Laura Reid

Church View Children’s Place in Hoyland, Barnsley, is preparing to open The Bungalow, a specialist residential and respite-care home for six young people aged seven to 19 with autism, learning disabilities and complex needs. Founded by former NHS children’s nurse Louise Riby and entrepreneur Eddie Riby, the facility includes en-suite bedrooms, sensory bathrooms, education and wellbeing areas, recreational spaces, accessible play facilities and dedicated transport. Opening is subject to Ofsted registration. A planned second phase, The Manor House, will provide nurse-led short breaks for children with complex medical needs and include hydrotherapy and gym facilities. The founders aim to establish a model of care that could influence local authorities and government standards.

A new book by historians Peter Brears and Michael J. Rochford, assisted by Richard Knowles, brings together more than 210 drawings made by John Buckler and his son John Chessell Buckler between 1803 and 1820. The drawings document around 700 Yorkshire buildings and townscapes, including abbeys, churches, castles, country houses and domestic buildings, many of which have since been altered or demolished. The authors describe the images as an underused resource for historians and archaeologists and hope the book will encourage people to appreciate and help preserve Yorkshire’s remaining architectural heritage.

The Seeds of Hope festival in Halifax celebrates Shibden Park’s centenary through ten micro show gardens created by local schools, charities and community groups. The project grew from Calderdale’s CultureDale programme and aims to connect residents with nature, gardening and one another while highlighting themes including wellbeing, food security, creativity, refugee experiences and belonging. The gardens will be displayed at Shibden Park until August 16, 2026, before being relocated to communities across Calderdale to create a lasting trail and encourage volunteering and gardening.

Yorkshire Day, established in 1975 by the Yorkshire Ridings Society, is being marked with brass band performances, readings of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity and Morris dancing across the county. Bradford is hosting the inaugural Yorkshire Proms, featuring the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, local choirs and music by Yorkshire-born composer John Barry. U&GOLD is also previewing The Last Drop of Summer Wine, a 2027 special presented by Brian Conley that revisits Last of the Summer Wine locations, performers and archives in Holmfirth.

Former NHS executive and whistleblower Rachel Habergham has turned a difficult experience following an NHS merger into A Poem in Your Heart, a poetry book and community project focused on leadership, wellbeing and personal growth. Working with creative facilitator Rosie Carnall, she held workshops for women aged 18 to 70, encouraging them to explore life experiences through poetry. The project has led to Habergham’s consultancy, Disrupting the Silence, while profits from the book will support Sheffield charity Mums In Need. An accompanying exhibition is being held at The Art House in Sheffield until September 5.

Sue Horne reflects on a 30-year career in space science, including her work at the UK Space Agency supporting Tim Peake’s 2015 mission to the International Space Station and helping develop the Rosalind Franklin Mars rover, scheduled to launch in 2028. After retiring in 2024, she received an honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Sheffield and was appointed an OBE. Horne also discusses the Rosetta mission, public engagement with science, encouraging women and children into STEM careers, technological progress, and her hope that future missions will establish whether life exists elsewhere in the universe.