Here's notice of four different forthcoming events, which we hope will interest you:
* First off, our Food group is hosting a thoughtful/lively discussion, led by Chris Walsh, co-founder of the Kindling Trust, on ‘What makes a sustainable food system’ on Wednesday February 26th, at 7.30p.m.,St Matthew’s Church Hall. Chris will talk about the many projects the Trust has helped set up, including co-operative organic veg. enterprises, an urban horticulture hub, training programmes in organic growing, new farmer incubation, volunteering opportunities on local farms, community gardening and social prescribing.
For 12 years, the Kindling Trust has worked for a just and ecologically sustainable society. Alongside local communities, farmers, activists and policy makers, it uses food as a catalyst for environmental and social change. Their work challenges the dominant model of industrial production and widespread food inequality.
Chris will share his thoughts on how we can all play a role in creating a local food economy that both supports community gardeners and local farmers to make our communities more resilient. This is a free event, and should be both practical and inspiring. There'll be plenty of time for questions and discussion....we hope we'll see you there! A poster's attached.
* Second, exactly a week on, our Reuse and Recycling Group is holding another Dress A Girl Around the World sewing evening at The Threadmill (just past the primary school down Swallow House Lane on Wednesday 4th March, from 7.30p.m. Its purpose isto use old or unwanted materials to make dresses and shorts for children in poor countries who have none, or insufficient. Particularly for girls, a lack of suitable clothing is a matter of personal and family shame and makes them vulnerable to sexual abuse. These evenings help make suitable clothing which is then despatched via the Dress A Girl Around the World charity to where it’s needed.
We’ve run these events before and they’ve been very successful. Experienced and novice sewers are welcome plus anyone who can help with cutting out, ironing, making coffee etc. Cash donations are also welcome towards sewing supplies. We've material from previous sessions but please bring along any cotton you would like upcycled into shorts and dresses for children who have none. It needs to be pure cotton and not too flimsy. There’s no need to book, just turn up on the night…and enjoy! If you’ve any questions, do contact Pennie Roberts on iampennieroberts@gmail.com. or at 01663 747132.
* Third, just a few days later, we’re running, with Transition New Mills, an ‘Ecobricks training workshop’ on Saturday 7th March 11-3p.m. at Hayfield Village Hall. Ecobricks are a way of capturing non-recyclable plastic and turning it into building blocks, which we can all make! In 2019 20,000 kg of plastic was 'ecobricked', with millions of pieces of plastic put to good use in local building around the world. England topped the list of ecobricking countries! Have a look at www.ecobricks.org. for how they're used. It will amaze you!
Josanne McLean, a certified ecobricks trainer, will help us get started with this great initiative, so we can add ourselves to the list of places working to remove plastic from our environment. School age children as well as adults can attend. There'll be a presentation and discussion as well as practical activity. Lunch will be a 'bring and share' event. It should be informative, interesting and fun!
If you’re interested in this event, please email iampennieroberts@gmail.com. Meantime, please save any plastic bottles you have plus any plastic that can't go into your brown bin. Bottles and plastic must be free of food contamination. Again, a poster's attached. Thank you!
* Last, but definitely not least, we - with the Civic Trust and the Parish Council - have set the date for this year's Great Village Clean Up. It's Saturday March 28th, from 10.00a.m. until around 2.00p.m. Each year, dozens of villagers turn out for an hour or two to spruce up the village in an organised way, removing impressive sums of discarded rubbish, and we hope for the same again this year. There will be a good deal more publicity nearer the date but, for now, please make a date in your diaries.
You can feel that spring is on the way...….thanks for your continuing support.
