Ministry of Sunshine

The Rev George Courtney and his wife Doreen have been staying in The Manse as Minister-in-Residence.  They arrived with friends on Saturday 1st June and the sun shone every day. George and Doreen are regular visitors to The Manse and its always lovely to welcome them back. 

They send this message:-

Although I have been to Keld a number of times before and had met Glenda Calvert each time - this was the first time she shared a very important piece of information with me.  It concerns something that would a) make life easier for the hard working farmers b) bring more people to Keld and c) make me very happy.  Apparently, every time (well almost!) there is a Minister in Residence at the Keld Manse the sun shines.  Just think of the number of times that would be helpful; the lambing season, hay time, the walking season etc.  So, the answer appears to be, to invite more people to be Ministers-in-Residence and if there is found to be a shortage, I am more than willing to be on call.

Showing You the Way...... Leads the Way

Our leaflet, Showing You The Way......a children's guide of the walk from Keld to Muker, is proving popular with young people visiting the dale and also with schools from other area of the country who are using it as a model for their own projects.

Children from Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School in Co Durham are producing a similar guide for a walk in Upper Teesdale and a primary school in Sherwood, Nottingham is planning to use Showing You The Way.... to inspire their pupils to create an architectural trail in their area.

At the beginning of June, the Year 5/6 class from Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School came to Swaledale and followed the guide before returning to Teesdale to work on a map of their own.

 

The lack of growth in the hay meadows was particularly noticeable (a direct effect of the long, cold winter).

Thank you once again to the pupils from Gunnerside & Reeth Primary School who were involved in creating Showing You The Way ......



  

Meadows & Moorland Walk ~ 9th June 2013

Today, Chris Calvert of Pry House Farm, lead a guided walk through his meadows and pastures and onto the open fell.  Everyone who took part were familiar with the dales but most had never been to the head of Swaledale.  They were all overawed with the beauty of the landscape, the vastness of the moors, the variety of birds to be seen and the abundance of wild flowers.  One lady commented that the walk was made far more interesting because it was guided by a local farmer who explained so much about the livestock, farming practices past & present and the history of the area.

 

Setting off from West Briggs

Standing in West Briggs. 
Far Briggs meadow in the background and the road along Keldside in the distance.

 
Walking through Harker's meadow, designated as an area of Special Scientific Interest because of the species of wild flowers that grows there.

"The guided walk was very informative and I learned a lot about the hill farmer's way of life and the interaction between hill farmer and wildlife, flora & fauna." Mr T Sykes, Camblesforth.

 

Katie's Story

There is a long history of dedicated people who have championed Keld; whether they are locals or frequent visitors and holiday makers, Keld has certainly made an impression on the lives of many.  I was somewhat of a late-comer to the beauty of Keld and the work of the Keld Resource Centre yet I can still remember the first time I came off the Kirkby road and into Keld itself.  I was a 17 year old southerner who was (and still is) enamoured by the sight of sheep in a field, the sound of birds singing and waterfalls!  As we drove down the lane into Keld, I remember feeling a real sense of wonder that a place like this, surrounded by such stunning nature and landscape, actually existed.  At night it was silent, something that an urban area can never be, with a multitude of stars in the sky.  Such a contrast to my experience of the UK and a lifestyle so far removed from my life.  I was hooked!

I have been blessed with the opportunity to become more familiar withe the work and vision of the Keld Resource Centre.  The biggest privilege has been to spend wonderful holidays in the beautifully restored Manse (completed in 2009) with my husband and our extended family.  I had stayed in The Manse before as an intrepid 17 year old, however this was prior to its 21st century revamp.  This was during an era when it was used as sleeping quarters for groups using the forner Literary Institute and old school building; when ever room had bunk beds, there was no central heating and the shower pumped out freezing cold water.  Despite this, the sheer charm and beauty of Keld continued to inspire me.

The Manse is now a haven.  The place has been transformed into a stunning Dales home with everything you could want and need for a country get away.  It is spacious yet cosy, every little detail has  been thought out.  You could not ask for a better, more tranquil location with walks directly from your front door and the beautiful view of the valley as you step from your holiday home.  You enter into a different lifestyle when you stay in Keld.  We always feel privileged to witness the everyday to-in and fro-ing of tractors, walkers and sheep alike.  An everyday occurrence for Dales folk but an absolute novelty for us!

For my husband and I, nothing beats a cuppa, a slice of Glenda's cake and a proper Yorkshire fire.  There is something truely special happening in Keld as the community moves into the future and by supporting The Manse, we too are playing our part.