Your Hertfordshire Rural Affairs and Community News Bulletin
Welcome to our July 2021 eBulletin
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CDA Herts Celebrates 55 Years By Thanking Our Volunteers!
It was Party Time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Community Garden St Albans, our 55th anniversary and the work of our Volunteers. We laid on an Afternoon Tea for over 50 guests including the Vice Lord Lieutenant Richard Beazley and the Mayor of St Albans Cllr Edgard Hill (both pictured) and the Mayoress Caroline Jane Lee. It was the first time for many at an outdoor event for over a year where more than 30 people were allowed to meet. The Guests were given a guided tour and the buzz of meeting old friends and making new friends was memorable and magical. The Celebration Cake was ably cut by the Mayor and together with cupcakes and sandwiches was appreciated by all. One guest said "it is so good to be able to be outdoors and to enjoy this social event and fantastic afternoon tea in the amazing community garden".
The Vice Lord Lieutenant's speech, on the value of volunteers and the community cohesion through this garden project during the difficult health pandemic which brought isolation and loneliness, was appreciated. Richard Beazley did the honours of handing out Thank You certificates to all the Garden Volunteers.
Again on behalf of the Board and Staff, we thank the Volunteers and friends of CDA Herts who are committed to making the Community Garden a beautiful space for all to enjoy. They have formed tremendous friendships and it is a joy to watch the cohesion and be part of something so strong and much valued.
Kate Belinis CEO CDA Herts
NHF Webinar ‘Committed To Rural Communities’ Wednesday 7 July 2 – 3 pm Rural Housing Week 2021 will celebrate the National Housing Federation’s members’ commitment to rural communities.
Rural housing associations are rooted in their communities, providing affordable homes that people love and that keep vital rural services alive. Now, more than ever, rural housing associations are committed to their communities and to working together to help them thrive. In this webinar aimed at Parish Councillors, local authorities and landowners, the Rural Housing Alliance, will share their revised rural pledge, which underlines their commitment to working in partnership with local communities in order to ensure high quality homes and services. They will also introduce the newly published Parish Councillors’ Guide to Rural Affordable Housing, and share examples of how they are working with parish councils and other partners to put that commitment into practice.
You can also contact the NHF Customer services team on 0207 067 1066 or email events@housing.org.uk
CDA Herts at Groundswell Agricultural Show
CDA Herts had a great 2 days at Lannock Manor Farm Weston for Groundswell the regenerative, agricultural show and conference which focusses on no-till farming techniques, soil regeneration and mixed farming systems.
We are not farmers nor soil experts but we do know about people and supporting communities so it was a great opportunity for us to learn and meet many new folks and organisations over 2 days of exhibitions, talks and demonstrations on an enormous farming site in North Herts. Thank you to the Cherry Farming Family for allowing us the opportunity to participate along with our partners FCN the Farming Community Network in this unique, exciting and groundbreaking Show.
The Knebworth Response Team is set up to inform and support the people of Knebworth in this period of the Covid-19 Pandemic, by means of newsletters and online information, organising shoppers and street marshals to help keep people in touch and safe.
CDA Herts Has Renewed Their Partnership with Utility Aid to bring affordable Energy to Charities and Community Groups in Herts.
Apply for Your Free Energy Audit Now!
Did you know that up to 60% of energy bills are incorrect and you may have been overcharged by your supplier? CDA Herts has been working in partnership with Utility Aid to provide a free energy bill audit to charitable and community organisations in Hertfordshire. If you sign up, Utility Aid will check your bills for any overcharging and work with you to claim any refunds. This service is entirely free and you will receive 100% of any refund due. They will take care of the entire process, so you can concentrate on running your organisation. Utility Aid is highly regarded in their industry, winning the UK’s Most Trusted Energy Broker in 2018. They are a business that is dedicated to ethical energy provision and ensuring their clients get the best possible value from their energy contracts. Their Bill Audit Service has identified and recovered over £2 million in supplier overcharges for charity clients in the last 4 years alone.
As a local charity offering advice on all issues, we've seen first-hand the impact of the pandemic on the local community. Our report, ‘Covid-19 one year on: The impact of the pandemic in East Herts’, (published on 16th June) draws on our data from 23rd March 2020 (the start of the first lockdown) to 17th May 2021 (the first key ‘unlocking’ date for England) and highlights the areas where people have most needed our help and some of the groups who have been most affected. It also looks at some of the challenges ahead as government support measures begin to lift and what these might mean for local people and support services. Our focus is on making sure people are able to access the support they need in a way that works for them. As lockdown restrictions lift 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.
Herts Valleys CCG launches engagement on urgent care at St Albans City Hospital
People across west Hertfordshire are being invited to have their say on future urgent care services at St Albans City Hospital as part of a public engagement exercise that launches on the 18 June and runs until Sunday 1 August. The Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at St Albans City Hospital has been temporarily closed since April 2020 when West Herts NHS Trust staff were redeployed to support the COVID-19 response. It remains closed to avoid having people walk into St Albans City Hospital; the whole hospital needs to stay ‘COVID-19 free’ for the safety of all patients and so that planned surgery can safely take place there.
10,000 free trees giveaway – register your interest today!
North Herts District Council is giving away up to 10,000 tree saplings to North Herts residents this autumn.
Each sapling will help in the fight against climate change and support local biodiversity in the district.
Tree species will include field maple, silver birch, common white birch, hornbeam, hazel, common hawthorn, beech, sweet cherry, bird cherry, mountain ash and lime.
Register your interest today if you would like to receive a tree sapling
The green light has been given to the development of a 55,000 square metre data site in Hertsmere, bringing with it more than 100 jobs. The proposed development, in the heart of Borehamwood's Elstree Way employment area and the site of the former Sainsbury's distribution depot, would see the demolition of existing structures and the construction of the new data centre and ancillary offices and car parking provision.
The developers are undertaking to ensure that the data centre will use only energy from renewable green sources.
"She's more of my best friend than my support worker!"
Eliza has had a tough few years moving from hostel to hostel. Now, in our latest video, Eliza talks about how her Floating Support Worker, Jane, has helped her look forward to a more positive future with her young son.
Following the Government announcement that Step 4 on the Roadmap out of Lockdown will be delayed until Monday 19 July, we wanted to remind our residents that help is available. There is a wide range of support services available to residents.
To mark Clean Air Day on 17 June, a pedestrian subway in Stevenage has been transformed into an art gallery. The subway was opened by teachers and students from Bedwell Primary School and St Vincent de Paul Catholic School as well as Councillor Phil Bibby from Hertfordshire County Council. The subway features artwork drawn and painted by pupils from the two schools, as well as wildlife photographs from local amateur photographer Steve Lane. The subway has been transformed as part of a programme of works to brighten and improve pedestrian subways across Hertfordshire, with the ambition of encouraging residents to engage in active greener travel such as walking and cycling.
Dacorum Borough Council has commissioned 'thinkingplace' to work with us to develop a place narrative and marketing approach for Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring. This will help us market the area to attract inward investment and create jobs, and support existing business in the area. thinkingplace will be hosting ‘virtual’ workshops via Zoom during July to get your insight, thoughts and knowledge to help shape a powerful story for your town.
East Herts New Community Covid-19 Recovery Fund open
East Herts Council is pleased to launch a new Community Covid 19 Recovery Fund 2021. Up to £7,500 is available to voluntary and community groups in East Herts who can evidence how their organisation has been and will continue to be part of the efforts to contain Coronavirus and preventing the disease from impacting our residents and communities and confirm what other grants they have tried to access. These organisations will be involved in building community capacity.
Eligible costs include rent, rates, insurance, PPE and other COVID-19 compliant infrastructure required by the partners to continue to provide their services. Contact Claire Pullen on claire.pullen@eastherts.gov.uk if you believe your organisation meets these criteria and you would like to Express an Interest.
Deadline to apply is by 5pm Monday, 2 August 2021.
Our fantastic Farmers' Market takes place on the first Thursday of every month from 9am-12pm at Van Hage Garden Centre, Great Amwell near Ware. We have had a slightly smaller number of stalls during lockdown but we expect to see this return to normal levels very shortly. With a variety of stalls selling delicious fresh local produce including; fruit, veg, cheeses and meats, our monthly market is popular with people far and wide. Take advantage of the 1000 free car parking spaces on offer and call into Café VH to relax and refuel before looking round our award-winning store.
Harry Bott's July Farming, Wildlife and Garden Reports
Harry as ever is concerned about wildlife and conservation as well as filling holes, trimming hedgerows and his lettuces!
Read the full report and more from Harry by clicking below.
Click Hereto download and read Harry Bott's July Countryside Notes.
(c) Frieda (33)
Gear up for the Chess Valley Challenge.
This year, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are running the Chess Valley Challenge in Great Big Green Week, on Sunday the 26th September. Challenge yourself, friends and family to walk the 10-mile Chess Valley Way and raise funds for the Trust on this walking event in the beautiful Chiltern Hills. The challenge is a self-guided walk between Rickmansworth to Chesham is an ideal way of exploring the stunning Chess Valley. Bring a picnic and plan a day out with family or friends. The walk is well signposted and it will be easy to maintain social distancing at all times. Last year we had almost 100 people taking part in the challenge, raising over £4000 to protect local wildlife.
Local businesses urged to join the refill revolution
Hertsmere called on local businesses to sign up to a Refill Scheme to combat single-use plastic and water wastage, in support of World Refill Day on 16 June.
As part of the council’s commitment to tackling climate change, officers will be out and about in the borough visiting local businesses to encourage them to join a new Refill Scheme in Hertsmere.
The Refill Scheme works by connecting people with locations where they can refill their reusable water bottle.
Participating businesses simply sign up to the app and put a sticker in their window alerting passers-by that they’re welcome to come in and get a refill.
AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMP: A LOW CARBON HEATING SOLUTION FOR A RURAL, OFF GAS HOME
An article in Energy Saving Trust explores methods of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including by replacing fossil fuel boilers with electric heating systems, like a heat pump, which run entirely on electricity
The report outlines how air source heat pumps can be a cost-effective, sustainable way of heating rural properties, which can help with the planning and building approvals.
Some local councils have installed heat pumps in rural villages when there’s no gas available but plenty of space to install the pump.
YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UK’S RURAL HOTSPOTS FEEL PRICED OUT
The BBC reports on how the ongoing narrative we heard over the course of the pandemic was how remote working was leading people to give up city life in favour of bigger, cheaper and more rural living
For many people with desk-based jobs, there was no need to be within travelling distance of the office any more, so expensive flats in and around London and other major cities were traded in for houses in the countryside or by the sea.
However, the article notes that something we heard less about was the impact on people living in regions where property increased in popularity over lockdown.
It explains how younger buyers found that houses already had offers made on them for significantly over the asking price by people who hadn’t even viewed them yet.
Please let us know if we have missed anything and if you have any suggestions for August. 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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