Eden Local Issue 169 by Lee Quinn

ISSN 2516-1431

Your Independent Community Magazine Penrith and areas of the Eden Valley

Eden 107

Unlock Massive Savings Sale The Daffodil & the Daisy As Mad as a March Hare Step on it at the Arches Carpet Centre Eden Local Expansion 2021 SINCE

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Cumbrian Local Publications • Issue No.1 169 • Distribution Over 13,500 Doors

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Contents Unlock Massive Savings Reopening Sale Pages 2 - 3 Introduction by Lee Quinn Pages 5 - 6 Join the Team That Cares Page 7 Pam’s Flower Power March - The Daffodil Page 8 Discover the New You at Dutton Lodge Page 9 The Daffodil Walk by David Ryland Page 10 Time for ConserVClean Page 11 Pategill Ward By-Election Penrith Pages 12 & 20 Why Do You Need Butterworths? Page 13 Looking Forward with Karen Roberts Page 14 Newton House Coming Soon – Housing 21 Page 15 Mad About March Hares – Sue Alderman Pages 16 – 18 Is it Time for you to Plug into the Future? Page 19 New Grants Available to Apply for Now Page 20 Pam’s Flower Power April – The Daisy Page 22 ‘Step on it’ at the Arches Carpet Centre Page 23 Minimum Wage & Statutory Rates of Pay by Quinn HR Pages 24 - 25 Spring Wordsearch Page 25 Trooper William Pearson by Sydney Chapman Page 26 Introducing Author Mike Craven by Lee Quinn Page 27 Keeping Calm and Carrying On by Vera Pages 28 - 31 Be Cool This Summer with Marshalls Page 32 Front Cover by Sue Alderman Follow us on Facebook for additional stories and

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Eden FM Notice: Eden Local prints various articles, features, and advertisements. Although these appear in Eden FM, any opinions expressed are the opinion of the author, these are not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. ©Copyright Eden Local 2020. The contents of this publication are written

specifically for our readers, no part may be reproduced elsewhere without express and prior permission.

Welcome to our 169th Issue delivery. We also had to anticipate some teams not being available. As a result we couldn’t cover all the areas we would normally cover.

There are so many examples we have witnessed in the last 12 months of how well we adapt to so many changes throughout the pandemic. In putting this edition of Eden Local together and planning when we would design it, then print and distribute it, meant another change to our schedule. In December we did anticipate the Lockdown. January meant no Eden Local, and we then delayed February’s edition, as we hoped that the longer we left it the more information we would have before we distributed it. What we couldn’t predict was some shortages due to the increased numbers of doors (new homes) that had happened since our December

So here we are again posting through over 12,000 doors, but with over 1,500 new additional doors. As the months of 2021 fly by, welcome to our ‘Spring’ edition of your Eden Local which is being distributed in March and April. In line with the Government Route map steps two, three and four, this edition will be out before 12th April, commencing delivery week commencing 22nd March. You can let me know if yours has arrived late! Our next issue is in sequence with step three and commences delivery week commencing 3rd May to be out before 18th May. This is our ‘Early Summer’ addition and then we hope, all being well, it will coincide with step four, 21st June which is our ‘Mid-Summer’ Eden Local, which starts distribution through over 14,000 doors week commencing 24th May. The more teams we recruit, the more we will expand. You are one of thousands of readers, which gives the Eden Local the largest print readership in the

Eden Valley. For people missing back issues who would like to see what they have missed, we may have copies for you if you use the contact details at the bottom of page 6. As always, I have a lot of people to thank for their voluntary contributions in writing articles. This month, our wildlife feature is from the Hare Preservation Trust, who we linked up with via the UK Mammal Society. I would like to thank Sue Alderman for the article of Trust and her wonderful photos, but also crucial to making this happen was Jo Wright from the Mammal Society. Last month, we featured for the first time in a while, the Eden FM programme schedule, and the reason why I mention this now is that we are preparing to launch some new shows on Eden FM in May, of which a Wildlife show is included. So, taking the contents for the Eden Local, all those societies, trusts and charitable groups will be joining in with the shows from Wednesday 12th May. More details on page 31 of other shows. As it is our March-April edition, we have two lots of Pam’s Flower Power (pages 8 and

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Your Eden FM Update

22). Daffodils are certainly on the list. My thanks once again to David Rylands with his update on the Daffodil Walk. Where would we be without our regular Garden tips with Karen Roberts and our Local History feature by Sydney Chapman! Penrith Town Council are full steam ahead with Twelve excuses for not joining the Town Council as we approach the Pategill By-Election in Penrith (Page 12). I have mentioned that next month we will build on the introduction to Mike Craven and his new book (Page 27) but whilst on the subject of writers, for your eyes only, a reader who sent me a lovely story, ‘Vera’ who shares with you an experience I had to share, part one of Vera’s story starts on page 28 which will continue in the next issue. For the first time in 8 years, you may see your Eden Local increasing its number of pages due to demand. Please Take care out there.

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It’s been another busy, busy month working on the Eden FM website which you can view via www.edenfm.co.uk. There are a lot of areas of the station that you can read about that have never been covered before. It is a true insight into how what you see and what you hear happens 365 days of the year thanks to a growing team of volunteers.

I’ll be back with the team in May Lee

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With an ambitious as ever 2021 planned, the team are motivated and growing now after 10 years of hard work and commitment, as it is working on the launch of four new shows.

01768 862394

Phone: Email: lee@cumbrianlocal.co.uk www.cumbrianlocal.co.uk

The ‘Your Home’ is one of those new shows that will be aired on Tuesdays from 12.00 and repeated on Saturdays. We are looking for sponsors of this show from £50 per month.

Cumbrian Local Publications Ltd, Suite 6, Cumbria House, Gilwilly Road, Penrith CA11 9FF

Is your business, your group or organisation keen on Going Green? It is another new show which we hope will help deliver a better understanding of what we can do to create a Greener Eden. We need groups to come forward and some ’Going Green show sponsors’ for this show scheduled to air every Friday at 2pm.

Have you just received your Eden Local for the first time in a while? We need 12 more teams to help us deliver more Eden Locals in the Eden Valley Delivery routes can range from 100 to 1200 doors and payments for deliveries are not just calculated by numbers. We also consider how difficult a route is, the distance it covers and the time it takes to complete. Every route is different!

For the schedule, please log on to the Eden FM website. We can help your organisation to be seen and heard in the community you serve. It’s your choice and your voice in the Community - Eden FM Radio.

Interested? Call us now 01768 862394 or email info@cumbrianlocal.co.uk

Would you like to make a difference? If you are looking for a change in career or a new challenge then look no further, Cumbria Quality care are looking for people to join our team of fantastic carers in a highly rewarding position as a support worker, where you can really make a difference to people's lives.

What career opportunities are available? We are looking for both part time and full time staff to assist us in getting people home from hospital with suitable care in place, with the aim of reducing the pressure on the NHS and local hospitals. Have you ever considered working in Health and Social Care? Cumbria Quality Care are looking for people with a caring attitude, who can help deliver a high standard of care. As well as great job satisfaction, we can offer you flexibility to work around your availability. We also offer full induction and training, paid travel time, as well as a mileage allowance, the opportunity to complete a level 2 or 3 Health and Social Care diploma, a competitive salary and a pension scheme. We are looking for people who genuinely care about making a difference to people’s lives.

INFORMATION ABOUT CUMBRIA QUALITY CARE The best way for people to apply will be by email to cumbriaqualitycare@btconnect.com

With our latest Care Quality Commission report highlighting that we have a good service, this is a clear indication that here at Cumbria Quality Care we are focused on providing a service based around our clients’ needs. If you are looking for a home care company to go the extra mile for yourself or your loved ones, then you are in the right place.

Cumbria Quality Care Limited is a domiciliary home care agency covering the Penrith area. With help from our dedicated team of experienced caring staff, we provide the highest standard of personal care to clients at home. We are a people centred organisation, where meeting the needs of individuals requiring support is our principle aim. We are a small family run company established in 2012 by Sharon and Alan Baxter, within our local home town of Penrith. Cumbria Quality Care has grown during this time securing a fantastic reputation within health and social care. We are dedicated to providing a service to be proud of.

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PAM’S FLOWER POWER

March – The Daffodil

There can’t be a more uplifting sight than a bunch of daffodils on a sunny windowsill slowly opening to reveal their bright yellow flowers. Although commercially they are readily available in the shops from late December daffodils planted in gardens or naturalised in the countryside don’t flower until late February or early March depending on the variety.

The daffodil belongs to the genus Narcissus and it is commonly thought that they are named after the son of the Greek river god Cephissus. Narcissus was a very handsome and striking young man but unfortunately he knew how attractive he was and became very arrogant. The goddess Nemesis is said to have lured him to a woodland pool where he gazed into the still water and fell in love with his own reflection. He leaned so far over the water in order to see himself more closely that he over balanced and fell into the water and drowned. In his memory the flowers growing on the pool bank were named after him. Other versions have it that the water nymphs, who were watching, transformed him into a flower whose head nods downwards like Narcissus looking at his reflection in the pool. The daffodil is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in the spring and so is often associated with rebirth and new beginnings. In Victorian symbolism the daffodil was often used to demonstrate unrequited love and chivalry.

on St. David’s day on 1st March. It is also thought that the way daffodil bulbs bloom year after year is a representation of David’s faithfulness to the Welsh people. The daffodil was also immortalised by William Wordsworth in his poem ‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’ (also called ‘Daffodils’). He was inspired when he and his sister Dorothy visited Glencoyne Bay and wood on the shores of Ullswater in the spring of 1802.

According to some sources they can convey the message ‘my fond hopes have been dashed by your behaviour’ or the more chivalrous ‘the sun is always shining when I’m with you’ either way it considered to be bad luck to only give one daffodil; they should always be given in bunches to make sure that they bring happiness into the house. It is not just in the UK that daffodils have a secret meaning. In China they represent good fortune perhaps because they flower around the Chinese New Year. In Japan they mean joyousness while in France they represent hope. Arabian countries however are more down-to-earth considering them a cure for baldness or even and aphrodisiac! Though please do not try this at home – the bulbs are very poisonous! The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, it was perhaps chosen as it is usually in flower 8

‘I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales & hills, When all at once I saw a crowd A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.’ In England they are also known as Lent lilies or Lenten lilies as they bloom between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Another English poet A.E. Houseman wrote a poem ‘The Lent Lily’ and was published in his collection ‘A Shropshire Lad’ in 1896 ‘And there’s the windflower chilly With all the winds at play, And there’s the Lenten Lily That has not long to stay And dies on Easter day’ So the humble daffodil has inspired writers and poets for hundreds of years and equally inspires gardeners to plant the Continued on page 10

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bulbs in gardens across the country and the world. Left undisturbed they bulbs will grow and reproduce for decades or even longer bringing brightness and new beginnings after the winter. Back next month for fascinating facts about the flower associated with April which is either the Daisy or Sweet Pea. By Pam Waggott References. flowermeaning.com, bbc.co.uk, poetryfoundation.org ftd.com, flowerfairies.com

The Daffodil Walk by David Ryland

rallied around last September, masked, sanitised and socially distanced to assist with planting the twenty-four thousand bulbs along the six miles. It was a fantastic community day and now that they are blooming, we all have achieved something very special. We are also grateful to the generous donation from the Hadfield Trust, which will provide a couple of benches in the next couple of months which are on order from the local recycled Solway Plastics. Please check our Facebook page out to see the route "Eden Valley daffodil walk". The next two varieties to flower will be ice follies and mount hood to give a white contrast and to lengthen the seasonal walk.

As you are reading this, our daffodils on the Eden Valley daffodil walk will be in full flow. It’s a year now since the first lockdown and the birth of the idea by Belinda Fox to create some form of memorial, so we can poignantly remember all those who have lost their lives because of this pandemic plague, and indeed it is meant to be uplifting for all who walk the route. I count myself very fortunate to be involved in organising the project for Belinda, being one of her District Councillors. There are five varieties of narcissus planted along our six mile walk, linking the villages of Low and High Hesket and Armathwaite. The first two to flower are the species lobularis and obvallaris - these are so full of rich nectar to assist the early insects and of course assist the birds feeding their chicks in springtime. Coincidentally, they flower when the first dandelion flower dares to open its petals hugging the ground.

During late summer, we intend to have another open garden fundraising day so we can purchase some route markers and more narcissi bulbs to build upon what we have. Our six mile walk meanders through lanes of which some are off the beaten track, beautiful scenery you’ll come across different breeds of cattle and sheep, lovely little lambs and a donkey or two in the fields you will pass, but we wouldn't expect anything less living in the fantastic county that we are in.

These first two, along with all other daffodils multiplying by adding baby side bulbs to the mother bulbs, also set seed and the colonies will naturalise themselves. Indeed when you have time, kneel down and sniff the delicate sweet scent of these as of yet unbottled!

One last variety is the rare double form of lobularis called "sion". I’m not going to tell you where that's planted - you will have to come and search for yourself!

Both Belinda and I are so grateful to the 100 local volunteers from all the nearby villages who

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from 25th March until 4pm on 8th April but you must make an appointment to deliver them to the Town Hall to comply with Covid requirements.

A by- election for the Pategill Ward of Penrith Town Council takes place on 6th May, why not stand for election to speak on behalf of the local community. If you are interested you can speak to the Town Council but should also visit the Electoral Commission website and read the revised guidance for candidates.

• • • •

Nomination forms are available from EDCs website under Upcoming Elections and will be accepted

Contact: Elections Office Email: elections@eden.gov.uk Telephone: 01768 212253 Address: Eden District Council, Town Hall, Corney Square, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 7QF

TWELVE EXCUSES FOR NOT JOINING THE TOWN COUNCIL 6. ‘I’m worried I won’t get many votes and look silly’

1. ‘I’m too young’ If you’re 18 you’re old enough (see 4 below) 2. ‘What’s the point of just joining a talking shop – you don’t do anything’ Have you ever been to a meeting? It sometimes takes a little time as we all have rules to follow but basing your judgement on the Vicar of Dibley, social media posts or the ‘Handforth’ video is definitely not valid 3. ‘I’m too busy and I couldn’t commit to attending every single meeting’ We only have six meetings of full Council in a year. If you don’t want to sit on a committee missing the occasional Council meeting is acceptable. Meetings generally only take a couple of hours but we’d love you to attend as much as you can. You can put as much or as little into the role that suits you. 4. ‘I’m concentrating on finding a job or furthering my career’ This is a plus for your CV – it shows you can work in a team, make decisions, are community minded and proactive. Prospective employers will be impressed. 5. ‘I haven’t lived in the area long and am still finding out about the area’ If you are a British, eligible commonwealth or EU citizen and have lived or worked in the parish area for a year, or already have your name on the electoral roll you can stand… your views as a new person to Penrith would be welcomed as you will probably see things more objectively.

No one looks silly, at least you tried. If you aren’t voted on you may be approached if a future vacancy occurs and have the opportunity to be co-opted. 7. ‘The Town Council is full of old fogeys’ It’s not true but if this is what you think join up and change it then, 8. ‘I won’t know what’s going on and will look a fool’ You will be eased in gently and help, advice and training is available. The Town Clerk is like a CEO and will be able to explain the rules we have to follow. 9. ‘I’ll have to sign the Code of Conduct that the press keep on about’ It’s not as bad as you read and is there to protect you. You need to follow the Council’s Code of Conduct and national ethical standards. 10. ‘I’ll have to let everyone know about my business and personal affairs’ The declaration of interest form asks you to list business interests in the parish area to guard against bias when issues are debated. As for personal affairs, Cumbria is a small county, everyone probably already knows! Continued on page 20 12

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Looking forward

simple things you can do.

for example hardy geraniums like meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense).

Lots of us have been appreciating our outdoor space more than usual and now that we are starting to look forward to coming out of lockdown, perhaps we could look at becoming more sustainable too? There are quite

Plants for pollinators – there are so many plants that are good for pollinators. If you are short of space you can do it with simple herbs which you can plant in pots. Sage (Salvia officinalis) produces spikes of lovely purple flowers which are a magnet for bees. Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) attracts pollinators too, with masses of pink/white nectar-rich flowers.

Plant a tree – last time I wrote about a tree for every garden and planting a tree does so many things. Not least, a beautiful tree could make you feel happier, it improves air quality and provides habitats for wildlife.

Compost – find a shady spot for a compost

bin (you can even make one from pallets) and compost the kitchen waste. Add in some of the grass clippings, cut up your prunings, chuck in the annual (but not perennial!) weeds and off you go.

Water – I love creating a water habitat and if you have the space a wildlife pond is not too difficult. It does take a bit of digging and preparation but technically it is not that tricky. Even without that space, creating a mini pond in a pot or trough is a fantastic way to get biodiversity into your outdoor space.

Collect water – harvesting rain water, and there is plenty of it in Cumbria, means you can water your plants and pots in dry spells without resorting to the tap. Create a wildflower meadow – this can be

Log piles - create bug hotels with logs, twigs and other bits, they can look attractive in borders too.

done in a very small space. There are different ways of creating it. You could clear an area and start from seed, for larger areas you might invest in wildflower turf or you could simply stop mowing a swathe of lawn and encouraging wild flowers to grow. Another idea is to dig out gaps in your turf and put in some hardy perennials that will flower and create a wild meadow effect,

If you want help making your garden more wildlife friendly please get in touch. It doesn’t need to be a complete redesign, there are so many options for an existing space. Take a look at my website www. karenrobertsgardendesign.co.uk and don’t hesitate to give me a call or drop me an email. karenrobertsgardendesign@gmail.com © Karen Roberts Garden Design

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Mad About March Hares © Sue Alderman

The sight of 'mad march hares' boxing is one of those iconic moments in Nature's calendar. As the breeding season gets underway these enigmatic creatures become more active during the day and people become more aware of them. In days gone by, seeing a hare was deemed bad luck; it was a scorned animal, devious and untrustworthy. Such mistrust was likely born from the hare's uncanny ability to 'disappear' – they are virtually invisible when hunkered down even in sparse vegetation. Nowadays, there is growing appreciation for this elegant mammal. People delight in catching a glimpse of those tell-tale black-tipped ears poking above the crop, or seeing a hare run at full speed on lithe limbs. There is endless fascination watching them stand tall on hind legs boxing furiously in a flurry of paws and flying fur. This behaviour, once believed to be rival males, is usually a female beating off the amorous advances of a male. The European, or brown, hare inhabits lowland areas of pastoral and arable land and is one of the largest hare species weighing around 3.5 - 6kg. Unlike rabbits, hares don't burrow

but live above ground. They rest in depressions in the ground, called 'forms', moulding themselves against the earth so that the casual eye sees only a molehill or grassy tussock. Exposed to the elements all year round, these hardy animals will shelter in woody copses during severe weather and nibble bark to supplement a meagre winter diet. The main breeding season is February to September, but hares may breed all year round. Their youngsters, called 'leverets', enter the world fully-formed – able to see and hear, mobile and fully furred in stark contrast to naked and blind newborn rabbits. But life above ground is precarious and youngsters are particularly vulnerable to predation. The leverets instinctively lie still and are visited just once a day by their mum who sits upright and watchful whilst feeding them. Despite these infrequent visits, female hares can be extraordinarily protective of their young and have even been filmed fending off birds of prey such as harriers by leaping and boxing at the offending hunter.

where hares are more common. This illegal activity causes significant disruption and distress to rural communities, some landowners even feel compelled to eradicate hares in order to deter coursers targeting their properties. Hare populations also face a number of other pressures. Many hares succumb to snares each year; free-running snares remain legal and are an accepted method of predator control despite the indiscriminate capture of unintended victims. Organised hunting by harrier and beagle packs also continues to be responsible for hare deaths in

Hares rely on camouflage and remaining motionless to avoid predation; however if forced to flee they use superior speed and agility to escape. Hares are the UK's fastest land mammal capable of reaching speeds of 45mph. Sadly, this incredible speed has made hares a sporting target for centuries. Hare coursing is a persistent rural crime issue with coursers travelling long distances to pursue hares with dogs, particularly in eastern counties © Sue Alderman

the UK despite the Hunting Act 2004. Since 2018, we have seen worrying levels of brown hare mortality due to viral diseases such as 'Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease', type 2 (RHD2) and European Brown Hare Syndrome (EBHS). RHD2 has also reduced the UK rabbit population. It is thought that outbreaks of RHD2 can reduce numbers by up to 80%. Hares were once abundant, their numbers in 1880 estimated to be around 4 million. By 1995 this had dropped to c.800,000 due to agricultural intensification, habitat loss and excessive shooting and hunting. Following this decline, brown

species. Mountain hares in Scotland have recently been given protected status, but a small, isolated population in the Peak District at the southern end of the Pennines remains vulnerable. This is the last remaining population of English mountain hares and we are currently working to ensure that these, and all our hares, will still be here in the future.

hares became subject to a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The species plan set out by the Government aimed to double spring numbers by 2010, and enhance leveret survival; neither targets have been achieved. Hares are not evenly distributed across the UK. In some areas they are abundant and can cause crop damage, but in other places they are virtually non-existent. This makes it difficult to legislate for them nationally, and unfortunately they have very little legal protection at all. They are the only game species in England which doesn't have a close season and can therefore be shot all year round (except Sundays and Christmas Day) which raises welfare concerns regarding over-shooting where numbers are low, and the orphaning of dependent leverets.

Sue Alderman Hare Preservation Trust March 2021

It is these issues which led to the formation of the Hare Preservation Trust, an organisation dedicated to promoting awareness about hares. We aim to support research into hare ecology, and also work in partnership with other organisations to improve legislation, combat both wildlife crime and the persecution of hares for sport. In addition to brown hares, we also aim to support Irish hares and mountain hares which are both native 18

Is it time for you to plug into your future? Introducing IME Systems Ltd but they are reliable, can be very fast and make driving a breeze.

Why has IME Systems moved to the Eden Valley?

Money

To cut a lengthy story short; we – our family – had the opportunity to move here, so we did!

They make a lot of financial sense. They are cheap to run with some attractive tax breaks, particularly if you make a lot of short journeys.

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The Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has introduced some decent grants to assist your transition to EVs. Check their website for more detail.

IME Systems provide quality electrical services to all our customers. We began trading in 1999 and registered as a limited company in 2006. Established for over twenty years and counting, our activities encompass electrical work in the domestic, commercial and agricultural environments. Our broad experience in the electrical industry has equipped us with the knowledge, and confidence, to tackle pretty much any electrical task from the installation of three phase 800A panel boards, control systems or just the replacement of a light fitting! With impeccable timing, COVID Lockdown happened the day after we moved! On the upside, it gave us the time to reflect on what to focus upon. As an electrical business, the question soon answered itself. Kindly, the Government announced its decision to stop the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

www.gov.uk/government/organisations/officefor-zero-emission-vehicles

Practicality The range of an EV is pretty good now, despite a woeful shortage of publicly accessible charger points, but it will come! Do remember though, that unlike a fuelled car the EV driver will more typically be “filling up” at home or work than from a fuel station. Any government grant or subsidy is typically subject to certain preconditions. EV equipment and installers must be accredited for the scheme that you want to claim from.

So; Electrical Vehicles (EVs), are they worth it? Well, that’s far too big a question to properly answer here, so let’s just consider fun, money and practicality!

The Home-charge (EVHS) and the Workplace (WCS) schemes are separate, and installers have to be separately accredited. IME Systems are OZEV approved EVHS and WCS Installers.

Fun

If you would like one of these for your home, business or organisation, call Jonathan.

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11. ‘I’m too lazy and not interested in helping my community’

open) won’t change a thing in the town – if you can’t be bothered does that mean its fair game for those that do.

Fair enough, an excellent reason for not joining!

Please ring us or email us if this has sparked your interest. You don’t have to be political, be a member of a political group just be passionate about Penrith and be keen to make a difference. You can contact us on 01768 899773 for an informal chat.

12. ‘I prefer to let others do the work and criticise from the side lines or on social media’ Another valid reason but complaining on social media or in the pub (when they re-

– NEW GRANTS AVAILABLE – APPLY NOW Penrith town Council has grant funds available to help your project. From 1 April we launch our refreshed Grants Scheme and the scheme now includes grant funds for projects that support biodiversity, nature and sustainability.

1 April 2021, from where you can download the appropriate form. The Town Council will score applications using information from the application form based on achieving outcomes, value for money, strong governance and fitting with the council’s strategic aims. More information is provided in our Grants Policy.

For applications under a £1000, we have simplified the application process to help the smallest community projects. Applications will be considered by Council officers as they are submitted, and funds will be released by officers if applicants meet the criteria. Officers will then report their decision to a committee. It is hoped that by managing these smaller grants in this way the Town Council can be more responsive to the needs of the community.

Successful applicants are invited annually to meet with other community groups who have had grant funding at our Annual Town Meeting where these groups are asked to share with the community the success of their projects and plans for the future. Please feel able to contact us by email or by phone if you need more information or assistance completing the application.

The Town Council also provides a Large Grant Scheme for projects up to £5,000. Applications in this category will be considered by a Council Committee. The Grants Scheme is designed to support local community organisations, charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs) delivering projects in Penrith. We will consider one application per organisation each financial year (1st April to 31st March) but will not consider applications from individuals. The council will not fund salaries, hospitality, religious organisations (except for non-religious activities), core school expenditure or projects with party political links.

office@penrithtowncouncil.co.uk Telephone:

01768 899 773 Write: Penrith Town Council, Unit 1, Church House, 19-24 Friargate, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7XR

If you are interested, it is recommended that you read thoroughly the council’s Grants Policy before making an application and where necessary contact us for advice on your application. All the information will be available on our website from

Please get involved in helping to make Penrith a Carbon Neutral Town. It’s crucially important for all of us!! 20

PAM’S FLOWER POWER

April – The Daisy

‘He loves me, he loves me not’…I’m sure you will have said this while pulling the petals off the daisy to find out if your love is true!

The humble daisy is one of the most familiar flowers to be seen in gardens, parks and open spaces around the country. It is one of the early signs of spring as these simple white and yellow flowers begin to bloom in the spring sunshine. For some they are pretty and a welcome sight with children (and adults) making daisy chain necklaces or crowns while for others they are considered a weed and need to be removed from pristine lawns! Bellis perennis is a widespread perennial wildflower that blooms all year around. It has a persistent and hardy growth as it forms a low growing rosette of leaves which make it difficult to remove from the short grass it likes to grow in. Single stems grow from the centre of the rosette with the familiar white and yellow flower head at the top; but did you know it is not just a single flower but a ‘composite’. The yellow centre is made up of tiny flowers (disc florets) and the white ‘petals’ are in fact ‘ray florets’. It is a native plant in the UK and across Europe but has also been introduced in other parts of the world. The English poet and author Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340 – 1400) wrote about the ‘day’s eye’ from the Old English daeges eage so named because the flower opens during the day and closes at night.

time the word daisy was used as a description for something good or excellent – that slowly changed into ‘doozy’ meaning extraordinary, impressive or unique.

THE DAISY The long day I shope me for to abide, For nothing els, and I shall nat lie, But for to looke upon the daisie, That well by reason men it call it may The daisie, or els the eye of the day, The empress and floure of floures all, I pray to God that faire mote she fall, And all that loven floures for her sake. [The Legend of Good Women] The phrase ‘fresh as a daisy’ comes from this root – signifying that someone has had a good night’s rest and are ready to start the new day. In the 1800’s the phrase ‘up’s-a-daisy’ was used to encourage children to get up if they’d fallen over; this slowly evolved into ‘oopsy daisy’ or ‘whoops-a-daisy’ often said after making a mistake or having a stumble etc. At around the same 22

The plant has also been known as woundwort or bruisewort – in Roman times army surgeons would take large bags of daisies onto the battlegrounds. They’d bruise the plants and extract the juice which they then soaked the bandages with to help with the healing of injuries and aches and pains in a similar way that arnica is used now. There is also a legend in Roman mythology that a nymph called Belides transformed herself into a daisy to escape the unwanted attention of one of the gods which may give a clue to the hidden meaning in the language of flowers as the daisy represents innocence, modesty, purity and new beginnings. It can also be sent as an indicator of true love and that the sender can keep a secret! So when you’re next in the garden instead of fretting about a few daisies in your lawn why not revisit your childhood – make a daisy chain necklace or daisy crown or check your true loves feelings and just appreciate the simple beauty of the ‘day’s eye’. By Pam Waggott References. eflorist.co.uk, woodlandtrust.org.uk gmdscotland.wordpress.com englishplants.blogspot.com plant-lore.com, flowerfairies.com

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HR National Minimum Wage & Statutory Rates of Pay (from April 2021)

NATIONAL LIVING WAGE & NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE Annual increases to the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will take effect from 1 April, but are you prepared and making the necessary changes? Whilst employers are not required to advise employees of the changes to NLW and NMW rates and how they may affect them, it is probably a good idea to let them know to avoid numerous queries. So, what should you be paying from 1 April 2021, to ensure you don’t fall foul of the Law? • In previous years, the NLW has been the minimum pay per hour most workers aged 25 and over were entitled to by law. From 1 April 2021, age bands are changing and the NLW will also apply to those aged 23 and 24. It will rise to £8.91 (currently £8.72)

Don’t forget it is against the law for employers to pay workers less than the NMW or NLW and there can be serious penalties for breaches. Also remember that there may be reasons why your staff may not actually be receiving the correct, minimum rates of pay. This could be: • where your staff are required to purchase part or all of their uniform themselves • where your staff are required to take unpaid breaks or attend meetings (unpaid) • where you make deductions from staff wages for work-related events • where you are offsetting staff ‘benefits in kind’ against their pay STATUTORY RATES OF PAY With effect from 4 April 2021, the following statutory weekly rates will increase to £151.97 (currently £151.20):

From 1 April 2021, the NMW will be the minimum pay per hour most workers under the age of 23 will be entitled to by law. The different age bands are as follows:

• • • •

• The adult rate for workers aged 21 to 22 will rise to £8.36 (currently £8.20)

In addition, with effect from 6 April 2021, please note Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will increase to £96.35 per week (currently £95.85 per week).

• The youth development rate for workers aged 18 to 20 will rise to £6.56 (currently £6.45) • The young workers rate for those aged 16 to 17 will rise to £4.62 (currently £4.55) • The apprentice rate will rise to £4.30 (currently £4.15)

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) Shared Parental Pay (ShPP)

Do you need any other employment-related information or assistance? Whatever your employment-related query, I am here to help – able to offer advice and provide information as needed. The following are typically some of the areas I support businesses with: 24

• Employee relations – disciplinaries, grievances, whistleblowing, bullying and harassment • Attendance issues – sickness related and other • Performance issues – appraisals, managing poor performance and capability • Staff Handbooks – policies, procedures & standards • Employment contracts – terms and conditions of employment • Changes to Employment Law • Recruitment and selection – recruitment exercises and job descriptions • Pay & benefits – pay structures & job evaluation • Reorganisation and redundancy

Advice and support can be provided on an ad hoc basis or through a retainer service, where for a small fixed, monthly fee, you can access support as and when you need it. I’d be delighted to hear from you, whether you need some immediate advice or whether you would like to discuss ongoing support. Stay Safe and Well Charlotte Please either contact me by email charlotte@quinnhr.co.uk or by phone 01768 862394.

Spring Wordsearch COMPILED AND SPONSORED BY QUINN HR

Blossom

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March

Mother’s Day

Blue Skies Buds Daffodils Garden

Trooper William Pearson Article by Sydney Chapman

medals and other memorabilia now owned by the Museum. He was brought up in North Westmorland and was a leather dresser before enlisting in the 4th Light Dragoons in 1848, at Westminster. He was serving in Ireland when the regiment received orders for the Crimea.

Photograph by E. Fowler Richards of Penrith of Trooper William Pearson wearing his medals

During the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ at Balaclava his horse stumbled over another that had fallen and he had to mount a rider-less horse of the 8th Hussars. He had an epaulette shot from his shoulder and returned with a wound to his forehead. The severe Crimean winter left him with frost-bite and he spent Christmas Eve 1854 having four toes amputated. He was nursed by Florence Nightingale at the hospital in Scutari before being invalided home.

Medals & the metal container in which Trooper Pearson kept his certificates.

Penrith has done much to ensure that the bravery of Trooper William Pearson (18261909), a survivor of the Crimea War, should not be forgotten; a corner of the town, ‘Pearson Court’, is named after him and a plaque is affixed to the property in King Street formerly the Mitre Hotel where he was born. In 1894, when he was still alive, townsfolk marked the 40th anniversary of the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ by acquiring a life size photograph of him. Still in its elaborate frame it is among several items including his

He was presented before Queen Victoria in 1855, and discharged as unfit for further military service, with a pension of 8d a day. This was later increased to 12s a week by the Royal Patriotic Fund. He received the Crimea Medal (with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol), the Turkish Medal, and he also had a Good Conduct Badge. He met his wife at a ball in honour of the Crimean heroes held at Dover and they returned to Penrith, where Trooper Pearson became Inspecting Officer’s Orderly to the Dalemain Troop, Cumberland and Westmorland Imperial Yeomanry. In 1880 he moved to Underbarrow, near Kendal, 26

where he set up a fellmongering and tanning business. He retired in 1906, and died in July 1909, aged 82. He was buried with military honours in Parkside Cemetery, Kendal. The Museum possesses his parchment Certificate of Discharge and his Certificate of Admission as a Pensioner to the Chelsea Hospital, his Account and Pay book and his copy of the Rules of the Balaclava Commemoration Society. There is also a copy of the ‘Kendal Mercury’ dated November 18th.1854 which published the letter he wrote to his family from the scene of action during the Crimea War with an account of the famous ‘Charge’.

Entry in Trooper Pearsons’s Account and Pay book while stationed at Balaclava

A short introduction to Author Mike Craven by Lee Quinn

As someone who likes Crime novels, I enjoy them more when stories relate to places where I have lived or live now. I really can’t put a good Crime novel down! When I read it, I get drawn into every detail around what’s going on. It was two days away from printing when I had an email from Mike Craven about his new book Dead Ground, a book in the awardwinning Washington Poe series. So, after reading the press release I was straight on to the website, and by late afternoon I was talking to Mike who lives in Cumbria. With just one page available, here we are. Firstly, here are the details about the new book - it is going out on 3rd June and you can pre order and buy it locally here in Penrith from the Hedgehog Bookshop. About the book - A dark and twisted crime novel, this is the eagerly anticipated follow up to The Curator. Detective Sergeant Washington Poe is in court, fighting eviction from his beloved and isolated

Mike Craven. Photo by Gary Barton

croft, when he is summoned to a backstreet brothel in Carlisle where a man has been beaten to death with a baseball bat. Poe is confused - he hunts serial killers and this appears to be a straightforward murder-bypimp – but his attendance was requested personally, by the kind of people who prefer to remain in the shadows. As Poe and the socially awkward programmer Tilly Bradshaw delve deeper into the case, they are faced with seemingly unanswerable questions: despite being heavily vetted for a high profile job, why does nothing in the victim’s background check out? Why was a small ornament left at the murder scene – and why did someone on the investigation team steal it? And what is the connection to a flawlessly executed bank 27

heist three years earlier, a heist where nothing was taken . . . Unfortunately we can’t cover much more in this issue, but we are scheduling an interview with Mike Craven for your Eden Local and an audio interview will be recorded live on Eden FM in preparation for the book launch of Dead Ground launching on 3rd June 2021. It’s looking very possible that you’ll even have the opportunity to obtain a signed copy of Mike Craven’s new book, as we hope to release a date for a local book signing with Mike in Penrith very soon and we might just have a competition! To follow, we will soon be working on a full introduction to Mike Craven and his new book Dead Ground in next month’s Eden Local, which will be out around 21st April in preparation for his book launch.

2020 – 2021

Keeping Calm & Carrying On Part 1

By Vera almost a year, apart from a short time during last It’s 29th January 2021 and John and I have just summer when we could meet up with, but not arrived home from Penrith after receiving our first venture too near, close family members – 2 metres Pfizer inoculation against the Coronavirus Covid 19. apart! No kissing, no hugging, no shaking hands, We both received a letter from the NHS telling us no touching at all! All very alien to us very touchy that an appointment had been made for us to have cuddly people. the ‘jab’, as its now being called, at 4.25pm at the Medical Centre in Penrith. We were told to arrive no It felt quite strange actually getting into the car, earlier than that time, if we did arrive early, we would when was the last time? and driving off down the not be seen before our scheduled time. hill and over Langwathby’s temporary bridge. The river Eden extremely high, and the football and We joked about the fact that we were going out. cricket pitch under water. Really weird being able We were going on an essential journey to be to see further than the trees surrounding Holly inoculated at the same time – how romantic! We Cottage. Lovely to look around and see the sheep, thought. At 77 and having been almost isolated even though they were looking rather bedraggled from the world since March 2020, neither of and dirty, feeding on a field of sugar beet and not us could remember the last time we had any fresh green grass. romance in our lives. We thought it was probably two years ago when we celebrated our 55th Not many cars on the road but quite a few dog wedding anniversary by visiting Embleton and the walkers as we passed through Carleton. Walking church where we were married. Wow! We were a dog is allowed, probably included with our being allowed out. exercise entitlement. Strangely, I thought, several people were wearing face masks! Outside in Something to look forward to, an ‘outing’ to fresh air! Most odd. Passed B&M! Oh, how I miss Penrith. The current lockdown instruction is to popping in there to pick up a couple of essentials, ‘stay at home’ which we have been doing for

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and, after browsing happily around the shop, leaving with half a dozen things I didn’t want or need but knew I would enjoy.

The Rock and Rollers in 2021

As usual we arrived a good ten minutes before our appointment. John is almost invariably early for any appointment, I put this most irritating habit down to all the years he spent in the Royal Air Force. I like to arrive at an appointment ‘on time’ and consider arriving early and waiting around until the appointment time, a waste of valuable time. However, the time spent waiting today proved to be different and certainly worth it. Pulling into the car park we could see the temporary ‘Reception desk’ set up outside the medical centre. An open, wooden structure with a clear plastic roof. Two people sitting behind a table and two or three other people standing around, mostly volunteers I believe. Surprisingly, there wasn’t a queue, we had expected there to be one. It was all looking well organised. We parked in a spot where we could see what was going on and prepared to wait in the car until the dot of 4.25. We had our letters with us to prove that we had an appointment and weren’t jumping the que. Our face masks were at the ready, so car seat heaters on, we settled down to wait our turn. On looking around I saw quite a few people going hither and thither quite slowly and I realised they were either leaving or arriving a bit like us and it dawned on me that they were all our peers, all looked

around the same age, of course! They were the 75-80 cohort whose turn it was to receive the ‘Jab’. I was fascinated as I had never seen so many of our peers all together in one place for about 60 years. I started carefully watching, becoming quite amused by the goings on. A couple get out of their car, he is walking around to her side, she is struggling to put on her face mask – oops her eyes are covered, he is reaching out to help her straighten her mask, she finally manages to fit it beneath her specs. Both looking each other up and down and giving each other a thumbs up off they headed in the direction of the Reception table, letters clutched in their hands. This little pantomime was 29

going on all around us, the couples were all shapes and sizes, some were alone, some walking briskly, others, not finding the walk so easy, were quite slow. All their heads were shades of grey, some wearing hats and tightly wound scarves. All in sensible shoes. One lone woman was spending a considerable time with her head deep in the passenger well of her car! What is she doing, I thought? Eventually she stood up, in her hand a face mask, probably thought she had forgotten to bring one. On went the mask and off she went at a trot for the Reception point. Another couple are arriving back at their car, he is helping her into the passenger seat slowly and carefully before

taking an age to settle into his driving seat. Several minutes go by while they remove their masks. Minutes later I hear their car engine start. Another couple are checking each other over, she is straightening his collar, they join hands and wander along very slowly. I watched as one after another the cars parked and others left, the little pantomimes were repeated in a quiet and orderly manner.

and sawmills were popular and when we were very daring playing in the Gas Works was great fun. In the woods building dens and houses for Rabbits and Hedgehogs, bird nesting was good, but you only ever took one egg. Picking Primroses, Ladies Smock, Stars of Bethlehem and Bluebells to take home for our Mums. Rose Hipping was extra special because we could exchange our rose hips for a few pennies per pound at the Chemist Shop. Mushrooming in the local fields, very early on a Sunday morning, we knew all the best places. Then home for bacon, egg, fresh mushrooms and fried bread! No mention of cholesterol and saturated fat! Blackberrying was essential, making sure we didn’t eat too many, and picking enough for Mum to make tarts and jam.

Yes, I thought, they’re all ‘Oldies’ like me and John. The 75s to 80s well behaved and doing their duty. The thought made me chuckle to myself. Here we all are, all following the instructions we had been given. After months of being locked down, as they call it, hiding away in our homes afraid of catching or even worse, passing on, the dreaded virus. Having to learn how to order our food ‘on-line’ instead of happily browsing to shop for what we fancied.

Sledging was special, freezing legs in wellies and pink and numb hands too cold to turn the door handle were usual. Parents didn’t go sledging; the big ones looked after the little ones and any knocks, scrapes and tumbles we took had been our own fault so there was no point moaning. Muggies, Hide and Seek and Knocky Nine Doors were favourites and came around with the seasons. We would set out from home quite early, with a glass Lemonade bottle of tap water and some Jam sandwiches. The only rule was that we had to be home before dark.

All of us hoping the panic buying of toilet rolls and hand sanitiser has levelled off and wondering what weird ‘substitutes’ we would unpack with our grocery order delivered to our front doorstep, dumped down in crates as the delivery man backs away as I open the front door armed with at least six ‘Bags for life’ as though I was displaying the symptoms of bubonic plague. He/she is making a cheery joke about the delivery address being Holy Cottage when in fact, we live in Holly Cottage – no wonder his/her Satnav couldn’t locate us! Me smiling behind my face mask, forgetting that they can’t see my smile, apologising and explaining that it was a BT error which couldn’t be changed, and we are not very holy, worse luck, but so pleased they had managed to find us at 9.30pm on a dark winter night.

School was a 30-minute interesting walk away, we always tried to keep off the pavement by walking as far as we could on garden walls, eating Hawthorn leaves along the way, we called them

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I started to feel quite proud of all us oldies. The generation born in the middle of a world war whose childhood was played out in a country rebuilding towns and cities flattened by the German Luftwaffe, our parents’ war stories, food shortages and rationing, National Dried Milk for babies. Cod Liver Oil and Rosehip Syrup later and if we had a poorly tummy Andrews Liver Salts would sort us out.

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bread and cheese and Lime tree leaves were a tasty snack. No parents needed. I couldn’t wait to start school. Mum had just had my baby brother so I, quite happily, went to school on my first day by myself. School was sitting at desks which were set out in lines. The well-behaved children sat at the back and the naughtier you were the nearer the front you sat. I was sometimes in the back row, not usually for long, but I was never in the front row! We were quick to learn how to be well-behaved and, more importantly, what was considered naughty. We all lived without a car, washing machine, dish washer, microwave, telephone, vacuum cleaner, juicer, cake mixer, coffee machine and sandwich toasters? No pizzas, or burgers. Fish and Chips wrapped in newspaper our only fast-food special treat. The only person I knew with a telephone was our Doctor, I had seen one on his desk! Oh! And no NHS until I was four years old. A house move, when I was 11, opened up a whole new playground, the sand dunes and beach of Embleton Bay. A favourite was collecting Welks from the Emblestones at low tide. Home we’d go, a big bag of Welks in each hand and Mum would boil them in her Jam pan. We could hardly wait, with our pins at the ready, to wriggle the cooked Welks from their snail like shells, it was like eating the sea. Another favourite, which would probably shock people today, was the occasional fried Eider Duck egg, they were huge compared to our hen’s eggs. We’d share stories about the Grey Lady of Dunstanburgh who, we all firmly believed, roamed the ruins of the Castle every night and each story scarier than the last but we still had to be home before dark, thank goodness.

Razzamataz Penrith Razzamataz Penrith works with hundreds of children and young people aged 6 months to 18 years, both at their weekly sessions and through their School Clubs. Throughout the Pandemic it’s continued to reach out to their current students and families, whilst welcoming many more into the Razzamataz family too. The dedicated staff team have been admirable during this time, they’ve reached out to all their Razz Families to be a friend, a listening ear, to provide a service and of course help support wellbeing and mental health. Razzamataz Penrith provides: • A safe and secure environment to practise the performing arts, • An outlet to encourage children and young people to build their confidence and selfesteem, • And one big family, filled with encouragement, love and support. Book a Place! Launching some BRAND NEW classes and reopening week commencing 19th April at both The Appleby Hub and Penrith Parish Centre. To book your FREE TASTER SESSION contact Asha on 07539144225 or penrith@razzamataz.co.uk - limited spaces available, please book your child’s place NOW.

If you were clever the Grammar School was for you, if not off to the Secondary Modern and be taught to be a good housewife and mother with a short spell working in a shop until you got married. Teenage girls dressed like their Mum and teenage boys allowed to wear long trousers like their Dad until the late 50s when you could buy ‘Junior Miss’ clothes for teenage girls and we soon stopped looking like our Mum. Continued in the next issue 31

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