This morning the Trust’s volunteers planted the summer bedding in tubs and planters, within the conservation area. Thank you to those that helped and Beveridge’s for supplying and delivering the plants.
We are trying out a more experimental mixture of plants this summer, in the hope of adding more variety. We hope you like the difference.
The next Open Meeting of the Trust on 5th June will be preceded by the Annual General Meeting. Everyone welcome.
On Friday, volunteers from the Village Trust were maintaining the sustainable beds in the village centre that the Trust has adopted. The spring bedding in some of our tubs was in full bloom, too.
Thank you to the 15 Trust members who collected 20 bags of litter this morning, during our annual Spring litter pick in the village.
Last October volunteers from the Trust planted 5000 purple crocus bulbs on the verge opposite Rumi’s. They had been provided by Consett Rotary Club to raise awareness of its ‘Purple for Polio’ national campaign.
A couple of weeks ago just a handful of crocus were visible, but the warmer weather following the ‘Beast from the East’ has led to the start of blooming. A bit more sunshine over the next few days should ensure a wonderful Easter display, provided children and dogs don’t trample the flowers.
The Trust’s next ‘Open’ meeting is being held next Tuesday at the Catholic Church Hall on Snows Green Road.
The meeting starts at 7.30pm with coffee/tea & biscuits served from 7.15pm.
The main item on the Agenda is a discussion about ‘dog fouling’, which appears to be getting worse.
Last Friday morning a group of 5 volunteers cleared overhanging branches, debris and mud from the well used tarmac path between Briary Gardens and Peile Park. It is also known as the ‘Chicken Run’, as there used to be a chicken coup in the field beside the path. The stream was also cleared of debris.
The Trust has been given 5000 crocus bulbs by Consett Rotary Club, to plant in the village.
It was decided to plant them along the grass verge opposite Rumi’s, in front of the daffodil bulbs which the Trust planted a few years ago.
Over half were planted yesterday by seven volunteers from the Trust and another working party has been arranged for next Friday to finish the job.
The Rotary’s Purple4Polio initiative in 2016 was a huge success with nearly 7 million purple corms being planted across Great Britain and Ireland resulting in a carpet of purple in communities during spring 2017. This year, Rotary is aiming to go even further and plant 10 million purple crocus corms!
The purple crocus is a symbol of Rotary’s worldwide campaign to eradicate polio, with its colour representing the purple dye used to mark the finger of a child to indicate they have received their life saving oral polio vaccine.
More information can be found on the Rotary website.
The Trust’s next ‘Open’ meeting is being held this Tuesday at the Catholic Church Hall on Snows Green Road. Meeting starts at 7.30pm with tea & biscuits before at 7.15pm.
There will be an illustrated talk about the Listed Buildings in the village. Did you know that there are around 30 buildings of architectural or historic interest that have been listed by English Heritage [now Historic England].
Thank you to the 10 Trust members who helped remove litter, moss & weeds from the pavements and ‘triangle’ in the village centre yesterday morning. Everywhere looks much tidier now, after only a couple of hours work.
Working parties are being held on the first Friday morning of the month. Next month we are bulb planting, daffodils & croci along the main road.
The Heritage Initiative are holding another Exhibition next week in Consett, which will include ‘now & then’ photos of Shotley Bridge.
Despite the weather, two dozen people enjoyed the HOD walks in Shotley Bridge this weekend.
Thank you to the members of the Village Trust Heritage Group who led the guided walks.
Copies of the Trust’s History booklet can be purchased from Harrington Brown Estate Agents, in Shotley Bridge, or on-line from eBay.
For the third year the Trust is giving guided walks during the “Heritage Open Days” festival, on 9th & 10th September.
The walks are based on the Trust’s Shotley Bridge History booklet that was published last year.
There will be a choice of 4 walks, guided by the Trust members who researched and wrote the publication.
The 32 page booklet will be on sale for £3 at the end of each tour. Shotley Bridge pin badges will also be available for £2.
Self guided walks will also be available, based on the Trust’s publication ‘Shotley Bridge Heritage Trail’.
Have a look at the other places to visit during the 4 day Heritage Open Days festival
The Trust has published an update to the directory of community facilities, clubs and groups. It has now been delivered to most residents in Shotley Bridge. The original directory, published in 2010 was well out of date and few copies were still available. It is hoped that the new directory can be kept up to date annually with revisions posted on-line.
Thank you to our local Durham County Councillors who provided a grant to help fund the publication.
If you do not have a printed copy it is available from most of the local businesses that have advertised in the brochure or alternatively download the on-line version. [1.6MB]
The annual Funday for local residents, organised by the Benfieldside, Blackhill, Bridgehill & Shotley Bridge Community Partnership, is on Bank Holiday Monday …
It used to be held at Shotley bridge Cricket Club.
Dog owners are being advised of new rules that came into force in County Durham at the beginning of June.
Durham County Council has introduced a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to encourage responsible ownership and tackle issues such as dog fouling and strays.
The order, which will replace the existing Dog Control Order introduced in 2009, means that it is now an offence to:
Anyone seen flouting the new rules will be issued with a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN), reduced to £60 if paid within 10 working days. Failing to pay the FPN will result in court action and a possible fine of up to £1,000.
The order will not apply to anyone who is registered blind, is disabled or who uses a trained assistance dog.
Find out more about the new enforcement powers on the County Council’s website.
The Trust’s AGM is to be held on Tuesday 20th June at 7pm followed at 7.45 by an Open Meeting for members and residents, with a talk from the charity AgeUK.
The next exhibition organised by the Consett & District Heritage Initiative is being held in a months time. The Trust will be putting on a display of old photographs of Shotley Bridge at the event.
On Saturday morning 15 members of the Trust, together with our local county councillors, picked up litter from the village centre and along the main roads radiating outwards. Thank you to all those who volunteered. The village looks a lot tidier now.
The next meeting of the Shotley Bridge Village Trust is on 21st March. Please invite your relatives, friends & neighbours to come along.
Kath Marshall-Ivens, Community Engagement Officer, from Groundwork will be giving a presentation about the ‘Land of Oak & Iron’ Landscape Partnership. This 4 year project, hosted by Groundwork NE & Cumbria, is supported by a £2.2 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Working with local communities and partners it aims to conserve, enhance and celebrate the natural, industrial and cultural heritage of the Derwent Valley. There are now 14 projects being delivered until 2020, with many opportunities for local people, groups and organisations to get involved through a range of different activities.
For more information about the Partnership and opportunities to get involved go to their website.
