Improvements to local beauty spot

A fantastic walk in the countryside, with views overlooking Accrington has been made even easier now with improvements carried out to the paths in the south of Peel Park. Over 1700 linear metres of refurbished paths link up with improved paths to the summit of the Coppice, which were completed in 2009, allowing more people to enjoy the countryside and stunning elevated views from the edge of east of Accrington.

As part of this work, funded by the Forestry Commission and Lancashire Environmental Fund, path improvements have also been completed in the grounds of which once stood Arden Hall. The site of the old hall became the location of a recent archaeological dig and you can see the findings on the Council’s website at www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk.

Deputy Leader, Cllr Clare Pritchard, who is Chair of Friends of Arden Hall and the Coppice said; “The new paths through the woodland at Arden Hall have massively improved this area and make it so easy for people to enjoy a leisurely walk and enjoy the wonderful countryside. We’re looking forward to seeing similar work carried out later this year, following years of investment from different agencies and now making this well-loved local beauty spot more accessible for everyone to enjoy.”

Wildflowers have been sown on any disturbed ground left by the works, by volunteers lead by Prospects Foundation and funded by the Green Partnership Awards.

Similar path improvements will be carried out later this year and early 2014 to complete the path network at Peel Park and woodland improvement work is also planned to improve the area for local wildlife.

Amazing Edibles at Tatton Park

An ‘Amazing Edibles’ display, the fruit of many local people’s labours, has been proudly on show at RHS Flower Show in Tatton Park, which ran to 28th July.

The Amazing Edibles’ display is an allotment and vegetable exhibition showcasing the hard work of many local volunteers and groups, working under the banner of Hyndburn Federation of Allotments.

For many months volunteers from organisations including Baxenden Allotments & Garden Society, Church Prospects Panel, Clayton le Moors Prospects Panel, Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, Incredible Edibles Accrington, Prospects Foundation, One Planet Planters, National Veg society Lancashire District association, Sandy Lane Gardening Group, Milnshaw Allotments and the Council have been working together in Gatty Park greenhouses  and allotments across the Borough, growing vegetables and edible flowers for their show garden at RHS Tatton, with their progress closely followed by the BBC.

Cath Holmes, Chair of Hyndburn Federation of Allotments,  said; “It’s been a fabulous experience  and a big thank you to everyone, who has given their time, support  and expertise to the project, working together has enabled everything to run smoothly to produce something  everyone involved can be proud of. “

The garden was sponsored by Barnfield Construction, Hyndburn former County Councillor Ciaran Wells with a local member grant , Hyndburn former County Councillors Ciaran Wells and Graham Jones with  local member grants, Hyndburn County Councillor Miles Parkinson with a Local member Grant,  and Sign It, Link A Board, also Funding From Green Partnership Awards, Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, and help in kind from Hyndburn Council’s Parks Team.

Satisfaction levels rise

A resident survey attached to the recent recycling collection calendar, shows that satisfaction with street cleanliness continues to increase and now stands at 86%.  The news comes after the Council scooped two awards for clean streets, when it was awarded 5 Stars and a Gold Award in the small local authority category at the national Clean Britain Awards last year.

1400 residents took part in the survey, answering questions on a range of issues including recycling, grey and green bin collections and street cleaning, with improvements in all areas apart from the condition of litterbins, which stayed the same.

The survey shows that satisfaction levels with dry recycling collections is at 96%, residual (grey bin) collections is 91% and green waste collections is 79%.

Cllr Paul Cox Cabinet Member for Environmental Issues said; “These results back up the recent Clean Britain Awards and show that our street cleaning, waste and recycling crews do a great job, day in, day out, in all weathers collecting waste and keeping our streets clean and tidy.  As always we’ll use the results to enhance the service and an example of this is the future installation of around 100 additional dog bins across all wards within the Borough.”

Free WiFi now available at Accrington Market Hall

Shoppers browsing for a bargain in Accrington’s historic Market Hall can now also browse the internet there, with the availability of free Wi-Fi.

Cllr Clare Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Markets, said; “In today’s day and age free Wi–Fi is something which many businesses offer to encourage more custom and many customers now expect this as an added service. There are already many reasons for people to visit the Market Hall - to shop, to drink and eat in the range of food outlets and to see the interesting local history exhibitions there. The offer of free Wi-Fi also now gives our visitors the added value of being able to access the internet on their mobile device whilst visiting the Market Hall.”

Wi-Fi is available in the Market Hall without a password.

Springhill: Pam Barton chosen as 2014 election candidate

Cllr Pam Barton has been chosen as the Labour candidate for Springhill ward in next year's local elections. Pam is the sitting Councillor in Springhill alongside Cllr Munsif Dad (Labour) and if you would like to speak to her on any issues please call 01254 385824 or 07792298545.

Baxenden: Animals in Art exhibition at Haworth Art Gallery

The latest exhibition at the Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington, which opens on 27th July ‘Animals in Art’ will feature on radio 2BR 99.8FM and The Bee107FM every day between Monday 22nd July to Saturday 27th July – complete with sound effects!

The radio advertising campaign is part of the Pennine Lancashire Museum group marketing plan which the Haworth Art Gallery is a member. The advertisement includes great sound effects of elephants, lions and parrots and invites visitors to come along to the Haworth and ‘Get face to face with some of the biggest and most dangerous beasts in the world!’

Gallery Co-ordinator, Yvonne Robins, states, ‘We are all going ‘Animal Crackers’ here at the Haworth! We would like to invite everyone to come along and join our very own ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and view the stunning work created by the internationally renowned members of the Association of Animal Artists. The artwork that is on show in ‘Animals in Art’ is of an exceptionally high standard, two members of which have won prestigious prizes. Julie Cross has won the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2013 (world mammals category), a title she also won last year and also on show is work by Heather Irvine, the 2013 winner of the prestigious Christopher Parsons Award for Artistic Excellence from The Wildlife Art Society International.
Not only is the Haworth’s exhibition being featured on the radio but the launch of the exhibition on Saturday 27th July will be filmed by ‘Splash of Paint’ productions for Sky and Free Sat. television as well as on-line viewing! Yvonne states ‘It is going to be a fabulous family fun day on Saturday 27th July. As well as the amazing exhibition we shall also be having family mask-making workshops with Susan Watson and tea, coffee and cake will be available in the tea room – everyone is welcome to join us’.

For more information contact Yvonne Robins on 01254 233782.

Great Harwood: Farmers' Market August 2013

This popular Farmers Market, which was recently runner up in the Association of Town Centre Management awards, is back in Great Harwood on the town square Sunday 4th August.  Featuring lots of independent food stalls ranging from cheese, jams, chutneys meats, fish, scrumptious cakes and pies plus a range of cheeses, and also locally produced beer.

Cllr Clare Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Town Centres, said; “The market is fast becoming established on the Farmers Market calendar with over 30 stalls and lots of people from across the region coming along each month.  Please come along on 4th August and enjoy this traditional community event.”

Nick Gaskell, of Gaskells Motors said; “It’s wonderful to see the market gathering momentum and becoming established on the Farmers Market calendar.  It’s also great the market is raising lots of cash for local good causes, so please come and see us on the 4th August on Towngate."

If you’d like to book a stall visit http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/farmersmarket.   For more information call Rob Grigorjevs, Town centre Manager on 01254 388111 or email rob.grigorjevs@hyndburnbc.gov.uk.