Harrogate is to host a three-day event promoting electric vehicles and green energy next month.
Everything Electric North will take place from May 24 to 26 at the Yorkshire Event Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground.
The event aims to encourage greater use of electric cars.
According to North Yorkshire Council. there are currently 133 electric vehicle charging units in Harrogate, 74 of which are in the town itself.
Expert panels will debate whether electric vehicle charging at work and destinations should be standard practice and whether you really need a driveway to own an electric car.
Last year’s Everything Electric North event in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Council’s electric vehicle infrastructure officer will feature on the panel.
The council’s electric vehicle infrastructure rollout strategy is part of the North Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.
Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director for highways and transport, said:
“More and more people are turning to electric vehicles as ways of driving down the cost of motoring and helping the environment and North Yorkshire is no exception.
“Harrogate, in particular, has shown a steady month-on-month increase in the number of charging sessions since the EV infrastructure became live at the beginning of last year.
“Our aim is to encourage more people to make the move to electric vehicles and our infrastructure rollout is an important part of convincing people across the county that there is a dependable, viable alternative to petrol and diesel.”
According to the council, in 2023 there were almost 11,000 charging sessions recorded, with a further 3,520 up to the end of February.
This means that 340,770 miles were travelled by electric vehicles which used these facilities last year, with a further 123,475 miles covered up to the end of last month. In total, this has saved more than 175 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
This is the second consecutive year that Everything Electric North will be held at the Yorkshire Event Centre, and its 15th exhibition around the world.
Event chief executive Dan Caesar said:
“The venue and location received a huge thumbs-up from our audience.
“We display electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes from micro-mobility options like bikes and boards, up to trucks and tractors, but the centrepiece is an array of hundreds of electric cars and thousands of test drives.”
Read more:
5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend from 22-24 MarchVIDEO AND GALLERY: Record breaking Knaresborough Tractor Run
Almost 400 vehicles tooted their way around the Harrogate district today in a record breaking Knaresborough Tractor Run.
The joyful atmosphere that greeted the 9am start at the Great Yorkshire Showground continued throughout the day as the tractors paraded their way to Pateley Bridge for lunch and then back to Knaresborough for the finish.
More than 390 tractors are believed to have taken part this year, each one raising money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. That would beat the previous record of 383 but the official figure has yet to be revealed.
Some travelled long distances to take part. They included Craig Romanis, of Crop Services (Scotland), who set off at 2.30am this morning from the Borders to take part in a tractor raising awareness of the charity founded by late Scottish rugby player Doddie Weir.
The event has raised more than £100,000 for the charity since it was first held over a decade ago. Volunteers carried out bucket collections along the route and you can also donate online here.
Below are some photos from today. All the drone images were supplied by Colin Corker. We will feature some more of his stunning drone footage tomorrow.
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Craig Romanis supporting Doddie Weir’s charity.
Steven Brown, one of the organisers, helping at the start.
The event is held in memory of farmer Mike Spink.
Passing through Killinghall
A volunteer collecting at the start.
The hardy open cab tractor drivers led the parade.
Fuelling up at the start.
Green John Deere tractors were prominent throughout.
The stunning Nidderdale landscape.
Lunch in Pateley Bridge.
Hundreds of tractors will parade around Harrogate, Knaresborough and Pateley Bridge tomorrow for the annual Knaresborough Tractor Run.
The spectacle, watched each year by thousands of people, gets underway at the Great Yorkshire Showground at 9am tomorrow (Sunday, March 17).
Some 350 tractors will embark on a 25-mile route lined with spectators to raise money for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. The event has raised more than £100,000 for the charity since it was first held over a decade ago.
The parade stops for a hog roast lunch in Pateley Bridge before winding its way back to Knaresborough.
The 2024 route
The estimated morning times are:
9am leave Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate
9am-9.15am Knaresborough
10am-10.15am Burton Leonard
10.30am Bishop Monkton
10.45am Markington
11.15am Sawley
11.30am Grantley
Noon Pateley Bridge
The showground departure
A £25,000 online fundraising target has been set. Tractor drivers pay £20 to enter (£25 on the day) and passengers are charged £10. Spectators are encouraged to make donations when the vehicles pass or give online here.
You can donate here. Beware of fake links which appeared online last year scamming people.
Last year’s event took the total amount raised for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to £113,341, earning the Knaresborough Tractor Run logo a place on the charity’s new helicopters.
Read more:
- Knaresborough Tractor Run revs up for more thrills
- Route and times revealed for Knaresborough Tractor Run
Business Breakfast: Ripon firm marks 20 years of top farm machinery show
Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!
Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.
Entries close on January 19, 2024.
Ripon Farm Services will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of its New Year Show this month.
The event, which is one of the UK’s leading agricultural machinery displays, will be held in the Yorkshire Event Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate on Wednesday, January 24 and Thursday, January 25, from 10 till 5pm. Entry is free.
Product specialists from Ripon Farm Services, Ripon Ground Care and Ripon Technology will be on hand to provide advice on machine choice, set-up, optimisation and job management. Visitors will be able to explore the latest innovations, speak to experts and see the products up close.
The star of the show is expected to be the new John Deere 300M self-propelled sprayer.
Richard Simpson, commercial director of Ripon Farm Services, said:
“We are delighted to be showcasing the new John Deere 300M self-propelled sprayer, it was first introduced at Agritechnica in November last year so it’s great for it to be taking centre stage at our show in January.
“We can’t wait to welcome our customers and guests for what promises to be a very busy 20th anniversary event.”
A vast range of ground care machinery will be on display, from ride-on mowers through to pressure-washers and hedge-trimmers, as well as parts, tools and store items from brands including Milwaukee, Draper and Portek.
Mr Simpson added:
“Apart from the stand-out John Deere machines, we will be showcasing our high-quality machinery, ground care and parts brands that are including Kramer, Bailey Trailers, Kuhn, Sumo, Dalbo, Ifor Williams, Stihl, Husqvarna and Spearhead.
“This really is the very best opportunity to see all that Ripon Farm Services has to offer in agriculture and turf technology, new and used machinery, parts and services in one single location. We’ll also have some special show offers and a wide range of used equipment deals.
“Our specialists across all sectors will be on hand to answer any questions during the two days, so the event is truly a one-stop shop for farmers and ground care professionals across the north of England.”
Ripon employer grows
Wolseley, the national plumbing supplies firm that employs around 250 people in Ripon, continued to grow organically last year, according to figures published in its latest annual report.
Over the 12 months to July 31, 2023, the company increased revenues by £140 million (8%) to £1.87 billion. This caused a jump in operating profit to £75 million, from £65 million in 2022.
However, profits before tax fell to £73 million, from £146 million in 2022, and the directors have not yet declared a final dividend to shareholders.
The company also increased its number of branches by one to 544, and its employee headcount rose by 234 to 4,720.
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More than 100 of UK’s best artists to exhibit at Harrogate Art Fair
This story is sponsored by Harrogate Art Fair.
More than 100 artists from all over the UK will be converging on Harrogate next month to exhibit their best work at the Harrogate Art Fair.
The event, on October 13-15 at the Yorkshire Event Centre on the Great Yorkshire Showground, will bring together painters, printmakers, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists and selected galleries from all over the UK, offering the best in British contemporary art. Prices range from £50 to £5,000.
The perfect place to immerse yourself in a world of art.
One of the most popular exhibitors is Jos Haigh. Jos is a painter based in Harrogate and Buckinghamshire whose vibrantly colourful pictures of African animals made her one of the best-selling artists at the inaugural Harrogate Art Fair last year. She said:
“I’ve been showing my art all around the country for years – at Windsor, Surrey, Manchester and Edinburgh – and Harrogate Art Fair really is one of the best. It’s fantastically organised, everything’s made very easy for exhibitors, and it attracts a lot of the UK’s best artists.
“When I came last year, people were so warm, enthusiastic and interested – I didn’t have to think twice about coming again.”
Although she was born in Goa, Jos’s art is inspired and informed by her childhood in Kenya. But her trips north have provided her with new sources of inspiration. So her most recent paintings include striking images of cows, owls and other British animals.
Jos has found inspiration for some of her latest works here in Yorkshire.
Jos’s spectacular painting of a red kite even features on this year’s general admission ticket. She said:
“I’ve been enchanted by animals ever since I saw them roaming right next to the road in Kenya, which is why I’ve always enjoyed painting pictures of elephants, giraffes and zebra. But there are so many wonderful animals right here in the UK that it would be a shame not to paint some of them.
“I just hope that visitors to the Harrogate Art Fair will love viewing them as much as I’ve loved painting them.”
Harrogate Art Fair is organised by Contemporary Art Fairs. The company also hold art fairs in Windsor and Surrey.
The fair will be open from private viewings from 6 to 9pm on Friday, October 13 (tickets: £15), and from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, October 14-15 (£8, concessions £6).
- Jos has have 10 complementary Harrogate Art Fair tickets to give away! She will send the code to the first 10 people to email her at joshaigh@yahoo.co.uk
Find out more:
You can book tickets for this event online at the Harrogate Art Fair website.
For information about exhibiting at the Harrogate Art Fair, visit the website or call 01753 591892.
You can also see more of the artworks on offer at Harrogate Art Fair on its Instagram page.
Holiday home show opens in Harrogate for first time today
The Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate is hosting the UK’s biggest holiday home show for the first time today.
More than 220 holiday homes and 140 motorhomes and caravans will be on display at The Great Holiday Home Show.
The three-day show, formerly known as The Lawns, has never before been held in Harrogate in its more than 40-year history.
TV presenters Christine Talbot and Matt Baker will host chat shows, while YouTube motorhome family the Roaming Radfords and The Yorkshire Vet’s Peter Wright will also be in attendance.
The Great British Bake Off’s Karen Wright and chef Steph Moon will hold live cookery demonstrations over the weekend too.
Live music, children’s entertainment and food stands will also be on offer.
Sunrise at the showground.
Visitors can try their hands at paddle-boarding and e-biking, as well as towing tuition for upcoming caravan holidays.
As well as the chance to shop for outdoor holiday homes, accessories and motorhome technology will be available to purchase at the show.
Tickets are available online or on the door and cost £12.50 per person. Under 16s go free with a paying adult.
Parking is free and dogs on leads are welcome.
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Bake Off star coming to Harrogate as town gears up for holiday home show
Great British Bake Off star and motorhome fan Karen Wright will join Yorkshire chef Steph Moon on the cookery stage at the Great Holiday Home Show next month.
The show, which is being held in Harrogate for the first time, features the latest holiday homes, caravans and motorhomes and other aspects of life exploring the great outdoors.
Described as the largest outdoor holiday home show in the country, it started in 1976 as The Lawns Show and was previously held in Hull.
A total of 227 holiday homes and 140 caravans and motorhomes will be on display at the Great Yorkshire Showground from September 8 to 10.
Visitors will include Ms Wright, from Wakefield, who was one of 12 contestants on the Great British Bake Off in 2018. She will give top tips for baking in a caravan.
Multi award winning consultant chef and camper van owner Ms Moon will also be there, hosting the cookery theatre throughout the three-day show.
Steph Moon
Besides the cookery theatre, there will be the Great Holiday Home Stage hosted by TV Presenter Christine Talbot.
Special guests include Matt Baker, adventurer Andy Torbet, YouTube motorhome family the Roaming Radfords and Peter Wright from Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet.
Hall 1 of the Yorkshire Event Centre will feature an e-bike testing arena. Hall 2 will be become the leisure world shopping village.
The event is organised by HERCMA (The Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Caravan Manufacturers’ Association), which is a collaboration of four major holiday home manufacturers ABI, Carnaby, Swift and Willerby.
Tickets cost £12.50 and children under 16 go free with an accompanying paying adult.
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- Harrogate dog-walkers shocked by new barbed-wire fencing at showground
Harrogate dog-walkers shocked by new barbed-wire fencing at showground
Residents of south Harrogate have been left “disappointed”, “shocked” and “upset” by the fencing off of a large section of the Great Yorkshire Showground, making it inaccessible to the public.
The area, a 41-acre green space between the Yorkshire Event Centre and Hookstone Beck, has long been a popular place to go for a stroll and walk the dog, but the site’s owner, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS), has decided to use it for grazing sheep instead.
Since the weekend, most of it has been lined with stakes and barbed wire to create stockproof fencing, and work is ongoing.
Jill Burrell, who lives in the nearby Saints area, told the Stray Ferret:
“I’m just upset. There’s no point in taking a dog there anymore if you’ve just got a concrete walkway to go on. I just think they don’t want dog-walkers there.
“It’s so sad. I’d always thought we were blessed to have it, because it’s such a lovely place to go.”
The 41-acre green space has long been a favourite spot for dog-walkers from the surrounding area.
Reader Sarah Millett contacted the Stray Ferret to say the move had “taken away” a benefit that previously compensated residents for putting up with the disruption caused by events at the showground.
The Great Yorkshire Show, for example, attracts about 140,000 visitors over a four-day period every summer, often causing long tailbacks on the town’s roads.
This was a view echoed by Jackie Mahon, who walks her dog at the showground up to three times a week. She said:
“I’m shocked. I sort of assumed that the space was accessible in recognition of the chaos that Harrogate residents suffer when the Great Yorkshire Show is on, and other shows throughout the year. It’s going to cause a lot of anger in Harrogate. People will be very disappointed.”
She added:
“I appreciate the YAS might need some money, but it’s the extent of it that seems over the top. There has been no warning that I am aware of.”
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Charlie Cudworth, who walks his dog in the showground fields twice a day, contacted the Stray Ferret and said:
“These fields have been used for over 15 years by tens of thousands of families, walkers, dog-walkers and children for exercise and staying mobile. We have walked there as our children grew up when we moved to the vicinity 10 years ago.
“This has been done without any communication to the local community and seems a very unnecessary, given it is only used once a year at the moment! It also seems a pole in the eye for the local community who put up with the annual disruption to parking and traffic without complaint.”
A sign put up by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society shows where the public may still walk, but all the paths skirt the edges of the green space. Photo: David Greaves.
The YAS told the Stray Ferret that appropriate signage was in place to direct the public, and access to public footpaths and bridleways remained unchanged, although the map it posted on a walking route did not appear to include a concrete path running through the middle of the site (as seen in our main picture).
In a statement, Allister Nixon, CEO of the YAS, said:
“The Yorkshire Agricultural Society is a charity which supports and champions agriculture. The Society owns the Great Yorkshire Showground where we will soon be turning some of the land, formerly the golf course, over to grazing for sheep.
“Although the area will be in use by livestock, we continue to welcome the public to use kilometres of signed permissive routes and designated footpaths across our land and we thank the community for their support.”