The temperatures have risen across the Harrogate district this week and that summer feeling has well and truly kicked in.
And what better time than to enjoy some of the stunning flora and fauna that our area has to offer.
There are lots of gorgeous gardens to explore over the next few months as part of the National Garden Scheme.
The initiative gives visitors unique access to over 3,500 exceptional private gardens in the UK and raises impressive amounts of money for nursing and health charities. The scheme also promotes the physical and mental health benefits of gardens.
We have put together a list of the participating gardens in our district from now until August:
Birstwith Hall, Birstwith
When: Sunday, June 19, 2pm-5pm
Admission: Adults £5, children go free
About: A charming and varied four-acre garden nestling in a secluded Yorkshire dale.
A formal garden and ornamental orchard, as well as extensive lawns leading to a picturesque stream and a large pond. There is also a walled garden and Victorian greenhouse.
The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Yorke House and White Rose Cottage, Dacre Banks
When: Sunday, June 26, 11am-5pm
Admission: Adults £5, children go free
About: An award-winning English country garden in the heart of Nidderdale.
A series of distinct areas flowing through two acres of ornamental garden. There are also colour-themed borders, as well as a natural pond and stream with delightful waterside plantings. Secluded seating areas and attractive views.
The adjacent cottage has a recently developed garden designed for wheelchair access. There is a large collection of hostas and an orchard picnic area.
The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Prospect House, Burton Leonard
When: Friday, June 24, 1-.30am-2pm
Admission: Adults £35, children go free
Booking: A limited number of tickets have been made available for this special event. Tickets must be booked in advance here
About: Following a welcome by the owner, there will be talks on the development of the garden, the creation of a cutting garden and colour-themed borders plus demonstration of cut flower arrangements in the potting shed. Buffet lunch included.
Prospect House features a one-acre walled, landscaped garden with ornamental pond, pergola, large oval lawned area, cutting and vegetable beds.
There is a colour-themed herbaceous long border, ‘hot’ borders, and a physic bed. There is also mature hedging, trees and seasonal interest throughout. Additional new planting areas are being established.
A renovated outhouse has been converted into a potting area used for garden workshops.
The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Cobble Cottage, Whixley
When: Sunday, July 3,11pm-5pm
Admission: Adults £4, children go free
About: An imaginatively designed, constantly changing, small cottage garden full of decorative architectural plants and old family favourites.
There is an Interesting water garden, containers and use of natural materials. It also features a black and white courtyard garden and Japanese-style garden with growing willow screen.
The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Group openings – gardens that open on the same day
Grafton gardens, Marton-cum-Grafton
Well House.
When: Sunday, July 3,11am-5pm
Admission: Adults £6, children go free
About: These two gardens in adjacent rural villages are also connected by a public footpath.
Paddock House is on an elevated site with extensive views down a large sloping lawn to a wildlife pond. A plant lover’s garden where the house is encircled by a profusion of pots and extensive plant collections combining cottage gardening with the Mediterranean and Tropical. A curved terrace of Yorkshire stone and steps using gravel and wood sleepers leads to many seating areas culminating in a cutting garden and small greenhouse.
Well House, in Grafton, nestles under the hillside, with long views to the White Horse. This one-and-a-half acre garden was begun 40 years ago and is constantly changing. A traditional English cottage garden with herbaceous borders, climbing roses and ornamental shrubs with a variety of interesting species. Paths meander through the borders to an orchard with ducks. Refreshments are available at The Punch Bowl pub, a five-minute walk from Well House.
Dacre Banks and Summerbridge Gardens
Woodlands Cottage.
When: Sunday, July 10,12pm-5pm
Admission: Adults £10, children go free
About: Dacre Banks and Summerbridge Gardens are situated in the beautiful countryside of Nidderdale and designed to take advantage of the scenic Dales landscape.
The gardens are linked by attractive walks along the valley, but each may be accessed individually by car.
Low Hall has a romantic walled garden set on different levels around the historic C17 family home (not open) with herbaceous borders, shrubs, climbing roses and a tranquil water garden. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Riverside House is an atmospheric waterside garden on many levels, supporting shade-loving plants and features a Victorian folly, fernery, courtyard and naturalistic riverside plantings. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Woodlands Cottage is a garden of many rooms, with exquisite formal and informal plantings, and an attractive wildflower meadow which harmonises with mature woodland. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Yorke House has extensive colour-themed borders and water features with beautiful waterside plantings. The newly developed garden at White Rose Cottage is specifically designed for wheelchair users. The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Read more:
- Top gardening tips from Harrogate horticulture experts
- The £2.25m eco-house for sale that ‘blends in’ to the Nidderdale countryside
The Priory, Nun Monkton
When: Thursday, July 7,11pm-5pm
Admission: Adults £6, children go free
About: A large country garden surrounding William and Mary house (not open), at the confluence of the River Nidd and River Ouse.
It features species trees, calm swathes of lawn, clipped yew, beech and box, formal rose garden and mixed borders.
There is a new area of soft perennial planting and informal parkland. There area also kitchen gardens with a greenhouse and swimming pool where teas will be served.
The Nun Monkton Ferryboat will be running a special service on this day, connecting Nun Monkton with Beningbrough and Moor Monkton, from the riverbank next to The Priory.
Markenfield Hall, Ripon
When: Tuesday, July 12, 2pm-3pm
Admission: Adults £5, children go free
Booking: By guided tour only (max 10 people). Tickets must be booked in advance here
About: The work of the hall’s owner Lady Deirdre Curteis and gardener Giles Gilbey.
Mature planting combines with newly designed areas, where walls with espaliered apricots and figs frame a mix of hardy perennials.
In 2018 the farmhouse border was replanted to eventually blend seamlessly with the hall’s main east border.
Goldsborough Hall, Goldsborough
When: Sunday, July 24, 11pm-5pm
Admission: Adults £5, children go free
About: An historic 12-acre garden and formal landscaped grounds in parkland setting around Grade II*, 17th-century house, which was the former residence of HRH Princess Mary, daughter of George V and Queen Mary.
Goldsborough Hall boasts Gertrude Jekyll inspired 120ft double herbaceous borders, a rose garden and a woodland walk.
There is a large restored kitchen garden and glasshouse which produces fruit and vegetables for the hall’s commercial kitchens.
Greencroft, Littlethorpe, Ripon
When: Sunday, August 7, 12pm-4pm
Admission: Adults £5, children go free
About: A half-acre informal country garden created by the owners. It features long herbaceous borders packed with colourful late summer perennials, annuals and exotics culminating in a circular garden with views through to large wildlife pond and surrounding countryside.
Special ornamental features include a gazebo, temple pavilions, formal pool, stone wall with mullions and gate to pergola and cascade water feature.
The gardens can also be visited by arrangement.
Developer resubmits Flaxby self-build homes eco schemeA developer is not giving up on his dream of delivering a self-build eco-development in Flaxby after being knocked back by Harrogate Borough Council.
Ben Holmes, from Birstwith, first submitted plans last year to build the cutting-edge development in the village near Knaresborough.
It was for a community self-build scheme, which is a different model of housebuilding from what is usually seen.
Mr Holmes would install infrastructure, such as paths, water, drainage and a communal area, on the site.
Nine plots would then be available to people who want to build their own home. The buyers then hire an architect and builder and design a home to suit their family’s needs.
A stipulation would ensure all the homes are built to strict environmental standards and include solar panels, air-source heat pumps and super-tight insulation.
The plans were refused by the council on the grounds that it was not in the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35, which sets out where development can take place, and because the number of homes was below the council’s requirement per hectare.
‘Moving away from the car’
Mr Holmes appealed the council’s decision to the government’s Planning Inspectorate but it upheld the refusal.
He has this week submitted new plans to the council, which he hopes address the reasons for refusal.
The revised plans include plots for 20 homes, which would be available to those who have joined Harrogate’s self-build register.
He said:
“All of the principles of our original scheme will be included, which is again trying to move away from the car, with use of shared electric vehicles and further an electric mini-bus for the school run.
“The homes will generate their own electricity with photovoltaic panels on the roofs and rainwater harvesting will be used to cut down on energy bills.
“They will all be Passivhaus, relying mainly on solar gain for heating, and have air source heat pumps for any extra heating required. They will be extremely well insulated and air-tight. The intention is that they will set the standard for new homes across the area, and be a catalyst for greener developments.”
Read more:
- Eco-development could be catalyst for green housing in Harrogate district
- Developer appeals decision to reject Harrogate district eco-homes
New village hall
The initial proposal received a seven-page objection from Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council.
It cited concerns over flooding, sustainable transport and claimed the plans “gave no thought whatsoever to the village of Flaxby”.
To help win over locals this time, Mr Holmes has added a village hall and nature reserve for anyone to use.
He added:
“This was in response to some of the existing villagers’ comments that there was nothing in the original scheme to fulfil their social needs, and it should be more integrated for community cohesion.
“The joined parishes of Flaxby and Goldsborough don’t currently have a village hall so this would be an opportunity for them to have their own village asset, that they can use as they see fit.”
The council will decide on the plans at a later date.
‘Do you need to wait until somebody is killed by a speeding car?’A parish council near Knaresborough has written to 32 North Yorkshire county councillors urging them to make 20mph the default speed limit in their area.
Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council said in the email action should be taken now to reduce the current 30mph limit before somebody is killed.
The council wrote the letter in support of the 20s Plenty campaign, which is a national initiative to make a 20mph speed limit normal on residential streets and in town and village centres.
The email says drivers “put their foot down” in Goldsborough even though it has a primary school. It adds that only about 15% of all the roads have pavements on both sides, forcing them to walk on the highways,
The red arrow shows the playground entrance in Goldsborough.
It adds:
“There is a high proportion of elderly residents in Goldsborough, many of whom may have hearing issues and reduced sight, and are physically less able to move out of the way quickly.
“There are not many street lights in the village and, as such, at dusk or in the dark, it is not easy for drivers to see people walking in or crossing the roads.”
Flaxby speed signs ‘in wrong place’
The email says the current 30mph signs in Flaxby “are completely in the wrong place, and drivers have already entered the village before they see the speed signs and even think about slowing down”.
It adds a speed survey in 2018 revealed 17.5% of motorists travelled over the 30mph speed limit. The correspondence also raises concerns about the lack of street lighting and the number of HGVs driving through the village to visit the weigh-station at Gill’s Farm, just past Coneythorpe.
HGVs often go along Shortsill Lane in Flaxby, which has no pavements.
Read more:
- Drainage concerns at Goldsborough housing site following Storm Franklin
- Business park near Flaxby that could support 2,000 jobs approved
The email says:
“Do you really need to wait until somebody is killed by a car speeding through a North Yorkshire village before you begin to tackle this important issue?”
North Yorkshire County Council is the highways authority for the county. The parish council wrote to 32 county councillors that sit on boards, panels and committees that could influence speeding decisions.
Caroline Greenhalgh, vice chairman of the parish council, told the Stray Ferret it had received just two responses from councillors so far, saying the matter was being considered.
Drainage concerns at Goldsborough housing site following Storm Franklin
Residents in Goldsborough have raised concerns over drainage on land earmarked for 36 homes following Storm Franklin.
Heavy rainfall last week caused puddles to appear on a site off Station Road in the village (pictured above), which is a mile from Knaresborough. This has renewed concerns from residents of water run off into nearby properties.
The development was approved by Harrogate Borough Council in October 2021.
However, residents say they are concerned that the surface water may affect nearby homes and that they have repeatedly warned Stonebridge Homes, the developer, and the council over flood risk.
Noel Evans, who lives next to the site, said:
“Residents have frequently over the past four years stated that the change of this field from agricultural land, where there has been recorded flooding problems, will be immensely worse once the site is filled with hard surfaces such as roofs, pathways and roadways.”
In a letter to the council, local resident Beverley Jackson added:
“These heavy rainfall events now occur every year so we cannot treat them as occasional hazards.”
Read more:
- Controversial plans for Goldsborough homes approved
- Residents urged to report empty homes to help solve Harrogate’s housing crisis
Since the heavy rainfall last week, multiple residents have submitted comments via the council’s planning portal about their concerns.
The developer lodged a drainage plan as part of its proposal, but is still awaiting approval as part of its conditions with the council.
Mr Evans said the plan would need to be “superlative” in order to reduce the risk of flooding.
New sewer system
The Stray Ferret asked both Stonebridge Homes and its parent company, Henry Boot Ltd, for comment on the concerns raised by residents at the Goldsborough site, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
However, in a letter to the council in January this year addressing public comments on drainage, Katie Purdam, senior planner at Stonebridge Homes, said drainage at the site would “not contribute to the flood risk noted by residents”.
She said:
Controversial plans for Goldsborough homes approved“We have carried out the detailed technical analysis and soakaway tests to the required standards by an independent consultant, which has shown that we can provide sufficient permeability rates and therefore the development can be accommodated.
“The cause of the historic flooding noted by residents is likely the old-style sewage system which runs through the gardens on the west and east sides of Station Road, which may be poorly maintained.
“We will be providing a new sewer system, which will bypass the existing unadopted sewer system in the gardens of properties either side of Station Road. Our new foul sewer will be laid down the site access, north along Station Road and then east to connect directly into the adopted sewer at Princess Mead.
“The drainage from our site will therefore not contribute to the flood risk noted by residents.”
Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough have been approved despite fears the development will “tear up” the historic village’s conservation area.
Stonebridge Homes was granted final approval by Harrogate Borough Council yesterday at the third time of asking.
The housing company was previously told to rethink its Station Road scheme and hold a meeting with councillors and residents.
This meeting was held in August but it was followed only by complaints that the developers “weren’t willing to shift” on issues including the density and design of the homes.
Speaking at a meeting of the council’s planning committee, councillor Andrew Paraskos, a Conservative who represents Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, said:
“A meeting did take place but there was no movement from the developers at all.
“Residents understand that there will be something on this plot, but they would just like something that is more in keeping with the village.
“We have deferred this plan twice and I think it is now time to refuse it.”
‘Conservation area is a sham’
Resident Noel Evans also said the plans appeared to be “set in stone with no bridge for improvements” and that the development would amount to a “public tearing up of the Goldsborough conservation area”.
The conservation area sits adjacent to the site and was introduced in 2008 as an area of architectural and historical interest, including much of the village.
Mr Evans said:
“The tallest buildings proposed on this site will be amongst the highest buildings in Goldsborough – higher than the church and Goldsborough Hall.
“This will irretrievably destroy the historic skyline. This site needs an entirely fresh and appropriate set of plans.
“The conservation area is a sham and has no reason to exist with this council.”
Read more:
- Taylor Wimpey gets £89.5m contract to build 390 Ripon homes
- Government approves controversial 72 homes in Spofforth
In its latest proposals, Stonebridge Homes included additional tree planting and information relating to materials.
The developers also argued the plans met national requirements and had received the backing of council officers three times with recommendations of approval.
Becky Lomas, an agent for Stonebridge Homes, told the meeting:
“The proposal before you today creates a well designed scheme, which is able to meet national requirements.
“This is a position which has been supported by council officers three times now at planning committee and the proposal of 36 dwellings is not considered to be in conflict with the development plan.”
The plans – which include a mix of one to five-bedroom properties – received 39 objections from residents and no letters of support.
The application was approved by councillors on the planning committee with six votes for, three against and one abstention.
Goldsborough Hall appoints new head chefJosh Barnes has been appointed executive head chef at Goldsborough Hall, the 17th century stately home near Knaresborough.
Mr Barnes will also oversee food and catering at the hall’s sister property, The Bay Horse Inn in Goldsborough.
He was previously head chef at the Galvin La Chapelle restaurant in London, where he retained its Michelin Star and 3AA rosette status. The restaurant also won recognition for its vegetarian and vegan tasting menus.
Mr Barnes, who grew up in Lincolnshire, said he was delighted with his new role, adding:
“It is exactly the type of property I wished to be part of, a beautiful historic stately home surrounded by countryside, with an ethos of sustainably sourced fresh local produce, where the food miles can be counted in feet and inches.
“My style is seasonally driven, using modern techniques and styles with a classic French undertone all served in the majesty of the hall’s historic dining room, where former kings and queens have dined.”
Read more:
- Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough sent back to drawing board
- Ghost walks launch in Knaresborough for spooky season
Goldsborough Hall owner Mark Oglesby said Mr Barnes would be a “perfect fit for the hall and our dining experience”. He added:
Goldsborough postmaster awarded for 30 years service“Josh will oversee all culinary activities including lunch and dinner service, in-room dining plus extensive banquet and catering offerings for weddings, private functions and corporate events.”
Gillian Waller has worked as the Goldsborough Postmaster for 30 years, offering a much-needed service from her front hall.
Ms Waller was awarded the long service award by the Post Office this week.
She took on the branch in 1990 whilst expecting her first child saying it gave her the chance to work from home whilst still meeting new people.
The Goldsborough Post Office was originally set up in Ms Waller’s front hall with a bell so Ms Waller knows when a customer has arrived. She said:
“There were no computers back then and the services were mainly pension books and the odd postal order. When we needed to introduce a computer, we adapted what used to be an old coal shed to accommodate the Post Office.”
“It has meant that I could continue working from home when I had my children and I was able to fit the day around their school.”
Read more:
- Ripon Men’s Shed opens door to new friendships
- Knaresborough men trek 900 miles in wheelchair and on foot to raise £2m
Over the years the Post Office has changed dramatically. The branch now offers banking services, which is popular with the local community as it means customers do not have to travel far for essential services.
Ms Waller now knows many of the regular customers by name. She said she enjoyed being able to help her local community including the elderly to access their banks.
Post Office Area Manager, Dawn Pentry, said:
“We wanted to recognise Gillian long and loyal service to the Goldsborough community. Her Post Office is at the heart of the village.
The Post Office, on Station Road, is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am – 1pm.
Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough sent back to drawing boardThe housebuilders behind a 36-home development in Goldsborough have been sent back to the drawing board for the second time this year after claims residents’ concerns have been “ignored”.
Stonebridge Homes has outline permission for the Station Road scheme but has now twice failed to get a final go-ahead after Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee voted for another deferral on Tuesday.
This comes after a meeting in March ended in the same result.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Andrew Paraskos, the Conservative councillor for Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, said residents have accepted the development will eventually go-ahead but concerns over the density and design of the homes remained.
Photograph: Stonebridge Homes
These revised plans included two two-storey homes being reduced to bungalows, as well as more tree planting.
Cllr Paraskos said:
“Everybody realises that this site will be developed but no discussion has been made between the developers, the village and ourselves. We were asked for a meeting but due to holidays and other commitments we were unable to attend.
“The materials are still the same, the layout is the same, everything else is exactly as it was before.
“The revised application was also sent in before any meetings were tried to be arranged which really defeats the object.”
Read more:
- Bid to build 170 homes in Knaresborough refused again
- First Lidl supermarket in Harrogate given go-ahead
Jacqueline Dowker, chair of Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council, also spoke in objection to the plans and described the changes as “minimal and superficial”.
No final decision for three years
In response, Mark Johnson, an agent for Stonebridge Homes, said the developers have “always been available” for discussions with residents and that not having a final decision after first submitting the plans in 2018 was now becoming an “issue”.
Mr Johnson was also questioned by councillor Victoria Oldham if he thought residents’ concerns should be “ignored” and he said:
“No I don’t – what you have to understand though is that when the architects approach every scheme they are looking at the character of the area.
“When the site was allocated for a particular number of dwellings, those issues were already considered.
“On that basis, the scheme has been found acceptable by the council’s design officer twice.”
The plans – which include a mix of one to five-bedroom properties – received 37 objections from residents.
It was agreed at Tuesday’s meeting that residents and councillors would meet with the developers before revised plans are brought back before the committee later this summer.
Harrogate district churches hold services to mourn Prince PhilipRipon Cathedral and two churches in Knaresborough will be holding services this evening to allow congregations to offer their condolences.
Ripon Cathedral is holding a service of evensong at 6pm today to mark the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The cathedral told its congregation, via Facebook, that the service will include a reflection from the Dean of Ripon, the Very Rev John Dobson DL. The service will be sung by the lay clerks of the cathedral’s choir.
Prince Philip died last Friday, aged 99
The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner, will be attending.
The tenor bell will toll ahead of the service, half-muffled.
Guests will require a ticket, which can be booked here, and the cathedral asks everyone to be seated for 5.45pm.
Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle last Friday, aged 99.
During the period of mourning the cathedral has been open to visitors. People have been invited take a candle and a prayer card and sit in the cathedral to reflect.
Read more:
- Prayers were said for Prince Philip at Ripon Cathedral last weekend.
- Image Gallery: Prince Philip in the Harrogate district.
In Knaresborough, the Parish Church of St John the Baptist and the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Goldsborough will be open for prayer vigils.
Due to covid restrictions the churches have said they will not be offering books of condolence.
All of this evening’s services will be held in line with coronavirus restrictions.
Plans for 36 homes in Goldsborough sent back to drawing boardDevelopers behind plans to build 36 homes in a Harrogate district village have been sent back to the drawing board by councillors.
Stonebridge Homes proposed the homes for land near Goldsborough’s cricket club and primary school.
The plans were initially refused by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee in 2018 and then granted outline permission a year later.
At a meeting today, the developers were seeking a final stamp of approval for the Station Road scheme but were turned down by councillors concerned over the number and layout of the homes.
Cllr Zoe Metcalfe also said more needed to be done to reduce the impact on nearby homes and the village’s conservation area.
She said:
“This is a really important area that we need to look after and I do not think the developers are being respectful at all.
“They have got outline permission so these houses are going to happen but I would like to see less and a better layout.”
Layout for the 36 homes in Goldsborough.
Cllr Andrew Paraskos, a Conservative who represents Spofforth with Lower Wharfedale, added:
“I really do think with these smaller sites on the edges of villages and towns that we should be pushing for the best that we can get.
“This development will be the first thing you are going to see entering this village – and you will probably see it from the A59 too – so why not make it something that we are really proud of? We should be going for designs that are exemplary.”
One resident, Noel Evans, spoke in objection to the plans today saying the 36 homes were “not needed nor wanted by anyone in the village” and called for the number to be reduced to 12.
Mr Evans said.
“This is the most intense development ever considered in Goldsborough.
“Its urban density will be totally out of keeping with the Goldsborough conservation area which it borders directly. If houses must be built here, reducing the number to one third of the planned numbers would solve all of these problems.”
The plans included a mix of one to five-bedroom properties, with 14 classed as affordable.
Read More:
- Councillors reject expansion plans for Harrogate Pinewoods
- Ripon plans for year of double celebration
Becky Lomas, an agent for the developers, told today’s meeting that the layout of the homes and landscaping had been “carefully” designed to minimise the impact on residents living on Station Road.
She said the proposals “do not give rise to any overbearing, overshadowing or overlooking harms” to the area, however, this did not ring true with councillors who have asked for a rethink on how the homes are set out.
Cllr Pat Marsh, a Liberal Democrat who represents Harrogate Hookstone, said the developers should make sure the proposals are “absolutely right” for the area before asking for planning permission again.
She said:
“At the moment I feel this is not right so taking it back and having those discussions with both residents and local members is the most sensible way forward.”