Minutes with the MP

By Helen Morgan – MP for North Shropshire

Over the past weekend, I spent a very enjoyable Saturday at the Oswestry Show. Everyone in North Shropshire, including in the towns like Oswestry, know how important agriculture and farming is to the economy and to our way of life here – events like agricultural shows put that on display in a fantastic way, despite less than ideal weather.

An issue that many of our farmers have raised lately is with trade deals being pushed through that put them at a disadvantage. Whether it is the government pushing through a deal that undercuts animal welfare standards and gives Australian and New Zealand farmers an advantage over our own, or the more recent debacle over battery farmed eggs from Mexico hitting British shelves, this is causing serious economic trouble for the industry.

On the Australia and New Zealand deal, the government wouldn’t even allow Parliament a vote, despite a move by Lib Dem MPs.

More recently, an issue on the home front raised by farmers has been with rural crime. According to the National Farmers Union Mutual, the cost of rural crime to Shropshire has more than doubled in the past year, now rising to £2 million. People often think of crime, especially petty crime, as an urban issue – but out here in North Shropshire it is prevalent in a different form.

At the Oswestry Show, we really saw the best of our farmers and agricultural industry, from sheep shearing contests and sheep dog trials to the fantastic meats, cheeses and products being enjoyed by spectators. People in our most rural communities work hard to feed the nation and as our MP, it acted as a good reminder of why it’s so important to keep banging the drum for British farming in Parliament.

Ceramics Classes

Get hands on with Clay

The Claypit is Oswestry’s new space for people to come and create with clay. It is a relaxed and friendly studio, designed just for clay, on the ground floor of the Cambrian Buildings, Coney Green. The Claypit offers adult tasters, classes and courses to suit all abilities from the complete beginner to people with existing clay skills. All classes and courses can be booked on their website. Coming soon is an exciting membership scheme available to people who can work independently with clay. Members will use Claypit facilities alongside each other sharing skills and creative ideas in a supportive environment. Groups, including family and friends, are able to arrange a unique Claypit experience with gift vouchers available. Classes have a maximum of 8 people so everyone can feel the benefit of individual guidance from Rachel, their experienced Claypit tutor. Feel the benefits of working with clay, get absorbed in the process, discover your creativity and leave feeling inspired.

Rachel Swift, founder and lead tutor at The Claypit, is a local ceramic artist. Rachel has been working with clay and ceramics for over 30 years. For a long time, she worked at the British Museum specialising in conserving and restoring ancient and modern ceramics from all over the world. She has exhibited her own ceramic work across the

UK, worked behind the scenes on incredible exhibitions and spent many summers on archaeological excavations that would make even Indiana Jones jealous! With a passion for clay that has been described as infectious, Rachel has the ability to guide and encourage anyone who wants to discover or learn more about clay.

At the Claypit people share the joy, successes and mishaps of making with clay in a welcoming, supportive environment. Working with clay has so many benefits. It can encourage mindfulness, quiet and calm. It can be thrilling and joyful. There are no boundaries in terms of who can work with clay. It’s for everyone.

Learning at the Claypit will give everyone who takes part the foundation skills needed to make with clay; from useful mugs and bowls, amusing or thought-provoking sculpture to beautiful fine works of art. Clay creations can be made on a potter’s wheels or by hand as people have been doing for thousands of years. The work made at the Claypit is fired to over 1000°C in the on-site studio kiln. Once fired in the kiln the clay turns into ceramic which is hard and strong. As part of The Claypit’s commitment to working in environmentally conscious ways people will be encouraged to keep and fire only what they truly love; fired clay will remain on the Earth for more than 20,000 years! The amazing thing about clay before it is fired, is that it can be recycled! All creations made at the Claypit that don’t get fired will be made soft again and the clay reused by someone else.

Come along, help us build our new clay-loving community, The Claypit Collective, and discover the wonderful world of clay for yourself.

For more information visit the website www.claypit.co.uk or contact Rachel rachel@claypit.co.uk