This week’s photograph was taken by John Brown, showcasing the Bluebells growing in woodland around Weeton.

John Brown

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Farmers and landowners are being offered free advice and grants to help boost woodland creation in Nidderdale.

A partnership between the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Skell Valley Project Team aims to create new areas of woodland this winter.

Anyone with a small area of land – just over an acre or less – can access grants covering 100% of the planting costs.

Alice Crosby, woodland creation project officer at Nidderdale AONB, said:

“It might be a field corner, a shelterbelt or something bigger, it is more about making trees work for you and your farm.

“Grants can be tailored and could include new fencing, gates, buying and planting trees, tree protection, and money for ten years of maintenance, to ensure that your new woodland gets off to the best start.”

Funds are available to people living in the Skell Valley catchment area for projects this winter. The AONB is also keen to speak to people in other parts of the district who might be interested in planting next winter and beyond.

More than 400 farmers live in Nidderdale AONB, which covers more than half of the Harrogate district.

Currently 8% of the AONB is woodland, including 1,245 hectares of ancient woodland. An area of 1,872 ha is planted conifer woodland, 187 ha is mixed woodland and 2,527 ha is broadleaf.

Ms Crosby said:

“As landowners will know, trees can help improve soil health, boost animal welfare, manage water flow, cut pollution and improve energy efficiency. They are also a lifeline for wildlife.”

She added:

“It’s important to increase the number of trees planted in the AONB, but we want to emphasise quality planting, as 50% of the land in the AONB is not suitable for woodland creation. We can help identify priority areas for future planting sites, as well as help safeguard ancient woodland and other special habitats.

“It’s counter-intuitive but trees can have a negative impact on wildlife if they aren’t planted in the right spot. For some species, like wading birds and adders, woodland can be damaging. So, it is important to get advice.”

To find out more, email nidderdaleAONB@harrogate.gov.uk.

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Fencing company in two-year sponsorship deal with football team

A Harrogate fencing company has signed a two-year sponsorship deal with a local junior football club.

Adam Healy at Harrogate Premier Fencing has provided a new team strip and training tops for Pannal Ash Whites Under 12s, who play in the Garforth junior league.

Andy Pears, from the club, said:

“We have 15 boys signed up for this season. We have won all our games, and are unbeaten in the league, currently into round three of the Leeds & District cup – we got to the final last year.

“We are also in the West Riding County Cup and are into the divisional league cup third round. So overall a really successful start to the new season.”

The team is set to move to the new training facilities at St Aidan’s on a Tuesday night after half term. The boys also play on a Sunday morning at the Pannal Ash Juniors club at Almsford Playing Field, next to Oatlands Junior School.

Firefighters have issued a warning about the dangers of fires in overgrown areas as a fire reignited five days after being put out.

Crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Stainburn Forest near Beckwithshaw last Saturday, where a campfire had spread to surrounding undergrowth and trees, causing damage to an area covering 20m by 20m.

Five days later, on Thursday morning, they were called back to the same spot, where the fire had reignited and spread to a further 20m sq of undergrowth.

Posting on Facebook, a spokesperson for Knaresborough Fire Station said:

“The reignition was caused by hidden residual heat in the undergrowth.

“The images just show how dry the undergrowth is and how deep the compacted forest bed goes – perfect conditions for hidden fire spread…

“All this fire damage was caused by one campfire on dry forest ground! This incident could have been a lot worse as fire would have easily spread to the surrounding trees if it was a windy day.”

Photo by Knaresborough Fire Station

Two tanks of water were used to soak the area and prevent any further fire, while crews cut away the smouldering edges of the site with shovels.

The spokesperson said crews were able to locate the fire precisely because the person who called it in gave a location using the What3Words app. They urged people to download the free app in case they ever need to use it in an emergency.

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A secure 3-acre woodland and meadow where dogs can safely roam off-lead away opens today at Hopewell Dog Park.

The dog park, which is located in a rural setting to the north of the Knaresborough, was set up by Rebekah Mudd two years ago for nervous dogs to play away from other dogs or people.

Owners can hire the woodland and will have the whole area to themselves.

The site has secure 6ft high fencing so dogs with little or no recall can’t escape. It means they are free to wander, play and sniff without the owner worrying.

The woodland and meadow is the latest addition to the dog park. It already has an adventure field with obstacles, an obedience field with agility equipment and an indoor barn.

For the new wooded area, owners pay a fee of £9 for 30 minutes or £15 for an hour. To hire the fields, prices start at £6.50 for 30 minutes.

All the areas are completely private, so you won’t have to share them with other dogs.

Ms Mudd said:

“People love the security and privacy of it. You can let the dog run around and have a picnic and the owner knows the dog is not going to escape.

“It’s for everyone, even if you have a well-behaved dog who has good recall, there is lots to do and lots to sniff”.

For more information about the dog park or to book a session, visit its website.

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A new woodland in Bilton will be planted next month with trees dedicated to lives lost during the covid pandemic.

Around 500 trees will be planted by Bilton Conservation Group volunteers in Bilton Fields close to the viaduct.

It will be called Victory Wood, as it was originally intended to mark VE Day, with the trees planted in the shape of a V.

However, covid has delayed the planting by several years. Keith Wilkinson, chair of the group, said planters can dedicate a tree to a friend or family member that has died from the virus.

The dedication will be private as trees will not be identified with a plaque.

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Planting will take place on Saturday May 21 from 10.00am.

Twelve species will be planted, including oak, cherry and hazel trees.

If you’d like to plant a tree and make a dedication, contact Mr Wilkinson: niddgorge2016@icloud.com

The woodland has been sponsored by the Harrogate Lions.

A woman in Bilton says thousands of trees that are being planted in fields close to Nidd Gorge will spoil a wildlife meadow and treasured open space.

Harrogate Borough Council is currently planting the trees in Bilton Fields as well as at Upper Horse Shoe Fields in Knaresborough.

The planting is part of the government’s White Rose Forest initiative to create 10 community forests in England. Oak, hornbeam, hazel, alder, cherry, crab apple and other native trees will be planted.

Rowen Hardcastle, who owns a dog walking business in Bilton, was brought up in the Harrogate suburb and said she has spent over 40 years enjoying the fields. Her husband even proposed to her in the fields because he knew how much she liked spending time there.

Ms Hardcastle said she is in favour of more trees being planted in the district to improve the environment, but the location means it will spoil one of the few open spaces in the area. In the summer, it is a popular spot for games of football and family picnics.

She said:

“It’s not the trees at all, it’s the positioning. It was a beautiful wild flower meadow with kids running around it.

“But they’ve gone right across the kids’ playing pitch. Now they can’t have a kickabout without damaging the trees.”

A map of where the trees will go. Credit – HBC

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The new woodland will have footpaths and some open areas but Ms Hardcastle said many people, particularly women, like to walk in the open fields as they feel safe.

She believes the planting should have been done in a more sympathetic way that retained more open space.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of elderly ladies. They’ve walked around there for last 60 years because it’s safe, but future generations won’t have this vast open space.”

A council spokesperson said:

“The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire that works in partnership with local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities to plant more trees across the region, improve our natural environment, combat climate change, create jobs and provide happier and healthier places for us all to live, work in and enjoy.

“The scheme has been well received since it was first adopted by the council. And has been publicised widely in the local media – including on the Stray Ferret in both December 2020 and October 2021 – along with the council’s Residents’ News and on social media.

“The planting of the trees reflects what the Royal Forest of Knaresborough would have originally looked like and will complement the surrounding area, create open areas and natural footpaths through the existing fields.

“More than 40% of the site will remain as ‘open space’ and wildflower meadows will be established and managed to further encourage biodiversity, help address the climate situation and deliver carbon reduction initiatives throughout the Harrogate district.

“Funding for the White Rose Forest project has come from the government’s Trees for Climate Fund. The funding covers planting, establishment and management of the woodland for 15 years.”

It is well-known that men are less likely to open up about their mental health issues, but many struggle to do so.

In an effort to encourage talking, Born of the Forest has launched Men’s Woods for Wellbeing, a men-only event, set in 3.5 acres of woodland near Harrogate.

The forest school’s free initiative will run on Monday evenings at 7pm until 8.30pm, with the first one taking place on April 25.

The sessions have been developed to improve men’s wellbeing and mental health and will focus on talking, being part of a group and enjoying the benefits of nature.

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They are being led by owner Chris Silverwood and his brother-in-law Stevey Gilkes, who say they have been “blown away” by the support received since the initiative was announced on social media on Wednesday night.

Mr Silverwood said:

“The idea came about because we are all aware of the impact the pandemic has had on mental health and that men are less likely to seek help.

“The sessions are our opportunity to use our amazing woodland, to give something back to the community and provide an opportunity for men to get together, talk and listen, whilst learning some skills, chopping wood and sitting around a campfire.

“We thought that this environment and format may be something that guys would be interested in, and we’ve been blown away by the response on social media.

“The session is free and no need to book, just turn up. Although I’m a bit worried it is going to be so popular that the carpark won’t be big enough!”

Born of the Forest is currently expanding its forest school offer, with more holiday and after-school clubs, school visits, pre-school sessions and a new therapeutic forest session for children and young adults with special educational needs or disability.

The private woodland is located next to Follifoot Cricket Club. Directions can be found here.

Students and staff at Ripon Grammar School marked National Tree Week with an ambitious 3,000-sapling hedge-planting drive.

Hundreds of students gathered in the school grounds last week to plant the first 2,000 trees over two days.

The project was made possible by The Tree Council’s branching out fund, which supports schools and others across the UK to plant trees, hedges and orchards as National Tree Week inspires people to get outdoors and get planting in the first week of December.

Ava Edwards, who worked with Year 7 students on their massive planting project, in addition to digging in with fellow sixth formers throughout the week, said:

“The tree planting has provided fantastic opportunities for us all to get involved in regenerating the environment on school grounds.”

RGS gardening and wildlife champion, teacher David Bruce, who has been working with student volunteers from other year groups during lunchtime breaks, said:

“This year’s National Tree Week is more important than ever as we work together to tackle the climate and nature crises.

“Trees and hedgerows store carbon, reduce flood risks and improve our air quality, and by planting more we can help grow a greener future. The young people in our community are an amazing force for nature and by planting these new hedgerows they are helping to create a nature-filled legacy for all of us.

“We managed to get around two thirds of our trees planted so far, with the remaining 1,000 set to be planted at a more leisurely pace over the next couple of weeks. Although the planting is almost done, it’s not over because sustaining the growth of the young trees and maintaining them in a wildlife-friendly way is going to be an ongoing project.”