THIS swan has built its somewhat ramshackle nest - made up of twigs and grass - at the side of the picnic area and car park next to the Leeds-Liverpool canal in Bradley. It was content to hatch its young about six feet from the road, protected by a stone wall, but in full view of picnickers, walkers and motorists queuing when the swing bridge was closed to allow narrowboats to pass.

One of the original Calendar Girls, Angela Baker, is to speak about her life and rubbing shoulders with Gary Barlow at an event supporting Marie Curie and its Bradford hospice. Organisers hope around 200 people will support the event which will be held at the city centre’s Midland Hotel on Thursday, May 7. Angela, who lives in Linton Falls, lost husband John Baker in 1998 to Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Following his death, she decided to raise money for Lymphoma and Leukaemia Research and, with fellow members of Rylstone and District WI, posed naked for a charity calendar. The women’s story was then turned into a film starring Julie Walters and Dame Helen Mirren in 2003 and five years later it became a stage play. So far almost £4 million has been raised for the charity, with more to follow. The story is about to take centre stage again when a new musical penned by Take That’s Gary Barlow and Tim Firth opens at The Grand, Leeds, in November. “I’m hoping Angela will be quite a draw because they’re just about to launch their musical with Gary Barlow who was up here recently,” said Marie Curie fundraiser Sharon Link. “She’ll be talking about the experience of meeting Gary in her speech.” Tables are available at £400 each or individual tickets at £40 a head which includes a two-course lunch, coffee and a pre-lunch drinks reception with canapes. For further information or to buy tickets, contact Mrs Link by emailing Sharon.Link@marie.curie.org.uk or calling 01274 337036.

Runners and walkers are being urged to tackle Craven’s famous Three Peaks. This time, the plea comes from Cancer Support Bradford and Airedale, which has just opened an office on Otley Street, Skipton. Those taking part will be challenged to complete the 24-mile walk, taking in the peaks of Penyghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, in 12 hours on Saturday, June 6. To sign up, email fundraising@bradfordcancersupport.org.uk, visit bradford cancersupport.org.uk or call 01274 202226.

Skipton opticians Specsavers have come up with a novel way of raising money for charity. Throughout the year, it won’t be charging people to repair their glasses, but it will be asking for a donation to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution instead. Already, staff have collected more than £36 - and we are only just out of winter. In addition the branch says it will match every penny raised. “We all appreciate the hard work that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution does, and we’re honoured to do our small part to help,” said store director Justine Sturtivant. And Rodney Rolent, treasurer of the Skipton branch of the RNLI, said they were grateful for the support. “The RNLI has been pioneering developments in lifesaving at sea since 1824 and donations like this are crucial in what we do.”

One hundred years ago, early on World War One, the 35th annual report of the medical officer for Craven revealed the lowest ever birth rate for the district. Across the whole of Craven, a total of 1,288 live births had been recorded, a birth rate of 16.9 per 1,000. Some 771 births were recorded in rural districts, and 513 in urban areas, with the highest number in Settle. It is interesting to note, that in 2009, just 474 births were recorded in Craven. The birth rate of was the lowest in North Yorkshire.

Talking of births, mums-to-be deciding where they want to have their babies can now view a new Stork Walk video from Airedale Hospital’s newly refurbished maternity unit. It was made to provide pregnant women with all the information they need to make the decision about where to give birth, showing various departments within maternity including, labour ward, the midwifery-led unit, neonatal unit, antenatal clinic and the maternity assessment centre. It also aims to answer any questions expectant parents might have. The video can be viewed online at airedale-trust.nhs.uk/services/maternity-services.

Northern Rail has launched a competition to find budding train fans and artists. The UK’s largest rail company wants to give under fives the chance to have their very own ticket to travel, despite the fact they travel free of charge. Richard Allan, commercial director for Northern, explains: “We know that young children are excited to travel by train and can be disappointed when the conductor comes around to check tickets when they don’t have one. We want to give all the children who travel on our services the chance to have a special ticket, get it checked and to give them the opportunity to learn from a young age what it means to travel on a train.” Entrants must be ten years or under and the winning design will be printed to the same size and shape of traditional rail tickets. The winner will also receive £20 worth of vouchers to spend in WHSmith and a family day ticket to travel anywhere on Northern’s trains. Designs can be emailed to simonsays@northernrail.org or posted into Simon Says Competition, Communications Department, 6 Floor Northern House, 9 Rougier Street, York, YO1 6HZ to be received by Friday, May 1. For more information, visit northernrail.org/simonsays.

Dolly the sheep has a new home. The sheep statue used to stand outside Skipton Auto Services, but was put up for sale when owner David Baxter retired. She has been bought by former mayor John Kerwin-Davey and stands proud in his roof garden above the town centre. Dolly has had a chequered life - she took pride of place outside Skipton Town Hall during its Flock to Skipton art trail in 2010. However, vandals cut off her head and threw her remains into the canal. She was eventually rescued and restored by David.

Tiny quilts for premature babies at Airedale’s neonatal unit will be created by patchwork experts at a special quilting session next month. The Airedale area Linus Project is holding a “quilting bee” to make incubator quilts at Cullingworth Village Hall from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, May 3. The Linus Project is an international charity which provides quilts for sick children and for children in need. Most of the quilts made by the Airedale group are patchwork and quilted on the sewing machine, although some are donated by hand quilters and a few are knitted or crocheted. The children and babies are given the quilts to keep. Local co-ordinator Alison Hardwick said: “We have already donated many quilts to the neonatal unit and the children’s ward at Airedale Hospital and this is truly an international project. We have received donations of quilts from American quilting friends for our Linus Day in May.” Anyone wishing to take part should contact Alison on alison.hardwick@btinternet.com to book and they will need to bring their own sewing machine.