Hilary Lawrence has resigned after twenty seven years as a director of Buxton Civic Association, and to celebrate her outstanding contribution, a presentation evening was held at Poole’s Cavern visitors centre. She was presented with two pieces of work by a local artist Pauline Townsend, by Mike Monaghan the Chair of BCA. Mike told members that he was delighted that Hilary was going to remain a member and that Brian her husband was now on the board. He paid tribute to her dedicated service over the years, in particular with her leadership of the planning committee. She had done a difficult job extremely well and had guided the Association through the minefield of planning with great skill and diplomacy.

Replying to Mike, Hilary explained how much the Association had changed over the years that she had been involved.She explained that she felt that the catalyst for change was the introduction of planning awards by BCA. This got people involved and the Association became better known as a result.

She had enjoyed her time on the board, and paid tribute to the people who had served on the planning committee with her, and reiterated her feeling that it was vital for BCA to be continue to be active in the planning process. She wished Mike and the Association well for the future.

A selection of photographs (Taken by Alan Walker) from the presentation evening held on 9th February 2015 for Hilary Lawrence who retires as a director from Buxton Civic Association after 27 years.

Buxton Advertiser interview with Mike Monaghan and BCA.

A lovely photograph of a Tawny Owl in Gadley Woods. It reminds me of the quote from Winnie the Pooh;

"Owl is the grand and rather clever old man of the forest. He can also spell Tuesday."

Information on Tawny Owls from wildowl website

Press Release to Buxton Advetiser

E Newsletter December 2014

We are taking part in the RSPB Great Garden Bird Survey again this year. Its very simple to do. If you come up to the visitors centre or are going for a walk through the woods either down load the form and print it out or collect one from the visitor centre and record the birds you see. If you hand the form in to our reception desk we will collate the results and send them off to the RSPB. There are some bird identification charts in the Cafe. And of course you can always enjoy a hot drink and some cake in the cafe afterwards.

Recording Form for the RSPB Great Garden Bird Watch 2015

Whenever there is snow on the ground and I am walking in the woods, usually Grinlow or Corbar, this poem always comes to mind. Perhaps Robert Frost's best known work, the poem is based on Frost's own experience in returning home from a market during a long and cold New England winter. Frost had had a less than successful day and had come home empty handed. There is a wistful feel to the poem, a desire to linger and delay the trip home perhaps? However his horse shakes him from his thoughts and aware of his responsibilities he sets of to finish his journey.

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” from The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem. Copyright 1923, © 1969 by Henry Holt and Company, Inc., renewed 1951, by Robert Frost.

Mike Monaghan Director of Buxton Civic Association, presented a cheque for £250 to the Transition Buxton committee for The Serpentine Project, to help them continue their work in transforming the Serpentine Gardens site from a derelict space, to a community-based project to grow food and help people learn about growing and making food themselves.

Mike Monaghan commented “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Civic Association to give tangible support to a community project which will bring real benefits to Buxton and is attracting so many volunteers.”

The site has been derelict for some years but when the council announced plans to sell it for housing, Transition Buxton came up with an alternative use and persuaded High Peak Borough Council to let them transform the site into a food producing space, and eventually to have a café selling the produce grown on site, a restored greenhouse, raised beds and a food growing demonstration area to enable people to learn how to grow food for themselves.

They have made a lot of progress since July, when the council granted them a licence to clear the land. Janine Morris of Transition Buxton commented “thanks to the efforts of our amazing volunteers we have managed to clear much of the scrub and remove hundreds of old pots, so that the land is ready for the next stage. “

At the moment the licence with High Peak Borough Council only allows them to work on the land. The next stage is to get permission to renovate the greenhouse.
“The greenhouse is important as it will enable us to grow a wider variety of food. We have had it surveyed and it really only needs the glazing removed and replaced. We believe the cost will be £1,000, so the Buxton Civic Association donation and their continuing support for this project is a great start to raising this amount.”

The work is done entirely by volunteers by holding regular volunteer days. Next year is going to be very busy, as the plans include raised beds and poly tunnels. Volunteers are always welcome so if you are interested in being involved contact Janine Morris on 07752 368 358 or through the Transition Buxton website at www.transitionbuxton.co.uk.

If like me you find buying Christmas presents for people difficult, then why not take a trip up to Poole’s Cavern visitor centre and have a browse around the shop. Parking is easy and while you are there you can grab a hot drink and a slice of cake to give you that little bit of extra energy to get some shopping done.

Some gifts that are on sale, that are worth mentioning are the model airplane kits. There are four different models available, with the Spitfire and the Hurricane being the most popular. A great way of spending a couple of hours assembling the model, or perhaps helping someone put one together and they have the added bonus that they actually fly.

Buxton Town Team have commissioned an illustrated map of the town. Combining the work of a number of local artists, the map is printed in full colour at A1 size (about 33 x 22 inches) and shows the town and its surroundings with illustrations of key points in its history, buildings and people. A handy timeline makes the point that people have been settled here for thousands of years. The map is available at the shop along with some Buxton tea towels.

There is also a wide range of Onyx candle holders, hand crafted stone bowls and goblets, book ends and paperweights, beautiful handmade silver jewellery. The shop also stocks lovely soaps and balms from the Bakewell Soap Company and a wide range of books and guides to the Peak District.
A final thought if you are looking for something to give someone local. Why not combine a year’s Membership of Buxton Civic Association with a one of the Panoramic Prints of the View from Solomon’s Temple.

The shop is open 7 days a week, from 10-4 pm