Kirklees Coalmites!

Sunday 20 October was Incredible Edible Tottington's annual Pumpkin Fest. By the end of the day I never wanted to see another pumpkin again! The days before were filled with pumpkin scooping and pumpkin food making. The day before Paul cut he grass on Station Yard and sent my dad and I out litter picking to make he area nice. Several people stopped us to see what we were doing (I think they thought we were on community service). It was surprising what a difference was made in an hour. The amount of bottles we found in such a small area was surprising, especially empty wine bottles. It amazes me how people can think it is OK to leave these items in such a lovely bit of countryside. We also found a full wheel. After the litter was picked the leaves were blown from the area around Station Yard. The end result was really satisfying! It looked great.

Sunday went better than we could have hoped. The weather forecast was grim, but incorrect. We did have the odd shower but that didn't stop the fun. We had people coming from as soon as we set up, and they were still coming when we were tidying up. We had lots of families and the children loved it; campfires, pumpkin carving and messy clay model making area a favourite. The food went down a treat too. Next year someone else will have to wear the pumpkin outfit though. I wasn't much help, other than directing people, as I couldn't get near any of the tables or pick things up off the floor! It was feet up weigh a well deserved Asha curry and a bottle of red on Sunday night.

Incredible Edible Tottington had more positive news in the week. We were short listed for a Made in Bury environmental impact award. The awards ceremony is on November 22nd. Competition was stiff so it is a big well done to the group! Incredible edible also got a commended certificated from the Bury in Bloom community garden competition for the sensory garden. Tottington Wildlife Watch Group got one for their wildflower garden. I think that would have been a higher certificate if the judging hadn't been delayed until after the flowers had started to die!

Last night was the Bury and Districts Homewatch Confernce at the Elizabethan Suite at the town hall. This was very well attended and we had talks from the divisional Commander in Bury, Tim Forber, and Jim Battle, the deputy police and crime commissioner. Crime in the area is down, and he police have to make millions of pounds of cuts, but they still think prevention is the key. They are doing fabulous work recruiting police cadets at Broadoak High School. They also run a couple of 'youth clubs' (they didn't call them that) which have been very successful reducing anti-social behaviour in some areas.

Yesterday I noticed something odd had happened in Tottington. Miss Tootsie T (AKA The Lady in the bath or he belter by the Shelter) changed and new flowers were planted. My research (on Twitter, where else?) tells me that creatures called Kirklees Coalmites are also living in the bath. These started life a lumps of coal that ended up in Island lodge when a steam train spilt its load in the 1950s. In 2013 a wicked witch brought them back to life to do her chores, but they plan to escape! Apparently one of them (Iggy) has already managed it. I'm not sure what to make of it but watch this space!

I have booked some time off work for half term so I intend to have a good rest. Even @TottingtonLife might be quiet!

Pumpkins and lighting

My 'appearance' on the BBC Radio Manchester Breakfast Show was earlier than I expected. Someone let them down so I got to go on at short notice. I loved it, again, and found out that the Breakfast TV studio was just next door. It was great seeing guests go in and out.

The story of our 'Animal World First Date' was covered by the Bolton Evening News and then the Bury Times. I'm still upset that it had to be closed, the end of another era. Here is a link to the article.

The AGM of the Tottington Community Defibrillator Appeal took place last week. Although the three defibrillators have been up and running in the area since February 2013, the work isn't finished. I have to check them every two weeks, to make sure they are ready for use. This information is then sent to AED Locator who keep the database. The batteries and pads have a limited life so will have to be replaced from time to time, and these can be costly. The defibrillators themselves should last for several years. We have enough in the bank to take care of all this for now. Ideally we would like to also have a unit in Affetside. Affetside is the most rural part of Tottington District and could be difficult to reach quickly by ambulance. We have enough for half the unit (not much use) and we are looking at ideas to raise the remaining £1000. If anyone has any bright ideas please do let me know.

The pile of pumpkins in my house!

Immediately after that AGM I held the a final planning meeting for the Incredible Edible Tottington Pumpkin Fest (it saved me booking the room twice and leaving home twice). This will be held on Sunday 20 October 2013 from 2pm at Station Yard field, off Kirklees Street in Bury. This year leaders from Tottington Wildlife Watch Group (TWIGs) will be there to run the pumpkin carving, clay and vegetable modelling and apple bobbing. There will be plenty of food to taste! I'm really hoping for a dry day. The event was a great success last year as the sun was out. Please come along and say hello. My pumpkin outfit will be having another airing.

Another night last week (I had meetings every night!) I went to the of the Friends of Parks and Open Spaces meeting at Bury Adult Learning Centre. These have been difficult meetings lately while the Ranger Service was being severely cut due to the government cuts. Bury now has three rangers covering the Borough. This has had a detrimental effect on the groups attending the meeting. Two of the rangers attended the meeting and they were able to tell us how they could help us in the future. I had attended particularly to find out how voluntary groups, such as Incredible Edible Tottington, could be insured. Although the process will not be straightforward, there are ways for groups like ours to be insured while carrying out tasks such as community gardening. I was over the moon. The cuts have affected everyone, and for a solution to this problem to be found was more than I expected. Our group might not be able to carry out our tasks for a few weeks while we sort out the details, but the group will be able to continue. Without the solution we would not have been able to keep going for longer than a couple of years due to the cost of public liability insurance.

Last Friday was the spectacular Bury Light Night. This was a huge hit and the town centre seemed to be full

Bury Art Gallery

of families spending time together enjoying themselves. I preferred the Parish Church side of the town. The outside of the church was lit with lanterns, and there was harp playing in the
grounds. I particularly liked the Briar Rose projection onto Castle Armoury, and the art museum was great too. This event was a big plus for Bury.

Bury Light Night

I'm writing this while watching the Bury Council meeting streamed live onto my TV (how rock and roll am I?). It is a bit unnerving at times; when one of the Councillors looks me in the eye my first thought is that they can see me too! Some good news has come out in the meeting. Bury Council has won a gold award in Britain in Bloom (its first) and they have also been awarded a special discretionary award for recycling. I love the displays in Bury town centre. My favourite is the display on the 'roundabout' at the end of Peel Way and Bolton Street. The large wheelbarrow, tools and 'grow your own' plot are brilliant.

I'm still busy next week. At the moment I have a pile of 40+ pumpkins to scoop out, and make food with the flesh! Come along to Pumpkin Fest for my pumpkin pie.

When Pumpkin Fest is over I have The Bury and Districts Homewatch Association Conference to think about. This will be held on Thursday 24 October 2013 at the Elizabethan Suite in the town hall. Doors open at 6.30pm so people can browse the various information stands, and the conference starts at 7pm. These are really interesting events; a couple of years ago there was a fascinating talk about cannabis farming. This year the Chief Superintendent of Bury, Tim Forber, will be speaking, along with the deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Jim Battle. The event is free and open to all. Information about starting Homewatch groups will be available, but people who are interested in looking after their communities and keeping them safe will find it interesting. Please come along on Thursday. I'll be there, and there will be a raffle too. Yesterday I was at a meeting at the GMP Headquarters at Central Park in Manchester. This was to discuss the forming of a Greater Manchester Homewatch Association, something that would benefit the small local groups. More on that in the next few months.

Bury Metro station

I'm only an hour and a half into the live stream of the council
meeting, but I always like to see the end too! We are on to the temporary closure of Victoria Metrolink Station in Manchester....