A mornings litter picking with Karen Beresford of Buxton Town Team litter picking group

Rubbish at Tongue Lane
There are better uses for this piece of land that a dumping ground

Plastic bottles, crisp packets, bits of carpet, bathing towels, the plastic wrapping from a pair of swimming trunks, paper and of course drink cans, these were just some of the items of rubbish that we found on a recent litter pick at a local beauty spot.

I had joined Karen Beresford who runs the Buxton Town Team litter picking group, to spend a couple of hours tackling the never ending problem of litter that blights our towns and our countryside.

Though there is something satisfying in picking up litter, it is frustrating to think that people drop their trash and rubbish there in the first place. It is after all a beautiful, peaceful spot. In summer full of wildflowers and bird song.

But it does not seem to matter where you go, you will find discarded rubbish. Even providing bins does not always solve the problem. Whether it’s leaving the waste from a picnic or BBQ, or throwing bottles and plastic from a vehicle, it seems as if some people just don’t care.

Out of sight out of mind, and anyway someone else will pick it up.

We cleared two big sacks of rubbish from the site. So now at least for a little while it is free of discarded plastic and wrappers. And walking there will be a pleasanter experience.

We decide that as there was still time we would tackle a small section of the Tongue lane industrial estate. This was littering on a different scale.

As well as the usual items, there were bits of engine, oil containers, nappies wrapped in plastic bags and half full bottles of liquid. Plastic sheeting lay discarded on a patch of ‘waste ground’, and shreds of plastic bag caught by the wind lay twisted round the stunted bushes.

We could only scratch the surface. There is still much more to be done as you can see from the photos above.

I could not help wondering if this little patch of waste ground could be put to much better use. Planted with fruit trees, perhaps part of Transition Buxton’s urban orchard scheme, and wildflowers to attract bees, butterflies and other insects, and a bench, it could become a little haven of tranquillity,somewhere to sit and have a sandwich, or just to relax from all the hurly burly around you.

One for the Urbitat project perhaps?

Karen is always glad to hear from new
enthusiastic litter pickers and you can contact
her by email stoop.farm@icloud.com

Steve Orridge reports on a better year for Butterflies in Grin low

Every year a band of dedicated butterfly enthusiasts look forward to the start of the survey season. This runs from the beginning of April until the end of September and lasts for 26 weeks.

The year is divided up between the volunteers and it usually means that we each have one survey to do a month. We started surveying in 2015 and each year has been better than the last.

See Graph below

We are now up to week 19 and our count is already 100 more than last years total. We have seen 18 species of butterfly within Grinlow and here is a selection from the 11 species we saw in week 19’s survey.

Last year was a fantastic year for Red Admirals with huge numbers seen right up to the end of September Will we get the same this year? It is hard to tell but the dry hot summer and lack of rain has reduced the crop of Devil’s Bit Scabious which provided such a wonderful supply of nectar for last year’s generation. No matter how the year ends, it is going to be remembered for the exceptional numbers of butterflies.

Although it is not a rare species this brimstone butterfly is our first record for Grinlow.

It has been a very good year for Common Blue butterfly with 68 being counted on one survey in June.

The introduction of the Woodland Ride in 2015 has provided increased habitats for Butterflies as well as increasing the bio diversity of the wood generally.

We will publish a full report at the end of the year which will be available to download from our website.

If anyone would like to get involved in future surveys please let us know by emailing us at communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk

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

After the AGM there were more Pressing Matters to get on with!

Congratulations to the Serpentine Community Farm on celebrating their first AGM in the most appropriate way.

Janine Morris writes;

"A lovely Apple Day was held at the Serpentine Community Farm on 18th September complemented by the balmy autumn weather. A good number of people dropped in to say hello, including folk just passing through the park as well as members and dedicated volunteers.

Martin Stokes, was a welcome addition to the day, with his fine selection of apple varieties on sale. Apples were pressed with gusto, thanks to the loan of the apple press from Bamford Quaker Community.

The day concluded with our first General Meeting. Two new Directors were appointed and members were updated on the progress made in the previous year, including the renovation of the greenhouse to its former glory, the installation of a new Poly-tunnel, raised beds and cold frames to boost productive growing space, as well as the near completion of the compost toilet.

We updated the success of various projects including the highly successful Grow Wild project with Buxton & Leek College students.

All of the progress made at the site could not have been possible without the all the amazing volunteer help along the way, including our weekly visits from Alderbrook and all the individuals and teams who have dropped in to help, and continue to do so. Here’s to another productive year down at the Farm!"

Joan Hibbert writes:

The Buxton Group was formed in late 1991 in response to the evacuation of the Crescent earlier that year. Initially our aim was to campaign for the future of the building. His Grace the Duke of Devonshire became our Patron. With the help of a petition presented to Parliament, English Heritage stepped in and the fabric of the building was saved from further dereliction.

The Buxton Group soon took on a wider range of issues in the town. We have campaigned for and supported measures which improve conditions for those living in, working in and visiting the town of Buxton. We monitor, comment on and constructively criticise planning applications and have written to object to several major inappropriate proposed building projects.

We instigated the restoration of the Taylor (Children’s) Well, now situated at the junction of Terrace Road and Spring Gardens and gave a donation. Our group were instrumental in establishing the High Peak Health forum to resist closure of the Devonshire Hospital and pressed for improvements to the health provision in the town. We have written to stress the importance of Buxton retaining an ambulance and fire station and supported keeping the Minor Injuries department open. Our group continue to monitor the condition of the Pavilion Gardens buildings and have met with the Council to discuss our concerns and press for action.

We have close links to the Civic Association, Vision Buxton, Friends of the Pavilion Gardens and the Town Team. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm at the Old Hall Hotel, to discuss and take necessary and appropriate action on what is happening in our town. Members are very welcome to attend these meetings, or you can just become a member to show your support.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT OUR TOWN AND IT’S FUTURE, PLEASE COME AND JOIN US

Membership Secretary- David Morten davidmorten@talktalk.net- please contact for joining details
or

Joanne Hibbert -Chair joanne.hibbert37@gmail.com

Buxton Group Website

Increase in Butterflies in Grinlow Bucks the National Trend

The recent report in the Guardian and on the BBC Today programme (10th October 2016) of an overall decline in the number of Butterflies observed in nationwide surveys has been bucked, according to the early results in from BCA's Grinlow Butterfly Survey.

Steve Orridge, who heads up the survey team, reported that not only were numbers of butterflies seen during the survey up on last years figures, the number of species surveyed had also increased.

"We are clearly seeing the benefits that the forest ride brings to the woods as well as the importance of the glades. The increase light and variety of plant species is hugely beneficial to the butterflies." Steve went on " This is only the second year of the survey , but already it is giving us important feedback and information on the health and well-being of the woods."

Peter Philipson, BCA Director with responsibility for the woods also commented "The wildflowers in the glades have been fantastic this year, and this has contributed to the increase in numbers of butterflies and other insect species. A key part of our Woodland Management Plan is to support the increase in Bio-diversity and it would appear that the survey results show this to be working."

A full report on the 2016 survey will be available later in the year. If anyone is interested in helping out with the 2017 survey, please email us at contact@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk

Some Video of the Presentations

Extracts from three of the presentations;

Jon White on Vulnerable and at Risk Sites
Roger Floyd on Ashwood Dale and Extreme Litter Collection
Alan Roberts on Heritage and the Frith Artillery Range

Click on the link below

Video of the presentations

Extreme Litter Picking

Clearing the Birds Nest at Lovers' Leap

On a String and a Prayer

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.

Members gathered for presentation to retiring director Hilary Lawrence
Dr Mike Monaghan Chair of BCA

It may seen along way off but by the time Christmas and the New Year is over Civic Day will only be 5 months away.

Civic Day is a national celebration of civic pride. Its a chance for communities across the country to express their pride in the place in which they live. The first civic day was organised in 2011 by Civic Voice, it will be held again in 2015 and, it has the potential to become one of England’s most popular voluntary cultural events. The event is a unique opportunity to stimulate new interest and generate a renewed sense of civic pride for communities across the country.

Although the coordinating work is done by Civic Voice, what really makes this event happen is the fantastic effort of thousands of volunteers. Its the guided tours , the exhibitions, street parties and the competitions that help the visitors understand the area they live in just a little bit more.

BCA is planning to hold an event or a series of events to mark the day. If anyone has any suggestions drop us an email at communications@buxtoncivicassociation.org.uk.