Monday 13 November 2017

Bargains, Votes and 'Mucking In'


  • Got some good clothes you no longer need? Interested in picking up a bargain in good quality men’s and women’s clothing, in a convivial setting? We may have just the thing for you! May I remind you that our Re-use and Recycling group has organised a ’Clothes Swap’ evening at Hayfield Cricket Club this Thursday 16th November, drinks and nibbles provided.

    The evening is designed to offer a boutique shopping experience focussed on good quality adults’ clothing (no underwear) for those who themselves bring at least one quality item. The details are set out on the attached poster. We hope this venture will go with a swing. If you’d like to know more, contact Ruth Wilson on 07766 475661 or via ruthwilson_58@hotmail.com.

    View Poster

  • Many of you know Kinder Kids are raising funds to build a community garden at the back of St Matthew's Church, to be used for outdoor learning and which will also be open to the public every day. They plan growing areas for children to learn about food and waste, as well as planting to encourage wildlife. The land is currently overgrown, a bit of an eyesore. They're half way to securing funding support from Aviva via its community projects scheme but need public votes to help secure more cash. Can you help? All you need to do is open the link below, register with the site and then cast your 10 votes to Kinder Kids Community Garden. Just use the search bar, type in Kinder Kids with Hayfield as the location: you'll find the project outline there and you can vote - it's free, quick, and easy. The scheme needs as many votes as possible are needed: it's in competition with others for the cash. Voting closes on 21st November so please consider giving the project your prompt support. Thanks. The link is: https://www.aviva.co.uk/good-thinking/community-fund/
  • Hayfield Civic Trust is holding its near-annual clean up/out of the historic Hayfield Sheep Wash below Booth Farm (at the very top of Kinder Road near the reservoir gates) on Sunday 19th November 10.00-1.30p.m. Could you help keep the Sheep Wash, which the Civic Trust comprehensively restored a number of years ago, in good condition? Around half a dozen fit volunteers are needed (not a suitable event for primary school-age children). What's involved? Netting weed and leaves from the water, weeding the exit slope and the walls, strimming the surrounding area and the holding pen with a petrol strimmer, collecting and removing the debris, and cleaning the information board. Meet at the War Memorial at 9.50a.m. for a lift to Booth Bridge, or make your own way there (local parking is very limited). Wellingtons and gardening or rubber gloves essential, and be prepared to stand in the river! Tools will be provided. A volunteer to ferry rubbish away would be appreciated. If you can give your time to this valuable activity, please leave a message on 01663 743847, so the organisers have an idea of how many volunteers they're likely to have. A poster's attached to show how effective and worthwhile this work is!

    View Poster

Friday 13 October 2017

Apple Day & Chinley Station Petition

A couple of things to remind/advise you about:

  • if you've an apple tree or two and want to juice your own apples, come along to Apple Day Saturday at about noon, with your fruit and bottles, and you can use our juicer before we get going with the community orchard crop and more a little later. And if you just want to sample/take away some of the community orchard crop, it would help a great deal if you could bring a bottle or two........thank you!
  • if you're a rail traveller, or want to be, you may want to know that tomorrow, Friday, Ruth George MP will be receiving a petition from the Chinley & Buxworth Transport Group at Chinley station (SK23 6AZ) at 12.30p.m.. The petition, signed by over 800 people, is addressed to the Minister for Rail at the Department for Transport and demands the Department provide better access to Chinley station, currently limited to a footbridge with steep steps. A 2016 station survey, completed by 443 people, cited poor access as the main obstacle to using the railway at Chinley by people across all age groups. Currently:
    1. It is impossible for a person travelling alone with a young child in a pushchair to use Chinley station
    2. It is impossible for wheelchair users to access the station
    3. It is very difficult for people with luggage to use the station
    4. It is inconvenient for cyclists to use this station
    5. There have been numerous injuries sustained by people slipping on the footbridge in poor weather, the worst of them requiring 5 figure settlement by Network Rail.

So, do please think about whether you can support the petition handover tomorrow.

Monday 25 September 2017

Thursday 17 August 2017

An Invader In Our Midst

You may - or may not - know that our river, canal and stream sides are vulnerable to a pernicious foreign invader which, once established, progresses to overwhelm virtually all other vegetation, eliminating the biodiversity of such settings. It goes by the name of Himalayan Balsam and is in, and around Hayfield, Birch Vale and Little Hayfield.

Several of us have been having a go at uprooting the plant, as we're encouraged to do by English Nature, the Wildlife Trusts and other reputable bodies. But we need more people to be aware of the plant and take action where they (that's you!) can. Sustainable Hayfield supporter Sue Wyatt has put together this attached poster to advertise the threat and advise what needs to be done. For all its height - it can grow up to 2 metres tall - it really is very simple to uproot and break its stem, requiring little strength: children can do it. But the time to do it is now! So, if you see some close to home or at a favoured place, please spend a few minutes yanking it out and save us all more problems down the line.

Download our Himalayan Balsam Factsheet

Wednesday 26 July 2017

Summer Newsletter

Our summer newsletter is out! In this issue...

  • FREE ILLUSTRATED TALK
  • THOUGHT OR TWO......
  • OUR HUSTING
  • RECYCLING – WELL DONE ALL
  • OUR AGM – AND MORE
  • HEALTHIER LIVES AT HOME
  • ENERGY EXCESSES?
  • TRANSPORT TOP UP
  • NATIONAL PARK CONSULTATION
  • NEWS YOU’VE MISSED?
  • COMMITTEE DETAILS
  • UPCOMING EVENTS

Download Newsletter

Tuesday 18 July 2017

Free Illustrated Talk - The Science Behind The Moors for The Future Project

Thursday July 20th, Royal Hotel, Hayfield

You've probably seen the posters dotted around about this Thursday's free talk. It follows directly on from our (very brief) AGM, starting at 7.30p.m.

Now here's your personal copy - as a memory jogger! It should be a fascinating and inspiring evening as MfTF show how they are progressively 'greening' our local moors, managing down carbon emissions, reducing water run-off and flood risk and increasing species diversity, as part of Europe's largest moorland conservation project. We hope to see you there!

Earlier that day, the project is running a 'Community Science' event for volunteers who want to help in identifying some of the mammalian wildlife found on and around the moors. The free training event runs from 1.30-4.30p.m. at New Mills Volunteer Centre, Union Road, New Mills. It will introduce Community Science's latest survey - 'Tails of the Uplands'. It will provide those attending with information on the ecology and field signs of otters, water voles and mink in order to help them, as volunteers, to perform field surveys to monitor their presence in and around the Peak District and South Pennines. The session is indoors and there'll be a chance to sign up for a further outdoor session at a later date. No prior experience is needed, just bring your enthusiasm!

If you're interested, contact moorcitizens@peakdistrict.gov.uk.


Thursday 13 July 2017

So much going on!

A number of imminent dates for you, depending on your interest.......

  • Thursday 13th July, 8.00p.m. at The Royal, our food group is meeting at The Royal. The meeting's open to all. If food's your thing, why not join in the discussion?

  • Saturday 15th July, 11.00-1.00p.m., a Family Session at The Library Garden, when we'll be picking fruit - it belongs to all of us and it's hanging, ripe to be picked - for you to take home, and we'll have some minibeast hunting too, to spy out the diversity of the garden. A poster's attached - as a reminder!

    Download the flyer

  • Thursday 20th July, Sustainable Hayfield AGM, 7.30p.m., The Royal Hotel. The agenda and notes of the last meeting are attached. If you're interested in what we get up to, come along: it will be very brief..........and is followed by our planned presentation from colleagues from the Moors for The Future Project, who'll be giving us the lowdown on the scientific work behind the Project, Europe's largest of its kind, which is already transforming our local moors. It's sure to be an uplifting occasion, practical work with obvious and concrete benefits. Join us and be enthused! It's free and open to all. Posters are now out and about advertising the event.

    Download: 2017 Agenda | 2016 Minutes

Monday 3 July 2017

Will You Be There?

As June turns to July, here's three 'notices of events' you may wish to join us in:

  • this Wednesday, 5th July, our Recycle and Re-Use group are joining forces with The Threadmill at Bank Vale Mill for another 'sew-in' in support of the charity Dress A Girl Around The World, on this occasion to make enough dresses for girls, and shorts for boys, to send to communities in impoverished countries. The action starts at 7.00p.m., and should go through to 9.00p.m. There's a range of ways you can help - from sewing through donating good quality cotton material, dress or clothing you no longer need tor donating money towards supplies and postage costs. The details are on the attached poster. If you plan to attend, that's great - please let The Threadmill know via its Facebook page or email Pennie Roberts at pennieroberts@yahoo.co.uk. Thanks!

  • on Saturday, 15th July, our Food group is holding a family session at the library garden from 11.00 - 1.00pm. The session will involve some fruit picking - mainly blackcurrants and raspberries - and we are going to have a few recipe sheets and do some children's activities. Everyone welcome!
  • on Thursday, 20th July, from 7.30p.m., a real treat awaits you at The Royal Hotel. We're having our AGM, which usually lasts around 20-25 minutes, and we're following this with what is sure to be both a very informative and uplifting talk from Joe Margetts and Tom Aspinall from the Moors For the Future project on the underpinning science behind all the work they've been doing to conserve our local South Pennine Moors, in what's the biggest moorland conservation project in Europe (they're the ones with helicopters delivering lime and seeds to the uplands), and the amazing impact this is already having on the health of the local peat blanket. Entitled 'Carbon, Climate, Water and Wildlife - the Scientific Work to combat the Catastrophe of Bare Peat', the talk will provide illustrations of the vital importance of our local peat bogs - which store the bulk of the UK's land-based carbon - and whose steady degradation over 200 years has meant increased carbon emissions, reduced water retention, increased risk of flooding, and diminished wildlife. This is all being reversed by this inspirational project......the moors are starting to flourish again.........and we're getting the chance to learn about the scientific basis of the work. Make sure you get a seat!

Friday 26 May 2017

REARRANGED Election Husting - and More!

After the unavoidable cancellation of this week's election husting, we're deighted to confirm this has been rearranged for next Thursday, June 1st, 7.30-9.30p.m. at The Royal Hotel, Hayfield. This is indeed good news.

We're very grateful to the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates, Ruth George and Charls Lawley, for again agreeing to join us. Again, we're dispappointed - having offered several alternative dates - that the Conservative candidate, Andrew Bingham, has confirmed he is unable to attend any husting in Hayfield. We hope, even now, that might change, but it seems unlikely. But this means there'll be more opportunity to hear from the remaining candidates and to establish their position on key issues.

We hope we'll get a good turnout for the husting and that you'll be among those attending. We'll send further information in due course.

And, coming up this weekend, let's not forget the celebrations taking place in the village. First, tomorrow, and throughout the weekend, are the 120th Anniversary celebrations of the Peak and Northern Footpath Society's erection of the signage to the Snake Path, up Ashop Clough and onto Kinder, meshed with the 85th anniversary of the Kinder Trespass. A feast of activities are on offer at The Royal hotel, with stalls, music and presentations, and with commemorative walks and Jazz in the Cricket Club on Sunday. Full details here:
 And Hayfield Artists are also 'at home' at various venues around the village (The Packhorse, Ashlar on Market Street, and Throstle Farm, Little Hayfield, amongst the county-wide exhibitions of works, all part of Derbyshire Open Arts (long) weekend. Finally, Handmade Hayfield is hosting its regular exhibition of artisan- made-products at The Royal Hotel on Sunday, from 11-5.00p.m. It's all happening!

Tuesday 23 May 2017

Election husting postponed

Following last night's appalling incident in Manchester, and the Prime Minister's announcement of the suspension of general election campaigning until further notice, we have decided to cancel the planned husting at The Royal Hotel. We have notified all the candidates of this.

At some point, we anticipate campaigning will resume and we have asked each of the candidates whether they might be able to attend a rearranged husting, if that can be organised, most likely in the latter part of next week. It is important that voters can meet candidates in such settings and that discussion of some of the key issues informing election of a new government can proceed. We shall of course keep you informed about that.

Our thoughts are with those bereaved and injured, and those working hard to save and repair lives.

Thank you.

Hustings - Wednesday 24th May - Royal Hotel


Tuesday 16 May 2017

Hayfield General Election Hustings, Wednesday 24th May, 8.00p.m., The Royal Hotel

We're delighted to be able to confirm that Sustainable Hayfield will, again, be hosting a General Election hustings in Hayfield a week on Wednesday at The Royal Hotel in the village, starting at 8.00p.m.

The timing of this election has been tight, and the candidates have only just been confirmed. There are just three this time around - Conservative (Andrew Bingham), Labour (Ruth George) and Liberal Democrat (Charles Lawley). Each has been invited to our hustings and, to date, we're delighted to report that two of the candidates have already confirmed their attendance. We very much hope we'll be able have all three candidates join us.

All General Elections are important, but this one comes at a particularly important time for our economy, environment and society. We very much hope you'll be able to join us to hear the candidates' views on the challenges facing us all, their priorities and practical proposals. And we're inviting you to consider what questions you'd like to see them answer! Having just the three candidates this time should mean that we'll be able to consider more questions, which need to be addressed to all three candidates and should be brief and pointed.

If you're going to be present and have a priority question to ask, please send it to me, Laurie James, by next Monday, 22nd May. We'll consider those received and try to ensure that a range of topics are covered. Where we receive very similar questions, we'll obviously choose just one among them, and invite the author of the question to ask it directly on the night. And we hope to have space and time to take more questions on the evening itself. So, if Brexit, education, environment, health, housing, skills and training, tax, trade, transport, welfare or any other area is your particular interest or concern, do please consider framing a clear, accessible, question and get in contact.

We hope very much we'll see you at the 'Hayfield hustings'! Young people are especially welcome. It's a really good opportunity to get the measure of those asking us to entrust them with our votes, or our future support.

UPDATE:
We thought we should let you know that Sustainable Hayfield learned from Andrew Bingham, the Conservative candidate, late yesterday, that he has no space in his diary to attend a Hayfield hustings. In fairness to voters, and the other candidates, we have decided to proceed with the hustings, which will now give people expanded scope to hear from, and quiz, the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates, Ruth George and Charles Lawley. We would, of course, be delighted if Mr Bingham's diary were able to be freed up, but understand if this this cannot be so.

We've been very grateful for those questions already submitted to us, and look forward to receiving more. As a result of Mr Bingham's notification, the format of the hustings will obviously change a little but will now perhaps enable more detailed enquiry of party policies being put before us. It should be a good evening and we look forward to welcoming you there.

Thursday 11 May 2017

An Offer from The Council...

We've reproduced below a press release from High Peak Council which may be of interest to you.

Home composting – have you bin there yet?

We all know that recycling is good for our environment and home composting is just one of the ways we can all reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill.

It’s International Compost Awareness Week this week (7 – 13 May) and High Peak Borough Council has teamed up with getcomposting.com to encourage more people to get involved by offering compost bins at discounted prices.

Recycling and waste officer at the Council, Rebecca Dodd, said: “More than 30% of household waste can be composted and although many people already compost at home we want others to get involved.

“It’s simple to do and once you get started you’ll be surprised at just how much household waste can be recycled – and your efforts will be rewarded with a free supply of high quality compost for your garden.”

Composting bins usually cost £39 but the Council and getcomposting.com are offering discounted compost bins from as little as £17.98. There’s also a special ‘buy one get one half price’ offer – so why not join with a neighbour and get a second bin for just £8.99?

Food waste digesters and hot composters are also available allowing you to compost all of your food waste and products are suitable for everyone from seasoned composters to new recruits.

Rebecca added: “This is a great incentive which we hope will encourage more residents to set up their own composting communities and share the rewards.”

For more details visit www.getcomposting.com or call 0844 571 4444.

Notes to editors

The ‘buy one get one half price’ offer is available on selected products and applies when ordering two of the same product. A one-off delivery charge of £5.99 applies.

ENDS
HPBC Media Release Contact: Carolyn Sanders
Mobile: 07595 270937
Email: carolyn.sanders@highpeak.gov.uk
Web:  www.highpeak.gov.uk
Twitter: @HighPeakBC

Tuesday 4 April 2017

April's Alive

You may know that around two-thirds of the 56 (yes, 56!) people who turned out to help with Saturday's 'Village Spring Clean' were Sustainable Hayfield supporters. A truly great turn-out on the first day of April. With others, we managed to collect around 40 full bags of discarded waste, some of which we were able to separate to aid local recycling. This is a great tribute to all concerned, to whom we've already extended personal thanks. It shows what can be done.....

And the month, which has begun in such impressive ways, continues in lively fashion. In the next week, for example (and not included in your recent newsletter update):
  • on Friday, April 7th , 9-11.00a.m., Kinder Kids and St Matthews Church are hosting a 'Grand Log Sale' (with supporting coffee and cake) in St Matthew's Churchyard, to raise funds for the St Matthew's Community Garden. Logs can be sawn and split on the spot if required, to fit your fireplace or wood burner;
  • on Saturday, April 8th, there'll be a commemorative opening of The Trespass Trail, a new set of installations providing information about the historic Kinder Mass Trespass in 1932, (85 years ago) supported by organised walks, talks, stalls and refreshments in The Royal Hotel. The day begins with a 11.00a.m. meet-up at The Royal, followed by a 11.15 unveiling of the 'Station site' information board and, from 11.30-1.30 a , returning via Bowden Bridge. In the event of poor weather, walks can be curtailed in favour of more events at The Royal.There'll then be a refreshment break at The Royal and, from 2.30p.m., talks, stalls and displays in the Royal function room, and;
  • on Sunday, April 9th, at 7.30p.m., Hayfield Singers, with Chamber Orchestra, will be performing in their spring concert of Baroque and Renaissance music at St Matthew's Church, with a varied repertoire including pieces by Primavera, Palestrina and Bach. Tickets are £10 (£8 restricted view) and available in advance, until Thursday, from choir members or Hayfield Pharmacy. Any remaining tickets available on the door from 7.00p.m. 
A varied line-up of events, just this weekend! We hope you'll be able to give your support, to any event that appeals.

Monday 3 April 2017

Newsletter - Spring 2017

Here’s our spring newsletter. We hope you find it of interest. If you’ve ideas for future issues, do let Laurie James (lauriejamesis@btinternet.com) know.

In this issue:

  • JOIN US FOR A SPRING CLEAN
  • IN THESE TIMES
  • FERRETING AROUND FOOD
  • EXPLORING ULTRA LOW ENERGY HOMES
  • ENERGY EFFORTS
  • SUPPORTING OLDER CITIZENS
  • HELP TRANSPORT RESEARCH
  • MANAGING OUR WASTE
  • A CALL TO DISPLAY – ON APPLE DAY
  • NEWS YOU MISSED..?
  • FROM NATURE’S BOUNTY
  • THE ‘GREEN LIFE’
  • OUR COMMITTEE
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
  • THANKS!

DOWNLOAD NOW

Thursday 16 March 2017

Dates for your diary

Three forward dates you may care to consider putting in your diary:

First, our open, free meeting tomorrow night (Friday, 17th March) at 7.30p.m. when Eco Architect Colin Usher will be giving a presentation, and answering questions on how to achieve (much) higher energy efficiency in our homes - whether you're interested in designing and building from scratch or, more likely, wanting to improve your your own home's energy footprint - and be warm and save money along the way! Colin's strapline is 'whether you've £500 to spend or £500,000......" Colin's talk and the Q and A is at The Royal Hotel. It should be good!

Second, Hayfield Civic Trust's next illustrated 'winter talk' is on 'The Work of Women and Children on the Canals', Wednesday 22nd March, 7.30p.m. at the Village Hall, with Bill Walker. Of course, people who worked on the canals often lived on the canals and that helped ensure an important - and sometimes leading - working role for both women and children. It's £2, with refreshments included. And, again, there should be lots to learn........

Third, advance notice of a Village Clean Up Day, Saturday 1st April, 10-3.00p.m. Hayfield Civic Trust and Sustainable Hayfield have teamed up, with the active support of the Parish Council and DCC Countryside Ranger Service, to tackle local grot spots, and leave the village more as we'd like it to be year-round. We hope for a good number of volunteers who don't need to be present throughout but can give an hour or two 'to the cause': could you be among them? Lots of us moan at litter and detritus around our village.......now's your chance to do something about it! We'll gather at The Village Hall and, hopefully, at Little Hayfield to start our efforts, and there'll be drinks available at The Village Hall throughout. Notices will go up shortly but, for now, please mark your diary and commit to giving an hour or so of your time.........for all our sakes.

Monday 6 March 2017

Getting/Making Your Home (much) more energy-efficient?

Ever wondered what it takes to build a truly eco-friendly house? Or how you’d go about making your existing home more environmentally secure, without spending the earth?

Help is at hand! Sustainable Hayfield has arranged a free illustrated talk by award-winning Eco Architect Colin Usher on ‘Designing, Building or Retrofitting A Low Energy Home - & Saving You Money!' It’s at the Royal Hotel, Hayfield, next Friday week, that's Friday 17th March, starting at 7.30p.m. and is open to all.

Colin has been involved for many years in the design and construction of houses which are economic to build, very cheap to run and don’t hurt the planet. He was profiled recently in The Guardian for his work, which includes his own family home in Merseyside. Colin’s also a source of much useful information about how to make changes to existing homes to ensure they have a low(er) energy footprint, and are economical and comfortable to run.

Much of the UK’s housing stock is, sadly, fairly energy-inefficient and requires costly effort to keep comfortably warm. Although the situation is improving, the number of truly eco-friendly homes is still very small. But Colin is aiming to provide plenty of advice about what’s best to do, and in what order, whether you’re looking to spend £500 or £500,000. He’ll set out the key things to consider, but is keen also to answer questions his audience might have.

This should be a good evening, with much to learn, and good tips to take away. Make a diary note now. We hope to see you there!

Friday 10 February 2017

Upcoming Events

Here's three forthcoming events/activities, all of which have a 'plant' theme, which may be of interest to you:
  • first, Friday February 10th, Kinder Kids Pre-School is holding a coffee morning 9-12noon at St Matthews, with home-made cakes etc., as a fund raiser to help bring the planned St Matthews Community Garden project into being. The garden, complete with herbs etc. will be an added resource for the youngsters attending Kinder Kids but also for the wider community and will brighten up the currently dull riverside aspect from St Matthews. Kinder Kids have had some grant success for the project, and done a good deal of work, but need more resources and aim to have termly coffee mornings as part of the effort to raise more funds. A poster's attached. It's going to be a cold morning so why not cheer yourselves up, in good company, and support this worthwhile project?
  • second, Hayfield Civic Trust is hosting a talk, after its brief AGM at 7.30p.m., at the Village Hall Wednesday 22nd February, by Elaine Radford on 'Flowers of the Peak District'. It's often not appreciated just how varied the Peak District flora is: this is your chance to find out - and maybe highlight some recent discoveries of your own!
  • the following Saturday, 25th February, Sustainable Hayfield is organising a work session at the community garden, surrounding the library, 11-1.00p.m. The focus will be on seasonal maintenance tasks, pushing on with the composting area and pruning of raspberries. Do join the volunteers if you'd like, and contribute a little time and your ideas: just turn up or, if you wish, contact Ellen Bennett on 01663 747627 in advance.

Tuesday 10 January 2017

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your support through 2016, and best wishes to you for 2017! Just published, our winter newsletter, brings you up to date with what we're doing, and related matters. If you've any comments/suggestions, we're always pleased to receive them!

Special good wishes go to Ruth Wilson who, after several years, is standing down as a Sustainable Hayfield committee member, to pursue some other interests. We all wish you well with those, Ruth, and thank you for all you've done to help get us to where we are.

And if you'd like to get a little bit more involved in what Sustainable Hayfield does, contact any of us (names/tel. nos. are in the newsletter) or, if it's easiest, just respond to this email.

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