As always, if there’s anything you’d like added to the website, have items for the next newsletter, or would like to get involved in any of the current activities, we’d love to hear from you!
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: SENS AGM – Thursday 27th February 2023 (7 – 8.30 pm). After a short, formal agenda there will be drinks/snacks and a chat about what SENS should focus on in 2023, and which projects SENS can support locally.
Contents
1. Community Ebikes
2. Repair Café
3. Damson Orchard
4. Staveley School Project, led by CDEC
5. Clean River Kent Campaign
6. Partner news
7. Other items
1. Community Ebikes
Try out the ebikes, and come and ask questions! Saturday 26th November 10 am – 12 pm at Jack’s Corner (drop-in).
Can’t make the 26th but would like to have a go? Get in touch to arrange a session: senstaveley@gmail.com
Find out more on the Community Ebikes Facebook page or website.
2. Repair Café
Staveley’s pop-up repair café is volunteer-led and we need you! We’re recruiting fabric fixers and handy people to help us fix and mend on an ad-hoc basis. Maybe you’ve had something repaired by us and want to give something back?
Repairs don’t just include clothing either, the repair café is a place where you can join us for a cuppa and a chat while volunteers work on repairing anything from household items like kettles and computers to bikes and garden tools. The focus is on making things last, which means you save money and the environment.
Please contact us at senstaveley@gmail.com.
3. Staveley School project led by Cumbria Development Education Centre (CDEC)
A wonderful day of inspiring young people at Staveley CE Primary School, organised by the CDEC and South Cumbria Rivers Trust. Among other activities, two new planters (supplied by SENS) were planted by students at Jack’s Corner, they watched the short, SENS-commissioned, film about biodiversity and had an update about the Clean River project.
4. Damson Orchard
The orchard is now looking pruned, clear of bracken and the fantastic crop of damsons and apples were put to good use. More Bakery and the Blind Chocolatier both bought damsons, some were sold fresh at The Big Onion and there will be gin and jam available too closer to Christmas.
The next work party will be Saturday 28th January (10 am to 12 pm) – bonfire, brush clearance.
Apple Grafting Workshop 2023 Hold the date – SLOG will be running a practical workshop – Saturday 18th March, 2023 AM
5. Clean River Kent Campaign (CRKC)
We’ll be at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival on Sunday 20th November (this weekend!) with a stand from 2 – 3 pm in Basecamp. Come and have a chat with us.
Open Day 21st October – this was well attended throughout, with CRKC volunteers, local residents and landowners, plus stakeholders including Kendal Town Council, United Utilities, Natural England, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Burneside Community Energy, and Kent (Westmoreland) Angling Association. It was also good to welcome and talk to other campaign group representatives, and to share our experiences including those from Nidderdale (Yorkshire) and Cark. A copy of the presentation given at the event is available here.
The event also launched a NEW Clean River Kent Campaign film declaring the Rights of the River Kent in Cumbria and rivers everywhere – many thanks to Dave, and all the volunteers involved. Please watch, share, and promote this film!
Declaration of Rights for the River Kent film.
DEFRA application This was submitted on 27th October. We have received an email letting us know we will be informed of the outcome in advance of the start of the 2023 bathing season!
Water monitoring results We have started writing a report and an accompanying dissemination plan – this will be shared as soon as completed.
Next CRKC meeting: Tuesday 21st February 2023 (5-7 pm)
Open Event to plan Summer 2023 programme: Tuesday 7th March 2023 (5-7 pm)
6. Partner news and events
- Warm spaces at The Institute, Staveley. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 1st November, 11 am – 3 pm. In this time of higher energy bills, visit The Institute to stay warm, chat with friends, meet new people, discover what’s going on, and maybe use one of the Community iPads. Drop in any Tuesday or Thursday to share ideas about how the space could be used going forward.
- Cumbria Wildlife Trust has created some Natural Flood Management (NFM) animations in partnership with the Environment Agency. These Creature Comforts-style videos explain the different techniques they are using to slow the flow and help defend our communities from flood water.
- Morecambe Bay Partnership’s Arnside to Grange walking and cycling trail: Contribute to the public consultation survey and give your views.
7. Other items
- Read previous newsletters.
- Staveley Fare Share AGM: Monday 21st November 2022 at 7 pm in the Pavilion.
- Complete the Alec Row improvement survey: Give your views on Alec Row (recycling bins on Main Street) and help improve the village.
- Cumbria Action for Sustainability free online event: This free webinar explores how organisations can benefit from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels without having to pay anything upfront.
- Subsidised Carbon Literacy courses by Cumbria Action for Sustainability.