Unexpected Guest Drops in at The Manse

 

Look very closely and you will see a young starling sitting on the fire grate!

 

I was alerted to this problem by the family staying in The Manse last week.  Unfortunately I was on holiday myself in Northumberland so was unable to help.  This little chap made such a noise as it scrabbled and scratched in the chimney that our poor guests thought there was someone downstairs!  A real Hitchcock experience! 

 

As you can see our resourceful family were able to rescue him and set him free. 

 

I am glad to say that this has never happened before so please do not let this story put you off booking The Manse for your holiday later this year or during 2014.  The family concerned assures me that it did not spoil their holiday and that they enjoyed the cottage and our beautiful dale.  We would certainly welcome them back.

 

 



Mystery writer, Susan Parry, visits The Countryside & Heritage Centre

 

On Sunday 4th July, Susan Parry, author of a series of Dales Mystery Novels, spent the day in the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre, meeting visitors and signing her books.

 

Susan who writes from her Swaledale home sets her stories in and around the Yorkshire Dales.  In her first novel, Corpse Way, meet Millie Sanderson, a student archaeologist on holiday in peaceful Swaledale but all is not as it seems in this picturesque dale.  More mystery and suspense follows in Susan's subsequent novels, Death Cart, Grave Hand, Craven Scar and Purple Shroud.

 

Susan is presently working on her next book, Frozen Ground, which will be available this summer.

 

To find out more about Susan's work visit her website www.susanparry.co.uk

 

Thank you, Susan, for your continued support of The Keld Resource Centre. 



Story Walk with Rhoda

 

 

Several families followed professional storyteller, Rhoda Fraser of Richmond, as she made her way from the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre, through the woods to East Gill Falls weaving stories of woodland creatures and fairy folk on the way. 

 

A captivated audience.

 

Her coat of many colours, magical stories and bagful of puppets kept the children intrigued.  

  Many thanks, Rhoda, the children loved your stories.

The Keld Resource Centre is grateful for your continued support.

Thank you very much.



Flowers of the Dales Wild Flower Walk

 

The Flowers of the Dales Guided Walk that took place on Saturday 6th July was a resounding success with twenty seven people taking part. 

 

 

 

 

It was a glorious day and participants had the opportunity to look for and identify flowers in verges, woodland, moorland, pasture and meadows as they walked between Keld and Muker following the River Swale. 

 

 

 

Len Shepherd and his team from the Yoredale Natural History Society proved to be invaluable guides, expertly helping people to identify over ninety different species of flower. 

 

The walk passed through the famous Muker hay meadows, rich with flower and herb.  These hay meadows have recently been granted Coronation status.  Seed will be gathered from the meadows and used to replenish land, that due to modern farming methods, no longer produce flowers naturally. 

 

 

Participants came from all over the north of England; some making the journey specially, some already being in the dale on holiday.  Here are some of their comments:

 

'Lovely walk, very relaxed and friendly.'

Very pleasant and informative walk. Beautiful weather.'

Added names to the unknown flowers I often see.  Much appreciated and adds to my enjoyment of this lovely place.'

'Beautiful countryside.  Friendly and informative guides.  Lovely day.'

 

The Keld Resource Centre committee would like to express their thanks and appreciation to

Len Shepherd and his team from The Yoredale Natural History Society for making this event possible.



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.