News October 2016


The final event in our VEG program this year saw STS, joining with Haltwhistle Partnership, to promote locally grown and gathered food in the market place on a sunny Saturday in September. The foragers' table was groaning with cherry plums, crab apples, rowan-, black- and elderberries. The 'donate or swap' table sported apples, watercress, garlic and a variety of preserves.
In the autumn thoughts turn to preparing the garden for the next growing season and mulching and composting have an important role to play. There was a fine display of different materials from turkey feathers and sheep's wool to soil conditioner, which can be bought from the recycling centre on Eden's Lawn. There was considerable interest in the wormery on display - complete with it's bottle of wormery juice! Donations for produce came to over £30 which was given to the West Northumberland Food Bank. See below for apple events all over the place in October.


Apple Events in October
Sat 1st October Bewcastle
Apple juicing afternoon at Greenholme near Bewcastle (CA6 6PW) from 2pm to 5pm. Bring along any surplus (or scrumped!) apples you would like to be juiced, and some clean containers to hold the juice, such as empty milk cartons. If you have a surplus that you do not want for yourself, bring them along anyway and share the fun! Even if you don't have apples come along - we'll have lots of tea and cakes to share.
Enquiries to Rob at info@bewcastlehouseofprayer.org.uk
See http://www.bewcastlehouseofprayer.org.uk/contact-and-about/

Sat 8th October Hexham Farmers' Market
Local apples for sale, bring your garden apples along to be identified, join Transition Tynedale pressing apples and sample the juice.

Sun 9th October Acorn Bank, Temple Sowerby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1SP
The National Trust's Autumn extravaganza at Acorn Bank. Lots of things to see and do for all the family. Charges apply, including NT Members. Assistance dogs only are welcome. 11am - 4.30pm.

Sun 2nd, 9th and 16th October 2016 Humshaugh
Humshaugh's famous autumn apple pressing sessions are being held on the first three Sundays of October this year (2nd, 9th and 16th October 2016). Bring your surplus apples to Humshaugh Village Hall from 10.00 am and see them pulped, squeezed, juiced pasteurised and bottled. You could even join in and help. The finished bottles will go on sale in the shop and the profits will help boost the funds that do so much for the community.



Pirate Power
Please vote for Kielder Water Sailing Club so they can win £12,500 from the M&S Energy Fund to install Solar PV on the roof of the clubhouse.

As we go to print the project is in second place… Voting deadline is October 10th, don't delay!
https://www.mandsenergyfund.com/projects/pirate-power



Advance notices:
STS AGM 7pm, Mon 7th November, Kasteale, Haltwhistle
A review of this year's activities and plans for 2017. Do come and tell us which sustainability issues you think are important in our area and share any project ideas you have. Everyone welcome!
Late night shopping in Haltwhistle. 4-8pm, Friday 25th November.
Please contact Julie Gibbon 01434 344383 if you'd like to take a stall.

Green Christmas Craft Fair in Greenhead. 10am-2.30pm. Sun 11th December.
For craft stalls contact Sue Seymour 016977 47359.
For food stalls contact Bill & Jenny Jefferson 016977 46828



Two invitations from Hadrian's Wall Community Champions and a local history meeting.

Work with Durham University to undertake geophysical surveys of sites along the Wall.
Just like on Time Team, you will have the chance to make some fascinating discoveries using two different types of remote sensing kit. Negotiations are still ongoing as to which sites we will be working on, but they will probably be in the Haltwhistle area. The work is expected to extend over 6 days, and you will be welcome to join in for just one day or more as you wish. Don't worry if you haven't done anything like this before, all you need is enthusiasm and the ability of walk over flat-ish terrain carrying moderately heavy equipment.
Interested? Contact: Maria.Hindmarsh@twmuseums.org.uk

Romans and After in North Cumberland.
Wed 5th October 2016, 10.00am-4.00pm. Meet at Samson Inn, Gilsland CA8 7DR.
Explore Gilsland's heritage, from Roman sites and archaeology to Arthurian legends, a Saxon church, bridges, early locomotives and local produce with Catherine Jarvis. The tour will include some walking and some transport by minibus. Please wear warm clothes, waterproofs and suitable footwear (walking boots/wellies). The tour will include a visit to Slack House Organic Farm where a soup/sandwich lunch can be purchased in the tea room.
To book - Maria.Hindmarsh@twmuseums.org.uk

Greenhead Local History Group.
Greenhead Village hall, Wed, 26th October, 6.30pm.
"Hadrian's Wall: Understanding the Turf Wall and the Vallum" with Geoff Carter.
Come and find out what Geoff, with his engineer's eye has discovered, about both the Vallum and the Turf Wall. There will be a small charge to cover costs and an opportunity to chat over refreshments afterwards about the Local History Group, its past activities and its possible future.



Let's Get Together Autumn Program

Download 2 page pdf here



Free Central heating
Warm Up North are offering to install central heating for FREE. The main eligibility criteria are set out below. Please assist anyone you know who qualifies to take advantage of this grant.

1. You are a homeowner or have a private landlord - and
2. Your household has a gross total income of less than £26,000 - and
3. one of the following applies
i) Your home does not have, and never has had a central heating system (electric storage heaters, electric room heaters, solid fuel fires and single gas fires do not count as central heating systems)
ii) The main method of heating your home is the use of solid fuels and you only have a partial, solid fuel fired, central heating system.
iii) Your home uses electric storage heaters.

If you or someone you know qualifies, please ask them to contact Warm up North, 0800 294 8073 or www.warmupnorth.com/chf



Cut your energy bills
Northumberland County Council and Northumberland National Park have endorsed a community energy buying scheme which harnesses the purchasing power of thousands of households. Energy suppliers compete for the group's custom, often with bespoke, market leading tariffs not available direct or via price comparison service. They claim average household savings of £200/yr.
For more details and to sign up: http://ichoosr.co.uk Oct 7th is the last date for inclusion in the next auction round.
Drop in session with info and help to sign up, take an energy bill with you: Haydon Bridge Library, Oct 5th, 1-4pm
Or contact: Ruth.Dickinson@nnpa.org.uk, Phillip.Hornsey@northumberland.gov.uk



Good news -- Waltham Forest Council Pension Fund Committee committed to divest their £735 million pension fund from all fossil fuels, becoming the first in the UK to make this full commitment. http://gofossilfree.org/uk/win-first-uk-pension-fund-divests-from-fossil-fuels/?akid=16599.600986.Be1t8h&rd=1&t=6



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