…because it’s Mansfield in Bloom Day. The judges are touring the whole of the District to assess the floral displays and the Best Gardens and parks. I am attending in my role as a member of Friends of Peafield Park, to show the judges how much our park means to us and to prove our involvement.

I was out litter-picking today in readiness for the visit and it was encouraging to see so little litter around, both on the estate and in the park. Perhaps the message is finally getting across, that litter is an eyesore and spoils the estate and park for others. We must keep our fingers crossed that Mansfield will win the ‘Small City’ award, which is to be announced next month at a ceremony in Chester.

….and Britain is still a tip, according to the Express, which claims that councils are ‘either unable or unwilling to get to grips with fly-tipping and littering’.

Here in Mansfield we have a special project to address the issues of litter and fly-tipping; to report fly-tipping, graffiti, abandoned cars or other environmental crimes, call the Grimebusters hotline on 01623 463463.

There have been a number of prosecutions this year, with fines upwards of £500 in some cases.  

All I can say is ‘Thank Heavens for MDC’s Grimebusters initiative’

Whenever the grass mowing teams arrive to mow the grass verges in Leeming Ward, they seem to pay litttle heed to the litter including beer and pop cans, plastic bottles and the like. They ride their mowing machines over the whole lot and leave sharp shards of metal and plastic around on the play areas with, apparently, little thought for children who might play there.

The following story picked up from The Mirror by way of the LGA website tells a vastly different story.

‘PLASTIC FLOWERS BANNED FROM GRAVEYARD  - A council has banned plastic flowers from a graveyard on health and safety grounds. Keynsham Town Council officials say it could be dangerous if they get caught in lawnmowers and spray bits of plastic around.’

What happened to the ‘happy medium’? Why is there no middle ground?

….This is scarey stuff!!

Commenting on today’s publication of the Government’s siting assessment for new nuclear power stations, which says that they could be built in areas at risk from flooding, tsunami and erosion, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Webb said:

“The Government appears to have abandoned common sense when it comes to new nuclear power.

“Ministers are so desperate to get new nuclear plants going, they are willing to look at sites at risk of falling into the sea.

“This irresponsible approach has all the hallmarks of a Government in a hurry.

“They are sweeping aside any local accountability in the planning system, and now they are willing to consider nuclear plants even in areas at risk of storm surge, tsunami and coastal erosion.”

….is, I am sad to report, on the verge of closure. Wendy Radford, an artist who runs the rescue centre, is unable to carry on her sterling work in raising and freeing wildlife due to a lack of funds.

You may recall that the starling that I raised from a chick was taken in by Wendy for her to continue the care prior to his release. The Cedar Wildlife Centre is kitted out with huge aviaries and the work Wendy and her family have done in rearing bird species as diverse as magpies, sparrows and swans is recognised by the RSPB.

I gave her a donation to help her work, but without further donations from supporters, the wildlife of Ashfield and Mansfield will suffer a sad fate indeed. People such as Wendy are few and far between and the demise of Cedar Wildlife Centre will be detrimental to injured and homeless birds and animals.

If you can, please help to keep this wonderful facility open. The centre is at 25 Cedars Avenue, Kirkby-in-Ashfield. Tel:01623 468112

Thanks.

…………was very satisfying and enjoyable. There were upwards of 30 people from various Friends Groups from across Nottinghamshire and it was great to host the event in this year of the Green Flag for Peafield Park.

The company was good, the groups’ news updates were informative, the lunch was tastey and the walk around Peafield Park was health-giving and rewarding. The sun shone for us,   Ludborough Walk Community Centre was the perfect venue and everyone said they had enjoyed it. 

I must give particular thanks to Councillor Jill Usher who manned the tea-pot and the coffee cups with aplomb and even did all the washing up. Thanks also to the Greenwood Team for their meticulous planning, making the event go smoothly.

…….A team of youngsters undertook Restorative Justice yesterday on the park, picking litter in lieu of fines for various offences. In the company of two Neighbourhood Wardens they repaid their fines by way of litter-picking.

A good scheme, which has the added beneficial effect of teaching kids the error of their ways, whether it is under-age drinking, littering or other misdemeanour.

Friends of Peafield Park are hosting the Greenwood Friends Forum tomorrow so this litter pick in the park is well-timed; when we take our walk in the park, it will be good to show off how clean and tidy it is, so ‘thanks’ to the team of workers.

….wind farms would be capable of providing up to 15% of the world’s future energy needs.

Once windmills are installed, wind can be converted to electricity inexpensively. But not everyone likes wind farms.  Some feel that the giant blades mar scenic views; they can kill birds and bats, particularly if they are located on a ‘flight path’. To minimise these risks, one solution would be to place wind farms in the ocean rather than merely off-shore. Winds tend to blow more strongly over the ocean than over land.

This could be the perfect answer to the planet’s dwindling resources. There is, after all, a finite amount of natural energy available to mankind and I really don’t like the idea of nuclear power plants springing up all over the world. Apart from the problem of disposing of nuclear waste, we have to beware the threat posed by some powers that have nuclear capabilities.

Wind farms are so pure, don’t you agree? There is something so graceful about the windmills and they cause so little spoiling of nature. Some people argue against them, but if we don’t move forward we shall end up without power.

What if we had refused to acknowledge and embrace the internal combustion engine? ……. OK, I have to agree that horse-drawn loads are so much more pleasing to the eye then the endless trains of heavy haulage vehicles on our roads. (The waste product was also rather more useful than nuclear waste!)

There must be a solution to the world’s eternal need for power supplies and until a better answer is found, I will go with the wind farm.

….Peafield Park has been successful in its bid for the prestigious Green Flag. All the hard work and dedication by Friends of Peafield Park and local Councillors has paid off and we intend to celebrate!!!!! We missed out last year, but with the guidance of Kathryn, MDC’s Parks Development Officer, we managed it at our second attempt.

The Green Flag for parks is the equivalent of the Blue Flag awarded to beaches which  reach a level of excellence in their category. We are all so thrilled to have done it, but we have to keep up the good work - 2009 is just around the corner!

……some very happy faces.