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5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend from 22-24 March

Get out and about with our guide of the top activities and things to do this weekend.

Play crazy golf at a movie-themed course in the Yorkshire Dales

At The Stray Ferret we like to publish events that are slightly out of the ordinary – and if a movie-themed crazy golf experience isn’t that, then we don’t know what is.

Taking place at Uredale Mill in the picturesque Dales village of Askrigg, channel your inner Happy Gilmore and get competitive with friends and family on this 18-hole course that’s themed around films.

Dance the can-can at the Moulin Rouge or get a miserly score that would make The Grinch proud. This fun activity is one to pop on the weekend list – or as it runs for two weeks, it could be one for the Easter holidays too.

Children under 12 £8, adults £10, discounts for group bookings are available – email tickets@incredibleartists.uk, various time slots, March 23 – April 7, Uredale Mill (ex Carrs Billington Yard), Station Road, Askrigg, DL8 3HZ.

Listen to the soundtracks of the silver screen performed by a live orchestra

(Image: London Concertante)

This week’s ‘5 things to do in and around Harrogate’ has a slight film feel (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is also being released on 22 March, 40 years after the original – book your tickets at The Everyman or The Odeon), while Ripon Cathedral is also hosting a Music from the Movies by Candlelight, performed by London Concertante.

Be mesmerised by the orchestra who will play some of the most iconic film scores of all time, including the suave sophistication of James Bond, the ethereal sounds of ET and the dark allure of The Godfather, to name but a few.

From £19, March 23, Ripon Cathedral, Liberty Court House, Minster Road, Ripon HG4 1QT.

Visit Knaresborough Wellness Festival

(Image: Pixaby)

Think about your mind, body and soul at Knaresborough Wellness Festival, which is being held for the fourth year running. Featuring something for everyone including treatments such as reflexology, aromatherapy, reiki, and Indian head massage, to live music, aura photography and tarot card reading, you’ll be sure to find your inner zen here.

There will also be activities such as yoga, workshops and talks so you can learn more about a wide variety of wellness practices, and there will also be plenty of crystals too.

Free, March 24, 10am-4pm, Knaresborough Wellness Festival, Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre, 50 Bond End, Knaresborough, HG5 9AL.

Go to Springtime Live at the Great Yorkshire Showground

(Image: Springtime Live)

The event for all the family is back. This year attendees won’t be disappointed as there will be a spaniel dog show, a crazy climbing wall, Mini Land Rover rides, tractor trailer rides and a sheep show. That’s not to mention all farm animals you could possibly imagine, as well as hands-on workshops and demonstrations, which are just some of this year’s highlights.

And once you’re inside the event, all of the attractions are free. Bonus. Be quick though as some of the tickets have already sold out.

Pre-booking is necessary, children £8, adults £12, March 23, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ.

Meet the extreme artist and explorer Philip Gray

(Image: Philip Gray)

Irish artist Philip Gray combines his love of painting with his passion for exploration and discovery. He often embarks on challenging expeditions for his art and paints these scenes from across the world, whether it’s tropical rainforests or icy mountain peaks.

Join him at Clarendon Fine Art Gallery where he will launch his Harrogate exhibition and tell the tales of some of the adventures he’s been on. It’s sure to make for an awe-inspiring evening.

Free, 6-8pm, March 23, Clarendon Fine Art, 1a James Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QS.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Firefighters rescue boy trapped in railings in Ripon

Firefighters were called to help a boy whose leg got trapped in railings at Ripon Market Place.

On-call firefighters from the city were summoned to the incident at 8.31am yesterday.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident report did not say how the boy managed to get stuck.

It added firefighters “released the boy unharmed using hydraulic spreaders”.

Ripon firefighters were back in action at 2.05pm when they responded to reports of a hedge on fire on Dishforth Road in Sharow,

The incident report said:

“Crews extinguished the fire measuring 5m x 5m using one hose reel jet. The cause was accidental.”

Lightwater Valley set to reopen this month with two new attractions

Lightwater Valley Adventure Park is set to reopen later this month in time for the Easter Weekend.

The theme park is set to open its doors on Thursday March 28.

Lightwater Valley is launching two brand new attractions, which include a new rollercoaster and a Safari Jeep Ride. Plus the soft play area and theatre are both relocated and extended.

The park in North Stainley, near Ripon, was first established as a farm attraction in 1969 and became a theme park in the 1980s after introducing its first rollercoaster ‘the Sewer Rat’, which remained in place until 2009 when it was changed to Raptor Attack.

More rides and activities have been introduced over the years with the ‘Ultimate’ rollercoaster launching in 1991, bagging the world record as the longest rollercoaster at the time.

It has been at Lightwater Valley longer than any other remaining ride but last year Brighton Pier Group, owners of the park announced it would be closing for good after they found they could not bring it up to “acceptable standards”.

The Ultimate has been closed for a number of years

The new Rocket Rollercoaster is aimed at 10-12 year old visitors taking riders on an “adrenaline fuelled journey that gives everyone a thrill as if the rocket is flying amongst the stars”.

It will join the Caterpillar ride and Ladybird ride for rollercoasters catered to younger visitors. The park aims to “boost their commitment to the under 12s” and The Safari Jeep Ride is also part of this plan.

The ride will see large model animals set in landscapes relevant to their habitat, including elephants, zebras and lions. Visitors sit in their own Jeep which takes up to four people. The safari experience will also offer face painting and a chance to handle various small reptiles, bugs and creepy crawlies.

Go Safari attraction at Lightwater Valley

The theatre is also set to host a programme of children’s shows including Sing-a-long Safari, Bluey & Bingo and Peppa Pig & George.

Upgrades to the attractions have been completed during the closure of the park over winter.

Survey highlights Knaresborough’s tourism potential

A survey has discovered Knaresborough is one of the most popular local towns and cities to visit.

The study by research company 56 Degree Insight asked a representative sample of 500 people from a regional pool to rate 10 nearby places to visit.

Knaresborough ranked third with 87% describing it as either OK, good or excellent, behind only York (93%) and Harrogate (91%) — which are both larger and better known.

Knaresborough scored ahead of Skipton (82%) and Ripon (81%), with Otley in West Yorkshire and Thirsk in joint sixth on 76%. Helmsley, Northallerton and Malton filled the last three slots.

The survey also revealed 93% of visitors were ‘very’ or ‘quite’ likely to visit Knaresborough again — higher than anywhere else.

56 Degree Insight also discovered Knaresborough residents’ pride in their town.

They asked 300 Knaresborians to rate where they live and 96% said it was either excellent, good or OK. Only Harrogate residents rated their location higher, at 97%. York was third at 89% and Ripon was seventh at 65%.

The results were revealed at this week’s annual general meeting of business group Knaresborough & District Chamber.

Executive member Peter Lacey said the results indicated that Knaresborough’s already popular visitor economy could be a growth sector.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Lacey said he was still digesting all the results, but the take away message was that there are opportunities for the town to attract visitors and encourage them to stay longer whilst ensuring that the requirements of residents are also addressed.

He said suggestions on how to improve the town, which the survey also covered, attracted positive responses to ideas such as town centre improvements, more benches to sit on and wet weather covers, adding:

“We were also encouraged that whilst sensitivity to design and local impact ideas such as park and ride, a land train and the cliff lift were all considered appealing to both visitors and residents.”

Discounted entry to Harrogate district attractions with National Lottery this weekend

National Lottery Open Week is set to offer free and discounted places for visitors across the Harrogate district this weekend.

This year’s Open Week event takes place March 9-17 and will include RHS Harlow Carr, Fountains Abbey and Nidderdale Museum.

Venues funded by National Lottery will offer discounted entry for visitors who can use their National Lottery ticket or scratch card as entry. To redeem this offer people must be able to produce proof of purchase.

Offers are available locally at:

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

Visitors can enjoy two tickets for the price of one this weekend at Harrogate’s RHS Garden, near Beckwithshaw. The deal runs from March 11-17 and visitors can explore the gardens 2,000 plant varieties.

The Royal Horticultural Society received £4 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards a six-year gardening project that includes developing the world’s first centre of horticultural excellence.

The Main Borders at RHS garden Harlow Carr.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

The offer is available March 9-17 for visitors to explore the monastery and estate grounds near Ripon free of charge. The National Lottery has supported Fountains Abbey in vital conservation work.

Fountains Abbey

Nidderdale Museum

The local and social history museum in Pateley Bridge is offering free entry on March 16. Tickets usually entry costs £5 with free accompanying children.

Nidderdale Museum has benefited from a grant from the National Lottery fund to start work to make the museum sustainable.

Nidderdale Museum

There are also nearby offers with Beningborough Hall and Goddards in York offering the same deal as Fountains Abbey plus Leeds Library offering free tours.

For the Harrogate district offers booking in advance is not required. Proof of purchase of a National Lottery game can be either a hard copy ticket or digital.

Proposer of Ripon Cathedral referendum calls for meeting to be cancelled

Stanley Mackintosh, who called for a referendum on Ripon Cathedral’s £8m annexe, has withdrawn from the process and requested the parish meeting that was due to debate his own proposals be cancelled.

However, the meeting at Holy Trinity Church is still set to take place on Monday at 6pm without his support.

This is because a notice has already been published and advertised, according to Ripon City Council.

Mr Mackintosh told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he would not participate in the meeting after he received legal advice related to an alleged assault on him last year. The incident is under investigation by North Yorkshire Police following a complaint by Mr Mackintosh.

A police spokesperson confirmed a man voluntarily attended an interview and was released under investigation to allow further enquiries to take place.

Mr Mackintosh told the LDRS he now wants to take a “back seat” as it would “not be appropriate” to comment publicly on cathedral matters at present.

It now means the referendum, also called a parish poll, is unlikely to take place and the parish meeting could be a short one.

Ripon City Council leader Andrew Williams told the LDRS that it was “not Stanley Mackintosh’s meeting to cancel so it will have to go ahead”.

He said the council had booked the church at a cost of £400 which would have to be honoured. He described the parish poll proposals as a “complete waste of council time and resources”.

Cllr Williams suggested that Mr Mackintosh had lost the support of the 10 people needed at the meeting to call the poll. However, Mr Mackintosh disputed this and said he was confident he would still have had the backing.

Earlier today, the Save the Trees campaign group issued a statement that came out against the parish meeting and poll.

It said:

“We feel that this public meeting and this poll both detract from the main issue of saving the trees and we are concerned that this process would serve only to fuel the existing and often toxic dissension within the city.”

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Fundraisers launch campaign to renovate Newby church

Fundraisers have launched a campaign to renovate an historic Victorian church on the Newby Hall estate between Ripon and Boroughbridge.

The church of Christ the Consoler is at the centre of a renovation project organised by the estate and local villagers. The ‘Friends of Christ the Consoler’ are on a mission to bring life to the church through events while at the same time raising funds to deliver renovation projects.

Priorities include reinstating the church’s boiler and heating system, which has not worked for 30 years. This will help preserve the church’s stained glass, some of which has deteriorated over the years due to humidity levels.

The church was built in the early 1870s with unpaid ransom money in memory of the son of Lady Mary Vyner of Newby Hall who was killed during his attempted rescue from kidnappers in Greece.

She commissioned British architect William Burges to design the church, now an example of Victorian gothic revival architecture. Craftsmen created a rich and colourful interior of fine marble, stained glass, gilded mosaics and exquisite carvings on the organ case.

Burges also designed St Mary’s Church at the nearby Studley Royal estate for Frederick’s sister and her husband, the Marquess and Marchioness of Ripon. Christ the Consoler was the parish church of Skelton cum Newby until 1991 and is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.

The Friends of Christ the Consoler also want to restore the church’s grade one Thomas C Lewis organ. Lewis was one of the leading organ builders of the late 19th century, his works include the one at Ripon Cathedral.

The campaign group is made up of representatives from the Newby Hall estate and Skelton cum Newby Parish Council. The church’s single bell has already been restored and re-strung and now rings for the first time in over 20 years. The group now needs to raise more than £15,000 to reinstate the church’s heating system.

Parish Council chairman Guy Critchlow in the Church

Parish Council chairman Guy Critchlow said:

“The church is in a beautiful location and has some of the finest stained glass in the country. Recommissioning the heating system is the first step to help stabilise the stained glass. Our aim is to bring life to the church through events and raise much needed funds for its restoration and conservation.”

Stuart Gill, commercial director at Newby Hall, said:

“We are delighted to collaborate with the parish council to breathe new life into the church and create an environment that visitors and the local community can share and enjoy.”

Black Lion at Skelton saved after community takeover

The Black Lion at Skelton-on-Ure looks set to re-open after an 18-month battle by the local community to save it.

The pub between Ripon and Boroughbridge, closed in December 2019 after it was bought by Admiral Taverns.

A public meeting nearly two years ago discovered widespread support for reopening it as a community hub and pub.

In September 2022, the Black Lion was listed as an asset of community value, which gave villagers time to raise funds and bid to buy it.

The Black Lion pictured prior to its closure.

An asset of community value is defined by North Yorkshire Council as ‘a building or land having value to the community that furthers the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community”.

By July last year, pledges accumulated by shareholder contribution had reached £240,000.

The campaign was then boosted by a £300,000 grant from the community ownership fund, which is a £150 million fund set up by the government in 2021 to help community groups take ownership of assets.

It meant the group, which received the backing of Skipton and Ripon Conservative MP Julian Smith, could bid to buy the pub from Admiral Taverns.

After legal delays, the community group announced today it now officially owned the pub.

Community pubs are owned and managed democratically by members of the community. They are leased to tenants who operate them with a community vision.

Rents are set at levels that allow tenants to make surpluses that can be used to maintain the upkeep of the building and pay interest to shareholders

The Black Lion, shuttered, closed, and up for sale

A spokesperson for the Black Lion pub community group said:

“We are pleased to announce that the community of Skelton-on-Ure have just taken ownership of the Black Lion pub. This has come after a huge amount of work by the Skelton-on-Ure Pub and Hub steering group. Thanks to all the people who have helped us achieve this result – it is now great news to finally have the keys.”

“The real work is only now about to commence as the fabric of the building has suffered during the years of closure and general lack of upkeep. The volunteer management team will now welcome any volunteer help, contributions and donations.”

Ripon set for parish meeting on cathedral annexe

A rare Ripon parish meeting will take place on Monday evening at Holy Trinity Church where residents will debate the cathedral’s £8m proposed annexe.

If at the meeting just 10 Ripon residents on the electoral roll vote in favour of a referendum, also called a parish poll, it would then take place, likely in April.

Kirkgate resident Stanley Mackintosh is behind the meeting, which starts at 6pm.

He called the poll a “very powerful democratic device” that he hopes will encourage the cathedral to find a solution to its annexe plans that has the support of the public.

It wouldn’t be legally binding but would include around 10 yes or no questions on topics including the felling of trees, open space and impact on businesses.

The planning application submitted to North Yorkshire Council has proved divisive and it’s believed TV crews from both the BBC and Channel 4 are planning to film the meeting.

Mr Mackintosh said:

“This fine setting can help present Ripon at its best as Ripon residents and surrounding communities work constructively together. All are eligible and welcome to attend and contribute to this meeting, whether Ripon electors or not, but only Ripon electors may vote at this Ripon parish meeting.”

At a full meeting of Ripon City Council this month, councillors voted unanimously to denounce the referendum in a motion that described it as a “waste of money”.

However, it will still have to pay the costs of the poll which could be around £10,000.

At a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon councillors on Thursday, Cllr Andrew Williams (Conservative and Independents Group, Ripon Minster and Moorside) raised the cost of the parish poll with Conservative MP for Ripon Julian Smith.

Cllr Williams said parish polls are intended for smaller, village parish councils whereas Ripon has 7,000 residents. He added:

“Can I ask you to press the minister responsible to bring forward legislation that protects parish councils the size of Ripon from this abuse of process.”

Mr Smith did not comment on the specifics of the annexe referendum but said he would write to ministers on “the general issue” of cost.

Regarding the application, Mr Smith added:

“The cathedral is a huge draw to the city and I hope we can get something everybody can support.”

Ripon Cathedral says the proposed annexe on an area of public space called Minster Gardens is crucial to offer 21st-century facilities including a cafe whilst safeguarding the future of its choir.

But it has paused its planning application to North Yorkshire Council in order to take stock and listen to suggestions from the public following criticism of the new building’s location, the felling of 11 trees and its impact on local businesses.

Meet the team – Tim Flanagan, Ripon’s senior journalist

For the next few weeks, we’re introducing you to the team behind The Stray Ferret.

This time, we’re featuring Tim Flanagan, Ripon’s senior journalist.

With nearly two decades worth of experience covering news across the North Yorkshire region, Tim certainly is no stranger to breaking an exclusive story or two.

His career began in 1977 at Ackrill Newspapers Group, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become chief reporter at the Harrogate Advertiser.

Despite his patch always having covered Ripon, Harrogate and the surrounding areas, journalism has taken Tim to some unexpected places, in pursuit of stories.

He said:

“In February 1983 I flew to the Falkland Islands and wrote a series of articles about the post-war rebuilding of runways and infrastructure being carried out by Ripon’s Royal Engineers.”

After working for a time in public relations and corporate communications, he returned to reporting news when he joined The Stray Ferret in 2020 as a senior journalist.

Primarily covering Ripon, Tim often jokes that he’s ‘the ferret on the ground’, utilising his knowledge as a resident to report on the pressing issues that matter to local people.

He explained:

“I write stories in a fair and balanced way, covering all sides of an argument. This is important because the people I am writing about know me and I regularly see them while news gathering in the city.

“I am extremely fortunate to be the Ripon reporter in a city that punches above its weight in terms of news.”

With a passion for community-led stories, he’s previously explored the changing nature of the high street and extensively covered every update surrounding the controversial Ripon Cathedral annexe development.

Tim has extensively covered Ripon Cathedral annexe developments

While working for The Stray Ferret, he hasn’t had to make any more work trips abroad – but he’s still covered some international stories that have unlikely connections to North Yorkshire.

Tim said:

“I was told by a very reliable contact that Lewis Edwards a Ripon man and former student of Ripon Grammar School was fleeing Kyiv with his partner Tanya and a group of friends and driving hundreds of miles to the safety of Slovakia.

“The first story I wrote was published on February 28 – four days after the invasion started – and I spoke with him to write real-time stories about the hazardous journey to the Slovakia border.

“What made this coverage even stronger, was the fact that Lewis’s family in Ripon set up a GoFundMe page that raised over £20,000 in donations used to pay for a humanitarian shelter set up at the Slovakia border to help fellow refugees following on behind them to find safety.”

As one of the first journalists hired when The Stray Ferret was launched, Tim is particularly proud to be a part of the publication’s growth and development.

He also expressed how much he likes working with the team, especially with the younger members so he can share his tips and tricks – although according to him, that’s ‘most of the other writers’.

He’s a lifelong resident of Yorkshire, and previously lived for 39 years in Harrogate, making him a passionate advocate for the area – indeed, he believes that Ripon has ‘some of the finest walks you will find anywhere’.

Discussing how he spends his free time, Tim added:

“Apart from walking with my wife, visiting Fountains and Studley Royal, spending time with the grandchildren and enjoying music dating back to the 1970s, I write poetry and have had poems selected for publication in the last three editions of the Ripon Poetry Festival anthology.”

If you think you’ve got a story that might be of interest to Tim, you can email him at tim@thestrayferret.co.uk.