Santa Claus will be visiting Harrogate next month as part of a Christmas experience for children held at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

This event is one of few the showground has been able to hold this year due to covid restrictions.

Santa’s grotto will be manned by his elves and has been set up in a covid-secure manner.

On the weekend of the 5 and 6 December families can visit the grotto in groups of up to six people.

The Yorkshire Agricultural Society which manages the showground, forecasted a £2 million loss this year due to the number of cancelled events.

Its chief executive, Nigel Pulling, warned of the ongoing impact of covid which has left the society running at “well below 10 per cent” of capacity at the moment.

Graham Thompson, general manager, said:

“This has been a challenging year for all of us and it gives us great pleasure to provide some fun for the youngsters and welcome Santa on several dates throughout December.”

Other dates will be included, but tickets must be booked prior to the event. They can be bought here.

Read more:

• This year’s cancelled events at the show ground has cost the local economy £70 million. 
• Harrogate spring flower show set to go ahead at the show ground in 2021. 

While lockdown has left some housebound and with little to do, the owners of one Harrogate bar have not stopped.

For Hannah and Jack Woodruff, who run the Disappearing Chin, Beulah Street, keeping themselves occupied has been the main way to handle the second lockdown.

Whether its delivering beer, looking after Hannah’s grandparents or playing with their new puppy, the shutdown has been anything but quiet.

Hannah said:

“I do not feel like we have too much time off.

“That is what keeps us sane. If we stopped then we would be worrying if the bar would make it through.”

Life as a bar owner has been tough throughout the pandemic. If it is not closure, then they have had to reduce capacity and shut at 10pm.

Read more: 

• Harrogate photographer moves from studios to doorsteps during lockdown
• Harrogate DJ swaps turntables for twins
• Harrogate pub wins CAMRA award after one year of opening

Both Hannah and Jack made an effort to be covid secure by putting a screen across the bar and creating enough space to keep customers safe.

Hannah remains hopeful that the bar will make it through. Despite the closure, they continue to deliver cask beers to regulars and other customers seven days a week.

Drinkers enjoy a night in the Disappearing Chin pre-covid.

But when they’re not dealing with online orders and sending crates of beer to drinkers, Hannah is caring for her grandparents.

The couple moved to Harrogate from Newcastle two years ago to be closer and care for them.

Hannah’s Grandma celebrated her 90th birthday during the first lockdown and the couple have tried to keep things normal for them.

Hannah said:

“It’s been tough on their mental health.

“It has been quite unsettling for them. I do find it sad that they have not been out for their walks.”

In three weeks’ time, bars and restaurants could be reopened in time for Christmas.

The pandemic has been tough on the bar, which has only been opened since April last year.

But, Hannah says she remains hopeful and is looking beyond December to when they can bring good times back to the bar.

She said:

“I’m hopeful we can make it through [the lockdown]. We are trying to do our best to stay afloat.

“I would just love to get the atmosphere back again.”

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly pet profile of animals in desperate need of a loving home. This month’s selected pooches are Ginger and Badger with the addition of some very intelligent rats, and Bongo the Bosc Monitor… 

Greyhound, Ginger 

Age: 3
Ginger’s story: Ginger has just retired from his career as a racing greyhound. He is shy with new people at first, but if you give him some space, Ginger soon comes out of his shell.
Temperament: Ginger is sweet-natured, affectionate and adores his food! Ginger absolutely loves being around dogs as they really boost his confidence.
Ideal home: He has never lived in a house before, so he needs patient owners who will help ease him into the next chapter of his life as a family pet and teach him basic training, including housetraining. While he gets used to life with his paws up, Ginger’s new owners will need to be around all the time. Once he’s settled, he should be ok to be built up to being left for a few hours. Ginger can live with children over 16 years old and will happily share his home with another similar dog. Like all ex-racers he has a high prey drive so he cannot live with cats or other small furry pets.

To find out more about Ginger and the adoption process, visit Dogs Trust Leeds.

Bosc Monitor, Bongo

Age: You never ask a lizard its age…  
Bongo’s story: Bongo has been at Knaresborough Exotic Rescue for about 5 months, arriving due to a change in circumstance. 
Temperament: Bongo was nervous at first but over time and with the correct care and handling, he’s coming around to being a lovely calm lizard. 
Ideal home: Bongo will need a home with experience and a large enclosure. He is currently about 2 feet in length, but Bosc Monitors can grow to over 4 feet long so will eventually need an enclosure at least 6-8 feet in length, providing about 32 degrees at the warm end and approximately 20 degrees at the cooler end. Bosc Monitors can make great house lizards providing they have a heat source in the house. They have a diet mainly consisting of defrosted chicks and rodents but can also eat locusts, eggs and some raw meat.

To find out more about Bongo and the adoption process, you can visit K’rescue Knaresborough’s Facebook page or give them a call on 07837 445352.

Lurcher, Badger

Age: 4
Badger’s story: Badger was living as a stray and handed to SYD Rescue by a local dog warden.
Temperament: Badger is lovely and friendly but is very energetic and can be boisterous. He loves going for walks, but needs to be kept on a lead or he will chase other small animals. He is very clever and is currently doing clicker training.
Ideal home: Badger is looking for new family who have had dogs before and who can take him for walks and to secure fields where he can run around and play lots of games. He likes to chase small furry animals, so cannot live with cats or other small pets. Because he is so energetic and bouncy, Badger cannot be homed with children under the age of 12.

To find out more about Badger and the adoption process, you can visit the Saving Yorkshire Dogs website or call them on 07562 986101.

Rats

Age: babies from 8 weeks old, adults between 6 months to 1 year
Temperament: Rats make fantastic pets for people of all ages. They are very intelligent and bond to people well – and love nothing more than snuggling in jumpers and hoods! As rats get older, they are happy to be taken out on harnesses, and the possibilities are endless when it comes to learning tricks.
Ideal home: Rats can be kept on wood based cat litter, and need a larger cage than mice and hamsters. They eat rat nuggets and a mixture of fruit and vegetables, and don’t smell as much as people think!

To find out more about adopting a rat, you can visit K’rescue Knaresborough’s Facebook page or call them on 07837 445352.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club works with animal rescues around the area on its monthly profiles. 

Read More:

• Column: Rescued ex-breeding dogs need special love
• Six-foot boa finds a home in Markington

There are now two major coalitions in Harrogate of groups tackling climate change, but there is tension between the two. So is Harrogate big enough for the both of them to co-exist? Will either or both be able to deliver change?

Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition (HDCCC) was set up by Harrogate Borough Council a year ago with the aim of bringing together local government, green groups and business.

HBC called it a “great leap forward” for the environment but members have criticised it for being little more than a “talking shop”.

In response, the similarly named Harrogate District Climate Action Network (HD-CAN) was launched last week, with a stinging criticism of how the HDCCC has been run.

HD-CAN founder Nic Haughton told the Stray Ferret that HDCCC was too top-down, which led to inaction and little being done. He said he wants to build a new type of relationship with the council.

He said:

“A key factor for the network is wanting a different kind of relationship with the council, which moves beyond the polarised positions which tend to dominate between council and concerned groups.

“We need to move onto a different kind of conversation of equals, involving council, businesses and local communities.”

What are the differences between the two groups?

HDCCC has four subgroups, which meet several times a year to discuss issues such as sustainable transport, tree planting, renewable energy, recycling and communications.

The main group last met in August and included representatives from Harrogate College, Transdev, Harrogate District Hospital, Highways England, as well as HBC councillors.

HDCCC launched a new website earlier this week, which includes tips on reducing emissions and details of how to get involved.

HD-CAN has a larger membership, representing 4,000 residents from 13 groups, including Extinction Rebellion Harrogate, Long Lands Common and the Pinewoods Conservation Group.

When they launched, they said they want to develop a “true collaboration” between communities and council to address what they call the most pressing issue of our time.

What needs to be done?

HD-CAN and HDCCC member, Zero Carbon Harrogate, published a detailed report last week setting out what needs to be done to avert climate catastrophe.

The messages it lays out are stark and warns that action in Harrogate has not been quick enough.

Whilst energy use has got cleaner as the UK weans itself off its dependence on coal, emissions from transport in the district have reduced by just 0.6% over the last 10 years and CO2 emissions from farming continues to be high.

The report sets out a roadmap for how the district can become ‘net zero’ by 2030 with suggestions including ramping up the number of wind farms in the district, retrofitting poorly insulated old buildings and introducing a brand new network of pedestrian and cycle routes to encourage people out of their cars.

A thawing of the relationship?

Members from HD-CAN met with HBC council leader Richard Cooper and cabinet member for sustainability Phil Ireland this week. Mr Oughton described the meeting as “positive on the whole but was just a start.”

He said:

“We have a long way to go to establish a shared understanding of what a different kind of partnership could look like and achieve. We hope to meet again in the near future.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesman said HD-CAN will be attending the next HDCCC meeting.

They added:

“Responding to the climate crisis facing us all is not just an issue for the council.

“It’s an issue for every resident and business across the district. That’s why we created a climate coalition, so we have the right organisations around the same table to jointly tackle climate change together.

“We welcome any residents, or action groups, who believe we can work together to create a better place for all of us.”

Some people decided to decorate their house or get into a new hobby but some took it further by starting a new business in lockdown.

This has been a tough time for everyone. For those like Josh and Ellie at Paradise Tap and Taco or Ben at The Travel Journal it has presented unique challenges.

Both have set up new businesses in one of the toughest financial climates the Harrogate district has ever known.

With people told to stay home and “non-essential” shops told to close, it is tough for those starting out and making a name for themselves.

Read more:

• Harrogate Nightingale could be used as vaccination centre
• Nidd farming sisters save bull from drowning

Paradise Tap and Taco, which has just set up shop in the Coldbath Clubhouse, is one of those young businesses.

The couple used to run Major Tom’s Social and even had a couple of weeks of sold-out nights at Rooster’s Taproom with their tacos.

Ellie Stott and Josh Molloy are the couple behind the taco-based business, which wants to be a place for everyone. Josh said:

“We have been really blessed. Most Friday and Saturday nights before the lockdown we have had to turn people away.

“It has been difficult timing but we were able to get a government start-up loan. We sat on it for a little while before we found the perfect place.”

Ben Poole, the man behind The Travel Journal in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter, is facing a particularly tough climate for his business.

He opened his doors in September trading mainly on last-minute travel as quarantine rules make it difficult for people to plan ahead.

It may be a tough time for the travel industry but Ben remains buoyant about his prospects as he is one of the few travel agents with a prescence in town. He said:

“It is set up to work okay from home but I miss that face to face with customers. I think if you can sit it out then it will pay off in the end.

“Some people thought I was crazy when I opened but I saw a good opportunty to establish myself in Harrogate. So many come in to say it’s brave.”

Taxi fares for hackney carriages in the Harrogate district are set to increase for the first time in two years.

Under Harrogate Borough Council proposals, the flag fall, or starting charge, will increase from £3.30 to £3.40 during the day and from £4.95 to £5.10 at night.

Also, 3% will be added to the fare for running miles and waiting time.

Rates will also increase for Christmas and New Year from £6.60 to £6.80.

The proposed increase will come into force on December 1.

Read more:

• Reprieve for shoppers fined at Knaresborough retail park
• Harrogate council scraps parking charges for lockdown

The last fare increase was in December 2018.

A council decision notice said:

“The setting of fares is a statutory duty placed upon the council and it is the council’s responsibility to strike a balance between setting a fare that is acceptable to the customer and to the taxi driver.”

Taxi drivers called for the increase and said many drivers had lost work due to coronavirus.

In a letter to Cllr Mike Chambers, cabinet member for safer communities, one firm, whose name was not disclosed, said:

“The taxi trade has suffered immensely during the coronavirus lockdown, with many experiencing little or no work whatsoever and certainly at present things are still far from being normal for the trade as far as income is concerned.”

Objections must be made by letter or e-mail to the council by November 19.

Deliver woof  is a Harrogate based company that provides the perfect place to shop if you want to make your beloved dog feel super special this Christmas. From personalised advent calendars to yummy Christmas dinners, your pooch will be able to indulge but in a healthy and safe way.

Charlotte Wilson, Founder of Deliver Woof.

Charlotte Wilson started Deliver woof during the first lockdown when she had to temporarily close her makeup and lash business, due to restrictions. She saw a gap in the market for high-quality, personalised treats and accessories

“I am a crazy dog lady, with three furry babies of my own; Rocky, Lillian and Bruno. I used to look for quality personalised accessories for them but there didn’t seem to be much on offer, so whilst I had some free time on my hands I decided I was going to give it a go… Deliver Woof has been the best thing to come out 2020 for me, and now my makeup & lash business has closed again at what is usually the busiest time of the year, I can’t tell you how much every order means to me!

All the products, (even the treats) are designed and hand made by Charlotte at her home in Harrogate.

Let’s face it, our four-legged friends are more than just pets, they are part of the family… so when it comes to Christmas it’s surely only fair that they get to join in on the festivities… After all they are there for us 365 days of the year, offering unconditional love.

Bentley, with his personalised Deliver Woof treat.

Well that’s definitely the case for my dog anyways. Bentley, is a 9-year-old black lab and may as well be called shadow… as he follows me everywhere. He wakes me up each morning with his tail banging against the door, and no matter how long he’s been left in the house he is always happy to see me (the difference between dogs and men!)

So with the festive season fast approaching and all non-essential shops closed, its time for some online shopping, not just for friends and family but for our loyal furry friends.

Here are the Deliver Woof items that Bentley has on his Christmas list… I have already received these products and I am seriously impressed with the quality, they are very classy and I love the fact that everything is personalised:

Credit: Josey Grace Photography

Advent calendars: A great addition to your mantlepiece!  All made out of luxury cotton. Personalisation and silhouettes of your dogs breed with Santa hats & red noses included. The calendar features 24 numbered pockets and two large pockets for Christmas Day. Allowing your pet to count down from 1st December to Christmas Day with yummy treats! Advent calendar can be filled with a selection of treats from Deliver Woof or you can fill it with your own treats.

Price- £34.99 (without treats) and  £44.99 (with treats)

Size: 70cmx80cm (also can be personalised for kids or other pets too)

Stockings: Make Christmas extra special for your dog this year with the beautiful Personalised Christmas Dog Stocking. Made out of luxury cotton, Pom poms & vinyl personalisation. Choose any name & silhouette to be personalised onto your Xmas Stockings. There is a selection of different coloured pom-poms to choose from and the stockings come in either beige or red.

Price – £14.99

Size:18x36cm.(also can be personalised for kids or other pets too)

Dogs Christmas dinner:  A dog-friendly Christmas dinner that includes deliver woof treat selection of human look-alike foods such as sausage & Parma ham, breadsticks, chicken sandwiches and much more. Personalisation onto Christmas dinner packaging is included.

Price: £11.99 ( to serve one) and £16.99 (to serve two)

As all items are handmade they will typically be dispatched within 3-5 working days after order is placed. Support local, shop Harrogate!

If you have anything lifestyle related that you would like me to cover, please get in touch- ami@thestrayferret.co.uk.

A Harrogate woman has opened up about her coronavirus testing experience to alleviate fears about the process.

Susan Bowers Scarre, a social media marketing professional, went to the testing centre in the car park on Dragon Road, Harrogate yesterday.

She did not have the usual covid symptoms but was asked to get a test as part of a covid research study.

The Stray Ferret has previously reported people having difficulty booking tests but Susan said the entire experience lasted about five minutes and was straightforward.

“I was a little apprehensive because I didn’t know what to expect. I heard before that it was hard to make an appointment but I could have booked anytime in the day.

“The centre was extremely efficient. There were staff at the door who show you to a private room and make sure you know what to do.”

It wasn’t the most pleasant experience: Susan had to swab her tonsils and nostrils but it was soon over.

Once finished, she put the swab into a vial, which then went into a bag and the bag went into a box on the way out.

Read more:

• Covid patients in Harrogate hospital nearly double in a week
• Harrogate primary school’s plea: help our pupils who are isolating

So far Susan has not received her results, which she believes to be negative, but she expects them in the next couple of days.

The full-time testing centre in Harrogate replaced the mobile testing centre site in October.

It has the capacity to do 320 tests a day but is currently averaging 200 a day. The centre is made up of a series of floodlit modular buildings.

The seven-day rolling average rate of covid infections for the Harrogate district has risen above 300 people per 100,000 for the first time.

The rate, which was 160 just over a fortnight ago, is now 307, which is above the England average of 254.

The figure adds to recent data suggesting North Yorkshire, and the Harrogate district in particular, is currently faring worse than many other parts of the country in the fight against coronavirus.

Richard Flinton, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, acknowledged the county was now in a “very different place” to pre-lockdown little more than a week ago. He said:

“Infection rates are soaring in many areas.

“We had been doing very well and we went into the current lockdown in the lowest tier of intervention. Sadly, our current rates put us in a very different place.

“Our economy is also suffering. Our hospitality sector, famous the world over for its hearty welcome and high-quality food and drink, is in lockdown again. And although we have generally good levels of employment across the county, we also struggle with low wages and high house prices in many areas.”

Read more:

• Covid R number rises to 1.6 in Harrogate district
• Covid patients in Harrogate hospital nearly double in a week

The rise has sparked fears that Harrogate may be placed in a higher tier of restrictions when lockdown is due to end on December 2.

It was revealed yesterday that the number of patients being treated for coronavirus in Harrogate District Hospital has nearly doubled in a week, from 15 to 28.

Figures were also released showing the new covid testing site in Harrogate is testing 200 people a day.

Remembrance Day was commemorated differently this year because of covid but residents across the Harrogate district still paid their respects to those who lost their lives in battle.

Although annual services and parades were unable to go ahead, people held two-minute silences at home and some paid their respects at war memorials.

In Harrogate …

After a two-minute silence and the playing of the Last Post by a single bugler, pupils and a small number of staff from Ashville College laid wreaths at the school’s on-site war memorial.

The rest of the college participated in the annual commemoration from their classrooms.

Upper sixth pupils and joint heads of school Niamh Boyle (left) and Massimiliano Ernesto Nobile (right) with year 6 pupil Taylor Henderson (centre).

Local people congregated at the Harrogate war memorial at 11am yesterday for the two-minute silence.

On Sunday members of the Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club gathered at Stonefall Cemetary. A small service was led by Rev. David Hoskins.

Photograph: Guy Wilson.

Rotarian Manuel Camacho laying a wreath. Photograph: Guy Wilson.

In Ripon …

On Sunday, the Ripon branch of the Royal British Legion and standard bearers representing the Royal Navy, Royal Engineers and Royal Air Force, stood at the war memorial in Spa Gardens.

Local MP Julian Smith and the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Eamon Parkin, laid wreaths in the mist.

Yesterday, about 40 people gathered at social distance outside Ripon Cathedral at 11am to observe the two-minute silence. Prayers after the silence were led by the Dean of Ripon, The Very Revd John Dobson.

In Pateley Bridge …

The chair of Nidderdale Chamber of Trade, Tim Ledbetter, laid a wreath on behalf of the chamber.

Elsewhere …

At the North Yorkshire County Council’s offices in Northallerton, Cllr Jim Clark laid a wreath.