After seven weeks of very hard work by Wensleydale Railway staff and volunteers, the damaged embankment at Akebar has been repaired and track is now being relaid across the site of the landslip.

The first passenger trains to call at Finghall Lane, Leyburn and Redmire this season will run on Saturday 13 April and the 10:00 and 12:00 from Leeming Bar are planned to be steam hauled by North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Groups class J72 locomotive no. 69023.

General manager Nigel Park said, “This has not been the start to our 10th anniversary season we would have wished for, but the support of our members, shareholders and the local community has been fantastic and has enabled us to get the job done quickly.

“We are also grateful to our friends at Volkerail who are assisting us with the track laying. I am very grateful to our staff and volunteers who have put in many extra hours in difficult conditions and atrocious weather to ensure we can restore services to the western end of the line as early in the season as possible.”
After the reopening, trains will run as advertised in the railway’s timetable leaflet and website.

Wildflower meadow © Paul Evans

A grant means a wildlife charity can restore and create wildflower-rich grasslands in Richmond which will help to create important links to the internationally important hay meadows of upper Swaledale.

Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust – is celebrating the news that it has received a funding boost from SITA Trust for the project.

Working in partnership with the National Trust and the Richmondshire Landscape Trust, Buglife will use the funding to restore around sixteen hectares of upland wildflower-rich meadow. The meadow restoration will increase the number and types of wildflowers providing food in the form of nectar and pollen for pollinating insects such as bumblebees and moths.

The project will concentrate on land around the River Swale and on the National Trust’s estate at Hudswell Woods. The project partners hope to get volunteers involved with planting, monitoring and surveying the insects and plants over the course of the next two years.

Paul Evans, Buglife B-Lines Officer said, “Over 97 per cent of wildflower-rich grassland has been lost in living memory and this has played a major part in dramatic declines to our native pollinators. Creating wildflower-rich grasslands in Richmond will provide essential home and food sources for pollinating insects and is a step towards reversing pollinator declines.”

A spokesman for the Richmondshire Landscape Trust said, “We are delighted to receive this funding to improve our meadows as this is something we have been working towards since the Richmondshire Landscape Trust was founded. Our volunteer members are looking forward to this partnership with Buglife over the next 18 months and anticipate a successful outcome which can be enjoyed by Richmond’s residents and visitors.’

Seb Mankelow, the National Trust’s Ranger at Hudswell Woods, also welcomed the news of the grant, saying, “This is a great boost for Hudswell Woods and will mean the restoration of two large areas of grassland between the woods and the river. There is a high level of public access and we are grateful for the solid support of all the people we have spoken to thus far.”

A new exhibition of contemporary crafts and art opens at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes this week.

Called ‘Textures, Light and Inspiration’, the work is being staged by Brigantia, which is a collection of art and craft workers from the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Wolds, and coastal areas. It runs from 28 March to 14 April.

The group takes its name from the ancient name for this part of England – the Brigantes being renowned for their craft working skills.

Museum manager Fiona Rosher said, “We are very pleased to be hosting the latest exhibition created by this group of artists and makers. The exhibition will feature a wide range of contemporary crafts and art, reflecting the landscapes and environment within which they were created.”

Exhibitors include: Trez by Design, Elisabeth Bailey, Wold Pottery, Liz Ogden Jewellery, Nouveau Stained Glass, Graculus Sculptures, Christine Shaw Textiles, Broomhead Design, Tiswood, Bags & Bits by BMJ, Sew Necessary, Clare’s Creations, Mike Brown Art, The Red Corvid, Wood Dragon Arts, Naturally Smart Skincare and Julie Ward Potter.

The Museum, which is owned by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, is open daily between 10am and 5pm. Entry charges are £4 for adults and £3.50 for concessions and groups of 12 people or more, while children visit free. With a museum ticket you can also claim a discount at other attractions in Hawes.

More information about the group can be found on the Brigantia website at www.brigantia.co.uk

Yorkshire can expect “the grandest of Grand Départs” after the government pledged £10million to help pay for the visit of the Tour de France next year.

The announcement came after a delegation of Conservative Yorkshire MPs met with the Culture Secretary Maria Miller. It followed a letter from UK Sport on Monday that rejected the organisers’ initial bid for funding.

Julian Smith, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, led the delegation that secured the cash. He said, “This fantastic news comes after months of hard work at Westminster and across Yorkshire from Members of Parliament. The investment will support Yorkshire in making sure we capitalise on the opportunities that come from having the world’s largest annual sporting event in our county.

“I will now be working closely with the government and Yorkshire’s Tour de France team to ensure we have the structure and governance in place to deliver an outstanding event next year that showcases Yorkshire to the world.

“No-one can underestimate what having the Tour de France in Yorkshire means. There will be billions watching on television, millions on the streets and thousands of hotels, bed and breakfasts, shops, pubs, restaurants and other tourist destinations benefiting. We will also see investment in our roads and facilities along the route that will provide long-lasting positives for Yorkshire.

“This £10m of government support will allow us to move forward to ensure that this is the greatest ever Grand Depart.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “Welcome to Yorkshire welcomes the news today that the UK Government will provide £10m of financial support for the Grand Départ 2014.

“The Grand Départ will be one of the biggest sporting events of 2014, it will be seen around the world by billions of people and millions more will line the routes of the three stages.

“It will showcase Yorkshire and Britain at its best just 12 months after the success of the London Olympics and we are proud to have been able to have secured the third largest sporting event in the world for this county and country.

“With this Governmental support Welcome to Yorkshire can now deliver the Grandest of Grand Départs.”

Settle mayor Joe Lord leads the dancing in motorbike helmet and chains of office Pic: Copyright Steve Finch Photography

It’s not every day you see a town mayor bedecked in chains of office, a motorcycle helmet and a hoodie leaping along a railway platform, but that was the sight that greeted bemused visitors to Settle Station on the famous Settle to Carlisle line on Sunday.

Settle mayor Joe Lord was joined by local schoolchildren and other residents (including an 82-year-old) for the Settle Shake – Settle’s version of the Harlem Shake, which has become a viral internet sensation around the world in recent months.

Watch the video below…

The energetic and colourful dance was staged at a number of locations in the Dales market town, including the station and outside the Olde Naked Man Café.

The brainchild of Settle Festival’s Mark Dale, the event was designed to raise the profile of Settle while raising funds for the local Cave Rescue Organisation – and having a lot of fun.

To support the event, you can make a donation at https://www.justgiving.com/settleshake

The “definitive” ten most desirable places to live in Yorkshire and the North East have been named by a Sunday newspaper.

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live, published in the paper from this Sunday, will reveal the little Nirvanas dotted across the UK.

The comprehensive two-part guide will take a wide range of elements into account including transport links, quality of schools, natural beauty, low crime rate, property prices, cultural life and unemployment figures.  Each area is also assessed on its own individual assets, whether it is a local festival, fascinating architecture or proximity to an airport.

The guide names the 10 most desirable locations in Yorkshire and the North East as:

• Harrogate, North Yorkshire
• Skipton, North Yorkshire
• Richmond, North Yorkshire
• Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire
• York, North Yorkshire
• Beverley, East Yorkshire
• Ponteland, Northumberland
• Alnwick, Northumberland
• Hexham, Northumberland
• Gosforth, Newcastle

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live is edited by Sunday Times Associate Editor and regular broadcaster Eleanor Mills.  As author of the “Beyond the Brochure” property column she has visited every corner of the country to assess the pros and cons of relocating.

Eleanor says, “Scampering around Britain for my column I find there are particular bits of our crowded island which always retain a particular attraction for people.  We have built on this basic information to create a definitive guide.”

The Sunday Times Best Places to Live will run across two weekends on March 17 and 24 in The Sunday Times Home. As well as an overall national winner (announced in the first issue) the guide will announce the top 10 places in nine regions around the country.

An award-winning film centred on the stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is due to begin a countrywide tour later this month.

Lad: A Yorkshire Story is the tale of teenager Tom Proctor, who comes to terms with the death of his dad through a friendship he forms with National Park Ranger Al Thorpe.

You can read about the making of Lad in the March edition of Dalesman in an article illustrated with pictures from the shoot.

Lad has already won the Golden Oosikar – the main prize – at the Anchorage International Film Festival and writer/director Dan Hartley, who based the story on his own experiences growing up in the Dales, will also be picking up a best feature film prize at Worldfest in Houston, Texas.

The character Al Thorpe was modelled on the late Al Boughen, who was a Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) Ranger in the 1980s. Mr Hartley, who used to live in Austwick, said that, as a teenager, Mr Boughen was his mentor and inspiration for several years.

The film, which was shot at National Park and National Trust sites, will have its invitation-only premiere on March 27 at the Plaza Cinema in Skipton.

The following night it will be shown at Victoria Hall in Settle before starting a month-long tour of the UK’s other 14 National Parks where the filmmakers will stage a series of workshops to honour the community participation that led to its creation.

Mr Hartley worked closely during the making of the film with National Park Authority Rangers and officers – some of whom had known Mr Boughen as a colleague and friend.

“I felt it was essential to give the film an authentic and contemporary voice and so I used people from the community who had never acted before and used role play and workshops to devise the script,” Mr Hartley said.

“The result, I think, is a film that is both honest and inspirational.

“The Dales is quite simply one of the most beautiful places in the country and it was a privilege to capture both the stunning landscape and the strong sense of community that thrives there.”

Alan Hulme, the YDNPA’s Head of Ranger Services, said, “It is fantastic that the film not only captures the spectacular scenery of the Dales, but it also recognises the role that Rangers play in local communities across the National Park. Much of this work goes on unseen and much is taken for granted by locals and visitors alike, so it is really gratifying that the film captures the work of people like Al Boughen who keep the Dales as such a special place to live in or to visit.”

The tour dates are:

27 March, Skipton
Venue: Premiere at Plaza Cinema
Website: http://skipton.nm-cinemas.co.uk/information/

28 March, Settle
Venue: Victoria Hall
Time: 19:45
Website: http://www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk/prog/2013/mar_lad.html

29 March, Skipton
Venue: Plaza Cinema – for one week
Time: 20:15

31 March, Lake District National Park
Venue: Windermere Cinemas, Bowness, Cumbria
Time: 18:00
Website: http://windermere.nm-cinemas.co.uk

2 April, Northumberland National Park
Venue: Queens Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Northumberland
Time: 19:30
Website: http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?agency=QUEENSHALLARTS&organ_val=24717&schedule=list&event_val=3115

4 April, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Venue: Callander Information Centre, Callander, Stirling
Time: 19:00
Phone: 01877 330 342

5 April, Keighley
Venue: Picture House – one week run.
Website: http://keighley.nm-cinemas.co.uk/

6 April, Cairngorms National Park
Venue: Aboyne Swimming Pool and Deeside Community Centre, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire
Website: http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/sport/swimleisure/aboyne.asp

8 April, North York Moors National Park
Venue: Burniston & Cloughton Village Hall, Scarborough, Yorkshire
Time: 19:00
Website: http://www.ruralarts.org/?product=lad-a-yorkshire-story-burnistoun-cloughton-village-hall

10 April, Peak District National Park
Venue: Medway Centre, Bakewell, Derbyshire
Time: 19:00
Phone: 01629 813638

19 April, Bentham
Venue: Tramps

23 April, The Broads
Venue: ACLE Recreation Centre, Norwich, Norfolk
Time: 19:30
Website: http://aclerecreationcentre.co.uk/contact/

27 April, Clapham Village Hall: Tramps

28 April: New Forest National Park
Venue: Brockenhurst Village Hall, Brockenhurst, Hampshire.
Time: 19:30

30 April, Exmoor National Park
Venue: Winsford Village Hall, Winsford, Somerset
Time: 19:30
Phone: 01643 851388 (Joan Cooper, Moor Movies)

3 May, Brecon Beacons National Park
Venue: Black Mountain Centre, Brynaman
Time: 18:30
Website: http://www.brynaman.org.uk/contact.html

4 May, Snowdonia National Park:  Caban Cyf, Brynrefail

Dartmoor National Park: TBC

Pembrokeshire National Park: TBC

South Downs National Park: TBC

Askrigg hay meadows

This week sees the start of the Flowers of the Dales Festival 2013, which brings together 130 wildflower-inspired events taking place across the Yorkshire Dales from March to November.

Events include guided walks, photography courses, cookery and craft events, children’s activities, bat walks and bumblebee talks, to name just a few. Many of the events offer a free day out for all the family and often a chance to learn something new. Locals and visitors alike are encouraged to get involved.

The events are run by a wide range of organisations and individuals, each an expert in their field, and offer a great insight into wildflower habitats. The Clapham–based charity Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) is co-ordinating the festival to bring together this series of fun and informative events designed to encourage people to explore and enjoy the Dales landscape and the glorious range of wildflower species which thrive here.

Now in its fifth year, more than 13,000 people have attended wildflower-inspired events, and the festival is growing in popularity each year.

Tanya St Pierre, Flowers of the Dales project officer at YDMT, said, “The Yorkshire Dales will be buzzing with a whole host of events this year, each offering a chance for people to experience and enjoy the glorious Dales landscape and appreciate the beautiful wildflowers. Here at the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, the Festival is one of our proudest achievements, encouraging thousands of people every year to get out and about in the Dales by promoting local events and organisations.”

Tanya added, “We would like to say a huge thank you to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, whose vital ongoing support has made the 2013 festival possible. We would also like to pay a special tribute to Mr Reynolds whose generous gift to us in his will helped make the festival possible this year and in 2012.”

The full festival programme is available online now – got to www.ydmt.org and click on Resources. Or to receive a copy by post  send an A5 stamped self-addressed envelope (36p postage) to Flowers of the Dales Festival, YDMT, Old Post Office, Main Street, Clapham LA2 8DP.  Free copies of the programme will also be available from visitor centres in the area in the coming weeks. Places are limited at some events, so you are asked to book early to avoid disappointment.

Each year the Dalesman Awards celebrate the men, women and businesses that make Yorkshire great.

This year’s ceremony takes place in May and nominations are now open, so if there is an individual or company that you think deserves recognition, please let us know. There are a number of categories:

• Yorkshireman/Woman of the Year
• Young Achiever of the Year
• Agricultural Business of the Year
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Yorkshire Rural Tourism Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Ian McMillan New Writing Award

New this year is the Ian McMillan New Writing Award, which will put the spotlight on new creative talent. Ian explains, “It seems to me that we’re in the middle of a boom in nature writing; poets like Alice Oswald and prose writers like Richard Mabey and John Burnside are writing exquisitely about the natural world and our responses to it.

“The Dalesman has, of course, always been full of descriptive prose about the Yorkshire landscape and the flora and fauna of the White Rose County. I’d like to celebrate this by nominating someone, a poet or a prose writer, as the New Yorkshire Nature Writer of 2013; this isn’t a competition but if you write about the natural world, particularly the natural world in Yorkshire, we’d love to see some of your work. It could be an account of a stroll through the Dales or a midnight walk along the River Sheaf in Sheffield: what we’re looking for are exciting writers that we can nurture and foster through the pages of the Dalesman.”

If you would like to make a nomination in any of the award categories, or enter the New Writing award, please email us at: editorial@dalesman.co.uk or write to: Dalesman Awards, Dalesman, The Water Mill, Broughton Hall, Skipton BD23 3AG. The deadline is March 25, 2013. There is no application form, just send us your nomination along with any supporting material. You can nominate yourself or somebody else and people can be nominated for more than one award. Nominations will be treated with confidence.

This year’s judges are:
Gary Verity, Keith Madeley (MBE), Linda Pollard (OBE, JP, DL), Adrian Braddy, and Robert Flanagan

This year’s sponsors are:
Welcome to Yorkshire, Clarion, Dales Holiday Cottages, Armstrong Watson, Skipton Building Society, and Yorkshire Bank