Every month the Stray Ferret tries to find out what our local MPs have been up to in their constituencies and in the House of Commons.

In October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced his Autumn budget and MPs were criticised for rejecting an amendment to stop raw sewage being pumped into rivers.

All of our district MPs were urged by North Yorkshire Police to report personal security concerns following the murder of David Amess MP in his constituency.

We asked our three Conservative MPs, Harrogate & Knaresborough’s Andrew Jones, Skipton and Ripon’s Julian Smith, and Selby and Ainsty’s Nigel Adams if they would like to highlight anything in particular that they have been doing this month, but, as usual, we did not receive a response from any of them.

Here is what we know after analysing their online presence.

Andrew Jones, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, here is what we found on Mr Jones:

• Mr Jones did not post any news on his website in October.
• On October 20, Mr Jones voted against a House of Lords amendment to put a legal duty on water companies and prevent them discharging waste into rivers and seas.
• Mr Jones spoke six times in the House of Commons in October.
• Two of those contributions were on the environment, including congratulating Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition for hosting its first climate action festival ahead of COP26.
• On October 14, following the resignation of Philip Allott as North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Mr Jones posted onto his Conservative-run site that Mr Allott had “done the right thing”. He also paid tribute to David Amess.
• Mr Jones’ Twitter account is for ‘retweets only’.

Read more:

• MPs watch: Sweary outbursts, animal testing and Bilsdale

• Nigel Adams MP’s £33,000 donation from former Russian businessman back in spotlight

• Police urge Harrogate district MPs to report personal security concerns

Julian Smith, MP for Ripon and Skipton.

In Skipton and Ripon, here is what we found on Mr Smith:

• Mr Smith updated his website three times in September. He posted about Bilsdale transmitter and visiting Grassington hub.
• He tweeted 12 times last month. Among his social media posts were tweets paying tribute to David Amess MP. He also paid tribute to James Brokenshire MP, who died on October 8.
• Mr Smith was the only one of our district MPs to call for Philip Allott to resign. On October 11, he tweeted that Mr Allott “should go”.
• Mr Smith voted against the House of Lords amendment on river sewage.
• Mr Smith posted four times on his Facebook page.
• He spoke once in the House of Commons this month. On October 26, Mr Smith made a spoken contribution on Northern Ireland.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty which includes rural Harrogate.

In rural south Harrogate, here is what we found on Mr Adams:

• Mr Adams tweeted six times in October.
• On Twitter, he paid tribute to both James Brokenshire MP and David Amess MP.
• He posted once on his website on October 26 about road works being carried out on the A1 and A64.
• On October 5, the Stray Ferret reported that a former arms tycoon who donated £33,800 to Mr Adams was back under media scrutiny after the leak of the Pandora Papers.
• Mr Adams did not post anything on his social media or website about Philip Allott’s resignation of police commissioner.
• Mr Adams voted against the House of Lords amendment on river sewage.
• He did not make any spoken contributions in the House of Commons in October.

Think of an England sports coach living in the Harrogate district who enjoyed a remarkable summer, and chances are Gareth Southgate comes to mind.

But there is another option — and this one didn’t have to settle for second best.

Chris Bartle was high performance coach of the Great Britain equestrian team that won its first Olympic team gold medal for 49 years in Tokyo.

Despite living just a dozen miles apart, the two men have never crossed paths. Chris says:

“I’d love to meet him. Some of the things he’s quoted as saying are similar to my mantra. We seem to have very similar philosophies.”

Like Gareth, Chris is regarded as one of sport’s nice guys. But unlike the Swinsty man, whose life is consumed by England duties, Chris spends most of his time in the Harrogate district at the Yorkshire Riding Centre in Markington, which he runs with his wife and sister.

He says he spends about two-thirds of his life at Markington and one third on GB coaching duties.

When he’s at Markington, he still teaches everyone from talented juniors to Olympic stars at Markington.

The family riding centre in Markington.

Olympic riders in Markington

Chris’ Belgian mother opened the riding centre at Markington in 1963, 11 years after his parents moved to the village, which is between Ripon and Harrogate.

The family still lives on site and Chris takes a hands-on approach, teaching everyone from talented juniors to Olympic stars and generally mucking. When we visited he’d just been on a cherry picker helping mend a roof — something we doubt Gareth does at Wembley.

With its four training arenas, livery, cross-country fields and on-site accommodation, the centre caters for riders of all standards.

Everyone from bygone stars like Harvey Smith and the Whitakers to current Olympic riders from Sweden, Brazil and Germany have trained at Markington. Chris says:

“I look at the print out of riders at the Olympics and it’s amazing how many have connections with the Yorkshire Riding Centre.”

The centre also has an elegant wedding venue, built by the Wilberforce family of anti-slavery fame. The Wilberforces still own nearby Markington Hall.

The wedding venue

Read more:

• Firefighters rescue sheep from swollen River Ure in Ripon
• Markington shopkeeper overwhelmed by villagers’ birthday surprises

Chris studied economics at Bristol University and jokes he has spent his entire life with horses to avoid a proper job.

He started as a jockey but was too tall so he switched to eventing and then dressage, at which he finished sixth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He has been to all nine Olympics since.

His coaching CV is phenomenal. He was national coach to the German Olympic three-day event team that won team gold at the Beijing and London Olympics in 2008 and 2012. The Germans also won gold at Athens in 2004 but were stripped of their medals when a horse failed a doping test.

Olympic glory

Chris, who had trained the British eventing team at the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, was appointed GB high performance coach in 2016 in the hope of emulating Germany’s success.

He masterminded the team’s preparation for Tokyo, which included staying outside the athletes’ village to minimise the covid risk. He says it was like staying in a five-star prison, and despite their caution there was a constant fear of covid jeopardising everything.

The British team gave an utterly dominant performance to take team gold for the first time since 1972. But his abiding memory is rather sad.

“It was the athletes on the podium wearing masks and you can’t see them grinning and how happy they are.”

Chris says he is equally proud of the gold medals he helped Germany win, but adds:

“Team GB was different to doing it with another nation. For that reason and how long it had taken for GB to get gold, that’s a standout moment. It was a super highlight.”

Britain’s Tom McEwen also won individual silver in the eventing but, like any coach, Chris wasn’t totally happy.

“It could have gone better. I felt there was another medal to be had in the individual eventing. I slightly blame myself for that because Laura Collett slightly over-egged it in preparation. She tried to get better and better and in that heat and humidity the horse didn’t sparkle in the dressage phase as much as it usually does.”

One of the training areas at Markington.

California dreaming

Chris is 69 now but looks remarkably fit and isn’t planning to put himself out to grass anytime soon. He hopes to continue in his current GB role until 2028 when the Olympics will return to Los Angeles, 44 years after he competed there. It would cap one of the longest and most remarkable careers in sport. He says:

“Los Angeles is an attainable goal and it would complete the circle.”

His 14-year-old daughter Poppy, a very talented rider, will be 21 then, which must be at the back of his mind but he’s careful not to put any pressure on her.

Whatever happens in his career, Markington will remain home.

“We are very fortunate where we are. The whole of this area is just an amazing place to live — although some of my colleagues tend to think this is the frozen north!”

Firefighters rescued a flock of sheep which managed to get stranded in the middle of the swollen River Ure in Ripon.

A crew from the fire station in Ripon worked with water and animal rescue teams to save 12 sheep from the fast-flowing water yesterday. Heavy rain had caused river levels to rise, cutting off the sheep from land.

The firefighters got the call at around 9am and headed straight to the river.

They waded into the water and used their bodies to slow the current before shepherding the animals away from harm.

Tom Harrison, a firefighter who was part of the rescue effort, told the Stray Ferret:

“Once we had located the sheep we set up a team and made a safe passage for them to cross the river.

“We didn’t need to use any equipment, we just stood in the water and used our bodies to slow the flow of water.

“When we managed to get one to leave the island the rest soon followed.

“All of the sheep managed to get away so yes I would say it was a successful operation.”

Read more:

• Nidd farming sisters save bull from drowning
• Helter skelter twist for Halloween in Ripon

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue added:

“Initial assessment from an officer to reports of approximately 12 sheep stranded on an island in the river.

“After confirming Fire and Rescue could assist in the rescue of the sheep, various water and animal rescue teams were sent to assist.”

This latest animal rescue comes almost a year after a similar incident with cows in the River Ure during the floods in November 2020.

A Halloween helter skelter for people of all ages, will add to the family-focused fun in Ripon on Sunday.

In the latest in a series of free events organised by Ripon City Council, the ride will take its place alongside two roundabouts for younger children.

While the mini-fairground is in operation on Market Square South, in front of the town hall, a Little Bird artisan market will be held on the northern portion of the square.

The event runs from 10am until 4pm.

City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:

“During the summer, in addition to the artisan markets, we have had the roundabouts and a climbing wall to cater for children of all ages.

“This time, the wall is replaced with a helter skelter so that adults can also take their turn.”

Flashback to the summer and a children’s roundabout on Ripon’s Market Square

As the city has emerged from the covid lockdowns, which prevented large-scale public gatherings from taking place, Ripon has used money from the parish precept to pay for free concerts featuring tribute acts, a Last Night at The Proms event, firework displays and the children’s rides.

There are more events to follow before the year is out, with the switch on of the festive lights on the evening of November 20, Christmas markets on December 5 and 12 and a New Year’s Eve tribute act concert on Market Square.

Ripon is being wrapped in a cloak of red as the city prepares for next month’s Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

This year, with no covid restrictions in place, Ripon Community Poppy Project is installing its largest display to date, involving 75,000 hand-made woollen flowers, alongside banners and flags.

These reminders of those who lost their lives in two world wars and other conflicts, can be seen throughout the city centre, from Spa Gardens to the cathedral, on roundabouts on the bypass and at other locations.

Ripon Town Hall, decked in Remembrance poppies

Hazel Barker, who along with Councillor Stuart Martin and Carol Dunkley, runs the project, with support from an army of volunteers, told the Stray Ferret:

“We decided to do something special to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I in 2018 and it captured people’s imagination.

“The initial plan was to produce a poppy trail from Spa Gardens, where the war memorial is located, to the cathedral and it has grown from there.”

The display outside Ripon Cathedral.

Cllr Martin, who represents Ripon at city, district and county council level, added:

“We started off with no funding and put out an appeal on Facebook asking if people could help us by knitting poppies and the response was phenomenal.

“As well as getting strong support from the local community, Hazel started receiving deliveries of poppies made by people living in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Malta and other countries.”

The community poppy project continues to thrive, with knitters – both female and male – in the city and further afield providing their assistance.

At its core is the Knit and Natter group that meets between 9.30am and 11am each Monday morning in the Sun Pavilion Cafe in Spa Gardens.

Ms Barker said:

“They are knitting all year round and as well as making the poppies, they are producing decorative items for other events, such as next year’s celebration of the queen’s platinum jubilee.”

One of the specially produced banners attached to railings in the city centre

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Royal British Legion and the messages ‘RBL 100’ and ‘Lest We Forget’ have been included on poppy wreaths.

The legion’s Ripon branch and the community poppy project, will benefit from the proceeds of a fundraising concert of remembrance being held at Ripon Cathedral on the evening of November 11. Tickets costing £15 are available from Stuff 4 Offices on Fishergate.

A centrepiece of the event, which will include performances from Ripon City Band and the Dishforth Military Wives Choir, will be a replay of a video first shown in November 2018, when it was projected onto the front of the cathedral.

Cllr Martin said:

“It was produced, with the support of sponsors, to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and is both spectacular and moving. This time, we will be showing it inside the cathedral.”

Read more:

• Major archaeological discovery at Fountains Abbey
• Vandals attack rare Ripon heritage building

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

£11 million Station Gateway a ‘haphazard whim’

Despite all the consultations undertaken by North Yorkshire County Council and others, it seems as though Councillor Don Mackenzie’s scheme is to be implemented whether we like it, or not.

Buoyed by the cycling fraternity that requires cycle lanes everywhere, we are to spend £11million on what is essentially resurfacing of two streets. Oh and a hundred yards of cycle lane that links up to nothing and finishes nowhere.

NYCC spent big in Ripon city centre 20 years ago, it was an utter disaster from the start and still looks dreadful. The poor people of Ripon will, I’m sure testify as to what an ungodly mess NYCC has perpetrated upon them so the chances of getting an impressive out turn in Harrogate isn’t that promising.

But wait, if we are serious about cycling provision the thinking and implementation needs to be joined up, not just a haphazard whim of our local councillor and a couple of cycling pressure groups.

The Stray Act is outdated and needs reform to meet the modern world, the act needs amending to allow cycling on the Stray. We need to stop replacing every square inch of grass with a similar area near the Woodlands pub

Then install a cycleway from Knaresborough Road at the back of the hospital over Wetherby Road, Oatlands Drive, Stray Rein, the railway, and Leeds Road terminating at the Otley Road cycleway that is about to start.

Provide raised plateaus at each road crossing to give cyclists priority.

This arrangement will provide mega cycle route infrastructure through town from east to west and north to south, much safer than on road schemes, cause very little disruption during construction and will give a lasting legacy.

But do we have the bottle to even consider it?

David Howarth, Harrogate

Traffic evidence based on ‘flawed modelling’

Having watched and listened to the Station Gateway presentation on Thursday evening, the reason for the loss of the major A61 route through Harrogate is now clear.

It seems that all the modelling for this project was made using flow numbers taken during lockdown. No wonder pedestrian and vehicle numbers were so low and unrealistic, and the road had been made so narrow!

Before all this costly and wide-ranging change is passed and thrust upon us, please can we have a re-run using typical A61 working day traffic?

Living on this north/south A61 national highway, we are fully aware of the normal use of this main road, which became unusually quiet during pandemic restrictions and road renovations.

There is often heavy traffic in both directions and a real need for the central crossing bollards erected at needful places between the wide traffic lanes.

Half of this traffic will pass down Parliament Street, but the equivalent southbound traffic has to join the shoppers and bus/train users in Station Parade. The video seemed not to show any of this.

The question raised about access to the A61 from the conference centre car-park was scarcely addressed, except to infer that there was no need to cater for it.

It will certainly be a dangerous place for cyclists on either side of the road, let alone pedestrians.

So serious re-run, please, with realism. There is so much new building going on in and around our town that all numbers will surely soon outgrow this dream.

Beryl Dunsby, Harrogate

Read more:

• In Depth: To BID or not to BID? Divided opinion in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon
• Beech Grove closure officially extended until August 2022

Packed school buses explain Harrogate’s soaring covid rate

I’m not surprised the covid rate is rising. I accompanied my grandson on the school bus Harrogate to Knaresborough a few days ago and it was rammed. Children about 11-15/16 stood and sat shoulder to shoulder. Not one more person could have got on.

No windows were open and not one person except me had a mask on, not even the driver.

My friend in Brighton is suffering a bad dose of covid following an informal singing session. Out of the 70 there at least 30 have tested positive. They had ventilation and and all are double vaccinated.

I’ve read of a new variant, highly contagious, which is suspected in a few cases including a friend’s wife who is currently very ill in hospital down south. It’s been reported in Japan, six cases last I read a few days ago, and Australia, one case, similarly a few days ago, maybe a week.

I’ve heard nothing apart from that. I don’t follow news closely, it’s too depressing.

Teresa Liddell Shepherd, Harrogate

Double standards by cyclists

The Stray Ferret reported Harrogate District Cycle Action group commenting on Tesco’s arguments concerning sustainability:  “That is greenwash, and based on nothing more than a far-fetched hope” and that there should be “segregated, protected cycle tracks on either side of Skipton Road”.

This is the organisation who is actively supporting the Otley Road cycle way also based on nothing more than a far-fetched hope. They have never provided any evidence that it will see motorists on Otley Road forsaking their cars. Or that those motorists are happy to have a narrow pavement, become a shared non-segregated cycle path for Otley Road residents and pedestrians to negotiate.

Double standards?

Chris Dicken, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

Business improvement districts (BIDs) were first introduced in the USA to revive economically depressed areas and they came to the UK in the early 2000s.

They have become increasingly popular over the past 10 years, in part due to declining high streets and government cuts to local authorities.

Businesses within a defined area pay an annual fee, called a levy, on top of their usual business rates.

This pooled money then goes directly towards the BID which funds improvements for the area.

Harrogate was the first town in the district to form a BID in 2019. Almost 500 businesses pay 1.5% of their rateable value each year.

It’s estimated that the Harrogate BID brings in around £500,000 from levy payers annually.

But before a BID is set up, businesses in the area must vote in a ballot on whether they want one or not, as Ripon and Knaresborough have done this year.

Once a BID vote has passed, all businesses within the area are obliged to pay the levy or face potential legal action. BIDs last for five years, before businesses are balloted again.

What do BIDs do, and are they value for money?

Harrogate BID has three full-time staff, including BID manager Matthew Chapman who is paid a salary of £45,000.

It has an elected board of 15 directors, which mainly includes business people but also has an officer each from Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

Harrogate’s BID had a difficult first couple of years. In 2020, four directors walked out in protest at the way the organisation was being run, citing accusations of undue council interference. The conservative council leader, Richard Cooper, later resigned as a board member.

It now appears to be on a more steady footing and recent initiatives include power washing 80,000 square metres of the town centre, painting drab walls with colourful murals and buying over 500 pieces of outdoor furniture for businesses to use.

But is it delivering value for money to its levy payers? How is that measured?

Mr Chapman told the Stray Ferret:

“This can be achieved via a number of different methods, including increased footfall, increased bookings, satisfaction surveys, regular conversations with our Levy Payers, positive media coverage, and even good old-fashioned word of mouth.”

Why do some businesses criticise them?

BIDs are private limited companies which critics say means a lack of financial transparency and accountability.

BIDs have been criticised for doing jobs that have traditionally been under the remit of local councils, effectively taxing businesses twice.

An example might be buying 200 hanging baskets for Harrogate town centre, which could be argued should be done by Harrogate Borough Council through business rates.

They have also been criticised for being anti-democratic, controlled by a small group of influential directors.

Read more:

• Knaresborough chamber president hits out at ‘anti-BID activists’
• ‘The aim is to make Ripon a more attractive destination’

Why Knaresborough BID ended in acrimony

Both Ripon and Knaresborough followed in Harrogate’s footsteps by balloting businesses about creating their own BIDs this year.

But the outcomes were acutely different.

Ripon’s ballot sailed through, receiving 70 votes in favour, out of 87 cast.

Whereas in Knaresborough there has been bitterness and acrimony after businesses voted to reject setting up a BID by 80 votes to 73.

In the fallout from the vote, Knaresborough chamber of commerce leader Steve Teggin resigned and said he had “failed” the town by not delivering the BID.

However, some businesses in Knaresborough believe the town is doing fine without a BID. Harrogate Borough Council had a block vote of 29, and those against the BID said this meant the vote wasn’t as close as it appeared.

Knaresborough Liberal Democrat county councillor David Goode told the Stray Ferret he was “extremely disappointed” at the result, which he said will put the town at a disadvantage against Harrogate, Ripon and York, who all have BIDs.

He blamed a national pressure group called Against BID for whipping up anti-BID sentiment among businesses.

He said:

“There was an extremely negative campaign against it that was strongly influenced by a national group who has ideological reasons to campaign against BIDs wherever. Certain local businesses were misguided by what this national group was pedalling.”

A spokesperson for Against BID responded:

“It’s disappointing how a councillor along with the BID proposers are still putting blame on everyone else except themselves, for their failure to deliver the result they wanted. This again demonstrates the contempt with which the great businesses of Knaresborough have been treated throughout the BID development process.

“The Knaresborough business owners are intelligent enough to have made up their own voting decision based on the strength of the BID proposal put before them”.

Why Ripon is excited about its BID

Whereas in Ripon, there was a more unified feeling that a BID would be able to tie together the various tourist attractions such as the ancient Market Square, Fountains Abbey and Newby Hall to benefit the wider local economy.

Some businesses in Ripon have previously complained that Harrogate Borough Council has prioritised its crown jewel of Harrogate over their city.  A BID would, in theory, give more power and money to local businesses to control their own destiny.

Ripon BID will have an annual budget of £160,000 over the next five years.

Ripon BID chair Richard Compton, who owns Newby Hall, told the Stray Ferret he believes the BID will give the city a big boost :

“The aim is to promote and make Ripon more attractive as a retail and tourism destination and the BID can help in a number of ways.

“The signs are looking good and I’m feeling confident about the future.”

Harrogate District Hospital has the capacity to increase its number of beds by 50 as part of winter escalation plans.

Dr Matt Shepherd, deputy chief operating officer and consultant in emergency medicine at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, revealed the numbers in an interview with the Stray Ferret yesterday.

Talking about the trust’s winter plans, Dr Shepherd said the hospital currently has 260 beds, 20 more than in summer, and has the potential to increase this to 310. Ripon Community Hospital has the capacity to increase beds from 16 to 20.

The hospital covid situation remains considerably better than last winter, when the number of patients in Harrogate with coronavirus peaked at 70, and during the first wave in spring last year, when the figure was about 40.  He said:

“Up to four or five weeks ago we had on average four or five patients with covid, then it crept up to 10 and then a couple of weeks ago it went up to 20. It’s trickled down in the last few days to 15.”

The Harrogate district currently has one of the highest covid rates in the country, with the seven-day rate currently 727 per 100,000 people.

But he pointed out that this time last year the hospital had cancelled many other services due to covid and this time staff were heading into winter dealing with coronavirus “on top of other things”.

‘Big impact’ of vaccines 

How worried is he about the months ahead?

“It’s a bit like when covid first arrived. It’s that fear of the unknown. Your imagination runs wild with worst case scenarios, which could be very difficult.

“But the vaccine programme has had a big impact. We are seeing far fewer covid patients in intensive care.”

Read more:

• Harrogate district schools urged to bring back face masks
• Harrogate hospital invests £110,000 in staff and dementia care

The hospital currently has eight beds in intensive care and four are being used. Last winter it had to increase the number from eight to 30 to cope.

After two previous waves of covid, the trust now has well rehearsed ‘flex’ plans to cope with fluctuating coronavirus patient numbers. Dr Shepherd said:

“We currently have half a ward devoted to covid patients. When we get to the mid-20s we convert a full 30-bed ward.”

Waiting list increase

He expects extra patients with other respiratory viruses this year because people are mixing more.

It spells difficult times ahead for staff, particularly as the district’s high infection rate has forced a lot of staff to isolate.

Like other NHS organisations, the trust is also dealing with recruitment problems. Dr Shepherd says shortages are often specific to certain areas, such as theatre staff and nurses.

It doesn’t sound like a good time for any of the trust’s 4,000 staff to put in requests for a fortnight in Lanzarote over Christmas. Dr Shepherd says:

“It’s the relentless nature of the last year and a half. The chances of proper rest haven’t been the same. Staff having to isolate is one of the biggest challenges now.”

The impact of lockdown is still being felt. The trust waiting list was 18,000 pre-covid. Now it’s 22,000. Dr Shepherd says the situation varies from department to department.

“There’s been good progress in some areas, for example scans, where we’ve really caught up and there is no real backlog. Also endoscopy.

“But some of the more complex operations take much longer to do and patients are still waiting much longer than they have done in the past in Harrogate and much longer than I would like. We are a small hospital and there are only so many operating theatres.”

Pressure on the emergency department has increased significantly, with most people now seen and either admitted or discharged within six hours rather than four.

Masks and vaccines enough for now

Medical organisations, including the British Medical Association, have said this week it’s time for the government to adopt winter planning now to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed by growing numbers of coronavirus cases.

Dr Shepherd says Harrogate and Ripon hospitals have “never stepped away from asking people to wear masks”.

Does he think it’s time for other measures?

“It’s important that we inform the public that infection rates are higher in the Harrogate district and the best thing they can do is attend vaccination clinics.

“Masks and vaccines are the first next step. If that’s not enough and we continue to see a rise we need to consider a more mandatory position.”

This article is sponsored by the National Trust

The autumn colours make October and November a fantastic time to see the beautiful Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in a whole new light.

Whether you’re looking for a family day out with the kids or a mid-week ramble with some friends, the National Trust and World Heritage Site has plenty to offer – including a few hidden gems you might not have noticed before.

Here are our five don’t-miss moments to look out for this autumn…

Fountains Mill

As well as being the oldest building on the estate, the Fountains Mill is also the oldest standing building in the care of the entire National Trust. Built to grind grain for the developing monastery, it survived the eventual closure of the abbey and continued to mill grain right up until 1927. In its long history, the building has been a monastic granary, a timber sawmill, a home for refugees, a mason’s workshop and a base for an innovative hydro electric generator. When you step inside, see if you can spot graffiti from centuries ago or see the splash of the mill wheel turning.

Green Man

Looking out from the east side of the abbey ruin is the green man. He’s a mysterious figure to see on an important religious building. It’s thought that it’s a nod to the older pagan faith and a connection to nature in the beautiful Skell Valley that the abbey sits in.

Surprise View

Surprise view (or ‘Anne Boleyn’s seat’ as it is sometimes called), has been one of the most popular spots for visitors to the water garden for centuries. Before the abbey ruin and Studley were united into one estate, the garden was cleverly designed to offer up a series of these famous “borrowed views” of the abbey. Standing in this spot, we can certainly understand why it would have been all too tempting to peek over the wall at the neighbours and not want to enjoy it for yourself!

Serpentine Tunnel

The Serpentine Tunnel was designed to give Georgian guests a gentle fright. It’s pitch black in the middle and still dark enough to be exciting today. Do you dare to try it for yourself? In autumn it’s even more spectacular, as when you emerge, you’ll see one of the most colourful views of Studley. Can you see the rainbow colours of the trees reflected into the Moon Ponds of the water garden?

Studley Deer Park

Autumn is an amazing time to visit the deer park, and see the 300 deer who live there as the annual rut gets underway. Listen out for the sounds of the stags roaring – it sounds almost like lions! Be sure to keep your distance and stay on the paths though, as you don’t want to be in the way when the bigger males clash antlers and start kicking in a bid to win the attention of the does.

Entrance to both Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal Water Garden and deer park is free for National Trust and English Heritage members. For non-members, prices start from £17 for adults and £8.50 for children.

North Yorkshire Police has launched a survey to try and tackle anti-social behaviour in Ripon.

The police have asked for as many people who live in Ripon as possible to respond so officers can decide on the next steps to take.

Ripon’s anti-social behaviour have been in the spotlight for well over a year. Ripon City Council sought to join forces with the police in November 2020 but the problem has persisted.

This survey comes just a day after a 21-year-old man was jailed for his part in a knifepoint robbery, which he carried out during the day outside the Ship Inn on Bondgate.

The robber threatened a teenage boy with a knife and said if he “did not hand everything over, he would be shanked”, York Crown Court heard yesterday.

North Yorkshire Police believe that anti-social behaviour is often caused by underage drinking so is working with Community Alcohol Partnerships on the survey.

Read more:

• Daytime knifepoint robbery in Ripon left ‘little boy crying’
• Ripon council and police join forces to tackle anti-social behaviour

Have your say by clicking or tapping here.

The survey asks residents for their views on alcohol related litter, young people drinking in public places, young people being rowdy and asking for adults to buy alcohol for them.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“We’re keen to hear your thoughts on the issues around young people and alcohol in your community.

“We’re working with the organisation Community Alcohol Partnerships to bring local partners together to discuss, tackle and protect our community from anti-social behaviour often caused by underage drinking.

“The first step in this process is to find out local resident’s views and thoughts on the issue so it’s really important we get as many people to take part in the survey as possible.”