Coming Up...

Here's a few things coming up, to whet your appetite, prompt concern and the like:

• next Tuesday, 26th June, 7.00p.m. at The Royal Hotel is a public meeting to consider the County Council's proposals for Hayfield library (amongst many others). Briefly, you probably already know the Council wants to progressively withdraw funding from Hayfield library, and withdraw its staff, in the hope of handing over management of the service provided there to a community-led group of volunteers who will come to have no money for running the operation. The Parish Council, Sustainable Hayfield, and many other groups are opposed to this idea, and the meeting is being called to consider what points and what representations should be made to the County Council in this matter. This is your chance to listen to the arguments and, if you want, say your piece. We know the landscape for libraries has changed, but they still remain a valued public asset, professionally run, with older people, young families and those without computers reliant on the services they provide. Do attend if you can. You can complete the consultation questionnaire on the Council's proposals by visiting www.derbyshire.gov.uk/librariesforderbyshire;
• next Saturday, 30th June is Hayfield Pro Loco Day where artists from near and far are exhorted to 'create a picture within the parish that captures the essence of Hayfield as seen on the day'. Artists of all ages need to register at St. Matthew's Church Hall between 8.30-11.00a.m. and return their completed works by 3.45p.m. Public viewing and voting takes place 4-5.00p.m., which is followed by the prize-giving. This is a great local institution, admirably run by Hayfield Civic Trust, and we hope you'll support it if you can;
• Hayfield's well dressings are being erected Saturday 30th June, reflecting much hard work, with the Blessing of the Wells due the following day, Sunday July 1st, starting at 2.00p.m. on Bank Street. Again, another great local institution whose products never fail to inspire...….enjoy, and support!
• last, this is early notice of Sustainable Hayfield's (very brief) Annual General Meeting, Thursday July 12th, 7.3op.m. followed by some talks on how we can all reduce our reliance on plastic, which is threatening our ecosystems, our planet and even our own - and new-born babies' - bodily functions. Collectively entitled 'How Not to Drown in Plastic (and be kind to ourselves and the planet)', we'll have contributions by representatives from Rethink Plastic High Peak, The Food Assembly, Sustainable Hayfield.....and maybe more! There's almost nothing more topical than this subject at present, and we hope to pick up some practical suggestions for how we can manage better without many plastics. please make a note in your diaries now: we hope to see you there!