Help shape countryside and urban access in Leicestershire

If you enjoy walking and riding in the countryside, or are interested in exploring the local area, you are invited to apply to join the Leicestershire Local Access Forum.

The forum is an independent official body that brings together the diverse views of land owners, farmers, ramblers, horse-riders, cyclists, conservationists and other groups.

Focusing on how people can make the most of the great outdoors, Access Forums were set-up by government to represent all the different fields or areas of interest concerned with public rights of way and countryside access.

Roy Denny, Chairman of the forum, said: "The forum works alongside and advises Leicestershire County Council, and other local authorities and public agencies.

“It helps watch over - and shape the future of – open access land and public footpaths, bridleways, byways, and cycle trails. Anyone who has the time available and who can contribute positively is invited to apply."

Forum members are unpaid volunteers who meet four times a year to debate topical rural and urban access issues, discuss policy and planning proposals, and raise matters of concern.

Lesley Pendleton, County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: "The County Council values forum members' commitment and contribution.

“The forum means all those with an interest in public access to the countryside can come together and better understand each other's views.”

For a Membership Pack see the web at www.leics.gov.uk/lafapply email accessforum@leics.gov.uk or phone 0116 305 7655 for more details. The closing date for the current round of applications is January 16, 2012.

Rainbows to benefit from X Factor charity single!



One Direction with Sam & Alex
Bolton during their visit to
Rainbows in October

It's great to hear that Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough is going to benefit from the X Factor charity single, a cover of Rose Royce classic ‘Wishing on a Star’. The single has been recorded by the last sixteen X Factor contestants as well as JLS and One Direction, who paid a surprise visit to the hospice in October.

Net proceeds from the sale of the single (launched on 27 November) will go to Together for Short Lives who represent all children’s hospices nationally, including Rainbows. The charity was handpicked by Simon Cowell, who is a patron and has supported the organisation for a number of years. “I have seen first-hand the invaluable care and support they offer to thousands of young people and their families" he said, "so I am thrilled that the X Factor charity single this year will benefit this charity."

Scott Lea of Rainbows said: “It’s amazing to have such an iconic patron as Simon Cowell spreading the word about children’s hospices. Rainbows has been so incredibly lucky recently. The X Factor single, our surprise visit from One Direction and coverage on BBC1’s The One Show is not only helping us to get our fundraising message out there, but more importantly new families have approached us who are in need of our services. We’re so very grateful for all the support.”

For more about Rainbows go to http://www.rainbows.co.uk/

Artist's work explores Leicestershire’s past

A free temporary exhibition exploring the work of John Flower, one of Leicestershire's greatest 19th century illustrators is currently on display at Melton Carnegie Museum.

John Flower worked during the nineteenth century and produced a wonderful array of watercolours and sketches, and was chiefly known for his architectural drawings, many of which were of buildings in Leicester and Leicestershire.

Born in Leicester in 1793 John Flower was apprenticed to a framework knitter in 1806, his interest in drawing and natural talent led him to give drawing lessons before he was twenty years old. He gained the famous Leicester embroidery artist Miss Mary Linwood as a patron and spent a year in London studying with the watercolour artist Peter de Want. He returned to Leicester working as a landscape artist and teacher of drawing.

In 1826 he published a volume of lithographs 'Views of Ancient Buildings in the Town and County of Leicester'. This new exhibition on Flower's life and work is entitled 'A Self-Taught Genius' and is on display at the museum until the end of December.

David Sprason, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Communities said:

"John Flower's beautiful illustrations are an inspiration to all those who see them and this exhibition showcases his extraordinary skill and his contribution to the history of Leicestershire. I would urge people to go along to the museum and take a look at the wonderful pieces on display."

The museum is also hosting a range of events and activities for visitors throughout October including:

• Wacky Wellies on Thursday 20th October, 10.15am, 11.30am and 2pm
It’s the season for jumping in muddy puddles so join the museum for this wacky welly workshop. (Free Event - pre-booking is required, all children must be accompanied Tel 0116 3053860)

• Myths and Beasties - Family Learning Sessions every Saturday throughout October for craft based workshops from 10 am-12.
(Free event pre -booking is required. Suitable for children aged 4+ who must be accompanied Tel 0116 3057806.)

For further information about the exhibition or any of the events above, please call: 0116 305 3860, email meltonmuseum@leics.gov.uk or see: www.leics.gov.uk/meltonmuseum.

Free resource packs available to help communities go green

A novel set of free resources to help householders and local communities to reduce their environmental impact has just been launched by the Communities Cutting Carbon project.
Community Greening Packs contain useful gadgets such as energy monitors and water-saving equipment, along with a wide range of useful information from local organisations on how to go green. They are available now for free loan to communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

For more information click here

Green Directory for Leicestershire & Rutland

Vale Villages in Transition Green Day, Bottesford

The Rural Community Council (RCC) has produced a Green Directory in partnership with the Communities Cutting Carbon project. The directory provides information on more than 30 community green groups in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and gives details of local food projects, recycling schemes, car sharing groups and so on. There are also details about the many support organisations, such as Communities Cutting Carbon, that can help local groups to get a new project off the ground.

One of the green groups listed is Vale Villages in Transition, a local initiative, focused on the Vale of Belvoir. It is part of a growing international movement to address the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change. Events so far include several film showings, public talks and a well-attended Green Day. 

The RCC provides help and support to those who live and work in rural Leicestershire & Rutland. It is involved with a wide range of projects and issues, all of which are becoming of increasing importance as the quality of rural life, and the services provided for rural communities, deteriorate.

To read more about the Green Directory and download a copy click here

Converted village barn perfect for 'royal' photoshoot

When Joanne Withers of Queniborough-based Nine Photos discovered Manor Farm in Rearsby had turned a disused barn into a delightful wedding venue, her creative juices started flowing. What better place to stage a wedding photoshoot for the One Stop Wedding Shop (also based in Queniborough) and the various local suppliers associated with the business! "We work well as a team" said Joanne, "and we wanted to show how we can collaborate to help couples create what they have in mind for their wedding day."

With Royal Wedding fever at its peak, Joanne came up with a Rule Britannia (red, white & blue) theme; the 18th century barn and the lovely setting of Rearsby, with its medieval seven-arch bridge and village green, provided the perfect backdrop for the overall vision of rural England, tea parties and royal occasions.

"We had a great time being creative with ideas for how to create your own wedding style and everyone from the make-up artist to the balloon supplier can be found in the One Stop Wedding Shop".

The nine local suppliers collaborating in the photoshoot were:

www.one-stop-wedding-shop.co.uk (bringing all the elements of the perfect wedding together)

www.ninephotos.co.uk (photography)

www.sharons-sugarcraft.co.uk (wedding & celebration cakes)

www.allofouryesterdays.co.uk (vintage china & country styled accessories)

www.raffiaflowers.co.uk

www.rearsby.net/manor (wedding venue)

Uneeq Jewellery: 0116 260 1832

Sharon Pinkz, Nails & Beauty: 07751 900741
Kimberley Exquisite Chair Covers: 07914 512974

and at the last count there were 13 others also offering services through the
One Stop Wedding Shop, 1487 Melton Road, Queniborough, LE7 3FP. Tel: 0845 075 8530

All images © Copyright Nine Photos 2011

Discovering Rutland

Rutland is the smallest county in England, just 18 miles from north to south and 17 miles west to east. Its motto 'Multum In Parvo', meaning 'much in little', describes it perfectly.

Buttercross, Oakham
© Copyright Lisa Batty

Oakham and Uppingham

Oakham is the county town and lies near the northern shore of Rutland Water. It's an easy place to find your way around, with plenty of shops, from reputable well-established stores (of which there are several) to the many smaller shops selling gifts, arts and crafts, antiques and so on. Wednesdays and Saturdays are market days, with a farmers' market on the third Saturday of the month.

If the town's history interests you, you can follow the Heritage Trail. This takes in 14 ancient buildings. Trail leaflets and other information about places to visit in Rutland can be had from the library or the Rutland County Museum.

An exciting venture for the town is Live @ The Museum, a 188-seat venue offering live music, theatre, comedy and cinema. It is situated in the Rutland County Museum.

A tour of the Grainstore Brewery is a must if you’re a real ale lover and want to see how a micro brewery operates. You can also enjoy a Ploughman's Lunch or Supper following the tour.

Market Square, Uppingham
© Copyright Colin Smith

Uppingham (south of Rutland Water) also has a good range of shops, many still family owned and run. Like Oakham, it is the ideal place for browsing around and discovering hidden gems.

The town has some lovely old buildings, including Uppingham School. The Church of St Peter and St Paul, which stands in the Market Square, dates from the 14th Century.

Uppingham's weekly market is every Friday and there's a farmers’ market on the second Friday of each month.


Fishing on Rutland Water
© Copyright Mat Fascione

Rutland Water

Built for the purpose of supplying water to the area, Rutland Water is one of the largest man-made reservoirs in Europe. It's set in 3,100 acres of countryside and provides the opportunity for a variety of sporting and leisure activities including windsurfing, rock-climbing, sailing and canoeing.

As well as dinghies and fishing boats, bikes are also available for hire. A cycle trail runs right round the lake and the 23-mile full circuit is well used by both leisure cyclists and those taking part in sponsored rides.

For the less active, the Rutland Belle provides cruises on the reservoir with full commentary of the points of interest along the way.

As a nature reserve, Rutland Water is one of the most important wildfowl sanctuaries in Great Britain with in excess of 20,000 water birds using it. It was here that the first osprey chick to fledge in Central England for 150 years was hatched in 2001, as part of the successful Osprey Project. The ospreys come back year after year and 2010 was the most successful breeding year ever. The birds have recently returned for the summer and you can view one of the nests on a live webcam. Click here to go to the webcam.

There are lots of bird hides and nature trails at the Egleton and Lyndon visitor centres, with experts on hand to help with identification.


For more information go to the Discover Rutland website


The Rutland Walking Festival starts on 22 May and runs until 5 June; the Festival booklet is now available from the website.

Find a bluebell wood near you

Burroughs Wood, Ratby

Springtime is the perfect time to go walking in Leicestershire’s woodlands. The weather is warmer, birds are singing louder and the once desolate and bare trees are coming into bloom – as are an abundance of other flora species. The most famous is the bluebell. During April and May, woodlands are illuminated by breathtaking displays of bluebells as they spread like a blue carpet across the ground in celebration of winter’s demise.

To help you find your nearest bluebell wood the Woodland Trust has recently launched a brand new website called 'VisitWoods', which contains the details of 14,000 publicly accessible woods across the UK.

To find your nearest wood go to www.VisitWoods.org.uk.

Throughout the bluebell season, woodlands across Leicestershire host various events for the public to come and enjoy their beauty. Swithland Wood in Charnwood has one of the best displays of bluebells in the country, and since 1927 an annual Bluebell Service has been held by Leicester Rotary Club and Swithland Parish Church. This year’s service will be on Sunday 8th May at 3pm.
For the more active amongst you, a Bluebell Walk & Ride will be taking place at Rutland Water on Sunday 1st May to raise money for Crohms and Colitis UK. There is an optional fancy dress theme entitled ‘Fairies, Pixies and Pirates’ and a choice of two walking/cycling distances to suit all abilities. The routes will take you through the stunning, bluebell-filled Barnsdale Woods. (Registration 10am-12pm at Barnsdale car park).

To satisfy any spontaneous urges to go bluebell spotting, here is a list of woods worth a visit:
• Burroughs Wood, Ratby
• Bluebell Woods, Yoxhall Lodge, Newchurch (near Burton-Upon-Trent)
• Willesley Wood (near Ashby-de-la-Zouch)
• Bluebell Woods, Ulverscroft Nature Reserve (near Loughborough)
• Jubilee Woods, Outwoods and Martin’s Wood; all in Charnwood

• Launde Woods, East Leicestershire

• Coton Manor Wood, Northamptonshire

Melton's Green Environmental Agony Aunt

Melton Borough Council now has its very own ‘Green Environmental Agony Aunt’. ‘Ask Amanda’ will promote the principles of environmentally sustainable practices, clear up any common misunderstandings and in general raise awareness to the Boroughs residents on a range of issues including waste minimisation, recycling, carbon reduction and the changing climate. She will also provide advice on a wide range of issues such as our recycling service, waste reduction, home composting, offer green tips such as how to make the most of your leftovers and in general encourage sustainable lifestyles and habits.
For more click here

Time for tea by the Grantham Canal

Dove Cottage Tea Room

The Dove Cottage tea room and charity shop offers a pleasant respite to anyone strolling along the Grantham Canal near Stathern. It was opened in 2009 to support the work of the Dove Cottage Day Hospice just a stone's throw away. Opening hours are: 10.30am to 3.30pm (4pm from 1 April) Monday to Friday and 10.30am-4pm (4.30 from 1 April) Saturday and Sunday. The shop is not open on Sundays.

For more information about the tea room / shop click here

Dove Cottage Day Hospice is a registered charity providing palliative daycare services for people suffering from life threatening illness, living in and around the Vale of Belvoir. It has a turnover of £150,000 every year, of which £100,000 has to be raised locally. All of Dove Cottage's services are provided free of charge
 
For more information about Dove Cottage Day Hospice click here

Leicestershire residents take up 'green cone' deal to reduce food waste

Nearly 2,000 green cone food waste digesters have been bought by county residents keen to recycle their leftovers. Since May 2008 the special bins have been sold at a cut down rate by Leicestershire County Council, on behalf of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership, helping families reduce the amount of leftover food they send to landfill.

All sorts of food waste, from fish and chips to curries and fruit to cooked meat and bones, can be scraped into the device which cleverly turns it into water, carbon dioxide and nutrients which are absorbed back into the soil.

Kathy Platts (pictured) from Sileby said: “By putting leftover food into the kitchen caddy that comes with the digester you see how much you waste. We’ve reduced what we buy, so there are long-term savings.

“There are immediate benefits in the surrounding area - I’ve seen a big difference in the surrounding plants, they’re very lush.”

The Green Cone costs £7.50*, which includes free professional installation, other composters such as wormeries and Green Johannas are also available at discount prices.

Tony Kershaw, County Council Cabinet Member for Waste and Chairman of Leicestershire Waste Partnership, said: “Using a food waste digester helps reduce the cost of sending waste to landfill, which is rising yearly. The digesters we have on offer are really great value and help us all do our bit for the environment.”

To order a food waste digester call 0800 019 2061 or visit: http://www.greatgreensystems.com/

For more information on all the units available visit: www.leics.gov.uk/waste

*Offer available to Leicestershire residents only – excludes Leicester city.

Free workshop for business start ups

A free one-day workshop entitled Starting A Business: Managing Money and Making a Profit will be held at the Samworth Centre in Melton Mowbray on 8 March, starting at 9.30am (registration 9am). It is being run by Business Link East Midlands.

The workshops covers:
- different types of finance
- raising finance
- bookkeeping and accounts
- financial planning and cash flow and credit control

It is designed for people fully committed to starting a business or running an early stage business (up to 6 months).

To book online click on the link below and follow the instructions for 'Start Up Workshops'.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/eventsearch?keywords=leicestershire&date=99&page=1&site=140&submit.x=11&submit.y=12

Alternatively, call 0845 058 6644 or email info@businesslinkem.co.uk.

Professional entertainment in our village halls

Thanks to Centre Stage, a subsidised rural touring scheme for Leicestershire and Rutland, we can now enjoy a wide variety of highly professional live shows and concerts in our local village halls and community centres.

Centre Stage brings touring companies and artists with regional, national and international profiles to venues across the two counties. The scheme was set up in 2002 and works with volunteers in communities to present high quality professional arts performances to rural audiences.  In 2009/10 it held 136 shows involving 61 groups of volunteers and a total audience of 8,500 across 61 communities in the region.

Centre Stage is funded by Leicestershire County Council, all district and borough councils in Leicestershire, Rutland County Council and the Arts Council England.

For more about Centre Stage and to find out what's on in a village hall near you, go to: http://www.centre-stage.org.uk/

New wood planted in Wymeswold



View of Wymeswold from new woodland

A new native woodland has been planted at Wymeswold with help from woodland charity the Woodland Trust.
The new two acre wood, planted with the help of the local community, consists of 750 trees - a mix of native deciduous species including Oak, Ash, Cherry and Hawthorne – in partnership with the Trust’s new MOREwoods programme, which offers help, advice and, in some cases, funding to landowners across the country.

Local landowner Kathy Simpson decided to have the wood planted on her land in the rural North Leicestershire village to “enhance the environment and leave something for the future.” However, without the expertise or finance to plant a wood herself, she contacted the National Forest, who then referred her to the Woodland Trust. After an inspection of the site, she was extremely pleased to receive 750 trees from the trust along with the necessary planning proposal.

Read more on this in the April/May issue of Village Connect (out end March).

To find out how you can get involved with MOREwoods in Leicestershire, see http://www.MoretreesMoregood.org.uk/planting, email morewoods@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call 0845 293 5689

The Green Place in Sileby reopens

The Green Place gift shop

After a couple of months of hibernation, The Green Place in Sileby will be re-opening on 5th March. Regular visitors will notice new products in the green gift shop and and new snacks in the cafe. The first 10 customers to visit on Saturday March 5th will get a free goodie bag and there will be some great bargains on old favourites from the gift range. Look out for some great computer deals too, with machines from £95 while stocks last.

Got a wood burner?
If you regularly use logs, take a look at the Smart Splitter which the Green Place now stocks, a safe and effective way to split logs. No electricity needed or heavy, dangerous axes to swing. 2-year guarantee and special price of £70. See it demonstrated on Saturday 5th.

What's going on?
There are plans for some major development in the next few months. The first will be an array of solar panels covering the roof, to provide a chunk of the Green Place's electricity and take them a step closer to being carbon neutral. Also, the first draft plans have been drawn up for some extra space for shop/workshop/activities.

Book of Green
The Green Place have five copies of the Book of Green eco-living directory to give away. A great source of green and ethical business across the UK. Please ask for a copy in the shop.

The Green Place is run by Complete Wasters, a social enterprise whose aims include promoting Fair Trade, recycled and eco-friendly products. As well as a gift shop, cafe and computer shop, it also has a weekly veg stall and runs regular events and workshops.
For more information go to http://www.completewasters.co.uk/

The Green Place, 6 Cossington Road, Sileby (next to Chine House vets)
Telephone 01509 815181

Harby Parish Walks unveiled

Grantham Canal, Harby, by Kate Jewell

A new walks guide covering the village of Harby and surrounding countryside has been added to the Leicestershire CC's Parish Walks series. The guide gives details of four walks of different lengths, all starting and finishing in Harby, in the heart of the Vale of Belvoir. The shortest of the routes is suitable for wheelchairs and one of the longer ones is completely stile free. For more information go to:

http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/environment/countryside/walking/parishwalks/parish_walks_harby.htm

Explore Leicestershire ... on foot

View towards Hungarton, by Mat Fascione

Want to get out and enjoy the Leicestershire countryside now the days are getting longer? Why not try a walk from one of Leicestershire County Council's Parish Walks leaflets? There are currently 40 leaflets, each one describing a choice of walks starting and finishing in a particular village, and all are downloadable from the the council's website.
http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/environment/countryside/walking/parishwalks.htm

Tucked away in beautiful countryside a few miles to the east of Leicester, lies Hungarton, (pictured above) one of the 40 villages covered in the Parish Walk series. It's a charming, unspoilt village, with many of its houses showing the red and buff brick chequer pattern built by Shukbrugh Ashby who lived there in the mid 18th century. It has a very good pub called the Black Boy Inn.
The leaflet has two walks around Hungarton (3.5 and 4 miles), one of which will take you past the lovely Quenby Hall, built in 1627.

Wind turbines: not in my back yard

Two years ago planning permission for eight wind turbines in the Vale of Belvoir near Bottesford was turned down, much to the delight of the strong protest group who had campaigned strongly against the scheme. Last month, it was the turn of Queniborough residents to celebrate when the Scottish Power Renewable's plan for four turbines close to the village was rejected.

BBC News - Queniborough wind turbine plan is turned down

Now, a group opposed to a plan to put eight wind turbines on the site of the old Asfordby mine are hoping their campaign will be successful. They say the noise created from the turbines will have an adverse affect on the lives of those living nearby. However, Peel Energy, who submitted the planning application last December, argues that the wind farm poses no enviromental problem and the visual impact would be limited within two kilometers of the site.
For the latest on the campaign to 'stop the turbines' click here

It's a tricky issue. We want renewable sources of energy, but not at a cost to our quality of life and our local environment. So, where is the best place for wind farms? What do you think?

'Looking at Landscape' in the rural Midlands

Landscape painting inspired by the gentle rolling hills of the rural English Midlands is the focus of an exhibition at Charnwood Museum which runs until 10 April.

'Looking at Landscape' reflects the way that people have looked at, interpreted, recorded and used the Leicestershire landscape throughout history - in both artistic and scientific ways.

Click here for more information and pictures

What green spaces do you value?

Wymeswold Meadows Nature Reserve by Kate Jewell

People in Leicestershire are being urged to have their say on the green spaces they value. The county council wants to hear from people about their favourite green spaces, whether they are parks and meadows or large green wedges between towns.
There are already a number of protected areas in Leicestershire, such as Bradgate Park, Conservation Areas and Green Wedges. The council are particularly interested in hearing about more local areas that are important to people in their community. It could be a small strip of waste land that local children play on, a roadside verge that provides particular wildlife habitat, a village green or public garden, or even large areas of green space between towns and villages.

You can make your views known either by attending your local community forum meeting before the end of March (there will be sessions on green spaces at each one), or by making your comments using the council's interactive, online map of the county.

For more information go to http://www.leics.gov.uk/greenspaces

Film and Green Day in Bottesford - March 2011

The community group Vale Villages in Transition have organised two events which will take place at Bottesford Village Hall in early March.

On the evening of Friday 4th March from 7.45pm, the group will show the film “The Power of Community”, which tells the inspiring story of how Cuba coped with increased fuel prices by switching to sustainable agriculture and urban food production.

On Saturday 12th March from 2pm to 6.30pm, the group are organising a Green Day, which will feature local food providers, energy saving advice, kids’ activities and much more.
For further information, visit http://www.valevillagesintransition.org.uk/FutureEvents.html, or contact the group on 07812 564 059.

Both events have been supported by Climate Friendly Communities grant funding from the Communities Cutting Carbon project (http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/climate-change). The funds were made available thanks to the support of each of the local authorities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

This news item is taken from http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/latestnews.html

BBC News - Leicestershire libraries will not close, says council

Good news for library users across the county! Click here for the story.....

Out and about: Vale of Belvoir

Belvoir Castle viewed from Woolsthorpe, by Brian Green

Now that spring is within sight, you might be planning to explore the area a bit. Here is the first article in our 'Out and About' series, which we hope you find interesting.

The wide, low lying area that straddles North East Leicestershire, South Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire is known as the Vale of Belvoir. It is predominantly rural grazing land, with some interesting features including a canal and a castle, making it an attractive part of the country to explore. Click here for the complete article.

Getting ready for the summer fests

It might seems ages until the summer festival season gets underway, but organisers are already hard at work planning their various events, to make them even better than the ones they held last year!

Here's a flavour of what's on offer in this area - more information in future issues of Village Connect and on this blog. 

Glastonbudget - Turnpost Farm, Wymeswold 27-29 May
Europe's biggest tribute and new acts festival.
http://www.glastonbudget.net/

Hosefest - 2 July
A big event in a small village in the Vale of Belvoir. Lasts all day starting with the Hose Village Fete and followed late afternoon and into the evening by the Hosenbury Music Festival. A great family day/evening out!
http://hosefest.org.uk/

Fristock, Frisby on the Wreake - 9 July
Held every summer at the village cricket ground. Bar, barbeque & free camping. Tickets sell like hot cakes for this popular event!
http://www.fhrcc.co.uk/fristock/main.htm

Then of course there's the Party in the Park which is part of the Stathern Festival, usually held during the second half of June (dates not yet confirmed). Check out the website for updated information:
http://www.stathernfestival.co.uk/


For information about festivals around the country, try
http://www.efestivals.co.uk/