Christine McMullen describes her favourite tree, an Ash Tree outside the entrance to St Peter's Church, Fairfield

This ash tree is outside the entrance to St Peters Church, Fairfield. The photo was taken last July. It is wonderful tree and people pass it when coming to find peace in church, visiting the churchyard or waiting under it when they come with babies for baptism or as bridesmaids to weddings or to say grieving farewells to family members and friends at funerals.

I like the breadth of the shelter of the tree and the dappled sunshine and shade which symbolically affects the lives of all of us.

Christine McMullen

Grant funding brings a welcome to the woods

Until a few years ago one of the best kept secrets in Buxton was who was the owners of the beautiful woods that surround the town and add so much to its character.

Most locals and many visitors have spent time in the woods, enjoying the trees, the bird song and in May in Corbar the spectacular blue bell display.

They enjoy following the sculpture trail in Grin Low woods or perhaps stopping to pass the time of day with the quarryman who sits on the main route up to Solomon's Temple.

But ask them who owns the woods and 4 out of 5 will look blank before offering the Council as a possibility.

Now with the help and support of the Leader Project, part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Economic Development, the woods have welcome signs at the entrances and a range of interesting, informative interpretation signs at key points in the woods, to explain and encourage people to look about them. To add to the interest some of these signs change with the seasons.

So now there is no excuse for not knowing who owns the beautiful woodlands.

And the owners?

Buxton Civic Association of course.

The article on page 3 about Trapped, the dance piece by the Experiential Dance Company is part of the Buxton Fringe Festival and not as stated the Buxton Festival.

We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

The event is at Poole's Cavern on July 18-21.

Bookings via Opera House or rachel.johnson17@icloud.com or 07870 481057

Read our NEW LOOK Summer 2018 Newsletter online

We are launching our new look Newsletter online, though of course members will still receive a printed version in the post over the next few days.

BCA member Bob Bohme has been working with Newsletter Editor Alyson Phillips to create an exciting newsletter to help explain and promote BCA and its values.

Alyson commentated "It is really exciting to have Bob's creativity and skill to help create a brand new look to the newsletter. We hope you enjoy it and we are already working on the next edition. We welcome contributions and suggestions and please let us know what you think about the new look."

We would like to congratulate the Palace Hotel on the quality of the repair work carried out to the damaged will at the Junction of the A53 and Devonshire Road.

Madeline Hall from the Serpentine Community Farm has sent us this update

Dear Members, Volunteers and Supporters

We have two updates - both of work in progress rather than hard news.

Our nomination for registration as an Asset of Community Value went in to High Peak Borough Council in early December 2017. A decision would normally be made within eight weeks, giving time for a Council Officer to review the documents and make a recommendation, but we've been advised of a little delay to allow the Council's Corporate Select Committee the opportunity to consider the nomination before it is taken for decision to the Executive Team at their meeting on 15 February 2018.

Our on-line petition, with its 1021 signatures and wealth of supportive comments, was submitted to HPBC on 5 January 2018. A response may normally be expected within ten working days. Again, we have been advised of delay. The Council's Senior Management Team have considered the petition and referred it to the Executive Team for decision. It seems likely that this will also be an item on the 15 February 2018 agenda.

We hope for good news. We will keep you posted.

Madeline Hall
Serpentine Community Farm

Poole's Cavern is taking part

Its the Big Garden Bird Watch this coming weekend. The event is organised by the RSPB and provides important information on the numbers and health of our garden birds.

Why not pop up to Poole's Cavern and sit on the Cafe enjoying a hot drink and some of our delicious home ,made cake, or a bowl of soup while counting the birds on our feeders.

Link to the RSPB Website

Felling and Removal of diseased Elm Tree in Grin Woods

If you have been up to Grin Woods today you will have noticed that one of the Elm trees close to the edge of the Woods has been felled.

The tree was diseased and was considered to be in a dangerous condition and given its location it was felt that it posed a risk to visitors to the Country Park.

The decision to fell the tree was approved by the Derbyshire County Council Tree Officer as the tree was subject to a Tree Preservation Order.

The work was undertaken by Able Tree Services.

Ruth George MP is holding two public meetings this week. For Details see below;

Message from Ruth George MP

"Ahead of the final stages of the EU Withdrawal Bill in mid January, I’m holding meetings in Buxton and Glossop to hear your views, after nine months of negotiations and lots more information on what we can and cannot hope to achieve from Brexit. Do join me on either:

Friday 12 January, 7.30pm to 9pm at, Buxton Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Buxton, SK17 6HX.

Saturday 13 January, 7.30pm to 9pm at, Glossop Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Glossop, SK13 8AT.

Both meetings are open to all. Brexit has sparked much debate locally, nationally and is one of the hottest topics in my postbag – I look forward to hearing your views."

The Pump Room
Wednesday January 17th
6pm - 7pm

This is a free 1 hour event which will provide an overview of the Trust's plans and aims, details about events in the Pump Room in 2018 and an update on the Crescent's restoration and ways you can get involved with the project and Trust. To book a place please email:lmackenzie@buxtoncrescent.com

For other events please see the link below.

Buxton Crescent Heritage Trust and Crescent Restoration Events