Additional needs school improves Ofsted ratingNew £18,000 playground unveiled in Darley

A section of Darley playground has recently undergone a facelift and the results were unveiled last Friday.

The new playground, which is run by the Darley Playing Fields Association, combines 12 different play features for young ones to enjoy.

With a mini climbing wall, a rope wall and balancing beams, it was designed to improve balance, coordination and strength of mind.

Garry Raisbeck, a trustee of Darley Playing Fields Association, told the Stray Ferret the design and delivery of the playground were led by the preferences of children in the village.

He added:

“We hope that the new equipment helps families to get outdoors and enjoy the playing fields other facilities that include a football pitch, basketball court, boules court and village shop and café.

“It is also a great place to start a river walk along the River Nidd on the Nidderdale way.

“Darley Playing Fields Association is planning to build on this success with further improvements in future.”

The equipment is made from a natural, rot-resistant hardwood sustainably sourced from Europe.

Mr Rasibeck noted it was chosen “to blend in with the beauty of the local area.”

Darley Playing Fields Association is a charity that strives to keep the people of Darley healthy, while maintaining the playing areas of the village.

The project received a total of £15,500 in grant funding from RWE Renewables, the Harrogate Local Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.

The association then raised some extra funds itself.

The funding process took almost 18 months to complete.

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Dance group for over 50s to launch Harrogate classes

A dance group for over 50s that launched in lockdown is opening classes in Harrogate town centre.

Following the success of classes in Darley, Ripley, Ripon and Knaresborough, Happy Dance will begin hosting weekly sessions in Harrogate in May.

The group began during the pandemic, with just five members dancing over zoom. Three years later, Happy Dance boasts over 80 members aged between 53 and 93.

The classes take place in various village halls and consist of 45 minutes of upbeat dancing. They involve stretching, balance, work-out sequences, or just ‘boogie exercise’.

Happy Dance founder Jane Waring is an experienced dancer and qualified RAD ballet teacher. She choreographs dances for all fitness levels to ensure members can work to their own abilities.

Ms Waring focusses heavily on the social element of the classes – particularly for those combatting feelings of loneliness – and encourages members to carry on the socialising after.

Ms Waring told the Stray Ferret:

“I can almost guarantee that at the end of class you will feel happier, taller, lighter and proud you have danced for 45 minutes, had fun, laughed and danced well over 3,000 steps!

“It is so good for your well-being.”

Happy Dance will be held in Harrogate at St Robert’s Centre, on Robert Street. Classes will take place every Tuesday at 11.45 am, beginning on Tuesday, May 16.

Booking details can be found on the Happy Dance website.

Harrogate petanque player triumphs in national competition

A Harrogate petanque player has won a prestigious national competition as part of a team from Yorkshire.

Charles Stewart was one of three players who travelled to Leicester for the Petanque England National Veterans Triples competition.

Along with Alan Swift from Wetherby and Richard Burrow from Leeds, he took part in the league stages of the contest before going on to the knock-out rounds.

“Our main aim was to qualify for the main knock-out, getting through to the last eight. We achieved that last year but got knocked out in the quarter final.

“This time we went and played the quarter final, then the semi, and got through to the final where we played three ex-international players. I imagine we were probably the solid underdogs on paper, playing the pedigree of the people we were up against!

“It was one of those great occasions where things go your way. We were 11-1 or 12-1 up and said to each other, ‘it’s not over yet’. They had a little flurry of activity but we managed to nip it in the bud and the final score was 13-5.

“It was certainly worth the trip to Leicester!”

The team of three, who play under the name Le Dragon, are now set to represent Yorkshire in Lowestoft at an inter-regional contest in September. Yorkshire has just been promoted back into the first division so the trio know they will face strong competition across the two-day event.

Despite the high level they play at, Mr Stewart said the events retain the friendly, sociable feel of local, informal games, which is one of the attractions for participants.

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Mr Stewart, who was a founding member of Harrogate Montpellier Petanque Club and is now president of Yorkshire Petanque, said interest in the sport across the Harrogate district has never been higher.

A new terrain has been built in Darley, while the Harrogate club has created a new headquarters with 10 courts in the grounds of Pannal Ash Junior Football Club next to Oatlands Junior School.

Meanwhile, local club members often travel to play in Ilkley, Wetherby, Horsforth and Leeds.

Mr Stewart said:

“Terrains are popping up everywhere, usually on a smaller scale because it’s often an enthusiastic group of individuals who get the ball rolling.

“In lockdown, when it was permitted to play socially distanced sport outside, it was perfect. Every club I’m aware of grew during the last two years.

“We’re trying our best to motivate and get these small clubs enthused. When you are playing in a highly visible site, like the pierhead in central Harrogate, it attracts people to stop and watch. It goes from six or eight people involved to now around 50 members in Harrogate.

“A lot of clubs suffer from being hidden away behind a hedge or a fence. The more people see it’s a game for all ages and there’s no restriction on who can play, the better.”

Harrogate club chairman Nigel Clay added:

“We are delighted for Charles and his success at becoming a national champion. As the regional chairman, Charles is also working very hard to help develop the sport across Yorkshire, and with increasing interest across the county.”

Meeting called to hear concerns about state of River Nidd

Anglers, Yorkshire Water and Andrew Jones MP are to meet this month to discuss concerns about the quality of water in the River Nidd.

The meeting will focus on the foul smell and state of the river near Darley sewage treatment works.

But it will also consider the wider issue of the Nidd’s health, which is under the spotlight after a spate of young people who swam in it fell ill during last month’s heatwave.

Seven angling groups that fish from the source of the Nidd to where it flows into the Ouse will be represented at the meeting by Harrogate Fly Fishers’ Club, which is based in Darley.

The meeting, at Darley Memorial Hall, will also be attended by Harrogate and Knaresborough Conservative MP Andrew Jones, Darley and Menwith Parish Council and Yorkshire Water.

Anglers have requested Yorkshire Water provide data about the design and operation of Darley sewage treatment works.

The Environmental Information Regulations provide a statutory right of access to environmental information held by public bodies.

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David Clayden, honorary secretary of Harrogate Fly Fishers’ Club, said there were concerns about the amount of sewage being pumped into the Nidd and he hoped the meeting might lead to some answers. He said:

“We are trying to understand why Yorkshire Water think the Nidd is OK when it doesn’t seem like it is to us.”

Mr Clayden added that the river was fishing well but dead trout and grayling could often be seen floating on the surface.

The Nidd is predominantly a fly fishing river containing trout and grayling but the lower reaches contain significant numbers of coarse fish, such as roach and chub.

A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:

“We’re due to meet with the MP and the local angling group to discuss the operation of our treatment works, as well as listen to any points they would like to raise about the health of the river.”

Community invited to launch day at Darley boules courts

A French-themed open day will be held to officially launch the new boules courts in Darley this weekend.

Darley Playing Fields Association is inviting the community and visitors from further afield for wine, cheese — and of course, a game of petanque.

Taking place this Saturday, May 21, from 2pm, it will be an opportunity to see the work that has gone into creating Darley’s new community facility at the playing fields.

Association chairman Mark Simpson said:

“It’s aimed at the local community and will be a relaxed affair with the aim of getting the availability of petanque known and getting people to have a go.”

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The courts have been available to play on since Easter, with a few informal teaching sessions taking place.

They were created by the playing fields association with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, while Darley and Menwith Parish Council supported the work and funded two benches by the courts to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Historic Darley Mill to be converted to housing

An 18th-century corn mill in Nidderdale is to be converted into housing after complaints that the historic building once used as a shop and restaurant has deteriorated into a “mess”.

The proposals for Darley Mill include the conversion of nine homes and the construction of 11 new properties at the Grade-II listed site.

Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee approved the plans at a meeting on Tuesday when a local councillor said many villagers wanted to see the site redeveloped “as soon as possible”.

Cllr Sue Welch, chair of Darley and Menwith Parish Council, said:

“The current mill building is a mess – it spoils the whole look of the village and that part of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“We need to bring it back into use and good repair.”

Cllr Welch said although the parish council viewed the mill conversion as “essential,” it could not support the construction of new homes at the site.

In response, Richard Irving, an agent for the developers YorPlace said the new builds were needed in order to make the development financially feasible – a view which was supported by an independent valuer.

Mr Irving also said the development would be carried out to the “highest quality”.

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The approval comes after previous plans for a smaller development of 13 homes were given the go-ahead in 2018. However, these plans never came forward.

The site closed as a corn mill in the 1960s and was most recently run by Yorkshire Linen Company as a restaurant and shop until 2016 when the company ran into financial problems.

Prior to this, the mill was converted into a store selling crafts and clothing in the mid-1980s.

The latest proposals include a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties across the site.

The mill’s water wheel will also be kept under the plans.

Councillors cast five votes for and two against to approve the plans at Tuesday’s meeting.

The £2.25m eco-house for sale that ‘blends in’ to the Nidderdale countryside

Nidderdale’s countryside conjures up images of farmhouses and stone cottages peppered across the sweeping rural landscape.

So Fringill Dike House in Darley certainly catches your eye.

However, the £2.25 million property isn’t invasive, as it has been intentionally designed to “blend in” to its natural surroundings.

The five-bedroom eco-house has been designed by Skipton-based Rural Solutions and took more than two-and-a-half years to build.

Underground

The property, which spans more than 6,000 ft, has been constructed using a mix of traditional dry stone walls and sedum living roofs. It is fitted with ground source heating, as well as an underwater storage tank, which collects rainwater.

A third of the house is also built underground.

Owner Paul Chapman lives on a nearby farm. He explained that the home had originally been built for him and his wife, Caron, on land owned by the couple.

Mr Chapman, who has eight children, said:

“We built four houses for our sons in one field and built this house in another. The intention was my wife and I were going to move into it.

“However, we decided we didn’t want to swap 13 acres for one. So we made the decision to sell it rather than move in.”

The property is back on the market with joint agents Knight Frank and Carter Jonas after an original sale fell through.

An aerial view of the house.

Despite it’s £2.25 million price tag, Mr Chapman said there had been a lot of interest in the property, which he put down to it being located in an affluent area.

However, he admitted he had spent too much on the build, which was hit by delays due to the pandemic.

He said:

“The difference between the build cost and the sale price is the price of the land, that’s all. It might not even be that much.”

But there is no denying the house is impressive, with no expense spared.

Private driveway

The property is approached via a lengthy private driveway over a bridge, which gently winds past a grassed field.

Upon entering the house, oak steps lead down from the hallway into a huge kitchen space. A wall of floor-to-ceiling glazing frames uninterrupted views of Nidderdale.

The huge kitchen that boasts incredible views across Nidderdale.

The lower ground floor features two large spaces, which have yet to be transformed.

Cinema room

Mr Chapman said:

“We were going to put a bar in one of the rooms, but when we decided we weren’t going to move in, we left them empty. So whoever moves in can build a bar, cinema room or a gym.”

Despite being underground, the lower floor features high ceilings with glazed panels in the terracing above, flooding the space with natural light. In addition to the two rooms, there is a shower room with a sauna, separate cloakroom and plant room.

One of the underground rooms.

Upstairs, a landing provides access to five bedrooms, all with their own ensuite facilities.

One of the bathrooms.

The gardens and grounds surrounding the property extend to just under 1.5 acres. A large paved sun terrace spans the entire width of the rear of the property.

Locally-sourced

Mr Chapman said:

“We had discussions with the architect and when the plans were designed, we were able to do a virtual tour of the house.

“We made sure everything was where we wanted it to be. We put in the best appliances and units and everything was sourced locally. For example Woodhouse, in Harrogate, designed and fitted the kitchen.

“It is named after the beck – or dike – that runs through the property.”

Mr Chapman, who has owned race horses for 15 years, has also named one of his horses Fringill Dike, a champion at that.

He said:

“He’s running again at Hexham this weekend and we are hoping he will win again.”

The sauna in the underground space.

Asked if he would build any more houses in the future, Mr Chapman, who moved to Darley from Howarth 12 years ago, didn’t seem overly keen.

He said:

“It went on too long. We did it for ourselves, but I wouldn’t want to build any to sell. If you employ a middle man, it’s hard to make a profit. Especially if you have to buy the land.”

‘Anchored in nature’

A statement on the Rural Solutions website, which features some impressive architectural drawings of the property, said:

“Working with the client, we produced a design for a new house on an open, sloping site in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“Incorporating a dynamic, landscape-based concept we used indigenous dry-stone walls as a device to structure a single ‘ribbon’ design. In this way the project was designed deliberately to blend into the landscape, using local, natural materials; a beautiful home anchored in nature.”

You can watch a video of the property here.

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Delight as Summerbridge school rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted

A Nidderdale primary school has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted.

Inspectors visited Summerbridge Community Primary School in February and have now given the ‘Good’ rating across all five areas assessed, as well as for its overall effectiveness.

They highlighted pupils’ behaviour and concentration, after-school clubs and residential trips, and the ambitious learning opportunities, as among the areas where the school performed well.

The inspectors’ report said:

“Leaders want the best for pupils at this small village school. The school has a caring ethos where pupils are taught to develop skills and knowledge to maximise their potential… Positive relationships between staff and pupils are evident throughout the school. Pupils feel safe, happy and well cared for.”

The report praised the school’s teaching across numerous subject areas, as well as the special educational needs and disabilities provision. It also recognised the leadership team’s effectiveness, and said staff were positive about their jobs and enjoyed working at the school. It added:

“Staff feel valued and say that leaders are considerate of their well-being.”

To improve further, the school was advised to offer staff the opportunity to refresh and update their knowledge of the method chosen to teach phonics, and to support subject leaders to ensure staff understood how best to deliver lessons that match the intended learning outcomes.

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Reacting to the new Ofsted report, headteacher Nick Coates said:

“I am delighted with the outcome following a four-year journey of hard work by everyone involved with the school.

“The parents, the governors, the staff, the local authority and of course the children have all had a significant part to play in the success of the school and given the challenges of the last two years, this hasn’t always been easy, but we are thrilled that all our hard work has paid off and has been recognised by the inspection team.”

At its last inspection in 2018, Summerbridge Primary School was rated as ‘Requires Improvement’.

Mr Coates became headteacher in September 2016. He has also been headteacher at Darley Primary School since January 2009 and the two schools have formed a federation, with a total of 160 pupils.

Work to begin on new boules court in Darley

A new boules court will be built in Darley next week to add to the growing community facilities.

The project is being organised by Darley Playing Fields Association, which already manages the nearby children’s play area and football pitch as well as leasing out the pavilion to farm shop Crimple Valley Fresh.

Using volunteers from nearby Menwith Hill and the Men’s Shed at Pateley Bridge, the group hopes most of the work will be completed next Friday, ready to open the new court in time for Easter.

Chairman Mark Simpson told the Stray Ferret:

“We only have a relatively small area and we wanted something different that’s not very common and would appeal to people of all ages.

“We know someone who has played boules in the past, and the landlord of the local pub is French, so we thought, ‘let’s see if there is interest’.”

A survey of villagers followed at the beginning of this year, with an impressive 99% of those who responded supporting the idea of a boules court on the Station Road site. The playing fields association then sought funding and materials from their contacts to bring the project together.

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As well as money from the National Lottery Community Fund, Darley and Menwith Parish Council has supported the work and will fund two benches by the courts to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee. The project could cost up to £12,000 in total, though the committee is hoping to use its contacts to get discounted materials.

Once open, the court will be available to play on free of charge. With no other boules courts in Nidderdale, players could travel from around the area to enjoy the new facilities, which the playing fields association hopes will also bring more income to the shop in the pavilion.

Mr Simpson added:

“We’ll have sets of boules in the shop to rent. If people are keen and want to start a competition, we will happily facilitate that with hire of the court for a charge.

“If there’s interest, we could end up with people joining leagues too.”