Welcome to the Summer 2020 issue

Welcome

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LESSONS LEARNED

The last few months have been challenging, to say the least, for everyone. It has been heartbreaking watching the horrors of Covid-19 unfold. On the positive side, though, it has been hugely inspiring to see NHS and care staff, public employees and other key workers going beyond the call of duty to save lives and keep the situation under control.

Now, at last, there’s a prospect of things gradually returning to some kind of normal. Many Dales businesses will find it an uphill struggle. But if we’ve learned one thing from this crisis it’s that we are all in this together. If we stick together, and support our local communities, we can safeguard what might otherwise be lost.

A HELPING HAND

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From an early stage it was obvious that we wouldn’t be able to print and distribute the Summer issue of Dales Life as normal. Like almost every other North Yorkshire business we have suffered a huge drop in income. Nonetheless, thanks to the huge generosity of three loyal clients who agreed to sponsor us – Eccles Heddon Solicitors of Bedale, Ripon and Thirsk, Holme Design Limited in Bedale, and McGarry & Co Solicitors of Barnard Castle, Leyburn, Hawes and Sedbergh – we have, against the odds, been able to publish this fantastic Summer issue online.

Not only have we brought you most of your favourite features, we’ve also given free advertising space to every one of our existing clients. This was something we were especially keen to do. For a quarter of a century we have been supported solely by advertiser income, and we wanted to give something back to Dales businesses in these difficult times. Hopefully, by keeping them in the public eye, we can do our bit to help them recover from this once-in-a-generation disaster. continued

KEEPING IT LOCAL

We cannot stress strongly enough how important it is for you, our readers, to support Dales businesses. Now, more than ever, they need your help. Artisan food and drink producers, farm shops, independent retailers and service providers, pubs, hotels, holiday cottages, restaurants, garden centres and nurseries, interior design specialists, travel agents, artists and galleries… the list of talented Dales entrepreneurs seems endless. But they all deserve our custom.

Some of these businesses have changed the way they operate – introducing takeaway or delivery services, for example. Others have remodelled their workplaces to make clients and staff safer. Yet others have had no option other than wait and see what the future brings. Whatever the case, make sure you give them all the backing you can. Spend your money locally, and keep the local businesses you know and trust afloat. STAY IN TOUCH Finally, a big thank-you to everyone who has sent us their kind comments and positive feedback. Many of you have stayed in touch by following our new Facebook page. If you haven’t yet done so, please like and share it now!

Our Facebook page also hosted a hugely successful Lockdown Photo Competition; you can see the winners, along with some of our other favourite pictures, on p.50. We loved seeing your images, many of which made us smile, while others impressed us by capturing special moments from the last month or two.

As well as photos, we know you will have your own stories to tell about lockdown – both the highs and the lows – so please email us and tell us your experiences. We would also like to hear your opinions on our digital-only version. Do you prefer reading Dales Life online? Or is a print copy your favoured alternative?

We’re sure that for many of you the answer to the last question will be yes, only a print copy will do. Remember that you can support us by taking out an annual subscription and having Dales Life delivered direct to your door. Visit daleslife.com or email sue@daleslife.com for further details.

And on the subject of print copies, we’re very much hoping to go to print again this autumn. Obviously the situation could change, so keep an eye on our Facebook page to stay abreast of our plans – and, of course, to enjoy local news, recipes, nature notes, garden tips and more besides.

Stay safe, and very best wishes,

Sue Gillman and the Dales Life Team

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Opinions or statements expressed in this magazine are those of the individual and not necessarily those of Dales Life.