Mother Shipton tour guide celebrates over 30 years on the jobHarrogate district attractions to close amid wind warning

Two tourist attractions in the Harrogate district have announced closures and cancellations due to a yellow weather warning for wind.

The Met Office has forecast gusts of up to 50mph locally in the early hours of Thursday morning. The wind is due to strengthen tomorrow night.

Mother Shipton’s, in Knaresborough, announced today it will close as a precaution.

It issued a statement on social media:

“Given our unique location within an ancient forest, ensuring the safety of our visitors is our top priority.

“Consequently, we have made the challenging decision to temporarily close the site on Thursday due to the adverse weather conditions.”

Those with bookings to the site on Thursday have been contacted and will receive refunds, the company added.

One person commented on the statement:

“So gutted this was the only Christmas thing we had planned due to time and budget but understand safety has to come first.”

RHS Harlow Carr

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, in Harrogate, today announced it had cancelled Thursday’s Glow light show event due to the weather.

The horticultural charity said on social media:

“Unfortunately, Thursday’s Glow will be cancelled. This is to ensure the safety of all our visitors, staff and volunteers.
“We are very sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this is likely to cause, and we thank you for your understanding. All bookers for 21 December’s Glow event have been emailed today and will be given a full refund.”

The company said the gardens will be open as usual tomorrow, but added it will “keep reviewing wind speeds and may need to close the woodland and glasshouses”.

It expects tomorrow’s Glow event to go ahead.

The garden will be part-open during the day tomorrow, with the woodland and glasshouses closed.

The weather warning is in place for the north of England, Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.

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Business Breakfast: Mother Shipton’s Cave wins special recognition

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, October 26 at Banyan in Harrogate from 8am to 10 am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough has been awarded a Welcome Accolade from VisitEngland following its latest VisitEngland Quality Scheme Assessment.

Among the 91 exceptional attractions recognised, Mother Shipton’s Cave is one of only two in Yorkshire to receive the = welcome accolade, acknowledging its commitment to excellence in visitor service. The attraction team’s customer service, professional demeanour, and warm approach were specifically highlighted.

Fiona Martin, owner of Mother Shipton’s, said:

“We are over the moon to have received such special recognition from VisitEngland. Our team are passionate about providing exemplary customer service and preserving the magical story of Mother Shipton for generations.”

This latest achievement, alongside the team’s achievements in various local and regional award schemes, such as Attraction of the Year at the Knaresborough Business Awards, adds to the reputation of Mother Shipton’s Cave as an outstanding tourist destination.

Mother Shipton’s Cave is open every day until November 5, as well as on selected dates throughout November and December for its Magical Christmas Experience. The next family event is Halloween Creepy Carnival, running through October half term from October 28 to November 5.

Harrogate asset management firm wins award

Cardale Asset Management took home the first-place awards in two categories at the prestigious Citywire Investment Performance Awards.

The annual awards showcase the firms and strategies which delivered top risk-adjusted returns over a three-year period.

Cardale, which is based at Cardale Park in Harrogate, won the Aggressive Shortlist award for the performance of its equity model. It also won the prize for the Best Medium-Sized Firm in the UK.

Ian Wood, chief investment officer at Cardale, said:

“We are incredibly proud to win this award. It is testament to our investment philosophy, experience and approach and is truly a team effort.

“We have over 3,000 clients within Cardale Asset Management, with total assets under management of over £2 billion. Our ethos is to provide investment options to a broad spectrum of investors, therefore enabling more people to access the strong performing and experienced Cardale Asset Management team.”

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Jonathan Ross petrifies his pants at Knaresborough’s Mother Shipton’s Cave

A TV programme next week will show Jonathan Ross petrifying his pants on a visit to Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough.

Jonathan Ross’ Myths and Legends will feature the presenter travelling the UK on the hunt for incredible tales as old as time.

He visited England’s oldest tourist attraction, Mother Shipton’s Cave, while filming the four-part series last summer.

The episode, due to broadcast on Monday, shows Ross learning about the legend of the Yorkshire Prophetess, who is said to have been born more than 500 years ago and foretold the Great Fire of London and the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

During his visit Ross visited the cave’s petrifying well, which can turn everyday items to stone. For centuries it was believed to be magic, but we now know it is due to the unusually high mineral content in the water.

The team at Mother Shipton’s asked Ross if he would like to donate anything to be petrified by the well to mark his visit, and he donated a pair of orange boxer shorts, which he affectionately called his lucky pants.

Visitors can now see Jonathan’s pants hanging from the petrifying well.

Once they’ve fully turned to stone, they’ll be on display in the museum alongside other donated items including Queen Mary’s petrified shoe, John Wayne’s petrified hat, and Bobby Davro’s petrified sock.

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A Mother Shipton’s spokesperson said:

“We loved having Jonathan Ross visit us last summer, he was such a down to earth and funny chap – exactly as you see him on television.

“He was genuinely interested and fascinated by the story of Mother Shipton and awestruck by the geological phenomenon that is the petrifying well.

“He also spoke very highly of our beautiful town of Knaresborough and very much enjoyed chatting with the locals in the pub in between filming.

“We are providing him and his team with regular updates on the petrification progress of the bright orange pants he left with us!”

Jonathan Ross’ Myths and Legends airs on Monday at 9pm on More 4.

 

Mother Shipton’s Cave to open late for Halloween

Mother Shipton’s Cave is set to open late for the first time as part of Halloween celebrations.

The Knaresborough attraction is hosting a Hocus Pocus themed event, which includes wicked witches, a wacky wizard and a spooky woodland.

To conclude the Halloween celebrations, Mother Shipton’s will be open until 8.30pm tonight.

The last admission will be at 7pm.

A spokesperson for Mother Shipton’s Cave said:

“The team at Mother Shipton’s have decided to conclude their event with a late night opening on Halloween – visitors will have the chance to see the spooky woodland lit up after dark and cast spells with the witches and wizard on All Hallows’ Eve itself.

“So if you’re looking for a safe and family-friendly alternative to ‘Trick or Treating’ tomorrow, this Halloween adventure could be the perfect way to celebrate.”

Tickets for the Halloween event can be booked online here at the Mother Shipton’s website.

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Mother Shipton’s in Knaresborough closes due to high winds

One of the Harrogate district’s leading attractions has closed for the day because of strong winds.

Winds have been stronger than expected today, which along with heavy rain has made conditions across the district hazardous.

Mother Shipton‘s tweeted at about 11.30am that the site, which is surrounded by trees near the River Nidd, had decided to shut.

https://twitter.com/Mothershiptons/status/1578330752697004032

The Stray Ferret is unaware of any other organisations affected by today’s weather, but if you know of any email us at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Rain is forecast to move away this afternoon, giving way to a pleasant weekend, with temperatures around 15 degrees centigrade.

https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1578331885922557953

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Seven places to see Santa across the Harrogate district this Christmas

It feels like it creeps up on us earlier every year. Yes folks, it’s the most wonderful time of the year: it’s time to book your Santa visit.

Attractions across the Harrogate district have already started to release tickets.

And while Christmas might still be three months away, it’s advisable to act fast if you want to secure an audience with Mr Claus.

I’ve had the pleasure of taking my boys to meet him a few times over the years at various locations in the area.

Each experience has been excellent and we are definitely spoilt for choice. Santa is clearly a big fan of the Harrogate district.

To help you get organised, here are seven places to see Santa this year:

The Harrogate Father Christmas Experience – Cedar Court Hotel

It’s back and it has been hailed as “bigger and better than ever”.

Last year Father Christmas’s Chief Elf Tinsel, from Enchantica’s, delighted children and grown-ups alongside the big man himself at The Crown Hotel.

This Christmas you can join Santa, Tinsel and all of the Elves at a very magical Elf Village at the Cedar Court Hotel.

And those who are on the good elf list can book places to enjoy two shows this year:

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, September 27 and you can be among the first to get them by signing up to the mailing list here.

November 26 – December 24. Check here for show dates, times and availability.

Christmas at Mother Shipton’s, Knaresborough

Wander through the winter woodland to see the enchanted Christmas Village, festooned with festive delights and merry displays.

Chief Elf Chestnut will meet little visitors and lead them to see Santa Claus in his cosy Christmas grotto.

Children will be presented with a pack of festive activities and will also be able to listen to tales from Holly Berry, make reindeer food and post a letter to Santa at the North Pole Post Office.

November 26 – December 24. Click here to buy tickets. 

The Magical Christmas Experience – Birchfield Farm, Summerbridge

This hugely popular experience is making a welcome return following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

Meet Mother Christmas in her sitting room to check in and collect your sleigh ride tickets.

Then head to the sleigh pick up point to be greeted by Buddy the Elf, who will help you board Santa’s sleigh for your magical sleigh ride .

You will arrive at father’s Christmas woodland grotto where you can sit by the fire and tell him your Christmas wishes.

November 26 – December 23. Click here to buy tickets.

Santa’s Grotto – Thorp Perrow Arboretum, Bedale

Follow the festive trail through the Arboretum, until you find yourself at the grotto, nestled deep in the woods.

The elves welcome and guide you through the winter wonderland, where you’ll meet a host of wonderful creatures before arriving outside Santa’s log cabin home.

Find him waiting in his cosy sitting room for a chat and a photo. He also has a gift for every child.

November 24 – December 24. Click here to buy tickets from September 26.

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Santa’s Grotto at Stockeld Park, Wetherby

Father Christmas will be bringing the magic back to Stockeld Park this winter.

With twinkling lights and Santa in a rustic wooden cabin, the whole family will feel the festive cheer.

Visitors can also check out the dazzling Winter Illuminations. 

November 19 – December 24. Click here to buy tickets.

Santa’s Magical Sunday Lunch – The Bridge Hotel and Spa, Walshford

The hotel’s popular Santa Sunday lunch is back for Christmas 2022.

The family dining experience features a table magician and face painter to entertain the children.

It also includes a visit to Father Christmas’s grotto with gifts for the children and an individual photo to take away.

Book now by calling 01937 580 115 or email reservations@bridgewetherby.co.uk

Into the Woods: A Fairytale Christmas – Castle Howard, York

This experience is slightly further afield, but is definitely worth a mention if you fancy some extravagance at Christmas.

After the sell-out success of last year’s ‘Christmas in Narnia’ experience, Charlotte Lloyd Webber Events and The Projection Studio are back and set to transform grand rooms into magical forests and faraway kingdoms.

Expect to be enchanted by theatrical installations and projections that bring to life your favourite fairytales. The sounds of glass slippers on ballroom floors and horse-drawn pumpkins will echo through the great halls via state-of-the-art soundscapes.

The theme also means Father Christmas will pay a special visit throughout December, bringing an immersive theatrical experience in the main house and a storytelling grotto in the courtyard.

Ticket prices will vary subject to whether you choose to book on a peak or off-peak date. You can buy them here.

Ripon Farm Services appoints Sophie Allanby as marketing manager

Ripon Farm Services appoints Sophie Allanby as marketing manager

Sophie Allanby, Marketing Manager, Ripon Farm Services

Agricultural machinery supplier Ripon Farm Services has appointed Sophie Allanby (pictured) as marketing manager.

Ms Allanby, who grew up on an arable farm just outside Malton, has a first class business honours degree from York St John University and has been in the marketing world for the past ten years in varying roles.

She was communications executive at the Castle Howard Estate from 2018-2021.

She said:

“It will be my responsibility to develop and implement a dynamic marketing strategy that builds upon the substantial progress that Ripon Farm Services have made over the past two years.”

Mother Shipton’s wins Small Visitor Attraction of the Year award

Mother Shipton’s Cave has been been named the Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Visit York tourism awards 2022.

The Knaresborough tourist hotspot was commended by judges for its “magical experience” and the enthusiasm of staff on site.

Owner, Fiona Martin, said:

“Mother Shipton strikes again! We are overjoyed to be starting the season with such a big win for this ancient attraction, and for the town of Knaresborough. Our team have worked so hard to continue to add a sprinkle of magic and a slice of delight to the experience for visitors old and new, and it’s very rewarding to have an award win to take away from this.”

Harrogate-based manufacturer celebrates 70 years by planting 1,200 trees

To mark the 70th anniversary of Belzona, staff at its European headquarters in Harrogate got together with family members to plant 1,200 trees in the Royal Forest of Knaresborough.

Belzona designs and manufactures composite materials and industrial protective coatings.

This initiative is part of a three-year partnership with the White Rose Forest, the community forest for north and west Yorkshire. The company plans to plant seven-million trees throughout Yorkshire by 2025.

Corporate development supervisor, Natalie Carpenter and corporate development assistant, Lily Alexander-Pike, said in a joint statement:
“We were absolutely thrilled to see so many colleagues getting involved in our first tree planting project. Working alongside the Bilton Conservation Society, 25 Belzona volunteers, including employees and family members, worked together to plant 1,200 trees in the local area. This is an incredible achievement – thank you to everyone who got involved!”

The Belzona team dig deep to plant 1,200 trees in the Royal Forest of Knaresborough.

Send your business news to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Mother Shipton’s delays reopening again due to landslide

Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough has been forced to delay its reopening again after heavy flooding caused a landslide onto a path.

The famous tourist attraction was due to reopen this weekend after clearing up the debris from recent floods but has now had to delay its reopening for a second time until March 19.

The “slight landslide” has fallen onto Beech Avenue, which is the site of some of the oldest and tallest beech trees in the country, from a bank above.

The landslide has left the well-trodden footpath, which runs from the steps used to access the petrifying well to the entrance of the museum, impassable. Therefore the decision has been taken to delay reopening for another week until the footpath can be made safe.

Jay Stelling, marketing coordinator, said supporting structures were installed last year to prevent damage like this but the strength of the recent storms meant the landslide couldn’t be avoided, adding:

“Our maintenance team had been attempting to clear the pathway and put plans in place to prevent further problems with landslides while we were closed during the winter.

“To rectify this issue permanently we are waiting on permission from the council to gain access above Beech Avenue to assess and establish the remedial work required in order to prevent this problem in the future.”

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Ms Stelling said the slope had experienced a “noticeable shift” in recent years due to climate change. She added:

“We are devastated that this is the case and we are doing everything we can to get the site safe and on top form to welcome back visitors.”

The attraction will open on weekends from March 19 and on weekends and weekdays from April.

Mother Shipton’s delays reopening due to flood damage

Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough has delayed its reopening until March 12 because of storm damage.

The Knaresborough visitor attraction was due to reopen for the season on March 5 but it remains badly affected by last weekend’s heavy rainfall and high river levels.

The storms left several fences to repair, pathways to wash down and debris to clear in the historic woodland areas.

https://twitter.com/Mothershiptons/status/1496814775371763713

The venue will now be open on weekends from March 12 and every day from April 1.

The cave’s marketing coordinator, Jay Stelling, said:

“Since Christmas, our small team have been getting everything ready for the new year with the hopes of opening the first weekend in March, but after the recent storms and adverse weather we have had to push this back.

“Luckily, we didn’t lose any of our ancient trees in the storms.”

The petrifying well, inside the site, is said to be England’s oldest visitor attraction. Visitors hear the story of prophetess Mother Shipton, who died in 1561, and see the water that turns objects to stone.

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