Raven, Reuben, Miles, Edith, Violet, Sidney, Annas, Clementine and Nancy became familiar faces as cameras documented everyday life at the family’s 2,000-acre Ravenseat Farm in Upper Swaledale.

But much has changed since the programme first aired in 2018.

Some of Amanda and Clive’s eldest children have now left school and developed careers of their own, while others continue to help with farming and the family’s ambitious restoration of neighbouring farmhouse Anty John’s.

The family has also returned to television in Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids, with a fourth series due to continue their story.

So what are Amanda and Clive Owen’s nine children doing now?

Raven Owen

Raven is Amanda and Clive’s eldest child and has followed a very different career from the traditional farming life viewers saw at Ravenseat.

She studied Biomedical Science at York St John University, graduating with first-class honours in 2022 before going on to complete a master’s degree in the same subject.

Raven’s professional profile says her research has included work relating to oncology and improving chemotherapy drugs.

She has since moved into scientific work and is listed by her management as working as an assistant scientist, while a more recent professional profile describes her work in analytical chemistry and chemical residue analysis.

The Owen family from Our Yorkshire Farm and Our Farm Next Door (Image: CHANNEL4)

Despite building a career away from Ravenseat, Raven has not left farming life completely behind.

She still returns to the family’s North Yorkshire farm and helps out when needed, while continuing to appear in Our Farm Next Door.

Viewers saw Raven return home during the third series in 2026 to join the rest of the family for youngest sister Nancy’s ninth birthday.

Reuben Owen

Reuben has arguably become the most prominent of the Owen children on television.

After viewers watched his love of machinery develop during Our Yorkshire Farm, he went on to build his own groundworks and heavy plant machinery business.

That eventually resulted in a television career of his own.

Reuben first appeared alongside his father in Beyond the Yorkshire Farm: Reuben and Clive before becoming the focus of Channel 5’s Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales.

The programme follows Reuben as he grows his machinery and contracting business alongside friends and members of his family.

A third series aired on Channel 5 in 2026, with episodes continuing through June.

His brothers have also become involved, with Miles appearing alongside him and Sidney joining Reuben for farming and machinery jobs.

Reuben continues to appear in the family’s Our Farm Next Door programme as well, meaning he now features across both the Channel 5 and Channel 4/More4 sides of the Owen family’s television story.

Miles Owen

Miles, the third eldest of the nine children, has remained particularly close to the farming world in which he was raised.

He is now described as a full-time farmer, splitting his time between work at Ravenseat and helping Reuben with his groundworks and digger business.

Miles is particularly interested in sheep and cattle farming but has ambitions to broaden his experience into arable agriculture.

His longer-term aim could eventually see him take on more responsibility at the family’s farm or establish a farming operation of his own.

He has also become increasingly visible on television.

Alongside appearances in Our Farm Next Door, Miles has joined Reuben on Life in the Dales, combining farming work with his interest in diggers and machinery.

Edith Owen

Edith was still a young child when viewers first became familiar with the Owen family, but she has now grown into one of the older siblings.

Unlike Raven, Reuben and Miles, considerably less has been made public about Edith’s plans away from television.

She nevertheless remains part of the family’s current TV story and has continued to appear in Our Farm Next Door alongside her parents and siblings.

That programme has given viewers an opportunity to see just how much the younger Owens have changed since the early days of Our Yorkshire Farm.

Production company Wise Owl Films recently highlighted that transformation itself, remarking on how much the Owen children had grown since filming on Our Farm Next Door began in 2023.

Violet Owen

Violet is another of the Owen children who has largely remained outside the individual celebrity spotlight.

She grew up on screen helping around Ravenseat and remains involved in the family’s television appearances.

Violet is among the children credited throughout Our Farm Next Door, which continues to show the siblings taking part in farm life and the restoration of Anty John’s.

Amanda has spoken about wanting her younger children to retain the freedom and independence that comes with growing up in the Dales, describing how they explore the countryside around their home rather than spending their lives indoors.

Sidney Owen

Sidney, often known as Sid, has increasingly emerged as another of the family’s practical hands.

Viewers have seen him working alongside his older brothers and father, including tackling jobs connected to the Anty John’s renovation.

During series three of Our Farm Next Door, Sid and Amanda inspected a collapsed bridge on the track leading to the farmhouse.

He later joined Reuben and Clive as they worked on repairing it.

Sid also appeared alongside Reuben and Miles during the 2026 series of Reuben Owen: Life in the Dales, including during sheep shearing at the family farm.

Like his older brothers, he appears to have inherited plenty of the family’s enthusiasm for machinery and practical farm work.

Annas Owen

Annas remains one of the younger Owen children living the rural life viewers first came to know through Our Yorkshire Farm.

Her recent television appearances have increasingly shown her taking responsibility for animals herself.

The Owen family (Image: CHANNEL4)

In series three of Our Farm Next Door, Annas and sister Clemmie were shown hoping to buy their first sheep.

Later in the series, Clive gave Annas, Clemmie and Nancy a lesson in working with the family’s sheepdog Nellie – continuing the tradition of the Owen children learning farming skills from an early age.

Clementine Owen

Clementine, generally known as Clemmie, has also continued to feature prominently among the younger members of the family.

Like Annas, she was shown attempting to negotiate the purchase of her first sheep during the latest series.

She has also joined Amanda on some of the historical adventures surrounding Anty John’s.

One episode saw Clemmie and Nancy accompany their mother and a local historian to a church connected with a former resident of the farmhouse, as Amanda continued researching the property’s past.

Nancy Owen

Nancy is the youngest of Amanda and Clive’s nine children and was only very young when Our Yorkshire Farm first put the family into millions of homes.

She turned nine during events shown in series three of Our Farm Next Door, with Raven returning to Ravenseat to join the family celebrations.

Nancy has continued to provide some of the programme’s lighter moments too.

When new doors were being fitted at Anty John’s, she had an important question for the adults – why there wasn’t a cat flap.

She has also joined her sisters in learning to work the family’s sheepdog and exploring the countryside around Ravenseat.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — War’s timeless ache — death, captivity, the agonizing wait and the pull of home — has found a new stage in wartime Kyiv, with Homer’s epic reimagined as a contemporary Ukrainian odyssey.

The play “Odysseus, Maeotis” is ready to open in the Ukrainian capital as the ancient tale enjoys a global moment with Christopher Nolan’s IMAX spectacle and box-office hit “The Odyssey” starring Matt Damon.

In Kyiv, the story is performed by professional actors and active-duty soldiers, including Daniil Mireshkin, a serviceman who plays the warrior king Odysseus

“I think this combination of myth and modernity allows us to draw parallels and understand just how critical the question of return is: the return of military personnel to civilian life, the return of our territories and the return of ourselves to our true identity as Ukrainians,” Mireshkin said.

The actor spoke to The Associated after a final rehearsal Tuesday, ahead of a premiere that has been repeatedly delayed due to successive Russian attacks.

“This story helps us talk about these topics, which, as it turns out, haven’t lost any of their relevance,” Mireshkin said.

Drones and killing machines as modern monsters

The staging at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater is designed to be austere and unsettling.

Against a darkened set laced with neon light bars, projections wash over the actors themselves. The monsters of the original — the Cyclops and the sirens — are replaced by drones that buzz across the stage and models of robotic war machines.

The play unfolds in parallel: Odysseus’ punishing journey and the long wait at home by his wife, Penelope.

Director Ivan Uryvskyi is candid about how the play recasts the ancient poem’s themes of return and those trapped in exile and captivity.

“Of course, very little of Homer’s original text remains here, because the play was written from scratch. We simply took the core narrative arc — Odysseus’ return home,” he said.

At the edge of the known world

An additional Greek reference is carried in the play’s title: “Maeotis” is an ancient name for the Sea of Azov, taken from the people who lived along its shores, a place once considered to be the edge of the known world.

The sea is home to Mariupol, the port city seized by Russia after a 2022 siege, and the play is based on accounts by its defenders from the Azov brigade, now part of the 1st Corps Azov — a part of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Mireshkin, the lead actor, and playwrite Oleksii Dorychevskyi are members of the 1st Corps Azov. Dorychevskyi drew on a year of interviews with former prisoners of war for the production. According to the Corps, an estimated 600 Azov brigade servicemen are among the thousands still in Russian captivity.

For Daryna Leheida, who plays Penelope, the ancient queen’s plight resonates with the stories of women in Ukraine who wait for loved ones to return.

Officers were called by the ambulance service at about 11.10am on Saturday, August 15, following a disturbance on the Foss Islands Cycle Path off Wigginton Road near the junction with Crichton Avenue.

As reported, police said two people were injured in the incident, and four people were subsequently arrested.

The four arrested were three 16-year-old boys and a 64-year-old man. They were taken into custody on suspicion of wounding with intent.

All four were released on police bail.

Recommended reads:

‘His clothes had been burnt off’ – what we know about ‘explosion’ in York garden

Woman permanently scarred after dog jumped up and ‘bit her in the face’

A64 closure and train changes set for Leeds Festival weekend as thousands expected

In an update, a spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police told The Press: “The investigation is  ongoing and there are no charges at this time.”

One of the injured was treated at hospital for minor knife wounds, police said at the time. The other person sustained ‘more serious injuries believed to have been caused by a wooden implement’.

The spokesperson confirmed that the second casualty has since left hospital.

The Pitbull Universe Party is taking place at Motel Mexicana on Mosley Steet, Newcastle on Sunday, August 30, with organisers promising an afternoon dedicated to the star’s music and collaborations.

Running from 2pm until 7pm, the over-18s event will feature DJs playing Pitbull tracks alongside songs by artists including Sean Paul, Flo Rida, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Jason Derulo, Bad Bunny, and J Balvin.

The event has been described as a “full afternoon dedicated to the Pitbull universe featuring the hits, collabs and the ones you forgot about until the chorus comes on”.

People take part in a Guinness World Records attempt for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps ahead of Pitbull’s headlining show at BST Hyde Park (Image: David Parry/PA)

Organisers are also encouraging partygoers to embrace the theme by wearing bald caps inspired by the singer’s trademark look.

Food and drinks will be available throughout the event, while VIP packages can be booked for groups.

The event forms part of the August Bank Holiday celebrations in Newcastle and is being staged at Motel Mexicana, located at 36-38 Mosley Street in the city centre.

Early bird tickets are available through ticketing platform Fatsoma.

Manchester United have been linked with several transfer dealings as the end of the summer window approaches

Manchester United are bracing themselves for an intriguing final few days of the transfer window. Michael Carrick has less than a week to bolster his squad before September 1

United initially concentrated their initial recruitment drive on overhauling their midfield and have added Carlos Baleba to their engine room. However, Carrick may be looking to bring in reinforcements across other areas following the club’s opening loss to Hull City.

The Reds have been linked with an interest in Freiburg striker Igor Matanovic. Benjamin Sesko is one of the few natural centre-forwards within Carrick’s ranks, while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are also capable of filling in.

Meanwhile, United forward Joshua Zirkzee could potentially depart Old Trafford. Here, MEN Sport examines the biggest transfer stories surrounding the club.

Striker ‘target’ emerges

While Zirkzee is reportedly edging towards an exit, Matanovic could fill his position in Carrick’s squad. The 23-year-old netted 15 goals across all competitions for the German outfit last season.

Gazzetta dello Sport claims that United are competing to snap up the Croatia international. The Reds are claimed to be joined by Spurs in the battle for his services.

Furthermore, Fiorentina are reportedly weighing up an “ambitious” swoop for Matanovic as they hunt for Moise Kean’s successor. Matanovic moved to Freiburg from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer.

Advertisement

Essential 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle for the new season

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£51

£35

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.

Advertisement

This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions.

Joshua Zirkzee ‘closing in’ on exit

Fiorentina are also reportedly in discussions over a move for United striker Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in the club’s attack since his arrival from Bologna in 2024.

Gazzetta reports that Fiorentina are “in negotiations” over a £4.2million loan deal for Zirkzee, with the option to make the deal permanent next summer. The Serie A side are said to have earmarked the United forward as an “ideal replacement” for Kean, who is poised to join Como.

Fiorentina reportedly face a battle with Juventus for Zirkzee’s signature, though La Viola are keen to accelerate their pursuit while Juve focus on selling Jonathan David on. Gazzetta adds that Fiorentina are “closing in” on a deal to bring Zirkzee in as Kean’s successor.

The 25-year-old has netted nine goals in 75 appearances for United, having joined the club for £36.5m following an impressive spell with Bologna.

A ton of extra GTA 6 info has been shared via new US previews, such as how the game builds upon Red Dead Redemption 2 and that you can influence Jason and Lucia’s romance.

Even in just 26 minutes, the GTA 6 gameplay preview on Netflix showed off a lot of new details that somehow weren’t already spoiled by the frequent leaks, while also re-emphasising the game’s very impressive graphics.

British culture magazine Dazed did indicate that it and a few others got to preview the game personally behind closed doors, but it was unclear if anyone was allowed to play GTA 6 themselves or if they simply saw the Netflix preview early.

Turns out the answer is no, no one went hands-on with GTA 6 (well, some influencers might have but they haven’t posted any videos yet). But some were given a completely different gameplay demonstration, which means further details not shown in the Netflix preview have been unearthed.

So far, it seems Rockstar only invited a limited number of US press and influencers, and as of time of writing we could find only two previews, not including Dazed’s.

The first is from IGN, which describes a slice of gameplay demoed by Rockstar’s co-studio head Rob Nelson, so they definitely didn’t get to play it themselves.

What IGN can confirm is that there’s an affinity mechanic between Jason and Lucia, where the two can strengthen their relationship as they work together to rob people and do crimes.

While this doesn’t have any gameplay benefits, it sounds like it will have an impact on the story or at least certain cut scenes, which could point towards multiple endings depending on whether you push Jason and Lucia into a more romantic relationship or keep them strictly as work partners.

‘They will remain partners in crime. You will always have the benefit of working together and having each other’s back – whether they’re romantically close or not doesn’t change that,’ explains Nelson.

‘They will still work together. It’s really about what you want for them, their story, and how it plays out. Whether you’ve nurtured the relationship or not will definitely have a bearing on how their story plays out.’

There’s also a deliberate effort to not let you feel as overpowered as you could in previous GTA games, where you could freely gun down civilians if you wanted to, so long as the cops don’t catch you.

In GTA 6, the regular citizens may fight back if you throw the first punch. As such, the game borrows from Red Dead Redemption 2 and makes it so you can taunt or threaten people with your gun by pressing the aim button while your weapon is holstered.

‘I think in previous GTA games you were a bit all-powerful. You were the only one with an invisible arsenal hidden away. Apart from the police, everyone would run in terror from you if you started acting out. This world in GTA 6 is not like that,’ explains Nelson.

It was previously suggested, by Dazed, that GTA 6 will be far more grounded than previous entries, so returning fans could be in for a shock to learn they can’t get away with rampant violence so easily.

Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Advertisement

Add us as a Preferred Source

Another aspect that’s being brought over from Red Dead Redemption 2 is that game’s Honour system or rather a reworked version of it called Criminal Profile.

In Red Dead Redemption 2 you could gradually rebuild your reputation through acts of kindness, even after going on a killing spree. GTA 6’s Criminal Profile system is described as more nuanced, as your reputation changes depending on how you interact with the world.

It’s not entirely clear what sort of impact your Criminal Profile will have on gameplay, but even small criminal acts like littering can affect it. What’s more, if you shoot at someone in self defence, that won’t affect your profile as much as you doing so without cause.

There’s also talk of carjacking requiring a bit more effort than a simple button press. Depending on the model, some cars demand certain tools, such as a key cloner for bypassing certain locks, meaning you’ll come across plenty of vehicles you won’t be able to access until you progress further into the game.

The New York Times has posted their own preview, but they received the same experience of watching Nelson play the game. They confirm that GTA 6’s map will be three times larger than that of Red Dead Redemption 2.

As suspected, there’s also a very clear effort to appeal to those who enjoy role-playing sessions in GTA Online; something which required unofficial modding but has since been officially supported by Rockstar. You can see this in the Netflix preview as you can check a fridge for a drink or sit down and watch some TV.

‘I hope that there will be people that want to get up, have a cup of coffee, shower, get dressed, go out for a little exercise,’ says Nelson, adding that his own playthrough of the game exceeded 80 hours, which covered the main story and some optional side activities.

He also goes into how the non-playable inhabitants of GTA 6’s world were built, boasting about how each and every one of them was made without procedural generation and that there are over 600,000 unique animations in the game. That’s double the amount in Red Dead Redemption 2, so it’s no wonder the game’s taken so long to come out.

YouTuber TGG has a preview of his own too, but he has plans to make multiple deep dive videos to share what he has learned. As such, he’s only briefly summed up what he intends to cover on X, such as how the aforementioned Criminal Profile system works, the new Wanted level mechanics, and how the driving fares compared to GTA 5.

Email gamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter.

To submit Inbox letters and Reader’s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here.

For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.

MORE: GTA 6 will be ‘game of life’ say fans as reaction to Netflix video is ecstatic

MORE: Netflix GTA 6 show will have 26 minutes of gameplay footage claims source

MORE: James Pond creator tells remaster dev to ‘choke on an AI-generated fishbone’

Welcome to How I Do It, the series in which we give you a seven-day sneak peek into the sex life of a stranger.

This week, we hear from Phoebe*, a 29-year-old lawyer living in London, who up until recently has been in a nine-month ‘just sex’ situationship with her colleague, Jared*.

‘I’d just come out of a three-year relationship when things began heating up between Jared and I, but I never thought anything would actually happen between us,’ she says.

‘But now it’s been months of super hot but rough sex, which I love.

‘I’ve asked him to do things to me that I’ve never done with anyone before. He’s even slapped me in bed, which I found such a turn on.’

The problem is, Jared doesn’t want a girlfriend who is as financially successful as Phoebe. He wants to feel like the provider, so he’s told her they can never be in a relationship.

Since then, she’s given him the cold shoulder, but despite having plenty of male attention, no one is scratching the itch that Phoebe has for wild sex.

‘I’m going on dates with really hot and lovely guys, but I spend all my time thinking about Jared,’ she adds.

Without further ado, here’s how Phoebe got on this week…

The following sex diary is, as you might imagine, not safe for work.

Monday

I’m up and in the office by 9am and when I walk in, Jared and I immediately lock eyes.

We’ve been sleeping together for the past nine months after he broke up with his ex. I was actually part of the reason they ended their five year relationship — we kissed on a work trip to LA after months of flirting, and he later left her.

But we haven’t become boyfriend and girlfriend. In fact, I can’t even look at him without feeling conflicted.

I’ve fallen for him, but we’re absolutely not compatible. His views on women are a problem, but I do like how rough and dominant he is in bed. It doesn’t make any sense.

I’ve endeavoured to ignore him for now, after he dismissed my feelings when I said we were more than just a hookup.

I can feel him staring at me all day, but I keep my eyes fixed on my screen. 

I get home late and head to the gym before going to bed.

Tuesday

Again I head into work, but today I’m wearing a tight skirt for after-work drinks, and maybe to torture Jared. Again, I ignore him. All day. 

He sends me a message about a meeting but I write a blunt, no fuss response and he gets the hint. 

Once I clock off, I head to a bar to meet a friend, Ryan. We’ve always been friends, but it’s always had a flirty undertone to it.

He’ll make comments on how good I look and is sometimes quite handsy, it’s pretty obvious that if I wanted to, I could. And tonight, I want to. 

He’s very tall, well built and has an impossibly charming smile, and we laugh over two drinks at the bar, before I suggest getting a bottle and taking it back to mine.

He only lives two streets away from me, so there’s a good chance that if it’s good tonight, this will become a regular hookup. 

Half a bottle in, I hold his gaze and look at his lips, giving him the signal. He’s practiced at this and immediately takes the hint, leaning in and kissing me on the sofa. He’s good, really good, and our breathing gets heavy as he lays me back. 

I’m immediately wet, this has been a long time coming and I can tell in the way he’s devouring me.

He goes down on me right there and it’s not long before I’m close to orgasm. Then he pulls away and takes his t-shirt and jeans off, settling over me and pushing into me. It feels incredible and we go at it for about 10 minutes before I climax. 

He finishes shortly after, and in that moment I’m deeply satisfied. We curl up in bed and while I’m content, I hate that there’s a niggling thought in my mind that Jared would’ve done it better.

Wednesday

I kick Ryan out of my bed early, take a shower and head to work. I feel a little smug at the events of last night and Ryan texts me to say it was as good as he’d hoped it would be, and to message him whenever. 

I’m in some meetings with Jared today and I can tell it’s bugging him that I’ve been radio silent. After all, we’ve spent nine months acting like boyfriend and girlfriend, he even helped me move house and built my furniture. 

The day drags a little but I get home and order food in, watching an episode of Heated Rivalry. I fall asleep but wake up to a buzz from my phone. It’s Jared.

‘Are you giving me the silent treatment?’ 

I ignore it, and drift off again.

Thursday

I’m working from home today and that’s ideal because I have a second date.

He’s a guy I met on Hinge, and to be honest I don’t think he really has any flaws. He’s handsome, pays for everything, plans the dates and takes the initiative — who knew men like this still existed? 

We laugh a lot and he likes how self-sufficient and career driven I am, which is the total opposite of Jared. 

He comes back to mine and we begin making out. It’s not long before I slip my hand into his boxers and he gets hard. We both go down on each other which is great, but as soon as I get on top, he struggles to stay hard. I tell him it’s fine and we switch positions but again, no luck.

Eventually it’s a little awkward and we give in, instead he just stays the night and we cuddle. Hopefully he was just nervous and, if we have date number three, next time it will be better.

Friday

After a long busy day at work, I get a text from Jared. 

He wants to come over. My heart flutters.

Of course he does, he wants sex. But it’s not like we were exclusive or anything.

I leave it and go and see some friends at a cute pub for dinner. My friends ask me why I want a man like Jared, with all of his archaic views. I wish I had the answer.

We laugh a lot and I try to forget my boy troubles, if just for a little while.

Saturday

I’m off to my yoga class this morning, before grabbing brunch with my sister. It’s great to catch up, as she has her own flat now and is all grown up. I’m so proud of her. 

By the time evening rolls around, I’m really missing Jared. I miss the electric connection we have and the intense attraction, coupled with sex that practically makes me forget my own name.

I know I shouldn’t, but I call him. He doesn’t answer but then immediately calls me back. 

He’s out with friends and jokingly reprimands me for ignoring him. He does agree to come over in the next hour though.

He gets in and there’s little to no small talk, my heart beats fast. He grabs my face and we begin making out passionately, as we make our way to the bedroom.

He strips my clothes off and does the same for himself before bending me over and going down on me like I’m all he’s ever needed. I orgasm and barely have time to recover before he flips me over and gets on top of me.

He puts his hands on my throat, gently choking me and I enjoy the heady feeling. Then he spits in my mouth as he thrusts. There’s something about how dominant he is, and how I can give up complete control with him which really turns me on.

It’s rough and hard and then he finishes, and we crumple into a heap, breathing hard.

After a few minutes he leads me into the shower, and we kiss each other as we clean off the incredible sex we’ve just had. Then he makes himself at home in my bed and I fall asleep content.

Sunday

He leaves early to go and meet friends, so I’m left with my own thoughts. I know I shouldn’t have caved last night but I feel on a high now. 

I need to move on and find someone new, it’s not that I even want to find a husband. I just want to find someone who is respectful and where there’s an even power dynamic when it comes to dating.

What I do know is I need to avoid Jared. I spend the day reminding myself that was the last time we will ever have sex, and text Ryan to arrange to see each other next week.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

MORE: Helena Bonham Carter, 60, enjoys London stroll with art historian boyfriend, 38

MORE: I’m a multi-millionaire — these are the rules my wife and I follow for marriage success

MORE: The ‘uncomfortable’ sign your marriage could be doomed before it’s even started

Richmond Motor Club is set to be given temporary planning permission allowing the motorcycle trial to be held this year while work takes place to draw up plans to mitigate potential damage caused by the event.

The Scott Trial sees around 200 riders tackle a challenging course of around 130km through Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

The event, which will celebrate its centenary this year, attracts some of the best trials bike riders in the world.

Richmond Motor Club has handed out more than £230,000 to local charities and good causes since taking over the running of the trial in 1991.

The majority of the route is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park and passes through protected habitats, three areas of ancient semi-natural woodland and close to numerous archaeological features and scheduled monuments.

The motor club had initially sought either another five-year extension to its planning permission or consent for the event to continue permanently.

However, following discussions with officers from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, the application has been amended to provide temporary consent while work takes place on a full planning application aimed at securing the trial’s long-term future.

A report to members of the authority’s planning committee says a recent assessment identified 324 heritage assets within 100 metres of the route, including remains associated with historic lead mining, quarrying and prehistoric and Romano-British settlements.

Historic England has called for “micro-rerouting” wherever possible to avoid sensitive features including structural remains, earthworks and unstable spoil heaps.

Officers say a long-term conservation management plan should accompany any future application for permanent permission.

Concerns have also been raised about the route passing through Birk Park Wood, Arkle Beck Wood and Cuckoo Hill Wood.

Potential damage identified includes soil compaction and rutting, damage to exposed roots and low branches, collisions with trees and the impact of spectators and marshals.

Measures proposed include inspections before and after the event, marking the route every 20 to 30 metres to keep riders away from tree stems and using signs to keep spectators out of ancient woodland.

Officers say a longer-term woodland strategy should form part of any future application.

The authority also wants improved ecological monitoring, with previous measures including fencing sensitive habitats, briefing riders, marshalling and changing routes in subsequent years where damage occurs to allow habitats to recover.

Planning officer Ian Nesbit said in the report: “The applicant (through the agent for the application) has committed to actively engaging with officers of the authority to understand and to agree the various plans, surveys and assessments required for the validation of a new ‘full’ planning application, that if approved, would provide a permanent permission for the trial and look to achieve better, long-term ecological, archaeological and arboricultural outcomes than the current ‘five-year extension’ approach.”

Planning officers have recommended that temporary permission is granted for this year’s event while further work takes place on long-term mitigation measures.

The authority’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

“We are also asking festival-goers to look out for each other and to seek help immediately if someone appears unwell”

The PSNI is urging festival-goers to keep prioritising their safety when attending music events across Northern Ireland.

Key safety messages include planning your journey home in advance, staying with friends and, importantly, being aware of the serious dangers and consequences associated with illegal drugs.

Police say they want everyone to enjoy their day and ensure that “a much-anticipated outing is memorable for the right reasons”.

PSNI Alistair Hagan said: “We want everyone to have an enjoyable and memorable time – and to remember it for all the right reasons

“Working alongside event organisers and health partners, we want festival-goers to stay safe. Simple steps can make a real difference: plan how you will get home before you set off, stay with your friends, and look out for one another.

“I also want to be very clear about the serious, potentially life-changing, risks of taking or supplying illegal drugs. No drugs are safe. The truth is that any illicit drug can have an unknown concoction of ingredients and, put simply, you won’t know what you are actually taking in terms of either components or strength.

“The risks of taking any drugs, or drugs combined with alcohol, are therefore huge. And the sad reality is that the effect can be fatal. Anyone found using or supplying illegal drugs, may face arrest and prosecution. A moment of experimentation, or giving in to peer pressure, can therefore have irreversible consequences for your health, wellbeing and future.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch and Belfast Local Policing Teams with the support of Organised Crime Task Force partners, are carrying out proactive operations across the city.

While collective efforts to tackle illicit drugs are ongoing throughout the year, there is an intensified focus throughout the summer concert season.

Superintendent Hagan continued: “Our proactive policing operation at major festivals includes high-visibility patrols, with stop and search activity at venues and the surrounding areas.

“Amnesty bins will be available at entrance points, allowing people to dispose of substances safely and anonymously.”

He added: “While our primary role is to enforce drug legislation, we are also asking festival-goers to look out for each other and to seek help immediately if someone appears unwell.”

A summer campaign by the independent charity Crimestoppers, using strategically-placed posters and social media messaging, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs and encourage people to report information anonymously.

Information can be provided to Crimestoppers, with complete anonymity, by calling 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Support services for anyone affected by drugs or alcohol are available at www.DrugsAndAlcoholNI.info

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.