BBC Look North presenters will be heading to Craven next month, pulling and pushing a sofa for eight days to raise money for Sport Relief.

Following on from the Big Sofa Challenge of 2018 which raised a very impressive almost £200,000, Harry Gration, Amy Garcia and Paul Hudson (pictured with Keeley Donovan) will set off from Scholes in East Leeds on Friday March 6 pulling and pushing their red sofa 100 miles including some of Yorkshire’s biggest climbs.

They will also be meeting people along the route involved with Sport Relief projects.

The Big Summit Sofa Challenge will take the team through some of the most gruelling on and off road climbs in the region, finishing on Sport Relief Day on Friday March 13.

Keeley Donovan, who is expecting her first baby on June 28 , will lead the support team throughout.

The Look North team has undertaken three epic challenges in aid of Sport Relief, raising almost three quarters of a million pounds and watched by crowds of thousands en route.

This year’s challenge takes the team through the Dales - including the challenge of climbing to the top of the highest road in Yorkshire at Fleet Moss.

They will also visit Hawes, Kettlewell and Grassington before heading into West Yorkshire - visiting Silsden, Keighley, Oxenhope, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax and Meltham before the big climb up to Holme Moss near Holmfirth. The final two days will see the team travel through South Yorkshire, culminating in a 17 mile final day - taking in the highest point in South Yorkshire at High Stones, before finishing in Stocksbridge.

Harry, who vowed that the 2018 challenge would be his last, said: “I know I said I would never do it again, but Paul, Amy and Keeley have talked me into it and I’m excited to be able to take part in something so special for Sport Relief in 2020, just hope I can get up those hills.”

Weatherman, Paul, added: “I’m a little apprehensive because last time was hard and this looks like the toughest yet. I was exhausted last time, but bring it on.”

Amy said: “I can’t believe we’re doing this again! It really is going to be a Sport Relief challenge and a half, but I know we’ll have the support on route and that really means so much to us all.”

And Keeley added: “I’ll be there to keep the team going, give them moral support and make sure Harry drinks enough water! I’m just really pleased that I can be a part of it in 2020.”

The Look North team will be in Craven for three days, from Saturday, March 7 to Monday, March 9.

March 7 will see them setting out at Hawes to Gayle, to Fleet Moss, Hubberholme and Buckden and ending in Kettlewell.

On March 8, they will travel 11 miles, from Grassington via Threshfield, Cracoe and Rylstone, and finishing in Skipton.

March 9 will see them going back into West Yorkshire for 10 miles of pushing and pulling from Silsden to Oxenhope via Steeton, High Utley, Keighley, Oakworth and Haworth.

There’s more route information and update @BBCSOFA on Twitter.

A DISCUSSION on what Craven can do to help save the planet at a meeting of the district council’s Policy Committee prompted Gargrave member Simon Myers to talk about the no nonsense named Gargrave Needs a Toilet (GNAT), which was set up by villagers to keep the public toilets up and running.

Instead of letting the facilities close after first the district council, and then the parish council threw in the towel, the group has set up a cleaning rota, and is fundraising to pay for repairs.

Cllr Myers, who told his colleagues he would be rolling up his sleeves and ‘scrubbing out the loos’ after the meeting, in case anyone was in any doubt, said the group was looking into installing a water fountain outside the toilets.

Such a facility, he said would help reduce the use of single-use plastic. Water fountains were installed by landowners and metropolitan councils from the 17th century up to the 19th century, he said, and he wondered if the district council might look into it. He added he had carried out plenty of research and could help with the best, and most vandal-proof versions about.

FURTHER on from my picture of early daffodils last month, is this the earliest sighting of spring blossom in Craven?

I think it is probably flowering cherry, although it could be almond, the blossom does look very similar, but perhaps there is an expert out there.Anyway, it’s in Coach Street, Skipton, and by my reckoning, at least a month earlier than it is normally.

HOUSEPLANTS appear to be having one of those revivals that come around every few years or so; so much so in fact that developer, Barratt Homes has come up with suggestions for the best variety to suit different rooms in the house.

In my experience, it’s not so much the room, but the whole house; and if your home for some reason is not ‘plant friendly’ no amount of pampering will make any difference. I’ve had orchids (above) that have lain dormant for years, but moved to another house and they’ve burst into endless flower.

Michaela Lancaster, sales director at Barratt Homes Manchester, says people underestimate the qualities plants bring to a house - pointing out they can boost moods and add decoration.

For the living room, she suggests a peace lily,which is both easy to grow, and apparently raises humidity levels by five per cent.

For the kitchen, she suggests plants that you can also cook with - potted herbs, such as parsley or basil.

If you have an office in your home, Barratt suggests hanging plants from the ceiling, while in the bathroom, its a simple arrowhead plant, which can be grouped by the bath. The Begonia plant is also a good choice, as it only needs indirect light, and ferns will also do well with all the moisture.

CONGRATULATIONS to community paper, Bentham News, for producing its 400th issue.

Peter Phillips, says in the latest February edition, that the first was published in November, 1986, and for the last 33 years there has been one each and every month.

The first had just 12 black and white pages, all hand-typed, printed on a duplicator, stapled by hand and distributed door to door by Bentham’s cubs and scouts.

Now, says Peter there are usually 48 pages, mostly in full colour. There was a competition to give the paper a name, but Bentham News proved to be the best. Interestingly, the only editorial article was about parking and the town being jammed, ‘nothing changes’, says Peter.

‘Viva the Bentham News’ says Peter, and long may it continue to be delivered free through letter boxes.

50 YEARS ago, the Friends of Ermysted’s Grammar School discussed the equipping of the new science department, which was under construction. The block was estimated to cost £10,372, with four fifths defrayed by the Department for Education and Science, and the West Riding County Council responsible for furnishing it. The Parents’ Association promised to raise a minimum of £800 with the help of the Friends of Ermysted’s, and also the Old Boys Society.

ALSO 50 years ago, the Skipton Chamber of Trade at is annual meeting raised concern about the lack of hotel accommodation in Skipton. It was thought to be why people were not stopping in the town.