Parish Plan
Hadrian’s Wall Cycleway C2C Route 72
UPDATE ******* 4th Dec 2011
Jeff raised a total of £340 in sponsorship from his Coast to Coast Cycle Ride! Well done Jeff!
In 1971 the Monty Python Team set off on a cycling tour of North Cornwall. Forty years later Jeff Whittaker and friends paid homage to “the Pythons” and set off on their own cycling tour from Coast to Coast in aid of the Parish Plan “community chest”. Here is their blog!
Day 1:
“Fell off in Ravenglass – pump got caught in my trouser leg. Fortunately my chocolate cup cakes were completely unscathed!” We departed in horrendous conditions. Slippery bridge timbers, sand and shale, farm tracks and puddles all compounded to lead to the aforementioned mishap. Falling off in a puddle and being run over by your friend was not a good start. Several miles further on via small cycle paths and over ground left treacherous by the rain – fell off again (perhaps a shorter pump might be in order!) This time Paul, the compact and speedy one, strayed from the path and I landed on his front wheel, which buckled. This time my battenburg cake was completely ruined – gravel in the marzipan . A visit to the nearest bike shop was required and, whilst the buckled wheel was being repaired we sought out the nearest bakery to replace the despoiled fancy. We continued on our journey to the first designated stop over. A soak in a bath and a good evening meal was welcome .
Day 2:
After a hearty breakfast and 20 minutes cycling the aching legs of the first day disappeared. The weather was excellent and the cycling even better. This was the start of the Hadrian’s Wall section and an opportunity for photos (You will notice that we have all adopted shorts to obviate earlier problems with the errant bicycle pump).
The ride from Bowness on Solway to Carlisle along the coastal route was exhilarating and worthy of the almond slices that we had acquired for this part of the tour. We knew that the terrain after Carlisle would be more testing, and we weren’t disappointed. The Pennines between Brampton and our overnight stop at Haltwhistle are hilly. The banks just kept rising and each time we thought we’d reached the summit we’d round a corner to see the road still heading on upwards. Low gears and an upright position dancing on the pedals was the order of the day, not to forget a few jelly babies – Paul kept pinching all of the red ones. We freewheeled down into Haltwhistle at 35 mph. The only incident of the day was a puncture on my son’s bike and some lost custard tarts.
Another bath, glasses of Tizer all round and an evening meal in the Black Bull was welcome.
Day 3:
They do good breakfasts in Cumbria! Egg, bacon, sausage and tomato (not to mention the odd Danish pastry) followed by 20 minutes in the saddle soon removed aches and pains. We knew there was a hill after 8 miles but didn’t anticipate its steepness and length – a good job we remembered the lemon curd tartlets! Once surmounted though for the remainder of the day we had a gentle ride along the full length of the river Tyne. Another puncture to my son’s tyre left us congratulating ourselves on our strategy with regards shorts as opposed to half-length bicycle pumps. Arriving at the finish in South Shields was a bit of an anticlimax. A Roman Fort hiding in the middle of a housing estate, and not a cake shop to be found anywhere… but we had done it!
181 miles (291 km), 3 crashes, no blisters, 4 sore bottoms, one damaged battenburg cake and 8 aching legs but lots of laughs. I must admit that I was glad I did it and was glad it was over. You never know what you can do until you try.
Thank you to all who supported my ride by donation to Community Activities. Final amount to be published later .
Sensory Garden Project – Elvaston Country Park
The Village Plan Committee has been working with the Elvaston Park Manager to identify an area within the park which could be transformed to make a sensory garden. The area is within the Old English walled garden – the area which currently is used for the growing of herbs.
The area is in need of some attention. The flagstones are very uneven and need relaying; the ramps to enable access for wheelchairs are too steep; the pathways and beds are overgrown. This work must be done before we can even think about planting. The costs are likely to be fairly high as contractors may be needed for the heavy work. Many new plants will be provided by the Park’s gardening team who are keen to be part of the project. Others will need to be bought.
We would be very interested to hear your ideas for the development of the garden as we would hope that local people would find the completed sensory garden a stimulating place to visit. In addition, if you have ideas or experience concerning fund raising please contact Mags Gorman at mgorman@btinternet.com
A questionnaire about the project can be found by clicking on the link below. Please help us by printing off and filling in the questionnaire and returning it to one of the addresses at the end or by completing the form electronically and emailing to mgorman@btinternet.com.
Thank you for your time.
Click here for the 'Sensory Garden' Questionnaire
Elvaston Parish Community Fayre - 17th JUNE 2011.
This year’s Community Party was held once again in Elvaston Cricket Club’s marquee. The cricket club also offered the benefits of their well stocked bar and a superb BBQ.
In total contrast to last year the weather forecast was not favourable. The promised continuous downpour, whilst putting off, we think, quite a few guests, however did not materialise and some 70 people came along and enjoyed the Party. The showers did dampen interest in the planned outdoor activities but there was plenty to see and do indoors too.
We were honoured by the attendance of the Chairman and Lady Wife of South Derbyshire District Council (Mike and Heather Shannon), who were introduced to our visitors by the Parish Plan Steering Committee, Jeff Whittaker. There were displays from the Art Club and the Garden Club along with a display on our plans for a sensory garden within the Castle’s ‘Old English Garden’ and a display of historic photographs showing a little of Elvaston Castle’s past (Some of these will soon be posted in the Photo section of this website). The objectives of the Parish Plan remain as they were last year – to determine what people living in the Parish would like to see to improve life in the community. To that end there was plenty of information on what had been done during the last year, and ideas for new plans into the future.
Some hardy souls enjoyed the Treasure Hunt and didn’t get too wet! The kids still enjoyed the opportunity to practice their cricketing skills in the nets, although the planned Nature Trail was a victim of the weather! . There was also a raffle and a Tombola, along with a teasing quiz (who on earth could remember, or ever knew, Jane’s (from “Tarzan”) surname??? Enough said!
Please let members of the Parish Plan group let us know what you thought of the event. If you didn’t attend what might we do to change your mind next year?
The Parish Plan Steering Committee is working through the items suggested by the community, and will be looking at the easy achievable at low cost items first. Several items have been forwarded to third party agents, who have responsibility to these items.
A letter to the Parish Council concerning:-
A Newsletter for parishioners unable to access the web pages
Bus Shelters at A6 bus stops next to Golden Gate driveway
Horses fouling footpaths
A Village Green
Gravel bin at Ambaston
A letter has been forwarded to the SDDC concerning:-
Missing village sign for Thulston
Access only sign for Ambaston
Boulton Moor identity, new sign for the estate
Access to Field lane park from Boulton Moor
Communication with the Environment Agency and SDDC concerning the “tidy up” of Thulston Brook at Colwell Drive (DONE)
Communication with the Agents for David Wilson Homes who look after the water pump on Orchard Close and making it secure (DONE)
Communication with, and an open meeting with, Safer Neighbourhood Team concerning Neighbourhood Watch and general policing matters. (DONE)
The resurrection of the Horticultural Society, which has placed notices around the area for interested parties. (DONE)
This is just the beginning!!!!
Parish Plan Documents
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