Things to Enjoy in the Next Seven Days

We're always happy to promote partner organisations' activities. Just consider (some of) the things of interest/on offer over the next seven days...

Wednesday 23rd November, 7.30p.m., Village Hall, illustrated talk on 'Badger Vaccination in Derbyshire'. You may know of the large government-funded badger eradication programme in the south west, recently extended at great cost. This is designed to reduce risk of bovine TB transmission from badgers to cattle. But the science behind this is, at best, contentious. And there's a (more sustainable) alternative: vaccination of this protected species. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has raised £50,000+ for a 5 year vaccination programme of the county's badgers. Deborah Bailey will tell us of this work, its scientific basis, and progress to date. An important subject, delivered by an expert. £2, inc. drink/biscuits.

Saturday 26th November, 10-1.30p.m., Village Hall, Hayfield WI Souper Xmas Coffee Morning, with soup lunch, scones/jam & cream, cakes & produce, Xmas crafts, stocking fillers, books & plants, £1 parcels(prize every time) and raffle. The legendary food alone is reason enough to visit. Free.

Saturday/Sunday 26/27th November, 11-5.00p.m., Royal Hotel, Handmade Hayfield's Seasonal Sales bash. This year's Xmas offering from the crafty folk of Handmade Hayfield, bringing you individually-crafted items made with 'love'. Artisan wares to adorn you and your home, which often make delightful gifts too! Free.

Saturday/Sunday 26/27th November, 12.00-close, The Pack Horse, Hayfield Artists' Winter Show. The very best of Hayfield's accomplished artists come together with their winter exhibition of works in varied media, for you to savour and prospectively purchase, acquiring a work which will grace your/a loved one's home across the years. Free.

Sunday 27th November, 11.00, The Grouse Inn, Birch Vale, Famous Grouse Fell Race, 2016's final local fell race (5 miles, 1,250ft. of ascent/descent). Turn up and cheer on the stalwart competitors. See http://www.t42.org.uk/hayfield/#races.

Enjoy what you will!

How Sustainable And Ethical Could Your Xmas Shopping Be?

Fed up with all the 'stuff' at Xmas, but appreciate the value of giving? Want to be imaginative in your giving, with due regard to the '3Rs' (reduce, re-use, recycle) to make for a Xmas with reduced cumulative impact on the environment?

Well, our very own Pennie Roberts has culled a range of sources and put together some ideas you might consider. Far better than most 'mainstream' Xmas-tagged merchandise, and with the appeal of making a real difference to our Xmas carbon footprints. Thank you very much, Pennie! And we hope there's something in the document (link below) just right for you.

There are an increasing range of more sustainable goods, services and ideas out there, and we can't mention them all, so this is an initial selection which we hope makes sense. And maybe, listed as they are, you'll be encouraged to look at some of the websites identified - and similar - to make better choices, for a more sustainable Xmas.

And you've time to do it!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD NOW

Thank You - and please!

Many thanks to all those of you who helped in any way, including by attending, our Apple Day event yesterday and making it the success we think it was. The lovely sunshine helped, and was matched by the many smiles and the warm atmosphere: a really good day! We think around 7-800 people turned out in the course of the afternoon. We hope you enjoyed yourselves, and any suggestions for the future - including offers of help - would be very welcome. Do get in contact.

Two related events you may be interested in:

1. This Wednesday, 19th October, our food group hosts a 'preserving workshop' at Hayfield Cricket Club 7-9.00p.m. It's to be run by Vicki Leng, who's led many such community sessions and has been preserving home-grown food for many years. She'll bring ideas, books and techniques etc. So......bring some spare produce and 'have a go' at making some of:
   • ketchup
   • cordial
   • fruit butter or jam
   • brown sauce
   • pickles
   • chutney
   Come with questions, a few jars and any produce you're not sure what to do with! Contact Jo Hanney on 07813 378421 to book your place.
2. Next Saturday, 22nd October, could you give a little time to help Kinder Kids and St Matthew's Church clear some land at the rear of the church to form a community garden space for community use? The emphasis will be on getting rid of overgrown vegetation. Pete Webb will be leading the session and welcoming all volunteers.
   • where - St Matthew's of course!
   • when - from 9.30a.m.
   • bring - gloves and secateurs
   • anticipate - tea and coffee provided

Autumn Newsletter

Autumn's newsletter is out...

1. APPLE DAY REMINDER
2. A SUSTAINABLE HAYFIELD?
3. DRESS A GIRL AROUND THE WORLD
4. VISIT LOCAL ‘GREEN’ HOMES
5. REDUCING, RE-USING, RECYCLING
6. FOOD GROUP FORAY
7. HEAVY...........BUT SMART!
8. TRIP TO WORLD-FAMOUS CENTRE
9. ELECTRIC VEHICLE UPDATE
10. NEWS YOU’VE MISSED?
11. COMMITTEE CONTACTS
12. UPCOMING EVENTS

Download Newsletter

Apple Day Saturday October 15th at Hayfield Primary School

Dress a Girl Around the World!

Is any one of the following true for you:

• you support efforts to promote the position of girls/women in poorer countries;
• you've surplus dress material (not sheer or flimsy) or thread/bias bindings you could donate;
• you've a surplus dress or two (again, not flimsy or sheer) you'd be willing to donate;
• you can sew or press sewn items?

If so, read on!
Sustainable Hayfield's newly-formed Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle sub group is joining forces with The Threadmill (based at what was Slack's Mill on Swallow House Lane) and Handmade Hayfield to make/supply some dresses for the charity Dress A Girl Around the World (see www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.co.uk) via a sewing evening to be held at The Threadmill on Wednesday September 7th 7-9.00p.m. The aim is to make 25 dresses in the evening. A flier is attached.
Could you supply materials in advance? Or make a modest donation, to help buy material or assist with postage? Or come along to sew (if you've a sewing machine, even better!) or cut materials, or press finished dresses? If so, please let Pennie Roberts know, at pennieroberts@yahoo.co.uk.
The charity advises that having a dress increases school attendance, lowers the risk of abuse and gives girls a sense of dignity- all absolutely vital.
Thanks for your support. And I hope that you're able to enjoy these summer days......wherever you may be.

AGM & Small Electricals Recycling

Thanks to the nearly 30 people who turned up for our AGM and some brainstorming afterwards: ideas aired there will go forward to help shape what we do. And particular thanks to those attending who 'stepped forward' by indicating interest in discrete areas of our activity. 'Food' and 'recycling' were the two most commonly-expressed areas of interest and, in the wake of that evening, our food and recycling sub groups have both arranged imminent get-togethers to consider 'next steps'. If you want to know more, let me know.

If your interest is biodiversity, you may wish to know our colleagues at Transition New Mills are holding another 'balsam bashing session at The Picker, on Monday 1 August 18:30 – 20:30, The Picker, New Mills. Meet at bridge between Dye House Lane and Hyde Bank Rd. In truth, you don't need to 'bash', you pull up easily. It's a good cause and it making a difference in reducing the spread of this invasive weed, which smothers almost every other plant once it's established. Wear sensible footwear and gloves.

On the recycling front, do you know about the positive new service run by High Peak Council's contractors? You can now leave surplus small electrical items for collection, by placing them alongside your black or green bin on the appropriate collection day, saving you a trip to 'the tip'. Items which can be left out are listed below (leave plus/cables intact but remove batteries, which can be recycled at the library):

• Kettles, toasters, irons and other small kitchen appliances, hairdryers, hair straighteners and clippers, clocks, watches, calculators and torches, remote controls, mobile phones, cameras and chargers, radios, CD and MP3 players, small electronic toys e.g. remote control cars, small power tools, smoke detectors and thermostats

The council's contractors won't collect: anything larger than 30cm x 40cm, light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, televisions, computer monitors and laptops, fridges and freezers, washing machines, cookers and microwave ovens, glass or ceramic items e.g. slow cookers or glass kettles. If you leave them out, you'll just have to take them back in again and dispose of them via other means.