Sunday 27th December 2009
09:30: 3hr Walk, Christmas Birdwatch (Trendlebere) A walk to see resident birds and winter arrivals. Guide P Page 07858 421148 Distance 3m/5km **
10:30: 3hr Walk, The Highs and Lows of the Teign Valley (Chagford) Enjoy a circular walk towards Dog Marsh bridge and Nattadon on this walk. Guide P Rendell 01837 54727 Distance 6m/ 9.5km **
A new Christmas shop proved popular with residents and visitors when it was officially opened last week.
The Christmas Shop in Chagford was opened by celebrity freelance writer, photographer and broadcaster, Adam Hart-Davis on Monday week.
It will raise money for the Chagford-based Joliba Trust, which was founded in 1992. The trust supports grassroots development work with farming and cattle-raising communities in some of the most marginal areas of Mali.
Residents and guests were able to browse the traditional crafts and hand-woven textiles, many of which were Fairtrade products.
Co-ordinator of the Joliba Trust Caroline Hart said she hoped the shop would raise awareness of the project: ‘All the money raised from the shop will go towards climate change and food security in Mali. ‘I founded the charity with an £80 loan to a group of women in Mali to plant vegetables. ‘It then grew into a fund which has now circulated some £2-million in tiny enterprise loans to village women in one of Africa’s poorest areas in the last decade.
‘We are now working in over 200 villages on a range of self-help projects.’ The work of the Joliba Trust includes the completion of 26 village wells, three maternity centres and training more than 800 village birth attendants to reduce maternal mortality. Their work on climate change also includes soil and water conservation, dune stabilisation and measures to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters.
This year the communities planted more than a million trees. Caroline Hart added: ‘By selling traditional crafts in the shop, we are keeping alive the old craft tradition in Africa. ‘It’s great to have the shop and the support of everybody who comes in and everyone is welcome.’
The Christmas Shop, which is at 1 Mill Street in Chagford, is open from Monday to Saturday until Thursday, December 24 from 10am to 4pm.
Chagford late night shopping takes place on Tuesday 8th December 2009 between 17:30 and 20:00 in and around the Square.
Organised by the Chagford & District Business Association further details from Andrew Parrott 01647 433276
“Make sure your sheds and other outbuildings are secure,” is the message from the police to residents of Chagford, after a recent spate of thefts. Strimmers, power washers and garden equipment have been common targets.
Nothing, it seems, is safe. Not only was copper piping stolen from a unit on the Crannafords Industrial Estate on the edge of the town but the thieves also took a wheelie bin to carry away their loot!
In another incident, a selection of Victorian china and gold items were taken from a garden shed where they were being stored: they are clearly identifiable to the owners.
If anyone has information about these thefts, the person to contact is PC Nadine Wilson at Okehampton Police Station – Telephone 08452 777444
http://www.okehamptonpeople.co.uk/news/Crime-wave-hits-Chagford/article-1577071-detail/article.html
The Council adopts Dog Control Order for Jubilee Park. Detailed programme for removal of electricity poles and overhead cables from High Street and sand bags available for parishioners at risk of flooding.
Jubilee Playing Park has always been designated as a dog free area. Unfortunately, some dog owners persist in taking their dogs into the Park even after they have been asked polity to cease. To protect our children the Council decided, earlier this year, to proceed with the creation of a ‘Dog Control Order’ under the Clean Neighbour Act to make it an offence for an owner to allow his/her dog to enter the Jubilee Park. The Order comes into force on 1st December with a penalty of up to £1000. We are hopeful that we will never have to take any such action.
We are pleased to be able to tell you that we have a firm date for the electricity poles and overhead wires to be removed from High Street and part of the south side of the churchyard. The activity commences on 11th January 2010 with the digging of a trench along the length of the churchyard footpath from the Lych Gate to the gate in High Street opposite to the Three Crowns Hotel. This work will be carried very carefully out under the close archaeological supervision of the Diocese & DNPA; with due reverence being paid, at all time. In the second week, commencing 18th January the work will move High Street. During this period, all of the parking bays will be closed and the single file traffic flow controlled by lights; business deliveries to High Street premises will continue throughout. Finally, in week three the road between High Street New Street junction and the road to Great Weeke will be closed to enable the erection of a replacement pole by the Jubilee Hall and under grounding of the cables from High Street to the new pole. Appropriate signs at Adley Lane will advise of the diversion route to the Car Park. The existing poles and all overhead wires in High Street will be removed at the end of the week and life will return to normal. The street lighting will remain on the Churchyard side of High Street using appropriate new lamp posts.
With the return of the wetter weather the possibility of localised flooding returns. We would like to remind everyone that the Council has a supply of sandbags that are available to any parishioner whose property is at risk of flooding.
