Ripon museums receive £100,000 lottery boostThe National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded almost £100,000 to Ripon Museum Trust to develop a major project.
The Inspiration for a Fairer Future project will enable the stories of poverty, law, crime, punishment and justice to be explored by a wider, more diverse audience.
It will also enable work to be carried out to safeguard the future of the Grade II listed Ripon Workhouse building.
The successful first round funding application provides the financial means for work to begin in spring, which will inform a larger proposal for £1.7 million, to be submitted to the heritage fund for consideration in 2023.
A fundraising campaign is being launched to secure match funding for the project.
The trust runs the Workhouse, Courthouse, and Prison and Police museums and the project will create a more cohesive story across all three sites, giving access to more historic spaces, improving orientation and creating new digital and on-site interpretation.
A new lift will be installed in the Workhouse to allow access to the upper floor and the dormitories will be opened up to provide new meeting spaces for community groups, schools and researchers.
There will be new facilities for school groups and other learners as well as new community spaces.
The initial development funding of £99,396 from the heritage fund will be used to appoint project staff and undertake community consultation to ensure the project reflects the needs of the people it seeks to engage, inspire and support.
Trust director Helen Thornton said:
“We’re delighted that we’ve received this support thanks to National Lottery players. Our long-term vision for the three museums in our care can now begin to be realised.
“This grant will significantly increase the opportunities for people to get involved here – after reflecting upon our history and themes we hope to inspire people to seek a fairer society”.
Richard Taylor, chair of trustees, said:
“We were able to purchase the workhouse complex in 2016 due to a significant grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
“Thanks to their ongoing support, we can safeguard an important listed building for the future and link up all the fascinating powerful and personal stories we have from the Workhouse, the Prison and Police Museum and the Courthouse Museum.”
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The Witcher: First pictures of Harrogate district filming for major Netflix showTwo beauty spots in the Harrogate district are set to feature in the second series of a major Netflix show starring Henry Cavill as Geralt.
The Witcher, which has a cast and crew of around 250 people, was filmed at both Plumpton Rocks near Harrogate and Fountains Abbey near Ripon.
In the first series, most filming was done in countries such as Hungary, Austria and Spain. However, due to coronavirus restrictions Netflix had to look for locations in the UK.
In October last year, the Stray Ferret showed a picture taken by reader Jo McGregor at Fountains Abbey of a film crew in action. The National Trust would only say at the time it was a “major TV series”.
Ahead of the release of series two of the Witcher on Friday, the National Trust and the owner of Plumpton Rocks have now confirmed the details and released behind the scenes pictures.
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Justin Scully, general manager of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, said:
“It was great to see such an exciting amount of activity happening onsite last year. Filming for The Witcher was by far the largest scale filming we’ve ever had here.
“Our visitors really enjoyed seeing such a big production happening around the property and had fun guessing what was being filmed, which we had to keep confidential at the time.
“There was a huge amount of work that went on behind the scenes to make it all happen.
“We worked for months with the production team from Netflix as well as specialist filming conservators so that we could ensure the safety of visitors, staff and of course the abbey and water garden.”
The National Trust added that the location fees it received will be spent on essential work at Fountains Abbey.
Robert de Plumpton Hunter, who owns Plumpton Rocks and has spearheaded a major £700,000 renovation at the site over the last several years, told the Stray Ferret:
“Netflix brought a major crew for the Witcher to Plumpton Rocks, where they filmed for about two weeks.
“Particularly during coronavirus it was great for Harrogate’s economy. I am looking to forward to watching it.”
More pictures from behind the scenes:
A crew member uses a VFX ball to capture lighting information from the set within the ruins of Fountains Abbey. Photo: Netflix
An elaborate set and special effects light up the abbey ruins during a dramatic scene. Photo: Netflix
MyAnna Buring as Tissaia de Vries in the ruins of Fountains Abbey. Photo: Netflix
Tree planting has begun across the Harrogate district to mark the queen’s platinum jubilee next year.
About 100 elm, oak, hornbeam, sycamore and lime trees will be planted in the district as part of a nationwide initiative called The Queen’s Green Canopy, which invites people from across the United Kingdom to ‘plant a tree for the jubilee’.
The trees will be planted on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road, Jacob Smiths Park in Knaresborough, High Cleugh in Ripon, Pateley Bridge recreation ground and Boroughbridge recreation ground.
One tree from each location will be saved to plant on February 6, the queen’s accession day.
Harrogate Borough Council is organising the project and hopes the initiative will also help it achieve its carbon reduction initiatives. It is encouraging everyone, including individuals, community groups, businesses and landowners to also plant a tree.
Councillor Andy Paraskos, the council’s cabinet member for environment, waste reduction and recycling, said:
“The Queen’s Green Canopy is a wonderful opportunity for us to not only honour Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee but also help address the climate situation and deliver carbon reduction initiatives throughout the Harrogate district.”
The Queen’s Green Canopy will coincide with the borough council’s plans to plant thousands of trees in Bilton Beck Wood and Willow Wood, Harrogate and Upper Horse Shoe Fields, Knaresborough as part of the White Rose Forest partnership.
To get involved and plant a tree, people can pin it to the Queen’s Green Canopy map. It will then count towards Harrogate’s total.
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Ripon leisure centre named after local Olympic hero Jack LaugherRipon Leisure Centre is set to become the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in honour of the local Olympic hero.
Jack Laugher’s family home is in Littlethorpe, near Ripon. He attended Ripon Grammar School and learned to dive with the Harrogate and District Diving Club.
He became Great Britain’s first Olympic champion in diving alongside his partner Chris Mears at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He followed it up with an individual silver to become the most successful British diver ever.
In the years that followed he achieved three gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a bronze and silver medal in the 3m individual and synchro springboard events respectively at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju and a bronze medal in the 3m springboard at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The council has said the new six-lane 25 metre pool at the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre is now set to open “early in the new year” after a number of delays due to problems in construction.
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Jack Laugher said:
“I’m truly honoured that Harrogate Borough Council have named the new facility in Ripon the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre.
“As a city I grew-up in and a district where I learned to swim and dive, I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would have a facility named after me.
“I hope this new pool and the diving facilities in Harrogate encourage others to follow their dreams like I have.”
Councillor Stanley Lumley, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for culture, tourism and sport, and chair of the board of directors at Brimhams Active, said:
“The addition of the new swimming pool is a major development for Ripon and shows our commitment to providing modern and fit-for-purpose leisure facilities.
“Jack may not have had this opportunity if it wasn’t for his perseverance and determination, and the leisure facilities available across the Harrogate district. I am therefore delighted that we have named the new facility after him.
“The pool will open early in the new year and I hope everyone, irrespective of disability, gender, age, race, sexual orientation or religion use this fantastic new facility.”
Sporting Ripon schoolgirl wins children of courage awardPowerchair football star Ellie Renton, has won a Northern Children of Courage award for her achievements in the fast-paced sport.
The 11-year-old Ripon Grammar School student, whose rare genetic condition means she is unable to walk, was also praised for being a brilliant role model at an awards ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead.
Powerchair football allows people with physical disabilities to play football. Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club first team winger Ellie, from Kirkby Malzeard, is one of the youngest players competing in the national league.
She was diagnosed at 18 months old with type two spinal muscular atrophy, a slow progressive muscle wasting condition which has left her with weak arms and legs and prone to potentially life-threatening chest infections and pneumonia.
The awards, organised by The St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation, celebrate the achievements of young people who have overcome barriers, achieved something extraordinary or helped and supported others.
Coach Carolyn Bean, who nominated Ellie, praised her achievements:
She said:
“She has worked her way up through the teams and has improved so much. She is a joy to coach, listens and tries her hardest absolutely all the time.
“Ellie often comes to training early to help out during our lower-level training, at such a young age I find this pretty amazing. She has such a natural understanding of what other players need and is already a brilliant role model, even to those older than her.
“Ellie holds her own during matches, playing against other teams with players of all ages, which can sometimes be quite scary.”
Ellie, pictured in the foreground, playing powerchair football.
The year seven pupil, who plans to study marine biology at university, said the award came as a huge surprise as she didn’t know she had been nominated. She said:
“I feel grateful, happy and honoured, when I play powerchair football it feels normal, like a normal sport as this is something I can do with my abilities.”
Her mother, Yvonne, added:
“When Ellie was five and first got into a powerchair for football, we were told she would go far. Within two to three years, she had achieved national status, the youngest player to reach that level in the UK.”
Ellie also enjoys music, art, science and maths.
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Her father, Martin, said:
“We would like to thank her coach who nominated her without us knowing – it was a huge surprise when we heard Ellie had won. We are extremely happy and over the moon for her, to receive such an award and to be recognised for her abilities in powerchair football.”
Call for wider parking bays in Ripon to cater for larger cars
Ripon City Council has called for parking spaces at Cathedral Car Park to be widened to accommodate larger vehicles.
The city’s biggest car park is due to undergo resurfacing works costing £85,000 and Councillor Pauline McHardy called for parking bays to be enlarged as part of the upgrade.
Speaking at the December city council meeting, she said:
“Modern vehicles are wider and with the current size of the spaces, people find it difficult to get in and out of their cars.
“After the resurfacing work has been carried out, the bays should be enlarged.”
Cllr McHardy’s call for enlargement was seconded by Councillor Chris Davis, who told the meeting:
“The bays are narrow and I’ve often found it difficulty to find a parking space that my car will fit in.”
Councillors voted unanimously to support the request, which will be made to Harrogate Borough Council.
The 193-bay car park sits in view of the cathedral and is used by drivers for long and short stays.
Harrogate Borough Council, in a contract notice for the work issued this year, said the site had become worn and hazardous to members of the public.
It added:
“Over the years the current surface of the car park has become pot-holed, with large areas of loose tarmac resulting in trip hazards to members of the public, and claims for vehicle damage.”
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The contract is for a complete resurfacing of the car park, and to increase the number of parking spaces to 206, along with 10 disabled bays.
The council will also require the contractors to undertake trunking and ductwork in preparation for the installation of electric vehicle charging points.
Netflix snow globe appears on Ripon Market SquareRipon residents woke to a monstrous sight on Market Square this morning.
Alongside the 18th century obelisk, a modern-day fantasy creation of myth and mayhem from Netflix could be seen inside a giant snow globe.
The creature, with its multiple limbs, is making a one-day appearance in Ripon to mark the release on Friday of The Witcher season 2, part of which was filmed at nearby Fountains Abbey and Plumpton Rocks.
The series, starring Henry Cavill, is an adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s bestselling novels.
The globe, with its resident snow monster, is touring the UK and will only remain on Market Square until this evening.
The Witcher is based on a series of books and video games and features battles between humans, elves, witches, gnomes, and monsters.
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Ripon Farm Services given go-ahead to open twelfth depotRipon Farm Services has received planning permission to build a 22,000 sq ft depot at Eden Business Park near Malton.
It will be the 12th depot owned by Ripon Farm Services, which is one of the largest agricultural equipment dealers in the UK.
The company, which employs more than 250 staff, is a John Deere main dealer that supplies agricultural machinery brands such as, Kramer telehandlers, Kuhn cultivation equipment, Bailey Trailers and Sumo cultivators across Yorkshire, Teesside, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
Construction on the new building will begin immediately, with completion scheduled for August next year.
Richard Simpson, commercial director at Ripon Farm Services, said:
“This is a tremendously important move for us and a significant milestone in our 40-year-old history.
“Our new flagship building, will feature offices, training suites and meeting facilities for staff and customers and has been specially designed to accommodate our rapidly growing combine harvester business, including the John Deere X9.
“We are especially pleased to be moving to Malton, which has the enviable – and entirely justified – reputation as the food capital of the north. It is at the centre of North Yorkshire’s extensive agricultural community, which we are looking forward to serving.”
Funding for this new depot was by provided by HSBC.
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Why you don’t need to wait until January to start your health and fitness journeyAs a personal trainer and coach, as well as a journalist, I have never been a fan of the ‘New Year, New You’ concept.
Firstly, there is nothing wrong with the old you. You might feel a bit partied out and like you’ve over-indulged at Christmas, but that’s normal and it doesn’t make you a bad person. You certainly don’t have to embark on some ridiculous exercise regime and diet fad after the clock strikes 12 on December 31.
Secondly, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t start now, or why you can’t carry on hitting your goals or even just maintain a level of consistency with your training during December.
A Baileys and a mince pie isn’t going to destroy your progress and I can guarantee if you start exercising now – even if it’s just a brisk walk around the shops – you will feel better prepared come the New Year.
There are plenty of personal trainers and coaches across the Harrogate district who feel the same.
They have shared some of their views and tips on why we shouldn’t wait until January when it comes to health and fitness.
“I can understand why people slow down or stop training in December, especially after the last year.
“I think a lot of people are feeling pretty drained and fatigued mentally, but this is where nutrition and exercise become even more important.
“Getting adequate protein, fibre and nutrients, plus regular exercise, really helps with positivity, mental clarity, sleep and energy levels. Even a 20-30 minute walk each day counts.
“The other thing that sets people back at this time of year is the “All or nothing” mentality. The mindset that because it’s Christmas and there are social occasions and lots of festive food to enjoy, that they then just throw everything out of the window.
“It doesn’t have to be like that. We can still maintain progress or even continue to improve, it’s about doing little things consistently and keeping positive habits like eating slowly, staying hydrated and maintaining activity levels.
My tips in short:
- Eat slowly and stop when you feel satisfied
- Move regularly and get outside for a short walk after a meal, even fidgeting adds up to your daily activity
- Stay hydrated and drink a soft drink between alcoholic one
- Choose low calorie mixers and spirits with a mixer where possible over beer, lager or wine
- Prioritise protein at every meal
- Try to eat at least one portion of fresh vegetables to each meal
- Remember you can still enjoy all the Christmas food without making yourself feel sick, irritable, bloated and lethargic
“What would you say if I said you should start your fitness journey in December?
“We put so much on the back-burner for the sake of potentially a three to four-day window.
“If we think about this in terms of meals. Lets say we have roughly six to eight meals consisting of festive food and drink in between now and New Year.
“There are 24 days remaining of December. If you eat three meals per day, that’s 72 meals.
“So you put off starting your New Year’s fitness journey because of that many meals out of 72?! Sounds ridiculous when we put it like that doesn’t it?
“When clients approach me for personal training and coaching in December for a New Year’s start I always ask “why January?”.
“If it’s a financial issue, then I can rationalise. But if it’s a motivation issue or fear of “ruining hard work” over the festive period then I will always actively encourage them to get ahead of themselves and get started in December.
“A full month to get a month ahead of their targets and goals. That’s an absolute no brainer.
“Starting and maintaining a healthier lifestyle takes motivation. Instilling good habits in December will enable discipline to your goals in January.
“So my message is if you’ve got goals you want to achieve in 2022, get started now.
“It’s Christmas time, there’s no need to be afraid… of “ruining” all your hard work in the gym this year.
“It is remaining consistent with healthy habits over time that determines your health and fitness, not a week of mince pies and a glass of red with Santa.
“Whether you choose to indulge in chocolate and remain horizontal binge-watching Love Actually for a week or not, what matters is how you feel about your decisions this festive season.
“How you feel about your decisions is far more important than the decision itself.
“Do you feel in control? Do you feel guilty? Do you feel pressure to overeat or drink around family and friends? Do you feel like exercising? Does it feel like calories and food consume your thoughts at Christmas?
“There is this assumption that because it is Christmas we are obligated to whip out the “stretchy pants” and fill ourselves to the brim at any and all occasions. But how would it feel to decide to not do that? To stop when you feel full. To say no to that extra glass. To take back some control over what you eat.
“Similarly, how would it feel to say yes to all those things you love, yes to the cake, yes to the gin and take some time to rest and not feel guilty for it?
“However you decide to spend your festive season, it is important to remember it is a choice. Your choice. You decide what you want to eat, you decide how it is going to make you feel and you decide how you spend your Christmas and New year.
“There is no right or wrong. These are pressures we put on ourselves.
“You don’t need to wait until January to continue your fitness journey. You don’t need to train harder to “work off” the extra food you might have eaten. You don’t need to do anything.
“You are fine how you are and you are loved no matter what, so do whatever makes you feel your best you this Christmas.
“Ps. If your scales shoot up, don’t worry. Most of this will be water retention not body fat. Be reassured that you cannot lose or gain body fat that quickly.”
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“I’ll just start in January” might seem like a logical idea, a bit like not wanting to start a diet on a Sunday.
However, there really is no time like the present and here are four reasons why:
1. Beat the January rush: “We’ve all been there. Gym bag in hand, stood in reception looking in on a swarm of ‘New Year, New Me’ gym-goers. Wishing for that time when you could roam the gym using equipment when you want it. Well, now’s your chance. Gyms this time of year are usually pretty quiet, giving you the chance to get in early on those Christmas gains.”
2. Damage limitation: “We all know we use Christmas as an excuse for anything. Chocolate for breakfast? Why not? It’s Christmas. But all your hard work throughout the rest of the year doesn’t have to go to waste. If you are short of time, add in a few high intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions. HIIT sessions are quick, easy and great for burning calories. Adapt your workouts to suit your schedule and keep going throughout December.”
3. Mental health: “Knowing that one-in-four people will experience some kind of mental health issue this December, it is now, more then ever, important to concentrate on that. With less sunlight, depression, anxiety and other forms of mental health battles can really start to take hold. But for some, gyms, training and fitness can be a lifeline. It is a proven fact that exercise releases feel-good endorphins and is therefore great for our self-esteem and cognitive function.”
4. Covid : “While we continue to battle a pandemic, exercise is vital in helping our bodies to fight Covid. We all know that as a result of obesity, poor health and bad diet choices, our bodies are less equipped and more likely to suffer with illness and disease. So now is not the time to sit back and wait until the New Year.”
“Who else is feeling seriously demotivated at the moment?
“I adore my clients and their ridiculous hard work. But every single year, the winter hits and boom, everyone is feeling, dull, demotivated, sluggish and they just don’t feel like they are hitting their goals as quickly as they should be.
“We are all the same, people then drop off towards the end of the year and think “oh well I’ll attack it in January”, but why? That is one whole month of your life that you could be using it to grow and get that one per cent better.
“It’s funny how our brains work.
“But let’s change it and think we have one whole month left for the rest of 2021. What are you going to do to make it better ? I want to make people feel excited about training, feel excited about going to the gym instead of dreading it.”
“There is a tendency to try and hit full send on everything we do when January hits.
“But by focusing on the easy elements, rather than trying to do everything all at once, we can maintain a level of consistency throughout the year.
“Why climb all the way up a tree when there’s plenty of easy pickings at ground level?
- Train: Yep, it’s a proven fact that if you train five to six days-a-week (with rest and recovery) that you’ll get fitter. But is that realistic for you and your current circumstance? Start small, how many sessions is realistic? Now make that a non-negotiable.
- Eat: So if you eat like a five-year-old at a Christmas party, how easy is it going to be to go from a diet of mince pies, to eating exclusively Paleo*? (*Google it) Really hard. So figure out one meal first – switch up your brekkie – and we’ll work on the rest later as we get accustomed to change. You know those Coco Pops are doing you no good anyway.
- Sleep: There are so many reasons I don’t get eight hours. So I accept that it will be much less, but work hard not to let that slip further when it’s in my control. Change a small part of your routine so you can grab an extra 30 minutes.
- Think and connect: What have I just said? Stop trying to change it all at once – low hanging fruit.
Snow globe from Netflix’s The Witcher to come to RiponNetflix will bring to Ripon a giant 18ft snow globe to promote the second series of The Witcher.
The fantasy series featuring Henry Cavill premieres on December 17 and part of it was filmed in our district at Fountain’s Abbey and Plumpton Rocks.
The globe, which has a monster from the show inside it, is on a tour of the UK and will be at Ripon Market Square on Monday.
The Witcher is based on a series of books and video games and features battles between humans, elves, witchers, gnomes, and monsters.
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