Newsletter - Spring 2017

Here’s our spring newsletter. We hope you find it of interest. If you’ve ideas for future issues, do let Laurie James (lauriejamesis@btinternet.com) know.

In this issue:

• JOIN US FOR A SPRING CLEAN
• IN THESE TIMES
• FERRETING AROUND FOOD
• EXPLORING ULTRA LOW ENERGY HOMES
• ENERGY EFFORTS
• SUPPORTING OLDER CITIZENS
• HELP TRANSPORT RESEARCH
• MANAGING OUR WASTE
• A CALL TO DISPLAY – ON APPLE DAY
• NEWS YOU MISSED..?
• FROM NATURE’S BOUNTY
• THE ‘GREEN LIFE’
• OUR COMMITTEE
• UPCOMING EVENTS
• THANKS!

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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.

Getting/Making Your Home (much) more energy-efficient?

Ever wondered what it takes to build a truly eco-friendly house? Or how you’d go about making your existing home more environmentally secure, without spending the earth?

Help is at hand! Sustainable Hayfield has arranged a free illustrated talk by award-winning Eco Architect Colin Usher on ‘Designing, Building or Retrofitting A Low Energy Home - & Saving You Money!' It’s at the Royal Hotel, Hayfield, next Friday week, that's Friday 17th March, starting at 7.30p.m. and is open to all.

Colin has been involved for many years in the design and construction of houses which are economic to build, very cheap to run and don’t hurt the planet. He was profiled recently in The Guardian for his work, which includes his own family home in Merseyside. Colin’s also a source of much useful information about how to make changes to existing homes to ensure they have a low(er) energy footprint, and are economical and comfortable to run.

Much of the UK’s housing stock is, sadly, fairly energy-inefficient and requires costly effort to keep comfortably warm. Although the situation is improving, the number of truly eco-friendly homes is still very small. But Colin is aiming to provide plenty of advice about what’s best to do, and in what order, whether you’re looking to spend £500 or £500,000. He’ll set out the key things to consider, but is keen also to answer questions his audience might have.

This should be a good evening, with much to learn, and good tips to take away. Make a diary note now. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events

Here's three forthcoming events/activities, all of which have a 'plant' theme, which may be of interest to you:

• first, Friday February 10th, Kinder Kids Pre-School is holding a coffee morning 9-12noon at St Matthews, with home-made cakes etc., as a fund raiser to help bring the planned St Matthews Community Garden project into being. The garden, complete with herbs etc. will be an added resource for the youngsters attending Kinder Kids but also for the wider community and will brighten up the currently dull riverside aspect from St Matthews. Kinder Kids have had some grant success for the project, and done a good deal of work, but need more resources and aim to have termly coffee mornings as part of the effort to raise more funds. A poster's attached. It's going to be a cold morning so why not cheer yourselves up, in good company, and support this worthwhile project?
• second, Hayfield Civic Trust is hosting a talk, after its brief AGM at 7.30p.m., at the Village Hall Wednesday 22nd February, by Elaine Radford on 'Flowers of the Peak District'. It's often not appreciated just how varied the Peak District flora is: this is your chance to find out - and maybe highlight some recent discoveries of your own!
• the following Saturday, 25th February, Sustainable Hayfield is organising a work session at the community garden, surrounding the library, 11-1.00p.m. The focus will be on seasonal maintenance tasks, pushing on with the composting area and pruning of raspberries. Do join the volunteers if you'd like, and contribute a little time and your ideas: just turn up or, if you wish, contact Ellen Bennett on 01663 747627 in advance.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your support through 2016, and best wishes to you for 2017! Just published, our winter newsletter, brings you up to date with what we're doing, and related matters. If you've any comments/suggestions, we're always pleased to receive them!

Special good wishes go to Ruth Wilson who, after several years, is standing down as a Sustainable Hayfield committee member, to pursue some other interests. We all wish you well with those, Ruth, and thank you for all you've done to help get us to where we are.

And if you'd like to get a little bit more involved in what Sustainable Hayfield does, contact any of us (names/tel. nos. are in the newsletter) or, if it's easiest, just respond to this email.

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!