THE Swinton Estate, near Masham, has launched ‘A Year of Giving’ to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the opening of its Swinton Park Hotel, which sits at the heart of the 20,000-acre estate on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

21 charities, handpicked by Swinton Park staff members in support of a variety of local and national causes, each received an exclusive gift from the Swinton Estate for two people, including a reception with the Earl and Countess of Swinton on January 21, dinner at Samuel’s restaurant and an overnight stay at the hotel.

Each charity was a liberty to auction or raffle the gift to help raise funds for their charity; or to donate the gift to hardworking volunteers or anyone they felt was especially deserving. Sadly, for some of the chosen charities, Covid restrictions put paid to their fundraising activities at the end of last year.

The charities who were able to attend on the night were: Yorkshire Cancer Research; Ripon YMCA; Muscular Dystrophy UK; Yorkshire Air Ambulance; Bowel Cancer UK; Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP); IDAS; The Burnt Chef Project and the Archbishop of York Youth Trust.

Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Countess of Swinton and Swinton Estate Proprietor, said:  “Restoring and opening Swinton Park 21 years ago was very much a labour of love, so its seems fitting that we mark this milestone Birthday by giving back to the charities closest to the hearts of our valued staff.”

The launch of ‘A Year of Giving’ is the first of a calendar of celebratory events to be held by Swinton Estate this year that includes a celebratory 21-mile Estate walk, complimentary open gardens on the 21st of each month, a tree planting across the estate with local schools and a charity cricket match.