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.