Category: Columns

Not many gardeners grow sweet peppers. I’ve always been surprised at this as they’re not especially difficult. This year the crop is better than ever, earlier, bigger and, or so it seems, tastier. Sweet peppers thrive in sun and warmth so this summer’s weather will have given the plants an extra boost. As the climate […]

LIBRA *Starsign of the month*An easier month than many you have had to deal with this year. You get plenty of evidence that suggests that past decisions have been the right ones, and you should be on the receiving end of at least one apology from someone who has disagreed with you and caused a […]

** Starsign of the month – VIRGO **Gentlemen of the sign will be strongly influenced by a powerful woman who is determined to have her own way. If you can follow her lead all will be well, but if you try to go up against her, even on minor matters of pride and principle, she […]

Walks From The Bar Walls – A Micklegate Bar Circular This circular walk explores the underappreciated countryside of York’s southern fringes. With the outward and return legs almost overlapping at two points, it could be divided into three shorter walks linking Direction Points 6 and 10, and 5 and 11. Distance: 9 1/2 miles – […]

If you’ve tried growing leafy salad crops such as rocket in summer, you’ve probably been disappointed. When the days are long and warm the plants tend to bolt – that is throw up a flower head, rather than produce plentiful leaves. What’s more, those leaves that do grow are often pockmarked with holes made by […]

We hear from our resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson. I must start this month’s column with a dedication to the women’s England team and finally bringing it home in the Euro 2022 final! What a victory for them and an impressive tournament that hopefully is the springboard for women’s […]

By Tony Chalcraft If asked to choose between growing a sour or sweet cherry I’d always go for the former. It’s not maverick taste buds that drive this preference but the practicalities of cultivation. Producing a worthwhile crop of sweet cherries in a garden is difficult. Free-standing, sweet cherries often grow vigorously making tall trees […]

It has been a whirlwind of a month for York City as they enter a new era. I think many City fans would agree that a dark cloud has been lifted from over the LNER Community Stadium. The hybrid partnership of sporting businessman, Glen Henderson and the York City Supporters Trust feels like a real […]

This month, Kerry Lakey from Savannah Travel gives us the low down on the USA. Like many, we have been on our summer break and for myself and my colleague, Diane, the destination of choice was the USA.  For myself, my destination was New York, a delayed trip from when the borders were closed and […]

LEO… Star sign of the month A fun time for the boys and an annoying time for the girls. This is probably because the boys are having fun while the girls are not! Either way, the accent is on leisure and pleasure, and social aspects are very bright and interesting, especially for Leos in their late […]

Between Harrogate and Ripon This walk traverses the undulating countryside between Harrogate and Ripon, much of it managed by the Mountgarret Estate. Mainly crossing farmland with a few stretches of woodland, it visits Burton Leonard, Brearton and a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust reserve. Getting there The walk can be started from South Stainley (recommended), Burton Leonard, […]

We hear from our resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson. As I write this, I am still looking back at how on earth we managed to gain promotion from National League North! What a superb achievement and what a day it was for all York City fans to finally see the back […]

Barton-le-Willows, Crambe and the Derwent The highlight of this walk is a long stretch beside the River Derwent. It also provides an opportunity to visit Kirkham Priory and Crambe, one of York’s most tucked-away villages. Directions: 7.5 miles Time: 3hr 15 mins Getting There The recommended starting point is the Barton-le-Willows crossroads. On-street parking is […]

Free advice and help line, email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES A few tingles of financial tension this month as you measure your income against your outgoings, and there may be twinges of regret at some of the purchases you have made earlier this year. I’m not saying that this is necessarily a time to sell, but it […]

Kohlrabi is one of those vegetables that have never really caught on in this country. Widely grown and eaten elsewhere, especially in German-speaking countries (kohlrabi literally translates as ‘cabbage turnip’ in the Swiss-German dialect), it doesn’t even have an English name. In case you’re not familiar with it, kohlrabi is a rounded globe or bulb, […]