Discover the Yorkshire Wolds by Bus

A new regular public bus service between Driffield and Malton serving the Yorkshire Wolds will commence on Saturday 22 May 2010.   Service 133 will operate every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until the last Sunday in September.

The 133 Driffield-Malton `Dodger¿ offers access by public transport to the vibrant market town of Malton, and the delights of the Yorkshire Wolds ¿ including Sledmere House, Wharram Percy deserted village, Thixendale and the popular Wolds Way national trail. Discounts at attractions such as Malton Museum and Sledmere House are available to bus ticket holders.

The Service has been nicknamed the 'Dodger' because it follows the route of the former Driffield to Malton railway.  It is the only bus service linking the two market towns, with bus and rail connections available enabling journeys to be made with just one change from Hull, Beverley, Bridlington, Scarborough and York.

Travelling through some outstanding Wolds countryside, the Dodger gently winds its way through picturesque villages in an area steeped in heritage and culture.  The service provides direct access to Sledmere House (a discount is available if travelling by bus), Wetwang, Thixendale and Wharram.  It also serves Wharram Percy - England¿s best-known deserted medieval village. The Dodger is also ideal for exploring the Yorkshire Wolds by foot, linking up with the Wolds Way National Trail at various locations en route, including Thixendale and Fridaythorpe.   

A timetable leaflet will shortly be available at local outlets including Tourist Information Centres, Travel Centres and Libraries. Both National Concessionary bus passes and Travel Tokens are accepted. Download the time table now by clicking on the link.

The Dodger bus service is part of the Heritage Connections project, run by Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council (HWRCC). The Humber Rural Partnership has worked closely with HWRCC and other partners to develop the Dodger bus service. The Heritage Connections project is funded by the `Coast Wolds Wetlands and Waterways¿ RDPE LEADER programme, for which East Riding Council is the accountable body. The LEADER programme aims to use the untapped potential of the area¿s heritage and culture, to stimulate local vibrancy, encourage enhanced pride in place, and support the rural economy.

For further information contact
Angela Wilkinson
Telephone: 01377 232133
Mobile: 07740 086277
Email: angela.wilkinson@hwrcc.org.uk

LAUNCH OF THE RURAL STRATEGY FOR THE HULL AND HUMBER PORTS CITY REGION

Building on the work and recommendations of the successful Humber Rural Delivery Pathfinder programme, the Humber Rural Partnership has launched a rural strategy for the city of Hull and Humber Ports City Region. The strategy is the first of its kind to be produced in England. Nationally, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has supported the production of the strategy as an exemplary solution to the challenge of `mainstreaming' rural development within city region contexts. They also provided resources to formally launch the strategy at a national/regional event. This was held on Friday, 12th June 2009 at the impressive new Equine Arena at Bishop Burton College in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

John Mills CBE gave the keynote address at the launch event. Mr Mills is a recently appointed commissioner at the Commission for Rural Communities, and a former head of rural policy at Defra, where he developed and guided the national Rural Delivery Pathfinder programme. Other speakers also welcomed the strategy and responded positively to the initiative from a regional perspective.

The strategy has been warmly welcomed by partners in the Hull and Humber Ports City Region Development Programme, and will be used to actively inform and `rural proof' the City Region's new integrated strategy, which is currently being prepared. It has been agreed that the Humber Rural Partnership Board will have formal representation on all four of the Hull and Humber Ports City Region's thematic boards, and will act as the City Region's `rural voice'.

The Rural Strategy for the Hull and Humber Ports City Region examines the relevant national, regional and local policy context, and identifies the rural Humber's distinctive features (in respect of landscape, agriculture economy and society) and their current or potential contribution to the development and sustainability of the City Region as a whole. It identifies key challenges for City Region rural partners, and explores ways of addressing these. It investigates the City Region's key rural assets and drivers, and identifies key sectors for targeting rural economic development.

Photographed (L to R) at the launch of the Humber Rural Partnership's rural strategy are:

Graham Ward OBE (Chair, Rural Affairs Forum); Jeff Lunn (Natural England); Nigel Pearson, chief executive ERYC; Cllr Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader ERYC; John Mills CBE; Lee Boyes (Yorkshire Forward); Cllr Symon Fraser (Chair HRP Board).