Despite the lack of recent sunshine and warm weather, the spring tubs in the village are looking colourful in full bloom.
I took these photos in the sunshine yesterday so that we can show the Northumbria in Bloom judges on 22 April, if the daffodils and tulips are past their best by then.
The Trust’s annual litter pick will take place this Saturday morning 5th April.
Volunteers will be meeting between 9.00 and 9.30 in the car park next to the Golden Flower. Litter pickers, gloves, hi-viz vests and sacs will be provided.
If you would like to help tidy up the local area but cannot make this Saturday, consider taking a plastic bag and gloves when you go out for a walk or keep the area near your home litter free.
Shotley Bridge Junior School were nominated by the Village Trust to accept tubs from the HAGGRID Project (Horticulture, Agriculture, General Education and Individual Development). The Derwent Valley Partnership has supported this local project at Consett and Blackhill Park, which has provided an opportunity for young people aged between 11 and 18 to learn a range of environmental based skills with the aim of getting them involved in local community-based activities.
The tubs were presented yesterday by students from Consett Academy, who helped plant them up. They will brighten up the main entrance to the school and will be maintained by pupils there.
Police in Consett have given pots, compost and other equipment seized from drugs farms to community projects in the area. The Haggrid and Eddy groups, which work with young people in the town, are using them to help improve the local area. For more information about the project, take a look at this news article in The Chronicle.
These awards were to be presented at the last open meeting of the Village Trust on 29th October, but the recipients were unavailable to collect their certificates and vouchers.
They have now all been presented, congratulations.
Residential category winner: Snows Green House. Runners up: Bluebell Cottage & 3 Riverside.
Business category winner: Sale Pepe. Runner up: Moon Jewellery.
The culvert at the bottom of Benfieldside Road, which regularly overflows during heavy rain to flood Snows Green Road, is being cleared of debris by the County Council.
There is also a scheme proposed to create an enlarged hole in the wall on Snows Green Road to divert any future flood water back into the Snows Green Burn. This should prevent a lake being formed, which has previously blocked the road and overflowed down into the village centre.
Shotley Bridge Village Trust 