Projects focused on nature, the environment and carbon reduction were to the fore at last night’s Ripon Civic Awards.
Three months after Ripon Civic Society held its biennial awards in April 2022, North Yorkshire Council declared a climate emergency and planned steps that it would take, alongside stakeholders, to tackle the issue of climate change under its strategy Beyond Carbon.
Since then, incidents such as the criminal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumbria and council-sanctioned removal of trees at other locations across the UK, have increased both public and corporate awareness of the role that the natural environment plays alongside the built environment,
Prior to last night’s awards ceremony at the Workhouse Museum in Allhallowgate, civic society co-chair Richard Taylor, told the Stray Ferret:
“There was a common green thread running through the majority of entries considered by our panel of judges for the 2024 awards.
“We saw environmental consideration at the heart of the planning and delivery of developments and projects, ranging from the construction of a single private residence to Econ Engineering’s world-first multi-function E-QCB electric gritter, invented here in Ripon.”
ECON’s E-QCB electric gritter was highly commended at last night’s awards.
Mr Taylor and fellow civic society co-chair David Winpenny played video footage as they described each of the shortlisted entries, before the winners were announced and trophies presented by Mayor of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke.
Justin Scully, the National Trust’s general manager at Fountain’s Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, received, on behalf of the Skell Valley Project, the sustainability award, and also the Helen Whitehead Award for best overall project.
The four-year scheme, which received £2.6 million funding to tackle climate change-related flooding issues along a 12-mile stretch of the river that runs through Ripon and the world heritage site, was launched in 2021 and has seen collaboration between 16 organisations on 15 different environmental enhancement schemes.
Mr Scully said:
“We are extremely grateful for this recognition of our work, which has been made possible through a huge volunteer input and I’m pleased to report that just five percent of the funding monies has been spent at Fountains and Studley Royal, meaning that the entire valley has benefited from this initiative.”
Justin Scully receives the Helen Whitehead Award from mayor Sid Hawke
There was also recognition for other volunteer-supported environmentally focused projects, including the work carried out by the Lower Ure Conservation Trust at Nosterfield, where former sand and gravel pits have become transformed into habitat for an abundant range of wildlife through the re-introduction of threatened native species of plants grown in a nursery on site.
Mr Winpenny said:
“This project ticks every box in terms of its aims and the detailed thought that has been put into its planning and delivery over many years,”
Simon Warwick, director of the Lower Ure Conservation Trust and project officer Emma Higgs, receive the Younge Rosebowl Enviromental Award.
The Ripon Community Link walled garden is, through its on-site and community-based activities, enabling 60 adults with mild or moderate learning disabilities to grow and reach their full potential with the support of volunteers.
Their work was boosted last year with the opening of a new cafe and shop, which provides training opportunities and last night they received the John Whitehead Award,
The new cafe and shop at Ripon Walled Garden
The Hazzard Cup for best new building went to the owners of Maple Nook ,a custom-designed and built private residence on Heckler Lane in Ripon, which includes many eco-friendly features, while the Price Flagon for Best Building Restoration, was presented to the Westholme Road Barns on the Swinton Estate in Masham, where the use of reclaimed materials was central to bringing redundant farm buildings back to life.
The craftmanship award was received by Barrie Price on behalf of St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church on Coltsgate Hill, Ripon, where the second phase of its £500,000 restoration involved the creation of a porch extension to the south of the Grade II star listed building.
Judges were impressed by the use of stone, tiles, green oak timber and glass in sympathy with original design of the 160-year-old building, which now includes a much-needed accessible toilet for the use if parishioners and visitors,
A stone’s throw from the church is the Ripon Inn, which earned the Taylor Plate for City Centre Revitalisation.
The Inn Collection’s multi-million pound investment, which has transformed the former Spa Hotel, is welcomed by the civic society and Mr Taylor (who pointed out that the plate prize is not in his name) said:
“We now hope that the revitalisation of the Spa Quarter can soon be completed through the planned redevelopment of the nearby Spa Baths, which is in desperate need of restoration.”
The Ripon Inn
Just when it was thought that all the prizes had been presented, a new award was announced for the person who has made an outstanding contribution to Ripon Civic Society.
The inaugural winner Neill Clayton (pictured above with Mayor Sid Hawke) who will be known by many for the railway that he has created in his Dallamire’s Lane garden, which can be seen by people on scenic boat cruises along Ripon Canal.
Mr Clayton has an encyclopedic-knowledge of Ripon’s industrial history and is a long-term member of the society.
He has played an important role in providing accurate background information for heritage open days and also participates in them by allowing members of the public to see and ride on his railway.
He said:
“The industrial development of Ripon is something that we should all be proud of. It is a living thing that goes on, as we have seen tonight with ECON’s world-leading invention of an electric gritter.”
Main picture: The Mayor of Ripon Councillor Sid Hawke, with award winners and civic society co-chairs David Winpenny and Richard Taylor.
Holi to bring a taste of Indian culture to Ripon Library
Sarita McDermott and her talented team of dancers will provide a taste of Indian culture in Ripon on Monday evening (March 18).
Ripon Library is the venue and all are welcome to attend from 5pm to both watch and join in 11 traditional dances that will celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi.
To round off the evening, attendees are invited to sample, free of charge, some genuine Indian cuisine.
Ms McDermott (pictured above) who owns Realitea Indian bistro and tearoom on North Street has, through performances that focus on the Holi and Diwali festivals, given Ripon residents an insight into the the culture of her native country
She told the Stray Ferret:
“Holi signals the arrival of spring — focusing on love, new life and reconciliation. It’s all about making a fresh start, forgiving and forgetting, loving and looking forward, as we leave the cold winter weather behind us and enjoy the spring and sunshine.”
Part of the Holi Festival celebrations involve coating people with brightly-coloured powder paint. Picture: BBC
On Monday, Lisa Fletcher, who works at Ripon’s Walled Garden, will have her debut Holi dance, alongside Martin Grainger, who works at Reality and Bethany and Matthew Evason, who are employed at Jennyruth Workshops,
Main picture: The team led by Sarita McDermott performing at Holi Dance at last year’s event in Ripon Library. Picture Sarita McDermott
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Callous vandal attack on small Ripon cafe
The owner of one of Ripon’s smallest cafes, has been dealt a devastating blow caused by an act of mindless vandalism.
Helen Slater, who has run the Cathedral View Cafe for six years, arrived at work this morning to discover that one of the windows at her Bedern Bank premises had been smashed with a rock.
She told the Stray Ferret:
“I was absolutely heartbroken, this has never happened to me before and the timing could not have been worse.”
Ms Slater who arrived in festive dress, ready for a hard day’s work, added:
“With the Ripon Cathedral Gift and Food Fair taking place across the road, I was expecting this to be one of my busiest weekends of the year, as I serve breakfast sandwiches and other food and drink items for people who have stalls at the fair.
“But with a broken window, it wasn’t safe to open and I lost all of that breakfast business, as I had to spend three hours cleaning up, contacting my landlord and reporting the vandal attack to the police.”
With the window boarded up, Cathedral View was able to open in time for the later morning and lunchtime trade and it will be business as usual again tomorrow.
Ms Slater, said:
“I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of fellow traders, customers and other people who have sent me supportive messages, made offers of help and dropped by with flowers and chocolates,
“The generosity of the local community has again shone through and I would particularly like to thank Ripon Walled Garden who cheered me up with the gift of a Christmas tree.”
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Christmas tree disposal service provides vital funding for Ripon Walled Garden
With the time to take down Christmas decorations fast approaching, people living in the Ripon area are being urged to support a local charity and help the environment.
Once again, Ripon Walled Garden, operated by the Ripon Community Link charity, is running its popular and environmentally friendly tree collection and disposal scheme to raise funds to support the delivery and development of the services it provides for adults with learning disabilities.
The charity’s chief executive Victoria Ashley, said:
“Our Christmas fundraising campaigns are vital to the charity, every penny raised through our tree sales and tree collection service directly benefits local people with learning disabilities by helping to pay for staff costs and gas and electricity bills throughout the year to provide services, five days a week to over 55 individuals living with a learning disability.
“The monies raised from suggested donations for the tree collection and recycling service has never been more needed as we all feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
Ms Ashley, added:
“We are extremely proud to partner with Lightwater Quarries and Rudding Park Hotel who are both supporting the Tree Collection Campaign.
“In addition to volunteering to help us collect the Christmas Trees, Lightwater quarries over the last 3 years helped us purchase of a new minibus; supplied the concrete foundations for a new green house and a much needed toilet block, foundations and fundraising for a new classroom building as well as transform the look and feel of the charities main retail area, all of which ultimately help to provide much needed ongoing funds.
“Rudding Park has provided support in so many ways, on site, with events, teams helping us manage our woodland, providing golf sessions for our service users, and we are especially grateful for their donation of an overnight stay at Rudding Park as our Christmas Raffle prize which has helped us raise £2,430 this Christmas.“
Carolyn Sands, chair of the charity, pointed out:
“Ripon Walled Garden provides day care and learning opportunities for so many individuals and respite for their families.”
People living within a five mile radius of Ripon Walled Garden’s HG4 3HN postcode can book the service up until 5pm on Wednesday (January 4) via the Ripon Community Link website: www.riponcommunitylink.org or by calling 01765 609229.
The suggested donation is £7 for a tree up to 10 foot in height and £10 for a tree of 10 foot and above.
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Charities stall set for Harrogate Christmas Fayre return
Harrogate Christmas Fayre returns from December 2 and so does the stall dedicated to local charities.
Harrogate Borough Council and operators Market Place Europe have collaborated to offer local charities the chance to promote themselves and generate funds.
The number of charities which are set to be featured on the stall has increased from 10 to 11 this year.
Artizan International, Carers Resource, Dementia Forward, Girlguiding North Yorkshire West, Harlow Hill Men’s Shed, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Community Charity, Harrogate Easier Living Project, Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre, Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation, Samaritans of Harrogate and District, and Ripon Walled Garden are all set to use the stall to raise money and awareness.
Carol Chapman from Samaritans of Harrogate and District said:
“We are always delighted with the heartfelt support of our local community and especially at times when we are able to connect with them during events such as this.
“Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for people, for lots of different reasons which may trigger feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression to name a few.
“Samaritans volunteers want to raise awareness that they are here for emotional support on a 24/7 basis, 365 days a year.”
Read more:
- First signs of Christmas attractions appear in Harrogate
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The charities involved were identified via the Local Lotto initiative. This is a council-run initiative to raise additional funds for voluntary or community groups across the Harrogate district.
HBC leader Cllr Richard Cooper said:
“Building on the success of last year, Destination Harrogate is due to be even bigger and better. And with thousands of people expected to visit the town, I’m sure these charities will be able to raise their profile and generate some funds for their worthy cause, at a time when it is needed the most.”
Harrogate Christmas Fayre begins on Friday, December 2 and ends on Sunday, December 11. It will take place on Cambridge Street and Market Place in the heart of Harrogate town centre.
There are several attractions debuting at the fayre this year, including a new ice skating rink, an après ski bar and York’s 32m ferris wheel.
Turn your autumn fruit into juice at Ripon Walled GardenPeople are being invited to turn their pears and apples into juice while supporting a Ripon charity.
The annual Apple Day event takes place at Ripon Walled Garden on October 9.
Ripon Community Link, a charity that helps young people and adults with learning disabilities, is staging the event.
There will also be craft stalls, food and drink, children’s activities and an appearance by local singer Ian Hepburn.
The event derives its name from the day’s main activity — apple pressing.
Sarah Johnson, fundraising manager for Ripon Community Link, said:
“The team from Old Sleningford Farm, long standing supporters of the charity, bring their apple pressing equipment and help visitors press their own apple and pear crops into juice.
“It’s a great way to use up any excess fruit and prevent it from going to waste and a really interesting and fun process to do, the whole family can get involved.”
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Ms Johnson added that Apple Day, which didn’t take place last year due to covid, was one of Ripon Community Link’s key fundraising events.
The Ripon-based charity works across two sites: Ripon Walled Garden and St Wilfrid’s Bungalow.
Apple Day is free although the charity suggests a £2 donation per person or £5 per family. For more information call 01765609229 or click here.
£22,000 fundraising campaign launched for Ripon Walled GardenThe charity that runs Ripon Walled Garden has launched a £22,000 fundraising campaign to buy new facilities for the disabled people it helps.
Ripon Community Link, which provides day support services for people with learning difficulties, operates from two sites in the city area — St Wilfrid’s Bungalow and Ripon Walled Garden.
Many of the people it helps work at the walled garden. The fundraising campaign will help to finish and furnish a new building on the site which they will use.
The building, which includes four classrooms, a reception and toilets, has already been paid for by grants and donations.
Victoria Ashley, Ripon Community Link chief executive, said:
“The new building is the next phase of our improvements for the walled garden to benefit members, customers, staff and volunteers.
“The opening of the toilet block was a major step for us, and now we are setting our sights on this new building, specifically aimed at benefitting our members. Our aim is to have this new facility fully opened in autumn”
Read more:
- Scotton girls run 24 hours to raise funds after vandals strike
- Charity launches community grocery shops for Harrogate and Knaresborough
A charity gold day at Rudding Park on August 19 is among the events planned to support the fundraising campaign.
To donate, click here.