a place people can come regularly and spend some time with their kids.”
Milkshakes will be among the treats on offer at the new facility
Interest in the project has been high since it was first announced on social media last month.
The building where the play space is housed has been completely transformed from its original use.
Emma said:
“It was originally the hen barn. Late last year, we were told if we were to get avian flu within the hens in that location, we would have to shut the whole site, including the restaurant.
“It was a huge risk, so when the flock came to an end, we decided to move the new flock into a field a bit further away.
“It meant we had this big barn, in the middle of the car park, which was vacant.”
The barn now offers role play areas and ride-on toys, all connected to the theme of farming and food.
Visitors can buy hot and cold drinks, as well as snacks, milkshakes and ice creams, drawing on the menu from the adjacent restaurant.
Yard@Yolk is open daily from 10am to 3pm and entry is £2.50 per child.
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Police confirm missing Harrogate teenagers found
Three missing girls from Harrogate have been found safe.
North Yorkshire Police have confirmed that two 13-year-old and a 16-year-old girl were found in Leeds and returned to their families.
The girls were last seen at 5pm on Thursday (August 10).
A police statement said:
“Protecting vulnerable people is of paramount importance to North Yorkshire Police.”
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Grade II listed 17th century home for sale in Boroughbridge
An historic grade II listed mansion house in Boroughbridge has gone on the market with an asking price of £3 million.
Boroughbridge Hall is in the centre of the town and is believed to date back to the time of James II.
Its royal links do not end there, however, as its marketing documents explain:
“The house itself dates back to the late 17th century, during the short reign of King James II, and is grade II listed.
“The current owner recently granted the grounds of Boroughbridge Hall use by the reigning British monarch for ceremonial purposes, evidence of the property’s regional status.”
It has been brought to the market by estate agency Croft, based near York.
Sales negotiator Sarah Weston said:
“When you go through the gates, you are right on the market square – it’s very handy but very, very private.
“The current owners have been there for 20 years. It has been a wonderful family home and now it’s open for a new family to take control and use it like they have.”
The house has has five bedrooms and bathrooms, as well as a separate studio and en suite shower room attached to the large garage.
It has planning permission for the studio to be extended into an open barn which lies behind the garage.
Outside, the grounds extend to more than three acres and include fishing rights, as well as woodland, three paddocks and a tennis court.
Though the house is historic, the agent said it has been remodelled and maintained with many of its historic features still in place. The particulars say:
“Boroughbridge Hall dates from the 1680s with the front porch added in 1830. It was remodelled in 1947 to reduce its height from three storeys to two.
“Many fine architectural features remain including tall sash windows and bays, wall panelling, architraves, cornicing, fireplaces, panelled doors, cast iron column radiators and a superb rebuilt oak staircase faithfully following a seventeenth century design.”
Ms Weston said while Boroughbridge Hall is an unusual property to come to the market, Croft is often asked to take on the marketing of large and historic houses.
It is also advertising Littlethorpe Hall near Ripon for sale at offers over £2.25 million. The Victorian building sits in more than 13 acres of grounds, with a separate lodge house and its own chapel.
She added:
“With houses like these, you never know who’s going to buy it.
“It could be a tech genius who’s earned millions and wants a quiet life somewhere, or a family sizing up gradually, moving bigger and bigger.
“There was a massive splurge of people moving up to Yorkshire after covid. Some have decided there’s not enough up here for them, but some are still doing it.
“People can afford more here, but still be in London in a couple of hours. We’ve got the best of every world.”
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Appeal after e-bike stolen in Boroughbridge
Police are appealing for information after an e-bike was stolen from a street near the centre of Boroughbridge.
The red and black Ersin mountain bike, which has hub motors in both the pedals and rear wheel, was taken from St Helena between 11pm on Saturday, July 15 and 5am on Sunday, July 16.
Anyone with information that could help the investigation should call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option four, and use reference 12230132029.
Alternatively, to report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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UPDATE: Two missing Harrogate teenage girls found safe
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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Boroughbridge Junior FC holds taster day for new players
Players old and new are invited to sign up for the coming football season and ‘try before they join’ when Boroughbridge Junior FC holds its annual registration and taster event on Saturday.
Players of all abilities are welcome to come down to the event at Boroughbridge High School on Wetherby Road, starting at 10am and running to 12pm.
The club will be running boys and girls teams from under-8 to under-16 age groups, plus a pan-disability football for boys and girls aged seven to 18. The 2023-24 season starts on September 2.
Players will be able to take part in supervised games run by FA-qualified coaches, with club officials on hand to answer any questions.
Club secretary Nigel Charlesworth said:
“The club motto is ‘football for all’, so we encourage players of all abilities to come along.
“If your son or daughter already plays for the club, then come down and register for the new season and let them blow some steam off by playing supervised games. New players are also welcome. So, come down, try us out, meet the coaches and make new friends through football. Use this as a taster session. If you like what you see, then join us for the new season.”
Teams will be joining leagues covering Harrogate and District and the Hambleton and Richmondshire area.
Volunteers and helpers are always welcome. The club provides practical and financial support to attain qualifications and meet FA requirements.
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Teenager dies after crash at crossroads
A teenager has died after a car crash on the edge of the Harrogate district at the weekend.
The collision happened at 2.15pm on Saturday on the B6265 at the crossroads between Whixley and Thorpe Underwood, south of Boroughbridge.
It involved a blue Ford Focus and a silver Volkswagen Touran.
An 18-year-old man, who was a passenger in the Ford, died as a result of the collision. He has not been named.
Six other occupants of both vehicles were taken to hospital with injuries.
North Yorkshire Police have urged witnesses to come forward.
A force statement today said:
“Police are urging anyone who saw the collision or either car involved prior to it to get in touch. They would also like to hear from anyone who may have relevant dashcam footage.
“Anyone with information is asked to email PC Julie Brown. Julie.Brown@northyorkshire.police.uk or phone North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Julie Brown. Please quote reference number 12230116638 when passing information.”
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Boroughbridge performers pick a pocket or two
Boroughbridge theatre company, The Hightimers, are returning to the stage this weekend with a new performance of Oliver Twist.
The Hightimers are named after Boroughbridge High School where they held their first performances back in 1985.
Director, Marlo Lomas, described the company as a family, with many members joining as kids before growing in experience and talent and landing bigger roles.
The company has got “bigger and bigger” according to Lomas and have members ranging from 8-80 years old playing a part in the production.
Oliver Twist was picked as it combines the talents of both younger and more senior actors.
Christopher Bishop, playing the titular Oliver was described as “incredible” by Lomas. He compared his singing voice as “identical” to Kathe Green’s, the woman who’s voice was dubbed over the boy Oliver in the 1968 film version “Oliver!”
The theatre’s previous performances include Grease and Cinderella.
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Performances at Coronation Hall in Boroughbridge are on every Friday and Saturday until 1 July. You find tickets here starting at £10 with concession tickets available.
They’re a self-funded organisation with the profits going towards future productions and local charities.
Cost of living crisis prompts Boroughbridge café to close
A Boroughbridge cafe has announced it will close its doors for good within the next two weeks.
Fourth Stone Café serves breakfasts and brunches on Church Lane.
The business, which has been open for 18 months, posted the news on its Facebook page this week.
It cited the cost of living crisis and rising prices as factors in its decision.
Jack Pinder, the owner, said on Facebook:
“It is with a heavy heart I am having to write this.
“Unfortunately, we will be open for only the next two weeks before closing our doors for good on Saturday, July 1.“The cost of living crisis and continued rises in cost, have caught up with us and like so many small businesses it means we can no longer continue to carry on.“This has not been an easy decision to make but sometimes you have to acknowledge when enough is enough, not just financially but also for the good of your own wellbeing!”
The post prompted numerous messages of support. One customer said:
“It’s so sad to see such a wonderful business close.”
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Co-op submits plans for new store in Boroughbridge
Plans have been submitted to open a Co-op in Boroughbridge.
The 359-square metre store would sell fresh, frozen and chilled products from 7am to 10pm seven days a week.
It would be built on the site of the former Searles Carpets showroom and Saab garage on Horsefair.
A design statement sent on behalf of the applicants to North Yorkshire Council, which will decide whether to approve the development, says:
“The site is located central to Boroughbridge and has stood vacant for several months and is in need to redevelopment.
“The proposal to create a modern format convenience food store is an opportunity enhance the local amenities together with job creation.
The document adds the “traditional looking” building would conform with the requirements of the Boroughbridge Conservation Area.
Another impression of the proposed store.
An accompanying planning statement says the store would have 13 car park spaces, including one disabled bay, and be accessed from Horsefair via a new access route.
It adds the store would be operated by Central Co-Operative, which “is independent from the Co-Operative Group, but are part of the wider co-operative movement”. Central Co-Operative currently trades from some 440 outlets in 19 counties.
The planning statement says the Spar shop on High Street is the only existing town centre supermarket / general store. It adds:
“Boroughbridge is therefore generally considered to be a vital and viable centre, although it clearly provides a relatively limited food retail offer
“It has been clearly demonstrated that the proposals will deliver a high quality form of development that respects the character and appearance of the local area.”
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