Eden Local Issue 189

Welcome to your first Eden Local of 2023 and thank you for joining us for another year

It’s a slight change to our introduction for the start of the year - I managed to fit a little bit in about what I’ve been up to but this Eden Local, at its local level, is raising awareness of Avian Flu and what we can do. Prevention is key.

Firstly, I would like to wish you a happy new year and hope your Christmas was just as you hoped it would be, setting you up for 2023. I’ve mentioned on numerous occasions, as a dyslexic writer that producing this publication was born out of need to have something in Penrith and Eden to bridge the gap in the decline of affordable traditional print media.

It’s a challenge for me but also for my wife Charlotte who has to check everything I write before we print. A lot of my accuracy relates to the time of day that I write and at certain times of the day I can almost write normally; at other times I write and the interruptions I get distract me. This year I hope to do more solo pieces as we head towards our 200th publication in 2023.

We are still here as a free publication to read, posted through over 13,000 doors. We are also online to read for free, despite our costs rising by over 40% in the last 12 months to produce and deliver what is a free product. The dates for our deliveries in 2023 to 2024 are also online, as we propose to return to 12 Eden Locals in 2024. This issue has a strong theme centred around wildlife, and producing it early January, we hope to get a lot of people involved in the RSPB annual ‘big

garden bird watch’ which we have allocated our centre page to. We will continue our wildlife theme throughout 2023. This month we are over on the Cumbrian coast for our monthly wildlife instalment.

This issue reflects a lot on 2022, and in March we hope to have some information on the Unitary Council changes that take effect on 1st April. At present we have not been approached, and on making enquiries. I was informed in November there was no budget to get this information out to you at present.

How was Christmas for you? Sometimes it’s a bit different when Christmas lands on a weekend. As a family, we’ve not been that well prepared for a Christmas in a long while. We did go with a traditional fresh Turkey purchased locally from a butcher. Clouding over our Christmas day arrangements was of course the problems surrounding Avian Flu, then seeing prices rising due to shortages across the country. Our local purchase was actually a turkey from Wales! What’s happened to the Cumbrian Turkeys - does anyone know?

During these times of Avian Flu, whilst we hear about it, what do we really know about it? On checking the Government website and the APHA (Animal & Plant Health Agency) Interactive Avian Influenza Disease Map, there have been no reports in Cumbria, however, there is a controlled zone near Morecombe, and on page 8, Wetheriggs Animal Rescue Centre on the A66, 20 miles away from Kirby Stephen Avian Flu has landed.

When the temperature dropped recently preChristmas, people talked about the big freeze of 1962-63 when the sea froze over and it was said

that the UK lost 50% of the bird population. I couldn’t find any figures that are current for our wild birds and the effects Avian Flu has had since it first landed in the UK in 2021. On page 31 there are details on how to report any dead wild birds you find via the Government website.

Meanwhile, Terry Bowes, who many of you know was the man behind the Wetheriggs Animal Rescue that opened in 2006 at the old Wetheriggs Pottery, near Clifton Dykes, then had to move out of the area to its current home at Thorpe Farm on the A66 near Barnard castle. The old pottery site of course became a new housing development. We do have an appeal related to the Wetheriggs Animal Rescue Centre on page 8 on the effects of Avian Flu at the 15 acre site.

How has your year started and how did it end?

We set out as a business into what felt like turning the key of a 12 year old car sitting out the front of the house in all weathers, you know the one, it’s been driven the best part of 100,000 miles but as it hasn’t been used for a month do we know if it will it start?

Switching on the computer, the lights and then trying to get those wheels turning since the last magazine that we printed mid November, that was the December magazine edition. Well, it wasn’t the easiest of tasks but we did it. We’ve started 2023 two weeks ahead of where we were in 2022.

Admittedly I took a break once the deliveries were completed in December, I seized the opportunity to catch up and I was heading off on a long overdue trip that was originally planned in 2020, then 2021. Most of us may have experienced plans stopped or delayed due to Covid or other illnesses that have affected many of us during this time. I’m not the only person who had to postpone plans and put things on hold these past years.

ALL FOR ONE

Internationally a hotel group

Or a pop group with sixties real appeal

But there are other legends in this loop

Four Seasons is an easy brand to steal Quatre Saisons, Quattro Stagioni

Respectively French and Italian Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons eatery Pizza for eats Mediterranean Quattro Stagioni – Viva Aldi

Their pizza distinguished by four toppings

First concocted by Joe Garibaldi

At a Newcastle fairground, The Hoppings

He’s better known for his teatime biscuits And unification of Italy

To name his pizza he took no risk it Was out of copyright from Vivaldi

The cleric composed a fine four piece suite For violin noting each a season

In the beginning though from God a tweet Was the Word behind climatic reason Little he knew then that Adam’s offspring Though the ages would disregard his rules Scientific advances tampering With nature in the search for extra joules In Summer pavements melt, in Winter crack Temperatures more extreme have become How long before seasons are front to back? When will climate change render all four one?

Rex di Noci

January 10th 2023

The sad thing is that for so many of us, we didn’t know then that we’d had our last Christmas with someone that we would lose in that period of time. The scars of 2020/21 will need a lot more time to heal than just 2022 to begin again. On our first family holiday away from Penrith since 2019, my grandmother passed away the day before we returned.

Penrith is my home and has been for a very long time now, but there were two people I wanted to see before time ran out. One was a Primary school teacher, who found the best strengths in me as he did all of his pupils. He helped me overcome words like ‘ceiling’ when I was reading. He introduced me to Sir Patrick Moore. We had tea at his house one Sunday afternoon with three other lads, based on our interest in Astronomy.

Back in the days when three astronauts were back from the moon five years on and I was holding a piece of moon rock given to Patrick that was now in my hand. A few would question this today, but if we question what as a child I believed in then with regards to our 9 planets now being 8, we can’t change history as it was then, but we do have to adjust and accept changes we have no control over.

From primary school we move onwards, and in secondary education, just as I was finishing my CSE’s and ‘O’ level exams in June 1979, I was then looking for my first job part time. I had an interview with the store manager of our nearest Sainsbury store. I was questioned why I would give up playing football on Saturdays and other hobbies for a job. My answer then was I wanted to learn to drive and buy my first car. I was going to sixth form in the September that year and I needed to earn and save money.

I did get the job, I was offered two evening shifts 4.30pm starts finishing 8pm on Thursdays and 7pm on Fridays. Saturday mornings it was 8am till 1pm

at 88p per hour. It meant that my life would carry on as normal, I would continue to play football and do all my other activities. I decided not to go to sixth form in September, but I went full time at Sainsbury’s.

I bought my first car for £175, which I drove for the first time on my 17th Birthday. That same manager put me forward when I was 17 for trainee management, and at 18 and a half I became a very young assistant manager, moved into lodgings 60 miles away from home four weeks before Christmas.

My little trip to the south coast and back via other destinations was originally going to be on the train to see John my teacher, then Derek that store manager. It was planned for 2020 and then 2021. Before Christmas, I met John, my Primary school teacher, we had talked on the phone, in his 80s now we had a whole morning together and an afternoon the following day. I had pictures from those days but I’d forgotten about the moon rock, but I had remembered every shed and telescope in Patrick’s garden, the first time I saw Jupiter and Saturn.

I did get to meet Derek my first boss. Originally I was meeting him at his house, then he moved to care assisted housing. Now he is in full time care with his wife. It took a totally of 27 hours and 800 miles there and back, stopping at seven destinations meeting other friends too. Finally getting the opportunity to meet both of these people was quite a moment. For me it was the perfect Christmas whilst also setting me up for 2023.

I’ll be back late February to early March, thank you again for taking some time out with your Eden Local, Happy New Year to you from all the team. Lee

Animal Charity Faces Fight For Survival

A charity which operates one of the most popular visitor centres in the North East of England faces a fight for its very survival.

Wetheriggs Animal Rescue and Conservation Centre based within the Thorpe Farm Centre Complex on the A66 , almost on the County Durham- North Yorkshire border, is today appealing for support from The Public and DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to find a safe way through the restrictions imposed during the recent Avian Flu outbreak.

Avian Flu has decimated the wild bird population in the UK over recent years, each year becoming worse than the year before. Every autumn migrating flocks of birds travelling from Scandinavia and Russia to their wintering grounds south of us bring with them this virulent. The wetlands on the A66 being the perfect refuelling stop on migration for numerous species of Geese and Swans.

In the national news you will have seen that this virus, which affects all bird species, is also now rampant within our captive bird population, in particular hitting poultry flocks. Seasonally thousands upon thousands of Turkeys have either died of have been culled.

As a precaution, along with many other rescue centres, Wetheriggs temporarily stopped taking in wild bird casualties and visitors were asked to walk over disinfected mats. These measures were implemented so that the Wetheriggs’s birds would be safeguarded from the virus. But then the worst happened, a relatively small number of the birds at Wetheriggs exhibited symptoms of this nasty disease, DEFRA were called in and almost four hundred fit birds, showing no signs of the virus were euthanised. This was the worst day in the almost 19 year history of the Rescue Centre.

The risk to humans from Avian Flu is very small but as a precaution we had to close our doors to the public as required under the restrictions imposed on us. As it stands this could last for as long as a year.

The Centre is also home to numerous types of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Almost all of the revenue used to feed and maintain the approximately 500 remaining animals comes from the centre opening as a visitor attraction.

This is the third blow in a trilogy of disasters to hit the rescue centre over the last few years; like everyone in Britain “COVID”, then THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS with RISING COSTS, NOW THIS!

As a spokesperson for Wetheriggs Animal Rescue and Conservation Centre I would like to make a double appeal:-

Firstly to Friends , Supporters and The General Public for funds to feed and maintain our remaining animals.

Secondly to DEFRA for them to help us plan a way forward through this horrendous time.

The Rescue Centre has rented its present site from Thorpe Farm and has done so for over 8 years having moved from the historic pottery site near Penrith from which it got the name “Wetheriggs”, the Penrith location was outgrown after ten years.

The charity has four employees and over 60 volunteers. As well as able bodied volunteers, volunteers from other sections of society enjoy the non-confrontational atmosphere. Volunteers with various social, mental and physical needs work alongside students, work experience volunteers and Duke of Edinburgh Candidates forging unique bonds, friendships between people and animals alike.

Please donate by accessing the Donate Page on our website:- www.wetheriggsanimalrescue.co.uk

If you donate or can’t donate during these difficult times please share this with your friends and relatives.

Can you also forward this to your local MP, your Local Counsellor and Therese Coffey (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

Thank You for Your Help

Wetheriggs Animal Rescue

Thorpe Farm Centre, Barnard Castle County Durham, DL12 9TY

www.wetheriggsanimalrescue.co.uk

With many taking the Christmas break as time to reassess current living situations, the New Year is an excellent time to sell your home. January typically sees a spike in activity in the property market as the New Year is viewed through the lens of new opportunities and goals. A buzz of buyer activity and increased number of property enquiries can often be expected in the lead up to Spring.

If you are considering selling your home, you can contact us for a free home valuation and advice on the property market in and around Penrith.

Heavens above!

Welcome to 2023 and a new series of (hopefully) interesting snippets of information for you to enjoy.

This month is just a little teaser of what I’m going to be looking at in more detail as the year progresses.

So…do these funny little sentences mean anything to you?

• My very educated mother just served us nine pizzas

• Many vile earthlings make jam sandwiches under newspaper piles!

• My vicious earthworm might just swallow us now (perhaps)!

• Or my personal favourite (with a little bit extra)

• Sam, my very energetic mouse, jumped straight up Nellie’s petticoat!

They may be random and nonsensical but they are all connected.

They are all mnemonics (posh word!) to help you to remember the order of the Planets of the Solar System.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto

Now, I have used a bit of artistic licence. First of all I know Pluto is no longer on the list of planets as it was downgraded to a Dwarf Planet in 2006 and in the one about that cheeky mouse Sam, the ‘S’ stands for the Sun which I know isn’t a planet at all but a star but it helps with the narrative! Also to be honest adding in those two as extras helps to fill the months that I need to do a bit of writing for! So it’s a very short and sweet piece for January but I look forward to you joining me next month for a look at the massive star that is the Sun (though remember never to look directly at it; Health and Safety at all times) and then we will work our way through the Solar System using which ever silly sentence you like to remember the correct order!

By Pam Waggott

References. www.toppr.com www.teachingideas.co.uk

What’s Coming Up

Wedding Fayre

Sunday 15th January - From 11am to 3pm

Come along and watch our fabulous catwalk show and meet lots of suppliers - all experts at what they do and ready to make your wedding day everything you dream it will be. There will be a free goodie bag for each bride. Free Entry

Burns Night

Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd January

Celebrate Burns night over the weekend! Enjoy the terrific tastes of delicious Scottish food in FYR. This is a wonderful chance to enjoy an authentic night with a Scottish themed menu.

Friday Night Live presents Beatles For Sale

Friday 16th June - From 7.30pm to 11.30pm

Dance the night away with a live performance tribute act, Beatles For Sale. Includes a delicious two course meal. £49 per person.

Friday Night Live presents George Michael Live

Friday 15th September - From 7.30pm to 11.30pm

Dance the night away with a live performance tribute act, George Michael Live. Includes a delicious two course meal. £42 per person.

To book call the Events Team on 01768 868111 or email events@northlakeshotel.co.uk

North Lakes Hotel & Spa

Ullswater Road, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 8QT 01768 868111 | northlakeshotel.co.uk | danielthwaites.co.uk

A Review of 2022

“Christmas is a time of peace, forgiveness, and reflection. Looking back and saying goodbye to another year. We live in extraordinary times, trying to get on and get by the best we can while history continues to be written. The end of the year gives us an opportunity to reflect and plan for the future. As Mayor it has been a busy year greeting guests at events such as Remembrance, meeting visitors, dignitaries and promoting Penrith. The character, warmth and hospitality of Penrith has shone through, and it has been a pleasure to represent the town.” Cllr. Charlie Shepherd, Council Chair and Penrith Mayor.

Penrith Town Council has led, or been involved in, many positive, important, and inspiring partnerships, initiatives, and activities over the last year. Perhaps one of Penrith’s most uplifting events in 2022 was the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations which saw activities and performances at numerous spots around the town centre. This was an event focused on the local community with large numbers of local residents spilling onto the streets to participate in a fun day in the summer sunshine.

The Town Council also honoured the longest reign of any British monarch by presenting commemorative coins to nursery and primary school children. As part of these celebrations we lit beacons throughout Penrith as part of a national chain of beacons, installed a Queens Platinum Jubilee bench at Thacka Beck field and children helped to fill a ‘time capsule’ which was ceremoniously buried in Coronation Garden. The capsule was packed with evocative items that will vividly illuminate what life was like in Penrith in 2022 to a future generation.

As we enter a cold spell with the trees covered

in frost, we can enjoy all the special activities, events, and traditions of the winter holiday time with the Town glittering with Christmas lights. Christmas is a time of giving and this year more than ever, as people struggle with the cost of living and hardship, and traditional core values of community and family are more important than ever. The Town Council has lobbied for an expanded entitlement to free school meals, assisted with the provision of warm spaces working with groups like Churches Together, the Salvation Army, the Eden Resilience Group and Community Action for Sustainability (CAFS) to ensure residents are able to access support and advice when they need it. The Town Council is supporting organisations that are hosting warm spots for everyone in Penrith who needs a warm place, warm food and drink by providing refreshments to relieve the pressure on these community organisations who are providing this invaluable service.

The Town Council has also contributed to planning approval processes, responded to your issues such as parking, potholes, dog waste, fly tipping, traffic, speeding motorists and eliminating graffiti. We also expect to complete the process of the agreeing the Neighbourhood Development Plan which will open up opportunities for the town to move in a planned, positive, and prosperous direction. The Town Council has been working with both Cumbria County Council and Eden District Council on the Penrith Parking and Movement Study, the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Project and the Borderlands Growth Deal which aim to deliver projects within Penrith. We look forward to continuing to develop and ultimately deliver these projects going forward.

The Council has been working closely with arts, culture, tourism and heritage stakeholders supporting the developments of, for example: arts and culture; moving towards awarding grants to support initiatives and events, involving the community in the affairs of their town, and creating a fund to support the town’s larger ‘signature’ events.

We are looking forward to working with CAFS, Penrith Action for Community Transition and the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership to campaign and develop projects to help households, schools and businesses for energy efficient retrofitting and to seek funding to establish an ‘Eco-refurbishment Skills Hub’ in Penrith providing the community with the skills to undertake or source this work. We are hopeful that this approach may also contribute to the regeneration of our local economy.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the hard work, commitment and success of the last ten years of Penrith Business Improvement District and in particular the board members without whom this would not have been possible. With the unfortunate dissolution of Penrith Business Improvement District, the Council is preparing to assume some of the activities that the BiD delivered so very well for the Town. We look forward to continuing to work with the Chamber of Trade, Penrith Arts and Culture, the Industrial BiD, businesses, stakeholders and partners to add to the vitality of the town.

Over the last few months the Council have been enhancing Thacka Beck Field with improved signage, gates, fencing, pathway, benches and planted 350 trees,. We have worked in partnership with several community groups to make this positive difference and we are looking forward to the warmer weather when we can see how the area blossoms. We

have also improved the gate at Fairhill, added bollards to keep children safe from vehicles and planted 70 trees. We have made every effort to improve and maintain these areas for the community. These two special green open spaces in Penrith were devolved to the Town Council along with the bus shelters, bandstand, the Musgrave Monument and benches. With the changes in local government in Cumbria we are excited about the opportunities that this will bring the Town and we are keen to take on more for the community. We expect that this reorganisation will trigger a new chapter in the process of devolving more assets and responsibilities to local Town and Parish Councils. We especially hope to complete a successful negotiation to take over the town’s significant assets.

All at the Town Council optimistically look forward to the completion of the local government reorganisation and to working with the newly created Westmorland & Furness Council when they take over in April 2023. As appropriate, we will do our best to act as a ‘critical friend’ to the new Council offering advice and support from our very local, Penrith perspective. In the coming year, and with the new Council in place, we will continue to represent the town and its residents to ensure that Penrith effectively meets the challenges of the coming year.

“As Deputy Mayor and Deputy Chair of the Penrith Town Council, it has been a privilege to serve alongside a talented and hardworking team of officers along with a committed and ambitious group of Councillors with both groups steadfastly focused on helping to make Penrith the very best it can be.” Councillor Dave Knaggs, Vice Council Chair and Deputy Mayor Wishing you a brighter and Happy New Year from Penrith Town Council.

office@penrithtowncouncil.co.uk 01768 899 773

Write: Penrith Town Council. Unit 1, Church House, 19-24 Friargate, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7XR Please get involved in helping to make Penrith a Carbon Neutral Town. It’s crucially important for all of us!!

PENRITH LIONS MAY DAY CARNIVAL IS BACK!

Monday 1st May 2023 will see the relaunch of the popular annual Carnival, organised by Penrith Lions Club.  With the theme “Coronation”, the Carnival which takes place just a few days before the crowning of King Charles III, will offer entertainment for all the family.

The Carnival will feature a Grand Parade of local organisations, bands and classic vehicles, led by the May Queen.  There will also be street entertainment, live music, stalls and a funfair.  In addition, Penrith Lions hope to include a variety of sporting competitions.

While excited to be able to bring the Carnival back to Penrith, we also need your help to make the event the success that we all deserve.  So, if you’d like to take part in the entertainment, the parade or sporting competitions please do get in touch.

The contact for entertainment is Lion Gordon Chalmers at cleocleaners@hotmail.co.uk

For the parade contact Lion Simon Woodrow at sandjwoodrow9@gmail.com

The President of Penrith Lions Club, John Rogerson, said “After a break of three years we want to make this, the 40th May Day Carnival, the best ever”. Please join us in creating a memorable event for everyone to enjoy.”

Female

Coal tit

Chaffinch

Collared dove

Long-tailed tit Starling Woodpigeon

Taking part is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1

Count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 27 and 29 January 2023.

This chart shows some of the birds you might see. Where we don’t show male and female birds, the sexes look similar, but are not always identical. Use the tally boxes to help record and count the birds you spot. You’ll find lots of tips on identifying birds as well as their calls at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

2

It’s easy to count the birds you see, if you follow these simple rules. Only include birds that land, not those flying over.Count the highest number of each species you see at any one time, otherwise you could count the same bird twice. For example, if you saw a group of four starlings, and towards the end of the hour you saw two starlings together, please record four as your final count.

3

Then tell us what you saw at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch OR complete and send us the print-from-home form.

Whatever you saw – even if nothing at all – please let us know. The more people that submit their findings, the better picture we will have of how garden birds are faring.

If you are unable to submit your results online, please complete and send us the print-from-home form.

Helping you make your Big Garden Birdwatch count

Get involved on our social channels

Throughout the Big Garden Birdwatch long weekend, you can join in the conversation on our social channels. See what other nature lovers are spotting across the UK and you can upload pics and comment about your Birdwatch. Go to #BigGardenBirdWatch

Get ID tips and expert advice

You’ll find lots of advice on identifying birds by sight and sound, as well as expert insights into garden wildlife at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

The RSPB is a registered charity in England and Wales 207076, in Scotland SC037654. Starling by Tom Mason (rspb-images.com). Illustrations by Mike Langman (rspb-images.com) BGBW-23

Since Spring this year, the play area on the Pategill Estate has seen a weekly outdoor play session for kids on Tuesdays after school. These sessions have been delivered by Cumbrian based not-for-profit Stomping Ground CIC. The Pategill project is all about encouraging kids to “play out” more and each week we provide craft, a snack, games if the kids want them and it’s free to attend, thanks to funding.

Stomping Ground is a Community Interest Company inspiring creative workshops, community events and projects in Cumbria and the North of Lancashire since 2011. We work with communities, charities and companies to make spaces for people to come together, create and play. Gem Webb, Di Larfynn and Lily Horseman are the directors of Stomping Ground and have a collective experience of creative arts workshops and commissions, outdoor play and Forest School, event organising and community consultation.

Gem leads on the Pategill project and has lived in Penrith since 2016. Working with local Forest School leader Caitlin Nugent, we’ve run 24 sessions since March at the Pategill play area as well as 2 much larger family friendly events on the Thacka Beck field behind the hospital this Summer. This project has been funded by the Community Fund National Lottery and Penrith Town Council, and we’ve reached approximately 175 people throughout.

None of this would have been possible without the support of the residents who welcomed us at the start of the project before

we even had the funding in place, and the assistance of local councillors and the resident’s association, not to mention the families who come and chatted to us and allowed the kids out to play in all kinds of weather.

We’ve really enjoyed being able to provide a fun, safe way for the kids to get outside and get to know each other better, and they’ve been a lot of fun, really creative and worked really hard to get on with each other. Our main aim of this project was to make “playing out” something

that people wanted to do and felt safe to do so, we know that regularly playing outdoors has load of benefits, like better physical health, improved mental health and after two years of the play area being shut and the Covid lockdowns we thought this was really important.

The special bit about any Stomping Ground session is that anyone participating always has a choice if they want to join in or not, as long as they’re keeping themselves and others safe, they can choose what they want to do. This means that those attending can reap the benefits of outdoor play including trying out risky play and social skills, which don’t tend to happen as much in organised adult led activities.

After recently securing funding from Eden District Council this means we’ll be back March 7th at 4pm – 6:30pm for another 5 months of sessions and a family event on the 30th May during the Half Term.

Thanks for having us, Pategill, we’ve had loads of fun!

For more information about Stomping Ground and what we can do, find us at: www.stompingground.org.uk or www. facebook.com/StompingGroundCIC

Wishing you Well in 2023

Do you find it difficult to exercise because you have no energy, no drive or you are in pain? You may feel anxious and lonely getting started on some simple regular exercises especially when you don’t know what to do or where to go.

Here are some positive words and captions that help create a positive environment at Wishing Well health and fitness

Safe and trusted space. Safe procedures

We can help How can we help? Keep moving to keep well Exercise gives confidence Enjoy moving Supported Make friends

Belonging

Connect

Joy and laughter Renew joy of moving Social opportunities Togetherness Chatter Awareness of loneliness Socialise

You’re not far away from feeling better already and starting a new chapter. Here is the number and the email to start on a new journey about you in 2023

Wishing Well, Bishop Yards, Penrith CA11 7XU

We’re opposite St. Andrew’s Church – In between Brockle's and St. Andrew's Parish Rooms 01768 899500

www.facebook.com/wishingwellfitness www.wishingwellfitness.co.uk

Come & try our Power Assisted Low Impact Exercise Equipment

Cumbria's swifts need your help

You can increase the chances that swifts will find your box by playing swift calls through a speaker attached to the nest box. Builders can incorporate “swift bricks” during house construction and renovation. Some local developers have already expressed an interest in helping swifts in this way. Unlike house martins and swallows, these birds leave very little mess as their parents clear away the droppings. In fact, some home owners may not even be aware of their presence.

Our swifts are in trouble, having suffered a catastrophic reduction in numbers of 65% in the last 25 years. This trend is set to continue at a rate of 5% per annum. We could lose these fantastic aerial acrobats from our skies in the not too distant future.

The cause of this decline is multifactorial. Modern buildings lack the deep crevices which provide suitable nest sites, renovation of old buildings can block access to roof spaces where colonies may have nested for many years, and reduction in insect population may also play a part. Whilst there is little we can do to help swifts avoid storms and drought in their wintering grounds and migration routes, we can make them welcome on their return each year.

Swifts will stay with the same mate for life and return to the same nest site every year. Maintaining access to these natural sites is one of the most important ways of helping swifts. In addition, bird nest boxes designed specifically for swifts can be made at home or bought, and installed at least four metres above ground, under the eaves and away from the prevailing wind. There should be a clear flight path to the boxes with no trees or wires in front.

Swifts are gregarious birds that like to nest, feed and migrate in groups. Unlike swallows and house martins they rarely land, unless in their nest, spending their whole lives on the wing. Swifts appear dark brown in flight, without the white bellies of house martins and swallows. They are with us from the end of April until August when they return to Southern Africa.

The Penrith Swift Group has recently been formed to help swifts in the local area. Supported by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the RSPB, our aims are to increase awareness of swifts in Penrith and the surrounding villages and to monitor and record swift numbers. We are hoping to engage with local community groups, schools, builders and planners, who want to help wildlife and swifts in particular.

The Penrith Swift Group can supply nest boxes which have been made for us by Men in Sheds in Caldbeck from marine plywood with white pvc roofs. In addition we can supply Swift callers. Alternatively theses can be made at home or bought on eBay.

Please contact Susan Rowlands at susanrowlands1@hotmail.co.uk for more information.

Happy

Reflecting on 2022 and getting your ‘employment house’ in order

by Quinn HR

New Year to you all!

Well, it’s that time of year when I reflect on the previous year and remind you to get your ‘employment house’ in order!

Over the last 12 months, in the Eden Local, I’ve tried to reflect some of the queries I’ve had from clients and provide some useful hints and tips. Recruitment, for example, has continued to be a challenge for many, so we spent a couple of months focusing on writing a good quality CV, and the benefits of interviews as a method of selection, along with some recruitment hints and tips.

As always in March, I provided essential information for employers and employees in relation to the National Minimum and National Living Wages, and statutory rates of pay that increase in April each year. All employers need to ensure they are paying employees at least the minimum rates, and if you’re an employee, you need to challenge your employer if you believe you’re not receiving at least minimum wage!

In April, I asked ‘why does the Menopause matter?’ Well, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), women over the age of 50 are the fastest growing sector of the workforce, and the majority of them will go through the menopause during their working lives. Women generally go through the Menopause between the ages of 40 and 60, although there are many exceptions to this.

It is believed that for every ten women experiencing menopausal symptoms, as many as six of them will face issues at work, sometimes

leading to numerous or lengthy periods of absence and even feeling they have to leave their job. In research carried out by the CIPD and BUPA in 2021, they discovered almost a million women had left their job due to menopausal symptoms.

These statistics are pretty staggering, however, there is still a distinct lack of awareness around the Menopause and how best to support those experiencing the challenges of it.

Banter was and continues to be a popular topic, and so, in June, I talked about what constitutes good and bad banter. Banter can be great for staff morale, however, it sometimes ‘crosses the line’ and organisations (and individuals) can be accused of bullying and/or harassment. Please don’t get caught out! Make sure you have some rules and that employees are aware of them.

In July, I explored employment contracts, having received many queries from employers, in particular, in relation to what should be included. I explained that an employment contract can include verbal and written agreements, and so advised that employers should be very careful what they discuss with applicants during the recruitment process and when making offers of employment.

Getting your ‘employment house’ in order

• In terms of the basics, ensure all staff have particulars of employment (often referred to as a contract) setting out their contractual terms, and ensure staff have access to any written Company policies, procedures, rules and regulations

• Ensure your existing documents accurately reflect current working arrangements and requirements

• Do you need to amend, delete or introduce new documents to reflect new working arrangements?

• If you have staff working remotely, either temporarily, permanently or on an ad hoc basis, do you have sufficient guidance and information for them on working from home, including things like how they will be managed/supervised, health and wellbeing, IT, data protection, risk assessments?

• Do staff need any additional support to help them cope with the challenges presented by the cost-ofliving crisis? Good line management and regular communication is essential

How can I help?

I continually help clients get their ‘employment’ house in order! This involves either reviewing and updating essential, basic employment documents or creating new ones for them to use.

It’s not only important from an employment law perspective, but you need to ensure your employment documents reflect your business. Investing a bit of time and energy now in getting your house in order could save you unforeseen costs and help you to avoid all sorts of needless problems in the future.

If you would like some help with reviewing and updating existing documents, creating new documents, or with any other employment matter, please email:

I would be delighted to help or advise you. Until next month…

Out and About in

Eden Wordsearch

From a nine-metre-long whale to tiny, jelly-like sea gooseberries about the size of a 5p, the Irish Sea coast off Cumbria is home to a huge variety of amazing wildlife, that comes in all shapes and sizes. The marine team at Cumbria Wildlife Trust, with other North West Wildlife Trusts, is working hard to protect wildlife and habitats in the Irish Sea, and to bring people closer to nature on the coast. Here they share some of their memorable marine moments, both highs and lows, and some surprising sea sightings of 2022.

The  minke  is the UK›s smallest whale. Unusually for Cumbria, one was spotted off the coast of Walney in April and then again near Workington in September. They’re more often spotted around Scotland during the summer months. They’re known to be curious around boats and can even breach clear of the water. Beware though: their ‘fragrant’ breath has given them the nickname Stinky Minkes! Minke whale sounds can be as loud as 150 decibels - that’s the same as a jet plane taking off! This allows them to communicate over long distances underwater.

Spotting  dolphins  off our coastline is always an exciting moment, and this year a walker spotted a pod of eight dolphins and porpoises at St Bees Head and reported it to one of our volunteers. While not unusual, this sighting was earlier in the year than expected, in May. If you fancy a bit of dolphin and porpoise-spotting, there’ll be more opportunities to get involved with sea watch surveys next year – keep an eye on our website.

Last year one of our highlights was seeing a ‘scarlet lady’ - a bright pink sea slug. This year we recorded the rather more boring-sounding  grey sea slug , but we were no less excited! While it may not have the vibrant colour of the scarlet lady, this was a very rare sighting for Cumbria, and was found in a rock pool at Earnse Bay on Walney. These slugs can be up to 12cm long, are usually grey or brown and covered in lots of floppy projections. They’re not only able to eat sea anemones without getting stung, but can actually reproduce the anemone’s stinging cells into their own body for protection!

Mass strandings of marine life are not uncommon and in May, thousands of  sea gooseberries  washed up on the beach in Barrow after high winds. They’re small oval or round, jelly-like blobs, which aren’t true jellyfish but ‘ctenophores’, and also known as comb jellies.

Georgia de Jong Cleyndert, Senior Marine Conservation Officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust  said:  “The question we get asked most often about sea gooseberries is ‘Do they sting?’! The simple answer is no! These delicate, jelly-like creatures are not actually true jellyfish, so they don’t have stinging cells. They are pretty common in summer. They feed on plankton and other small animals and will mostly follow the migration of their prey. A big stranding like this usually means that there was lots of food available at the surface and then high winds brought them into shore.”

A worm pipefish was seen at Earnse Bay, also

Cumbria Wildlife Trust shares its marine wildlife highlights from 2022, offering a fascinating glimpse into our local sea life

Do you need to be seen in 2023?

How are you getting your business, your organisation or your event out there?

Is it via your website, social media, in print, on the radio or TV?

Print today, here tomorrow, we can point your customers in the right direction.

At Cumbrian Local and Eden FM we can promote your business, organisation, charity or event daily, weekly and monthly.

We would like you to consider a trial for just four months commencing 1st March, through April, May and June for 122 days.

A monthly payment that is less than £1.50 per day. We hope affordable to all.

We are limited on space in the Eden Local so please don’t wait until March.

Importantly we are not limited on finding your organisation new customers behind new doors within one month of them arriving at their new home.

A lot new customers we have are through our magazine.

Book now by the 3rd February 2023

Our March issue that starts deliver mid February 2023 Call 01768 862394 or email lee@cumbrianlocal. co.uk today

www.cumbrialocal.co.uk a working from home business, in Penrith CA11 8

not normally spotted this far north. Very easy to mistake for a piece of seaweed or a twig if you find one stranded under a rock, it usually has a dark olive, glistening body. They can grow up to 15cm long but are only about a centimetre thick! Look for an upturned seahorse-type snout and beautiful light green markings around the eyes and face.

Another ‘first’ this year was the discovery of a nest of 20 juvenile broad-clawed porcelain crabs under rocks at St Bees beach, the first time they’ve ever been recorded here. It was also the biggest

number of this species we’ve ever spotted on one survey. You have to look closely for them though, they›re pretty well camouflaged! It’s a small brown crab, covered in tiny hairs with large, flattened hairy claws.

Georgia said: “Porcelain crabs are fragile animals and will shed a leg if attacked, in the same way that a lizard sheds its tail. It’s this fragility that gives them their name! It’s worth reminding anyone who is out rockpooling, looking for some of these amazing creatures, to be careful to leave everything as you found it - replace any rocks you turn over, put back any crabs or fish and ensure you don’t scrape

anything off its rocky home.”

In April, a group of shoresearchers took part in an Easter egg hunt at Walney, looking not for chocolate eggs but for  egg cases  (also known as mermaid’s purses) discarded by sharks and rays. They found no less than 3,316, a huge number in one search! This included 3,254 cases from small spotted catsharks, 19 from nursehound sharks, 34 from thornback ray, three from cuckoo ray and six from spotted ray. Did you know we had such a variety of sharks and rays just off the coast here in Cumbria?!

Shark and ray egg-case hunts are just one of the community activities you can do on the coast with The Bay, a joint Nature and Wellbeing Programme we’re involved with in Morecambe Bay - keep an eye on The Bay website. In just one year the project has enticed over 5,300 people to marine events and over 200 people have been referred by health care providers or by themselves to enjoy the coast to improve their mental health.

One of our big nature recovery stories of the year was helping populations of  herring and lesser black-backed gulls  to bounce back. Thanks to the installation of predator-proof fencing, the number of gulls nesting and fledging at our

South Walney Nature Reserve has risen by 150% in two years. This recovery was welcome after numbers had dwindled to a few hundred pairs in 2020, putting the colony in danger of vanishing completely.  Read full story here.

Another great step forward for marine conservation this year was Allonby Bay on the Solway Firth being put forward as a  Highly Protected Marine Area  (HPMA) by Defra, after years of campaigning by Cumbria Wildlife Trust, our members and supporters. Georgia explains why this new status would be so important: “Despite all the amazing wildlife we’ve seen this year, our seas are under pressure like never before; decades of over exploitation, pollution and unchecked development have resulted in continued biodiversity loss and a degradation of the marine habitats. In theory HPMAs will ban all extractive and damaging activities, such as taking anything out of the sea or coast, or building anything in the area. This would mean no activities such as fishing, angling, anchoring or cabling.

“The new status would protect large areas of blue mussels and the best example of honeycomb worm reefs in the UK, which provide habitat for a wealth of different species. This area is also an important spawning and nursery ground for plaice, skate and thornback rays, and is a pupping ground for harbour porpoise. We will hear more in the New Year about the outcome of the consultation and whether the proposal goes ahead.”

In July the marine team made an important and exciting discovery: a new, un-surveyed bed of  sea grass  in the Ravenglass estuary. Georgia explains why it is so

important:  “Seagrass, which looks just like grass in your garden, is brilliant at capturing carbon. In fact it does this 35 times faster than tropical rainforests - known as blue carbon capture - so it’s one of our most important natural solutions to the climate change crisis.

“Back in 2013, a 1m 2 patch of seagrass in the Ravenglass estuary was reported, though the area wasn’t thoroughly surveyed. This year we went back to do a more in-depth survey and were really pleased to record over 1697m2 of patches of seagrass in the area. Here in the UK we’ve lost around 90% of our seagrass meadows, half of this has been in the past three decades. This is why we’re calling for nature’s recovery at sea, not just on land. We need to keep monitoring this precious carbon-capturing species and ensure that it’s protected, as this natural solution can help us fight the climate crisis.”

Finally, another major milestone this year was the launch of the Irish Sea Network’s  ‘Review of the Irish Sea 2022’  and its vision and position statements. The Irish Sea is under significant and increasing pressure from climate change and activities like fishing, aquaculture (the farming of fish, shrimps, seaweed and molluscs), development, shipping, aggregates, military activity, recreational activity and pollution. The Irish Sea Network highlights the need to work together to protect the Irish Sea.

Find out how you can help the Wildlife Trusts in the North West support marine wildlife and nature’s recovery at sea at  www.livingseasnw.org.uk

BROUGHAM CASTLE

By Joe Jackson

Brougham Castle occupies a site of huge historical importance, situated by the river Eamont. The site was first occupied by the Roman fort of Brocavum. Its role was to guard the bridged river crossing, making it the most strategically military site south of Hadrian’s Wall in the Northwest. This role of guarding the river crossing would ultimately be continued by Brougham Castle.

The reign of King John had been chaotic at best, but his final years had England in anarchy and war.

In 1214 King John granted the lands of Brougham to Robert de Vieuxpont, one of his most trusted knights.

In 1215 John lost control of the country and King Alexander II of Scotland took advantage of this and sided with the English barons and invaded Cumberland and Westmorland. The town of Penrith was burned to the ground and the Scots occupied the two counties for a year until the death of King John and the end of the rebellion. After a treaty signed in York, the Scots left Cumberland and Westmorland and Robert de Vieuxpont set about building a new, strong castle at Brougham to help guard the river crossing.

It’s construction started in around 1217 and using the stone from the old Roman fort, he built a keep featuring timber curtain walls. The occupants of the old township of Brougham were moved to the west to clear the land around the castle and hence created the village of Eamont Bridge.

Robert died in 1264 without

male heirs and his daughter married Rodger Clifford, a knight whose family lands were on the Welsh border. Rodger Clifford was succeeded by his son Robert Clifford who started extensive works, building the rest of the castle and its walls in stone. He also started the construction of the impressive gate house in 1309. During the Anglo-Scottish War, Robert

proved himself a brutal knight and attacked and occupied Caerlaverock Castle in Dumfries and Galloway, inflicting many injuries on the people there.

Robert was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. By this time, Brougham Castle had become one of the most impressive and strongest in Westmorland and the north. In the 15th century, during the War of the Roses, Penrith Castle and Brougham Castle were on opposing sides. The Cliffords at Brougham, fought for King Henry VI while Penrith was owned by the Nevilles, who sided with the house of York. In 1461 John Clifford was killed at the Battle of Towton and his lands and castles including Brougham were handed to the Nevilles. Brougham remained largely abandoned throughout the rest of the war but was given back to the Clifford family when King Henry VII won the throne.

Brougham castle saw its fair share of conflict. The final occasion being a small skirmish and siege against the parliamentarian forces during the Civil War. It was on this day that the Royalist troops in Penrith, upon hearing the shots coming from Brougham, abandoned Penrith Castle after setting it ablaze and destroying it to prevent it falling into the hands of the parliamentarians.

Today, the ruins of both Penrith and Brougham Castles are looked after by English Heritage and their impressive remains are open to the public.

Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England

Here is how you can find out about the latest bird flu situation in England and guidance for bird keepers and the public.

Latest situation

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ). By law you must follow strict biosecurity rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

In England and Wales the AIPZ also means you must house your birds to protect them from bird flu.

In the United Kingdom, there have been 156 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 since 1 October 2022:

• 138 cases in England

• 14 cases in Scotland

• 3 cases in Wales

• 1 case in Northern Ireland

There have been 272 cases of (HPAI) H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.

www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-avianinfluenza-latest-situation-in-england

You should use this service to report dead wild birds if you find:

1 or more dead birds of prey (such as an owl, hawk or buzzard)

3 or more dead birds that include at least 1 gull, swan, goose or duck

5 or more dead wild birds of any species

You can use this service to report other types or numbers of dead wild birds.

www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds