Horticap unveils plans for new homes with a difference in Harrogate woods

A new housing development with a difference is set to be created in the grounds of Harrogate charity Horticap.

Seven houses, a shop, a church and a bandstand will be installed for the fairies of Bluecoat Wood, home to the horticultural charity.

It represents a collaboration between Horticap and nearby group Harlow Hill Men’s Shed, which was set up to support people’s mental health through practical tasks.

Despite the 700 homes planned to be built on fields surrounding the site, Horticap’s operations manager Phil Airey said the new houses in the wood were much-needed:

“We are pleased that the local fairies have decided to live on our land. The local children have often wondered where they live.

“So, with the help of Harlow Hill Men’s Shed, we will have a new village fit for any local fairy.”

Members of the men’s shed have spent time crafting the miniature buildings and will install them next week. Spokesman John Hart said:

“We are working on adding a pub, fire station and more houses in due course. The development will be ready for viewing from August 31 at Horticap and it will be fairy nice to meet you all.”

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Harrogate’s Horticap opens revamped free nature trail

A Harrogate nursery has reopened its free nature trail this week after a nine-month refurbishment of the grounds.

Horticap, which is based at Bluecoat Wood Nurseries on Otley Road, is a charity that provides adults with learning and other disabilities training in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills.

Parts of the trail were badly churned during construction of a new tearoom and shop at Horticap, which opened earlier this year in June.

The Hopkins at Horticap cafe is named in honour of former Horticap student Peter Hopkins, who left his house in Bilton to the charity after he and his mother Marjorie died.

The Banks Community Fund, a Durham-based charity linked to The Banks Group, donated £5,000 to make the work possible.

The trail includes additional seating areas, interpretative boards and new pond screening.

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While a new sunken garden has been created to provides a social space that can be used by visiting schools and community groups.

The work has been led by Horticap’s operations manager Phil Airey, supported by local contractors and long-term supporters.

Some of the Horticap students were also able to assist when it was safe to do so.

The charity hopes the new facilities will extend its role in the local community.

Mr Airey said:

“The nature trail has always been really well used by our visitors, and we’ve now created something even better that we’re sure everyone’s going to love.

“It’s a very practical space with lots of interesting things to see and activities to undertake, and the extra facilities we’ve added have made it even more attractive.

“Involving some of our students in making these improvements has helped them develop new personal and workplace skills while also giving them an even greater sense of ownership.

“Without the generous funding that The Banks Group have provided, we’d have just had to tidy up the nature trail as best we could.”

Lewis Stokes, community relations manager at The Banks Group, said:

“Despite everything that’s been going on this year, the Horticap team has done an excellent job in improving what was already a great community asset.

“It’s brilliant to see all their hard work resulting in something so impressive.”

Free, revamped nature trail set to open at Harrogate’s Horticap

Harrogate charity Horticap’s newly revamped nature trail, which is free to visit, will open on Monday.

Horticap, which is based at Bluecoat Wood Nurseries, provides adults with learning and other disabilities training in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills.

A £5,000 donation enabled it to invest in in making its nature trail more accessible to all.

Full of hidden nooks and places to explore, the new nature trail has been built with a focus on green energy and sustainability.

It includes educational signs telling visitors about the local landscape and the animals living within it.

The aim is to encourage people to look more closely at what is around them.

The trail also has large, communal areas to allow people to just sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

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The charity has also just finished renovating its Hopkins cafe and shop.

The charity was able to use money left by a previous student, Peter Hopkins, to renovate the cafe to bring in extra income and offer students work experience.