Dales Life Spring 2022

SPRING 2022 FREE

HOME & GARDEN

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LIFESTYLE

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WILDLIFE

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FOOD & DRINK

SCENT OF

Spring

The return of the red squirrel • Magnificent magnolias Collecting Louis Vuitton • Vibrant spring recipes

Beautiful kitchens and bathrooms at affordable prices 2

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County Kitchens (Leyburn) Ltd

yorkshire-kitchens.co.uk

Showroom: Belle Vue Offices, Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5AW Telephone: 01969 624274 Open: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-1pm Please ask for our complimentary brochure.

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Contents SPRING 2022

11 L IFESTYLE Inspiring ideas for your home.

18 S EEING RED Here in the Dales the red squirrel’s fortunes seem to be on the mend, says Brian Pike.

40 GROW FOR IT Growing your own potatoes is surprisingly straightforward, says Adam Appleyard.

45 FOOD NOTES Food news, events and fabulous local produce.

26 WILD ANGLE Photographers celebrate the beauty of the natural world.

48 T HE DISCERNING DINER Claudia Blake visits Simonstone Hall Hotel, Hawes.

28 MAGNIFICENT MAGNOLIAS These handsome trees and shrubs are a real springtime treat, says Adam Appleyard.

58 NATIONAL TREASURES Timeless favourites and forgotten gems from the National Trust Favourite Recipes book.

37 GARDEN NOTES Garden news, products and advice for the spring months ahead.

66 G OOD FOOD FAST Quick and simple recipes that are easy to prepare.

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L EMON AID

Gennaro Contaldo shares some vibrant dishes celebrating the lemon.

82 COLLECTED WORKS From traditional trunks to fashion, the iconic Louis Vuitton is highly collectable, says Sarah White.

86 AUCTION HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS David Elstob discusses Chinese vases that have recently come up for sale in Ripon.

90 I N BUSINESS We meet Owen Pocklington of The Plater’s Bench, Northallerton.

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ALES LIFE LOVES D A collection of gorgeous goodies for the new season.

98 DALES DIARY A guide to local events compiled by Liz Hanson.

Dales Life 90 Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1LT t. 01904 279499 m. 07970 739119 e. sue@daleslife.com www.daleslife.com

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106 R UNNING WILD Liz Hanson shapes up at a Wildfitness retreat in Menorca.

111 O N HOME GROUND How Broadacres Housing Association is helping rural communities thrive.

115 W ILL POWER In the first of a new series exploring legal issues, we talk to Michael McGarry about the importance of making a will.

128 TO DINE FOR Great places to eat and stay in the Dales.

EDITOR Sue Gillman DEPUTY EDITOR Brian Pike PRODUCTION Claudia Blake ADVERTISING Sue Gillman ART EDITOR Stefan Suchomski PROOF READER Steph Morgan PROPRIETOR Sue Gillman CONTRIBUTORS Adam Appleyard, Claudia Blake, Gennaro Contaldo, Clive Goudercourt, Liz Hanson, Rebecca Janaway, Emily Jonzen, Micheal McGarry, Brian Pike.

COVER IMAGE Brian Stokoe Opinions or statements expressed in this magazine are those of the individual and not necessarily those of Dales Life

BIKER BESPOKE H A N D M A D E J O I N E RY bikerbespoke.co.uk Harrogate: 01423 847 662 . York: 01904 819 948 . Leyburn 01969 623 020 Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

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DOVETAIL INTERIORS • FURNITURE • HOME ACCESSORIES • GIFTS •

17 MARKET PLACE, BEDALE, DL8 1ED 01677 426464 • dovetailinteriors.co.uk

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editor’s letter

A B I R T H D AY W I S H This year marks our 30th anniversary. And I believe I can say, hand on heart, that every year since our first issue in 1992 we’ve made Dales Life brighter, bigger and better.

For readers we’re an indispensable part of local life, prized for our fascinating features and top-class photography. For our advertisers, many of whom have been with us from the outset, we provide a crucial link with their customers.

Few, if any, free regional publications can match us for quality or longevity. The key to our success is our tireless championing of local independent businesses. They have reciprocated by advertising with us.

Make no mistake, without them we wouldn’t be here today.

And it’s precisely these bold, enterprising local businesses that keep our communities alive, and make the Dales one of the best places in the country to live. But times are tough for them, as they are for all of us. So please make a point of giving your custom to them rather than to the soulless high street multiples.

That way we can look forward to a bright future for everyone.

Sue Gillman Editor

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@Dales.Life.Magazine Dales news and views, gardening tips, recipes, nature notes and more

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NE

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C MA OL RC LE H CT 20 IO 22 N

‘DOOR TO HERRIOT COUNTRY’

‘ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY’

little piece of Yorkshire TO YOUR home WITH LUCY PITTAWAY’S stunning artwork ADD A

ORDER ONLINE AT WWW.LUCYPITTAWAY.CO.UK

ORDER BY PHONE 01748 810965

61 High St, Yarm, TS15 9BH 22-24 Finkle St, Richmond, DL10 4QB Unit 7 Station Rd, Brompton-on-Swale, DL10 7SN 79 Main St, Keswick, CA12 5DS Follow us on @lucypittawayart 10

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lifestyle

inspiring ideas for your home 1

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7 1. Chicken homeware collection by Sophie Allport, Dovetail Interiors, Bedale, dovetailinteriors.co.uk 2. Set of four meadow flower hare decorations, ellajames.co.uk

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3. Linen napkins, annabeljames.co.uk 4. Set of pastry forks by Morris & Co, Dovetail Interiors, Bedale, dovetailinteriors.co.uk 5. Woodland Walk fabrics by Sanderson, Milners of Leyburn, milnersofleyburn.co.uk 6. Fine china jug by Lesser & Pavey, Mainsgill Farm Shop, mainsgillfarm.co.uk 7. Drum lampshade by Voyage, Mainsgill Farm Shop, mainsgillfarm.co.uk

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B e a r C o t tag e Rustic Country Style Design

Curtains & Blinds, Fabric, Furniture, New Interiors and Gifts The Cattle Market, Market Place, Hawes, DL8 3RD Tel 01969 666077

www.bearcottageinteriors.co.uk

ROSEMARY & TWINE Artisan florist in Leyburn

Flowers, houseplants, gifts and homewares Eco florist, cellophane-free, proud to support local British flower growers.

Flowers for the discerning.

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Newstead’s, High Street, Leyburn, DL8 5AQ Telephone 01969 368006 info@rosemaryandtwineflowers.co.uk

lifestyle

inspiring ideas for your home 1

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1. Selection of country homeware by Sophie Allport, Mainsgill Farm Shop, mainsgillfarm.co.uk 2. Chelsea pendant light in Papaya, hudsonhome.co.uk 3. Sitting fox sculpture by Gin Durham, pyramidgallery.com 4. Hallway decorated in colours from the Paint and Paper Library, thirskdecoratingcentre.co.uk 5. Cotton farmhouse check cushion, hudsonhome.co.uk 6. China jug with hand-drawn illustration, greenhowards.org.uk

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Little Greene’s Intelligent Exterior Eggshell is a self-priming, low-sheen finish designed for all exterior joinery.

Providing a simple, elegant way of using colour to refresh your outdoor space.

Available in store now.

PREMIUM STOCKIST:

Thirsk Decorating Centre The Old Sorting Office, Newsham Road, Thirsk YO7 1PU 01845 440668 sales@thirskdecoratingcentre.co.uk

CRAFTED

by Crown

Add a touch of luxury to your home with Crown’s new crafted paint range.

Crafted by Crown is a luxurious brand-new collection by Crown.

Available in flat matt, lustrous metallic and suede textured finishes.

SANDERSON & CO INTERIOR DECORATING SUPPLIERS High Street, Leyburn • Tel: 01969 623143 14

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lifestyle

inspiring ideas for your home

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1. Anaar Tree wallpaper by Sanderson, Bear Cottage Interiors, Hawes, bearcottageinteriors.com 2. Ceramic mug by Gisela Graham, Mainsgill Farm Shop, mainsgillfarm.co.uk 3. Gold bee napkin ring, sassandbelle.co.uk 4. China rabbit vase by Wrendale, Dovetail Interiors, Bedale, dovetailinteriors.co.uk 5. Sage green casserole dish by Le Creuset, Barkers, Northallerton, barkers.co.uk 6. Our Happy Place oven glove by Lucy Pittaway, lucypittaway.co.uk

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You can now order Little Greene Paint direct to your door via the Milners website

MILNERS OF LEYBURN 6 Market Place, Leyburn DL8 5BJ • 01969 622208 • sales@milnersofleyburn.co.uk www.milnersofleyburn.co.uk • milners-of-leyburn.myshopify.com To shop online please visit our facebook page to access our Shopify account

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lifestyle

homes and interiors

Colefax and Fowler’s classic Fuchsia chintz is a delicate design that features fuchsias on an off-white background. Available in a range of colours from Milners of Leyburn, milnersofleyburn.co.uk

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Seeing Red Here in the Dales the red squirrel’s fortunes seem to be on the mend, Brian Pike reports

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D

uring the last couple of years, more and more Wensleydale residents have reported seeing one of our country’s rarest – and arguably cutest – native mammals.

Until the early 1900s the red squirrel was common in woodlands throughout the British Isles. Now it is rarely seen south of the Scottish border; in fact it’s officially an endangered species in England and Wales. But is it making a comeback at last?

One reason for their current success is that they are bigger than reds, eat more, and outcompete their cousins for scarce resources in Britain’s dwindling ancient woods and forests.

The other reason greys have displaced reds is that they are inadvertent carriers of a virus to which they themselves are immune but which is fatal to reds – although there are encouraging signs that some red squirrel populations are developing a degree of resistance to the virus.

A DUKE’S DODGY DECISION

SEEING RED

The red squirrel’s catastrophic population crash during the 20th century was largely caused by one man: Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford. In 1890 Russell imported ten grey squirrels, a non-native species, from New Jersey. He released them in the grounds of his estate, Woburn Abbey.

The American newcomers quickly settled in, and their offspring were given to landowners in at least seven other locations. From these initial footholds grey squirrels spread rapidly, displacing the once thriving native population of reds.

Despite the accusations made against them, grey squirrels aren’t actively aggressive towards red squirrels.

The red squirrels that have been spotted visiting garden bird feeders in Hawes, Bainbridge, Askrigg, Aysgarth and elsewhere in Upper Wensleydale have almost certainly spread from the Widdale Red Squirrel Reserve southwest of Hawes – now being massively expanded thanks to last year’s purchase by the Woodland Trust of 550 acres of adjoining land.

For those of us not lucky enough to have red squirrels popping into our gardens for a snack, a visit to Widdale offers an excellent chance to see this wildlife rarity. The reserve was badly damaged by last year’s Storm Arwen but has now reopened to the public following extensive clearance work.

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For seasoned walkers, a good way to experience the reserve is to follow the Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail, a 9½-mile waymarked circular route starting at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.

If you aren’t inclined to undertake a lengthy trek, the Little White Bus service from the Dales Countryside Museum will drop you off at Snaizeholme, enabling you to join the trail several miles closer to your ultimate destination.

The trail leads to a viewing area at the heart of the reserve where, with a bit of luck, red squirrels can be seen gorging themselves at feeders in a woodland clearing. Red squirrels have always been shyer than greys, but at the feeding area they have become relatively relaxed about visitors and you’ll have a good chance of getting close enough for a decent photograph.

GOING NUTS Contrary to popular myth, squirrels don’t hibernate – they are active all year round.

They live in nests, known as ‘dreys’, lodged in tree forks. These are constructed from twigs and lined with moss and grass.

Dreys are also made in tree hollows or woodpecker holes.

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Although red squirrels nowadays are mainly confined to coniferous woodland, where grey squirrels find it harder to make a living, they are equally at home in broadleaved or mixed woodland. Their preferred foods are the seeds they strip from pine cones, along with hazelnuts, beech nuts and chestnuts. They also eat buds, shoots, flowers, berries and fungi, especially when other food is scarce.

In autumn, when their favourite foods are plentiful, both reds and greys bury caches of nuts and cones underground. And they’re clever; when they know other squirrels are watching they often create fake caches to baffle potential thieves!

Burying your bounty is one thing, but how do you find it again? It seems squirrels have an excellent mental map of their territory and commit the general locations of their little hoards of buried treasure to memory.

They then use their acute sense of smell to pinpoint the precise spot. Even so, a significant proportion of caches don’t get retrieved for one reason or another. Not all is lost, though, because abandoned nuts and seeds buried by squirrels often sprout into young saplings, making squirrels an important factor in woodland regeneration.

Contrary to popular myth, squirrels don’t hibernate.

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FRIEND OR FOE? Red squirrels raise up to two litters of young a year, with two or three ‘kits’ per litter. If a young squirrel survives its first winter it will likely live between three and six years.

The main threats squirrels face are aerial predators like buzzards and goshawks, plus stoats, foxes and domestic cats. Pine martens – themselves rare, but also beginning to trickle back into North Yorkshire – will also take red squirrels. However it seems they find it far easier to catch grey squirrels.

In fact the presence of pine martens has a positive effect on red squirrel populations and a negative effect on grey squirrel populations. So can conserving pine martens go hand-in-hand with conserving red squirrels?

…when they know other squirrels are watching they often create fake caches to baffle potential thieves!

Unfortunately it’s far from certain that pine martens can be long-term allies in the fight to save red squirrels. During thousands of years of coexistence, red squirrels have become better at avoiding pine martens than greys. But evolution constantly throws up surprises. If the pine marten returns to Britain in greater numbers, grey squirrels may well evolve to adapt to the increasing threat, cancelling out the red squirrel’s current advantage in pine marten territory.

In short, there are no easy answers, and the red squirrel’s future in Britain still hangs in the balance.

For information about the Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail visit the Yorkshire Dales National Park website, yorkshiredales.org.uk IMAGES: ©RSPB Images

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CARPETS | VINYL | WOOD | LAMINATE | KARNDEAN | RUGS

Alternative Flooring

Unit 7 Badger Court, Harmby Road, Leyburn DL8 5BF | 01969 625111 Unit 1-2 Brompton Business Park, Station Road, Brompton on Swale DL10 7SN | 01748 835111 www.hudspethflooring.co.uk | sales@hudspethflooring.co.uk We offer a free measuring service Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

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BENceramics ARNUP Our 40th annual exhibition of handmade silver and gold rings Now until 23 April 2022

Ringleaders June Flowers lino by Anita Klein and diamond ring by Diana Porter

43 Stonegate, York

01904 641187

Looking for new customers?

www.pyramidgallery.com

Contemporary art gallery in a converted chapel at the heart of Wensleydale.

Advertising in Dales Life is your best choice by far Over 80,000 readers per issue 30 years’ proven success 100% focused on Dales businesses The only quality magazine delivered directly through letterboxes in the Dales

01904 279499

Local Artists and Crafters • Tea, Coffee & Cakes Weekly Demonstrations/Workshops • Online Shop Chapel Gallery, Burtersett Road, Hawes, North Yorkshire DL8 3NP Tel:01969 667584 info@chapelgalleryhawes.com www.chapelgalleryhawes.com

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shop online www.vickidavidson.com hello@vickidavidson.com

ORIGINAL PAINTINGS AND COMMISSIONS UNDERTAKEN

Bright, dynamic portraits and animal artwork from the heart of North Yorkshire

INSPIRED BY THE DALES MADE IN YORKSHIRE

Shop online www.lynnwardartist.com or call into the studio, 2 Golden Lion Yard, Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5AS Telephone 07542 950946

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WILD ANGLE PHOTOGRAPHERS CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE NATURAL WORLD

The Oystercatcher

by Brian Pike Image Malcolm Hunt

Spring in the Yorkshire Dales is marked by the reappearance of two noisy and distinctive birds: the curlew and the oystercatcher. Both are waders that spend the winter feeding on the coast, then head inland to breed when the days are longer and warmer.

Unlike the curlew, the oystercatcher is a relative newcomer to our moors and upland pastures, and it wasn’t until the 1940s that breeding pairs were first sighted in Swaledale, Wensleydale and Wharfedale.

Numbers quickly increased, though, and now oystercatchers turn up every spring, regular as clockwork.

Despite their name, oystercatchers seldom if ever dine on oysters – not in this country, anyway. When feeding inland they use their sturdy, reddish-orange bills to probe damp earth for worms and insects. At the coast they use them to prise apart or hammer open cockles and mussels, or to dislodge whelks and limpets from rocks.

Oystercatchers’ striking black and white plumage makes them easy to recognise, and they draw attention to themselves whilst in flight with their distinctive, high-pitched piping calls. From now until late summer you’re liable to hear them passing overhead at pretty much any hour of the day. Accustomed to living by the rhythm of the tides rather than that of sunrise and sunset, these are birds that are just as happy to fly by night as in broad daylight.

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Adult oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) in summer plumage, photographed in Yorkshire in March

by Malcolm Hunt (RSPB Images, rspb-images.com)

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THIS PAGE Magnolia denudata ‘Golden Dream’ OPPOSITE Magnolia sieboldii subsp. sinensis ‘Chinese Magnolia’ 28 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

Magnificent Magnolias These handsome trees and shrubs are a real springtime treat, says Adam Appleyard Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

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ith their big, bold blooms, magnolias make a truly spectacular – and often highly scented – floral display in spring and summer. Magnolias range in size from massive trees to compact shrubs, so you should be able to find a place for one in most gardens. Some are even petite enough to be grown in containers.

Magnolias are one of the oldest groups of flowering plants, and date back to long before bees first took to the air. Their magnificent blooms evolved to attract flightless beetles, and beetles remain the primary pollinators for most modern species.

Despite their ancient heritage, magnolias are very much at home in the contemporary garden. The commonly grown species are all reliably hardy and require no winter protection. That said, it’s sensible to position them in a sheltered spot to protect the flower buds, which are easily damaged by late frosts or bitter easterly winds. Most magnolias prefer full sun, but will also tolerate partial shade.

Once established, magnolias require little by way of maintenance. Pruning is seldom needed, but if you have to remove damaged or diseased wood, thin the crown or renovate an overgrown specimen, summer is the time to do it. Cuts made at other times of year are liable to bleed sap.

PRETTY IN PINK Magnolia ‘Susan’ Magnolia ‘Susan’ is a hybrid whose parents are Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ and a pink cultivar of Magnolia stellata called Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’.

Vibrant pink, tulip-shaped flowers make it a real showstopper in April when it comes into bloom.

Like Magnolia liliiflora, this is a plant that prefers soils on the acid side of neutral. If your soil is alkaline, plant it in a container in ericaceous compost and remember to water it with rainwater rather than hard tap water.

DARK DELIGHT Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’, or Black Lily Magnolia, is another magnolia small enough to be grown in a patio tub if needs be. Its large, upright, tulip-shaped flowers are a rich reddish purple on the outside and a lighter purplish pink inside.

Later flowering than Magnolia stellata, and hence less prone to having its flowers frosted, it will be at its best in May and June, although flowering can continue on and off until early autumn. It’s less tolerant of alkalinity than Magnolia stellata, and will do best in an acid-to-neutral soil.

THIS PAGE: TOP Magnolia ‘Susan’ LEFT Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’ 30 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

Magnolias are one of the oldest groups of flowering plants, and date back to long before bees first took to the air.

S T R I K I N G LY S TA R R Y Magnolia stellata Magnolia stellata, the Star Magnolia, is a popular choice for small gardens or to grow in a large container on a patio, and it’s no wonder. This slow-growing, compact shrub – ultimate height around 2.5 metres – produces masses of large, pure white, star-shaped flowers on bare branches in late March and April.

These are followed by glossy, sometimes bronze-tinted leaves.

It’s not picky about what soil it’s grown in, provided it isn’t too alkaline.

In its native Japan it grows by mountain watercourses, so it will be happiest in moist soil. Mulch regularly with bark compost or bark chippings to conserve moisture and nudge the soil in the direction of a little extra acidity.

Magnolia stellata ‘Chrysanthemiflora’ Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

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BIG AND BOLD Magnolia wilsonii and Magnolia sieboldii If you have room in your garden for something a little larger than the shrubs discussed so far – something that will potentially hit the 6-metre mark in a few decades – here are two to consider.

In spring and summer, both Magnolia wilsonii and Magnolia sieboldii bear large, fragrant, cupshaped flowers that are white with a central ring of dark crimson stamens. They’ll be happy in any soil providing it’s not too dry.

PERFUME AND PICKLE Magnolia ‘Heaven Scent’ Magnolia ‘Heaven Scent’ is another small tree – ultimate height around 10 metres – whose pale pink, honey-scented, goblet-shaped flowers make a striking display in April and May. It will do best on a soil on the acid side of neutral.

L AT E B U T N O T L E A S T Magnolia grandiflora Magnolia grandiflora, also known as Bull Bay, is another tree whose huge lemon-scented blooms – which can be up to 25cm across – are breathtaking.

It is much later to flower than most other magnolias and will look its finest from midsummer onwards.

Like its flowers, the tree itself is substantially larger – up to 12 metres high – although more diminutive cultivars, such as Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’, are widely available. Unlike the other magnolias discussed here, Magnolia grandiflora is an evergreen, with handsome oval, glossy, dark green leaves that are often rusty brown underneath.

This species may be a touch less hardy than other magnolias, so it’s probably not the best choice for a bleak, windswept site. It will tolerate all soil types providing they are relatively moist, so mulch regularly with organic matter until well established.

THIS PAGE: TOP Magnolia ‘Heaven Scent’ ABOVE Magnolia grandiflora

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Workshops at Thorp Perrow

Join us for a packed calendar of events and new workshops

Come to Thorp Perrow and learn a new skill, relax on a retreat day, or join in with hedgerow foraging and gin tasting!

For full information, visit thorpperrow.com or call 01677 425 323

follow us on

to n i Step

! g n i Spr

Historic House - Gardens - Tea Room The destination on your doorstep this spring!

Open 10am - 5pm 6 days a week (closed on Thursdays) www.kiplinhall.co.uk Near Scorton, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 6AT 01748 818 178 info@kiplinhall.co.uk

Registered Charity 1155907 (Opening times correct at time of printing but are subject to change)

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Spring Gardening Weekend D

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RHS members go free

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Your visit supports our work as a charity

RHS T O

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A weekend of inspiration, with demonstrations and specialist advice

THE

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Sat 30 April – Sun 1 May

IN

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O E RHS T

RHS Registered Charity No. 222879/SC038262. © RHS

The finest bespoke timber buildings are Castles At Castle Timber Buildings we make an incredible range of buildings including sheds, stable blocks, garages, garden rooms and summerhouses.

All our designs are fully bespoke and made in the highest quality timber by our talented craftsmen here in Yorkshire.

If you can dream it we can make it

Castle Timber Buildings, Swan Farm, Redmire, Leyburn DL84HA • 01969 625647 34

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BRAITHWAITES GARDEN CENTRE AND FLORIST

As the weather warms up we will have a huge range of home grown, colourful summer bedding. All of your traditional garden favourites will be available and also lots of new and exciting varieties to try out!

We have a beautiful selection of trees, shrubs, alpines, herbaceous plants, fruit trees and much, much more.

We have been growing the plants for North Yorkshire’s gardens for over 125 years - call in and see what we have for you.

Our florist can provide hand-tied designs, bouquets and arrangements for any occasion.

01677 422861 www.braithwaitesnursery.co.uk enquiries@braithwaitesnursery.co.uk Visit us: we’re in Leeming Bar just beside the A1

W Braithwaite & Sons, Floral Nurseries, Leeming Bar, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 9BG Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

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B E S P O K E K I TC H E N S & I N T E R I O R S Unit 1 Concept Park, Thirsk Ind. Estate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 3NH 01845 523562 grovehouseinteriors.co.uk

New shop now open at 17 Regency Mews, Northallerton

Unique bespoke steel furniture, fire pits and grills • Designed and hand crafted in Yorkshire • Built to last a lifetime • Quality materials for minimal maintenance

The only limitation is your imagination

07522 192305 owen@theplatersbench.co.uk www.theplatersbench.co.uk 17 Regency Mews, Northallerton DL7 8PE 36

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The Plater’s Bench

garden notes News, products and advice for the new season

SEASONAL SENSATION AUBRETIA The perfect perennial for a pop of spring colour, aubretia is best grown in full sun on top of a drystone wall, in a rockery or in tall pots. Once established it will form a lush, vibrant, flower-studded cascade from mid-spring through into early summer. Braithwaites in Leeming Bar (braithwaitesnursery.co.uk) has a wide selection in stock.

KEEP OFF!

Once the soil warms up you’ll be eager to plant out your new seedlings – and the neighbourhood mice and pigeons will be equally keen to tuck into them! Wire cloches, like this one from gardentrading.co.uk, are a stylish way to prevent hungry wildlife from scoffing your precious young plants.

Divide and Rule

New hosta shoots will soon be peeping above ground, and when they do it’s your cue to divide large clumps and spread these fantastic foliage plants around your garden or share them with friends. Simply uproot a clump, divide into quarters with an old breadknife and replant the divisions in a moist, shady spot.

Stunning Cerinthe

SOW AND SOW

Now’s the time to begin sowing small batches of beetroot and carrot seed, repeating every fortnight to ensure a succession of tender young roots from summer through to mid-autumn. Early direct sowings can be protected from cold weather under plastic cloches; once May is in sight they’ll likely survive unprotected.

Cerinthe major subsp. purpurascens, the honeywort, is a handsome hardy annual whose purple, bell-like flowers and bluetinted leaves make it an eye-catching summer filler for cottage garden borders.

Sow Cerinthe under cover now and it will be ready to plant out in June. Save the seeds in autumn for next year’s crop.

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PLANT IT NOW CANDELABRA PRIMULA

With their tall stems bearing whorls of white, pink, purple, red, orange or yellow flowers, candelabra primulas are an excellent choice for bringing colour to pond edges and boggy garden corners in spring and early summer. If the soil is reliably damp they’ll tolerate full sunshine, otherwise they will do best in part shade. Candelabra primulas self-seed freely, so refrain from deadheading them.

POCKET POND

No room in your garden for a pond, but keen to do your bit for water-loving wildlife? This ‘pond in a pot’ kit from primrose.co.uk includes a watertight trough, gravel and three colourful aquatic perennials. Just right for a sunny spot in a courtyard or on a patio.

LION TAMER

Marvel Arch

An attractive arch like this one from harrodhorticultural.com will create an attractive focal point and add height and interest to your garden. Use it to grow honeysuckle, climbing roses or clematis, but make sure to choose compact varieties. Vigorous cultivars would soon swamp your structure and create an untidy tangle.

Spring brings with it a golden tide of dandelions, whose long, tough taproots make them remarkably difficult to prise from the ground.

This handy RHS-approved dandelion weeder from Burgon & Ball (burgonandball.com) provides just the right combination of grip and leverage to get the job done quickly.

Training Session Climbers such as clematis will soon be putting on a spurt of new growth. As soon as this happens you need to tie wandering stems to supporting wires or trelliswork, otherwise they’ll most likely head off in the wrong direction or – worse still – twine themselves round other plants.

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The power of colour. The right choice of colour can greatly enhance the look of your new windows and doors.

At Lifetime we offer a bespoke colour service to all of our products. Choose from a Farrow & Ball or Fired Earth colour chart. Or bring us a colour and we will match it. All the benefits of maintenance free uPVC windows and doors while retaining the charm and character of your home.

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Grow for it Tasty home-produced veg made easy

POTATOES rowing your own potatoes is surprisingly straightforward. In fact you don’t even need a garden – a large container or sturdy plastic bag can provide a generous crop of superlative spuds at a fraction of the price you would pay in the shops. To ensure success, it’s important to know that there are three main kinds of potato.

‘First early’ potatoes are those much-prized – and expensive – ‘new potatoes’.

They are usually ready to harvest from mid-June onwards. ‘Second early’ potatoes are also new potatoes but they take a few weeks longer to mature and are a little larger.

‘Late’ or ‘maincrop’ potatoes take longer still and you won’t be harvesting them until late August at the earliest. However they’ll be substantially bigger, and unlike early potatoes you can store them for several months.

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Potato plants are grown from ‘seed’ potatoes, which are usually available from garden centres from late winter onwards. Here in North Yorkshire, first earlies are generally planted out in late March or early April, second earlies in early-to-mid April, and maincrop potatoes in late April. But you shouldn’t delay buying your seed potatoes until planting time – you’ll definitely get better results from early potatoes if you give them a head start by ‘chitting’ them for a few weeks beforehand. Chitting isn’t strictly necessary for maincrop potatoes, by the way.

Chitting is easy enough. You’ll find that your seed potatoes have a pointy end and a blunt – or ‘rose’ – end with more eyes in it. Stand your seed potatoes rose end upwards in egg boxes or seed trays and put them somewhere cool but frostfree and bright; a well-lit porch or an unheated greenhouse is ideal. In a week or two they will start to develop short, green shoots.

To ensure success, it’s important to know that there are three main kinds of potato.

PLANTING When it comes to planting your seed potatoes, potato-growing bags are an excellent choice for earlies because you can easily move them into a greenhouse or other sheltered spot if temperatures plummet in April or May. Potato bags are widely available and are sturdy enough to be re-used year after year.

Fill your potato bag or other container to around 20cm below the rim with good quality, peat-free multi-purpose compost and evenly arrange three seed potatoes on the surface. Cover with a further 15cm of compost, place the bag in a bright, frost-free spot and water regularly.

If you plan to plant your potatoes out in your garden or allotment, choose a sunny, well-drained spot. Covering the soil with black plastic sheeting a few weeks beforehand will help warm the soil. Plant earlies 15cm deep, 30cm apart, and with 60cm between rows.

Plant maincrop potatoes 40cm apart with 75cm between rows. You can do it either by digging individual holes or digging trenches and backfilling.

OPPOSITE: Newly harvested potatoes THIS PAGE: TOP Kerr's Pink potatoes BOTTOM Arran Pilot seed potatoes in a wooden trug

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Once the top-growth – or ‘haulm’ as seasoned gardeners call it – emerges above ground, the danger of frost should have receded, but protect your plants with cloches or horticultural fleece if a chilly night is forecast.

Don’t worry too much if the foliage of your maincrop potatoes gets frosted, though – they will almost always bounce back. Water generously in dry weather.

When the haulms are about 20cm tall, earth them up by using a spade to draw soil around them to turn each row into a small ridge. This will stop the tubers turning green and becoming unusable. When the haulms have grown another 20cm, repeat the process.

Earth them up for a third and final time once a further 20cm of growth has occurred.

HARVESTING First earlies will generally be ready for harvest 10–12 weeks after planting, and second earlies after 14–16 weeks. Maincrop potatoes will take 16–20 weeks.

SUGGESTED VARIETIES FIRST EARLIES Arran Pilot A traditional favourite that rivals Jersey Royals for taste.

Accent Super-tasty and easy to peel.

SECOND EARLIES Charlotte A creamy yellow, waxy potato that’s excellent in salads.

Kestrel Slug-resistant and full of flavour.

MAINCROP King Edward A delicious, century-old variety that’s great for roasting, mashing and chip-making.

Kerr's Pink Keeps well and is excellent boiled or mashed.

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Charlotte potatoes growing in a plastic sack

Earlies – those precious new potatoes – will taste best eaten as soon as possible after digging them up, so lift them as and when you need them. Maincrop potatoes can also be left in the ground until you require them, but the longer you leave them the more likely it is that hungry slugs will get to them before you. Once the foliage turns yellow, stop watering them and start thinking about digging them up.

Earlies won’t store well, but most varieties of maincrop potatoes can be stored for a month or two. To maximise success, choose a dry day to lift them and leave your potatoes on the ground an hour or two for the skins to dry out and harden.

Potatoes must be stored in the dark to stop them going green and becoming toxic. Store only undamaged potatoes, using paper sacks, preferably double-thickness potato sacks that will exclude the light; plastic bags and airtight containers will encourage your crop to rot. Keep your bagged potatoes somewhere cool, dry and frost free.

ADAM CRANE BLACKSMITH Traditional blacksmith in the heart of North Yorkshire From gates and railings to stairs, furniture and sculpture – we can create beautiful bespoke metalwork to enhance your home or business.

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Take a look at our website for examples of our work, or call us today to discuss your requirements.

Unit 2 The Sawmills, West Tanfield, Ripon, HG4 5JU 07788 116660 adam.crane@btconnect.com www.adamcrane.co.uk

ADAM CRANE BLACKSMITH

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Farmers & Butchers Food Hall

Tearoom Gift Hall & Clothing

it’s not just local, it’s Mainsgill A ‘real’ farm shop offering a shop floor to our working livestock farm All our beef, pork and lamb is born, reared and raised in Yorkshire

Visit our new born lambs, stock up on Easter gifts & much more!

01325 718860

www.mainsgillfarm.co.uk

Sunday 9am-5pm Monday-Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 8:30am-5pm

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DL11 7PN 4 miles west of Scotch Corner

food notes

Food news, events and fabulous local produce

IN SEASON For meat lovers the approach of spring brings happy memories of tender, succulent spring lamb. And when you’re buying lamb, buy local. On the butchery counter at Mainsgill Farm Shop you’ll find delicious home-reared, grass-fed lamb, grazed on the lush pastures of the Holmedale Valley in which Mainsgill resides.

For details and opening times see mainsgillfarm.co.uk

Of course you can!

Do you love confectionery? Then what could be better than making your own delicious ganache-filled chocolates, flavoured truffles and Easter eggs? The half-day chocolatemaking course on 29 March at Swinton Cookery School will teach you all this and more. For further details and booking information visit swintonestate.com

SPEAR TIME

British asparagus is at its best from late April until June, and connoisseurs are well aware that imported stalks simply can’t compare with the exquisite flavour and refined texture of home-grown produce.

Get yours at Campbell’s of Leyburn (campbellsofleyburn.co.uk) and serve it lightly grilled with a poached egg, or wrapped in Parma ham and roasted.

Succulent Seafood

PINK PERFECTION

The Yorkshire forced rhubarb season will soon be ending, so make the most of those tender pink stems while you can. Best cooked simply by poaching gently, using as little water as possible. Flavour with ginger, cardamom or star anise and sweeten to taste with sugar, honey or agave syrup. Serve with custard, cream or ice cream.

April heralds the start of the English brown crab season, and you can enjoy its sweet, juicy meat right through summer into early autumn.

Low in fat and packed with important trace elements, it’s both nutritious and tasty.

You can buy top quality fresh crab from Carrick's market vans or direct from their shop in Snape (carricksfish.co.uk) Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

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Family Fun

Easter is great fun for kids – especially if they’ve cooked up their very own Easter treats beforehand!

The ‘Parent & Child: Let’s Cook for Easter’ course at Humble Pie Cookery Kitchen in Hawes gives you and your little ones the chance to spend a day working together to create a variety of delicious baked goods to take home. Full details at humblepieyorkshire.co.uk

CEREAL THRILLER

Yockenthwaite Farm, near Skipton, has made a name for itself with its super-fresh, topquality breakfast cereals. The family farm started making their own-recipe granola a decade ago, and it soon proved so popular that they extended their range to include muesli, porridge and oats. You can buy Yockenthwaite cereals at Campbell’s of Leyburn, campbellsofleyburn.co.uk

SIMPLE PLEASURES

GRILL GIVEAWAY

Primo ceramic grills give outdoor chefs both the precise temperature control you expect from a gas grill and the fabulous wood-smoke flavour that makes barbecued food so delicious. Buy one now from A Bigger Splash (a-biggersplash.co.uk) in Brompton-on-Swale and you’ll get a meat pack from Mainsgill Farm Shop worth up to £50 (terms and conditions apply).

Super-complicated cordon bleu cookery has its place, but what most of us really want on a daily basis is simple home cooking that makes the best use of fresh seasonal ingredients. And that’s what TV presenter Kate Humble offers in Home Cooked: Recipes from the Farm (Gaia, hardback, £25).

A treasure trove of easygoing and practical recipes.

Catering for all tastes If you’re organising a celebration, be it a wedding, private party or corporate ‘do’, it might be a good idea to have a word with Fairhursts. The Middleham-based firm has more than thirty years’ experience of event catering and can provide you with anything from canapés and buffets to hog roasts and sit-down meals.

Find out more at fairhursts.co.uk 46

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Campbell’s of Leyburn Your family run Fine Food and Wine Emporium

Serving the Dales in every way we can!

Our famous store on Leyburn Market Place has evolved over 150 years and 5 generations of Campbell’s to offer its own distinctive style of supermarket shopping

We offer stress free access to a vast range of different products and mouth-watering surprises such as: • A range of own-label and every day groceries

• A range of ready meals created by our butchers

• Innovative products from start-ups and artisans

• An unrivalled selection of world-wide wines and spirits

• Succulent local meat from ‘Dales’ farmers • National and international delicacies on a rst-class delicatessen counter • An extensive choice of artisan and mainstream cheeses from around the world

• Beer and spirits from craft breweries and distillers • Local fresh milk from our vending machine ………. and there is so much more in store.

Call in for a unique shopping experience, you may be surprised!

Best Independent Rural Retailer

4 Commercial Square, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5BP Tel: 01969 622169 www.campbellso eyburn.co.uk richard@campbellso eyburn.co.uk

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DINER THE

DISCERNING

Claudia Blake visits Simonstone Hall near Hawes

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Some of the most attractively presented food I’ve seen in a long while.

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ales Life has been reporting on fine dining in North Yorkshire for three decades now, and this was my third review trip to Simonstone Hall. I was impressed the first time round and – spoiler alert – I’m pleased to report that each time I’ve visited since then the food has reached new heights of style and sophistication.

Simonstone Hall dates back to the 15th century and is one of Upper Wensleydale’s most attractive buildings. Its mullioned windows, steep gables, tall chimneys and quirky clocktower immediately conjure up past splendours and present-day Instagram potential.

Whoever built Simonstone certainly chose a bonny spot. Perched on the lower slopes of Great Shunner Fell, the hall enjoys panoramic views across the patchwork fields towards Hawes and the brooding moors beyond.

Hardraw Force, England’s highest single-drop waterfall, is a short, steep saunter away.

Originally a private residence, then a shooting lodge, Simonstone became a country house hotel in the 1980s. Since 2016 enterprising local architect Jake Dinsdale has been at the helm, enthusiastically transforming it into one of Wensleydale’s prime luxury destinations.

Since my previous visit it has clearly been ‘all change’ as regards Simonstone’s restaurant, now christened The Black Stag. Its smart, unfussy décor majors on clean lines and dark green walls, putting a contemporary spin on a fine period room. Elegant floral arrangements on every table, stylish glassware, proper linen napkins… all signs of an operation determined to impress.

S T U N N I N G S TA R T E R S The first edible to arrive was what the menu hails as the Bread Course, which consisted of… well… a modest wedge of bread each. Very splendid bread, to be sure, and accompanied by a flawless quenelle of ‘artisan butter’, but hardly what most diners would classify as a ‘course’.

Fortunately it wasn’t long before a brace of thoroughly gorgeous-looking starters hove into view. Some of the most attractively presented food I’ve seen in a long while, in fact.

One was a perfect slow-cooked hen’s egg in a remarkably delicate crispy coating, nestled in a mottled grey bowl atop a delicious mélange of salsify – some pickled, some poached – and a hazelnut and duck-skin crumb. Salsify, by the way, is one of my favourite vegetables, and sadly underused. Chefs wanting a thumbs-up from me should consider planting some in their kitchen gardens forthwith.

Moving on, this is the point at which I start casting around for superlatives, because our second starter was simply stellar. A wildly quirky combo of ingredients that I would never have imagined putting together but which nonetheless knocked our socks off: moist, flaky, char-grilled mackerel; sharp, cool pickled watermelon; spicy satay sauce; toasty puffed rice… Hard to imagine isn’t it? And yet this off-the-wall assortment really worked; textures and tastes in perfect harmony. A truly visionary bit of cheffing, worth a five-star review all on its own.

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The same awesome culinary intelligence was evident in the mains. Our loin of Yorkshire venison was judiciously cooked and served on bulgur wheat – an interesting and successful choice – along with a rich casserole of venison and pearly little onions. Pickled red cabbage, punchily aromatic in a fennel-dill-caraway kind of way, provided a perfect foil to the meaty richness; I could have eaten a whole plateful of it.

W H AT T O E X P E C T Picture-perfect plates cooked with precision and genuine flair by a team clearly determined to set the highest standards.

AT M O S P H E R E Luxurious but easygoing country

BLISSFUL BURGER

house hotel.

If a high-aiming eatery offers a burger on the menu I usually make a point of ordering it.

Let’s face it, if you can elevate a burger you can elevate anything. And the Black Stag ‘signature’ burger had indeed been cranked up to vertigoinducing heights. A flavoursome, well-textured, nicely charred patty on a crisp brioche with a generous slather of melted Gruyère, accompanied by a pert tomato relish and crisp fries. What’s not to like?

Things had gone so swimmingly thus far that we were fairly certain desserts would be a knockout too, and our confidence proved entirely justified.

The white chocolate cheesecake – served in half a coconut shell alongside a sweet and beguiling coconut sorbet – consisted of a rich custard-textured base topped with an ethereal foam. Rum-drenched pineapple added an extra whack of flavour and texture.

Our other pud celebrated Yorkshire forced rhubarb in the forms of a melt-in-themouth, creamy-cum-tangy parfait and a set of tiny super-sharp batons whose sourness was counterbalanced by neat mounds of an orangey mousse. According to the menu eucalyptus was also involved somewhere along the line, although not to the extent that we could distinguish it. Magical nonetheless.

To sum up, then: six courses of very clever and genuinely memorable cooking. Not the cheapest dining option in the Dales, but then you would hardly expect this kind of quality to come cheap. Will Simonstone Hall have upped its game yet further by the next time we visit?

Hard to imagine it could get much better than it already is, but fingers crossed!

For more information about Simonstone Hall visit simonstonehall.com or call 01969 667255

SERVICE

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Well-paced delivery – none of those irritating longueurs between courses – from efficient and unobtrusive staff.

THE BOTTOM LINE The Black Stag menu offers two courses for £49 per person or three courses for £55.

D O W N T H E H AT C H Comprehensive drinks list covering pretty much any tipple you’re likely to yearn for. A large glass of Sauvignon Blanc cost us £8.20.

A L S O S TA R R I N G …

Simonstone Hall also serves breakfasts and brunches, snacks, Sunday roasts and afternoon teas, along with bespoke menus for special events.

Stone House Hotel EAT

STAY

CELEBRATE

Coffee & Fresh Baking • Delicious Lunches Sumptuous Dinners • Relaxing Breaks Sedbusk, near Hawes, Wensleydale DL8 3PT • 01969 667571 www.stonehousehotel.co.uk

Welcome to The White Bear High quality food, cooked to perfection using fresh local, free range produce.

New spring menus.

Excellent selection of wines, craft beer and ales.

Lovely beer garden.

14 beautiful bedrooms.

01765 689319 www.whitebearmasham.co.uk Wellgarth, Masham, North Yorkshire HG4 4EN

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Unique dining experience in a traditional atmosphere Enjoy Roux Scholar Jonathan Harrison’s unique cuisine in the traditional surroundings of the Sandpiper Inn. Modern British food using only the finest local ingredients, beautifully prepared and presented.

Fine wines, real ales and friendly service.

Accommodation available.

Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5AT sandpiperinn.co.uk

FOR RESERVATIONS TELEPHONE 01969 622206 HSANDPIPER99@AOL.COM

Overlooking the brewery town of Masham, e Black Swan provides the perfect setting for that special occasion.

• Food prepared from the finest local produce • Far-reaching views from the beer garden • Private dining room • 14 en-suite rooms • Log fires • eakston’s and Black Sheep Ales

The Black Swan Inn, Fearby, Near Masham HG4 4NF 01765 689477 blackswan-masham.co.uk See website for more details. Booking essential.

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BAR

•

R E S TAU R A N T

•

WEDDINGS

•

AC C OM MODAT ION

Tupgill Estate, situated in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales with 513 acres of glorious Yorkshire countryside, is home to The Saddle Room restaurant.

At The Saddle Room we believe passionately about sourcing our ingredients from really local suppliers and wherever possible within a 10-mile radius of the restaurant.

The Saddle Room also has 5★ rated Accommodation with Cottages and Bed and Breakfast rooms creating the perfect place to relax and unwind.

Grand honest food cooked to perfection

✓ OUTDOOR DINING IN “THE PADDOCK” ✓ NEWLY REFURBISHED ACCOMMODATION ✓ OPEN FOR WEDDINGS AND EVENTS ✓ PRIVATE DINING

Winner of Best Restaurant Herriot Awards 01969 640 596 | eat@thesaddleroom.co.uk Tupgill Park, Coverdale, Leyburn, North Yorks DL8 4TJ

www.thesaddleroom.co.uk

B AA...R | K I TC HE N | S H O P | TO U R S VISIT BLACK SHEEP BREWERY

FIND OUT HOW WE BREW THE BLACK SHEEP WAY AND SAMPLE OUR EXTENSIVE RANGE OF BEERS, CIDER & SPIRITS STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE. WE’VE ALSO GOT GREAT FOOD AND OUR SHOP IS STOCKED WITH HIGH QUALITY MERCH PLUS THERE’S LOTS MORE BEER FOR YOU TO TAKE AWAY!

P

01765 680101

E

visitor.centre@blacksheep.co.uk

@blacksheepvc

Black Sheep Brewery, Wellgarth, Masham, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 4EN

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Catering

Professional and experienced outside catering company based in North Yorkshire.

Weddings, funerals, private parties and corporate events.

Bar hire, hog roasts and much more.

e: hello@fairhursts.co.uk

w: www.fairhursts.co.uk

t: 01969 624 668

When it’s all about food

Primo Grills are well known by BBQ enthusiasts for their exceptional quality and performance.

Virtually any food or recipe can be cooked on a Primo Grill.

Mouthwatering juicy burgers, wood-fired pizza, smoke beef to perfection, or even roast a turkey!

Bake, grill, roast, barbecue, pan fry, stir fry; the list is endless.

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Primo Grills are now in stock at: A Bigger Splash, Unit 6, Brompton Industrial Park, Station Road, Brompton-on-Swale, N. Yorkshire DL10 7SN 01748 812039 www.a-biggersplash.co.uk abiggersplash2@aol.com

A bespoke cookery school in the heart of Wensleydale From simple picnics to dinner parties; scones to afternoon tea; an hour to full day; adult or child – we’ve got a course for you!

Always ring to see if we’ve last minute availability or a cancellation Check out our website: www.humblepieyorkshire.co.uk for courses or see Facebook.com/humblepiehawes email us at info@humblepieyorkshire.co.uk or give us a call on 07434 603 590

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National LEMONAID Treasures

Timeless favourites and forgotten gems from the National Trust Favourite Recipes book 58 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

ROASTED BEETROOT, KALE AND BRIE QUICHE Gluten-free quiche? The secret’s in the sweet potato crust that replaces the traditional pastry. Filled with beetroot and kale, you’ve got half your daily rainbow of veg on one plate.

SERVES 6–8 VEGETARIAN PREP TIME: 30 MINS COOKING TIME: 45–50 MINS PLUS 1 HOUR FOR ROASTING INGREDIENTS 400g beetroot in their skins, scrubbed 2 tsp cold-pressed rapeseed oil 200g red onions, roughly chopped 100g kale, thinly sliced 1 sprig of rosemary, leaves finely chopped 250g vegetarian Brie, cubed 100ml milk 85ml double cream 4 eggs SWEET POTATO CRUST 400g sweet potato, peeled and grated 1 egg, beaten 50g vegetarian Cheddar cheese, grated A pinch of dried chilli flakes Salt and pepper

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C/190°C fan/gas 6. Put the beetroot on a sheet of foil, add a splash of water and then wrap the foil to make a sealed parcel. Bake for 50–60 minutes until tender.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

To make the crust, put the sweet potato in a sieve and squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Place the sweet potato in a bowl and mix in the egg, cheese, chilli flakes and a little salt and pepper.

Line the base and sides of a loose-bottomed, deep, 23cm tart tin with non-stick baking paper (this helps to prevent any leaks).

Spoon the sweet potato mixture into the tin and use the back of a spoon to press into an even layer over the base and up the sides, making sure it’s well compressed. Keep back a little of the mixture to patch any holes after baking.

Bake for 15–20 minutes until the potato is set and beginning to crisp around the edges. Check for any holes or cracks and patch with the reserved potato mixture. Turn the oven down to 180°C/170°C fan/gas 4.

Place a frying pan over a medium–high heat, add the oil, then fry the onions for about 10 minutes until beginning to brown.

Meanwhile, put the kale into a saucepan of boiling water for 5 minutes, then drain in a colander, refresh in cold water, drain well and pat dry. Rub the skins off the beetroot and cut into small bite-sized pieces. Pat dry with kitchen paper. Put the beetroot, onions, kale, rosemary and half the Brie in a bowl and gently stir until evenly mixed. Spoon into the sweet potato crust.

Whisk the milk, cream and eggs together in a jug and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the vegetable mixture. Scatter over the remaining Brie. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until golden and just set. Leave to cool slightly before removing from the tin and cutting into wedges.

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BASIL AND GOAT’S CHEESE TWISTS These rustic bread twists are not difficult to make: they’re great for brunch, or served alongside soup for lunch. Try different fillings such as fresh thyme and sun-dried tomatoes.

MAKES 12 VEGETARIAN PREP TIME: 30 MINS PLUS RISING COOKING TIME: 20–25 MINS INGREDIENTS 500g strong white flour, plus extra for dusting 1 tbsp caster sugar 2 tsp (7g sachet) fast-action dried yeast ½ tsp salt About 300ml warm water 70g butter, diced FILLING 170g butter, softened 50g fresh basil, roughly chopped 250g vegetarian goat’s cheese, chopped into small chunks

METHOD Put the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in the bowl of a mixer and beat with the dough hook on low speed. Gradually add the warm water and mix until you have a smooth, soft dough. If you don’t have an electric mixer, stir with a wooden spoon, then bring the dough together with your hands.

Add the butter and continue to knead the dough for about 4 minutes in the mixer, or turn the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until it feels springy.

The dough will be sticky at first, but don’t be tempted to add more flour (though you may need to lightly flour your hands) as the dough will gradually become smooth and soft again.

Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead into a ball. Place in a floured bowl, cover and leave in a warm place for about 1 hour until doubled in size – or leave overnight in the fridge.

Line a large baking sheet with non-stick baking paper. Place the dough on a floured surface and roll out to a rectangle about 48 x 30cm, with the long edge facing you.

For the filling, mix the butter and basil together and spread over the dough, then scatter over the goat’s cheese. Fold in half from top to bottom and press down gently.

Cut the dough into 24 strips, each 2cm wide. Take two strips, twist them together and place on the lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining strips. Cover and leave in a warm place for about 40 minutes until the twists are risen and puffy. Preheat the oven to 200°C/190°C fan/gas 6.

Bake the twists for 20–25 minutes until golden and risen. To check that they are cooked, lift one up and tap the bottom: it should sound hollow when done.

COOK'S TIP For a vegan version, replace the butter with dairy-free margarine and the goat’s cheese with vegan cheese.

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LEMONAID

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BAKED RHUBARB AND GINGER CHEESECAKE Luscious creamy cheesecake with a zingy rhubarb and ginger topping.

Early ‘forced’ rhubarb gives a vibrant pink colour but outdoor-grown tastes just as good.

SERVES 10–12 PREP TIME: 30 MINS PLUS CHILLING COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR BASE 250g digestive biscuits 55g caster sugar 2 tsp ground ginger 125g butter, melted FILLING 500g cream cheese 150g caster sugar 4 tbsp cornflour Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon 4 eggs 200g natural yogurt TOPPING 4 tbsp stem ginger syrup 400g trimmed rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces 50g stem ginger, thinly sliced

METHOD Preheat the oven to 180°C/170°C fan/gas 4. Lightly oil a 23cm springform tin and line the base with non-stick baking paper.

Blitz the biscuits in a food processor, or place them in a bowl and crush with the end of a rolling pin until they form fine crumbs. Tip into a bowl, add the sugar and ground ginger and mix well. Add the melted butter and mix until evenly combined.

Press the crumb mixture into the base of the lined tin, using the back of a spoon to get an even layer.

Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Turn the oven down to 160°C/150°C fan/gas 3.

To make the filling, put the cream cheese, caster sugar and cornflour into a bowl and whisk together until smooth.

Add the lemon zest and juice, eggs and yogurt and whisk again until smooth.

Pour the filling into the tin and bake for 45 minutes–1 hour until set on the top with a slight wobble in the centre (see Cook’s Tip).

Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin. Chill in the fridge for 2–3 hours.

For the topping, put the stem ginger syrup into a large pan with 2 tbsp water and bring to the boil. Add the rhubarb and the sliced ginger and simmer for a couple of minutes until the rhubarb begins to soften slightly (it will soften further as it chills). Tip into a bowl and leave to cool, then chill in the fridge.

Spoon the rhubarb mixture over the top of the cheesecake. Chill until ready to serve. To serve, run a thin, flexible knife around the outside of the cheesecake to loosen it, then unclip the tin and slide the cheesecake onto a serving plate.

COOK'S TIP Place a small metal bowl of water in the bottom of the oven while baking the cheesecake: this helps to prevent cracking.

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HOT CROSS BUNS Originally these were a traditional Good Friday treat. You can’t beat the homemade version, so why not start your own tradition of baking these spicy buns to start the Easter weekend?

MAKES 12 VEGAN PREP TIME: 30 MINS PLUS RISING COOKING TIME: 20–25 MINS INGREDIENTS 500g strong white flour 2 tsp (7g sachet) fast-action dried yeast 50g caster sugar 4–5 tsp ground mixed spice ½ tsp salt 200g dried mixed fruit About 300ml warm water 70g dairy-free baking margarine, softened Vegetable oil, for greasing CROSS 70g plain flour GLAZE 3 tbsp caster sugar 3 tbsp water

METHOD Put the flour, yeast, sugar, mixed spice, salt and dried fruit in the bowl of a mixer with the dough hook fitted and mix briefly.

Gradually add the warm water and mix until you have a smooth, soft dough. If you don’t have an electric mixer, stir with a wooden spoon, then bring the dough together with your hands.

Add the margarine and continue to knead the dough for about 4 minutes in the mixer, or turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until it feels springy (it will be slippery at first and you will need to flour your hands, but don’t worry – it will soon become kneadable).

Shape the dough into a ball. Put the dough into a floured bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave in a warm place for 45 minutes–1 hour until doubled in size.

Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, roll into balls and place on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Cover and leave in a warm place for a further 45 minutes–1 hour, until the buns are risen and puffy.

Preheat the oven to 200°C/190°C fan/gas 6.

To make the cross, mix the flour with just enough cold water (about 3 tbsp) to make a stiff mixture that will hold its shape when piped. Place in a piping bag and draw crosses over the top of all the buns. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and risen.

To glaze, heat the sugar and water together until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat and brush over the buns while they are still hot. Leave on a wire rack to cool slightly.

Recipes taken from National Trust Favourite Recipes by Clive Goudercourt and Rebecca Janaway, published by National Trust Books.

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LEMONAID

GOOD FOOD FAST Quick and simple recipes that are easy to prepare 66 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

CRAB TOSTADAS WITH PEA GUACAMOLE Fried, toasted or oven-baked tortillas provide a crisp base for myriad tostada toppings. This recipe combines avocado with peas to make a sweeter guacamole for the delicate crab to nestle into. I’ve suggested using white crab meat for its delicate flavour but you could use a mix of white and brown.

SERVES 4 PREP TIME: 20 MINS COOKING TIME: 6–8 MINS INGREDIENTS 12 mini tortillas 2 tbsp olive oil 150g frozen peas 1 garlic clove 2 spring onions 1 red chilli 1 small bunch of coriander 2 limes 2 ripe avocados 4 tbsp soured cream 100g white crab meat Hot sauce, to serve EQUIPMENT Pestle and mortar or blender

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6.

Brush the tortillas with the olive oil and divide between two baking sheets in a single layer. Bake for 6–8 minutes, until crisp.

Cover the peas with boiling water and set aside for a few minutes to defrost. Peel the garlic. Trim and finely slice the spring onions. Slice the chilli and roughly chop the coriander.

Slice the limes in half. Drain the peas.

Halve and de-stone the avocados. Scoop out the flesh and combine with the drained peas, the garlic, the spring onions, the chilli and the juice of one of the limes. Season and blend until fairly smooth.

Spread the guacamole out over the tortillas and top with the soured cream and crab meat. Sprinkle with the coriander and hot sauce and add a drizzle of lime juice, to taste.

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BAKED FIGS AND FETA WITH HONEY AND WALNUTS Sweet, yielding figs are the perfect foil for sharp and salty feta in this bake. Top with walnuts and sherry vinegar and scoop up to eat with chunks of crusty bread. Serve with peppery rocket, for balance.

SERVES 4 VEGETARIAN PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOKING TIME: 18–20 MINS INGREDIENTS 1 shallot 8 ripe figs 2 x 200g packs of feta (make sure it’s vegetarian) 6 sprigs of thyme 30g walnuts 11/2 tbsp honey 4 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp sherry vinegar 80g rocket Crusty bread, to serve

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6.

Peel, halve and finely slice the shallot. Halve the figs and arrange in a single layer on a baking tray. Nestle the blocks of feta among the figs.

Roughly strip the leaves from the thyme and break up the walnuts with your fingertips. Sprinkle both over the feta and figs and drizzle over the honey, olive oil and vinegar.

Season with pepper and bake for 18–20 minutes, until the figs are sticky and soft and the feta is just lightly golden.

Leave to cool for a few minutes and serve with rocket and crusty bread to mop up the juices.

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CHICKEN AND FOCACCIA BAKE WITH ROSEMARY BUTTER This all-in-one meal is a riot of flavour and texture; crisp focaccia, bright cavolo nero and tender chicken give way to a rich, creamy sauce. You’ll need to use a large roasting tin to give everything enough room to cook well in the time. Skin-on chicken breasts will ensure that the meat doesn’t dry out, so do try to seek them out.

SERVES 4 PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOKING TIME: 20–25 MINS INGREDIENTS 2 shallots 1 garlic bulb 1 lemon 4 sprigs of rosemary 30g butter, softened 4 skin-on chicken breasts 2 tbsp olive oil 125ml dry white wine 200g cavolo nero 200–300g focaccia 100g crème fraîche 1 tsp English mustard

METHOD Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6.

Halve and peel the shallots. Cut into quarters. Slice the garlic bulb in half horizontally. Cut the lemon into quarters.

Finely chop the rosemary and mix with the butter.

Season to taste.

Arrange the shallots, garlic and lemon in a large, shallow roasting tin and nestle the chicken breasts among them.

Drizzle over half the oil and dot the butter evenly over everything. Pour the wine into the tin and bake for 15 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, shred the cavolo nero.

Tear the focaccia into chunks.

Mix together the crème fraîche and mustard. Stir into the tin and then add the cavolo nero and focaccia.

Drizzle over the remaining oil and continue to bake for a further 5–10 minutes, until the chicken is completely cooked through.

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WHITE CHOCOLATE AND PASSION FRUIT POTS These little pots combine the sweet creaminess of white chocolate with the slightly sharp, fragrant flavour of passion fruit. White chocolate can be tricky to work with but this method will ensure a smooth, glossy ganache every time.

SERVES 4 VEGETARIAN PREP TIME: 15 MINS PLUS SETTING COOKING TIME: 2–3 MINS INGREDIENTS 3 passion fruit 200g white chocolate 250ml double cream 2 large egg yolks 1 tbsp icing sugar

METHOD Cut open the passion fruit and push the pulp of two through a sieve. Reserve a few of the seeds for serving. Finely chop the chocolate and put in a heatproof bowl with the strained passion fruit.

Heat the cream until it is beginning to boil at the edges of the pan. Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate and strained passion fruit. Leave to sit for 1 minute, then stir the cream into the chocolate, beginning in the centre and gradually moving outwards, until melted and smooth.

Stir in the egg yolks, pour into a jug and divide between four small glasses.

Leave to set for at least 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, mix the remaining passion fruit with the icing sugar and spoon over the pots.

Recipes taken from Good Food Fast

by Emily Jonzen, published by National Trust Books.

Photography by Dan Jones.

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Lemon Aid LEMONAID

Gennaro Contaldo shares some vibrant recipes celebrating the lemon 74

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ASPARAGUS WITH A CREAMY BUTTER AND LEMON SAUCE WITH POACHED EGGS Butter, lemon and Parmesan combine so well with this classic northern Italian dish of asparagus and eggs. Typically it is made without lemon, but the addition of both juice and zest really give this dish a pleasant kick. Serve with lots of good bread to mop up the delicious creamy juices. Ideal served as a brunch or light lunch.

SERVES 2–4 INGREDIENTS 500g asparagus 4 organic free-range eggs 100g butter zest of 1 unwaxed lemon and 50ml juice, plus a little extra zest for sprinkling 30g grated Parmesan cheese, plus a little extra for sprinkling freshly ground black pepper

METHOD Snap off the hard stems of the asparagus and wash the stalks under cold running water. Place in a pan with some water, bring to the boil and cook for about 2–3 minutes, depending on the thickness of your asparagus, until just tender.

At the same time, put a second pan of water over the heat and, when it boils, carefully crack the eggs into the water (or into a cup first) and poach for 3–4 minutes until the whites are set but the yolks are still nice and runny.

When the asparagus are ready, drain and place them on a clean tea towel to dry, then arrange on plates. Melt the butter in a small pan, add the lemon zest and juice, turn up the heat, stir in the Parmesan and the sauce will begin to thicken slightly, then pour over the asparagus.

Lift out the poached eggs with a slotted spoon, dry on a tea towel and place on top of the asparagus. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan, lemon zest and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately with lots of good bread to mop up the sauce.

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EASTER LAMB WITH EGGS AND LEMON This traditional lamb dish is popular in central and southern Italy during Easter and spring when lamb is at its best and eggs are celebrated. The tangy taste of lemon gives a kick to the lamb, balancing its often strong flavour. Serve with good bread to mop up the sauce and sautéed green beans or a green salad.

SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, finely sliced 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 rosemary sprig, plus ½ sprig, needles stripped and finely chopped 1kg lamb shoulder, boned and cut into chunks juice and zest of 2 unwaxed lemons 150ml vegetable stock 2 eggs 40g grated Pecorino cheese rosemary needles from ½ sprig, finely chopped sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a large saucepan, add the onion and sweat on a medium heat for 2–3 minutes until softened.

Add the garlic and the rosemary sprig and continue to sweat for a minute. Add the lamb, increase the heat and seal well on all sides. Pour in the lemon juice and stock, reduce the heat, cover with a lid and cook gently for 1½ hours until the lamb is tender.

Near the end of cooking time, combine the eggs, Pecorino, chopped rosemary, lemon zest and some salt and pepper.

Remove the pan from the heat and gradually stir in the egg mixture until you obtain a creamy sauce. Make sure the eggs don’t scramble. Serve immediately.

TIP If you plan to serve this later, add the egg mixture just before serving.

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PRAWN AND LEMON RISOTTO Lovely creamy lemony risotto with the addition of king prawns is a match made in heaven! Delicate, light and a perfect meal at any time.

Try to get the freshest prawns you can for maximum flavour.

SERVES 2 INGREDIENTS 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 banana shallot, finely chopped 8 raw king prawns, shelled and roughly chopped 140g risotto rice (carnaroli, vialone nano or arborio) 3 tbsp lemon juice, plus extra for drizzling 700ml hot vegetable stock (you may need a little extra) 20g butter zest of ½ unwaxed lemon a small handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped

METHOD Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a pan, add the shallot and prawns and sweat over a medium heat for a couple of minutes until the shallot has softened and the prawns have coloured slightly.

Add the rice and stir with a wooden spoon until each grain is coated in the oil. Stir in the lemon juice and cook, stirring continuously, until the liquid is almost all absorbed. Add a ladleful of hot stock, stirring until absorbed and continue adding and stirring for about 15–17 minutes, until the rice is cooked – it should be soft on the outside but al dente on the inside.

Remove from the heat, beat in the butter, stir in the lemon zest and parsley, check for seasoning and serve immediately with a drizzle of lemon juice, if desired.

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WHITE CHOCOLATE AND LEMON MOUSSE WITH RASPBERRIES This super-easy mousse can be made in no time, requires no cooking and does not contain eggs. The combination of white chocolate, lemon and raspberries is perfect and makes a decadent end to a meal, or you could whip this up to serve at parties. It’s quite rich, though, so keep the portions small.

SERVES 6 INGREDIENTS ½ tablespoon sugar 150g raspberries 100g white chocolate 250ml double cream zest of 1 unwaxed lemon and juice of ½ TO DECORATE raspberries mint leaves grated lemon zest

METHOD Drizzle the sugar over the raspberries and set aside for about 30 minutes.

Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Do not let the water come into contact with the bowl. Leave until the chocolate has melted and then set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, whip the cream until thick. Mash the raspberries with a fork.

Add the lemon zest and juice to the cooled chocolate and fold in the whipped cream until everything is well combined.

Line small glasses with a little of the mashed raspberries followed by a dollop of the creamy mixture. Repeat to make a couple more layers, finishing with the creamy mixture. Decorate each with a whole raspberry, mint leaves and lemon zest.

Serve immediately or store in the fridge until required.

Recipes taken from Gennaro’s Limoni: Vibrant Italian recipes celebrating the lemon by Gennaro Contaldo, published by Pavilion Books.

Photography by David Loftus.

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COLLECTED WORKS

Louis Vuitton ouis Vuitton is one of the world’s most famous fashion brands, rivalled only

by Chanel in terms of prestige and desirability. Unsurprisingly the company’s products are auction-house favourites, and many highly desirable Louis Vuitton items have gone under the hammer at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn.

Louis Vuitton, founder of the brand, was born in rural France just over 200 years ago.

Orphaned at an early age, he left his foster home when he was 13. By the age of 16 he had worked his way to Paris, where he apprenticed himself to a trunk maker and quickly gained a reputation for his skill at the trade. So highly regarded was he that he eventually gained the position of personal trunk-maker and packer to Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugénie.

S TA C K I N G S E N S AT I O N In 1854 Louis set up his first shop. Shortly afterwards, spotting a gap in the market, he introduced his own design of trunk. Up until this time travel trunks had been made in leather, and were round-topped. Louis, however, made his trunks from shellacked canvas and with flat tops. Lightweight, waterproof and easy to stack, his innovative luggage was an immediate hit with wealthy international travellers.

Vuitton’s success inspired copycats and fakers, and to defend itself against this threat the company began introducing new canvas patterns of its own. The striped Trianon canvas appeared in 1876, and the famous Damier canvas, incorporating the Louis Vuitton logo, made its début in 1888.

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Further variations, including the classic Monogram canvas, were to follow.

Early Vuitton flat-topped travelling trunks have long been popular with interior designers, says Tennants’ textile expert Sarah White.

An example painted with Lonsdale family livery (to make it easily identifiable amongst other trunks) sold at the firm’s Leyburn auction house for £3,800 a few years back.

A KEY DEVELOPMENT Louis Vuitton’s rapidly growing company kept itself at the forefront of the luxury travel market by dint of constant innovation. One notable example of this was the ‘unpickable’ tumbler lock patented by Louis’ son Georges.

It was designed to safeguard the contents of travellers’ luggage against opportunistic thieves and it is still in use today.

As the nature of travel changed, the Louis Vuitton luggage range adapted and expanded to match it. Hard-sided suitcases and trunks specifically designed for the growing number of clients with smart new motor cars were amongst the additions. Soon came rolling suitcases, cabin bags and a variety of other soft luggage.

The iconic Louis Vuitton Keepall travel bag was introduced in the 1930s. Available in four different sizes and perfect for those who are travelling light, the Keepall is still in production today and is a favourite with celebrities. Since its initial appearance it has been made in a wide variety of different canvases and leathers. Examples in good condition do well at auction, and limited editions – which were often hard to come by in the first instance – are especially highly sought after.

exploring antiques and collectables

A Louis Vuitton trunk painted with Lonsdale family livery.

Sold by Tennants for £3,800.

Lightweight, waterproof and easy to stack, his innovative luggage was an immediate hit with wealthy international travellers.

A Louis Vuitton monogrammed Pegasus 70 rolling suitcase with a brown suit carrier.

Sold by Tennants A Louis Vuitton Ellipse handbag

for £650.

with padlock and keys.

Sold by Tennants for £600.

A Louis Vuitton canvas Keepall 60 holdall with tan leather straps, handles and Vuitton ID tag.

Sold by Tennants for £450.

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COLLECTED WORKS

Louis Vuitton classics: the Alma handbag, originally designed for Coco Chanel, and the Speedy day bag. Once again, both are still in production today. Of course there have been other designs, such as the elegantly curved Ellipse bag, that have now been discontinued and are only available on the secondhand market.

Nowadays the Louis Vuitton brand is worth billions and has more than 400 stores worldwide.

Modern Vuitton bags sold at auction can come close to achieving current retail prices if two determined buyers are bidding against each other, says Sarah, but at other times you can be lucky and pick up something that’s barely been used at a bargain price.

Just as Louis Vuitton himself created unique canvases to ensure the exclusivity of his products, the company he founded introduced its own unique and instantly recognisable Epi leather a century later, in 1985. Epi leather is made from supple calfskin, tanned, dyed and textured with wavy horizontal lines. It is now used on bags, wallets, purses, belts, watch straps and even music boxes and billiard tables.

Nowadays the Louis Vuitton brand is worth billions and has more than 400 stores worldwide. It has diversified well beyond the original remit of luggage into a dizzying range of fashion and lifestyle goods, including hats, shoes, sunglasses, cufflinks, watches, smartphone accessories, portable speakers, kites and jigsaws. With no sign of enthusiasm for the brand diminishing, it is likely to remain an auction house staple for the foreseeable future.

For more information about Tennants Auctioneers, or to arrange a valuation, visit tennants.co.uk or call 01969 623780

A limited edition Louis Vuitton Keepall 50 bandoulière circa 2006 in yellow and black printed canvas.

Auction estimate £1,500 to £2,000.

A Louis Vuitton red Epi leather Jasmin bag.

Sold by Tennants for £300.

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THE COUNTRY HOUSE

stay Explore the Yorkshire Dales this season, with breathtaking landscapes, untouched nature, and award-winning hospitality. Treat yourself to a real country house experience and springtime retreat, with newly renovated rooms, suites, bar and restaurant.

Our characterful bedrooms are individually designed to be relaxing and restful.

Huge beds, deep soaking tubs and magnificent views of the surrounding countryside ensure a great stay, and our lounges, bar and beautiful terrace and gardens offer an ideal vantage point from which to enjoy the impressive views, afternoon teas and cocktail selection.

EXPLORE Whether you’re enjoying the famous Three Peaks and Pennine Way, wildlife and wild-swimming, or real ales, historical landmarks and awe-inspiring scenery, Simonstone Hall and the Yorkshire Dales offer a wealth of exciting opportunities. Clay shooting, mountain biking, fishing, or a long, long afternoon in our Scandinavian hot tub garden.

DINE Dine in style with menus created by a renowned kitchen team, which seeks to explore new ways to engage with our neighbouring producers, farmers, gamekeepers and brewers to present a truly unique taste appropriate to the seasons and the original Simonstone Estate.

Creative combinations, carefully sourced and even home-grown or reared produce combines with mouth-watering dishes to enhance your stay.

NEW CHEF’S TABLE PRIVATE DINING EXPERIENCE OPENING SPRING 2022

Rediscover Simonstone Hall YOUR 2022 DESTINATION 01969 667255

reception@simonstonehall.com

@simonstonehall

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AUCTION HOUSE HIGHLIGHTS

Chinese Vases

David Elstob discusses a selection of Chinese vases that have recently come up for sale at the Ripon-based auctioneers

A TWO-HANDLED BALUSTER FORM CHINESE FAMILLE VERTE VASE, 28CM HIGH AUCTION ESTIMATE £200 TO £300

“‘Famille verte’ is a style of Chinese porcelain that first appeared in the Kangxi period and is characterised by its use of vivid translucent green overglazes.

“This particular piece, made for export in the late 19th century, is notable for its interesting shape that includes a pair of elegant handles. Because it is slightly unusual it is the kind of thing that often attracts Chinese buyers.

“It is painted with flowers, scrolling foliage and a qilin, a mythological cloven-hoofed beast similar to a unicorn, often depicted in bright colours in Chinese art.”

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exploring antiques and collectables

A SMALL OVOID BLUE AND WHITE CHINESE VASE PAINTED WITH FLOWER HEADS AND LEAVES, 9.5CM HIGH AUCTION ESTIMATE £200 TO £400

“The market for Chinese porcelain may not be quite as buoyant as it was a few years ago, but buyers are still paying handsome prices for good pieces – although Chinese buyers are getting a little more selective when it comes to condition.

“This pretty little vase is in very nice condition and was probably made in the late 19th or early 20th century. It is hand painted in underglaze blue, and the pattern – flowers and leaves set in lozengeshaped panels – is quite an unusual one.

Underneath it carries six character marks within concentric circles.”

A LARGE BALUSTER FORM CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE VASE, 34CM HIGH AUCTION ESTIMATE £100 TO £150

“The term ‘famille rose’ refers to a particular kind of Chinese porcelain ware decorated using opaque pink overglaze. It became especially popular during the 19th century.

“This particular vase was made for export in the late 19th or early 20th century.

Many famille rose pieces are very densely patterned, but this example is more restrained than most.

“It has a certain amount of damage, including a repair to the rim, but is nonetheless a good decorative piece – and shows that you don’t need to spend thousands to acquire an impressive piece of Chinese porcelain.”

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COLLECTED WORKS A CHINESE CELADON VASE WITH THREE PIERCED HOLES, 8CM HIGH AUCTION ESTIMATE £60 TO £80

“Celadon is a special kind of translucent monochrome glaze that often produces an attractive ‘crackle’ effect when fired, as in this example.

“The vase itself is quite unusual in that it has an enclosed top pierced with three holes for the insertion of flower stems. It bears a number of gilt character marks on its base.

“With its interesting shape and restrained elegance this is the kind of item that would potentially appeal to both Chinese buyers and Western buyers who prefer an understated décor.”

A PAIR OF CHINESE CLOISONNÉ BOTTLE VASES WITH CARVED WOODEN BASES, 13CM HIGH AUCTION ESTIMATE £40 TO £60

“Cloisonné is a highly skilful technique in which coloured enamels are used to fill in areas enclosed by fine wire. This pair of vases is decorated with boughs of prunus and magnolia on a powder-blue and gilt ground. The necks are embellished with ruyi borders, that’s to say stylised sceptres in the form of lotuses.

“This lot isn’t especially old, and most likely dates from the 1950s or 1960s. Enamelling is notoriously easy to damage, but these two examples are in good condition. It’s an added advantage that they come with hardwood stands.

“Items of this kind are less appealing to the Chinese market, but they are excellent decorative pieces that provide a lot of visual impact for the money.”

A SMALL CHINESE DOUCAI VASE, 7.5CM HIGH AUCTION ESTIMATE £400 TO £600

“Doucai is a porcelain decorating technique dating back to the 15th century, in which parts of the design are painted in underglaze blue prior to the piece being glazed and fired. Further design elements are then painted on in overglaze enamels, and the item is fired once again.

“On this early 20th century vase the quality of the painting is very good, and the depictions of the prunus tree, bamboo and rocks have a lovely softness and subtlety.”

For more information visit elstobandelstob.co.uk 88 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

We are proud to announce the arrival of Paint & Paper Library. A luxury brand offering a distinguished palette of 180 unique paint colours and two wallpaper collections.

Available in store now.

PREMIUM STOCKIST:

Thirsk Decorating Centre The Old Sorting Office, Newsham Road, Thirsk YO7 1PU 01845 440668 sales@thirskdecoratingcentre.co.uk

PLASTERERS & CORNICE SPECIALISTS

Based in North Yorkshire, Ryedale Plasterers are a dedicated team of skilled heritage plaster craftsmen.

We have a national reputation for manufacturing and installing the very best traditional and contemporary plasterwork.

Whether you are looking for a ceiling rose for your home, repair of damaged plaster details or the large scale restoration of a historic property, we can help.

01609 776462 www.ryedaleplasterers.co.uk office@ryedaleplasterers.co.uk

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IN BUSINESS

Cutting Edge We meet Owen Pocklington of The Plater’s Bench 90 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

or most of his career to date, Owen Pocklington concentrated on engineering massive industrial structures: tunnelling machines, cranes, oil rigs, furnaces, wind turbines and the like. Recently, though, he has started working at a much smaller scale.

Trading as The Plater’s Bench, Owen uses his finely honed skills as a steel fabricator to handcraft stylish furniture and a variety of other bijou domestic items.

If you want to see the results of Owen’s craftsmanship at first hand then all you need to do is turn off Northallerton High Street and take a few steps down Regency Mews, where he and his partner Audrey Wood have just opened a brand new shop-cum-gallery.

The handsome chairs and tables are made with matt black steel and responsibly sourced and managed African Iroko hardwood – tough, top quality materials that require minimal maintenance and will last a lifetime – and the cushions are filled with duck down and covered with natural calico.

Not exactly what you were looking for?

No problem. If it can be crafted from steel and timber, Owen can make it for you. Bedsteads, bistro sets, bar stools, picnic benches, recliners, rocking chairs and dining tables are all in his repertoire. If you like one of his designs but fancy a version that’s higher, lower, longer, shorter, slimmer or thicker then all you need to do is ask. “The only limitation is your imagination,” is Owen’s motto.

CUSTOMISED COMFORT Even if you’re not in the market for furniture, It’s in honour of Audrey that Owen has named one there are plenty of other reasons to drop in at of his most striking creations: the Audrey Collection The Plater’s Bench. Owen also produces a variety of garden furniture. The Audrey Collection is a of smaller domestic items including bottle holders modular range of elegant chairs, coffee tables, fire and racks, book rests, picture stands, vases and pits and grills that can be mixed and matched – or clocks. As an added attraction he and Audrey will also be using the wall space as a gallery to display customised – to create whatever layout best suits your needs and the shape of your garden or patio. their own prints – both are keen photographers.

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Whatever catches your eye, you can be sure it’s something you won’t find anywhere else.

“I would rather have a business creating individual pieces for individual customers than churn out lots of copies of the same thing. And because I make everything myself, everything’s a limited edition. Let’s face it, there’s only one of me and there are only so many things I can make!”

S T E P P I N G U P T O T H E P L AT E Owen was born in Teesside. His family moved to Bedale in 1974, and two years later he started an apprenticeship with Allerton Industries, learning the basics of plating and welding. Keen to work abroad, Owen initially envisaged a job in Holland or Germany but ended up heading to Zambia to work on a project in the copper mines. “It was a bit of an eye-opener for a lad of twenty, a life-changing experience,” he says.

“It made me grow up very quickly.”

Back in the UK he continued to refine his skills, but it wasn’t until his brother asked him if he could make him a bedstead that Owen started to think about applying his talents somewhere other than in heavy industry.

“Other people saw the bedstead, liked it and started asking me if I could make furniture for them. It took me a while to get round to it, but eventually I took voluntary redundancy from Teesside in 2020 with the idea of setting up my own business.”

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“it’s technique, not brute force, that gets the job done.”

And the business name? “Well, ‘plater’ is an old shipyard term for the trade of fabricating steel to clothe the skeleton of a ship. I’m proud of my trade, and proud of the heavy steel industry, so ‘The Plater’s Bench’ was a name that appealed to me. And of course I do work at a plater’s bench. It’s an 8-foot by 4-foot bench with a ½ inch-thick steel top. I made it myself – it’s not the kind of thing you can buy off the shelf!”

Even though he’s now working on a smaller scale than he used to, Owen says the skills he’s using are very much the same. “A lot of the job depends on measuring accurately and cutting precisely, and that’s equally important whatever size item you’re making. And yes, working with steel requires a certain amount of strength, but it’s technique, not brute force, that gets the job done.”

His favourite part of the process? “I love the actual fabrication, coming up with ideas and modifying them as I go along. What I don’t want to get involved with is the accounts – fortunately Audrey takes care of all that!”

The Plater’s Bench is at 17 Regency Mews, Northallerton. For more information visit theplatersbench.co.uk

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TOUCH TOURS get closer to our collection

selected Tuesdays from May to October

details and booking

greenhowards.org.uk

Richmond, North Yorkshire

Say it with wildflowers...

Give a Living Bouquet wildflower gift for £25 and help save our precious meadow habitats in the Yorkshire Dales and the wildlife they support.

Order now at livingbouquet.co.uk or call 015242 51002

Charity No. 1061687

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| SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

Treat yourself to a day out with a difference!

A visitor attraction unlike anywhere that you have been before, ideal for adventurers and those young at heart!

Explore The Forbidden Corner’s unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created within a four acre garden in the heart of Tupgill Park and the Yorkshire Dales.

Not everything is as it might seem, so keep your wits sharp for who knows what surprises wait around the next corner.

OPEN EVERY DAY

from 1st April to 31st October then Sundays until Christmas Monday to Saturday 12noon - 6pm Sundays & Bank Holidays 10am - 6pm (dusk if earlier)

Admission prices: Adults £14.50, Children £12.50, Seniors £13.50, Family ticket £50.00 (2 Adults & 2 children) Special group rates available - call for details

01969 640638

www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk

Tupgill Park Estate, Coverham, Middleham, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 4TJ

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Pink jacket and orange trousers

by Sandro, selfridges.com

Butter soft leather yellow shoulder bag by Lemaire, matchesfashion.com

Gold and sapphire ring from a selection at Pyramid Gallery, York, pyramidgallery.com

Chanel No 5 hair mist, Barkers Northallerton, barkers.co.uk

Matte lipstick by Vieve, available in 11 shades, vieve.co.uk

Dior Backstage highlighting palette, Fenwick of York, fenwick.co.uk

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Pink leather sliders by Russell & Bromley, Harrogate, russellandbromley.co.uk

Bronze Goddess shimmering body oil by Estée Lauder, Estée Lauder counters nationwide

White one-shoulder lace dress by Ulla Johnson, matchesfashion.com

Magnificent Metals glitter eyeshadow by Stila, Space NK Harrogate, spacenk.com

Small Loulou bag by Saint Laurent, netaporter.com

Suqqu melting powder blush, cultbeauty.co.uk

Le Phyto Rouge lipstick by Sisley, Space NK Harrogate, spacenk.com

Skin enhancing tinted serum by Rose Inc, roseinc.com

Pale blue gathered leather shoulder bag by Staud, harveynichols.com

Silver and gold ring with topaz from a selection at Pyramid Gallery, York, pyramidgallery.com

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DALESDIARY

SPRING

2022

Thorp Perrow Arboretum Bedale, DL8 2PS 01677 425323

thorpperrow.com

Spring Pruning Workshop

Easter Wreath Workshop

15 March

22 March

This illustrated talk and practical demonstration will start in the morning when we will cover the fundamentals of what, when, where and how to prune. After lunch you will be putting your new-found skills into practice in the Arboretum.

The workshop will take place both outdoors and in the Summer House, so sturdy footwear and gardening gloves are a must!

We believe that wreaths are for every season, and this workshop is a wonderful way to create a beautiful, nature-inspired door wreath to welcome family and friends to your home at Easter and to celebrate the joys of springtime. The morning workshop, led by our Curator, Faith Douglas, will take place in our beautiful Summer House.

Yoga & Wellness Retreat Days Various dates throughout the year Our Yoga & Wellness retreat days will be held in the beautiful Summer House overlooking Thorp Perrow’s private garden and lake. Enjoy seasonal juices, tea and coffee on arrival before preparing for a morning of yoga and guided meditation led

by Kelly (Yorkshire Yogi). A nutritious two-course lunch will start the afternoon off before you head into the Arboretum for forest bathing and a guided mindfulness walk around the gardens with Thorp Perrow’s Curator, Faith. Return to the Summer House for guided relaxation and an introduction to breathwork.

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Guided Daffodil Walk and Afternoon Tea in the House 7 April Join Curator Faith Douglas as she shares her passion for the season on a walk and talk around the Arboretum. Faith will show you the best of the daffodil collection and share some fascinating facts and tips along the way. Afterwards you will be welcomed into Thorp Perrow Hall for a traditional afternoon tea and a glass of champagne, served in the dining room overlooking the beautiful grounds.

The above activities are all ticketed events, please book via the Event Calendar links at thorpperrow.com

DALESDIARY SPRING 2022

Swaledale Festival Box office 01748 880019 Book online at swalefest.org

50th Anniversary Swaledale Festival 28 May to 11 June A programme of 50 music, arts and walking events to mark the festival’s 50th anniversary.

“It will combine the crème de la crème of Festival performers from the last decade, along with plenty of new faces and as many artists as possible who were scheduled to perform in 2020 and 2021 but couldn’t due to the pandemic,” says Artistic Director Malcolm Creese.

Tickets go on sale on Monday 14 March at swalefest. org. Under-25s can get tickets to every single event for just £3.

The 2022 programme will commence with a 50th anniversary gala performance of Handel’s Messiah in the splendour of Ripon Cathedral. The concert will feature two local choirs, a professional orchestra and world-renowned soloists.

Festivities continue with the legendary flamenco guitarist Paco Peña in the delightful setting of St. Andrew’s Church in Grinton, and the talented Brazilian classical guitarist Laura Mazon Franqui who will be making her first Festival appearance as part of the Young Artists Platform.

The festival is renowned for attracting classical stars to the Yorkshire Dales, and the stellar line-up this year includes violin virtuoso Alexander Markov, percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, the Hallé Cellos, the Sacconi and Brodsky Quartets, pianists Peter Donohoe and Noriko Ogawa, harpsichordist David Gordon and top vocal group VOCES8.

Outside of the classical genre, Will Pound and Jenn Butterworth will perform upbeat folk on harmonica and guitar, the Antonio Forcione Quartet will return with its infectious brand of world music, blues legends Dave Kelly and Bob Hall will play in Grinton, and Northumbrian pipes star Kathryn Tickell will appear with her band The Darkening. Doublebassist Creese’s jazz trio Acoustic Triangle, featuring saxophonist Tim Garland and pianist Gwilym Simcock, will make its first Festival appearance in a decade.

As well as the many musical events, the festival will also include a free Family Fun Day in Reeth, workshops, guided walks, talks, poetry, film, five free exhibitions and much more!

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DALESDIARY SPRING 2022

Green Howards Museum Trinity Church Square, Richmond, DL10 4QN 01748 826561 greenhowards.org.uk

Pop-Up Mess Fridays and Saturdays in April Enjoy hot drinks and baked treats in the stunning surroundings of the Normanby Room during your museum visit. Call ahead on 01748 826561 and we will book museum admission on your chosen day and reserve you a seat at one of our historic Mouseman tables.

Cost: £8 including museum admission, special exhibition entry and Pop-Up Mess refreshments.

Talk – Man of Mystery: the lives of John Purvis Thursday 21 April, 6.30pm An evening viewing and exhibition talk with curator Lynda Powell. Cost: £7.

Special Exhibition – Man of Mystery: the lives of John Purvis

Richmond Wander

Until 30 April

Wednesdays 20 April and 4 May, 2pm

Artist, teacher, soldier, archivist and reluctant war poet, this extraordinary Yorkshireman was interested in just about everything. This special exhibition uses the museum’s extensive Purvis collection to explore a life of multiple interwoven strands. Entry is included in museum admission (£5).

A stunning way to find out more about our town. Planes, prisoners, boats, boots, bridges, nurses, Normans, Belgians, castles and trains all feature! Starting from the museum you will take a walk round Richmond with your knowledgeable guide, enjoying the scenery and spotting the clues to its military past. Cost: £3.

Museum admission with Touch Tour 10 and 24 May, 7 and 21 June Curator Lynda Powell introduces you to some precious objects from our collection. They’ve been brought out from behind the glass of our gallery display cases for you to experience in person. Lynda will also explain why some of our collection is kept permanently under wraps, revealing the challenges of storage, conservation and display.

Why not bring a group and add a refreshments option to make your visit extra special?

Booking essential. Cost: £10.

Special Exhibition – Created in Conflict From Saturday 14 May Showcasing the artistic talents of soldiers who served, and exploring the motivation for creative expression during traumatic times. Entry is included in museum admission (£5).

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QUALITY

&

INTEGRITY

Getting precious items valued for sale can feel daunting so at Elstob&Elstob we pride ourselves on offering outstanding customer service and honest, credible advice. From antiques and jewellery to fine art and silver, our expert team will give you a realistic valuation and then market your items to our global network of buyers to achieve the best price on sale day.

For an online valuation please visit elstobandelstob.co.uk or call 01765 699200 to arrange a home visit.

TEL: 01765 699200 Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 101

DALESDIARY SPRING 2022

Kiplin Hall & Gardens

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

Near Scorton, Richmond, DL10 6AT 01748 818178 kiplinhall.co.uk

Crag Lane, Harrogate, HG3 1QB 01423 565418 rhs.org.uk/gardens/ harlow-carr/whats-on

Snowdrop Strolls Throughout March Step into spring at Kiplin Hall and Gardens, surrounded by swathes of snowdrops and spring flowers. Included with admission.

Coffee Culture

Cyclamen Show Saturday 2 April This event will provide inspiration for your garden at home. Featuring beautiful displays and a wealth of advice from specialist growers.

Thursday 17 March A relaxing afternoon talk with Kiplin’s curator Alice Rose plus coffee tasting with experts from Rounton Coffee. Discover the history of coffee culture through objects in the museum collection and taste carefully selected blends from around the world. Ticketed event. Pre-booking required.

A chat with the RSPB Sundays 27 March, 10 April and 8 May

Easter Holiday Giant Egg Hunt

The UK’s largest nature conservation charity camps out at Kiplin to chat with visitors about its work protecting birds and the environment.

9 to 24 April

Included with admission.

Vintage Vehicle Rally

Discover the giant painted eggs hidden around the garden for families and all ages to discover. Meet the garden detectives and enjoy forest school activities on selected days throughout the holidays.

Easter Sunday 17 April

Spring Gardening Weekend

Kiplin Hall and Gardens hosts a selection of privately owned vintage vehicles gathered on the lime tree avenue. Talk to the owners of these machines and enjoy the dramatic backdrop of the parklands and hall. An ideal day out for the family.

30 April to 1 May

Included with admission.

Enjoy a weekend of spring colour in the garden.

We’ll be hosting the RHS Tulip, Daffodil and Rhododendron competition throughout the weekend and visitors can enjoy specialist talks and demonstrations from gardener Martin Fish and floral designer Jonathan Moseley. There will be plenty of hints, tips and inspiration for your garden at home.

National Alpine Show Saturday 21 May A delightful event packed full of unusual plant cultivars both for sale and for show. Come and find plants that are a little different from the usual offering, grown by specialist nurseries.

AGS members receive free entry to the garden with a valid membership card, giving you the opportunity to see our stunning Alpine House during your visit.

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DALESDIARY SPRING 2022

Swinton Park Estate Masham, Ripon, HG4 4JH 01765 680900 swintonestate.com

Forest Bathing 24 March, 28 April and 16 June, 11am to 1pm

Humble Pie Cookery Kitchen Bear Cottage, Market Place, Hawes, DL8 3RD 07434 603590 humblepieyorkshire.co.uk

Join Faith Douglas of Forest Bathing UK for a woodland session of mindfulness surrounded by the serenity of the lakes and gardens in the parkland at the Swinton Country Club & Spa. Soak up the benefits of the woodland setting, which can reduce stress levels, balance mood disorders and improve your sense of wellbeing. £20 per person.

Wild About Wensleydale

Mother’s Day afternoon tea

Timeless Farmhouse Classics

25 March, 10am to 3pm A morning of baking and cooking using some of Wensleydale’s finest products. Perfect if you want to appreciate what amazing foods we have on the doorstep. £85 including all ingredients and delicious food to take home with you.

Sunday 27 March

1 April, 10am to 4pm

Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea at Swinton Park, served in the elegant Georgian drawing room or Samuel’s Restaurant, where beautiful windows allow the spring sunlight to flood in. Includes a special gift. £40 per person.

We’re going to spend a full day cooking some beautiful old-fashioned farmhouse food, with recipes that you will recreate for years to come.

A great way to spend a day with friends – or come on your own and make some new ones! £110 including all ingredients, lunch and lots of delicious food to take home.

Woodland School 13 and 20 April, 10am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm The Woodland School at Swinton Bivouac is all about exploring the great outdoors and learning about it through play and exciting activities in the Druid’s Plantation. We help children explore nature, with a different theme each week.

13 April theme is celebrating nettles, eggs and nests. 20 April theme is fish skin tanning and woodwork key rings. £15 per child.

All the above events can be booked by calling 01765 680900 or emailing reservations@ swintonestate.com

Basic Bread Making 9 April, 10am to 4pm Come and have a day of relaxing bread making – all by hand, no machines – and learn techniques and tips on how to adapt recipes to make other foods. It will be a good workout too! Cost: £110.

Sumptuous Afternoon Tea 26 April, 11:30am to 3:30pm Come and enjoy an afternoon of joyful baking and take away a box full of delights for your partner/ friend to sample what you’ve been up to. Learn different techniques and how to whip up little treats for unexpected guests. Cost: £65.

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SWINTON E S TAT E

Discover, visit, stay...

swintonestate.com • reservations@swintonestate.com • 01765 680900 • Swinton Estate, Masham, Ripon, HG4 4JH Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 105

Running Wild Liz Hanson shapes up at a Wildfitness retreat in Menorca 106 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

ildfitness has been offering what it describes as ‘transformative fitness holidays’ since the company was founded in 2001. Currently it operates in Menorca, Crete and Iceland, but in the past Wildfitness has organised retreats in a variety of locations worldwide, including Kenya, Costa Rica, upstate New York and the Scottish Highlands. “The beauty of what we do is that we can adapt to any location,” says owner, CEO and chief coach Hannah Beadle.

Wildfitness’ aim, explains Hannah, “is to encourage and develop the practice of listening to your body and mind and responding to your instinctual needs.” Its six- or thirteen-day retreats are designed to help participants learn to respect their bodies’ natural rhythms and to move and exercise outdoors in a natural way whilst eating healthy, simple, delicious locally sourced food.

Groups are kept small, and usually consist of between eight and twelve people. “We don’t want to be a boot camp with 25 per class,” says Hannah.

“With our ratio of three coaches to twelve participants we can give everyone individual attention and make sure they get as much from the experience as possible.”

Wildfitness retreats revolve around a number of ‘signature sessions’, each based on the idea of reconnecting with forms of motion that would have come naturally to our ancestors before modern civilisation caused most of us to lose touch with them.

‘Wild Lifting, Carrying and Throwing’, for example, questions received wisdom about handling heavy objects, and teaches participants how to lift, carry and move weights safely and effectively in real-world scenarios.

‘Wild Flow’ combines elements of yoga, gymnastics, martial arts and dance to reconnect mind and body.

‘Low Gait Locomotion’ takes inspiration from how wild animals move to explore how to move effectively over tricky or challenging surfaces.

‘Natural Running’ stresses the fact that running is a natural movement and seeks to help us do it more effectively.

A typical Wildfitness day starts before breakfast with the most intensive activity session of the day.

Breakfast is followed by activities that are intense but a little more skill-based, with another skillbased session after lunch. That’s followed by some R&R and a massage from the in-house masseuse.

“Rest and relaxation are hugely important,” says Hannah, “and not something we need to feel guilty about!” There will then be a daily workshop about a topic such as sleep or nutrition prior to an evening mobility session and a well-earned dinner.

“I believe that nobody else does what we do here at Wildfitness in terms of pulling everything together and looking at the whole picture, both body and mind,” says Hannah. “And you can easily incorporate what you learn with us into your daily routine. People tell us that we have transformed their lives, and for me that’s definitely the most satisfying part of the job – you can’t ask for better than that!”

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MY VERDICT:

Definitely Different!

Menorca is the perfect place for a wellness transformation. The Mediterranean island is totally unspoiled, and thanks to its balmy climate it’s the ideal setting in which to exercise outdoors all year round. No wonder Wildfitness guests keep coming back year after year.

The retreat was held at and around Binigaus Nou, a luxurious boutique villa at the heart of a 300-acre estate in a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve. It enjoys extensive sea views and its own direct access to one of the best beaches on the island, which is where many of our fitness activities took place.

What with the breathtaking scenery and wealth of local wildlife – including exotic birds, handsome butterflies and colourful wild orchids – it’s a truly magical spot.

There were five of us in the group – or tribe, as Hannah liked to call us. Some had already been in residence for a week, so I had some serious catching up to do. From the moment I arrived the action was pretty much non-stop. We found ourselves doing a huge variety of different activities, ranging from running, boxing, yoga, circuit classes and rounders to hiking, throwing rocks in a cave and playing frisbee on the beach.

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It was challenging – you are definitely pushed to your limits – but great fun too. I found the first three days absolutely exhausting, and there were times I really could have given up, but Hannah encouraged me and kept me going. By day four things had started to fall into place. My fitness improved dramatically and I found myself feeling a lot more confident.

An important part of any break is the food, which in the case of Binigaus Nou was outstanding. Everything was natural, organic, and meticulously prepared by our own private chef.

Highlights included freshly caught fish drizzled with olive oil, lusciously creamy cheeses, rich stews, mouthwatering soups, tasty organic meats and vibrant Mediterranean fruits and vegetables.

I arrived back home feeling totally rejuvenated.

The gym is a thing of the past and I am out in the fresh air almost every day. Even my dog Wilma is happier, because now she gets to play far more ball games than before!

I had been a little sceptical at the outset – especially since Wildfitness is so very different from everything else on offer – but the week I spent there totally won me over. Clearly one of the reasons for its success is the fact that Hannah and the other coaches are genuinely passionate about what they do. Being gently but firmly pushed out of my comfort zone has definitely paid long-term health dividends.

For more information visit wildfitness.com

• CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY • PSYCHOTHERAPY • HYPNOTHERAPY • REFLEXOLOGY • COUNSELLING • TRANSFORMATION COACHING • MINDFULNESS • CHILD & TEEN THERAPY • EQUINE CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY Team member, Lulu Ferrand

To book please go to our website or call 07887 506163 to discuss a treatment suitable for you.

Tanfield Wellness offers a holistic approach to healing - specialising in trauma, stress and anxiety, parent/child and family issues and chronic pain.

Visit www.tanfieldwellness.co.uk for further details.

No matter what is holding you back, emotional or physical, we can help you rebalance and get back on track.

We are looking for distribution agents In Bedale, Leyburn, Richmond, Northallerton and surrounding areas.

Excellent rates paid.

Contact sue@daleslife.com for further details

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 109

Why book with us?

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Booking flexibility, with local personalised service

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Trusted suppliers, offering the most authentic experiences

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ATOL & ABTA protection, for financial peace of mind

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Extensive travel knowledge and experience for all holiday types

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No ‘one size fits all’ trips, only ones planned with you in mind

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No stress, only support where you need it

6823

CONTACT ONE OF OUR YORKSHIRE BRANCHES TODAY: BOROUGHBRIDGE 01423 324545 york@speartravels.net

HELMSLEY 01439 770456

helmsley@speartravels.net

40 High Street, Boroughbridge, YO51 9AW

9 Market Place, Helmsley, YO62 5BL

NORTHALLERTON 01609 779821

STOKESLEY 01642 710698

northallerton@speartravels.net

5-6 Market Row, Barkers Arcade, DL7 8LN 110 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

stokesley@speartravels.net 2 High Street, Stokesley, TS9 5DQ

On Home Ground How Broadacres Housing Association is helping rural communities thrive

Sowerby Gateway Site

uring the last few years it has become increasingly difficult for young people to get on the property ladder.

Here in North Yorkshire, second-homers and buyto-letters have been snapping up desirable country cottages. The pandemic has piled on the pressure still further as urban professionals with deep pockets – now geared up to working from home – seek to flee the cities in search of rural seclusion.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Northallertonbased Broadacres Housing Association is one of the local organisations fighting to redress the balance. This innovative, not-for-profit business manages more than 6,500 rental and shared-ownership properties in Richmondshire, Hambleton, Darlington, Harrogate, the North Yorkshire Moors and elsewhere in the North East. And they are looking to invest millions more in affordable housing in years to come – both new-builds and sympathetic refurbishments of existing properties.

KEEPING IT LOCAL “Having affordable local housing gives the younger generation a chance to live where they grew up and where they work, and – via shared ownership – to get a foot on the housing ladder,” says Broadacres’ Sales and Marketing Manager Maria Baker. “It keeps rural communities alive.”

Projects currently in hand include a £9.2 million affordable housing development on the site of the former Tall Trees hotel and nightclub in Yarm. Here Broadacres will be building 79 homes for affordable rent, with a further 35 properties to be offered for sale – including shared-ownership sales – by Broadacres’ private development arm, Mulberry Homes Yorkshire.

Profits from sales like these are used to support the development of new rented homes.

Another current Broadacres project is in Sedbergh, where plans are afoot to create 50 homes, stone-built and rendered in keeping with the local architecture, 34 of which will be for affordable rent and shared ownership, with people in Sedbergh and surrounding communities being given first refusal on these properties.

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111

Heather Court, West Witton

Meanwhile in Sowerby, near Thirsk, a £12 million scheme aims to build 97 properties, 59 for affordable rent to be allocated to people with a connection to Sowerby and the surrounding area and 38 for shared ownership.

And in West Witton, six new homes have already been reserved on discounted sale, with a further two for rent.

S E T T I N G S TA N D A R D S In all its projects, Broadacres is determined to meet high standards, not only as regards the quality and comfort of the accommodation but also in terms of the increasingly important criteria of sustainability and energy efficiency. And energy efficiency will, of course, in turn help tackle the problem of fuel poverty.

Broadacres aims to become a net carbon zero business by 2050. New-build properties are being fitted with energy-efficient heating systems such as air source heat pumps.

Older properties under their care are benefitting too, and are gradually being retrofitted with improved insulation and new technology to replace inefficient storage heaters and gas boilers.

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True to its lofty ideals, Broadacres is also an enthusiastic contributor to a wide range of community initiatives. Three food banks – Hambleton FoodShare in Northallerton, the Influence Church in Richmond and Community Works in Thirsk – have received generous donations from the company. And recent beneficiaries of the Broadacres Community Development Fund have included Wensleydale School, the Upper Dales Community Partnership and East Thirsk Community Hall.

energy efficiency will help tackle the problem of fuel poverty.

If towns and villages in rural North Yorkshire are to remain vigorous and healthy, it’s essential that they don’t become the exclusive preserve of the wealthy or degenerate into glorified holiday resorts. Charities like Broadacres are doing their best to help local folk stay local, so let’s wish them every success in their mission.

For more information visit broadacres.org.uk and mulberryhomesyorkshire.com

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Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

113

NORMAN F. BROWN CHARTERED SURVEYORS  ESTATE AGENTS  LETTINGS

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Selling and letting property since 1967

A detached traditional cottage.

Entrance porch, lounge/dining room, kitchen, utility room, G/F shower room/ WC, 2 bedrooms, electric storage heating, double glazing. Contents available by separate negotiation. EER F27.

A well proportioned detached family house. Entrance porch, hall, lounge, dining room, study, kitchen, utility room, cloakroom/WC, 4 bedrooms, bathroom, separate WC, garage, ample parking, front, side, and rear gardens, oil fired central heating, UPVC double glazing. EER E53.

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A high quality detached bungalow.

Entrance hall, lounge, kitchen/dining room, inner hall, 3 bedrooms, en-suite shower room/WC, bathroom/WC, double garage, ample parking, front and rear gardens, gas fired C/H, UPVC D/G, security alarm, hardwired BT Wi-fi system, 10 year NHBC Guarantee from 2018. EER 84, EIR 86.

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01969 622194

Richard J Ellis Project Management is an innovative construction project management consultancy based in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. We pride ourselves in utilising our experience to provide our clients with an efficient, flexible approach tailored specifically to their project needs.

If you are considering a project of any size then we would be delighted to hear from you.

Why not contact us to find out more and how we can support you with your project to make it enjoyable and a success.

Richard J Ellis BSc (Hons) FCIOB MAPM Chartered Construction Manager t: 01969 625721 m: 07522 956892 e: Richard@rjepm.co.uk w: www.rjepm.co.uk 114 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

LETTER OF THE LAW

Will Power In the first of a new series exploring legal issues, we talk to Michael McGarry of McGarry & Co Solicitors about making a will

Michael McGarry began legal practice in Hawes in 1997 and established McGarry & Co in Barnard Castle in 2011. The business expanded rapidly, and now has offices in Hawes, Sedbergh and Leyburn.

“Ours is a fairly traditional rural practice,” says Michael, “and I enjoy dealing with a variety of clients in a range of different circumstances.

Nowadays I sometimes find myself acting for grandchildren of clients I advised when I started out – it’s nice to have that sense of continuity!”

Fewer than half of British adults have made a will. It’s one of those jobs that somehow keep getting edged down the ‘to do’ list.

Talking to Michael McGarry, though, it’s clear that there’s no room for complacency.

“Things might work out fine if you don’t have a will – but then again they might not. The law is very rigid when it comes to intestacy.

Without a will there can be unforeseen outcomes that you wouldn’t be happy about.

“For example, many people think that if you die without a will your spouse inherits everything you own. But that’s not always so.”

“If your estate is worth more than £270,000, then your personal possessions and the first £270,000 go to your spouse.

“As for everything in excess of that figure, half will go to your spouse and half to your children as soon as they turn 18. Depending on how responsible your children are with money, that might not be a good idea!

“And some circumstances could result in your estate going to someone you don’t want to inherit. Suppose you and your family died in a car crash. Your estate would then be inherited by the nearest blood relative of whoever was deemed to have died last out of yourself and your spouse – to a parent, sister or cousin perhaps – whereas you might have preferred it to go to, say, a charity.

“Nowadays more and more people are living together without getting married, creating another potential problem. Just because two people live together doesn’t entitle the surviving partner to a share of the estate. The notion of a ‘common law spouse’ has no legal standing.

A couple could live together for thirty years, but without a will the survivor wouldn’t inherit anything. They would be reliant on the good will of others, or on seeking a court decision, to restore some semblance of balance.”

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 115

MONEY WELL SPENT So how easy is it to make a will? And what will it cost?

“Making a will is usually fairly straightforward, but that’s not to say it’s a good idea to buy a DIY will online. In fact it’s amazing how often people make a homemade will that turns out not to work.

If the wording isn’t exactly right there can be unintended consequences.

“Making a will through a solicitor isn’t actually that expensive. For a simple single will you could expect to pay around £150, and for mirror wills for a couple, around £200 each.

Obviously your circumstances might be more complicated, in which case we would discuss costs with you beforehand. But you’ll have the security of knowing that in the unlikely event of something going wrong, you and your beneficiaries are insured through our professional indemnity insurance.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Before you visit a solicitor to discuss your will, what preparations can you make?

“Make a list of your assets, bearing in mind these might be more than just your house and what’s in your bank account – a pension plan or a business, for example.

“Think about the members of your family, or people you treat as family members.”

116 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

“Who do you want to benefit, and what are their circumstances? For example, if you have children from a previous marriage you might not want to give everything to your surviving spouse. And as regards children under 18, who do you want to look after them, and where they are to live? Do you have a relative with an illness or disability who needs looking after?

“You may also want to think about protecting your estate against care home fees, and about ways to reduce inheritance tax.

“Start a conversation with your partner or a close friend about who could be your executor.

Whilst your solicitor or accountant can take a role, it may be better to have someone with a personal connection who understands the family dynamics. Can they cope with the stress of sorting out your affairs, and possibly dealing with demanding beneficiaries? Also, remember to discuss what arrangements you want made for your funeral.

“Finally, once you’ve made a will, it’s important to review it from time to time as your circumstances change. This doesn’t have to involve a professional solicitor – simply take your will out of the drawer and ask yourself whether it still does what you want it to.”

For more information about McGarry & Co Solicitors visit mbmcgarry.co.uk

Discover your next home today Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

117

NORMAN F. BROWN CHARTERED SURVEYORS  ESTATE AGENTS  LETTINGS

CH NO AI N

Selling and letting property since 1967

A well proportioned detached house occupying a pleasant corner site position.

Some updating required. Entrance hall, lounge, dining room, kitchen, study, cloakroom/WC, integral garage, 2 double bedrooms, shower room/WC, driveway, front, rear and side gardens, LPG gas fired C/H, UPVC D/G. EER F23.

An attractive former Methodist chapel converted into a detached home with dining kitchen & sitting room and modern bathroom to the first floor. The property benefits from double glazed windows, LPG fired heating system, off street parking. EER E46.

The Old Weslyan Chapel, Thirn

Green Acres, Morton on Swale

£250,000 Leyburn Office

£275,000 Bedale Office

£450,000 Bedale Office

Hargill, Harmby

14 Queens Rd, Richmond

01748 822473

6 Bridge Street, Bedale

01677 422282

A stunning, spacious detached bungalow located at the head of a quiet cul-desac. With three double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a contemporary styled kitchen. The property also benefits from a substantial driveway, double garage plus a private and enclosed garden. EER E50.

25 Market Place, Leyburn

01969 622194

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118 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

Your Legal Companion for Family Matters • Separation & divorce • Contact with children

or grandchildren • Civil partnership

dissolution

Reassuring

& Sensitive

When there is no turning back, find comfort in looking forward

Offices At:

Barnard Castle

Sedbergh

Hawes

Leyburn

t. 01833 600 160

t. 015396 223 40

t. 01969 666 290

t. 01969 621 230

21 Galgate, Barnard Castle Co. Durham DL12 8EQ DX 61665 Barnard Castle

54 Main Street Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5AB

Market Place Hawes, North Yorkshire DL8 3QS

7 Railway Street Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 5EH

mbmcgarry.co.uk

e. office@mbmcgarry.co.uk

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 119 Authorised and regulated by The Solicitors Regulation Authority Number 606950

Chartered Surveyors, Auctioneers, Valuers, Land & Estate Agents covering North Yorkshire and South Durham.

Specialising in the sale & valuation of farms, land, small holdings, woodlands & rural property.

• Valuations for Taxation and Probate • Compulsory Purchase Compensation • Environmental Grants and Services

• Planning Appraisals • Landlord and Tenant • Development Land

www.robinjessop.co.uk 01677 425950

01969 622800

CHARTERED SURVEYORS, AUCTIONEERS, VALUERS & ESTATE AGENTS

120 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

On the market

Our regular round-up of beautiful properties for sale in Yorkshire.

BRIM HOUSE FARM, EAVESTONE A desirable grass farm and equestrian holding extending to 45.81 acres.

Offers In Excess of £1.25M Robin Jessop Ltd. 01677 425950 robinjessop.co.uk

GOULTON HOLME FARM, SWAINBY A smallholding with farmhouse & general farm buildings extending to 17 acres.

Offers In Excess of £575,000 Robin Jessop Ltd. 01677 425950 robinjessop.co.uk

FITZROY HOUSE, LEYBURN

LOW MOOR LODGE, REETH

A detached five-bedroom family house with large garden.

Guide Price Range: £525,000 - £550,000 Robin Jessop Ltd. 01969 622800 robinjessop.co.uk

A four-bedroom detached house in need of modernisation with large gardens & stunning views.

Offers In Excess of £450,000 Robin Jessop Ltd. 01969 622800 robinjessop.co.uk

TOLL CREST, LEEMING An immaculate three-bedroom detached bungalow set in 1.67 acres.

Guide Price Range: £425,000 - £435,000 Robin Jessop Ltd. 01677 425950 robinjessop.co.uk

ORCHARD COTTAGE, CARLTON A traditional country cottage with two double bedrooms, large gardens & off-road parking.

Offers In Excess of £325,000 Robin Jessop Ltd. 01969 622800 robinjessop.co.uk Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 121

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122 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

Hearing problems? Maybe it’s earwax

EARWAX REMOVAL In your own home, or in our local centre Fully quali ed and accredited hearing care professionals are pleased to offer earwax removal appointments in our in a pharmacy near you or in the comfort of your own home—with all current Covid 19 safety measures in place

BLOCKED EARWAX CAN CAUSE • Trapped bacteria leading to infections • Temporary loss of hearing • Ear pain • Social anxiety • Itchiness • Tinnitus

Our trained and quali ed practitioners use the very latest in micro suction techniques to offer a completely safe and pain-free service bringing instant relief from all discomfort caused by excess earwax

TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

CALL 0800 038 5975 TODAY

Premier Hearing Limited enquires@premierhearing.co.uk For the nearest clinic to you www.premierhearing.co.uk Philip@premierhearing.co.uk

FREE ANY HEARING AID SERVICED

Professional, Independent & Impartial Advice for a Hearing Solution That’s perfect for You

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 123

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A subscription makes a perfect gift for friends and family too.

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124 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

John Blenkiron & Sons Funeral Directors

Founded by John Blenkiron in 1967 and now managed by his twin sons James and John, we serve the communities of North Yorkshire and County Durham from our offices in Richmond and Barnard Castle. The brothers are supported by a team of ten loyal and dedicated staff including their sister Sarah and their niece Rebecca.

We are passionate about providing the highest levels of care to families and service to our community, maintaining the reputation we have helped to build up over more than 50 years.

Call us for immediate support, advice or to arrange a home visit.

We are here to help 24 hours a day.

Prepaid funeral plans also available.

Richmond

Barnard Castle

Catterick

01748 850 033

01833 695 444

01748 529 168

Leyburn

Northallerton

01969 625 048

01609 780 004

www.blenkirons.co.uk

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 125

The Millings Residential, Respite & day CaRe Home foR oldeR people RATED AS

OUTSTANDING

BY CQC

Where there’s no age limit on fun north end, Bedale, north yorkshire dl8 1af Tel: 01677 423635 www.residential-homes.net

Collect your copy from: Booths, Ripon | Milners of Leyburn The Co-Op, Masham | The Black Sheep, Masham Bear Cottage, Hawes | Dovetail Interiors, Bedale Fairhursts, Swinithwaite Tennants of Leyburn Mainsgill Farm Shop, Richmond Wensleydale Creamery, Hawes

daleslife.com

126 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

FRANKLYN CARE HOMES DEDICATED TO QUALITY CARE We pride ourselves in creating a home from home, in a welcoming atmosphere.

Our Residents enjoy savouring our fabulous restaurant quality meals and afternoon teas as well as enjoying daily activities. All our homes have an excellent reputation in the local community.

A Home for life.

Our managers are happy to chat about your requirements - Respite stays currently available

www.thefranklyngroup.com

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 127

to dine for Great places to eat and stay in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales

128 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

SIMONSTONE HALL THE SADDLE ROOM Coverdale

Grand honest food cooked to perfection, all locally sourced and freshly prepared. Situated on the Tupgill Park Estate near Middleham in the heart of the Dales, The Saddle Room also has nine bed and breakfast units, seven cottages and a wedding venue that will seat 120 people. thesaddleroom.co.uk 01969 640596

THE BLACK SWAN

Hawes

Hearty country house favourites and stunning restaurant dishes showcasing fresh ingredients from the Simonstone Estate, Wensleydale and the North of England. Seasonal elements are combined in creative and exciting combinations to reimagine and refine British classics. Our Chef’s Table private dining experience is new for 2022. simonstonehall.com 01969 667255

SWINTON ESTATE Masham

The Black Swan at Fearby, near Masham, is a 17th century inn offering a warm welcome, local beers and four-star rooms with fine views of the local moors. The menu and ever-changing specials board feature top quality homemade food based around fresh, seasonal local ingredients.

From the award-winning, fine-dining experience in the grandeur of Samuel’s Restaurant to the more relaxed AA Rosette Terrace Restaurant and Bar, serving morning coffee, lunch, dinner and fabulous cocktails. Both restaurants showcase local and seasonal produce with much from the estate and four-acre walled garden.

blackswan-masham.co.uk 01765 689477

swintonestate.com 01765 680900

Fearby

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 | 129

STONE HOUSE HOTEL Sedbusk

THE WHITE BEAR

This elegant country house hotel near Hawes now has a new look and an exciting new bar area. With 24 well-appointed guest bedrooms and an award-winning restaurant, it’s the perfect base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales. Open daily for light lunches and dinners. Menus change daily and include the freshest ingredients from the Dales and Yorkshire coast.

The White Bear’s talented chefs use locally sourced ingredients to create delicious seasonal dishes, and there’s an extensive wine list to complement the menu. You can enjoy your meal in the charming dining room or the traditional bar, with open fires creating a cosy atmosphere throughout.

stonehousehotel.co.uk 01969 667571

whitebearmasham.co.uk 01765 689319

THE SANDPIPER INN

TENNANTS GARDEN ROOMS

Sample award-winning chef Jonathan Harrison’s unique take on modern British cooking in The Sandpiper’s 40-seater restaurant or the cosy traditional bar serving local ales, fine wines and an extensive range of whiskies. There are two tasteful boutiquestyle en-suite doubles for overnight guests.

The Garden Rooms Bistro offers exceptional food in a unique setting. The passionate kitchen brigade pride themselves on delivering beautifully crafted dishes using the best Yorkshire produce; each highly seasonal menu offers an affordable choice of classic and modern British food delivered with outstanding service.

sandpiperinn.co.uk 01969 622206

tennantsgardenrooms.com 01969 621146

Leyburn

130 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

Masham

Leyburn

Family Law

Property Law

Business Advice

Employment Law

Wills, Probate & Family Trusts

Estate Planning

Lasting Powers of Attorney

Advising the Elderly

Farming & Agriculture

Dispute Resolution

FAMILY LAW CLINIC We also run a family law clinic once a

For help and legal advice call

week at our Bedale and Ripon offices.

Bedale 01677 422422 Ripon 01765 601717 Thirsk 01845 522324 www.eccles-heddon.co.uk

Please telephone Jane Midgley at Bedale or Liz Kidd at Ripon to book a FREE 30-minute consultation.

Dales Life | SPRING 2022 |

131

Be Inspired New kitchen recently installed by Holme Design

VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS Unit 1, The Craft Yard, The Station, Bedale, North Yorkshire DL8 1AW 85 High Street, Northallerton DL7 8PP Call 01677 424669 or 01609 770777 for more information or to arrange a free design consultation 132 | SPRING 2022 | Dales Life

www.holmedesign.com