Your Hertfordshire Rural Affairs and Community News Bulletin
Welcome to our May 2021 eBulletin
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Sad News for CDA Herts Community Garden
We are sad to lose our Christine Nairn, CDA Herts Trustee and the "Project Manager" of our Community Garden in St Albans, as she moves up to Scotland. Christine's wonderful personality and generosity of time and commitment has made the Garden what it is today. The garden volunteers gave her a well deserved "send off" with lots of food and tea plus some amazing photos including drone photos for her memory book!
We celebrated its' 10th Anniversary and thanks to Christine's reach and work with the diverse groups and individuals who attend to their own patch and overall maintenance which resulted in the fantastic Award for Community Cohesion given by Groundwork National UK.
We will miss her lots, her smile and laughter, her passion to provide a safe and welcoming environment and "looking after" everyone who visited and stayed. Our loss is Scotland's gain, so we say "Au Revoir" and not Goodbye - thanks to WhatsApp, Christine will still be in touch with the Garden Team.
PS: we also give BIG thanks to amazing volunteer John Nairn!
New Affordable Homes for local people in Holwell Village North Herts
Settle Housing Association, part of the North Herts Rural Affordable Housing partnership have completed eight homes (a mixture of affordable rent and shared ownership) at Farm View in Holwell, North Herts. The houses have been delivered to a high standard, one notable feature being the provision of electric car charging points. Two bungalows were included in the scheme, meeting the need identified in CDA's Housing Needs Survey carried out in August 2015, for accessible housing for the elderly and mobility impaired.
If you would like to explore the demand for affordable housing in your community, please contact CDA Herts Rural Housing Enabler Giles Meredith giles.meredith@cdaherts.org.uk
CDA Herts Grants for Rural Support Networks helping the Elderly and Vulnerable in Villages.
We were very pleased to receive funding from Herts Community Foundation to give to RSNs (Rural Support Networks) across the County. The aim was to provide money to help fund some of the activities and work that our RSNs are delivering to support extremely vulnerable people during the Covid crisis.
We were able to give £4,000 in total to 37 Groups helping to fund some of the vital work delivered by over 2,000 volunteers. Some grants were to support Volunteers, others to fund digital connectivity, coffee mornings, printing, social events and so on.
Thank you to Herts Community Foundation for recognising the need in rural communities.
Rural Support Networks
Park Street Residents Association (St Albans district)
Rural Support Networks come in all shapes and sizes and some have grown out of residents associations, Park Streets Resident Association (PRSA) is a very good example of how this can work well. PSRA mission is to enhance life and the surroundings in the Village, even while the country endures a pandemic affecting every aspect of our lives. They welcome ideas, volunteers, and your support. As a Covid Information Champion (CIC) PSRA shares weekly updates on the virus and strategies from CDA Herts on their website. The PSRA food bank continues to support grateful local families and individuals with a weekly bag of staples, treats and toiletries. A recent a small grant from CDA Herts will support a village event for residents who have been isolated by the current situation and will further support regular opportunities for residents to meet.
GATE Herts is delighted to announce that it has received a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund for a three-year project. The Grant will support a centrally sited community base in Hertfordshire.
This will be a building where we can provide a focal point for the GRT Community and facilitate community activity. The Hub will serve as the centre from which our existing services will be delivered and, in addition to providing a central place for meetings of the communities, will allow us to organise our other in-demand services. Being awarded National Lottery funding is a huge achievement and great news for our communities. We would like to thank the players of The National Lottery for supporting our project.
Carers In Herts is keen to make sure that Young Carers have a large part to play in the Review.. We have three ways for Young Carers and their families to be involved Whilst we have around 2,000 Young Carers registered with us here at Carers in Herts we know that there are so many more we do not know.
1. Take our Survey, the link is below
2. Join a Focus Group running in May half term for any Young Carers and their families to come along to and chat about all things Young Carer! We can discuss services, schools, what works, what does not work and generally this will be a more relaxed chat to really hear what people would like to share with us and what professionals should be fed to influence the survey.
3. We can support any Young Carers who might struggle to attend/complete the above options so if anyone would struggle to be involved they can get in contact with the Young Carers Team so we can talk about how we can still involve them.
World Bee Day 20 May - Hertford Town Council supports World Bee Day
Hertford Town Council supported World Bee Day on the 20th May, at open days in the ‘bee gardens’ at Hertingfordbury and Cromwell Road allotments. Plot holders were given an opportunity to find out more about the beekeeping and the importance of bees to the environment. Cllr Bob Deering, the Mayor of Hertford said ‘The Town Council is pleased on World Bee Day to support and raise awareness of the importance of bees. Bees and other pollinators are vastly more crucial than you might at first think because they pollinate crops which of course is vital for food supply. Bees play an essential role in our ecosystem and we need to look after them.” Cllr John Lynch MBE, Chairman of Community Services Committee said ‘The Town Council have two beekeepers on our allotment sites and we work with them to encourage pollination of crops. Bee populations have been dramatically dwindling in the UK, and we all have a role to play in helping these important insects. We actively encourage allotment tenants to garden in way to support bees through reduced pesticide use’.
Do you know any group who are exceptional and should be put forward for a QAVS? Her Majesty the Queen created the QAVS in her Golden Jubilee Year in 2002 to honour volunteer groups . The aim of the QAVS is to recognise exceptional contributions made in local communities by groups of volunteers in a wide range of activities. Do you know of an exceptional volunteer group which has positively impacted on the lives of others in your local community? From 1st April to 1 th September 2021 nominations for a QAVS can be made for the 2021 round. The nominator can either be a client of the group or independent of the group although it is perfectly acceptable to get the help of the group in answering questions on the nomination form.
Last year 3 organisations in Hertfordshire were honoured by being awarded a QAVS:
Computer Friendly in St Albans
Mil End Community and District Association in Three Rivers
The Butterfly Volunteer Service at the Lister Hospital
Citizens Advice East Herts
Update from Citizens Advice East Herts: As an advice service our focus is on making sure people are able to access the support they need in a way that works for them and we've found many people like being able to access us remotely. As lockdown restrictions lift we won't be going back to a 'drop in' service from our offices which only worked for a minority. Instead we'll operate our service across multiple channels, helping people by phone, email, webchat, video and online. We'll continue to offer home visits and in person appointments in community locations to those who need them.
#LetsTalkLoneliness The Marmalade Trust Loneliness Week 14-18 June
We all feel lonely at times – it’s a natural human emotion. We're biologically wired for social contact, and loneliness is our signal that we need more. After a year of lockdowns, social distancing, and restrictions, more of us are experiencing loneliness than ever, which is having a great impact on our wellbeing. We need to remove the stigma and shame surrounding loneliness. And the best way to do that? Let's talk about it! Let's make this the year we accept that loneliness exists.
Harry Bott's June Farming, Wildlife and Garden Reports
Harry is smiling about the weather, a new crop spraying machine and the recovery of the Hare population.
Read the full report and more from Harry by clicking below.
Click Hereto download and read Harry Bott's June Countryside Notes. You can also catch up on May's issue too.
Bluebell woodland needs your help
Astonbury Wood is a magical place. This ancient woodland just south of Stevenage has been growing for hundreds of years, providing one of the richest habitats. Visit in spring and you are met with an incredible sight of wood anemones and bluebells covering the woodland floor. Song thrushes chant their melodic song, a little stream meanders and you can follow footpaths to explore the site. There are several ponds and in autumn, you can discover a variety of fungi – 750 different types have been recorded here.
Astonbury Wood is truly a haven for wildlife – one that should be preserved and protected for future generations. Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust wants to do just that. This is why the Trust has launched a new public fundraising campaign to raise £104,000 by the end of July to help purchase and manage this ancient woodland habitat for years to come. Under the Trust’s care, the woodland and its wildlife can continue to thrive, visitors can learn about the wildlife there and, most importantly, how to care for and protect this site and others like from future threats.
Rural Review of Build Back Better – A government plan for growth
In March government published Build Back Better, a publication setting out the government’s plan to support economic growth through investment in infrastructure, skills and innovation through levelling up, supporting the transition to net zero and realising the vision of a Global Britain.
The Rural Services Network has carefully reviewed the content of Build Back Better and has produced a review document highlighting key issues from the government plan from a rural perspective.
The Times reports on proposed ways of building more homes in the countryside without ruining it, following increased levels of ‘urban flight’ caused by the pandemic. The report notes that villages are reliant on cars, have ‘dying economies’ and lack young people, who can’t afford to live or work there. It describes a utopian picture of the rural villages of the future: car-free; densely populated; walkable; economically vibrant; green; diverse; community-run and technologically advanced (benches that offer wi-fi and mobile charging points; smart bins that beep when they are full; street lights powered by footsteps).
There is a general presumption against building in the countryside, but there are exceptions to this presumption: they are called rural exception sites. These are small-scale developments that are built in keeping with existing villages. Half a dozen houses here or there. The design aesthetics have to be sympathetic to the community and the countryside. Development is allowed but with caveats: they are built by housing associations and have to include affordable rent and shared ownership. There are restrictions about who it can be sold to in the future, it must meet local needs.
MPS LAUNCH INQUIRY SEEKING WAYS TO BOOST RURAL ECONOMY
Farming UK reports that a cross-party group of MPs and peers has launched a new inquiry that wants to explore ways to boost the UK rural economy post-pandemic
The inquiry will explore why rural productivity is 18 percent below the national average and identify solutions to help bridge the divide.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Rural Business will focus on digital connectivity, the planning system, land use, rural skills and the tax system.
UK RURAL HOMES PAY MORE FOR BROADBAND THAN URBAN HOMES
Rural households are reportedly paying 76 percent more for broadband compared to urban households, according to research published in Telecompaper this week, with homes in towns and city fringes paying 22 percent more on average than those in urban centres
Rural homes are also more likely to get slower broadband speeds than what they pay for compared to broadband users in cities.
Those in rural areas receive broadband speeds three percent slower on average than what they pay for, with speeds 28 percent slower on average than the typical advertised download speed.
Let us know if we have missed anything and you have any suggestions for July. Thank you
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CDA Herts Services available to communities in Hertfordshire
Community Garden St Albans - Plots available
Village Halls Advisory Service - part of the ACRE network
Rural Support Networks
Rural Issues Network
Rural Loneliness Forum
Digital Inclusion Project
Farmers' Cafes
Rural Affordable Housing Needs Assessments and Surveys
Village Connectors Project
HMP The Mount Play Area
Jobs Pathway
BAME Covid Recovery Project
Community Energy Network
Management Health Checks
Health & Safety Training, Audit and Risk Assessment
Health & Wellbeing advocacy
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