Natural Kirklees Summer Gala – 12th August 2018

Natural Kirklees Summer Gala

Sunday 12th August 2018

From 12 noon to 4pm

Venue: Greenhead Park, Huddersfield

Park information
Map & directions

Join us in the park this Sunday for local food & family fun

Natural Kirklees and the Parks and Greenspaces Team at Kirklees Council are hosting a special Summer Gala for groups who are involved in parks and green spaces in Kirklees. It’s a great opportunity to meet local environmental groups and there are lots of fun activities to try, both in the event marquee and around the park.

Join us in Greenhead Park on Sunday 12th August to meet lots of community groups, learn about what they do and take part in fun activities including: go on a mini bug hunt and find out the ideal lunch for a duck with River Holme Connections, learn about Clem’s Garden who work together to grow and sell flowers, supporting local charities and community projects with their profits, browse the Support to Recovery (S2R) plant stall, join in the Big Butterfly Count around the park, or create a piece of artwork using natural materials with Growing Works.

Growing Newsome will be there with plenty of home made treats, made from fruit and vegetables that have been grown in Newsome and donated by our generous volunteers and friends. Please come and visit us in the marquee on the event field near the top of the park (just across from the miniature train tracks). Our stall is open from 1pm to 4pm.

Music – Enjoy the sound of brass in the great outdoors with Slaithwaite Band. They will be performing on the Greenhead Park bandstand from 2pm to 4pm as part of a programme of concerts organised by the Friends of Greenhead Park. Limited seating is available and you are welcome to bring your own folding chairs or rugs.  Free – there will be a collection in aid of the Friends of Greenhead Park. There will also be music from the Ukulele Band in the marquee.

Refreshments – The Friends of Greenhead Park will be serving tea and cakes throughout the afternoon in the marquee – and running a craft building extravaganza.

We hope to see you there.

 

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Big Plant Swap – Saturday 26th May 2018

Big Plant Swap

Saturday 26th May 2018
10am to 1pm

Free admission – all welcome

Newsome Scout Hall, Newsome Road South, Huddersfield HD4 6JJ

Take your pick from hundreds of plants – great for growers, super for sharers.

You can choose from:

Vegetables
Salads
Herbs
Fruit
Wildlife-friendly flowers

You’re very welcome to bring along plants, seedlings, cuttings or seeds to swap – but you don’t need to bring something to be able to take something (you can make a donation to Growing Newsome in exchange for your plants).

 

Lots more to enjoy…

Seed Swap – lots of vegetable seeds to swap or buy.

Children’s craft activities.

Local produce on sale.

Plant some seeds to grow on your windowsill.

Reading Circle book stall with all sorts of books.

Tea, coffee and home made cakes.

Information about growing and sharing food in Newsome.

Find out about other local projects and events.

Growing democracy:
White for purity, Purple for determination, Green for hope

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of Votes for Women, you can pick up a special Vote 100 badge at our Big Plant Swap. We’d love it if you can bring along something white, purple or green (the suffragette colours) to swap!

Local food lunch:
served 12 noon to 1pm

Enjoy a healthy lunch at Newsome Scout Hall – with recipes for you to take home. We’ll be serving a selection of tasty salads (including warm salads) from our Spring salad bar, plus a fruit pudding.

We ask for a small donation to cover the costs of making your lunch.

Print our poster for your venue – or share with a friend:

Big Plant Swap poster 2018 (PDF)

What happens at the Plant Swap?
Here’s a short film about Growing Newsome’s Plant Swap, made by Alistair I Macdonald at Curlew Films for Plant it Grow it Eat it.

You can see more food growing films on the Food Kirklees web site:
10 short films about food growing in Kirklees

Potato varieties on sale in 2018

Apache potatoes

If you’re going to grow some spuds this year, you might want to have a look at some of the 30 varieties of seed potato we’ll have available at our Seed Swap and Potato Day. There’s something for everyone, from old favourites to some more unusual varieties.

All our potatoes are £2 per dozen, pick and mix (or 20p each). You can choose just what you need – and you’ll be supporting our community activities at the same time.

Our full list of varieties:

Potato picker 2018 – full list of varieties (pdf)

or you might like to try one of our top five…

 

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Our top five potato picks

Athlete is one of our new varieties this year. Although previously available in supermarkets during the 2012 Olympic Games, Athlete has only recently been released to gardeners. Enjoy high yields of pale yellow tubers which won’t disintegrate on boiling and maintain their superb taste whether eaten hot or cold. Our other new varieties this year include Colleen, a good all-rounder first early, and Divaa, which is a second early with brilliant white skin.

 

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Sarpo potatoes are grown by the Sarvari Research Trust in North Wales. These potatoes all have excellent resistance to blight, so they are ideal for organic growers. Our participants have had great success with them. This year we have Sarpo Kifli, Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Una on offer. Ideal if you want a reliable crop. The Sarpo Mira is organic – it’s one of thirteen different organic varieties that we’re offering this year.

 

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Jazzy is popular with our local growers. This exciting second early variety has been awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit for its superb garden performance. It’s a waxy, set-skinnned potato which is both versatile and good looking – boil, steam, crush or roast. Described as a “small potato that packs a big punch” because it’s full of flavour and has performed well in trials.

 

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Pink Gypsy was new to us last year and proved very popular. It’s quite distinctive looking, with deep pink and cream skins. The tasty white and creamy flesh has a lovely, fluffy texture when cooked. Great whether baked, roasted or mashed. If striking-coloured spuds are your thing, you might also like to try Apache (which has similar markings), Salad Blue, Shetland Black or Highland Burgundy Red.

 

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Pink Fir Apple potatoes are always in high demand here – and rightly so. They’re one of our all time favourites, great tasting both hot and cold. You can cook them whole in their skins, so don’t worry about peeling this unusual shaped spud. To make sure that you don’t miss out on this firm favourite, we keep lots of them in stock. Enjoy!

Natural Kirklees Charity Fete – 13th August 2017

Natural Kirklees Charity Fete

Sunday 13th August 2017

From 1pm to 4pm

Venue: Greenhead Park, Huddersfield

Park information
Map & directions

Join us in the park this Sunday for local food & family fun

Natural Kirklees, Friends of Greenhead Park and the Parks and Greenspaces Team at Kirklees Council are hosting a special Charity Fete for groups who are involved in parks and green spaces in Kirklees. The Fete is a great opportunity to meet local environmental groups and there are lots of fun activities to try, both in the event marquee and around the park.

Join us in Greenhead Park on Sunday 13th August for family fun games and activities including mindful movement workshops, making fruit kebabs and drinks, a duck salad bar, nordic walking, pond dipping, forest school fun, origami, raffles, crafty activities and a chance to try out different mountain bikes. You can also purchase seasonal fruit, herbs and vegetables. There will be music from Hade Edge Band and the Ukulele Band. The Friends of Greenhead Park will be serving tea and cakes in the marquee.

Growing Newsome will be there with plenty of home made treats, made from fruit and vegetables that have been grown in Newsome and donated by our generous volunteers and friends. Please come and visit us in the marquee on the event field near the top of the park (just across from the miniature train tracks). Our stall is open from 1pm to 4pm.

At 2pm Enjoy the sound of brass in the great outdoors with Hade Edge Band. They will be performing on the Greenhead Park bandstand as part of a programme of concerts organised by the Friends of Greenhead Park. Limited seating is available and you are welcome to bring your own folding chairs or rugs.  Free – there will be a collection in aid of the Friends of Greenhead Park.

At 1.30pm, 2.30pm & 3.30pm Take part in Nordic Walking or Pond Dipping in the park. You can register at the information stall.

We hope to see you there.

Together we can save our mill ponds

Our mill ponds are once again under threat. Let’s not lose another part of the historic Newsome Mills site. You have until Friday 23rd June 2017 to add your voice to our campaign.

In January 2017, the Huddersfield Planning Committee voted unanimously to refuse planning application number 2016/91479. The application proposed the destruction of the 19th century mill pond and culvert at Newsome Mills, which is the oldest surviving part of the site. The leaseholders have now lodged an appeal against that decision.

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How to make your views heard

The appeal will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate. Previous comments will be considered by the inspector, but you can submit new comments too. So if you haven’t already spoken up for our local heritage, or if you’ve got something new to say, now is the time. Here’s how to make your views heard…

Object to the appeal online now at: www.savenewsomemillponds.org.uk 


Choose ‘Make representation’

Or email: North2@pins.gsi.gov.uk

Or write to: Michael Joyce, The Planning Inspectorate Room 3N, Temple Quay House,
2 The Square, Bristol BS1 6PN 
(you must send 3 copies of your letter).

You must make sure that the Planning Inspector receives your comments by Friday 23rd June 2017.


You must quote this reference in emails and letters:
APP/Z4718/W/17/3173711

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This land at Hart Street, right at the centre of Newsome, is part of the historic Newsome Mills site. It includes the 19th century mill pond, the former mill workers allotments and an avenue of protected trees that lines the approach to the Grade II listed Newsome Mills. It’s well used by wildlife and greatly valued by local residents. Community organisations in the area have asked the leaseholders many times for the use of this land, which we want to keep as open space for the benefit of residents and wildlife.

In 2008 & 2009, very similar plans for this site were turned down after local people campaigned against them. The applicants said there was no demand for land for food growing in Newsome. Since then, we’ve become a community of almost 1,000 food growers, and we would welcome the return of this land to community ownership, so that we can use it in the way that local people want.

What the Planning Inspectorate said in 2009 about the land at Hart Street

“The openness of this previously undeveloped part of the site provides valuable visual relief in what is otherwise a fairly densely developed urban area.

“The loss of previously undeveloped open land resulting from the proposal would have an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the area.”

(This was the verdict of Planning Inspector A J Davison, who dismissed an appeal about a similar planning application for this site in August 2009.)

If you agree with this, please add your comments now.

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Print out our campaign leaflet to share with your neighbours

Together we can save our mill ponds – advice sheet (PDF)

Further information

Together we can save our mill ponds – blog

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Big Plant Swap – Saturday 20th May 2017

Big Plant Swap

Saturday 20th May 2017
10am to 1pm

Free admission – all weclome

Newsome Scout Hall, Newsome Road South, Huddersfield HD4 6JJ

Take your pick from hundreds of plants – great for growers, super for sharers.

You can choose from:

Vegetables
Salads
Herbs
Fruit
Wildlife-friendly flowers

You’re very welcome to bring along plants, seedlings, cuttings or seeds to swap – but you don’t need to bring something to be able to take something (you can make a donation to Growing Newsome in exchange for your plants).

 

Lots more to enjoy…

Seed Swap – lots of vegetable seeds to swap or buy.

Children’s craft activities.

Local produce on sale.

Plant some seeds to grow on your windowsill.

Reading Circle book stall with all sorts of books.

Tea, coffee and home made cakes.

Information about growing and sharing food in Newsome.

Find out about other local projects and events.

Local food lunch:
served 12 noon to 1pm

Enjoy a healthy lunch at Newsome Scout Hall – with recipes for you to take home. We’ll be serving a selection of tasty salads (including warm salads) from our Spring salad bar, plus a fruit pudding.

We ask for a small donation to cover the costs of making your lunch.

Print our poster for your venue – or share with a friend:

Big Plant Swap poster 2017 (PDF)

What happens at the Plant Swap?
Here’s a short film about Growing Newsome’s Plant Swap, made by Alistair I Macdonald at Curlew Films for Plant it Grow it Eat it.

You can see more food growing films on the Food Kirklees web site:
10 short films about food growing in Kirklees

Two weeks to save our historic mill ponds and greenspace

You have a new opportunity to comment on the latest planning application for the land at Hart Street (planning application number 2016 / 91479), which proposes removing the mill ponds and cramming 22 houses onto the site.

We’re joining other local organisations in letting the Planning Service know that we’re still opposed to these plans – and we’re asking you to do the same.

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You can object to the plans now by using the ‘Make a comment on this application’ link on the Kirklees web site. All previous comments sent to the Planning Service will still be considered, but please take this opportunity to show that you still object to the plans.

The deadline is 16th November 2016.

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This land at Hart Street, right at the centre of Newsome, is part of the historic Newsome Mills site. It includes the 19th century mill pond, the former mill workers allotments and an avenue of protected trees that lines the approach to the Grade II listed Newsome Mills. It’s well used by wildlife and greatly valued by local residents. Community organisations in the area have asked the leaseholders many times for the use of this land, which we want to keep as open space for the benefit of residents and wildlife.

The planning application to build new housing on the site has been on hold since the summer, when Kirklees Council asked the applicants to supply some extra information, including a Heritage Statement and an Ecological Survey. The applicants have now written their own Heritage Statement, which argues that building housing on this land would not affect our local heritage, despite the fact that it would destroy the oldest surviving part of Newsome Mills and would drastically alter the character of our area.

If you value this heritage green space at the heart of Newsome, please object to the outline planning application from leaseholders Benjamin Bentley to build 22 houses on the land at Hart Street.

Local residents, community organisations and our ward councillors are opposing these plans for housing on the site. We want the mill ponds and green space to be kept for the benefit of residents and for wildlife (the ponds are used by bats, herons, geese and ducks). If you value this open space, will you help us?

In 2008 & 2009, very similar plans for this site were turned down after local people campaigned against them. The applicants said there was no demand for land for food growing in Newsome. Since then, we’ve become a community of almost 1,000 food growers, and we would welcome the return of this land to community ownership, so that we can use it in the way that local people want.

What the Planning Inspectorate says about the land at Hart Street

“The openness of this previously undeveloped part of the site provides valuable visual relief in what is otherwise a fairly densely developed urban area.

“The loss of previously undeveloped open land resulting from the proposal would have an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the area.”

(This was the verdict of Planning Inspector A J Davison, who dismissed an appeal about a similar planning application for this site in August 2009.)

If you agree with this, please object to the plans now and quote this statement in your letter, email or web comment.

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Share this message on social media

We have two weeks to save the historic mill ponds and greenspace at the heart of Newsome. Will you join us? https://t.co/eYbNcUtTNq pic.twitter.com/1OqbogKo6I

— Growing Newsome (@GrowingNewsome) November 1, 2016

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Print out our campaign leaflet to share with your neighbours

Save Newsome Mill Ponds – November 2016 leaflet (PDF)

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