AS Skipton prepares to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, High Corn Mill owner Andrew Mear reflected on the historic event. “Although the mill wasn’t built until 1310, there was a corn mill at the castle and the links between the two remain strong to this day,” he said. Originally built to mill Skipton’s corn, visitors to the town can enjoy the mill’s selection of retail, beauty and wellness outlets as well as the historical Waterwheel House which houses the original water wheel and a hydroelectric turbine creating enough energy to power up to 20 homes around the area via the National Grid.

Summer is here and flowers are flourishing. And, across Craven, communities are holding open garden fundraisers to help local good causes. Settle will hold its event this weekend, with a number of gardens open from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and noon and 5pm on Sunday. Tickets cost £6 per day or £10 for a two-day ticket and are available from Settle Tourist Information Centre, Field and Home or via 01729 822090. Malhamdale will take centre stage next weekend, June 27 and 28, when visitors will be able to stroll around 13 gardens in Kirkby Malham, Malham, Airton and Calton. Tickets and teas will be available at Kirkby Malham Village Hall from noon to 4pm and all proceeds will go towards repairing the theft-damaged roof at the village’s St Michael’s Church – also known as the Cathedral of the Dales. And garden enthusiasts will be able to discover Gargrave’s gems next month. It is holding its annual open gardens event on Saturday, July 4, from 11am to 5pm. There will be a variety of gardens to explore – including one in neighbouring Bell Busk – and there will be live music in gardens and other venues throughout the village. Refreshments, lunches and ice creams will be available in Gargrave Village Hall as well as children’s quiz sheets and a plant stall. Proceeds will go to St Andrew’s Church. Advanced garden “passports” costing £3 will be on sale at Twin Locks Garden Centre and Crossgates, The Barn, North Street, while passports on the day will cost £4 from the village hall. For further information, call 01756 749443.

Broughton-based Silver Cross has bought home one of the company’s first ever patented sprung prams. Dating from 1878, Silver Cross says it is “truly remarkable” that it has survived and returned home in its original, un-restored condition. The pram, made by William Wilson, of Hunslett, Leeds, was the star of the show when it was sold at specialist auction house, Vectis. It will now form the centrepiece of a display charting the history of Silver Cross at its Broughton base. “We are absolutely delighted to have had the opportunity to bring the original historical pram back home,” said Nick Paxton, Silver Cross chief officer. “When we heard the pram was up for auction, it was a must have purchase for Silver Cross. We are a close team and our heritage is considered in every product we create. Having a piece of design history on site is a dream come true, an everyday reminder of the Silver Cross journey.”

The search is on for the region’s most active over 65 year old. Launched by well-known celebrity fitness guru Mr Motivator, who at 62 still keeps fit and healthy with regular workouts that used to keep the UK energised every morning in the 90’s, the Older Actives competition, sponsored by Ateronon, is searching for nine regional winners from around the country, culminating in an overall national winner taking the crown. But fear not, the winner won’t just be chosen for running nine marathons or being a veteran cyclist who completes 30 miles a day. It can be any form of exercise that wins the competition, whether that’s enjoying swimming, going to weekly Zumba classes or maybe you have a prize kept garden, as long as it keeps you fit and healthy and you enter, you have a chance of winning. You can enter the competition via post, online at olderactives.co.uk or call 0845 505 0090 for more information.

There is still time to sign up for Cancer Support’s First Moonlight Walk in Skipton. The five-kilometre sponsored walk will start from St Andrew’s Church Hall, Newmarket Street, next Friday, June 26, and proceeds will go to the charity’s new centre on Otley Street. Fundraiser Linda Enderby said: “This event is a fun walk open to everyone. Fancy dress is optional but sensible footwear is absolutely essential.” Fundraising packs are available to download at bradfordcancersupport.org.uk and for more information contact the fundraising team on 01274 202226.

Children in the reception class at Skipton’s Greatwood Community Primary School have been learning all about small animals. As part of their mini-beasts project, they have picked up some fascinating facts and explored the school grounds to see what they could find lurking under bushes. To end it all, they dressed up as their favourite mini beast.

A Dales business with links to Nepal raised more than £1500 for the earthquake recovery fund. Kilnsey Park Estate organised a fundraising dinner and donated money from its café. Estate owner Jamie Roberts, who spent two years living and working in Nepal, teaching English and helping to conserve traditional buildings, said: “As soon as I heard about the earthquake I knew that we had to help in some way. Nepal is a wonderful country and its people are some of the friendliest imaginable.’ More than 40 guests attended the dinner in the estate café, enjoying authentic Nepalese cuisine cooked by chef Peter Chevin before hearing a talk by Jamie about his experiences in the Himalayas. Traditional Nepalese chai tea was made using milk fresh from Angus Dean’s dairy cows at Threshfield. Local businesses including The Hedgerow florists, Namaste, Morrisons, Majestic Wines and Blue Sky all helped by donating. Jamie worked for the international organisation UNESCO for a year in 2000 helping to record and protect the ancient buildings of Nepal. Many of these buildings collapsed in the earthquake which struck the country on April 25, killing more than 8,800 people. “Once its people are looked after Nepal will need significant funds to help rebuild its temples and historic buildings, many of which are internationally important,” said Jamie. “We’re very grateful to all of our customers and friends.”

A former member of local band Magna Carta will return to the area to perform at Grassington Festival. Linda Simpson Taylor will be joined by pianist Ian Diment for the fringe gig at the town hall’s Octagon Theatre tomorrow. Linda has done a lot of solo work since leaving Magna Carta, but, having a pianist alongside, has given her the opportunity to change direction. She said: “I do write my own songs, but I’m not a prolific writer. To me it has always been about singing great songs. This year I will be revisiting some of the classic songs I sang with Magna Carta. I will obviously include new self-penned songs too but, this time, I will also make space for some of the wonderful songs that I have always loved and never had the chance to perform like the Alison Moyet version of Cry Me a River, and Carpenters songs like Goodbye to Love. In short, I will be doing what I have always loved doing – singing my heart out – and the chance to do that on my home patch is an absolute joy.” The gig starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost 01756 752691.