St Mary’s Church in Crosthwaite is working towards being an Eco Church and as part of this has identified a need to engage more with the local community.
We are two of three Churchwardens and are spearheading a drive to change hearts and minds of all residents to move further than we already do to become ‘greener’.
In July 2023 we invited local organisations in the village to look at ways in which we could work together on projects which might benefit both residents and the environment.
CLEAN is a product of this meeting which we plan to launch at a public meeting in September. Our objectives are outlined below. We want local people to get behind CLEAN and reap the benefits!
Community Lift Share scheme off to a great start
Following its launch we have 16 people willing to offer a lift to other residents using WhatsApp on their smart phones. If you would like to offer or request a lift, email Steven Brierley stevenjbrierley@yahoo.co.uk to receive an invite to join the scheme.
We are particularly looking for people to join who live in Hubbersty Head, Bowland Bridge, Foulshaw and Gilpin Bridge.
We are delighted to be able to extend the scheme to residents of the parish who don’t have a smart phone or don’t use WhatsApp. Just contact Steven Brierley on 07470 169890 and he will forward your request to those in the scheme. Please pass on this news to others who may need it.
Homeowners Share Energy Saving Technology Experience
Our panel of 9 householders who have installed energy saving technology in their homes are willing to open their doors to those considering doing the same to see the technology in action. Between them they can offer a range of home styles from new build, modern and traditional stone construction. These homes have a range of energy saving technology covering Solar Panels, Storage Batteries, Air Source Heat Pumps, Ground Source Heat Pumps and Biomass Boilers. Get in touch to visit real world installations and get honest, impartial advice. Call Steven Brierley on 07470 169890 or email stevenjbrierley@yahoo.co.uk
Cold to Cosy Homes
If your home is not as warm and dry as you would want it to be this winter why not see whether Cold to Cosy Homes could help? Advisers from this organisation have visited homes in our village to help with issues around damp, insulation and how to be more energy efficient …and it’s all for free! Contact our Cold to Cosy Homes Energy Champions for help or a referral:
Charlotte Robinson; 0778724641 Roger Smith: 07855 347295
Henk Muller: 07855 268922 Pat Howarth on 07765010252
Protect, Conserve and Improve our Environment
Have a look at the Biodiversity Action Plan on our website, developed in consultation with local residents. It covers how to garden to help wildlife, ensuring our rivers are kept free of harmful chemicals, helping local birdlife, butterflies, bees and small mammals. We have a plan to improve St. Mary’s church grounds and are looking for volunteers to join a working party. Watch this space for events which will educate you and inspire you to get involved. Call Pat Howarth on 07765 010252 to volunteer.
Recycle, Reuse and Repair
Recycle your bread bags, used toothpaste tubes, batteries, pens, and crisp packets in the new recycling point in St Mary’s Church. These are given to Crosthwaite School which gets money for them. Look out for more recycling points coming soon!
Crosthwaite School is starting a Repair Shop and CLEAN wants to support this with volunteers with skills in sewing, woodworking and general DIY. If you can give any time to this, contact Maria Littlewood at Crosthwaite School.
CLEAN will be at the Crosthwaite Christmas Fair on 2 December.
Ideas and suggestions brought to two recent Biodiversity Brainstorm events, organised by CLEAN, have resulted in a draft plan which seeks to bring together a range of activities which we might like to see and make happen in our area. There are a lot of ideas here and a small number of brave souls did step up to volunteer to help. These things do not happen without people power!
Through CLEAN it is hoped that small groups of people might get together to plan and deliver some of these activities, and each group would have a coordinator who might work with Pat Howarth and Steven Brierley to promote and disseminate information, events and activities to raise awareness and get other residents ( including families and children) involved.
Pat is asking you to find some time to read through this action plan- it is quite long! - and consider which of the ideas contained in this document you might like to help with - even in a small way. We need practical people, people with information and technological skills, people with useful contacts and people who think that halting the decline in biodiversity is something they would like to support by giving some time.
Please consider how you could contribute and then get back to Pat, preferably by email ( howarth8hr@btinternet.com), or text (07765010252) or in person. It is only when we get volunteers and people willing to take on some responsibility for taking action, that some of these ideas will happen.
When she gets this deluge of offers, a final Biodiversity Plan will be produced which we can all work to and get things moving..
Thank you
Following on from the recent - and very positive-meeting at Crosthwaite School of Crosthwaite and Lyth Eco Action Network (CLEAN) we need to move forward on the Restoring Biodiversity agenda!
There is much that we can do locally in our gardens, in our community green spaces and in our surrounding environment to encourage wildlife, and manage our individual plots of land to support biodiversity. There are also opportunities for sharing produce, plants, tools, equipment which contribute to the ‘reduce waste and reuse’ agenda.
CLEAN is holding two Biodiversity Brainstorms at the Village Hall on Tuesday 17th October at 1.30pm and Monday 23rd October at 7.00 pm. Both meetings will follow the same format with the intention to share ideas of what we might do, how we might do it, how we communicate going forward and who might volunteer to get involved. Hopefully there will be something to spark your interest and enthusiasm!
All are invited to either of these brainstorm events!
Presentations, Advice, New Ideas and a Chance to talk to
Stall Holders about Eco Issues and Opportunities