10:40am Saturday 24th July 2010
Sir - Regular visitors to Grass Wood near Grassington will be familiar with the work being undertaken in the recent past to restore the wood to the broadleaved upland ash wood it should be.
Much of the more obvious work involves removing the alien conifers during the winter. Grass Wood is normally a haven of peace in the summer.
This summer things are rather different, for two reasons. One is that due to the exceptional winter, already felled conifers are still being extracted, as carefully as can be. The other activity is happening across many Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserves. In order to avoid possible problems, dangerous trees adjacent to paths or roads used by the public are being identified and felled.
It is unusual to be felling mature trees in Grass Wood, particularly at this time of year. However, once identified as dangerous, trees must be made safe as quickly as possible, a consideration that overrides natural history interest. Only two years ago, we were lucky no one was passing by when a considerable larch blew down across one of the gateways.
As a consequence of this unusual work, visitors will see obvious signs, and looking rather raw when it has just been carried out, but it will heal with time.
Chris Alder, vice-chairman, Grass Wood Management Group Committee, Wharfe View, Grassington
Sir - Through the Craven Herald I would like to thank all concerned with the recent performance of The Magic Flute at Skipton Girls’ High School on Friday July 9, in particular Ben Crick of Skipton Camerata. It was a complicated project drawing together children of nursery age, Year 6 children from primary schools in and around Skipton, including my son Duncan, and children with special needs from Brooklands School. Then there were composers and soloists from the sixth form of Skipton Girls’ High School, orchestral players from the Camerata and some professional soloists.
All the elements were rehearsed separately by Ben over several weeks, then introduced to each other for a couple of final rehearsals and the result was a completely unique performance, at once professional yet totally inclusive, everyone having their own bit to contribute, all valuable and essential.
It was fun and approachable but Mozart’s writing was never compromised and it was always about the music. Well done, Ben.
Projects like this inevitably depend on funding but they offer such a fantastic opportunity for youngsters to experience being part of a big(gish!) and more diverse production – parents please note, don’t let your child miss out if the chance arises again in future!
Maria Gledhill, Cherry Cottages, Malham
Sir - As the former manager of Craven Furniture Scheme before its closure as a result of the umbrella organisation CVA being taken into voluntary liquidation by the then-trustees, I would like to respond to Coun Heseltine’s comment regarding the “previous failure” of the furniture scheme.
It remains a mystery to me how the accounts for CVA in February 2009 could show a figure in excess of £50,000 with sufficient income to continue its two projects for 18 months but by June there were insufficient funds to continue and CVA chose to go into voluntary liquidation.
Prior to its closure Craven Furniture Scheme had been in informal discussions to take the project away from the umbrella organisation as it was on the verge of being self-sufficient and no longer requiring grants to ensure its continuance.
The project supported volunteers in returning to paid employment, those in need of furniture on low incomes, enabled those who could purchase from new to donate goods helping to maintain the local economy and perhaps most importantly preventing landfill. Craven needs such a project and needs it now.
George Scales 27 Sharphaw Avenue, Skipton
Sir - As I shall be out of the country when the public exhibition showing plans for 9 High Street will be on view in the town hall, I write knowing only the proposals mentioned in the Craven Herald of July 15.
Two points immediately strike me and they are; Mr Fattorini at the castle has been fighting tooth-and-nail to get parking approved and, finally, has the okay to give the town desperately-needed extra parking spaces. Well done Mr Fattorini, thank you for your persistence.
And now? Some joker wants to use car park space behind the town hall for shops. I ask you. This town needs more shops like it needs a hole in the head! Has anyone looked how many empty shops there are on High Street? We need every car park space we can get, and then more.
Secondly, replacing the offices at Number 9 with a two-storey café and restaurant? Which planet do these proposals come from? Cafés and restaurants throughout the town are struggling. Costa Coffee has now opened on Sheep Street and now this proposal?
It is obvious why it must be a two-storey building for it would never get planning permission on the ground floor.
Scrap both these proposals immediately and stop wasting money on hare-brained schemes.
Incidentally, now the above mentioned coffee shop has opened on Sheep Street, maybe Craven District ratepayers will boycott it, considering how much we have had to find in legal fees.
Bob Wright, the Wright Wine Company, Raikes Road, Skipton
Sir - Settle Middle School would like to say many thanks to all the people that gave a donation on Tuesday July 6 to the Year 7 girls’ Rugby team.
They were outside the Settle Co-Operative doing a bucket collection to raise funds for their Champion Schools Rugby League National Finals trip, and collected just over £300.
Special thanks must go to a gentleman from Hampshire, who was on holiday, and gave £120. He said: “I hope this can help, and please let me know how the girls do.” He then gave his address and left. The girls could not believe it, and are determined to send him a winners’ team photograph to show him their thanks.
Thanks must be given to the following businesses for their support by either donations or prizes to be raffled: Best Tyres of Hellifield; the Craven Arms, Settle; the Harts Head, Giggleswick; Goad & Butcher solicitors; Derek Jordan solicitors; Elizabeth Bland Homemaker; the Fisherman fish and chip shop; Daleshead vets; and Brenda Dobek, the England Rugby League Ladies’ coach.
The girls would also like to thank their parents, families and friends for their help in fundraising activities that have all helped to raise £1,500 to date.
The fundraising has given the team a great sense of teamwork and determination to do well in the final, which has been shown in their excellent commitment to training and the fundraising activities.
Mark Glover, head of PE, Settle Middle School
Sir - Where have all the swans gone?
Several pairs of these graceful birds were always to be found near the canal basin which now looks empty without them.
Can any of your readers throw some light onto their disappearance?
D Moorhouse, The Close, Skipton
Sir - With the World Cup behind us and the summer holiday season now in full swing, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) would like to thank everyone who took the time to donate blood over the last few weeks.
During the 2006 World Cup, blood stocks were at the lowest level for five years. Throughout this year’s World Cup period blood stock levels were closely monitored to ensure they weren’t affected again. Thanks to all our committed donors the levels remained normal.
However, we would like to remind donors that we still need you to give blood over the coming weeks. During the summer months stocks can traditionally take a seasonal dip.
As schools break up and families go off on their summer holidays it is easy to forget the blood donor appointment in the diary that was made weeks ago. We are asking people to keep their appointments and if they do need to change them then please call us on 0300 123 2323 to re-arrange.
Currently 7,000 units of blood are needed every day to help save the lives of sick and injured patients across England and north Wales, and regular donations are vital as donated blood cannot be stockpiled. Platelets, a clotting factor in blood used to help treat leukaemia and cancer patients, last for just five days.
Red cells last a bit longer at 35 days and are often transfused to patients suffering from severe anaemia or acute blood loss.
NHSBT would like to thank all donors for their ongoing commitment – without whom, many thousands of lives would be lost each year.
Jon Latham, assistant director – session strategy and marketing, NHS Blood and Transplant, Oak House, Reeds Crescent, Watford
Sir- Samaritans of Pendle, Craven, Burnley and Rossendale want to say a big thank you to the people of Grassington and Skipton for their continued support.
As part of their annual Flag Day programme, Samaritans came to Craven with their collecting tins on July 9 in Grassington and on July 14 in Skipton. Once again, shoppers and visitors all dug deep into their pockets and gave generously. As a result of these two flag days, Samaritans have been able to add a vital £566.55 to their funds. A further collecting day is planned for Settle on September 7.
Samaritans provide confidential support to people in emotional distress, for example, to those who may be struggling to cope with bereavement, debt, health problems, or the breakdown of a relationship.
The charity is funded through small grants and fundraising activities, like the flag days in Skipton and Grassington.
Samaritans - Pendle, Craven, Burnley and Rossendale, Market Square, Nelson
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