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Barton-under-Needwood
Village
Grapevine
Page last update on 19 June 2008
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BBC Big Picture of Staffordshire
Dig out your photo albums, and start snapping!
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The BBC is trying to create a picture of life in Staffordshire 2008 by accepting as many photos as possible from the county's residents. And they need those photos as quickly as possible. They are calling this project 'The Big Picture'. The photos can be as simple as ones of your back garden or your front room - and you can be in them, or not. You can send in a photo of your local bus-stop, or favourite corner of your neighbourhood pub... or even your pets... or sights on your walks round the area. One man from Newcastle under Lyme submitted 5000 pictures! All photos are welcome, and there is no cost involved as all you have to do is post them on a website. All is explained on the BBC Staffordshire site. |
Just paste this web-address into your browser - www.bbc.co.uk/staffordshire/the_big_picture - and that also shows you how to submit your photos.
But - and this is the thing - you need to do it quickly, because the Big Picture project must finish on June 30th!
Okay - get snapping - it's your chance to make your garden/area/street famous!
19 June 2008
GETTING TO KNOW THE NEIGHBOURS
Vehicle leasing specialist Flexible Vehicles will be getting into the community spirit on the 21st June by joining in with the annual Barton-Under-Needwood Open Garden Festival. The Barton based company will be sponsoring the Teddy Extravaganza’s Ballistic Bear ride in aid of local charities including Barton schools and church fund . A flexible vehicle in itself, the Ballistic Bear Ride will be providing a hair-raising cannon ball ride for participating teddy bears as part of the village celebrations at Barton Parish Church.
Having recently relocated to new premises in Barton under Needwood, Directors Phil Roberts and Adam Mellor are on a mission to get to know their neighbours. Adam said, “As a business based in a small community like Barton-under-Need wood, we felt it important to get to know both business and residential neighbours. First and foremost in our plan was to get involved with some local charities and the Open Garden Festival was a perfect opportunity to get into the community spirit”.
Flexible Vehicles have also decided to start sourcing suppliers in Barton and the surrounding area “from IT support to printing and staff we felt it important to invest locally”. As the company expands, Flexible has taken on two new staff: administrator, Aletta Weir from Stapenhill and Marketing Coordinator, Victoria Melbourne from Burton. Adam Mellor said, “It’s great to welcome onboard two new members of staff, to compliment our current team with some local expertise.”
NB: Flexible Vehicles will be available for interview/photographs at the Open Gardens press day at Barton Parish Church on Thurs 12th June from 1pm. For more information contact: Vicky Melbourne @ Flexible Vehicle Contracts Ltd
T : 0845 051 4440 M: 07817109980 E: vicky@flexiblevehicles.com W: www.flexiblevehicles.com
11 June 2008
MORRIS MEN BRING MUSIC & COLOUR TO SPRINGTIME IN BARTON UNDER NEEDWOOD
Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Men will be entertaining crowds at the attractive new Marina and in the village centre on Thursday evening, 15th May, when they bring their traditional music & colourful dances to Barton under Needwood. Their bright displays of traditional English dance with jangling bells, clashing sticks and flourished handkerchiefs can be seen at The Waterfront at Barton Turns Marina at 8 p.m. and the Shoulder of Mutton, Main Street, Barton under Needwood at 9 p.m.
Founded over fifty years ago, Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Men specialise in the dances of the Cotswolds that herald the arrival of Spring and those of the Lichfield tradition that were rediscovered and revived in the late 1950’s. The morris “side” was named after the origin of the club’s first recruits all of whom were connected with farming in the Needwood Forest area and had been taught Morris dancing by the late Jack Hutchinson, Uttoxeter’s renowned veterinary surgeon.
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“Dancing to entertain the
villagers of Barton under Needwood is one of the high spots of our programme
when so many people, young and old, come out to enjoy this reminder of the happy
traditions of England’s rural life” said Mac McCoig, squire of Uttoxeter Morris
Men.
For more information on Uttoxeter Morris Men contact John Arthur on (01335) 330812 and www.uttoxetermorrismen.org.uk Photo shows: Uttoxeter Morris Men limbering up at Uttoxeter for their Spring and Summer tours.
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30th. March 2008
Knitting for All
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Jenny Trigwell and Hazel Parker would like to know whether anyone in Barton, either individuals or groups, would be interested in knitting squares for charity. These would then be sewn together to make patchwork quilts or throws or blankets for the poor and cold elsewhere in the world. This would then be edged/fringed and, if you want, displayed during the Barton Arts and Crafts Exhibition in St James' Church in the summer at the time of Open Gardens/Teddy Extravaganza/Scarecrow Events. This could be a very sociable and enjoyable charity activity to do during the winter months and then maybe use the church hall for a "sewing bee" where we can chat and sip tea while stitching the squares together. If anyone has any spare wool, of any colour, it could be collected and distributed around the village and then collected when the squares are finished. So far we have had a wonderful response, I think because it" ticks all the boxes":
The end product can be raffled or sold and the money can go to a charity of your group’s choice. To date we have eleven groups and many, many individuals enjoying taking part. |
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Neat “Springy” SquareDirections for making a 4” by 4” square Double knitting wool size 4mm (size 8 old) This method is: N.B. Any wool and any needle will work as long as you measure the side. Wool and pins are available free of charge. |
Contact numbers for anyone interested - Hazel Parker 01283 712002 Jenny Trigwell or 01283 713426
8 February 2008
A Huge Thank You
Dear Friend of Thomas Russell Juniors,
Thomas Russell Junior School is going to get a roof over the Pool!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who called the voting line, and thank you for getting your friends, family and colleagues to vote also.
The man from the Big Lottery Fund said that although he couldn't give us the final number of votes we received (as this information was the property of Central ITV!) - He did say that our response was phenomenal!
The work can now begin - as we have to spend the money by March 2008 and the Big Lottery want to come back in spring and film the results.
The Friends, staff and children at Thomas Russell Junior School
4 December 2007
VOTE for Thomas Russell Junior School Pool on Thursday 29th November
The Friends of Thomas Russell Junior School have applied for a lottery grant, through the Big Lottery Fund, the Peoples millions for their outdoor swimming pool.
It has been announced that the Swimming Pool Roofing and Refurbishment Project has reached the final stage of the Central News Peoples Millions Lottery funding. Our project is one of eight competing for £80,000 lottery funding. We will be going head to head with another competing project to be televised on Central News on THURSDAY 29th November at 6.00pm. If they win enough votes they will get just under £80,000 so they can upgrade the pool, add disabled facilities, put a roof over it, provide solar heating and open it to the public and local community groups.
They need people to register because they will only finding out the voting phone number on the morning of the 29th at 9.00 am (voting line will be open from 9.00am through to midnight on the 29th November) and will need to secure as many votes as possible on that day. The project with the most telephone votes received out of the two competing projects on that day will win the £80,000 lottery funding.
The school is up against a semi-professional organisation from Birmingham so they have their work cut out. They have set up a (simple) web-site www.pool4all.org and people can register their support by e-mailing them at votefor@pool4all.org with you telephone number and they will call you or text you with the number to vote with on that day. Details of the voting are available on the Peoples Millions site; calls are charged at National Rates.
22 November 2007
Register for New style concessionary travel passes from Thursday 29th November at Barton Library
Staff of East Staffs Borough Council will be at Barton Library in Dunstall Lane on alternate Thursdays from 29th November 2007 until 21st February 2008 between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm to take your details and photograph for the new style concessionary travel passes which come into effect on 1 April 2008.
22 November 2007
BARTON MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST JAMES
We welcome you to the third season of the Barton Music & Art Festival. We hope that it will enjoy your support as a community project. This year all the events are taking place in the Parish Church of Saint James Barton-under-Needwood. The programme of concerts & exhibitions for the 2007-2008 Season has been made possible by support from The Waterfront at Barton Marina.
John Taylor was the eldest of triplets born in Barton about the year 1480. He and his two brothers were educated under the patronage of Henry VII. John later became Master of the Rolls under Henry VIII. John gave money to build the church, construction began in 1517 and consecration in 1533. The church was enlarged in 1864 when the side aisles were widened and the gallery was taken away. Saint James became a Parish Church in 1881. Before that it had been a Chapel of Ease in the Parish of Tatenhill. In 2008 we celebrate the 475th Anniversary of the consecration of the Church.
Tickets for individual concerts can be pre-booked from the Box Office by post for collection in church on the evening of the concert. Cheques should be made payable to St James' Church, Barton. All seats are unreserved and are available 45 minutes before every concert. Barton Music & Art Festival Box Office 14, Station Road, Barton under Needwood, Staffordshire DE 13 8DR. For information telephone 01283 712593 or email info@bartonmusicandartsfest.co.uk
Concerts & Exhibitions 2007 -2008
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Adult |
16 & Under |
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Concerts |
Date |
Time pm |
Cost |
Cost |
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Newhall Band |
Sat 06 Oct 07 |
7.30 |
£6 |
£3 |
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1940s Concert |
Sat 24 Nov 07 |
7.30 |
£6 |
£3 |
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Needwood Singers |
Sun 16 Dec 07 |
7.00 |
£6 |
£3 |
| St James Christmas Carol Service | Sun 30 Dec 08 |
3.30 |
Free |
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Songs from the Shows |
Sat 26 Jan 08 |
7.30 |
£6 |
£3 |
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Candlelit Tour |
Fri 01 Feb 08 |
7.30 |
£3 |
£1 |
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Derby Cathedral Choristers |
Sat 23 Feb 08 |
7.30 |
£6 |
£3 |
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Camille Farrar & Friends |
Sat 15 Mar 08 |
7.30 |
£6 |
£3 |
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Gresley Male Voice Choir |
Sat 12 Apr 08 |
7.30 |
£6 |
£3 |
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Tanya Hilton |
Sat 17 May 08 |
7.30 |
£6 |
£3 |
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Chicago Teddy Bear Society |
Fri 20 Jun 08 |
7.30 |
£10 |
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| St James 475 Anniversary Service | Sun 29 Jun 08 |
10.30 |
Free |
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Season Ticket to admit to all concerts |
£50 |
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| Exhibitions | ||||
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Arts & Crafts by Local Artists |
Sat 24 Nov – Sun 25 Nov 07 |
2.00 |
Free |
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Sat 1 Dec – Sun 2 Dec 07 |
2.00 |
Free |
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Local Artist Tahereh Mirfattahi |
Sat 12 Apr – Sun 13 Apr 08 |
2.00 |
Free |
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Kara Strachan Artist |
Sat 21 Jun – Sun 22 Jun 08 |
1.00 |
Free |
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Arts & Crafts by Local Artists |
Sat 24 Nov – Sun 25 Nov 07 |
2.00 |
Free |
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Sat 1 Dec – Sun 2 Dec 07 |
2.00 |
Free |
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15 October 2007
BARTON’S £28,000 ASH TREE ROAD ‘POCKET PARK’ OPENING
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(l-r) Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company; Landscape Architect and Project Manager Ed Sharkey of Ed Sharkey Associates; Adrian Wedgwood Vice-Chairman Barton Parish Council. |
A gathering of villagers, Parish Councillors, sponsors and contractors to witness the opening of the Ash Tree Road Pocket Park. In the fore ground left to right Ed Sharkey, Adrian Wedgwood and Sophie Churchill.
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Best Kept Village Award winning Barton under Needwood’s latest environment friendly ‘green’ project, the new £28,000 ‘Pocket Park’ at Ash Tree Road, will be opened officially by Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company at 11.00 on Thursday 17th. May.
Gifted to Barton Parish Council as an open space by a developer in 1999, the one-acre plot at Ash Tree Road is surrounded by houses and crossed by a busy footpath used by villagers to get to school and the local shops. It is the last parcel of former meadow land within the built up area of this popular and picturesque village. Last year local residents campaigned to prevent the area’s ‘green lung’ becoming a housing development and a small community-based team lead by Barton-born professional landscape architect Ed Sharkey has created a green oasis of attractive native shrubs, bulbs, wild flowers and grassy glades with golden gravel paths leading to a large oak tree as a central, crowning, feature.
With grants totalling £27,700 from the Staffordshire Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, the Borough of East Staffordshire, Argos PLC, the National Forest Company and the Pinners Patch Charity of Barton, together with in-kind contributions from Aggregate Industries and Ed Sharkey Associates the area has been transformed by Shareshill based landscape specialists Jack Moody Ltd. into an attractive ‘pocket park’ for quiet recreation.
Sophie Churchill, Chief Executive of The National Forest Company who’ll be unveiling the park’s interpretation board, said “Ash Tree Road Pocket Park now forms part of the rich mosaic that’s transforming the two hundred square mile area covered by The National Forest. The park will be a pleasant spot in the middle of a major housing area for present and future generations to enjoy. I am delighted that it will also be used by local schools as part of their environmental studies”.
Parish Councillor Adrian Wedgwood, who spearheaded the fund-raising campaign, commented “We’re enormously grateful for the financial support of our funding partners and Ed Sharkey Associates’ expertise without which this exciting scheme would not have happened, and we’re looking forward to Summer when everybody in our community can be proud of the green shoots of Ash Tree Road Pocket Park”.
More information: Landscape Architect and Project Manager Ed Sharkey of Ed Sharkey Associates 01283 713124 and 07973 151820. Adrian Wedgwood 01283 713125 and 07939 136937. Glenis Johnson PA to Sophie Churchill The National Forest Company 01283 552559 www.nationalforest.org
11 May 2007
EIGHTH BARTON BEER FESTIVAL
Saturday 2nd June sees the 8th Annual Barton Beer Festival take place at the Holland Sports Club in Barton under Needwood. Starting at 12:00 Noon the Festival will run through until 11pm, or at least ‘Whilst Stocks Last’! This popular family based event has a reputation for attracting folk along and making a busy but fun time for all so it is best not to leave it too late before venturing down to partake of the waters.
There will be 12 or 14 different ales on sale, with some of the regular old favourites on board such as Black Sheep Special, Ringwoods Old Thumper and Timothy Taylors Landlord. This year the Barton Beer Festival will hopefully feature two brews from the Humpty Dumpty Brewery at Reedham in Norfolk: Humpty Dumpty Ale and King John Ale.
The organisers ran the first beer festival in Barton as part of the Millennium Festival Week in the 2000 celebrations, but it proved so popular that it has continued to be an annual attraction to the Village. Everyone is invited so come along and bring family and friends with you for what promises to be a wonderful afternoon (the sunshine has been ordered).
As usual, drinkers will pay a £2.50 entrance fee and in return will receive a free glass and access to purchase the festival ales for £2 a pint. Hot food will be available throughout the day. Any questions or enquiries: Call Steve Gardner on 01283 713464
2 May 2007
‘EYE’ CELEBRITY OPENS £300,000 DEVELOPMENT
Barton Village Hall’s £300,000 development project, providing major improvements and benefits to users, will be opened officially by the UK’s best loved cartoonist, TV and radio personality Bill Tidy MBE at 7.30 p.m. on Friday 23rd. March 2007 attended by a large gathering of representatives of village organisations, community users and funders of the project that started last Spring.
Now, the impressively spacious timber clad bright new entrance to the Hall will be coming into use bringing with it valuable circulating space for users of Barton under Needwood’s foremost community building and many other improvements including a ground floor Parish Council office, comfortable new small meeting room, refurbished toilets, disabled access to the first floor Robert Douglas Room and new public toilets with access for all from outside the Hall.
Well known for ‘The Cloggies’ irreverent cartoon strip in Private Eye together with the “Fosdyke Saga” and “Kegbuster” for CAMRA’s Whats Brewing Bill Tidy is known as a defender of threatened serious pleasures of life and is famed also for his numerous quick draw TV and Radio appearances including “This is Your Life”, “Quick on the Draw”, “Celebrity Squares”, Blankety Blank” and “Countdown”.
Completed at a cost of £298,000 the ambitious project designed by Lichfield based architects, Brownhill Hayward Brown and built by Greenhill Construction (Derby) Ltd., will keep the twenty year-old hall at the forefront of the community and, by maintaining its attractiveness to village users and outside hirers, ensure its future sustainability.
Funding for this impressive community project has come from Barton under Needwood Parish Council, DEfRA’s Rural Development Programme, the Staffordshire Environmental Fund, the Community Council of Staffordshire, Argos Distribution, Awards for All, Cllr Tim Corbett through Staffordshire County Council’s Local Members Initiative and the Pinner’s Patch Charity of Barton, with the generous provision of numerous building materials provided by Aggregate Industries plc.
Vic Trigwell, village hall chairman, said “Our village hall team and Barton Parish Council have worked hard to bring these major improvements to our popular Village Hall and we’re most grateful to all our funders that have made these major improvements possible”. “We’re confident that local clubs and organisations who have put up with the inevitable disruption of building works, will benefit from these improvements with even more being attracted to what must surely be the best village hall in the area and anyone interested in hiring the hall should contact Susan Shorten on 01283 711808” he added.
For more information on
Barton Village Hall contact Vic Trigwell on 01283 713426 or 07813 934799.
Information on Bill Tidy MBE can be found at
www.billtidy.com
18 March 2007
FEATURE OAK TREE PLANTED AT BARTON’S NEW £27,000 ‘POCKET PARK’
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(l-r) Julie Evans (senior external funding officer
Staffs. County Council); Neil Morries (Jack Moody Ltd); |
Best Kept Village Award winning Barton under Needwood is recognising its Needwood Forest heritage and position at the heart of the National Forest by planting today a large English Oak tree as the central, crowning, feature of the village’s new £27,000 ‘Pocket Park’ project on which work is making good progress. Designed by Barton born professional Landscape Architect & Environmental Consultant, Ed Sharkey, the one-acre Pocket Park off Arden Road and in the middle of established housing will be a green oasis of attractive native shrubs, bulbs, wild flowers and grassy glades with golden gravel paths leading to the large English Oak tree as a central, crowning, feature of a Birch-tree grove. Ed Sharkey, pocket park project manager for land-owners Barton Parish Council said “The English Oak, the longest-lived of our great native trees, is the symbol of our new National Forest and reminds us of Barton’s heritage as a major lodge & community for the Royal visitors that came regularly to nearby Needwood Forest”. “Our new oak tree will grow to support a huge biodiversity during its two or three hundred year lifetime and will provide local children with further reminders of our history of wooden shipbuilding and the use of English oak in our great cathedrals” he added. |
Work by Staffordshire-based landscape specialists Jack Moody Ltd. started on the project last month and paths, bollarding and other landscape features are now in place. Neil Morries, contracts manager, commenting on progress said “The recent extremely wet weather has made the land difficult to work so plans to complete the rest of the tree & shrub planting prior to Christmas have been postponed and it is now expected that completion of the initial phase will be early in 2007 with plans for an official opening in May when the green shoots of spring have brought the park to life”
Principal funding for the £27,700 project has been provided by the Staffordshire Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (SALGS). This Government funded initiative, a key objective of which is to compensate local communities for the impacts of aggregate extraction, is run in Staffordshire by the County Council.
Within their Central Rivers Initiative, aimed at improving the corridors of the Rivers Trent & Tame between Burton & Tamworth and seeing the local communities benefit, the scheme provides grants for improvements to access, recreational provision and community based nature conservation.
Julie Evans, Staffordshire County Council’s senior external funding officer, said “Barton under Needwood is affected severely by aggregate extraction and we are delighted to support the community’s Ash Tree Road Pocket Park where a sustainable ‘green lung’ and conservation area is being created out of a piece of derelict ground for future generations to enjoy”
Meanwhile, neighbours and Barton’s successful Police Community Support Officer have teamed up to keep watch over the park as it grows. PCSO Steve Smith said “Together with Ash Tree Road Pocket Park’s neighbours, who are proud of the exciting transformation of this piece of derelict land, we’ll be keeping watch over the Pocket Park’s progress in the months ahead and anyone who sees any undesirable activity or damage should contact me at 0845 30 20 10 so that the neighbourhood policing team can help protect the park for future generations to enjoy”.
More information: Landscape Architect and Project Manager Ed Sharkey of Ed Sharkey Associates 01283 713124 and 07973 151820.
14 December 2006
WELCOME TO OUR ‘NEW’ VILLAGE HALL
It is wonderful to be able to let you know that early in December, the new doors at the Village Hall will be in use and you will all be able to start benefiting from the major improvements that have taken place since May. More info
7 November 2006
BARTON’S ASH TREE ‘POCKET PARK’ DREAM COMES TRUE
East Staffordshire’s Best Kept Village Award winning Barton-under-Needwood launches its latest environment friendly ‘green’ project at 12 noon on Wednesday 8th November when, in the presence of some of the project’s funding partners and local supporters, the first sod will be cut in the village’s £27,000 Ash Tree Road Pocket Park, at the junction of Ash Tree Road and Arden Road.
Gifted to Barton Parish Council as an open space by a developer in 1999, the one-acre plot at Ash Tree Road is surrounded by houses and crossed by a busy footpath used by villagers to get to school and the local shops. It is the last pocket of former meadow land within the built up area of this popular and picturesque village. Earlier this year local residents campaigned to prevent the area’s ‘green lung’ becoming a housing development and a small community-based team proposed the creation of a recreation space with the site held in Trust by the Parish Council.
Now, thanks to grants totalling over £27,000 from the Staffordshire Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, the Borough of East Staffordshire, Argos PLC, the National Forest Company and the Pinner’s Patch Charity of Barton, the fallow land is to be landscaped and transformed into an attractive ‘pocket park’ for quiet recreation.
Designed by Barton born professional Landscape Architect & Environmental Consultant, Ed Sharkey, Ash Tree Pocket Park will be a green oasis of attractive native shrubs, bulbs, wild flowers and grassy glades with golden gravel paths leading to a large oak tree as a central, crowning, feature. “It’ll be a pleasant oasis in the midst of a major housing area for future generations to enjoy quiet recreation and for Barton Junior School’s ‘eco-warriors’ to study environmental issues” said Ed Sharkey.
Following competitive tenders, Shareshill based landscape specialists Jack Moody Ltd. will be starting work on 20th November with completion scheduled, weather permitting, by the end of December.
Adrian Wedgwood, who spearheaded the fund-raising campaign and with Ed Sharkey will be cutting the project’s first sod, said “We’re enormously grateful for the financial support of our funding partners, without whom this exciting scheme would not be taking place, and we’re looking forward to Spring next year when everybody in our community can be proud of the green shoots of Ash Tree Road Pocket Park”.
More information: Landscape Architect and Project Manager Ed Sharkey of Ed Sharkey Associates 01283 713124 and 07973 151820 or Parish Councillor Adrian Wedgwood 01283 713125 and 07939 136937.
7 November 2006
The Holland Sports Club combat Dog Fouling on the sports fields areas with a new – Anti Dog Fouling Campaign !
The Holland Sports Club at Barton are shortly to implement their campaign to stop the fouling of the sports field areas by dogs, and are appealing to the community for support as they try to tackle this terrible problem
Over recent years there has been a massive increase in the number of people bringing dogs onto the Holland Sports Club fields, but as most will appreciate, the increase in the amount of excrement left laying around is a terrible hygiene problem, especially when you consider that all of the sports field areas are used by young children as well as adults.
The HSC have nothing against dogs whatsoever, but of late the problem his increased dramatically and now something has to be done. The club have had new anti dog fouling signs made which will shortly be put into position, asking all visitors to the fields to keep dogs on leads at all times and to stick to the footpath areas.
A lot of dog owners are very good and thoughtful today, ready to clean up after their pets, but there is always a minority who don’t seem to care, and it only takes a handful of dogs leaving waste on a daily basis and the problem is soon out of hand.
The Holland Sports Club wants to provide sporting facilities for the young people of Barton and the surrounding area, that are kept in a clean and hygienic state, please help the club by giving your support and assistance in this matter, where applicable.
NO DOGS WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE SPORTS FIELDS AREAS, AND DOGS MUST BE KEPT ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES AND RESTRICTED TO THE FOOTPATH AREAS WHILST CROSSING THE FACILITIES
17 May 2006
BARTON'S FAMOUS FINGERPOST GOES NORTH FOR RESTORATION
An ancient roadside fingerpost, possibly the oldest in Staffordshire, is being up-rooted in Barton under Needwood this week and despatched to Cumbria for conservation. The 110 year-old roadside landmark is heading North to have new cast-iron fingers to replace rotting wooden ones put in after the risk of invasion in the last war had passed.
The fingerpost, opposite the "Shoulder of Mutton" in Barton, will be dug up by Signpost Restoration Ltd, Britain's only specialist restorer of cast-iron signposts, at 12:45 on Wednesday 8 February 2006 and taken North to their works at Lanercost in Cumbria for a £2,000 conservation project.
Erected originally in the late 1890's where the War Memorial now stands in Barton's historic centre, the black & white landmark has stood sentinel at the road junction and guided travellers for more than a Century.
Moved to its present location in 1919 to make way for the War Memorial, the fingerpost suffered some indignity when its original fingers were cut off so that any foreign invaders in the Second World War might be frustrated in their search for the quickest route to Yoxall, Tatenhill or Burton.
Post-war replacement wooden fingers and cast letters, including those directing travellers to the long-gone Barton & Walton Station, are rotting and the cast-iron curiosity in this photogenic spot is in need of restoration.
Now, thanks to an initiative by 32 year-old Barton Civic Society and principal funding from East Staffordshire Borough Council's WASPS scheme, Staffordshire County Council's Local Member's Initiative together with generous private donations, the fingerpost is being restored to its original condition and is expected to return ready for unveiling in May.
Arthur Kennedy, Civic Society chairman, said "Barton Civic Society has been concerned about the deterioration of this fine piece of Barton's heritage and, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we're thrilled to be restoring this historic landmark to its original condition for future generations to learn from and enjoy"
More information contact: Arthur Kennedy 01283 712895 and David Gosling 016977 41829 at www.signpost-restoration.co.uk . Barton under Needwood information www.barton-underneedwood.org.uk
1 February 2006
DEVELOPMENT MOVEING AHEAD WITH PLANNING CONSENT & £8,000 GRANT FROM ARGOS
Exciting development plans to keep Barton-under-Needwood’s popular village hall in the forefront of the community are forging ahead with Planning permission given by East Staffordshire Borough Council and a grant of £8,000 from Argos’ community fund helping pay for detailed work needed to finalise costs and obtain grants for the building scheme.
Unveiled and acclaimed widely at a well attended public exhibition last February, Barton Village Hall’s development plan includes an eye-catching enlarged foyer eliminating present congestion, a Parish Council office on the ground-floor, additional small meeting room, disabled access to the first-floor Robert Douglas room, kitchen improvements and incorporating into the Hall new public toilets with direct access from Crowberry Lane.
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Announcing the next steps towards upgrading the near twenty year-old village hall, chairman Vic Trigwell said “We’re delighted with all the support we’ve had so far from the Village and East Staffs Borough Council. The scheme will maintain the hall’s popularity with existing users, attract new hirers to keep us self-sufficient and provide additional activities for local people”. “The striking new frontage to the Village Hall will also greatly enhance this central area when the new supermarket is eventually built” he added. Now that Planning consent has been received, Barton Village Hall’s management committee is refining its business plan for the years ahead and preparing detailed applications for grants that’ll top up their existing funds and promises of cash support for the near £200,000 project. First of the local businesses to come forward and support the community scheme is Argos with an £8,000 grant that’ll be used to press ahead with the detail needed for further consents and tenders to fix the project costs. Mark Jennings, manager of Argos’ depot at Barton Business Park, said "As the UK’s leading general merchandise retailer, with six hundred employees at our distribution centre in Barton, Argos is keen to support the local communities in which we operate and Barton Village Hall's exciting and forward-looking development plans will bring a long-term benefit to the village and all who live and work in this delightful place". |
 Vic Trigwell, Mark Jennings of Argos, David Sherratt. |
David Sherratt, chairman of Barton Parish Council, who together with Vic Trigwell received the £8,000 cheque from Mark Jennings of Argos at the Village Hall in Crowberry Lane, Barton, commented “ We’re very grateful to Argos for kick-starting our grant fund-raising for the imaginative development scheme, on which we’re aiming for building work to start next year, that’ll be essential to keeping the Hall well-used and sustainable in the years ahead”. “Other businesses and individuals who’d like to be seen spearheading this successful community enterprise should contact Vic Trigwell on 01283 713426 who’ll be pleased to discuss sponsorship and charitable giving opportunities” he added.
More information: Vic Trigwell 01283 713426 Mobile: 07813 934799 Email trigwells@aol.com or Adrian Wedgwood 07939 136937
Plea to get in touch with Barton Bowls and Social Club
Unfortunately we do not have a contact for Richard ? who played at Barton Bowls and Social Club, Dunstall Road, for our VJ Night on Saturday 13 August 2005.Would Richard please contact the Bowls Club on 01283 713946 or e-mail. the Secretary so that we can discuss possible future bookings for you at the Bowls Club.
30 August 2005
Grafton Cottage garden opens for charity
Peter and Margaret Hargreaves will be opening their Grafton Cottage garden in Barr Lane for charity again this year. They would like to thank all who visited their garden last year helping to raise £2,600 for charity allowing them to send cheques of £2,548 to the National Garden Scheme and £174 to the Lichfield Arts Festival. The National Garden Scheme supports Macmillan Cancer Relief and various other charities. Their garden will be open for the National Garden Scheme from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Sunday 19 June, Sunday 3 July and Sunday 7 August. The Sunday openings will have cream teas available as well as plants raised in the garden for sale. The garden will be open for the Lichfield Arts Festival from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm on Friday 15 July.
Grafton Cottage garden created and maintained by the owners has emphasis on scent, colour theme borders, unusual perennials, old roses with many varieties of clematis. A meandering stream adds delight. The garden has been featured on BBC2 and in various publications. For more information call 01283 713639 or visit http://www.ngs.org.uk/ngs-bin/gardenq2.cgi?gardenID=11343
13 June 2005
MORRIS MEN BRING MUSIC & COLOUR TO BARTON
Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Men will be entertaining Polling Day village crowds on Thursday evening, 5th May, when they bring their traditional music & colourful dance to Barton-under-Needwood. Their bright displays of traditional English dance with jangling bells, clashing sticks and flourished handkerchiefs can be seen outside the Royal Oak, Barton Green at 8:00 p.m. and the Shoulder of Mutton, Main Street, Barton under Needwood at 9:00 p.m.
Founded fifty years ago, Uttoxeter Heart of Oak Morris Men specialise in the dances of the Cotswolds that herald the arrival of Spring and those of the Lichfield tradition that were rediscovered and revived in the late 1950’s. The morris “side” was named after the origin of the club’s first recruits all of whom were connected with farming in the Needwood Forest area and had been taught Morris dancing by the late Jack Hutchinson, Uttoxeter’s renowned veterinary surgeon. “Dancing to entertain the villagers of Barton under Needwood is one of the high spots of our programme when so many people, young and old, come out to enjoy this reminder of the happy traditions of England’s rural life” said Charlie Hodkinson, squire of Uttoxeter Morris Men.
For more information on Uttoxeter Morris Men contact Keith Hutchinson on (01283) 761088 and www.uttoxetermorrismen.org.uk
22 April 2005
Get involved in Village Activities at Barton Village Hall
Barton is lucky to have one of the best village halls in the area. Join our Committee and get involved in running a good range of fun events for all ages. Just a bit of your time can help us make the most of this great asset. You could make a real difference.
Contact: Vic Trigwell on 713426 for a chat or leave your name for more information
11 April 2005
RESOUNDING VOTE IN FAVOUR OF VILLAGE HALL PLANS
Villagers in Barton under Needwood on Saturday gave a resounding vote in favour of plans to improve their popular Village Hall with hundreds reviewing displays of the plans at the village’s Post Office and Library and scores visiting a special exhibition to discuss the detail with representatives from the Village Hall committee and Barton Parish Council. Plans unveiled included an enlarged foyer eliminating the present congestion, a new ground-floor office for the Parish Clerk and committee meeting room, disabled access to the first-floor Robert Douglas room and incorporating into the Hall new public toilets still with direct access from Crowberry Lane.
Ninety-seven percent of the one-hundred and fifty questionnaires completed that morning confirmed residents’ belief that the well-publicised development proposals would benefit Hall users and the Community. Within the resoundingly favourable comments received were suggestions for further improvements to the exterior of the building, concerns about the location of a potential lift for disabled users and reservations on car parking congestion associated with the adjoining long-awaited retail development.
Vic Trigwell, Village Hall chairman commenting on the success of the public consultation said “We’re delighted by this overwhelmingly positive response to our proposals and the constructive comments we’ve received that we’ll be reviewing with our Architects and Quantity Surveyor before applying for Planning consent next month, our next step towards realising the vision for the future of Barton Village Hall”
Meanwhile the Hall development plans will remain on display in Barton Li