Litter Picking Nobody Wants to Find a Sight Like This When They Walk About the Village
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Quarndon Community Group August 2020 Newsletter Some highlights There’s plenty happening in the village and this is reflected in the newsletter. There is an account of the excellent scarecrow trail in July, details of more walks and ideas for the proposed repair café. One problem is increased litter but volunteers in the village are taking action – see below. And for those who have an interest in the history of the village, there is a short article by Anne Powers on the silk framework knitters of Quarndon. When you read it, you’ll realise how much the village has changed! Please let us know if you would like to contribute an article about Quarndon for a future newsletter – history, interesting buildings, people. Quitterpickers - Litter Picking Nobody wants to find a sight like this when they walk about the village. In common with many places across the UK, Quarndon has suffered from an unpleasant - and potentially dangerous surfeit of litter in recent months. Much of this is at the roadsides, but the footpaths, and particularly Bunkers Hill where groups gather for picnics, also suffer from this blight. The Spring litter pick organised by Quarndon Parish Council had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus Bunkers Hill – attractive landscape spoilt by litter pandemic, so the village was in need of a good clear up. Enter the Quitterpickers - volunteers who have got together to keep this unwelcome detritus under control, with the help of Litter Picking tools and high-vis tabards bought by Quarndon Parish Council and a delivery from Amber Valley of capacious bin bags. After an initial socially distanced litter pick on 18th July the Quitterpickers are continuing to keep litter to a minimum in their area of the village. If you would like to join them and help keep Quarndon tidy, then please contact [email protected] . The Parish Council now has more litter picking tools, high-vis tabards, and bin bags available. Apart from spoiling the enjoyment of other walkers, litter (especially broken bottles) is DANGEROUS to children, dogs, and farm animals. So, who are these antisocial litter louts who picnic at Bunker’s Hill? Some come by car and park nearby, but many are local, arrive on foot and leave after dark in loud groups by the footpath to the Common. They leave their food packaging, drinks cans and empty bottles - Corona beer, alcopops such as fruit flavoured cider and Amaretto - lots of it. So, the message to residents is please ask everyone in your household if they are having a picnic or a party outside to take all their litter away with them and dispose of it in their bins at home. QCG Newsletter 5 August 2020 Page 1 of 6 Quarndon Community Group August 2020 Newsletter Scarecrow Competition The scarecrow trail took place on the weekend of 11th-12th July. Well what a success this was. The wonderful weather helped, after an initial bout of rain causing delay. Every entry was magnificent and the judges had a very difficult task. Pictured is the winning entry but everyone won really because they all gave such pleasure and there has been a wealth of positive feedback. The village was buzzing with so many people walking round to view the scarecrows. A real community event. Visit the Quarndon Events Facebook page or the village website www.quarndon-village.org.uk or Hall notice board to The winner. Photo by Isobel Shorrock see a picture of all the scarecrows. To be repeated next year! Quarndon Community Group The QCG has a long-term role beyond Covid-19, to work together in Quarndon on objectives that include: • Environmental, recycling, and renewable energy projects; • Promotion of walking and cycling; • Wildlife protection and habitat enhancement; and • A “Repair Café” – see below Are you a fixer? Creating a Repair Café is the next priority for QCG – with village approval. You will shortly receive an email asking if you would find a Repair Café useful and whether you have any skills/time to offer. We are liaising with Belper to help us negotiate the unattractive, but very necessary, journey through insurance and health and safety measures. The plan is to run the café from the Village Hall once a month on a Saturday morning. Please get in touch at qcg@quarndon- village.org.uk to let us know your thoughts and/or to offer help. The email will give more detail about what kinds of repair we envisage and how the café will run. Watch this space and look out for the email coming soon! QCG Newsletter 5 August 2020 Page 2 of 6 Quarndon Community Group August 2020 Newsletter Telephone Box Book Exchange The Telephone Box Book Exchange is temporarily closed but it hoped that it will be re-opened soon. Q: Why is Quarndon's telephone box book exchange like the British Museum? A: Both are iconic, home to surprises and riches; although both are closed for the time being, but they will open as soon as it is as safe as possible to do so. Look out for telephone box news on the website. Photo by Keith Thomas Walks around Quarndon There is more to walking around Quarndon than you might imagine. The village website’s downloadable no-drive circular walks invite walkers to glimpse our medieval past; to pick out landmarks across the county and beyond; to venture close to the home of the Sherriff of Nottingham (no, not that one) and even spot a bear. If you have an hour to spare and fancy a short stroll try the Church Road and Fields to the East walk, noticing the Chalybeate Well, next to the Joiners Arms - a reminder of Quarndon’s past as a health spa resort. Taking the waters could promote, amongst other benefits, a ‘genial glow’. The Bunkers Hill walk includes an invigorating climb and glorious distant views, plus a shady bench to rest weary legs after checking out landmarks indicated on the topograph. Discovering Champion Park takes between two and a half and three hours, and is a good walk to do when the weather is damp. A sixteenth century Sheriff of Nottingham, Bunkers Hill walk - Botany Farm with Montpelier on skyline. Sir Roger Mynors, lived where Windley Hill Photo Ros Grum farm stands today. Quarndon to Mackworth hints at the medieval past of the area: Mackworth is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was known as Macheuorde, and there is still evidence of the settlement that existed there. All these walks, plus a helpful footpath map are available to download by clicking on the link www.quarndon-pc.gov.uk/walking-around-quarndon And that bear? Check out the Bunkers Hill walk… QCG Newsletter 5 August 2020 Page 3 of 6 Quarndon Community Group August 2020 Newsletter Repairs to St Paul’s Church Scaffolding has been erected around St Paul's for the essential renovation and repairs. The main tasks are: • Remove existing guttering and install new continuous aluminium gutter with similar profile; • Carry out internal repairs to damaged plasterwork. The work is expected to be completed soon. Until then it is intended to keep the church closed as the work is causing a lot of dirt within the building. The churchyard can still be accessed in the meantime. The Church is in the process of appealing for donations to enable us to repair, renovate and redecorate the church in time for its 150th anniversary in 2024. Please see www.stpaulsquarndon.org.uk/renovation-appeal Photo Matthew Pitt Space for Walking and Cycling The July 2020 QCG Newsletter reported that, endorsed by Quarndon Parish Council, the five proposals summarised below had been submitted to Chris Short our Derbyshire County Councillor to take forward to the Derbyshire County Council (DCC) Highways department: 1. DCC should work in conjunction with Derby City Council to provide better links for communities just outside the city boundary to the Derby cycling network. 2. The measures in response to Covid-19 provide a great opportunity to establish 20mph speed limits within villages throughout Derbyshire as the “new normal”. 3. A safe pedestrian crossing is needed at the Joiners. 4. Improvements to the Markeaton Stones bridleway and the shared-use path proposed as Quarndon Neighbourhood Plan Policy QIN3 to Kedleston North Lodge would provide an important car-free route for both commuting and leisure use. 5. A safe walking/cycling route is required along Woodlands Lane between Quarndon and Allestree with a reduced speed limit on this short stretch of narrow road. Realistically, it will be challenging to get DCC to act on any of these. However, if we do not push for change to make our roads safer for all users, particularly whilst there is central government support for active travel, then it certainly will not happen. If you would like to see progress on the proposals above, or have other suggestions to improve Quarndon’s road safety, please email Chris Short: [email protected] Nextdoor Quarndon? We have been asked about this website which has been advertised by local mailshots. The website is nothing to do with the Parish Council or with QCG. It is a US social media firm and took over from Streetlife in 2017. You use your real name and address. It makes money from advertising within the newsfeed. Some of us have joined and found it useful for: • asking for recommendations e.g. a plumber/roofer/joiner; • sharing information – the police sometimes post info; and • keeping up with what is going on in the community. QCG Newsletter 5 August 2020 Page 4 of 6 Quarndon Community Group August 2020 Newsletter Queenies Essentials Queenies Essentials came into being at the end of March 2020.