WELL done to the children of Otley Street Community Nursery School in Skipton whose efforts raised an incredible more than £1,000 for charity. The children were sponsored to take part in an obstacle course at the nursery school (pictured) and the proceeds were split between children's cancer charity, Candlelighters (£500); Sport Relief (£400), and the Friends of Aireville Park (£150). The school was especially keen to support Candlelighters because of a former pupil who is currently undergoing treatment. Well done to all involved, it looks like it was a lot of fun.

CARERS resource, a charity which supports unpaid carers, has received a letter of congratulations from the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. Its volunteers knitters helped to raise £3,360 by selling hand-made Easter chicks, which bore uncanny resemblances to the Archbishop, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and wedding guests to mark last weekend's Royal wedding. Some 35 knitters worked on the chicks which were stuffed with cream eggs, donated by Cadbury, and sold on to make money for the charity, which has an office in Skipton. Its communications officer Caroline Firth sent a pair of royal chicks to Prince Harry and his bride-to-be as a wedding gift, and an archbishop chick to Justin Welby.

The archbishop’s correspondence manager Owen Morgan wrote back and said: “Archbishop Justin wanted to offer his encouragement and congratulations for your fundraising efforts. The dedication of the many committed unpaid carers in the UK is an example to us all of the compassion and humanity that is the backbone of a good society.

“The archbishop believes that those who treat the vulnerable with dignity and respect should be treated in the same way themselves.”

The chicks sold for £2 each across 38 outlets. Mr Morgan added: “The work you do in supporting carers is vital and important and is at the heart of the kind of caring and compassionate society we are striving toward. The work of Carers’ Resource is undoubtedly vital to those whom you support and indeed those who your users support.”

Carers’ Resource chief executive Chris Whiley (pictured with a selection of the chicks) said: “It’s great that so many local people support us by making, selling and buying our chicks. This is the 11th year of Easter chicks and the total raised over the years is more than £26,000. To be recognised by the archbishop is wonderful, and we are glad he liked the chick we knitted in his honour.” Meanwhile, volunteers have already started to work on knitted Christmas decorations for Carers’ Resource. To help make them or to become an outlet for sales call Anne Wells on 01423 500555 or email awells@carersresource.org

A WEDDING exhibition held in Langcliffe church (pictured) was a great success, I hear. The exhibition featured dresses lent for the occasion. Meanwhile, in Langcliffe, villagers are looking forward to the open weekend on June 9 and June 10. On the Saturday evening, there will be a 'gardeners' question time' event held in the church, with guest panelists, Andrew Lay and Tim Bird.

ANN Harding, who is chairman of the North East Area of National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS), was pleased to see the results of a survey on the nation's favourite flower, particularly as it was close to national flower arranging day, on Friday, May 4. To mark the day, NAFAS members are encouraged to give or to place a 'lonely bouquet' at places all over the country. The idea is that the bouquets are picked up by a passer by, to have or to brighten up their day - along the same lines as the 'do a good turn' incentive. Ann gave away three posies in Skipton - to someone on a canal boat from Leeds, to a visitor from Lancashire, next to the Fred Trueman statue in the canal basin, and to a mother and her son outside Skipton Town Hall. Ann is chairman of the association covering 61 flower clubs and some 3,300 members across the whole of Yorkshire.

PLENTY of people from Craven will be making their way to the Great Yorkshire Show this summer - and they may well find themselves catching a glimpse of Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.

Princess Anne, who has visited the show on a number of occasions, is due to be the special guest at the 160th annual event on Wednesday, July 11. The farming and countryside showcase is expected to welcome around 130,000 visitors over the three days to see competitive classes, ranging from cattle to poultry and from international show jumping to cheese.

The event features a host of country skills, such as fly fishing, an extensive Food Hall showcasing regional produce, fashion shows including a Celebrity Special and more than 1,200 stands.

The Princess Royal last visited in 2014 (pictured) and will be escorted by show director Charles Mills. Mr Mills said: “We are honoured by Her Royal Highness's visit and it is always wonderful to welcome a visitor with such a genuine interest in farming and the countryside. We will be able to show the Princess some of the best animals in the country as well as the very best of rural life, food and farming.”

The 160th Great Yorkshire Show will be held from July 10 to July 12 at the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate.