News September 2017



STS August meeting report
We were disappointed by the lack of entries for our container growing competition and decided not to continue with initial plans to hold a harvest event this year.
Rather than organise our own events we will, in the next few months, try to work with other groups. Ideas include:
  • Supporting screenings of sustainability themed films with South Tyne Wildlife Group and South Tyne Cinema Circuit.
    Seed: the Untold story will be shown at the STWG evening on Nov 14th.
  • Suggesting speakers for Bardon Mill's Cafe Scientifique.
  • Participate in Haltwhistle's Christmas Shopping Night with either a craft workshop or with an event to showcase local businesses which don't trade from a shop.
  • The Green Christmas Craft fair in Greenhead, run in conjunction with Hadrian's Wall Farmers' Market will take place again this year on Sunday Dec 10th. Prospective craft stallholders should contact me, sue@mosspeteral.com and food producers contact Bill billjefferson8@googlemail.com
  • Possible project with Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership/Northern Rail to highlight local specialities (quoits, leek shows, hound trails, Cumberland & Westmoreland wrestling etc - there's a surprisingly long list!) with poster exhibitions in station waiting rooms.

Please get in touch if you have any thoughts on, or would like to get involved in, any of these initiatives. STS would also be delighted to partner any other group, a gardening club or WI for instance, wishing to introduce a sustainability focus into a meeting or activity.




    Biodiversity matters
    Verges
    The third and last of our verge walks was on 8th August, not quite the balmy evening we had last year but a good range of species were spotted again. Thanks to Lesley Silvera for continuing to lead these walks. Ongoing monitoring of the botanical variety in the our roadside verges definitely helps in our discussions with those responsible for their management. Our campaigning last year succeeded in persuading RoadLink not to undertake any routine spraying on A69 verges this year and, although mowing of the wider verges was dramatic in some areas, it didn't take place until early August giving many wildflowers time to seed.

    Plugging the Gaps
    South Tyne Wildlife Group are kicking off their autumn season with Ruth Starr-Keddle from North Pennines AONB talking about the restoration of upland hay meadows.
    Tues 12th Sept, 7.30pm, Comrades Club, Haltwhistle. £3.00 on the door, all welcome.




    Congratulations to Heather Blair
    for winning the STS bowl for the most points
    in the fruit and veg growing classes at Gilsland Show.



    Haltwhistle Booking Office and Signal Box will be open from 10am until 4pm on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th September as part of the national Heritage Open Days event. Members of the Campaign to Open Gilsland Station will be in the signal box to talk about the progress of the project. Other local buildings open as part of the heritage weekend include: Coanwood Friends Meeting House, Forum Cinema & projection room, Allendale Smelt Mill, Isaac's Hearse House at Ninebanks, the heather thatched Black Barn at Tow House, and Hexham's House of Correction.
    Details with opening times: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/printable-area-lists/



    CAfS have a packed week of events in their Green Build Festival, 16th to 24th Sept with visits to new builds, retrofits, factories, as well as participatory workshops and conferences.
    Details: http://www.cafs.org.uk/events/

    CafS are also promoting Alston Moor Greenprint Festival an ambitious project which aims to empower the local community to shape a 'bottoms up' sustainable future for the area. The 18th Sept meeting 'Bolts, Ginnels and Snickets' takes its name from three local terms for short cuts - locals will be asked how they would spend public money to support the local economy. Again details are on the CafS events page.






    Go Local Food are celebrating the harvest with an Apple Press & Chilli Fest day in Ovington on Sunday 25th, 10.30 am - 1.30pm. Catch up with details about this event and all their other news: https://golocalfoodltd.wordpress.com





    Missed something?
    This newsletter and all previous newsetters are available on our website: www.southtynesustainability.org.uk



    South Tyne Sustainability aims to reduce the impact of the community of Haltwhistle and surrounding villages on our environment. This will help individuals, families and our community save money and resources and ensure a more sustainable future for us all.

    To join STS contact Sue Seymour, sue@mosspeteral.com 016977 47359