Nursery Funding for Outdoor Play Area

In the summer, the Windmill Nursery at the Regen Centre, Riccall was awarded £7000 from North Yorkshire County Council to improve its outdoor play provision.

The grant from North Yorkshire’s Early Years and Childcare Service is part of a £2.2million initiative to support private, voluntary and independent settings in making improvements to their outdoor provision in order to provide quality outdoor play. Windmill Nursery has now completed its work on its outdoor play area. New fencing, equipment and a garden area have been provided.

Nursery manager, Christine Gardiner, said that ‘the new facilities have enabled us to develop further our outdoor play, so that children can really benefit from the experiences that can be provided outdoors’.

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for the under fives, children are expected to play and learn outdoors for at least 50% of their time whilst in childcare.

Windmill Nursery is a small nursery in the Riccall Regen Centre. It caters for up to 18 children from 3 months to 5 years old. It recently received a ‘Good’ Offsted report’

Recent Duke of York assessment

Assessors from the Duke of York’s Community Initiative have recently visited Riccall Regen. The assessors – John Isles and the Rev. Brian Hunt – spent time going through a variety of documents relating to the constitution and work of Riccall Regen, and then met with directors, the Centre Manager, other staff and volunteers, as well as representatives of several user and community groups.

Following from their visit the assessors will make a recommendation in respect of the awarding of the Duke of York’s Community Initiative to Riccall Regen for a further 5 years. A decision is expected in the New Year.

Fantastic Flower and Veg Show 09

A big thank you to everyone who entered the show, sponsored the classes and helped on the day.

Overall, the number of flower entries was down this year but that was probably due to the inclement (very wet) weather we have had in recent weeks. There were lots of vegetables with some very fine entries. Also a tasty selection of Baking entries. Handicrafts and photos were also reduced in numbers but nevertheless some excellent craft entries, including a turned wooden goblet produced by Jack Coverdale which won the “Best in Show” trophy. Well done Jack.

There was a good turnout of people looking round the exhibits and I received some very positive comments on the Show.

Good news also for the continuation of the Show in future years. As I announced earlier this is the last year I will be organizing the show (after being involved for around 15-16 years). I am grateful to the individuals who approached me on the day to offer their support in running it from next year. I will be arranging a meeting in the New Year to pass on information and look forward to a very successful show for many years to come continuing a well established village event.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help in any way – sponsoring, judging or helping on the day please get in touch.

Once again thank you – the show couldn’t happen without your hard work.

Table top success

Thanks to everyone who made last Sunday’s Table Top and Car Boot sale a great success.

Local traders came down early to set up their busy stalls and we had a steady flow of bargain hunters through the door all day.

Looking forward to the next one!

Last Night of the Proms

Riccall Parish Council is presenting its eighth annual ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert at the Riccall Regen Centre on Friday 26 June from 7.30pm. The concert is the curtain-raiser to the Riccall Carnival weekend and features Barlby Foot-Tappers and the award-winning South Milford Brass and this year is in the new Riccall Regen Big Top. All proceeds go towards developing recreational facilities in Riccall. Tickets costing £3 for adults and £2 for children are available from the Riccall Regen Centre.

The photo shows Riccall Parish Council chairman, Cllr Brian Keen (draped in flag), with fellow councillors practising their flag waving for the concert! Cllr Keen said that ‘the ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert is always a great night of fun and music to suit all ages and tastes’.

Further details from Cllr Howard Adamson on 01757 248174.