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Gardening Blog of Yorkshire

By on January 28, 2012 in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes

I run a Gardeners Tips web site which uses as ‘root of my tips’ plants and gardens in Yorkshire.
The Gloxinia photo is a double blind trial I am conducting on my web sites.
Obviously I recommend you visit the site, click on the green header for more posts and sign up for the RSS feed if you are so inclined.

Spring Flowers

From the ‘root of my tips I branch out’ to Harlow Carr gardens and if you visit the RHS garden this month you will see and smell many of the Witch Hazels that are in copious flower.

Under the shelter of the walls at York you will find several clumps of Helebores or relatives of the Christmas Rose and Lenten Rose. The example was in the area behind the Quilt Museum.

With these two blogs I can indulge 3 of my passions, Gardening, Yorkshire and Internet publishing.

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Balliff Bridge & Berry Brow Brass Band

By on January 21, 2012 in Our Yorkshire, Wit and Humour

A charity collector walked up the garden path of an old Yorkshire Cottage and spoke to the elderly lady owner ‘ Excuse me I am collecting on behalf of the Baliff Bridge & Berry Brow Brass Band’

‘Eh!’ she said

‘I am collecting on behalf of the Bailiff Bridge & Berry Brow Brass Band would you like to contribute?’

‘Eh speak up I’m a bit deaf’

I AM COLLECTING ON BEHALF OF THE BAILIFF BRIDGE & BERRY BROW BRASS BAND’

‘Eh I still can’t hear’

I AM COLLECTING ON BEHALF OF THE BAILIFF BRIDGE & BERRY BROW BRASS BAND’ he thunders.

‘Ah still can’t hear’

So he turns to go and she says ‘An’ close the gate behind thee’

‘You know what you can do with your flippin gate’ he chunters to himself

‘Aye and tha know what tha can do with the blinkin’ Bailiff Bridge & Berry Brow Brass Band’ she alliterates.

Up to Date

And in case you thought Gods Own County and Amazon were not up to date we have worked together to offer you a chance to buy ‘Yorkshire Wit, Character, Folklore and Customs or Wit Character Folklore and Customs of the North Riding of Yorkshire’ by R. Blakeborough first edition published by Henry Frowde (1898)
Sorry it is not yet available on Kindle! We will be kindling later.

Outlook for Bailiff Bridge 2012

Skipton no fly zone

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Flower Fund Homes in West Yorkshire

By on January 19, 2012 in Our Yorkshire

There are several charities in West and North Yorkshire set up to provide homes for independent retired folk. Flower fund homes have been set up, managed and built since the 1950′s all on a voluntary basis.
The original funding idea, or flower fund principal may have originated from local rotary clubs. The idea is one where donations could be made in lieu of funeral flowers or by bequest.

Flower Fund Home Charities

  • Spenborough Flower Fund Homes
  • Bingley, Littlelands
  • Aireborough Flower Fund
  • Harrogate
  • Scarborough
  • Bradford

If you are aware of any other flower fund areas please let us know via the comments section.

For a fuller story on Yorkshire Flower Fund Homes read Housingmarket.co.uk

Fund Raising

  • With so many demands on funding and the high cost of housing these charities find it hard to keep building new homes.
  • Any house building is to be welcomed at the moment and the government could do worse than encourage a whole new flush of Flower fund charities. It fits in well with The Big Society. It also fits with the agenda that wants to see retired folk downsize to make more space available for young families.
  • Each Flower Fund is an independent charity.
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Yorkshire Stereotypes May Be

By on January 16, 2012 in Our Yorkshire, Wit and Humour

Stereotypes ‘appen

Tight with brass
Pithy with phraseology
‘Straight talking, no nonsense, friendly, hard working, dry humour’
Whippets, flat caps, integrity plus the moors, dales countryside and the east coast.

Stereotype Doggerel

Tha can alus tell a Yorkshire man but that can’t tell im much.

Ear all, see all, say nowt;
Eyt all, sup all, pay nowt;
And if ivver tha does owt fer nowt -
Do it fer thissen.

Stereotype Jokes

There was a community hall full of Yorkshire women all being given a keep fit lesson.
“O.K., ladies. Hands on thighs!”
As one, every woman moved her hands and a voice at the back said “What good’s that, then? I can’t see ‘yer now!”

A man goes to the vet because his cat is poorly. The vet says “Is it a tom?” and the man says “Nay lad, ‘ah’ve got it ‘ere in t’basket!”

All Yorkshire milk comes from ‘uddersfield.

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Yorkshire v Lancashire

By on January 12, 2012 in Our Yorkshire

Yorkshire v Lancashire – two great counties, but which is greater?

yorkshire lancashire

Who Won the War of the Roses?

Lancashire. After several years of fighting, the final victory went to a relatively remote Lancastrian claimant, Henry Tudor. He defeated the Yorkist king Richard III. Though after the war, Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York to unite the two houses.

Football Teams

Football is pretty one sided in favour of Lancashire. Football teams from Lancashire fill the Premier League including the three top clubs of the moment. Manchester United (19 League titles), Manchester City, Liverpool (18 League Titles). Other recent Premier League teams from Lancashire include Bolton Wanderers,  Blackburn Rovers, Burnley, Wigan Athletic, Blackpool. By contrast, Yorkshire singularly fails to have any team in the Premiership during 2011. Leeds United had their glory days, before an ignominious decline into the third tier of English football. The two Sheffield teams are perennial underachievers. Bradford City, had a short spell in top tier before their free-fall to the bottom.

Cricket

Yorkshire are the undisputed greats of cricket. Yorkshire have 31 County Championship victories, dwarfing Lancashire’s total of 9 county Championships. Well into the modern age, Yorkshire was an anomaly amongst counties in insisting that Yorkshire players were born in Yorkshire.

Dialect

The Yorkshire dialect is almost its own language, Lancashire has a range of accents, but it has to lose a few points for the Scouser accent.

An old Tyke and a well spoken educated businessman were sat in a pub talking about a local lad who had grown up and made a good life for himself.
Tyke says,Ah knew yon lad fri bein a nipper an  gerrin rahnd baht britches an nah booits to ’is feet.
Posh bloke says, That may be, but I can  remember him playing out wearing neither trousers nor shoes.

Landscape

Both counties score pretty well on this count. Though Yorkshire can boost two national parks – the Yorkshire Dales, and the  North York Moors and in Sheffield also touches part of the Peak District.

yorkshire

Bolton Abbey in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire.

People

Yorkshire can claim great people such as William Wilberforce (campaign to abolish slavery), Captain Cook, John Harrison (naval navigation), John Wycliffe (Methodism),Sir Titus Salt and Geoffrey Boycott

Art and Culture

  • Yorkshire can boast – Henry Moore – scupltor – David Hockney – art. Emily Bronte (writer), Alan Bennett (writer)
  • Lancashire gave us George Formby (Wigan) and Coronation Street
  •  - need we say more?

Have Your Say, what are strengths of Yorkshire and Lancashire

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Rough It Around Yorkshire

By on January 9, 2012 in Books & Literary Work, Our Yorkshire

Book Cover

Sometimes you have to take the rough with the smooth!
a you get from the Rough guides.

Roughly What to Expect

  • The introduction gives you a light touch feel for our Yorkshire.
  • Each section or chapter has a mini contents starting with the Basics of travel essentials.
  • The Guide chapters cover the many attractions including great stately homes, cathedrals, churches and monastic ruins. Not forgotten are the steam railways, world-class seaside resorts and industrial museums.
  • Sections include accommodation details are based on regions of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, The Vale of York. Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and The East Riding
  • Context is the last but most informative section covering History, Geology and Wildlife of Yorkshire.

Examples of Yorkshire Trivia

  • In what the guide roughs out as Calendar Girl country they highlight where the film of that name was made. Film location included Burnsall, Kettlewell, Settle and Kilnsey and all feature in the rough guide. Those in the know realise you can find some good walks and great Yorkshire food in Cracoe and Rylstone where the Calendar girls originally came from.
  • The York Archaeological Trust owns and runs Jorvik Viking Centre, Barley Hall, Dig and the Micklegate museum.
  • Wainhouse Tower south of Halifax is possibly the worlds tallest folly. Intended to be a dye works chimney it was never finished as such. It is 275 feet high and has 403 steps that visitors can climb on bank holidays (If you have nothing better to do).
  • After a trip to Doncaster market (or while the wife is shopping) treat yourself to a pint or two at the White Swan, Black Bull or Hare and Tortoise (all creatures great and small serve beer in Donnie).
  • Hull museums are many and various. From the Artic Corsair, Wilberfore House and the Maritime museum you are bound to find something to your liking

Book Cover
Calendar Girls by Tim Frith

The Rough Guide to Yorkshire is available at about half price from Amazon
Calendar Girls by Tim Frith is also available from Amazon

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Facts About Sheffield

By on January 5, 2012 in Our Yorkshire, Villages, Towns and Cities

sheffield

Sheffield by Bramapp

Sheffield ‘the city of steel’ has undergone profound change since its iconic steel industry closed down in the 70s and 80s (as well as coal mine closures).

 

  • The name Sheffield is derived from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city.
  • Historically Sheffield is part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and is now part of South Yorkshire.
  • The population of the City of Sheffield is 555,500 (2010 est.) and it is one of the eight largest regional English cities.
  • In the Nineteenth Century, Sheffield gained reputation for being premier producer of steel. It made key innovations in the development of stainless steel. This was used in a variety of tools and cutlery and became very popular. This growth of the steel industry made Sheffield a key player in the industrial revolution.
  • After much regeneration, the Sheffield economy is said to be worth £9.2 billion in 2007 (2007 GVA)
  • Sheffield has two universities – Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam University.

Sheffield Cooling Towers (HDR)

Sheffield Cooling Towers. The two towers were destroyed in a controlled explosion in 2008. (BBC link) There were part of the former  Blackburn Meadows power station and they were situation close to the viaduct on the M1.

10 Interesting Facts About Sheffield

  1. Sheffield has the highest ratio of trees to people of any city in Europe. 2.5 million trees.
  2. As early as the fourteenth century, Sheffield was known as a place for the production of knives. It was even mentioned in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
  3. In 1991, Sheffield hosted the World Student Games at the new Don Valley Stadium and Sheffield Arena
  4. In the 1980s, it was often called ‘The Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire’ because of its strong left wing politics.
  5. The Sheffield District of Hallam was said to the wealthiest part of the UK, outside London, in a 2004 report by Barclays bank.
  6. Sheffield is known as a ‘green city’ It provides much energy from incinerating waste.
  7. Sheffield boasts the world’s oldest football club – Sheffield F.C. It was formed in 1857, mainly by a group of cricketers.  Sheffield F.C. won the F.A. Amateur cup in 1904.
  8. Sheffield Wednesday  is one of the oldest professional football clubs in the world, and the fourth oldest in the English leagues.
  9. Sheffield Crucible Theatre stages the annual World Snooker Tournament
  10. The Sheffield Ski Village is Europe’s largest outdoor artificial ski resort

Continue Reading →

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Yorkshire Heather Moors Need Protection

By on January 2, 2012 in Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire History and Heritage

The glens of Scotland and the Moors of Yorkshire were covered with purple flowering heather. This picture was taken above Dick Hudsons on Ilkley Moor. The route is part of the Dales Way Bradford Link and the Leeds Link also traverses Ilkley moor to get to the start of the Dales Way proper. According to the Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority ‘The dry heaths of the National Park are usually dominated by heather particularly on intensively managed grouse moors.’

There is an interesting and amusing History of Heather on Gardener’s tips

Types of Heather

  • Bell heather also known as Erica cinerea has dark pink or purple flowers and generally flowers first in late July.
  • Cross leaved heath has leaves arranged in crosses of four on its stems. It has pale pink flowers and can often be found in boggy areas.
  • Ling Calluna vulgaris is the most common type of heather found on the North York Moors. It has very tiny pink flowers and generally flowers in mid to late August


Uses of Heather.

  • The Moorland Association, whose members manage about 90% of England’s heather moorland host thousands of bee hives. Pollen from heather makes excellent honey and the scent is excellent.
  • Heather moorland is one of the rarest habitats in the world. Ilkley moor is crucial for ground nesting birds.
  • Red grouse eat young heather shoots but they like to shelter and build their nests in taller, older heather. Gamekeepers therefore have to make sure there are some patches of young heather and some patches of old heather on the moors if they want to have enough grouse to shoot.
  • Local people used to use heather to make a type of broom called a besom to sweep their cottage floors.
  • Heather is available in many varieties and they contribute to ornamental or specialist gardens.
  • White Heather is said to be lucky but count yourself lucky if you can walk through a purple flowering moorland Yorkshire landscape.

This photo shows two of the twelve Apostle Stones, 1260 feet above sea level, on Ilkley moor looking towards Yeadon and the airport. The planes were flying higher than the horseflies but not by all that much. There is a specialist web site for Stone Circle visitors here and a more comprehensive article by David Raven.  For comments about heather on the uplands 15,000 years ago look at The Moorland Association site

See Walks around Ilkley

That is not to say that the other tracts of moorland and heather in Yorkshire are not in great condition. I particularly like the area around Goathland.

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Bark in Golden Acre Park

By on December 30, 2011 in Our Yorkshire

golden acre gardens leeds

This is not a feature on tree trunk covering. Dogs are involved but barking is not obligatory. In fact barking at the ducks and wildfowl is to be discouraged.
‘Bark in the Park’ is an annual fund raising event for St Gemma’s hospice in Leeds which provides specialist medical and nursing care for people with life threatening illnesses, predominantly cancer, along with support for their families.

What and When of Bark in the Park

    The event will be held on Sunday 26th February 2012 in Golden Acre Park, Leeds. Registration is at 9.00am.
    The Sponsored Dog Walk will take you around the picturesque lake, woodland and gardens of Golden Acre Park in Leeds.
    There is a choice of a one, three and six mile walk, so you can choose whichever route is most suitable for you and your four legged friend!
    The event is a fun family day suitable for dogs and owners of all ages and abilities.
    Entrance to the walk is free, all we ask is that you and your dog raise as much as you can in sponsorship money.
    All participants must register in advance of the walk. Once you have registered we will send out a sponsorship pack, which includes further details about the event.
    A special prize will be awarded to the dog that has raised the most money bu 1st April 2012 (No April fools jokes, hospice funding is a serious business.)
    Details and registration pack here
    On completion of the walk every dog will receive a certificate and goodie bag!

golden acre gardens leeds
‘Barking up the wrong tree’

Barking mad this derivation is just a neat 1980s joke at the expense of Margaret Thatcher. She was known by those who disliked her as ‘Daggers’ Thatcher – not from a reputation for stabbing colleagues in the back, but because she was said to be ‘three stops past Barking’. [Dagenham is three stations beyond Barking on the London Underground]

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
The Japanese don’t care to, the Chinese wouldn’t dare to,
Hindus and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one,
But Englishmen detest a siesta,
In the Philippines there are lovely screens,
to protect you from the glare,
In the Malay states there are hats like plates,
which the Britishers won’t wear,
At twelve noon the natives swoon, and
no further work is done -
But Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.
(Noel Coward)

I have just discovered St Gemma’s Zumbathon at Leeds Grammar School on 19th February 2012. Unfortunately my Zumba days never arrived and must be assumed to be long gone but you can find out more

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Are You In t’Club? Xmas, Pudding or Workingmens

By on December 30, 2011 in Our Yorkshire

The standard answer to the question ‘are you in t’club?’ Was ‘Christmas, Pudding or Working Men’s.’

Well Christmas clubs took a hammering with the bankruptcy of the hamper saving club Farepak members of which still remain well out of pocket and totally dissatisfied. Park Hampers also ran into difficulties though their 2011 catalogue can still be ordered online.

More interesting is how the Pudding Club is progressing.

Book Cover

In ‘The Yorkshire Pudding Club’ by Barnsley lass Milly Johnson we are told on the inside cover….
‘Three South Yorkshire friends, all on the cusp of 40, fall pregnant at the same time following a visit to an ancient fertility symbol.
For Helen, it’s a dream come true, although her husband is not as thrilled about it as she had hoped. Not only wrestling with painful ghosts of the past, Helen has to deal with the fact that her outwardly perfect marriage is crumbling before her eyes.
For Janey, it is an unmitigated disaster as she has just been offered the career break of a life-time. And she has no idea either how it could possibly have happened, seeing as she and her ecstatic husband George were always so careful over contraception.
For Elizabeth, it is mind-numbing, because she knows people like her shouldn’t have children. Damaged by her dysfunctional childhood and emotionally lost, she not only has to contend with carrying a child she doubts she can ever love, but she also has to deal with the return to her life of a man whose love she must deny herself.
Heart-warming, up-lifting, tear-jerking and lovely, THE YORKSHIRE PUDDING CLUB is the story of how three women find themselves empowered by unexpected pregnancy. How it revitalises one woman’s tired marriage, strengthens another’s belief in herself and brings love and warmth to a cold and empty life.’
Unabridged audio book from amazon The book can be bought by clicking the book cover.

So that leaves us with ”are you in the Working Mens club along with Tony Blair, Peter Mandelson need I go on? David Cameron looks determines to put another nail in the coffin of well priced drink from Working Mens clubs with the minimum price on alcohol intiative. A Whitehall source said: ‘The Prime Minister has decided that when it comes to alcohol, something pretty radical now has to be done and he is keen on the minimum price.
Why since Maggie Thatcher has it all been politics and government by initiative? We need clear, honest, well thought out policies introduced in a timely and sensible manner for the longterm good of our communities and country. We do not need knee jerks by political jerks from the Liberal Clubs, Conservative Clubs or any other self serving club for that matter. (Rant over for 10 minutes ed)

You can’t have too many Yorkshire Puddings

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