Beavers "Lobby" local Council

Swaledale Beavers hit the headlines in local Newspaper

One of North Yorkshire’s youngest Scout Sections looks set to help shape their own Village waste management and by doing so they featured recently in the Darlington and Stockton Times!

Members of Swaledale Beaver Scout Colony have appealed to Richmondshire District Council to take fresh action after becoming fed up with the amount of rubbish and dog mess left around Reeth.

The Beavers, who meet weekly in Fremington Village Hall, decided to write to the local authority after seeing litter accumulate in places that they could scarcely believe, in the area surrounding the picturesque green.

The letter, which was presented to the council’s leading members by Lower Swaledale Councillor Richard Good, calls for more bins in the village. Cllr Good, who is the Swaledale Group Scout Leader, told a meeting of the council’s corporate board he was delighted that the area’s Beaver Scout Colony had presented him with the letter.

He said: “Bearing in mind that these young people are only six or seven years old I think it’s important that we realise they are concerned about these things and we want them to be concerned. Indeed, last night they were making posters that they were going to laminate and put alongside the Swale Trail about litter.”

Cllr Good said compared to some places the litter issue in Reeth was “not so bad”, but he stressed the Beavers had raised some valid points, particularly about waste being stuffed into walls.

He said during one litter pick in Reeth last year blocked drains had been cleared and three bin bags of waste had been collected on the lane outside the village primary school and before the village Bonfire night event, volunteers had an annual task of clearing the green of dog mess.

The council’s corporate director, said he would be responding to the Beaver’s letter, thanking them for their interest in keeping their community clean and tidy and said it was very encouraging to see young people taking such an interest in their local environment. Mr Dales said the council was undertaking a review of waste and recycling and the provision of litter bins and recycling bins across the District and that Reeth would be part of that review.

In the meantime, the newspaper tells us, the Council are going to ask the Beavers to help look at existing litter and dog bin provision to see if they can use the bins to better effect in terms of location.

Well done, Swaledale Beaver Scouts, for taking the initiative!

A New DC for York Ebor

Effective from Friday 1st May 2020.

This, from Mark Edwards, our County Commissioner, who says:

"Following a recommendation by the County Appointments Advisory Committee, I am pleased to announce the appointment of a new District Commissioner for York Ebor District with effect from Friday 1 May 2020.

NIGEL WHITE, currently Assistant Group Scout Leader at 1st Copmanthorpe Scout Group and our Deputy Unit Leader at the World Scout Jamboree 2019 will take on the role from the current District Commissioner, KATHRYN DUNN.

An experienced Scout Leader for over 20 years, Nigel’s success at 1st Copmanthorpe and more recently at last year’s Jamboree stand him in good stead to take on the leadership and management of our largest District in terms of membership numbers. I am confident that Nigel will rise to this new Scouting Challenge and in doing so will have your full support.

I would also like to put on record at this time my sincere thanks and appreciation to Kathryn, who stepped up to take on the leadership of York Ebor District at a testing time in 2017 and I am delighted that she will continue Scouting in the District."

I'm sure we will all support Nigel in his new Role

Junior Warrior 2020 - Thursday 25th June - Bramham Park (LS23 6LT)

There will be a Junior Warrior 2020 badge for all participants.

OPEN TO ALL SCOUT SECTIONS (and BROWNIES & GUIDES) ACROSS NORTH YORKSHIRE - Note: This is NOT a public event

Taking on ‘Muddy Mayhem’, ‘Canopy Climb’ and ’Slideaway’ to name but a few of the obstacles. Entrants will have to run, climb, jump, crawl and slide their way around a total of 12 Challenging Obstacles.

Arrival Time from 5pm, First Wave from 6pm on Thursday 25th June 2020 - £14 for participating young members and no cost for participating leaders.

Have the adventure of a lifetime on an off-road obstacle course of approximately 3km in length, featuring 12 tailor-made obstacles, including walls, pipes, nets, loads of MUD and an awesome water slide.

There will be 850 participant places on a "first come, first saved" basis which, based on last years event, we expect to book up fairly quickly.

Click HERE to book places and get more information. 

Book early to avoid disappointment!