New snow warning issued for Harrogate district

Residents across the district are bracing for another spell of wintry weather, with warnings in place for snow and ice in North Yorkshire until the middle of next week.

The Met Office has today issued new yellow weather warnings for snow and ice from first thing on Monday until Wednesday lunchtime.

It had already issued warnings of snow and ice from Saturday afternoon until Monday night, saying there may be disruption to travel and icy patches on pavements.

However, the Harrogate district looks set to escape the worst of the conditions, with amber warnings having been issued for the south-east of England and parts of Scotland. In North Yorkshire, snow showers are expected from Saturday evening until Monday afternoon, with the forecast currently showing significant breaks between them.

However, the weather is expected to remain cold for at least another week, with more snow forecast for the district from Thursday onwards.

Read more:

Meanwhile, Pateley Bridge Town Council has issued a reminder to residents about gritting and ploughing in the area after a number of queries were raised during bad weather over recent weeks.

Chairman Mike Holt said roads were gritted on a priority basis by North Yorkshire County Council, with tier one roads such as bus routes treated first, followed by tier two, including the B6165 from Ripley to Pateley Bridge. He said:

“Once these roads are clear the third tier is tackled. These are the minor roads and side streets that make up the remainder of the road network.

“Bearing in mind that the county has over 5000 miles of roads I do believe it is understandable that more often than not, the snow clears before they can get to tier three, or sometimes even the second tier.

“NYCC also employ local sub-contractors to plough and grit their local area. Unfortunately this costs extra money which NYCC does not have, so this facility is not used as often as it possibly should be.

“I am led to believe that the grit bins are each allocated two refills per season. Extra refills can be arranged but at a considerable cost and of course when the weather is poor, it is impossible to say when those top-ups might occur.”

If the snow causes disruption over the coming days, the Stray Ferret will provide live updates about road conditions, school closures and more. Keep checking our website and social media for the latest news.

Skier trades Alps for lockdown Harrogate

It may not be the Alps but this skier is more than happy to dig out his skis and head around Harrogate in the snow.

Harrogate resident Tomas Munoz has become a familiar sight on snow days in his signature bright orange jumpsuit.

You may have seen him in videos or photos, or even in person skiing by your window as he makes his way to the Stray.

Great to meet Tomas today for @thestrayferret. He's missed his skiing holidays so when it snows in Harrogate he grabs his skis and heads out with a big smile on his face. pic.twitter.com/SBcLQ8xSwo

— Connor Creaghan (@connorcreaghan) February 2, 2021

There has been lots of snow in the Harrogate district so far this year, which means he has had plenty of opportunities to brush up his skills.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret on the Stray today, he said:

“I am a ski fanatic, I love skiing. I have been to France and Switzerland for ski trips but mostly to the United States.

“No ski trips over the last year. It’s a little bit of a let down but I get out and get my hour of exercise a day so it’s very fun.

“I am grateful every time I see snow out the window so I want to take advantage of it. For sure, I am just about as excited as the kids when it starts to snow.”

Mr Munoz, who has about 30 years of skiing experience, says kids love to see him on his skis and will often laugh and take videos.

Read more:

 

Snow affects schools and travel in the Harrogate district

The Harrogate district woke up this morning to a heavy covering of snow, causing travel disruption and school closures.

Gritters were out across the district last night and early this morning to help any drivers with essential travel.

Snow started before dawn this morning and the Met Office predicts that it will continue until 12pm.

From 2pm forecasters predict heavy rain, which should help clear away the snow.

Keep refreshing this page throughout the day for the latest on the snow disruption.

2.05pm – Meet St George’s snow dragon

A 10-year-old girl called Alice has been rather creative in the snow today.

She sculpted her own version of St George’s dragon out of the snow by Ripon Cathedral.

Great job, Alice!

Well done to 10 year old Alice for her fabulous snow creation of St George’s dragon! @engcathedrals @RiponDean @LeedsCofE @AilsaNewby pic.twitter.com/IFxoI2b6cB

— Ripon Cathedral (@riponcathedral) February 2, 2021

2pm – Household waste recycling centres reopen

North Yorkshire County Council has reopened its household waste recycling centres in the Harrogate district.

Ripon, Harrogate and West Harrogate sites are now open after closing for the snow this morning.

#Ripon, #Harrogate and West Harrogate household waste recycling centres are open.#Leyburn and #Skipton remain closed.

Find more information about household waste recycling centres here. ⬇️https://t.co/llRAH0z30s pic.twitter.com/sPxWsS8DOn

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) February 2, 2021

1.50pm – More bus services running

We have just received another update from the Harrogate Bus Company.

The 8 between Harrogate, Knaresborough and Wetherby is now running again.

https://twitter.com/harrogatebus/status/1356594194840748034

1pm – Harrogate district buses update

The Harrogate Bus Company has just tweeted an update for its routes today.

It is also hoping to have an update on the 1B soon.

12pm – Harrogate district covered by two weather warnings

The Met Office currently has two yellow weather warnings in place for the Harrogate district.

The amber warning for snow has now passed on the forecaster’s map.

However, a yellow warning for rain and a yellow warning for snow and ice both remain in place.

11.30am – Otley Road at Harlow Hill ‘impassable’

North Yorkshire Police has warned that the snow has made Otley Road, Harrogate at Harlow Hill impassable for motorists.

The police have tweeted that people should avoid the road until further notice.

***SNOW DISRUPTION***

Otley Road in #Harrogate at Harlow Hill is currently impassable due to snow.

Motorists are urged to avoid the area until further notice.

Listen to local radio for the latest traffic and travel information. pic.twitter.com/8WfknkK9Iz

— North Yorkshire Police (@NYorksPolice) February 2, 2021

11.15am – More buses running in Harrogate district

The Harrogate Bus Company has said that more of its services are running again, with some serving a reduced route.

However the 24 to Pateley Bridge and the 8 between Harrogate, Knaresborough and Wetherby are still unable to run.

11am – Recap on how snow hit Harrogate district

Schools, roads, vaccine sites and household waste recycling centres all closed today in the Harrogate district due to the snow.

Police closed the A61 in Bishop Monkton this morning after a serious crash. Officers are currently waiting for recovery.

The vaccine centres in Harrogate and Ripon closed this morning, with jabs rescheduled for another time.

As the snow eases across the district the CCG which runs the centres hopes to continue with the vaccines scheduled for the afternoon.

North Yorkshire County Council has closed the household waste recycling centres in Harrogate, West Harrogate and Ripon.

Here is the county council’s full list of school closures:

10.45am – Bishop Monkton road set to reopen

North Yorkshire Police is set to reopen the A61 in Bishop Monkton.

The force closed the road at around 8am after a serious crash. Currently officers are waiting for recovery.

It’s still unclear how many vehicles were involved or if there were any injuries.

We will now be looking to reopen the road #A61#BishopMonkton once recovery is complete. Thank you for your patience

— NorthYorksPolice RPG (@NYorksRPG) February 2, 2021

10.30am – Cedar Court in the snow

Thanks to Pam for sending in this picture of the cedar at Cedar Court Hotel in the snow this morning.

Send in your snaps of snow from across the Harrogate district to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

10.10am – Harrogate bus 36 running again

The Harrogate Bus Company is running the 36 route again after a morning of disruption.

There had been issues because of the snow between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds.

✅ We're now able to run #The36 between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds. Thanks for bearing with us. pic.twitter.com/8r1tBIDows

— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) February 2, 2021

9.50am – Household waste recycling centres close

North Yorkshire County Council has closed its household waste recycling centres today.

Sites in Harrogate, West Harrogate and Ripon have shut their gates due to the snow.

The following household waste recycling centres are currently closed due to #snow.

•#Catterick Bridge
•#Harrogate
•West Harrogate
•#Ripon
•#Leyburn
•#Settle
•#Skipton pic.twitter.com/szFQkSQ9Wh

— North Yorkshire Council (@northyorksc) February 2, 2021

9.40am – Even more school closures

North Yorkshire County Council has released its full list of school closures after a morning of heavy snow.

9.30am – Pictures of Harrogate district in snow

Send in your snaps of snow from across the Harrogate district to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Blubberhouses in the snow. Photo: Deborah P

Keith and Annette Stainthorpe taking their morning exercise on Ripon Market Square with their 5-year-old Cockerpoo, Coco, who they say, ‘absolutely adores this snowy weather’.

Harrogate snowman with binmen collecting this morning.

The Stray in Harrogate in the snow this morning.

Bishop Monkton in the snow. Photo: Cathie Hague

Kex Gill in the snow.

Ripon Cathedral sitting pretty in the white stuff.

A great early snowman. Photo: Craig Wraight

9am – Bin and recycling collections still going ahead

Harrogate Borough Council has said its recycling and bin collections are going ahead as planned today.

The crews hope to complete all their rounds today weather permitting. Last month, the council stood down its crews due to heavy snow.

Hello. Crews are out as usual this morning. We will complete all rounds weather conditions permitting. ^Andy

— Harrogate Borough Council (@Harrogatebc) February 2, 2021

8.50am – Fountains Abbey closes due to snow

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is closed today due to the heavy snow.

The National Trust site tweeted this morning to say the surrounding roads are dangerous in the snow and ice.

Anyone who has a ticket for today will receive a cancellation email.

8.30am – Serious crash closes Bishop Monkton road

North Yorkshire Police has closed the A61 in Bishop Monkton to deal with a serious crash.

The police have not said how many vehicles are involved or how long the road is likely to stay closed.

Road currently closed #A61 #BishopMonkton due to serious RTC . Hopefully we can update you soon how long it is likely to be closed #donttravelunlessneeded

— NorthYorksPolice RPG (@NYorksRPG) February 2, 2021

8.20am – Bus cancellations across Harrogate district

The Harrogate Bus Company has stopped some of its buses across the district this morning due to snow.

8.15am – More school closures

As the snow continues to fall in the Harrogate district more schools are announcing closures. Here’s our list so far:

8.10am – Send in your pictures of the snow

There may be plenty of disruption this morning as a result of the weather but it does bring some opportunities for great pictures.

Send in your snaps of snow from across the Harrogate district to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

We will share them on our social media and on this live blog throughout the day.

8am – Drive safely on roads, say police

North Yorkshire Police has warned drivers across the Harrogate district to drive safely in the snow.

The force’s traffic bureau tweeted this morning asking people to leave plenty of distance between their cars.

There is heavy snowfall across the county this morning. Please leave plenty of distance from the vehicle in front, clear your vehicle completely of snow if your travel is essential. A19 from Thirsk and York is passable but completely covered with snow at the moment.

— N Yorks Police Traffic Bureau & Road Safety Team (@NYTrafficBureau) February 2, 2021

7.30am – Snow forces Harlow Carr to close

RHS Garden Harlow Carr and Garden Centre is closed today due to the heavy snow.

Anyone who has booked tickets should send an email to harlowcarr@rhs.org.uk to request a refund.

Unfortunately due to this evenings forecast of heavy snow, RHS Garden Harlow Carr and Garden Centre will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday 2nd February.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused. If you have paid for tickets, please contact harlowcarr@rhs.org.uk to arrange a refund. pic.twitter.com/TnfHG2KTPn

— RHS Harlow Carr (@RHSHarlowCarr) February 1, 2021

7am – School closures due to snow

The heavy snow has forced headteachers to shut schools, which are open to key worker children and vulnerable learners.

Here’s the list we have so far of school closures:

6.50am – Coronavirus vaccine centres closed

The vaccination centres at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon racecourse are closed.

Only those with appoinments between 8am and 12.45pm will have to go another time.

Appointments for the afternoon are still due to go ahead as planned.

 

‘Snow by dawn’ – Met Office warns of travel disruption

After one of the coldest Januarys of recent years in the Harrogate district, February is set to usher in more snow.

A Met Office weather warning for snow and ice is in force from 10pm tonight until 23.59pm tomorrow.

Snow is due to start falling in the Harrogate district at about 4am and is expected to last until afternoon, when it turns to rain.

The Met Office says the conditions are likely to lead to ‘difficult travelling conditions’.

The Stray Ferret will keep readers up to date with the latest weather and travel news tomorrow.

The covid vaccination sites in Harrogate and Ripon have already postponed morning appointments in anticipation of difficult travel conditions.

Read more:

Some schools have also warned parents their plans to open on time may be affected.

The temperature did not rise into double figures at all in Harrogate during January.

Judging by the two-week forecast, that may not change for the first half of February at least.

Send us your weather updates and images tomorrow to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Snow fears close Harrogate and Ripon vaccination sites tomorrow

Tomorrow morning’s vaccinations at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate and Ripon racecourse have been postponed due to the snow forecast.

North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group said today people with appointments scheduled between 8am and 12.45pm will be contacted and booked in at the next available time.

However, appointments due for tomorrow afternoon are still due to go ahead as planned.

Read more:

The Ripon site is due to open this week.

Health bosses said the decision was taken in the interests of patient safety.

A statement from the CCG said:

“GP practices in the Harrogate district are currently in the process of contacting all affected patients directly and will be booking those patients in to the next available clinics.”

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice is currently in place for the district between 10pm tonight and 11.59pm tomorrow, according to the Met Office.

Snow and ice warning for Harrogate district

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for snow and ice in the Harrogate district next week.

Weather forecasters predict the snow and ice will hit on Monday and continue until Wednesday.

There is also a yellow warning for ice in the north of the district, covering the likes of Ripon today and tomorrow.

The snow and ice warning is in place from 9pm on Monday until 11.45pm on Wednesday.

Read more:

Forecasters have said that snow, with a risk of widespread ice, is likely to push slowly northeast from late Monday.

If the snow and ice does hit on Monday evening then expect travel delays, rural communities being cut off and power cuts.

This latest weather warning for the district comes just over a week after flooding and two weeks after heavy snow.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said this morning:

“A band of rain, locally heavy in places, is likely to push slowly northeast across Wales and England late Monday.

“As this rain comes into contact with cold air in place, it is likely to readily turn to snow across parts of Wales, the Midlands, and later parts of northern England.

“1-4 cm of snow is quite likely away from coasts, with 5-10 cm possible above about 150 metres.”

‘Significant travel disruption’ possible this week due to snow

Two Met Office weather warnings are in place for the Harrogate district this week as the prolonged cold spell maintains its grip.

A yellow warning for snow is effective until midnight tonight, although it seems any snowfall will be mainly confined to higher ground.

A second, potentially more disruptive yellow warning for snow is also in place from the start of Thursday until 6am on Friday.

The second warning says there could be heavy snowfall across the hills, which may bring significant disruption to travel. The Met Office adds:

“There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel

“There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off.”

Neil Armstrong, the Met Office chief meteorologist, said:

“Late on Wednesday a weather front moves north eastwards across the UK bringing rain, which turns to snow as it pushes further north and meets with colder air.”

Although the weekend weather looks calmer, temperatures are not forecast to rise above eight degrees centigrade for the next two weeks.

Stray Kitchen with Stephanie Moon: Green shoots of hope will spring through snow

Stray Kitchen is our column all about food written by renowned local produce expert, food writer and chef, Stephanie Moon. Stephanie is a champion of food produced in the UK and particularly in Yorkshire and the Harrogate district. 

 

 

When I was a kid, I loved sledging. We had a field on the farm where you could really pick up some speed and hurtle down the hill holding your nerve before you caused yourself to stop in an unladylike crash. The alternative was to continue on and be impaled on a barbed wire fence below!

As Harrogate has been covered in snow, it has given lockdown a magical quality that takes me right back to the bright red faces of my sledging youth. With big smiles, wet socks, and old feed bags full of straw that was the farmers’ kids’ sledges.

It seems so weird to be stuck at home again! This lockdown is the toughest I am sure for many, and what we are all needing right now is comfort food and nostalgia – and lots of it. It could be a heart-warming crumble & custard or a simple bubbling cheese-on-toast with a hearty splash of Henderson’s relish, that famous Sheffield sauce. I have just had a big bowl of sausage & mash with gravy for lunch and the local farm shop sausages did the trick – I am feeling nostalgic in the snow.

I think the birds in my garden are loving the fact the Moon’s All-You-Can-Eat buffet on my bird feeders is in full throttle – niger seed and sunflower seeds meet fat blocks and peanuts – I must admit feeding the birds this lockdown has been a great pleasure (once a caterer always a caterer, we chefs are feeders!). I have learnt what each species likes now and like a demanding guest with the goldfinch, nuthatch and woodpecker being regular dinners to impress. With all this coming and going it is the busiest bird restaurant for miles around.

Under all the snow lies the green shoots of spring. They seem so far away right now and the thoughts of sitting at a table with the family a distant memory that I long to recreate. A big family meal with all the laughter and joy that will bring is my own motivation to stay the course and do our bit to get through this lockdown.

If you are looking for some foodie ideas to get through lockdown, a great idea for a seasonal food is our friend forced rhubarb. A great way to cook it is very simply:

Cut your rhubarb into sticks about 3 inches long, place them on a tray and sprinkle over some caster sugar before you place on a tin foil lid to the tray – place this in an oven at 180C for 8-10 mins and your rhubarb will be perfectly cooked; it won’t be mushy like when you cook it in a pot on the stove. Serve with lashings of custard or some heathy yoghurt and granola. Either way – yum!

So my advice now is to find your comfort food, no matter how simple, and take a moment to look ahead to when we can sit with family again. Lord knows it does us all good from time to time.

Stay safe,

Steph x

Photographers proud to put Harrogate in snow on show

Two photographers won first and third place in a global photography competition by putting Harrogate in snow on show.

The website StormHour runs weekly weather photography competitions in conjunction with the Royal Meteorology Society.

The competition attracts about 1,000 entries monthly but Harrogate photographers dominated the top spots in the latest weekly awards.

The recent snowy landscape provided the inspiration for Richard Maude, who was first, and Rachel Auty, who was third.

Mr Maude went to Valley Gardens with his camera and tripod in hand waiting for the lights to illuminate the Harrogate 1571 statue.

Rachel Auty and Richard Maude.

It’s a subject he has captured a lot but he knew it would be extra special in the snow. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I have been a big fan of the statue since it arrived. It is quite unique and it works as a beacon to draw people in.

“The statue lights up at 5.30pm but not everyone knows that. So when people were in the vicinity and it lit up there was an audible ‘oooh.’

“This is also extra special because two Harrogate photos featured as winners in the competition.”

‘Harvey’s Place.’ Image subject to copyright: Rachel Auty (@marketrach)

Rachel Auty went to Hookstone Woods, which has a special place in her heart. She told the Stray Ferret:

“Over the various lockdowns I’ve gone there to find some escape and comfort. I find the woods meditative.

“The place in the photo is an opening to the water there where I always stopped on walks to let my dog have a swim.

“My dog became suddenly very ill and died in November, which left me absolutely heartbroken.

“His name was Harvey, so now I refer to the spot as ‘Harvey’s Place’ and I often go back there and think about him. It feels like something of a tribute to him.”

The Stray Gardener: On your marks, get set, grow!

The Stray Gardener is written by Rudding Park’s Kitchen Gardener, Fiona Slight.

Fiona has worked in horticulture for over 30 years in the UK and abroad, and specialises in growing fruit and vegetables for fine dining. 

 

 

January weather getting you down? Here are five things I do to take my mind off those dull dark days, and to ensure things are raring to go when the weather improves and we have more motivation to get outside.

1. Grow what you like
At home, I only grow what I know we want to eat.  Choose your favourite fruit and vegetables and if you think any of them will be difficult to grow, have a go anyway!  Research well before starting, as this gives you a far better chance of success.  If you have room, soft fruit is always an easy and very productive choice.  Soft fruit can be very expensive even in season, so if you can grow your own, not only have you reduced food miles, you’ve saved money too.  Most soft fruit freezes or preserves really well and has a multitude of uses at any time of year.

2. Get organised
Decide when and where things are going to grow, think about successions and using your space to grow the maximum number of vegetables – especially important in a small space. Don’t just think about summer, try to plan ahead for winter crops that will be ready to harvest in early spring the next year.

Make a plan for your 2021 planting

3. Be floral – Remember to add some flowers too. Not only are they pretty, they entice pollinating insects and many types of predators that will help to protect your precious crop.  Flowers such as Violas, Nasturtiums, Sweet Alysum and Sweet Rocket are also edible and help to finish off a plate of food beautifully. Sweet peas (not edible) and Dahlias fit in a Kitchen Garden really well, and also provide beautiful blooms for cutting.

4. Clean – Tidy out your shed, wash pots, clean labels to re-use, clean tools. If everything is clean and ready to go, it saves time later in the year when you are most likely too busy to do it.  Clean your green house if you have one, it makes a big difference in winter and early spring to have clean glass to let in optimum light levels.  Use garlic candles, which are a more environmentally friendly way to kill off any overwintering pests, such as aphids and red spider mite that may be lurking in there.

Apple blossom

Apple blossom will soon be in bloom again

5. Reflect – Take stock of your garden, slowly wander round looking at what you have, are you still using the fruit you put in? Does anything need lifting and dividing in Spring, such as Rhubarb.  Do you have any room for a fruit tree?  If so, order a bare root tree, they are much cheaper, and you get a lot more choice than you do with container grown trees.  Lastly, how can you entice more wildlife in to your garden, this is not only more beneficial to the environment, but can help with controlling unwanted pests in your garden.

Remember, better weather and longer daylight hours are just around the corner!