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/

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

BBC News - Leicestershire libraries will not close, says council

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