Welcome to the Rosedale blog. This is where we share news and information about events in Rosedale and the wider community throughout the year. You’ll also find news about the village timetable, our micro enterprises, school events, clubs, and lively socials.
Image: Rosedale Show By Patrick Chambers
A band of volunteers were at work in Rosedale Abbey on Friday 15 June, helping to clear one of the fields near the campsite of thistles in order to improve biodiversity in the area.
If you are interested in joining in this important work, learning new skills and meeting other like minded volunteers, then see: http://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/looking-after/volunteering
The ‘This Exploited Land Of Iron’ project has been re-named to just Land of Iron (see new logo at top right on our home page).
As part of the project, representatives from Historic England, the contracting consultants Align and the National Park Authority yesterday visited the two main roasting kilns sites to decided on detailed plans for the conservation work which is due to start now in 2019.
The work done to stabilise the old track bed at East Mines is maturing nicely, as is the revetting work done by volunteers further down the line. Also, the work to clear the entrance to the culvert at Reeking Gill has held up over winter. Once the weather improves, the surface of the trackbed from Reeking Gill back to the kilns will be restored and repaired.
The coffee morning in the Coach House Inn on Saturday 7 April 2018 was in aid of the Rosedale mill leat and village pond restoration fund. Thanks to the generosity of all who came, the combined total from cake sales, raffle and coffee came to the wonderful total of £305.00, which will enable routine maintenance on the mill system and pond to continue.
Kate and members of the pond committee would like to thank all who donated prizes and cakes and who contributed to the pond fund in other ways, and to Dave Oakey and the team in the Coach House for sponsoring the event. Also to Margaret, Carol and Janet for organising the raffle with their customary energy and skill.
Finally, please keep an eye on social media and this site for information on calls for volunteers to help clear the pond of excess vegetation once the weather improves!
Did you know Rosedale Abbey had a Mill Race and a pond?
If the answer is no, you won’t be alone, as this historic feature of the village has been neglected, and allowed to become overgrown and silted up.
Happily, there are a group of folks in the village who are working together to remedy the situation and formulate a plan of action to change this eyesore into an asset.
We now have a Pond Committee, which has been successful in securing a grant from the National Park and grant of £200 from Rosedale Parish Council.
The committee plans to effect positive change for this feature, which sits in the village on one of the main walking routes in the Dale, not only in restoring the Mill Race and Pond, but ensuring the silt traps and Mill Race receive regular maintenance and jetting in the future.
The work so far completed on the Pond 2017 / 18 :-
The addition of an access points to silt traps in the field with the water source and the clearing of the ditch to allow the water to flow.The jetting and clearance of accumulated silt from underground sections of the Mill Race.
How can you help?
Practical help
We needs Volunteers to help clear the pond of unwanted vegetation.
Fundraising for Planting & Maintenance
A coffee morning is planned for 7th April at the Coach House, any support you can offer is very welcome.
Any donations of monies or Cheques made out to Rosedale Pond Fund can be left in an envelope at Abbey Stores or Graze on the Green, Gillies Jones or handed to Paddy or Linda Chambers of Rosedale History Society or Maisie Storey.
The Next Steps?
The next stage is to clear the pond of unwanted vegetation, date and full details TBC. In due course, we will be asking for volunteers with welly boots & rakes who might spare an hour to help.
We will be monitoring the flow of water, and, if the cleared underground Mill Race functions as it has done in the past, maintaining flow, the plan with the support of the NYNP is to place a specialist concrete liner in the top half of the pond.
Thank you to everyone who has already generously supported this project. We look forward to ensuring the Pond & Mill Race is kept healthy with regular maintenance, looks good and once again becomes a heaven for wildlife from ducks & dragonflies to newts.
Warm regards
Kate, Paddy, Linda & Maisie
Heavy snowfall makes our dale look even more stunning this February Update Natural History Recorder
A six axle HGV on its way to Updale on 13 February, having come down Chimney Bank and discovering that there was no way through the narrow High Bridge at Bridgefoot. 
As usual, satnav was the excuse for the driver not reading the warning signs at the Spaunton Moor road junction and again at Bank Top. The result was he had to reverse all the way back up to the Lookout and then drive up Chimney Bank!
… or the perils of not reading the danger signs and not using common sense when the Bank is covered with ice and snow. There were two accidents today, the first occurring overnight and then another this morning which resulted in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance being called out, along with the Fire and Rescue Service and the normal ambulance.
Remember, stay away from Chimney Bank in wintry conditions, no matter how well you think you know the hill, if you want to avoid being the fifth incident so far this winter. No-one seriously hurt this time, but please support the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – you never know, you might need it sometime!
What does it take to change a lightbulb? In Rosedale Abbey it was five men and three wagons to change the old sodium street light for a modern LED version, meaning better lit roads in the village this winter.
A public consultation on the proposed conservation measures on Rosedale’s ironstone roasting kilns was held last night, 12 December, in the Coach House Inn. The session was very well attended by 28 local people and there was lively discussion on several topics after stimulating presentations by representatives from the project office and the archaeological and engineering agencies involved with the proposed works.
Details of how to volunteer to help out in the programme of works on the line in 2018 can be found at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/landofiron
Chimney Bank has been closed until further notice because of a serious crash on the hill on Friday morning 8 December. The BATA feed lorry skidded on frozen snow and crashed just above the first hairpin on the hill, shedding its load of cattle feed.
Fortunately the driver only suffered a broken ankle and was taken off to Scarborough Hospital.
In view of the conditions on the Bank and the forecasted very bad weather, the recovery crews told the police and Highways on site that it would be unsafe to attempt a recovery until the weather improves. So the Bank is closed until further notice – watch this space and our social media for further reports.