Animated fantasy

Something to try if you have a reasonably fast computer.
Ideally view this with google chrome browser, firefox will work but with some issues; IE will not like it.
A number of small windoes load, just let it play - good to use full screen (press F11) before starting.

http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

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Recent pictures from the Esklets

These shots from around The Esklets area were sent in by Nigel Wilson.
The Esklets is probably among the least accessible parts of the moors and many people don't realise it is there!

Upcoming events

Saturday August 28th, 3-5pm
Tea at Pinfold for Church funds
(in Village Hall if wet)

Friday September 3rd, 7pm
Sewing group at Pinfold

Monday September 6th 7.30pm
Village Hall, History and Artifacts meeting

Friday September 10th, 8pm.
Star Party! View the sky with the Experts.
Organised by the Bradbury Centre.

Saturday 18th September 10am-4pm
Village Hall Sewing Machine
workshop

Saturday October 9th 10am-4pm
Village Hall Patchwork and Quilting workshop.

More details on the Westerdale Village Hall website
www.villagehall.westerdale.info

Westerdale circular walk

Well done photography in this short slideshow of a circular walk starting at Castleton.
- Early September 2009 -

Very big panoramic

The full size of this is about 1MB but an interesting picture to download and view at full size.
It's no less than 15 shots overlapped and stitched together!

HD video from same place.
Note: older computers and slow connections will struggle, but try - select 720p HD lower right.

Mobile phone coverage

Danby Parish Council are engaged in a concerted effort to improve the coverage round the area as it is clear the half-hearted mini-mast thing Orange have on The Howe is very poor even when you can see it!

Orange have been typically arrogant with their response; they do not want to know because they would rather fight for customers in town where there is already a choice of networks and even proper 3G data [shock!]

Letters have been sent to Robert Goodwill MP, his responses seem to suggest little interest but may be worth following up.
Probably the best plan would be to get the media involved - they don't like that!

Robert Goodwill MP

Orange PCS LTD
St James Court
Great Park Road
Almondsbury Park
Bradley Stoke
Bristol
BS32 4QJ

Email to Orange is unlikely to do any good.
No matter how much detail you include, they will tell you to turn your handset off and on again, or stand near a window.
You cannot get beyond this level of 'service' unless you write a letter.

When the equipment was originally put on The Howe, the plan was for a mast about 50% taller - which would have reached Westerdale village and been at least somewhat better all round.
At the planning stage certain individuals pressed for the pole to be made of wood so it would look better.
This necessitated a shorter pole with reduced coverage.
The Howe is far from the ideal location, it was only chosen as there was already a pole there with a TV relay for the lower parts of Castleton and Danby Dale.

It's high time a more usable service was available to most of the area

Chilly May

May has continued the very dry spell which began early April.
There have been 5 air frosts which is unusual, but the 12th and 13th went down to -4.3C and -4.4C.
This is very low for May and unsurprisingly there has been considerable damage to new shoots especially in the valley bottom where it was even colder.

Old Beech trees at Osseker Wood show more damage near the ground.


Beech shoots close-up (Castleton road)


Even tough old Sycamores have been badly scorched in some cases.


May weather data on North York Moors weather.

The messageboard calendar

The messageboard software has been updated recently, and a feature which could be useful is The Calendar.
Anyone can view this, but to add an event you need to register and log-in.

Tick awareness

With the recent warmer weather, ticks are becoming active and looking for a feed.
It's important to be aware that they are widespread on the moors and adjacent areas, especially in places with lots of bracken.
Ticks can carry infectious disease e.g. Lymes disease which is quite serious.
This site gives practical advice about minimising the risk of being bitten and the best way to remove them.
http://www.bada-uk.org/
(scroll down to Defence Pages)

In particular do not apply any sort of chemical to the tick as this is unlikely to make it fall off and it will probably regurgitate stomach contents into victim.
Use tweezers or a special tool to remove it without squeezing the body.

(big) black cats

There's been two recent sightings of a large black cat on the moor.
It may have been sheltering in old jet mines and living on rabbits.
Would anyone like to comment further, or have you seen it?
It was not a particularly large animal, about the size of a labrador dog.

Here's a website about them, and google finds much more information.

This is the sort of thing that *might* be there.