Provisional dates for the next Farmers Markets

Saturdays 10 a.m- 3 p.m

14th April 2018

9th June 2018

4th August 2018

27th October 2018

8th December 2018

Whaley Bridge Canal Group

For any enquiries contact Nev Clarke- 07920253075

Scores of organisations from across Whaley were represented at the annual Festival of Trees, Holy Trinity Church.  Each group decorated, and in some cases built, their own tree; Themes were as diverse as animal welfare, to food banks to ecology, as well as good will to all and peace on earth of course.

• MYTH – Recycling uses more energy than it saves.
FACT – Up to 95% less energy is needed to make new products using recycled materials.
• MYTH – Rinsing out recyclables is a waste of water and energy.
FACT – No it isn’t! Making sure bottles and other food and drinks packaging are completely empty and giving them a quick rinse before recycling is one of the most useful things you can do because it stops other recyclables from being contaminated. Use the water from the washing up or pop them into the dishwasher if there’s space.
• MYTH – Aerosol cans can’t be recycled.
FACT – Empty aerosol cans can be recycled using your recycling bins or bags. Metal can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing quality.
• MYTH – It doesn’t matter if you put the wrong things in your recycling as it all gets sorted out anyway.
FACT – If the wrong things are sent for recycling they can contaminate the whole load. This might mean all the materials are sent for disposal instead of recycling or that the quality and value of the new recyclable materials produced are lower and are less attractive to the manufacturing industry.
• MYTH – If it doesn’t all fit in your recycling bin it won’t get recycled.
FACT – You can put out extra recycling alongside your main recycling bins or bags on collection day. Contact your district or borough council to check the best way to present your additional recycling. If you are a large family you may be eligible for an extra recycling bin so please ask your district/borough council.
• MYTH – There’s no point separating your recycling into different materials, it all gets mixed together in the recycling lorry anyway.
FACT – Some refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) have separate compartments close together within the vehicle. So when materials are loaded it can look like separated recyclables are being mixed together when in fact they’re entering separate compartments.
Recyclables are processed at special recycling centres where materials such as paper, cans and plastics are sorted by machines and by hand. The separated materials are then bought by companies who can make them into new products.

Once you’re all clued up try our online quiz for the chance of winning one of three stylish Joseph Joseph indoor recycling bins worth nearly £200 each*.
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Support Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure Councillor Trevor Ainsworth, said:
“Waste is a big problem and the more that can be recycled the better.
“This campaign aims to get rid of some of the common myths about recycling and should make people more confident that they are doing the right thing.
“Dealing with Derbyshire’s waste cost the county council nearly £38million in 2015/16 and these costs are rising.
“So the more people reduce, reuse and recycle the more we can save on these costs”.

Get the facts and enter the competition at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/wastemyths.

Got a recycling question that needs answering? We can help:
• There is a useful A-Z list of what can and can’t be recycled at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/recycling
• Submit your question by email to wastemanagement@derbyshire.gov.uk

Find out more about National Recycling Week at www.wrap.org.uk

*Competition is only open to Derbyshire County Council residents and closes on Tuesday 31 October 2017

Saturday 10th December sees the return of the FAB market to the canal basin.

Once again they’ll be a not to be rivalled mix of food and arts stalls, this time with a special Christmas twist.

Get on  down there from 10am  to 3pm and pick up some stocking fillers, for yourself or that special someone in your life.  Great fun for young and old.

WB Brownies starts again on Monday 12th September. They meet at 6-7.30 pm at the Uniting Church. Unfortunately there are no more places for new girls. However the Brownies would warmly welcome anyone who is interested in helping out in whatever way they can.
Alternatively, If you know someone who is undertaking their Duke of Edinburgh this is an ideal opportunity to gain some voluntary work experience. Please contact- Zara Clarke (clarkezarajane@gmail.com)

Following on from the award to our Memorial Park last year, Whaley has a share of a second Green Flag.

The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army of more than 700 green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Awards.

“All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The seven mile length of the Peak Forest Canal is one of 239 parks and green spaces across the North West who today are proudly flying a Green Flag Award, after being judged to be some of the best in the country. It joins 26 miles of The Macclesfield Canal that has been awarded the Green Flag award for the second year running after it became the first ever canal to be awarded the prestigious accolade last year.

Both canals are managed by the Trust – the charity that cares for 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales.

Walter Menzies, chair of the Manchester & Pennine waterway partnership, said: “We’re delighted that both the Peak Forest and Macclesfield Canals have been awarded with Green Flags.

“They are wonderful outdoor green spaces for all the family to enjoy and it’s great that they are being recognised alongside the likes of Hyde Park in London.  It is a testament to the huge amount of work that everyone puts into looking after them, whether that is our teams, the people living or working along the waterway or our hundreds of volunteers. The awards also set new standards of excellence for our entire canal network.”

Whaley’s own, Nev Clarke who runs the local canal volunteer group was one of the hosts when the judges visited in June and also attended the award ceremony in Sheffield last week stated, “Feel very humbled at this moment. Lots of great work done all along the canal, by volunteers and CRT staff alike. Special and very personal thanks go to all those who have helped out in Whaley Bridge, you’ve done yourselves and the community proud.”

The next volunteer session is down at the basin on Sunday, August 7th, 12 noon till 3pm.  Anyway who wants to help out in any way will be made most welcome, from litter picking to weeding, to installing tapping rails.  For the more adventurous, the next bat survey is 5am the following Tuesday morning (9th August).  Phone Nev for details on 07920 253075 or get in touch at whaleycanal@gmail.com

Whaley Bridge Canal Group held it’s second bat survey on Wednesday night.  Glyn Stewart, one of the Canal and River Trust’s senior ecologists said after the event, “What a successful evening! Thanks to everyone for helping with the different aspects.  In particular, I was really impressed with the quality of volunteers we had last night, they were really passionate about the survey and quick to learn.”

As Nev Clarke, leading the group and the surveys, has already said, “ It is vitally important that we carry out this study.  As well as being of great interest it will be instrumental in any and all works and alterations to the building; For one we don’t want to disturb the habitat of the creatures who have made it their home but any planning application will be subject to a complete bat survey being undertaken, whether it comes to something as essential as repairing the roof or fitting new windows.”

Mon 18th July – 21.10pm  start time

Tues 9th August – 5.20am start time (pre-dawn survey – best chance of seeing bats enter or leave the building)

Friends of Whaley Bridge Station won first prize for their fancy dress at last weeks’  Whaley Bridge Carnival parade for the second time.  Why not get down to their gardening session on Sunday and show how much you care.  They’ll be there from 10am till noon.  You’ll even get a cuppa and a nice natter.