Aim to make Ripon a focus of Christmas festivities

Plans to make Ripon a focal point for the festive season are underway.

Last year the covid lockdown meant that the city and its traders were unable to capitalise fully on the £65,000 spent on a major expansion of Christmas lights and displays.

The decorations, paid for out of the parish precept, are designed to make the city’s streets more attractive for local residents and help increase footfall to benefit businesses.

This year extension, will see a tree lit up to the side of Ripon Cathedral and lighting from Bedern Bank to the Canal Basin, along Park Street, Church Street and Coltsgate Hill.

Ripon Town Hall will be one of the focal points for Christmas lighting

The lighting will be in place before the switch on event on the evening of 20 November, when a free to attend tribute act concert will be held on Market Square.

On 5 and 12 December, artisan markets will be held on the square and free children’s fairground rides will be in operation on those dates.

At the full city council meeting on Monday, members approved the production of a brochure for distribution in Ripon and surrounding areas, which will publicise Christmas activities in the city.

The brochure has been produced in previous years, but the pandemic put paid to its publication last year.

Council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“We want to reach as many people as possible living in the broad hinterland of Ripon and invite them to join in the city’s Christmas celebrations.”

Councillor Chris Davis pointed out that posters for placement in shop windows have previously been produced alongside the brochure and he hoped the same would happen this year.

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Harrogate district attractions still open during half-term

Despite rising covid levels, many popular venues in the Harrogate district are still planning to hold half-term activities. 

From wicked woodland walks to Halloween haunted villages, events are still scheduled to go ahead. 

Many require pre-booked tickets, and have made covid-compliant adjustments. 

Fountains Abbey is going ahead with its annual Fountains by Floodlight event, which will take place every evening between October 19 and 25. However, this year it will replace the usual choir with recorded music.

Jennifer Taylor, senior visitor experience officer at the site, said:

“We have worked hard to adapt the event to keep everybody safe.

“There are a few changes this year. We have limited tickets which must be booked in advance and only the abbey ruins will be illuminated.”

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Other attractions have adopted a spookier theme. 

Newby Hall, near Ripon, is turning its miniature railway into a ghost train and Lightwater Valley, which is also near Ripon, is opening up a Halloween trick or treat street as well as its usual rides. 

In Knaresborough, Mother Shipton’s Cave is offering a spooky forest and haunted village experience, while Birchfield Farm in Summerbridge is inviting families to pick their own pumpkins during October. 

Stump Cross Caverns, in Greenhow Hill, is running potion workshops on October 31 and November 1. 

With covid restrictions liable to change, do check with the venues to see if their plans change.

 

Fountains Abbey’s gentle re-awakening after lockdown

Fountains Abbey, the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the National Trust’s leading attractions, is having a gentle re-awakening with a limit of 1,000 visitors a day allowed to visit the abbey ruins, parkland and Studley Royal water garden.

Since re-opening on 8th June, people have been able to pre-book on a Friday for a visit in the following week and the popularity of the site has seen it quickly booked up for all of the days that it has been open so far.

Entry is via the visitors centre from 10am until 4pm, with the site closing at 5pm.

A National Trust spokesperson said:

“We knew that once we started a gradual opening of our gardens and parklands, tickets for our places would be very popular; particularly with such fine weather. We’ve made careful decisions about which gardens and parklands can open, and we have limited their capacity to ensure everyone can adhere to social distancing to maintain the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, which remains our top priority.”

The spokesperson, added:

“We are so thankful that our members and supporters have stood by us as we work through these unprecedented times, and we ask for their continued support as we make this gradual transition a success so we can get back to offering nature, beauty and history for everyone.”

Further changes to social distancing announced by the government on Monday, have meant the National Trust is able to take bookings once more for the 14 holiday cottages and houses located on the Fountains estate.

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The abbey was founded by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. Following the dissolution of the monasteries ordered by Henry VIII, the site became the largest monastic ruins in Britain.

The Studley Royal water garden, with the river Skell running through it, was created in the 18th century by John Aislabie, – a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was expelled from the Whig Parliament in 1720 for his part in the South Sea Bubble financial scandal.

Brimham Rocks, the other National Trust owned property in the Harrogate district is now open daily from 8am until 9pm, although there is limited space available in the car park and the trust advises those who cannot find a parking space, to return at another time and not park on the roadside, to avoid blocking access for emergency vehicles.