The Hills are alive! (From Gazette & Herald)

The Hills are alive!

A CELEBRATION of life among some of North Yorkshire's most picturesque scenery is to feature everyone from spud farmers to wicket keepers.

An imaginative project being run by Thirsk-based Rural Arts North Yorkshire is aiming to document the life and times of the Howardian Hills, which stretch between Pickering and York. The Countryside Agency was so impressed by the idea that they have given Rural Arts almost £10,000 to help out.

The project, which cost about £14,000, is using cash from North Yorkshire County Council, as well as the district councils of Ryedale and Hambleton.

But the £9,630 boost from the Countryside Agency's Local Heritage Initiative was even more than Rural Arts was expecting.

"It's amazing; we weren't expecting that much, but it's certainly very welcome. All the partners involved have been very generous about the project," said Rural Arts director Angela Hayward.

The project involves photographer Tessa Bunny, of Kilburn, and writer Pat Borthwick, of Coulton, who are going round taking snapshots from craftspeople who live and work in the hills.

On their travels, they have heard from market gardeners, potato growers, the wicket keeper of Hovingham's cricket pitch, gardeners from Castle Howard, and dry stone wallers.

The project, entitled The Nature of the Land, will document the life of the hills throughout the four seasons, and will culminate in a special exhibition next spring, when all the people who have been interviewed will be invited to show off their skills.

Angela said it was hoped the venue for the exhibition would be Terrington village hall, in the heart of the Howardians, adding: "It has been a really interesting project so far."

The grant will also allow Rural Arts to stage workshops on photography and creative writing in the local area, and to produce a CD-ROM and website.

The hills are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and are currently the subject of a five-year management plan, which will be unveiled in 2004.

Updated: 12:19 Saturday, October 12, 2002