An upset Harrogate family discovered this morning its memorial tree on the Stray had been damaged.

Sharon Canavar posted pictures of the tree on Twitter this morning and described her sadness at the incident.

Ms Canavar suspects the tree, planted along Slingsby Walk, was vandalised overnight. The top two-thirds were snapped off and left on the floor.

The tree is one of 50 planted in 2016 to mark Harrogate International Festival’s 50th anniversary. Residents were offered the chance to buy a tree, with many doing so in memory of loved ones.

Ms Canavar, who is chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, bought a tree for her family. She said:

“I found it this morning on our walk. My kids were more upset. People say it happens a lot and there has been a spate of it happening in the past. It seems they’ve got mine this time.”

She hopes to be able to replace the tree eventually.

This is far from the first tree on the Stray that has been damaged recently.

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In October, local police officer, Sgt Paul Cording tweeted about a number of trees “destroyed and killed” on York Place Stray.

In June, there were reports of vandalism affecting young trees. It occurred when local police officers were attempting to crack down on large groups congregating on the Stray.

Harrogate Borough Council is to publish a 10-year vision for horticulture in the district — but it’s unclear if it will include plans to grow wildflowers on the Stray.

The Harrogate and District Green Party has called for wildflowers to be planted to attract more wildlife, such as bees, and to act as a focal point for visitors.

It recently launched a petition, which has almost 600 signatures, urging the council to support this.

At last night’s full council meeting, Rebecca Maunder, chair of the Harrogate and District Green Party, asked Cllr Andy Paraskos, cabinet member for the environment, if HBC would commit to planting more bulb species as well as sowing wildflower seeds on the Stray.

Cllr Paraskos said he “absolutely” agreed with the Green Party’s sentiments on biodiversity but did not commit to any specific changes on the Stray.

He said:

“Biodiversity is not just about the Stray but across the whole district so hopefully we will see some exciting projects over the coming years.

“The Stray does not belong to us, so everything we do on the Stray is by negotiations with the Duchy, but we will continue to look at biodiversity”.

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The council held a consultation on the future of horticulture in the district this year.

Its horticulture strategy, which is yet to be approved, will detail the authority’s planting plans.

Cllr Paraskos said biodiversity “is a strong theme” of the upcoming strategy.

The council has already committed to planting 60,000 crocuses on the the Stray at West Park in the coming months.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret after the meeting, Ms Maunder said “now is the perfect” time to add a greater mix of bulbs when the Stray is replanted.

She said:

“Why not grasp this opportunity and make a significant impact?”

Several trees on the Stray have been damaged, believed to be by vandals.

Sgt Andy Graham from North Yorkshire Police tweeted that he saw the trees, which are on the York Place section of the Stray, when walking to work this morning.

https://twitter.com/KnaresPolice/status/1314819033053757440?s=20

Responding to Sgt Graham’s tweet, the Stray Defence Association tweeted:

“What motivates these mindless vandals? Why would anyone destroy their local environment?”

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It is not the first time this year trees have been damaged on the Stray.

In June, two young trees were pulled up following reports of large gatherings.

The company that carried out drainage work on the Stray at West Park has said the new system is robust and conforms to industry requirements.

John Lowe, managing director of Green Hammerton company L Philliskirk and Sons, said the company used a controlled discharge system that removes water slowly — but does not leave it standing for days or weeks as has historically blighted the Stray.

The Stray Ferret reported yesterday the Stray at West Park was flooded after one night of rain, six months after Harrogate Borough Council spent £20,000 on a new drainage system for this area.

By early afternoon most of the water had indeed drained away. The main problem was large puddles on the adjoining path – with some forcing pedestrians off the footpath close to the Prince of Wales roundabout.

Mr Lowe said the hydrobrake system conformed with Yorkshire Water guidelines. He likened it to draining water through a straw, and said it could be frustratingly slow but was effective at preventing long-term flooding. He added:

“The system may not be as quick as everyone likes but it will drain the water.”

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council said the new drainage channels meant the water drained quicker than it did previously. He added:

“This area is one of the lowest points so the water will naturally make its way there. Over the coming hours and days this standing water will filter through to the drainage channels and subside. Rather than the weeks that it would have remained there previously.”

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A woman has called for tighter cycling controls on the Stray after her dog was hit.

Sara Clark said her chihuahua Milo was lucky to be alive after being struck by a cyclist on part of the south Stray where cycling is prohibited.

Ms Clark, who was walking Milo on Friday evening, said:

“He went under his wheel and I heard his scream and he ran towards the road. The vet said he was surprised he wasn’t killed.”

Ms Clark said Milo was badly bruised and required a painkiller injection.

Cyclists are supposed to dismount on this stretch of the Stray but Ms Clark said they often ignored the rules. She added:

“There was a sign 10 metres from us saying cyclists aren’t allowed. I know of three dogs, including Milo, and two elderly people that have been hit.”

“The cyclist just said, ‘What could I have done he should’ve been on a lead?’ My dog should be able to be off a lead, we should feel safe, but now I feel like I can’t let him off a lead. They have ruined it now.”

All of these cyclists were pictured on the south Stray by Sara Clark within the same hour on Monday.

Ms Clark said Harrogate Borough Council should do more to tackle the problem:

“Accidents like this are happening but they are washing their hands of it rather than dealing with it. It is their responsibility to enforce it, even just by doing something to say they are taking it seriously, like using cameras or fines.”

A council spokesman said:

“Our staff will always challenge cyclists who ignore the rules if they witness it happening. Unfortunately, as the Stray covers 200 acres and is accessible 24/7 it is incredibly difficult to witness anyone breaching these rules. Thankfully, the vast majority of cyclists in Harrogate dismount when they should. ”

Ms Clark disputed the claim that the vast majority of cyclists dismounted.

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“There’s no excuse for a cyclist being on a footpath where it’s banned. I am of course sorry about the dog being knocked over and the upset to the owner. I don’t agree with cyclists ignoring the rules. I also don’t agree with drivers ignoring the rules, which they do more often and with far more serious consequences.”

The Green Party has urged Harrogate Borough Council to plant more wildflowers on the Stray rather than proceed with plans for 60,000 crocuses.

The council called for volunteers this month to plant the crocuses on parts of West Park Stray damaged by last year’s UCI World Cycling Championships.

Rebecca Maunder, chair of Harrogate and District Green Party, has written to the council saying “it is not too late to alter the plans to provide more benefits to biodiversity”,

Ms Maunder said wildflowers, such as native daffodils and snowdrops, would improve the biodiversity and help bees and insects on the Stray.

She added:

“It would be great to see Harrogate Borough Council, with its reputation for quality parks and open spaces, leading a positive response to the challenge of the decline in biodiversity.”

But the council has told her it does not intend to change its plans.

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A council spokesman said:

“We understand the need to encourage biodiversity and already manage a number of native wildflower meadows across the district. The thousands of plants and flowers in our numerous parks and gardens also support this.

“We are also looking at biodiversity as part of our wider horticultural plan for the future.”

Plans to pedestrianise Montpellier Parade and allow bars and cafes to put tables there may not get off the ground because they appear to contravene the Stray Act.

North Yorkshire County Council told the Stray Ferret on Wednesday it was was considering a request by Simon and Sharon Colgan, the owners of the Blues Bar, to close the highway.

But although Montpellier Parade is a highway it still forms part of the Stray, which is covered by a 1985 Act of Parliament.

The Act says the 200 acres of Stray land should not be used for commercial gain.

Judy d’Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, which upholds the Act and safeguards the Stray against building, said individuals were free to enjoy a drink on the Stray but commercial gain was prohibited. She added:

“Presumably Harrogate Borough Council will have to do what the Stray Act dictates.”

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A spokesman for HBC, which is responsible for management of the Stray, said: “Montpellier Parade is part of the Stray. We will consider the recommendations provided by the highways authority.”

A spokeswoman for NYCC, which is responsible for highways, said it was still investigating the possibility of closing Montpellier Parade.

The Colgans sent their request to NYCC after HBC ordered it to remove tables from Stray land opposite its premises.

Harrogate Borough Council appears to have withdrawn its threat to remove tables and chairs outside The Empress.

More than 3,000 people in a week signed a petition by owners Simon and Sharon Colgan calling on the council to reverse its decision.

The Colgans say they now only needed to reduce the distance between the outside tables and chairs, while still adhering to two metre social distancing guidelines.

The couple have also been told to remove tables and chairs from outside The Blues Bar, which they also own but that situation remains under review.

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The council had given both pubs one week to remove all of their tables and chairs over fears they could damage the Stray.

Ms Colgan told the Stray Ferret the latest development was good news for her workforce and for customers:

“We would like to thank the customers who went out of their way to sign our petition from last Friday. It has been incredible. Even some of our old customers who now live in America took the time to help. It means that we can serve more customers and keep more people in work.”

The Stray Ferret approached Harrogate Borough Council for comment today but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Update: A council spokesman said: “Following a positive meeting with the Empress public house, we have agreed to provide a temporary licence that allows them to use an area outside to maintain social distancing.”

The council is calling for volunteers to help plant 60,000 crocuses on the West Park Stray in the coming months.

Following last year’s UCI World Cycling Championship, West Park Stray underwent months of landscaping work to repair the land.

Harrogate Borough Council is now asking for help to dig 60,000 holes so the crocus display next spring will be as impressive as ever.

The council has said the recent works and heavy rainfall make this the right time to plant the bulbs. Approximately, 8,000,000 bulbs have been planted across the whole Stray over the years, blooming in late spring.

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Local voluntary groups and organisations have been approached to help with the effort. The council has said the planting will be done in line with covid restrictions.

In an email to local voluntary organisations, a council horticultural officer Sue Wood said:

“We are working on a project to refurbish the West Park Stray with crocus following the remedial work to the Stray following the UCI Cycle races last year. The idea would be for the volunteers to dig the holes and then other groups will do the planting of the bulbs.

“There are approximately five areas to plant, some smaller areas and some very large areas on West Park Stray and we are hoping that it will be a real community project.”

After months of mud, the Stray is once again green and open for the public to enjoy

The Stray was protected by orange netting during the repair until recently when it was opened to the public.

The landscaping work is thought to have cost the council around £130,000 and was completed by Glendale Services. The outsourcing of a Lancashire company was met with criticism from local firms.

Harrogate Borough Council is to ask residents about a proposed cycle route on the Otley road as it will take up part of the Stray.

The council has to seek the public’s opinion as the proposed new cycle route needs to use land that is legally designated as Stray land.  It also wants views on whether to amend a Stray Byelaw to allow cycling on the proposed Otley Road route.

Under the Stray Act any land taken from the Stray has to be given back elsewhere; be no more than 100 metres from the Stray and be ‘equally advantageous’ to residents.

The three options that have been proposed for the land swap are Wetherby Road (behind the hospital), St James Drive verges or Arthurs Avenue verges.

The council says it is working with North Yorkshire County Council to improve transport infrastructure in the west of Harrogate.

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The Stray Defence Association has previously expressed concern about the areas proposed for the land swap questioning the value to the public of verges along Arthurs Avenue and St James Drive becoming Stray land.

Councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet member for sustainability, said:

“In order for a new, safe, segregated cycleway to be implemented on the verges of Otley Road we need to hear people’s views on the exchange land options and byelaw amendments.

“We believe we have identified three suitable options to offer as exchange land and I’d urge residents to share their views.”

The council says comments on these proposals can be given online at: www.harrogate.gov.uk/haveyoursay by Monday 9 November.