MORTIMER COUNTRY NEWS Spring 2008 News, events and information for the Wigmore area Issue 2 Mortimer Country Stores to become a reality Born out of the Inspired Wigmore initiative, Mortimer the financial base to enable the shop renovation, new Country Stores, Wigmore’s new shop-in-the-making, facilities and the purchase of the initial stock. is well along the exciting road to becoming a reality. Renovation work begins in March with internal work The committee has worked hard on this community following. The shop committee is planning for a grand project. Shopping lists of equipment and opening opening in late April or early May. stocks have already been compiled. The committee listened to local comments on what should be stocked Set up as a co-operative, but without the ‘divi,’ it will and the aim is for an emphasis on local produce from be a truly community-owned and locally-run shop. local suppliers together with an appropriate mix of Once the setting-up committee has run its first year, it everyday essential items, from cosmetics to toilet rolls! will be up to the members (those who buy shares) to determine how the shop is operated. Because the shop is a co-operative, volunteers are essential to ensure it provides the service that the The majority of the funding for the shop has come by community is asking for. This is where you and way of grants and locally raised funds. The Plunkett everyone else can play their part. The shop committee Foundation, which specialises in village and farming needs volunteers to work around three hours per week cooperatives, is the prime funder and together with at times suited to them. They will be recruiting a part- Leominster Shop Fund, has already offered finance. time paid manager – but the core of the team will be YOU, the community! Please contact one of the In addition, the team is waiting on the outcomes from committee to add your name to ou r volunteers register: applications to the Herefordshire Regeneration Fund either call Jill at 770140, Bryan at 770155 or Megan at and the Co-operative Bank. Together these will form 770462 (all with the code 01568). Gordon Brown hears from Wigmore residents Concern about climate change has led to a group of has asked for a more radical approach to make new, 'Inspired Wigmore' residents to write to Gordon Brown, low carbon technologies accessible to everybody expressing their concern about the government’s through research and development on an industrial inaction on sustainable development. scale, stressing their desire to avoid leaving a changed and increasingly unstable climate, nor radioactive The group has written to the Prime Minister stating that waste, to future generations. not enough has been done in the last decade to encourage energy efficiency, sustainable energy If you would like to see a copy of the letter, please production or zero carbon house building. The group contact the editor at [email protected]. Award-winning ciders and perries available in bottles or draught. Brook Farm, Wigmore 01568 770562 www.brookfarmcider.co.uk Page 2 Mortimer Country News A word from the editor Mortimer It is exciting to be part of the Inspired Wigmore movement to see Country what we can do locally to improve the area and the world in which we N e w s live. This issue we’ve aimed to bring more of the community to life and give people ideas and inspiration to help contribute. A small action you can take is to read the newsletter, pass it along to others or recycle it at one of the many facilities located on the back page. Mortimer Country News is We also welcome your ideas, letters and articles for the next published quarterly newsletter; just email me at the address to the left. Anne Gilbert Next issue is Summer 2008 Copy and advertising Inspired Wigmore steams ahead deadlinedeadline:::: 25 May The Inspired Wigmore movement is maintaining its impressive momentum, with progress made by all groups. Expert speakers at the latest meetings – who Editor: came to talk about waste, energy, food cooperatives and transition towns – Anne Gilbert were amazed at the pace of act ivity and levels of energy within the group. Phone: Developments relating to the shop, communication and parish issues, food and 01568 770750 gardens, energy, and CO 2 and recycling are outlined elsewhere in these pages. Note there is a good chance that Wigmore will have impr oved recycling facilities Email: in the near future, on top of a new newsletter and shop! In addition the parish [email protected] council has agreed to bring in a traffic-calming display and to fix the many faulty street lights in the village. Sub-groups are working on plans for various other projects, including a programme of carbon footprinting and reduction through the village and outlying areas (see left for how to take part in step one), and means of implementing schemes for allotments and garden-sharing. If you would like to save paper and receive our electronic The next Inspired Wigmore meeting will be a workshop to confirm or revise the version of the newsletter, top priorities for each group, and to develop next steps for progressing them – please e-mail the editor at the including how to get hold of money and resources. address above. The meeting will also be an opportunity to discuss whether the area should Help ffindind out our cccarboncarbon adopt the Transition Towns philosophy, which entails planning and preparing for fffootprintfootprint so we can take dramatic reductions in our fossil fuel consumption, to insure ourselves against action! L Logog on to the looming peak oil crisis as well as to reduce our climate impact. www.myherefordshire.com/ carbonfootprintingcarbonfootprinting.aspx.aspx Inspired Wigmore invites everyone to the meeting, at TVYP, 7:30pm, Wednesday 12 th March. Contact Vanessa Spedding on [email protected] or 01568 770460. Part -time seamstress /tailor w anted Igor Kennaway, conductor & pianist Work in your own home for a small formerly on the professorial staff at The Royal business. Flexible hours – approx. 3-4 College of Music, the Birmingham Conservatoire, hours per fortnight. the Royal Northern College of Music, the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, the Experience necessary to sew home Darmstadt Music Academy and others , welcomes furnishings. Own machine essential. pianists of various levels for private lessons. Please email: Contact details: igorkennaway- [email protected] [email protected] and 01568 770744 Mortimer Country News Page 3 Link with others to grow more for Wigmore! With Mortimer Country Stores opening soon, people A Garden Share Scheme has great benefits. The garden will have a great opportunity to eat healthy, locally owner doesn’t have to worry about maintaining their grown seasonal produce. garden if they don’t want to. The gardener, in return, gets access to an area of secure land that is suitable for (and The Local Food and Gardens Group, part of Inspired may already be established as) fruit or vegetable growing Wigmore, is considering ways of helping to make land and may have water supply available. Owners and more locally grown food available to residents. gardeners enter into private arrangements to ensure that the interests of both parties are protected. The team is actively looking at allotments for keen gardeners - and they are looking at Garden Share The group wants to hear from local residents and Schemes. Garden Share S chemes are arrangements especially would like to know if you are: between two types of people: 1. Interested in renting an allotment if and when 1. an owner of a large garden who no longer has any established (people who have previously expressed need or desire to work their garden, and an interest need not respond). 2 a keen gardener who wishes to grow vegetables 2. An owner of land, willing to meet a prospective and fruit for their family or for trading or bartering at gardener to discuss a Garden Share Agreement. Mortimer Country Stores. 3. A gardener prepared to tend additional land under a Garden Share Agreement. Local heroes To get things moving please phone or write to Stuart Abell: Bury Court Barns, Wigmore, HR6 9US or ring Many people really make a difference in our area; this Stuart at 01568 770212 or email him at issue we’d like to note two special individuals. [email protected]. Wigmore resident Mrs. Joan Hughes-Price has kept the momentum going to repair several broken street lights and obtain a speed control device for Wigmore. With Joan’s help, the Parish Council approved the MACKENZIE & PARDOE plans and is now pulling together all the necessary paperwork to help make the village a safer place. Carpentry, Joinery & Another special individual is Mrs. June Emberton , Building Contractors now of Leintwardine, who has worked tirelessly as a Village Warden to provide suppo rt and advice for older people. Despite budget cutbacks, June Tel: 07870 428948 continues to provide a valued service. June’s new contact phone number is 01547 540102. 07790 416674 or 01584 877216 Christine Davies AMBDA Dip. Ed., Bangor Apple Tree Cottage 20 Fishmore Road DYSLEXIA CLINIC Ludlow Shropshire SY8 2L U Assessments and tuition Tel: 01547 540606 Page 4 Mortimer Country News In the frame: Mortimer Country’s artistic side Alongside the traditional Herefordshire industry of farming Birmingham Society of Arts and has been asked to is a vibrant community of artistic talent, living and working become an associate member. in Wigmore and the surrounding area. Megan Ellis, Ivan Jones and Brontë Woodruff are just three members of this Brontë Woodruff moved to Herefordshire in 1990, diverse community.