North Yorkshire Council has approved a plan to convert stables at Follifoot Park Riding Centre into accommodation for staff.

The stables that will be converted into a one-bedroom flat are currently home to three horses. The proposal will also see a barn extended to replace the space lost in the conversion.

The family-run equestrian centre near Harrogate has been in operation since 1986 and offers riding tuition for beginners to advanced riders.

It’s also home to the Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group and Follifoot Park Young Riders club.

The centre has 36 stables, an indoor arena, outdoor flood-lit menage, function and teaching rooms, as well as a simulator horse to practice riding.

However in a statement submitted to the council by applicants Mr and Mrs Pedley, it says the business does not offer significant salaries so an accommodation package is important for staff retention.

It will mean staff can be on site around the clock to check on horses and deter thieves.

According to the statement, there was a recent incident at the centre where three men in balaclavas attempted to steal a quad bike and there have been numerous other break-in attempts.

The statement added: 

“The application property would be offered to one of the three full time staff members who currently commute from outside the Harrogate district and cannot afford to move closer due to house prices.

“This would then provide two full time members of staff on site and alleviate some of the pressure of the applicant’s family to cover such a significant operation.”

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Councillors have recommended that two public bridleways near Crimple Viaduct are connected following a dispute.

In 2013, the owner of Rudding Park proposed a new path along a section of a disused railway on the estate in Crimple Valley, near Follifoot.

The intention was to connect the new bridleway to the existing public bridleway 61.

However, it was later found there was a gap of five metres between the two bridleways, which is on land not owned by Rudding Park.

North Yorkshire Council has proposed a Public Path Creation Order to join the two paths but the farmer who owns the small parcel of land, Craig Eastwood, opposes it and said the former county council did not follow the proper procedure.

This week, Mr Eastwood told the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough planning committee he had concerns about access to the bridleway on Fulwith Mill Lane, including an increase in footfall damaging his land as well as dogs off leads scaring livestock.

The proposal has received support from over 100 members of the public as well as groups including the British Horse Society, Cycling UK and The Ramblers.

Mr Eastwood said:

“Walkers tend to stray off the prescribed PROW (public right of way), especially with dogs and almost treat the land as a park. This costs us time and money to make good and also negatively affects our livestock with sheep in particular being worried by dogs roaming around.”

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However, Cllr John Mann, a Conservative who represents Pannal and Oatlands told Mr Eastwood rambling is a “very civilised activity” with dog walkers “almost always” on a lead.

He said:

“I ramble on a regular basis and the people I come across generally do stick to the paths that are designated. I don’t think people take liberties with landowners.”

Cllr Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley, asked if there could be improved signage to satisfy both the landowner and the council, calling it a “win-win” for both parties.

He added:

“The more people we get out into the countryside the better”.

Councillors voted unanimously to recommend that the new path is created.

The recommendation will now go to the Secretary of State to make a final decision.

A friendship bench has been installed at Follifoot Primary School to encourage pupils to support each other.

The bench provides a place where children can sit if they feel lonely or don’t have anyone to play with at playtime. Others see them and start up a friendship.

Friends of Follifoot School, a group of volunteer parents, presented the bench to the school playground this week.

Children elected on to the school council proposed the idea last year to promote friendship and kindness.

The friends group has now made it happen by using funds raised at its annual summer fair Follifête to buy the bench, which was crafted by Harrogate furniture company Harvey George.

The unveiling of the bench coincided with the last day on the committee of four members of the friends group. Laura Hartley, Vicky Hodgson, Claire Hartley and Sam Riley stepped down after fundraising for the school for five years. The bench was their parting gift to the children.

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A new committee is now planning the next Follifête on July 9 at Follifoot Village Hall.

Ms Hartley, who was chair of the friends group, said:

“It was something the school council were really passionate about and we’re glad that we were able to bring their idea to life. We hope that the bench will see hundreds of friendships created over time.”

Headteacher Rebecca Holland said:

“I am sure the bench will be loved by Follifoot children for decades to come.”

Pic shows: Friends of Follifoot School present the bench to pupils. Back row L to R: Sophie Griffiths from Harvey George; Laura Hartley, chair of FOFS; Rebecca Holland, headteacher, Claire Hartley, Vicky Hodgson and Sam Riley from FOFS; middle row L to R: Lizzie, Annabelle, William; front row L to R: Elliot, Jessica, Florence, Jasper

A Follifoot disabled riding club is celebrating six of its volunteers reaching 30 years of service.

Follifoot Park Disabled Riders Group, which was established in 1986, has helped more than 100 riders from children to adults enjoy the benefits of horse riding.

The charity now has 120 volunteers who help those who are disabled to ride.

This past week, six of the group’s volunteers were awarded certificates for reaching three decades of service.

Beryl Fleming, one of those who reached the milestone, said:

“It is a real pleasure volunteering here and so rewarding to see the progress that our riders make and the fun that horse riding gives them.”

Morag Bennett, chair of the riding group, said:

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our charity and we are lucky to have so many people willing to give up their time to help our riders.

“To have served for 30 years is a remarkable achievement and shows amazing dedication for which we’re very grateful. 

“We are also fortunate to be based at Follifoot Park Riding Centre, with its excellent facilities and continued support.”

For more information on the group and how to get involved, visit the charity’s website here.

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Schoolchildren from Follifoot have helped to bury a time-capsule to mark 50 years since the Mackaness family bought Rudding Park. 

The capsule was placed in the ground alongside a time-capsule planted in 1997 to mark the 25th anniversary of the family’s ownership of the estate.  

Replicating the format from 1997, schoolchildren from Years 1-6 at Follifoot C of E Primary School were invited to enter a competition to create a piece of artwork which depicted a winter’s day in Follifoot. The winning entries would be included in the time-capsule, and this time round, the winners would also be invited to private cinema and pizza party. 

Seven winners, William, Imogen, Alex, Florence, Olive, Florence and Beatrice, were selected, and came along to see the time-capsule being planted.

Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, said: 

“As a local business, we recognise the importance of reaching out to our local community. Children at the school helped us plant our first time-capsule in 1997 and we made a promise to invite the next generation of schoolchildren to help us mark the next 25 years, so to see that come to fruition is quite something.

“The children created some fantastic entries and it was very difficult to make a decision, however were delighted to welcome the winners to help us plant the time-capsule today.”  

Winning entries were placed inside the capsule, along with a number of Rudding Park branded items to reflect the times including: a face covering, Christmas bauble, a medal from the inaugural Rudding Park Race 10K, a silk scarf work by the reception team, and a copy of the Rudding Review – a newspaper with an overview of 2022.  

Rebecca Holland, headteacher at Follifoot Church of England Primary School, said:  

“We are extremely lucky to have Rudding Park on our door-step. They have generously supported the school with numerous fundraising activities over the years, so to be approached to involve the children one again in such an important milestone was an absolute thrill.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship and hope to be invited to plant a third time-capsule marking their 75th anniversary.”

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This week’s photograph was taken by Alistair Hay while out walking his dog Indi, capturing the sunset from the Follifoot dismantled Railway.

Alistair Hay

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

Warning: the following article contains details some people may find offensive.

A Harrogate man who had a “totally unacceptable” interest in images of child abuse and extreme pornography has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Philip Grange, 53, of Hillside in Follifoot, appeared before York Crown Court this morning on a string of charges, including possessing an extreme pornographic image of a person performing an act of intercourse with a dog.

Grange was also charged with three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child and three counts of distributing indecent photographs of a child.

He pleaded guilty to all charges.

Thousands of indecent images

Police arrested Grange on August 14, 2020, and seized a number of devices including nine mobile phones, a Samsung tablet, a laptop and a USB stick from his home.

Analysis of the technology found five of the mobile phones included indecent material.

A total of 650 category A images, which are the most graphic, and 37 videos were found, along with thousands of category B and C images.

Police also discovered 180 images of extreme pornography and 10 videos.

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Grange was also found to be using the Kik Messenger social media platform to request and distribute images.

The prosecution told the court that he also had “very explicit” conversations on the platform.

Ismael Uddin, defending Grange, said he had no previous convictions and was “socially isolated”.

He added that he was “remorseful” for making and distributing the images and was unlikely to offend again.

Mr Uddin said:

“All of them [the images] are of a disdainful nature.

“He is 53 years of age and is likely to not commit offences again. He has told me that he is no longer on the internet.”

‘Unacceptable’ and ‘perverted’

Sentencing Grange, Recorder Paul Reid told the 53-year-old that he had an “unacceptable” and “perverted” interest in pornography.

He said:

“You are described as a socially isolated individual who has a totally unacceptable and perverted interest in pornography and, in particular, images of child abuse.”

Mr Reid described Grange’s conversations on the “notorious” Kik platform as “utterly disgusting”.

He added that he noted that Grange told probation that he was “glad to be caught” as he “knew what he was doing was wrong”.

Grange was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to undertake 200 hours unpaid work, 40 days rehabilitation and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.