It was, by far, our most commented-on story of the week. An event that drew gasps.
Not the mayoral election, of course, but news that a naked walk is returning to the Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park this summer.
British Naturism, which is organising the event, helpfully sent us PG-rated, buttock-only photos of naturists along with the request that ‘they must be used exactly as they are. No censorship — blurring, pixellation or covering with clip-art for example’.
Pic: British Naturism
The most shocking angle for me was not the nudity but the prospect of freezing to death between Ripon and Masham.
The Conservatives were stripped of their political ambitions this week when Labour’s David Skaith swept to victory in the North Yorkshire mayoral election.
Two hours later, Mr Skaith popped up on TV alongside Labour leader Keir Starmer on the pitch at Northallerton Football Club.
It was a great day for Labour and a crushing first ever electoral defeat for Tory Keane Duncan, who instead of sloping out a side door as many politicians do took it on the chin and answered every question posed by a long line of journalists.
The bathing season gets underway this month and those making a beeline for Knaresborough Lido on the River Nidd will be delighted to know they can now check almost real time data on sewage being pumped into rivers by Yorkshire Water. Perhaps naked walks are safer…
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- Ripon campaigners prepare for post D-Day battle with the bulldozers
- Brew York to open today in historic Knaresborough pub
Summer timetable announced for Nidderdale Dales Bus
Summer timetables have been released for the Nidderdale Dales Bus service.
The 820 and 821 buses, which start in Keighley, will run on Sundays and bank holidays throughout the summer.
Both services will depart from Keighley Bus Station at 9.25am, through to Norwood, Fewston and Swinsty and Fewston reservoir via Otley.
The 820 service will terminate at Swinsty and Fewston, but the 821 will continue to Scar House reservoir via Blubberhouses, Greenhow Hill, Coldstones Cut and Pateley Bridge.
It will also stop in Wath, Ramsgill and Lofthouse before returning to Keighley from Scar House.
The service has been backed by Yorkshire Water’s beyond nature project.
The firm’s land and property lead surveyor, Lisa Harrowsmith, said:
“Yorkshire Water and Beyond Nature is pleased to continue its sponsorship of the DalesBus Nidderdale service which provides an important link to some of the beautiful attractions of the Washburn Valley and Upper Nidderdale areas.”
All single fares are capped at just £2 in line with the national initiative.
The Dales Bus summer timetable will be in place until October 20.
Read more:
- Political leaders say North Yorkshire mayor vote ‘too close to call’
- Brew York to open today in historic Knaresborough pub
Local river bathers to get live data on sewage
Outdoor bathers at places such as Knaresborough Lido will be able to get almost real time data this summer on sewage being pumped into rivers.
There has been widespread concern about the state of local rivers, especially the Nidd and Ure.
Yorkshire Water announced yesterday it had launched an interactive map that will provide current information on the operation of storm overflows.
Water companies use storm overflows to release extra rainwater and wastewater into rivers when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed.
This usually happens during heavy rainfall but there has been concern about the overflows operating at other times and pumping more sewage into waterways.
River Nidd
The interactive map has been launched ahead of the 2024 bathing water season, which runs from May 14 to September 30.
It shows the live status of each of Yorkshire Water’s storm overflows, when they last discharged into a watercourse and for how long. The information refreshes at 15-minute intervals,
Yorkshire has 2,180 storm overflows and Ben Roche, director of wastewater at Yorkshire Water, said the map would increase transparency for customers:
Mr Roche said:
“All the data will be available to anyone accessing the map. We have decided to launch now, ahead of the bathing water season to ensure customers are better informed about our operations in their area.
“We know replumbing the whole of Yorkshire is not a quick fix as it would be both significantly disruptive and costly to customers. The map shows just how big an engineering challenge this is from the vast numbers of overflows we have.”
He added Yorkshire Water was “investing £180m by the end of April 2025 to tackle 134 of the more frequently discharging overflows”.
The £180m investment is split into four areas, he added. They are: increasing storage at Yorkshire Water’s wastewater treatment works and within the sewage network; separating surface water from the combined sewer system; reducing groundwater infiltration into sewers; and changes to the operation of treatment works.
You can view the storm overflow map here.
Read more:
- Sewage in Nidd and Ure: local politicians react to increase
- Rivers Nidd and Ure named among UK’s most polluted rivers
- Environment secretary ‘impressed’ by River Nidd bathing water bid
Police investigate suspected dog poisonings at Harrogate reservoir
North Yorkshire Police is investigating suspected dog poisonings at Lindley Wood Reservoir near Harrogate.
Police are appealing for information following the death of two dogs at the site. The animals died after eating something that is believed to be toxic on a walk at the reservoir between March 31 and April 15.
The Stray Ferret reported on Friday that Yorkshire Water, which owns the reservoir, had urged dog walkers to remain vigilant.
Police are carrying out enquiries and said in a statement released today:
“We were made aware of what happened at around 4pm on Tuesday, April 16.
“If you have any information that can help us with our investigation, please get in touch. We would also like to hear from any other dog owners who believe their dog may have been affected in similar circumstances after visiting the location in recent weeks.”
Last week, dog owners took to social media to report the suspected poisoning. A five-year-old Cockerpoo and a puppy died after being walked at the site.
Lindley Wood, along with nearby Swinsty, Fewston and Thruscross reservoirs is owned by Yorkshire Water.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson urged dog owners to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious at its reservoirs.
They said:
“We are saddened to hear of these incidents, which we were made aware of via social media. Our colleagues have not found anything suspicious at the reservoir, but we would encourage the dog owners to reach out to our customer service team and share specific details of where they were walking at the time so we can establish if this was on land owned by Yorkshire Water, and if so, support with any required investigation.
“In the meantime, we would continue to urge walkers and owners to remain vigilant and keep their dogs on a lead when walking around our reservoirs, for their safety, and the safety of surrounding wildlife.”
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- Dog owners urged to be ‘vigilant’ amid reported ‘poisoning’ at reservoir near Harrogate
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Dog owners urged to be ‘vigilant’ amid reported ‘poisoning’ at reservoir near Harrogate
Yorkshire Water has urged dog owners to be “vigilant” after reports of multiple dogs being poisoned at a reservoir near Harrogate.
Owners have taken to social media to report suspected poisoning when walking at Lindley Wood Reservoir, in the Washburn Valley, Harrogate.
Leeds man James Bevan lost his Cockerpoo, Winston, to acute kidney failure from toxic poisoning. The five-year-old dog ate something toxic on Sunday, April 7, at the reservoir and died eight days later.
Winston was a healthy award-winning agility dog and Mr Bevan said in a post on social media:
“Please do not walk in Lindley Wood at the moment with your dog. Tell people who do about this as it can’t be a coincidence and I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
“I don’t have the words to do this justice right now. Maybe I never will. Everyone knows what he meant to us. My boy. My best friend. My team mate. My world. He changed our lives completely and made everyone who met him love him.”
Other dog owners have also taken to social media to warn walkers about the reservoir. Another dog who died from similar circumstances after being walked at the site was a puppy named Bear.
Lindley Wood, along with nearby Swinsty, Fewston and Thruscross reservoirs is owned by Yorkshire Water.
The company told the Stray Ferret that it was aware of the reports, but at this stage there has been no substance found.
However, a Yorkshire Water spokesperson urged dog owners to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious at its reservoirs.
They said:
“We are saddened to hear of these incidents, which we were made aware of via social media. Our colleagues have not found anything suspicious at the reservoir, but we would encourage the dog owners to reach out to our customer service team and share specific details of where they were walking at the time so we can establish if this was on land owned by Yorkshire Water, and if so, support with any required investigation.
“In the meantime, we would continue to urge walkers and owners to remain vigilant and keep their dogs on a lead when walking around our reservoirs, for their safety, and the safety of surrounding wildlife.”
The Stray Ferret has also approached North Yorkshire Police for comment.
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- Harrogate RAF veteran receives 850 cards for 100th birthday
Rivers charity seeks volunteers to join River Nidd improvement project
A charity in Pateley Bridge is recruiting volunteers to take part in a project to improve the quality of the River Nidd.
Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust received £500,000 from Yorkshire Water last year after the company breached its permitted level of sewage discharge into Hookstone Beck, in Harrogate. The incident in 2016 led to the loss of fish and invertebrates.
The trust has now joined forces with the Wild Trout Trust and Nidd Action Group to deliver the iNidd scheme to improve the river and is seeking volunteers.
Charlotte Simons, senior project manager at the trust, said:
“The £500,000 payment has enabled us to redouble our efforts in monitoring the health of the River Nidd and its tributaries, which will help us target our restoration plan.
“The appointment of a river enhancement project manager to oversee this iNidd workstream means that we have been able to start building partnerships and are now ready to recruit a cohort of volunteers, who will be specially trained to support the programme.”
The charity is looking for 20 people to join the riverfly monitoring programme and monitor aquatic invertebrate populations in a certain part of the river.
Volunteers will be required between May and September. No prior experience is needed.
Ms Simons added:
“Riverfly monitoring is a vital tool in establishing the overall health of a stretch of river, since testing the chemistry of the river water only offers a snapshot of actual pollution levels.
“Animals in our rivers respond to water quality throughout their whole life span with many aquatic invertebrates such as caddisfly and dragonfly larvae and nymphs not able to survive in polluted water, so their presence or absence is a very strong indicator of pollution levels.”
The trust said all training, equipment and protective gear will be provided.
To sign up, email jennifer.lee@ydrt.co.uk.
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