My Allestree: March 2015

Monday, 30 March 2015

From Radio Derby A special volunteer recruitment day is being held tomorrow by the Friends of Cromford Canal at Cromford Wharf from 10pm to 4pm. People are needed to take on all sorts of roles including swing bridge operators, carrying out boat maintenance and even marketing.

https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioDerby?fref=photo

Monday, 23 March 2015

We had a great time up at the Lambing Sunday Broomfield Hall.

As well as the dear little (and bigger) lambs cared for by the students we also enjoyed the sheep, ponies and horses, rabbits, tractors, cows with their calves. Then we walked back down to past the college buildings to visit the goats and the alpacas.
And finally we went into the exotics shed to see the toads, big spiders with hairy legs ... and the skinks.

A skink

I didn't know such an animal existed, as the only time I've heard that word is in relation to the wonderful Scottish dish 'Cullen Skink'! Fascinating creatures they were, very smooth and silky - and they're very fast on their feet apparently.

Here's a link to the poster about the event: http://www.ambervalley.info/newsarticle.asp?newsid=2617#.VO3WH32rqm0.hootsuite

Anyway, we also bought some plants: herbs, sweet peas and cut-and-come again lettuce.

I was given a leaflet saying that the Plant Centre at Broomfield, on the Broomfield Campus is opening soon to the public - from 5 April 2015 every day except Wednesdays, from 10am til 4pm. All the plants will be grown by the students and are very competitively priced.

Image result for plant sale broomfield ilkeston derby

Soon there will be Pot primulas and pansies, sweet pea plants, alpines and perennials.

Later in the Spring will be: a good range of summer bedding and vegetable plants.

For more information contact: david.harris@derby-college.ac.uk.

Derby College, Broomfield Hall is at Morley, Ilkeston, Derby DE7 6DN.

Scarthin Books at Cromford needs our support

http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/scarthin-books-needs-your-help?fb_ref=Default

Sunday, 15 March 2015

Snowdrops

Snowdrops seen under one of the many trees in the grounds of Kedleston Hall in early March this year

Monday, 9 March 2015

Midland Railway at Butterley

A carriage from the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways has been bought by the Golden Valley Light Railway at Butterley. Work will now be carried out to fit new bogies and make alterations to the brakes. It should be in service next year.

https://www.facebook.com/BBCRadioDerby

http://www.midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk/home/

Views from the Valley
1 - 26 June
Banks Mill Studios

This new work by Ruth Gray draws inspiration from industrial and agricultural heritage and its impact on the Derwent Valley and surrounding landscape. The mixed media paintings focus on the way the industrial building of the past now integrates with the landscape and also highlights this ever evolving region as the manufacturing and farming gives way to residential development which is seeing many areas turned over to future homes and not factories.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1536520933292245/

Banks Mill Studios
Conflict of Head and Heart
29 April til 19 May

Hide Map

Banks Mill Studios

71 Bridge Street, DE1 3LB Derby

https://www.facebook.com/events/414984212001463/

Denby Pottery

Friday 3rd - Monday 6th April 2015
Don't miss out on our annual clearance sale; shop our special spring clear out with discounts up to 70% off RRP on selected tableware, cookshop, accessories and much more...

NB in one place it says 9.30 - 12.30 on 3 April; in another it says 3 April to 6 April. Not sure which is correct.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1377619355891735/
http://www.denby.co.uk/dinnerware/icat/favourites
and
http://www.denby.co.uk/clearance/item-clearance/icat/itemclearance?sort=sequence_itemclearance&order=asc&categories=itemclearance&q=*&setpagenum=1&isviewall=1&perpage=100&CASITELINKAID=120163430000003842&CAPCID=62540698265&CADEVICE=c&CASLID=120163430000027985&gclid=Cj0KEQjwifWnBRCB5PT57KSVw-kBEiQASV7aRITEkpdbCpwsIljJWPOkSZAj8L1dwAMV2zTw_eJNrMgaAs8d8P8HAQ

Sunday, 8 March 2015

Derbyshire Sausage and Cider Family Festival

4 July
at Catton Park, Walton on Trent

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Derbyshire-Sausage-Cider-Family-Festival/529413730478758

Friday, 6 March 2015

Image result for sudbury museum of childhood

Sudbury Hall and the National Trust Museum of Childhood in South Derbyshire is opening up for the new season tomorrow. Visitors will also get the chance to see the Derbyshire Remembers World War One exhibition which has been worked on by children from Sudbury Primary and Dale Primary.

(from Radio Derby site, 6.3.15)

Thursday, 5 March 2015

Received today from the Community Parks Officer, Derby City Council

In the Local Nature Reserve Management Plan, Objective 1 recommends we reduce the amount of non-native sycamore we have in all woodlands on the park to no more than 30% of any woodland compartment.

Sycamore is an ever present throughout the park and due to its invasive nature is abundant in compartment W12 between the main car park and lake (see map below).

As part of a trial, we will be carrying out sycamore thinning in W12, clearing several areas of sycamore and monitoring the natural regeneration.

Sycamore regeneration will be controlled and native regrowth will be nurtured.

As part of the condition of our Forestry Commission Felling Licence, we will replant with native trees if regeneration hasn’t been sufficient over a 10 year period.

These works are exempt from the parks Tree Preservation Order as it is a recommendation from the LNR Management Plan.

Please see the attached poster which will be placed around the park.

Wednesday, 4 March 2015

The private sector is to be asked to come up with plans to replace the Assembly Rooms, which were ruined by a blaze last March.

The city council has decided the building was too badly damaged in a dramatic blaze nearly a year ago.

Instead, the private sector will be asked to come up with plans for new large-scale "performance and entertainment venue" for the city.

t could be built either on the same site or another prominent location, with Duckworth Square, recently bought by the city council, among the possibilities.

If a similar venue is not built in its place, developers say the current Assembly Rooms could be replaced by a complex with retail, restaurants and bars on the bottom and possibly flats on top.

Councillor Martin Rawson, cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said the plans for the new venue "presented lots of exciting opportunities for the Assembly Rooms site" and that the council hoped to "restore the market place to the heart of Derby".

Mr Rawson said the council did not have the finances to build the venue and would look to the private sector for the cash for the building.

He said: "We would look to run the venue in partnership with the private sector and that may see a mixed development on the site with bars and restaurants."

The fire which badly damaged the Assembly Rooms on March 14 last year started in an air conditioning unit in the plant room on top of the site's car park. That room, which was full of machinery that ran the building's water, heating and ventilation, was destroyed.