5 things to do in and around Harrogate this bank holiday weekend, May 22-255 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend, May 1-4The Sicklinghall running club trying to bridge the age gapHappy Mondays and Soul II Soul announced as local festival headlinersSunday Picture Quiz Answers: July 13Stray Ferret vouchers: fun for all the family come wind, rain, or shine

Although it may not have felt like summer over the last few weeks, the Stray Ferret’s voucher page is here to ensure endless fun for all the family during the holidays.

From pizza and castles to the St Leger and virtual reality, we’re offering our readers unmissable discounts to keep your children and your bank balance happy!

So whether you’re seeking culture, excitement, furry friends or just some full tummies, be sure to check out our vouchers to make your summer shine.

The Park Playground: 50% off 60-minute group VR experience for 4!

 Fancy transporting to a different reality? Well, at The Park Playground, Leeds, you can do just that!

The hottest new virtual reality experience in Yorkshire is giving Stray Ferret readers 50% off a 60-minute group VR experience for 4 – that’s half the price for double the fun.

Discover a thrilling adventure with your friends and family in a unique, free-roam environment and enter a world of breathtaking virtual reality.

Work together or battle against each other in an ultra-real virtual world, like hunting zombies in The Hallow, or solving puzzles in ancient Egypt in The Mask of The Pharaoh.

Thrill seekers can face their fears in Don’t Scream, or even take part in your very own TV game show in The Snitch.

Click here to buy your voucher and go on an incredible journey beyond your imagination at Park Playground.

Major Tom’s Social: 2 pizzas for just £12!

Calling all pizza lovers! Major Tom’s Social is offering Stray Ferret readers 2 Margherita pizzas for just £12 – one pizza is usually at least £10, so don’t miss out on this tasty deal.

Known for its delicious stone baked pizzas, made in house using flour and tomatoes imported from Italy, Major Tom’s Social is the place to go if you’re looking for great quality food and drinks.

So, gather your friends and head down to Major Tom’s after work to enjoy a full-size pizza for a fraction of the price!

Click here to claim your voucher.

Ripley Castle Guided Tour – Two adult admission tickets for the price of one!

If you’re looking for some fresh air and culture this summer, Ripley Castle is offering two adult tickets for the price of one with this exclusive deal.

That’s right…a family of 2 adults and children under 12 can enjoy a guided tour of the castle, as well as admission into the gardens and grounds for just £15!

Ripley Castle has been home to the Ingilby family for over 700 years — the tour will share fascinating stories about the history the family, as well as the castle itself.

Immerse yourself in the grounds and walled garden that surrounds the estate with floral and shrub borders, a kitchen garden with a range of vegetables, a herb garden and a fruit orchard. A true garden-lovers dream.

Don’t miss out on this exclusive deal – buy your voucher here.

DogFest – 2 for 1 tickets!

Struggling to find somewhere to have fun with your four-legged friend? Then look no further as we’re bringing you 2-for-1 tickets to DogFest!

You and your hound can enjoy a day of non-stop fun at the nation’s favourite dog-friendly festival!

Expect a day of agility courses, hay bale racing, doggy diving and even a giant ball pit for your dog to enjoy.

Owners will be invited to attend ‘Breed Meet Ups’, where families with the same breed are encouraged to swap stories, share notes, and take photos.

Visitors can also take part in the Big Dog Walk’s 2km or 4km walk around the grounds of the estate.

Enjoy all that andmore for just £20 – grab your discounted voucher here.

Harewood House – Half price Family Ticket!

Prepare to explore 100 acres of gardens and grounds this summer with half price family tickets to Harewood House!

Fancy a bit of adventure? Get lost in the winding paths of the Himalayan Gardens or stroll around the lake to discover the famous Walled Garden.

The site also offers a Woodland Wonderland play area and adventure playground for your little ones to burn off some steam, as well as a variety of walks to enjoy the natural beauty on display.

Get your half price voucher here.

Doncaster Racecourse: 37% off Betfred St Leger Legends Day – Grandstand tickets

The Stray Ferret is bringing you discounted tickets to one of the oldest and most prestigious races in Britain – the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse!

Featuring the Leger Legends Charity Race, the Legends Day will showcase an array of ex-professional jockeys to celebrate the final day of the historic four-day racing festival.

Whether you’re looking for some family fun or just a good knees-up with some friends, the Grandstand tickets will grant you access to public bars, eateries, and betting outlets along with views of the racing action including the parade ring and pre-parade ring.

Children can expect a kid’s disco, meet & greets with Doncaster Knights players, an air ambulance simulator, stilt walkers and more!

The race will take place on Sunday, September 17 — U18’s go free!

Find our special offer here.

Click or tap here to see our vouchers page.

Harewood House reveals details of major redevelopment

Architects have been appointed to lead a major long-term redevelopment at Harewood House.

The scheme will see a new playground and visitor centre created and the gardens overhauled at the historic home of the Earl and Countess of Harewood.

Harewood House Trust, the charity that maintains the stately home between Harrogate and Leeds, said today the project will “deliver fantastic enhancements to Harewood’s visitor offer”.

It has declined to reveal the cost but said the project will be partly funded by the Lascelles Family Will Trust and by fundraising.

More than 250,000 visitors a year visit the grade I listed house, gardens and landscapes designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.

This year the bird garden closed after more than 50 years and more major changes are now in the pipeline.

The bakehouse, a grade two listed building, will be converted to a welcome centre with visitor facilities and a family activity space.

The old play area will be replaced with what the trust described as “an imaginative and inclusive playground with appeal for all ages and abilities”.

The gardens and landscapes will be reimagined by the Landscape Agency in partnership with garden designer Matthew Wilson.

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Leeds firm Bauman Lyons Architects has been appointed to lead the scheme.

Rachel Crewes, chief executive of the trust, said:

“We are delighted to announce the appointment of such impressive teams at the outset of this project. Their combined experience of creatively developing public heritage spaces, with great sensitivity to conservation, sustainability and accessibility, will undoubtedly deliver fantastic enhancements to Harewood’s visitor offer.”

The trust hopes to apply for planning permission late this year and begin work on the playground first next year.

The Stray Ferret has asked the trust, which is fundraising for the project, how much it is expected to cost.

Free entry to Harrogate district attractions starts tomorrow

Several Harrogate district attractions will be offering free entry in the days ahead as part of National Lottery Open Week.

The lottery has raised more than £47 billion for good causes since it started in 1994. To thank players, it runs an annual week in which organisations it has funded are invited to provide free entry and special offers.

This year’s open week begins tomorrow (Saturday) and ends on March 26.

The following offers in the Harrogate district apply to anyone who presents a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard, digital or physical.

For the terms and conditions click here, and check the venue listings for dates, times and other terms and conditions. You can search for events here.

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Business Breakfast: New Diploma qualification launched by Yorkshire School of Garden Design

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

The Yorkshire School of Garden Design is to offer a new Diploma in Planting Design.

The year-long Diploma will be launched at the school’s Spring Open Day this Saturday and is an opportunity for those with a passion for plants to explore a career in garden design.

The school at Harewood House was launched less than a year ago and specialises in teaching professionals the art of garden design.

The course will cover topics ranging from plant taxonomy, through the history of horticulture in design, to the art and science of designing plants in a wide range of settings.

Yorkshire School of Garden Design founder Alistair Baldwin said:

“Our new diploma is the perfect opportunity for budding designers, amateur gardeners, professionals and all those passionate about the fundamentals of planting design.”

“The course will provide a careful blend of creativity, design principles, botany and taxonomy, the sociability of plants in sustainable communities, and insights into the work of the world’s leading practitioners in the world of planting design.

“Our proximity to many of Yorkshire’s finest gardens, landscapes and plant collections, not to mention the glorious gardens at Harewood, will also provide unrivalled opportunities to expand the learning process. Throughout the twelve months, our students will be encouraged to explore and gain first hand insight from our surroundings in the company of experts, supplemented by trips out to first class regional gardens and a study tour in the south of England.”

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A partner at Jones Myers has been named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Northern Powerhouse Awards.

Kate Banerjee won the award in the Private Client category.  Judges selected Kate, who heads the Harrogate firm’s internationally renowned children’s department, from a shortlist of eleven lawyers across the North of England.

With almost three decades of experience in children law, Kate has expertise in international child abduction. Her specialisms include contact, residence, and adoption.

Kate said:

“I am proud and honoured to receive this prestigious recognition which is attributable to the commitment of our highly experienced and respected team.

“An enormous and heartfelt ‘thank you’ to my colleagues who consistently provide the best bespoke solutions for our valued clients.”      

Kate Banerjee, partner at Jones Myers Solicitors, with her award 

Harewood bird garden to close in just nine days’ time

The bird garden at Harewood House will close for the final time at the end of February half term.

The Harewood House Trust announced in January that the attraction would close in the face of a £4 million bill to bring it up to modern standards.

At the time, the charity said the birds would be re-homed over a six-month period, with a final closure date to be confirmed later in the year.

Now, that date has been set: Sunday, February 19 will be the last opening day.

The only exception is the penguin pool, which the trust said it hoped could remain open until the summer.

A spokesperson said:

“Over the next few weeks, the birds – many of which are exotic or endangered – will be re-homed in licensed zoos in the UK better equipped long-term to ensure they continue to have comfortable and enriched lives and to ensure their life-long care.”

The Harewood House Trust said it had faced a difficult few years, particularly with the covid pandemic, and its trustees were “acutely aware of the financial pressures” on the historic estate.

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The bird garden was first opened more than 50 years ago and while its last zoo inspection praised the health and care of the birds, it also identified problems with the site’s infrastructure.

The trustees investigated refurbishment and potential sources of funding but, in the face of a £4 million investment, decided to close the bird garden. It will be replaced with a woodland garden with opportunities to see native species of birds and animals.

The farm experience will remain on site, and the trustees are hoping to improve the area around the courtyard for visitors, opening up views across the estate.

A statement today expressed the trust’s sadness at closing the bird garden, which it said had been a favourite experience for many generations of visitors, but said it could not make the bird garden the experience it should be.

The spokesperson added:

“We realise that many of Harewood’s visitors love the Bird Garden and have children who love it too. It has been an incredibly difficult conclusion to reach but it is the most responsible and ethical decision to make, to ensure the health and care of these beautiful creatures, but also to ensure Harewood can stand the test of time and be here for as long as it has stood already…

“Thank you to all our members, visitors, volunteers and supporters for your continued support and your understanding. Harewood looks forward to welcoming you throughout 2023 and beyond.”