A Reminder, An Award, and a Proposal

First, a reminder that Grains and Village Greens' delightful produce will be on sale outside the Pack Horse again this Saturday, 10-12.00p.m. as usual - except Grains can't be physically present. But they've arranged for Village Greens to bring their stock of loaves, croissants, pastries etc (thank you Village Greens!). Although there'll be a good range, volumes might be slightly down on normal so it's doubly sensible to order your bakery products in advance, so you can be sure it's wrapped and ready to pick up. Grains can be contacted on 01457 862346, for such orders.

Second, the afore-mentioned Village Greens are up for an award! They're in the running for the Observer Food Monthly Awards, influenced by popular vote. They've been runners-up in the past (Independent Retailer category). It would be great if, on the back of their unstinting support for the 'pop up' service they offer each Saturday in Hayfield, and the quality of their produce, if a good number of us supported them for this award. Will you? Here's the link. Click on this and then on the 'go to' page which then appears below. Thanks!.

Third, the Hayfield Library Campaign Group has now made a submission to Derbyshire County Council, expressing interest in working with the Council around retention of Hayfield library and development of the facility into a 'community hub'. This is not a bid for community management of the local library service, but is intended to be a constructive, alternative approach to augment the library service and use of the building, requiring partnership with and from the County Council. What DCC makes of the 'expression of interest' is to be seen, but we think it relevant that you be aware of what has been submitted. A copy of the 'Expression Of Interest' is attached, for your information.

We hope you have a thoroughly pleasant and fulfilling Easter.

Spring Newsletter

Your spring newsletter is now ready to download. We hope you find it of interest. I'd draw your attention to three things:

• first, on pages 1 and 2 are details of this Saturday's Great Spring Clean (Litter Pick) which we hope you'll support, by giving an hour or two of your time. Posters are up around the village;
• second, on page 3 are details of a decision of Hayfield Parish Council agreeing to set up a working group to see how it might reduce its own carbon emissions, as an increasing number of councils are doing. This reflects great credit on the Council, is a very positive development and we hope to work actively with the council in getting practical measures in place;
• third, on page 6 are details of our imminent 'Repair Workshop' which gives you the chance to develop or practice your 'make and mend' skills, and save money, with expert support. It too is well-advertised around the village. It's on Wednesday 10th April at The Threadmill, Swallow House Lane (not, as I mistakenly wrote a little earlier, on the Thursday. Apologies for that.)

Things To Do

Here's few things you can do in the coming 10-12 days or so, and gain a warm feeling of achievement...

1. You'd be most welcome at a working session at the library garden this Saturday, 11-1.00p.m, to help develop it as a source of good food, from which we all can, let's recall, benefit, by harvesting whatever we want!

2. You may have read about the growing efforts to get public bodies, including councils, to declare a 'Climate Emergency' and put in place plans to ensure their local areas are net zero carbon by 2030 (i.e. in 12 years, which is when scientists say we have to 'put things right' before our climate achieves irreducible 'lift off' toward enormously harmful global rises in temperature). There a petition devised by the new Derbyshire Climate Coalition, groups from all districts in the county, calling on the county council and district councils to declare such a 'climate emergency' and develop steps to curb carbon emissions locally, and in line with the Paris Climate . Agreement. Would you sign here? Though it's hosted by 38 Degrees, it's 'home grown' it's there simply because they have the technology to register names etc. Please sign - if there's one thing you can do, as a Sustainable Hayfield supporter, to get our concerns heard in high(er) places, it's this. Thank you! Please click on the attached link: Climate Emergency and Derbyshire Councils.

If we achieve 7,500 signatures countywide, that's enough to trigger a motion debate in the council. Any motion agreed would affect all the activities within the scope of influence of councils - transport, buildings and housing, land use planning, energy (including fracking),forestry etc. It will also create a culture that will influence pension committees and divestment.

3. One of our supporters, Graham Hirst, is preparing to speak at the next meeting of Hayfield Parish Council, (Tuesday April 2nd, 7.15, St Matthew's Church Hall) on the wish of many of us to see our local council commit to actions which will reduce its own carbon footprint, and possibly that of others. It would be tremendous if a number of Sustainable Hayfield supporters were to attend in silent support of Graham's efforts. Can you be there? Graham will speak briefly at the start of the meeting, so there's no expectation you would need to be there for more than 15-20 minutes if you didn't wish to be. There is some hope the council may agenda a motion addressing this issue at its May meeting (details to be shared later), and it would be excellent if councillors knew that, in doing so, it had the support of our wider community. Please try to attend.

4. Posters/banners are up for The Great Hayfield Litter Clean Up, Saturday 6th April, 10-2.00p.m. Last year, around 70 villagers – a great turnout – helped us gather around 50 bags of rubbish, of which we separated a part, to avoid recyclable items going to landfill. We’d love it if we had the same number of volunteers again this year, giving an hour or more of their time.

It works like this. Volunteers go to the Village Hall and are given a ‘territory’ (a street or two, or an area of open ground) and litter pickers and waste collection sacks. Having gathering what they can, they return to the Parish Council offices, hand over their finds (is there a prize for the most unusual?) and return their litter pickers to the Village Hall for reissue, and where they can get a tea or coffee as reward for their work. We’d stress that most people give an hour or two of their time, not the whole stretch from 10.00 -2.00p.m. If you've not been involved before, please consider joining in. There's a good buzz about the event, and we can all see what we've achieved - a tidier, healthier parish!

5. On the same day, Saturday April 6th, Hayfield School PTA is hosting its Easter Eggstravaganza at the school, also from, 10-2.00p.m. Amongst the many attractions on offer are: a) the 'Chicken Run' adults fell race (registration opens at 10.15, race at 11), b) a 'mini mudder' assault course for children, c) face-painting, d) Disco Dome and bouncy castle, e) entertaining orienteering 'egg' hunt, f) Easter craft activities for all ages, g) children's toy sale, h) children's book sale, i) Easter market gift and produce stalls and j) cakes and refreshments. It's a prime fundraiser for the school, offers a good time and is worthy of support. Why not drift down there after or before the Litter Clean Up?

6. A few days later, our Repair, Re-Use and Recycling group is holding a (clothes and textiles) Repair Workshop at The Thread Mill (in the old Slack’s Mill) off Swallow House Lane, 7.30-9.30p.m. on Thursday April 10th. We all know how little effort is put in these days to mend clothes that are damaged, frayed or just a little worn-out. As a result, there's been a huge rise in the amount of almost-serviceable clothing going to landfill. This workshop is the chance to learn, or practice if you already know, how to make cost-saving and quality repairs. Simple ideas on recycling clothes will also be shared. If you want to know more, contact Pennie Roberts on iampennieroberts@gmail.com or on 07749 710127

There will be demonstrations on how to recycle clothing and people can bring along clothing /soft furnishing needing repair and ask advice and possibly undertake the repair whilst there.

Big and Small

• Today, some young people around the UK are gathering to protest the risks of humankind not doing enough to stem unalterable climate change. So it's worth letting you know that individuals and organisations are meeting in Derby next Tuesday evening, February 19th, to consider what can be done to get Derbyshire County Council to declare a 'climate emergency' and commit to greater efforts to achieve zero carbon status in the medium term, as other councils have already done. A group of folk are going from Hayfield, via a minibus organised by Graham Hirst. It leaves The Royal car park at 5.45p.m. and costs £7. There are still some seats left. If you'd like to be involved, please contact Graham at hirst34@icloud.com.
• A reminder that Village Greens and Grains will be outside The Pack Horse as usual, tomorrow, Saturday, 10-12.00p.m., with their delicious foods. This week, each V Green vegetable box will also contain a dessert recipe this week (roasted pineapple with chilli syrup). And there's the healthy, multicoloured fruits and veg we know!
  Grains will bring an exotic range of breads, rolls and cakes, as well as their delicious staples. Look out for flavourful cheddar & cumin, olive & rosemary, walnut, focaccia, and Danish pastries as well. Can you afford not to be there? Can you please bring your own shopper bags (about half of you do), since Grains want to cut down on the bags they have to issue – and we know that makes all-round sense! As ever, to be sure, order in advance (V Greens 01457 852456, Grains 01457 862346), and then just collect!
• And we in Sustainable Hayfield need someone to help our established team source, cultivate and support an appropriately varied range of stallholders and activities, to help ensure our Apple Day offers a vibrant and appealing range of attractions. Could this be you? Do you have (some) time to give? To begin with, you’d be shadowing someone experienced in this field, so you'd find out about what’s needed, before taking on more responsibility. If you’re interested, and want to become part of our ‘team’, please contact me in the first instance for a chat. I'm on 01663 745940 or 07867 578326 and at lauriejamesis@btinternet.com. Thanks very much for considering this!

One Gone and Two To Come

Thanks to those 20 or so supporters and friends who attended the presentation on home automation we arranged on Tuesday. Though turnout was less than we'd hoped for, those present made up for it in the range of questions and issues raised, and we hope you found John Blain's presentation informative and thought-provoking. We've also received a number of requests, from people unable to attend, for copies of the information presented. You can download that here. We hope it's of interest but recognise that some of the context (linking comments, elaboration and nuance) is lost by not being able to be present.

Two other things coming up:

• ever thought of baking your bread, but not sure how? What's the right mix of ingredients, how can we ensure it 'rises' in the right way, what is sourdough? Our Food group is hoping to answer these questions and many more and give you hands-on experience via a breadmaking skills course it's arranging at the Village Hall, provisionally for Saturday 23rd Feb, 2-5.00p.m. Utensils, ingredients and tea/coffee are provided, but a small charge (around £5) would be levied per person. If you'd like to attend such a course, whether or not you can make 23rd February, please let Ellen Bennett know at ellenkbennett@yahoo.co.uk by next Monday, 11th February. That will help Ellen and team determine whether they're in a position, numbers-wise, to proceed on Feb 23rd or seek alternative date(s). Thanks!
• we can confirm that this year's Village Spring Clean is going to be held 10-2.00p.m. on Saturday 6th April, again using the Village Hall as its operational base. Last year, around 70 villagers turned out for an hour or more to 'do their bit' to help rid the village of unsightly litter, a great effort leading to around 60 bin bags of rubbish - and larger items too - being collected, a good part of which was separated out, so it could be recycled. If we can achieve the same this year, we'd be delighted! We'll supply much more information in due course about this event, held jointly with Hayfield Civic Trust and the Parish Council, but we thought we'd confirm the date now - so, hopefully, you can put it in your diary! It's a grand day, with a really good community spirit underpinning it.

Coming Up Fast...

• Tomorrow, (Saturday) Grains and Village Greens will be doing their 'usual' outside the Pack Horse, 10-12.00p.m. Grains Bakehouse will be bringing, in addition to their usual offerings, seeded sourdough and wholemeal sourdough rolls, olive and rosemary fruit loaves, and Danish pastries for 'treats'. Village Greens, who were delighted how quickly their very early season rhubarb went last week, will be bringing some more, plus cheeses and, of course, their £5 veg bags and £5 fruit bags too. Delicious! See you there...!

• Tempted, confused or just wanting to know more about Nest, Hive, remote control service and security systems for your home? Come along to our free illustrated talk next Tuesday (Feb 5th) at the Royal Hotel, 7.30p.m., when John Blain will be introducing us to the potential of home automation for saving hundreds of pounds a year in energy costs, having heating, lighting, laundry and other services on only when you want/need them and having control of these when you're away from home. Increasingly, we're being encouraged to make our homes 'smart', and there are real financial gains in doing so. But what's the overall picture, what should we look out for, what downsides might there be? John Blain, an energy specialist, will be sharing his personal and professional experience with us in a quirkily titled talk 'Home Automation - Just Big Boys' Toys or The Future of Domestic Energy Efficiency?' It should be an informative and interesting evening. You've maybe seen posters around the village - here's your own, as a reminder!

Winter Newsletter & Home Automation

The winter newsletter from Sustainable Hayfield is now available to download. It's packed, we hope, with items which may interest you. We hope you enjoy! As ever, any feedback is much appreciated.

It's profiled in the newsletter but we'd like to draw to your attention the illustrated talk on 'Home Automation - Just Big Boys' Toys or The Future of Domestic Energy Efficiency?' we've arranged for Tuesday February 5th at The Royal Hotel, starting at 7.30p.m., featuring John Blain, an energy specialist and admitted 'smarthome' enthusiast, who'll be addressing some of the key issues associated with the changing nature of technology in and around the home. It should be an interesting evening with, we suspect, a range of views shared! We hope you can join us.