Sustainable Haltwhistle Newsletter August 2024

Films & talks
We're applying for funding for 2025 for a project we're calling '6 + 6'. It's a year-long program of either a lunchtime talk or a film screening every month. We'd love to hear any suggestions for speakers or films you'd recommend.

But we're not waiting until next year! We're starting, using our own resources, with a talk in September, a screening in October and another talk in November.

Lunchtime talk, Thurs 19th September at 12 noon at the Community Hub (the lift works!)
Free event - everyone welcome:


'Veteran Trees of Northumberland' with Nick Johnson


Talk followed by local produce lunch - donations welcome

(See below for details of Ancient Tree Forum visit to Allen Banks & Beltingham).

In October we'll screen several short films made by Haltwhistle Film Project about Cumbria's pollinator corridor. Date to be confirmed.

We're working with Haltwhistle Town Council to increase the biodiversity of a section of the verge of Avenue St Meen. It has been left unmown for most of this year's growing season and a surprising number of different wildflowers showed themselves.
We harvested Yellow Rattle seeds from a hay meadow in July and will broadcast them in scarified patches in the verge in the autumn. The films depict a somewhat more ambitious project but do demonstrate just what can be achieved with targeted and inexpensive management.

November's lunchtime talk on Weds 13th is with Beanie Merson, who is helping swifts in Gilsland, and she will tell us why these incredible birds need our help and what we can do. There is also a project helping swifts in Hexham so it would be great if we could do something between these two initiatives.





Sunday 18th August, 6pm
Pedalling from venue to venue with all of their set, props and costumes on the back of their bikes, the HandleBards are a four-strong troupe of actors who are spending the summer bringing environmentally sustainable Shakespeare to venues across the UK.

Join the troupe at Hexham Abbey for a bicycle-powered production of Shakespeare's 'The Comedy of Errors' like you've never seen before.
When two sets of estranged twins are brought together on the same island this classic comedy takes hold with mistaken identity, music and manic costume changes a plenty.
This is an outdoor production, so please bring a chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to dig into, and dress for the weather!

Notes on Performance
- Doors open at 6pm, so bring a picnic and come and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
- Chairs, picnics, blankets and any other low level accessories are welcome.
- In case of rain, please don't bring umbrellas as they block sight-lines for other audience members. Ponchos and raincoats are just as fetching, so please wear these instead.
- This is an outdoors performance and surfaces may be uneven - if you have any access related questions ahead of the performance please get in touch!
Online tickets https://www.handlebards.com/show/the-comedy-of-errors-hexham-abbey/

Tickets also available on the door - £20.






Ancient Tree Forum
The recently formed North East ATF Local Group have arranged a field meeting for the 30th August 2024 to view the significant trees at the National Trust's Ancient Woodland at Allen Banks, followed by a trip to Beltingham to view and discuss the current condition and recommendations for management of the Ancient Beltingham Yew at St Cuthbert Church.

Please use this link to book a place on the Field Meeting:

ATF North East- visit to Allen Banks & Beltingham Yew, Friday 30th August 2024, 9.45am - 1.00pm | Ancient Tree Forum



Rights of Way consultation.
This is an opportunity to comment on the Northumberland's 10 year plan for rights of way.
If you open this draft document, the link to the consultation is on page 3. The consultation closes on 18th October 2024. It looks long but has lots of photos so not too onerous.

https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/About-the-Council/Public%20Rights%20of%20Way%20Orders/DRAFT-ROWIP-for-consultation-2024.pdf



Sat 5 Oct 2024 7:00pm Hexham Community Centre, Gilesgate, Hexham NE46 3NP
This show connects the Norman Conquest and Peasants' Revolt with current issues like the housing crisis, reparations, climate breakdown and food sovereignty via the Enclosures, English Civil War and Industrial Revolution, drawing a compelling narrative through the radical people's history of England in folk song, stories and poems.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/modifythevan/1291344







Haltwhistle freecycle group now has 1200 members with several items being offered every day!
Take a look - save yourself money and save stuff going to landfill.



Storm overflows map - check up on potential river pollution

This might be interesting to anyone concerned about sewage outflows into local rivers. It pins the outflows and shows when last activated.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/38baf2cf48d74b8196539ef315bea6b5?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1nxtodLTkw02oPCPiRZLnWGE--3ZX6Xitp-IqXhIBvk07gIvoWBvNIOwY_aem_E93bdI5dB8trDx1jP-JT4g



Get in touch
Any questions, comments or contributions to this monthly e-newsletter?
Please contact sue@mosspeteral.com 07935 259416



Sustainable Haltwhistle aims to reduce the impact of the community of Haltwhistle and surrounding villages on our environment. This will help individuals, families and our community save money and resources and ensure a more sustainable future for us all.

To join Sustainable Haltwhistle contact Sue Seymour, sue@mosspeteral.com 07935 259416