Within a stone’s throw of Brimham Rocks there’s a newly-created oasis of calm and quiet reflection.
The community herb and vegetable garden at the Acorn Wellness Retreat in Hartwith, has been designed to add to its holistic, healing approach and aim of improving people’s health and wellbeing with a diet of wholesome food.
As well as providing a ready supply of fresh produce used as ingredients in nutrition-rich dishes for guests, a weekly harvest of the herbs and vegetables is being shared with the neighbouring community.
A harvest for health – Acorn Wellness Retreat owner Katie Kavanagh is sharing the goodness of the garden with the neighbouring community
Acorn’s owner Katie Kavanagh, who opened the not-for-profit enterprise in 2017, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have people who come here for recovery, rest, retreat and sanctuary, often after treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer.”
She added:
“We also have a surrounding community of friends and neighbours and through sharing the items grown in the garden, we hope to be able to give something back to them.”
The new facility, created from sustainable materials by Ben Green of Springer Land & Property Services, includes a hazel bower, raised planters and seating areas.
The newly-opened garden at Acorn Wellness Retreat
To mark the opening, Acorn’s Helen O’Connor, a psychologist and forest bathing therapist, led a mindfulness session after attendees received a posy of freshly-picked herbs grown in the garden.
She asked the retreat’s friends, neighbours and her colleagues, to join with her in enjoying the peace of the new area by listening to the birdsong and attuning themselves to the natural rhythms of the countryside setting.
Ms. Kavanagh pointed out:
“We have planted a seed that will grow and thrive, while providing another means for enabling us to be at one with the natural environment and the healing qualities that this offers.”
Read More:
Conversion of former Harrogate Arms moves step closer
Building work to convert the former Harrogate Arms pub on Crag Lane into a cafe has moved a step closer.
The horticultural charity RHS bought the building in 2014 and received planning permission in 2019 to create a ground floor cafe and kitchen facilities to serve visitors of neighbouring RHS Harlow Carr.
It has now submitted a construction management plan to Harrogate Borough Council that gives details about how contractors will go about the conversion.
It says work will include the demolition of extensions, partitions, a boundary wall and low wall.
It will also involve the erection of three single-storey extensions and a boundary wall; reduction of floor levels; widening of entrance; removal of fire escape; installation of replacement doors, windows and fanlights; alterations to fenestration; formation and restoration of hard and soft landscaping.
Work on site will take place from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 1pm on Saturday. There will be no work on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
The council will now consider the plan.
Hotel, nightclub, restaurant and pub
The Harlow Car Hotel and Bath House was built in 1844 by two businessmen following the discovery of an ‘especially efficacious’ sulphur spring in the area.
The hotel was sold to Harrogate Corporation in 1915 and has gone through a number of incarnations since then, as a nightclub, restaurant and latterly a pub.
The building in 1930. Credit – Archant
Read more:
- Government gives Harrogate district private school £8m a year to educate army children
- Firefighters called to Knaresborough pub
Sustainable menu
When the cafe opens in 2023, hospitality students from Harrogate College will devise the menu.
The students have been asked to use their culinary and creative skills to come up with a concept for a sustainable menu.
Fresh produce grown at the RHS gardens will feature prominently in the dishes.