January can be a pretty depressing month.

Our finances have usually taken a hit thanks to Christmas, we feel run-down due to the impact the festive season has had on our nutrition and sleep and the cold, gloomy days don’t help either.

Add to that the effect the pandemic has, and continues to have, on our mental health, it comes as no surprise some of us just want to lie down in a dark room and hibernate until spring.

If the past year has been a slog, these breaks focusing on nutrition, yoga and mindfulness in the Harrogate district can help restore balance, health and creativity.

Professor Brian Cox has filmed part of his new BBC series about the mysteries of the universe at Fountains Abbey and Brimham Rocks.

In the episode, which airs next week, the physicist explores the phenomenon of black holes whilst using the two National Trust sites as a visual backdrop.

Prof Cox walks around the ruined monastery of Fountains Abbey while discussing how black holes decay. Brimham Rocks and the Nidderdale landscape are used to emphasise the vastness of space.

The episode is due to broadcast on BBC2 next Wednesday (November 24) and is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer here.

Fountains Abbey tweeted that it was delighted to welcome the professor:

1/2 We were delighted to welcome @ProfBrianCox here on some very chilly days earlier this year to film for his new series 'Universe'. The upcoming episode The upcoming episode was filmed within the ancient abbey ruins and explores the amazing mysteries of black holes. pic.twitter.com/jOccODeO0l

— Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust (@fountainsabbey) November 17, 2021

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Brimham Rocks can be seen in a different light at an exhibition starting on Monday.

Innovative Yorkshire landscape photographer and artist Joe Cornish has captured the ancient rock formations at different times of day and seasons of the year.

His images reveal the rugged landscape from a point of view that few people see.

Mr Cornish’s photographs and images captured in other mediums, will be on display at the Brimham Rocks visitors’ centre from June 21 until November 30.

The iconic moorland was formed by a huge river that covered the area 100 million years before dinosaurs made their first footprints on the earth.

The Drawn to Rock exhibition is part of the National Trust’s celebration of 50 years of ownership of a site that has been attracting visitors since the 18th century.

Joe Cornish’s photographic exhibition will be on display until November

Mr Cornish said:

“The photographs and mixed media pieces for this exhibition were created through numerous visits to Brimham in many conditions, and subsequent ruminations on the nature of geological time.

“Inspired by what lies above the surface, the intention is to reflect on what lies beneath it, something that finds its equivalent in the human condition.

“Although landscape photography remains the primary form of expression, by using words and paint as well, I hope to question the hard boundaries that exist between different media, as well as exploring the interplay of material and energy inherent in sedimentary geology.”

Brimham Rocks in winter – one of the images in the exhibition

Most people visit Brimham during the day, so Mr Cornish wanted to capture the rocks at night – a time when few people see them and the surrounding countryside.

Through his nocturnal images, Brimham takes on a very different but powerful guise, as he plays with light and shadows.

Some of Mr Cornish’s daylight images contrast the wide-ranging views of the rock formations many know so well, with extreme close-ups of the rock structures within the same image.

Although known primarily as a photographer, he hasn’t always worked in this medium, originally beginning his career working in fine art.

Through his work on this project, Mr Cornish included an experimental aspect to his craft, combining photographs with added elements of paint and text.

Justin Scully, general manager of Brimham Rocks said:

“We’re delighted to be working with Joe, especially since we had to postpone the exhibition because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“His work captures the power of landscape at Brimham but also helps us look at it in a new light at a time when, as well the growing appreciation of nature, we are also more than ever aware of the threat to nature from climate change.”

A cyclist who broke his leg and had to be rescued by air ambulance near Brimham Rocks will have his story told on TV tonight.

Algy Kazlauciunas was cycling on Warsill Road on September 4 last year when his wheel skidded on oil left by a truck.

He crashed and landed on a grass verge, where he was alone and unable to move.

Fortunately two cyclists, who were not far behind, stopped to help.

They were struggling to work out the exact location for the emergency services but one had the What3Words app on his phone.

So when Peter Jackson, one of the cyclists, called 999 he quoted the What3Words reference ‘Inflation, Surfer, Inner’, which led Yorkshire Air Ambulance straight to the crash.

Algy Kazlauciunas, who hopes to get back on his bike when the weather improves, said:

“It was one of the most unfortunate things that has happened in my life. An old truck had disposed of oil on the road and I hit the oil and that was it, I had no chance.

“I immediately realised that I couldn’t move and that no-one was there to help me.

“I remember the helicopter arriving and landing in the field and I wasn’t on the ground for too long before they took me to hospital.

“I was impressed by the people who stopped and were so helpful with everything. It was a real joy in terms of humanity.”

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The air ambulance took Mr Kazlauciunas, who is from Leeds, to Harrogate District Hospital where tests revealed he had a broken femur.

He endured a long operation to pin his leg back together and have a rod inserted, and spent four days in the hospital recuperating.

The reality TV series Helicopter ER will feature the story on Channel Really at 10pm tonight. It can be viewed on Freeview on channel 17.

Matt Syrat, clinical operations manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said:

“There are a lot of rural areas and less identifiable roads in Yorkshire and if a person cannot distinguish where they are, it can delay the time it takes for emergency services to reach the incident.

“What3Words enables us to pinpoint a nearly exact location of the casualty using the three words given to us by the call taker and we can dispatch immediately.

“The What3Words app is invaluable to saving lives, especially in remote areas of Yorkshire.”

Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey will stay open during lockdown, the National Trust has confirmed.

The charity said it wanted people to enjoy outdoor spaces, but all of the trust’s indoor sites will close from tomorrow.

That means the visitor centre restaurant at Fountain’s Abbey will remain open for takeaway only.

But the abbey, Studley Royal water garden and the play area will remain open.

At Brimham Rocks, the kiosk will remain open to serve takeaway hot and cold drinks and snacks.

The car parks at both venues will stay open.

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National Trust director-general Hilary McGrady said the well-being of visitors, staff and volunteers was its priority.

Ms McGrady said:

“We follow government advice and guidance at all times, in each of the nations we serve.

“We know how important access to green space, nature and fresh air are to people, and we’ll do everything we can to provide them during the next phase. Our priorities will remain the safety and well-being of visitors, staff and volunteers.”

Visitors to popular Nidderdale attraction Brimham Rocks will soon be able to stay the night in a former farmhouse.

The “Druids Cave” farmhouse at Brimham Rocks will be turned into holiday accommodation after Harrogate Borough Council approved a change of use application from the National Trust.

The farmhouse, which was built in the late 19th century, has three bedrooms and has been let on short-term tenancies by the National Trust for many years.

The “Druids Cave” farmhouse

It stands to the north west of the site, and is not the building currently used as the visitor centre and shop.

No external changes will be made to the building but the inside will be refurbished.

Bookings will be managed via the National Trust cottages website, which offers nights at a range of Trust properties across the country.

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• Impromptu concert at Brimham Rocks highlights nature and arts
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Visitors to Brimham Rocks were treated to an impromptu concert this week designed to highlight the importance of nature and arts at a time of crisis.

Cause UK, which does marketing for Nidderdale AONB, worked with Leeds firm Besbrode Pianos to get the concert grand piano firmly in place at the beauty spot.

Pianist Kevin James received applause and requests for encores during his Monday afternoon recital. Most listeners had not heard live music for six months.

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Those lucky enough to be there are unlikely to hear live music again anytime soon due to social distancing measures.

Visitors to Brimham Rocks got a real treat on Monday afternoon.

Clair Challenor-Chadwick, managing director of Cause UK, said:

“The whole of the UK is stressed out of its mind from the pandemic. As we work in the arts and across the green agenda, the piano idea was a way to highlight how much we need both right now – how we should value it, why we should safeguard it.”

The arts and nature are both under threat in the UK. More than 40% of species are in decline and many live events are not viable to run.

The concert occurred ahead of Landscapes for Life Week, which starts on September 19 and aims to reconnect people with nature at AONBs in England and Wales.

Visitors to Brimham Rocks are being urged not to light BBQs over the weekend as they pose a fire risk to its rare moorlands.

The National Trust, who owns Brimham Rocks, issued the warning as temperatures are expected to hit 25 degrees on Saturday.

In May 2018, firefighters were called to the 400-acre site after a disposable BBQ started a fire which damaged around 8,700 square metres of moorland.

Brimham Rocks is home to three rare species of heather including ling, bell and cross-leaved heath. These plants have helped give Brimham its site of special scientific interest (SSSI) status.

Brimham Rocks park ranger Catherine Barber told the Stray Ferret that even though it has been wet this week, ling heather is still particularly flammable so if there’s a fire and the wind changes they could “lose the whole lot”.

She added that during the height of lockdown in March and April she found discarded BBQs nearly every day at the site.

Firefighters tackle the 2018 fire at Brimham Rocks.

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Ben McCarthy, head of nature conservation for the National Trust added:

“Many areas of land are still very dry and all it takes is a single spark from a barbecue or a dropped cigarette to cause a serious fire.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service also released a statement to the Stray Ferret warning the public about the dangers of lighting BBQs on dry grass.

They said:

“With the warm weather returning at the weekend North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to take care if they’re visiting the countryside or local parks and open spaces.

Please:

• Don’t leave rubbish lying around, sunlight shining through glass can start fires, and rubbish can harm local wildlife
• Don’t have BBQs or camp fires on grass or moorland
• Don’t block access for emergency vehicles.”

Meanwhile in Harrogate, images have been posted across social media this week of discarded litter as people enjoyed the recent spell of warm weather.

BBQs are prohibited on the Stray and culprits could be subject to a fixed penalty notice from the council.

RHS Harlow Carr has seen a spike in demand for places at its gardens ahead of reopening on Monday.

The RHS saw delays on its online booking system yesterday as a high volume of people flocked to the website to book spaces to its gardens.

The gardens will be open from 10am until 4pm, but people must pre-book a space in order to limit the amount of people attending.

Due to high levels of interest you may experience delays in the online booking process; please bear with us. Please note you will not be allowed entry without confirmation of your booking. pic.twitter.com/VI5xUvpEHG

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) May 29, 2020

Safety measures will also be in place including floor markings for social distancing, screens at the checkouts, hand sanitiser for visitors and staff and a no cash policy.

A statement on the RHS Gardens website said:

“Our foremost priority remains the health and safety of our members, visitors and staff and we will do everything possible to ensure all government social distancing measures are followed.

“All visitors will be required to pre-book a timed entry slot in advance of their visit and visitor numbers entering the gardens will be limited.”

Meanwhile, National Trust attractions in the Harrogate district will remain closed this weekend.

It means that Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon, will not be open for people to travel to as the trust plans a gradual reopening of its attractions in the coming weeks.

Brimham Rocks will remain closed to the public until further notice.

The National Trust is set to reopen some of its smaller gardens and parklands from June 3 and advanced bookings will be required to maintain public safety.

Newby Hall and Gardens, Ripon, will remain closed to visitors. A statement on its website said it was working hard to reopen “as soon as possible”.

Further afield, Bolton Abbey Estate reported that it sold out tickets for the estate yesterday and urged people not to visit.

National Trust venues in the Harrogate district will remain closed to the public this weekend.

It means that Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon, will not be open for people to travel to as the trust plans a gradual reopening of its attractions in the coming weeks.

People are able to travel anywhere in the country to find a park or beach as the lockdown has been eased, but the trust said its decisions to open its venues will be guided by local judgement.

As part of the easing of lockdown restrictions, the trust plans to reopen some of its larger car parks for its attractions from May 21 to those who have pre-booked places.

People will be able to book parking spaces for venues on the National Trust website from Monday (May 18). Members will be able to book for free, but non-members will have to pay.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Water confirmed that car parks at reservoirs across the district will still be closed this weekend.

Earler this week, the company warned that people should not travel to its reservoirs, such as Fewston and Scar House, until it has a plan to adapt to government guidance.

It comes as the head of Yorkshire Dales National Park hit out at the government after it gave the green light for people to travel to beauty spots.