Broughton InTouch April / May 2022

Broughton InTouch

Gardening Projects courtesy of the Boughton Astley Volunteer Group (BAVG)

Bringing you up to date with your community BAVG Freephone: 0808 528 4477 Email: BAVGoffice@bavg.org.uk Website: www.bavg.org.uk Registered Charity No: 1191840

It is pleasing to see our village groups and classes are getting busier and more active as the year progresses. A big thank you to Joseph Johnson for recently planting 600 hedge whips to enhance our green spaces and the great work started by Lainie Whatsize on the new community allotment, see page two for further details. Don’t forget to visit www.bavg.org.uk to get all the latest up to date information on all our groups including crafting and wildlife.

The BAVG are delighted to announce in conjunction with St Mary’s church, a Platinum Jubilee Garden Party will be held in the grounds of the church on Thursday 2nd June.

This event will include a relaxed afternoon tea and 1950’s music and singing in the church gardens. A ticket price of £2.50 will be charged for a reserved afternoon tea, but additional

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refreshments will also be available on the door on the day. Call 0808 528 4477 to prebook your ticket. This event will compliment the Picnic in the Park on the 4th June planned by Broughton Alive.

The event will be promoted via Facebook and posters in the village as well as by the church and the regular coffee mornings held there every Monday morning. We look forward to updating you more shortly.

Thank you to all our volunteers who helped us update our records by completing our volunteer survey. A similar survey will be published for all on Facebook shortly if you are interested in being added onto our volunteer database. Thanks in advance!

Many thanks to Hallbrook Primary School for sponsoring this edition, see the back page for details.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to sponsor future editions.

This newsletter is available to read digitally, for free, on Issuu.com. If you would like to opt out of receiving a paper copy please email us.

Deadline for the June / July edition is 3rd May 2022. We accept features and information from any not-for-profit organisation within our community.

Email intouch@bavg.org.uk April / May 2022

Broughton Astley Volunteer Group InTouch and responding to our community’s needs

Community Allotment Exciting news for Broughton Astley – a new voluntary & sustainable Community Allotment to be worked on and enjoyed by local people & groups.

Working in partnership with Broughton Astley Conservation Group (under BAVG), we have secured a plot at Western Willows allotments near the beautiful wildlife garden and we have plans in place for pathways to make it accessible for all.

The purpose of the project is to support positive physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing by being active, producing & eating healthy food, learning new skills, developing friendships, reducing isolation and being part of your local community in a safe and relaxed environment. We welcome all ages, abilities, and experiences and feel everyone can add value to this project.

Our first event was held on Sunday, 28th February with an amazing team of volunteers of all ages, abilities and experiences spending a few hours working so hard to clear the plot, ready for our next stage of digging and rotavating to prepare for sectioning and growing flowers, fruit, and vegetables.The younger helpers enjoyed digging for worms, collecting stones, looking for wildlife and connecting with nature in a playful way which was wonderful to be part of.

Congratulations to Jess & Edward who were the winners of the scavenger hunt that day First volunteer group had a productive day too - great work!!

We would love to hear from anyone in the community that would like to get involved further in any way or that may have any ideas, experience, or time to share. Maybe you have plants, seeds or equipment you could donate or a service that we could use?

Also, if you run a local group & feel you could benefit from spending time at this fantastic open space please get in touch as we would love the opportunity to work with you. Alternatively, if you feel that you would like a support group setting up for a need you may have, we would love to hear from you and see how we can support this. Take a look at our page on Facebook where you can like & follow for further updates and also catch-up on our amazing work to date. A Facebook messenger Group has also been created if you would like to be part of the conversation too.

You can find us on Facebook at @SowsAndGrowsProject or email direct at SowsAndGrowsProject@gmail.com April / May 2022

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Project Lead Lainie Whatsize

New Age Kurling Weekly Sessions Held at Broughton Astley Village Hall A version of Curling that is played indoors with red and blue New Age Kurling Stones All equipment and drinks provided!

Meet new people and have a go at something new!

Every Week Broughton Astley Village Hall

Monday 10.30am - 11.30am Tuesday 11.00am - 12.00pm All classes £2.50

30 minutes refreshments at the end of each session

FREE Trial class on Friday 29th April 1.00 - 2.00pm Enquire below if you want to come along!

0808 528 4477 or

Boccia also Tuesday 12.30 -1.30 pm £2.50 (£4 for both Kurling and Boccia!)

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BAVGoffice@bavg.org.uk

April / May 2022

BAGA has served the gardening needs of local and surrounding communities since 1928. Unfortunately, volunteers to help run the service are in an ever decreasingly short supply, and it is with great regret that we have decided to wrap up our services and disband BAGA with effect from 30th September 2022.

We will continue to open the Trading Hut each Sunday morning until the end of September between the usual hours of 10.00 – 12.00, but will not be re-ordering any stocked items once they are sold out. We would therefore encourage you to make your purchases as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We still have a large supply of composts, grow bags and the other usual range of stock. Please visit our website at www.broughtonastleygardeners.co.uk to see for yourself what is available. Our prices still undercut most major retail outlets and garden centres.

We have no plans to organise the Annual Village Show on August Bank Holiday, especially as COVID is still a problem in forward planning any event, but discussions are on-going with other local bodies to explore if there is any possibility of them taking over the running of any similar type of event. If anything is forthcoming then it will be advertised both locally and on our website as and when a decision is known.

from St Mary’sto offer our services over such a long period, but all good things must It News has been a pleasure come to an end and we thank you for your past and present custom, and look forward to meeting your gardening supplies needs during this final current growing season.

Did you know?

Residents of Broughton Astley are fortunate to have two providers of Community Transport services who are separate but work together to give you the best range of options available. Similar to our partner, the Broughton Bus, Lutterworth Community Transport offer shopping trips and regular days out via our fleet of minibuses. These trips offer a door to door service and are available to Broughton Astley residents. Details of our current programme are available via our website www.luttvc.com or by calling 01455 555571.

Lutterworth Community Transport also provides a Social Car service, where we use volunteer drivers to take passengers to appointments such as the GP, dentist or optician where they have difficulty arranging alternative transport. You pay a fee per mile for the trip so we can reimburse our drivers for the use of their car and to pay for administration.

We can transport wheelchair users in their chairs, either on our minibus trips or on our Social Car scheme so everyone can get out and about and meeting people again.

Both our schemes rely on volunteer drivers and as the country continues to open up demand is ever increasing. If you are a driver over the age of 21 and are able to give some time to help people who would otherwise struggle to get out and about, please give me a ring on the same number.

Graeme Thomson Manager, Lutterworth Community Transport April / May 2022

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The Broughton Bus We are pleased to report that 2022 has begun with strong support for our regular shopping trips to Hinckley and Lutterworth, plus a sell-out special trip to Armstrong’s Mill at Shepshed for some ‘retail therapy’. We are hoping to repeat this type of special event during the year, so any new suggestions on venues/themes etc… for days out would be welcome.

If you have an enquiry about any aspect of the Community Bus services, there are usually at least three of our volunteers at the BAVG Coffee morning each Monday who would be happy to assist.

As an update to the previous article regarding a new bus, it seems that we would need to secure around £70k for a comparable replacement! We will keep you updated on our progress.

We would also like to welcome Val Shuttlewood to the team, our latest volunteer driver. Val is a driving instructor who has run Val’s School of Motoring for 34 years and also been helping the BAVG as a befriender since the group formed.

Bus Contact details

Val Shuttlewood on her first BAVG coffee morning trip

01455 283001 or 282966

Girlguiding in Broughton Astley currently has 1 Rainbow group, 2 Brownie groups, 1 Guide group and 1 Ranger group. With 99 girls and 11 leaders and young leaders.

With guiding girls have fun, adventure and the space to discover their potential. Girls take what they do in guiding with them as they grow up.

Everything from working in a team, to taking the lead, to speaking out on issues they care about. It helps them develop the skills and confidence to become the young women they want to be and to make a difference to the world around them. If you want to register your daughter, please see register on our web via the information for parents’ tab.

Volunteering No matter how much time you have to give, there's an opportunity for you. Find your place in our team of inspirational women, sharing their skills and passions with girls in a local unit - whilst benefitting from the adventure and opportunities guiding has to offer.

If you want to register to be a volunteer, please register on our webpage via the Get Involved tab.

Website - www.girlguiding.org.uk Email - lutterworthgirlguiding@gmail.com Facebook - Girlguiding-Lutterworth and surrounding village

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April / May 2022

Thank you all for your generous donations as always. Since January, we have received over 350kg of donations from residents of Broughton Astley - enough to feed approximately 35 people for at least 3 days. We have continued to be very busy and expect to be busier still as the cost of living increases.

Thank you to everyone who helps us to support the most vulnerable people in our communities who are most at risk of destitution in these challenging times. We are currently short of the following items so if you are able, please do consider donating an item or two to one of our collection points. Our local donation points include Broughton Astley Parish Council offices, Broughton Astley Co-op & and St Mary's Church, Broughton Astley.

Tinned Pulses Tinned Snack meals ( Bolognaise, Curry etc) Rice UHT Milk - Whole and Semi-skimmed Cleaning Sprays Shampoo

Tinned fruit Fruit juice Hot chocolate Laundry items Washing up Liquid Shower Gel

If you are in need of support, please contact one of the friendly referral agencies who partner with us to support local people.

Citizens Advice - 0300 3302 111 Harborough District Council Community Hub - 01858 821232

or for other referral agencies, do contact us for more details.

April / May 2022

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Lucy Freeman, Projects Manager Tel: 01455 558797 Twitter: @LuttFoodBank Facebook: Lutterworth and Villages Foodbank www.lutterworthvillages.foodbank.org.uk

News from St Mary’s Easter will be upon us in Mid- April and we have some really lovely events coming up that are open to all.

Sunday 3rd April at 4pm in St Mary’s – Choral Evensong with Leicester Cathedral Choir.

The Cathedral is closed for reordering and so Leicester Cathedral choir is on tour and will be coming to sing Choral Evensong. It is open to all and will be a beautiful service. All welcome.

Saturday 16th April in St Mary’s at 6pm – A performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion This beautiful piece of music that reflects the passion of Christ will be performed by our United Parish Choirs and guest soloists Alex Osiatynski and William Haynes. Sebastian Carrington will conduct and Andrew McMillan is the organist. This performance is free and all are welcome.

Please see our Noticeboards, website and Facebook pages for all our Holy Week services.

Other dates for your diary!

Good Friday 15th April from 10-12 – Children’s Easter workshop with lots of crafts and the Easter story!

Easter Sunday 17th April 6am – in the Rectory Garden – an outdoor Communion service with breakfast afterwards! Then at 10am - Family celebration service with Communion and Easter Egg Hunt.

2.30pm -4.30pm Easter Cream teas in St Marys Church amongst our beautiful Easter flowers!

Community Market and Coffee Mornings We continue to offer spaces for our successful Community market every 1st Saturday of the month from 10-12. We are so grateful for village support for us and for the local crafters and small businesses! Our next dates are 2nd April and note new date of 14th May. Our servery area is being modernised and a new floor put down – we are so looking forward to showing you our improved facilities from mid – May!

Community Market Events

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April / May 2022

Spring is well and truly on its way. This Spring seems to come with an even greater sense of new life and new beginnings with lockdowns and restrictions an almost distant memory. As we think of these new beginnings this spring and Easter time, I am always encouraged by the new beginning Jesus offers to us all. Perhaps this is something you want to explore more? If so, you would be most welcome to drop in on one of our Sunday gatherings at 10.30am or get in touch at jonathan@suttonelms.co.uk.

On the 8th February, The Elms Cafe was launched and we have been amazed at the response from the community. Based in the newly redeveloped Hub of Sutton Elms Baptist Church, The Elms Café is open 10am-2pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and 12pm-2pm on Thursday. Whether you fancy a quiet coffee while you work, a chat with friends over cake or lunch, you will be most welcome. If you are up for talking with other customers you can sit at our ‘chatter and natter’ table.… Coffee, Cake and Community are what we love!

So far this year the Beavers Cubs and Scouts in the group have got involved with many fun and engaging activities, learning new skills or in some cases refreshing older ones.

They have been at our local campsite, safely building fires to cook something tasty, they have been out and about the village and fields and working towards their activity badges and challenge awards with the intention of earning their bronze, silver or gold awards.

We have a brilliant team of volunteers and while its always sad to see anyone leave, it’s great to get new, enthusiastic adults involved and help them to get established with the excellent training and support provided through the Scouts.

Why don’t you join us to make more memories?

If you are over 18, enthusiastic about supporting young people and keen to learn more about the wide range of opportunities to assist local scouting then email Phil Burton on phil.burton@broughtonastleyscouts.org.uk or visit www.scouts.org.uk Registered charity in the UK no.510775 April / May 2022

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We started the year with two very interesting guest speakers: Ian Retson from The Woodland Trust gave a fascinating talk on the Trust’s work. Britain is the least wooded area in Europe and has lost many of its native woodlands as a result of climate change, population pressures (houses, roads, rail) and pests and diseases. These woodlands must be replaced if we are to meet our carbon neutral goals. There are now many national and local initiatives to plant new trees and it is good to see that our village is playing its part.

available. Starting in 1980 the first ship, fitted out with two operating theatres plus recovery wards, served the West African countries of Senegal, Guinea and Liberia providing the ability to perform corrective operations in a wide range of medical specialities. The ship would spend around 10 months in the area and would be supported by local people. The first ship was replaced in 2017 and is soon to be joined by a second state of the art custom built ship which is currently being fitted out and will double the medical help that can be offered in those areas.

February is recognised as Climate Change Awareness month and we displayed our Green Hearts bunting in the village to remind us all of the pressures of climate change.

In February, Alison Briggs visited to talk about the amazing work carried out by the organisation The Mercy Ships, whereby We held a very successful Table Top Sale in volunteer doctors and nurses give their services the village hall at the end of the month, which completely free, to bring much needed medical was well supported, and our refreshments and aid to countries where these services are not delicious home made cakes were enjoyed by all!

We always welcome visitors and new members to join us (7.30pm on the second Tuesday monthly).

Phone 01455 282118 for more information.

Enderby & District Young Farmers Club organised their annual charity Christmas tree collection, covering Broughton Astley and surrounding villages at the beginning of the year. The trees were then chipped and sent off to be used as animal bedding. We would like to thank everyone who donated. Our aim was to raise £500 and with the publics help, we raised a grand total of £1,841!

The money raised enables the club to hire rooms for our weekly meetings at Brockington College Enderby, buy uniforms and equipment for competitions such as cheerleading, hockey and dodgeball. Without these funds, our members wouldn’t have their local young farmers club and every year we are overwhelmed with support we receive.

If you are interested in joining Enderby & District YFC, you must be aged 10-28, be interested in rural affairs and prepared to Give It Some Welly! You don’t need to be a farmer to be a young farmer! We meet most Tuesdays 7:30pm at Brockington College, Enderby.

You can contact us via Facebook @OfficialEnderbyYFC or Message our Vice Chairman Abbi 07506728549.

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April / May 2022

BROUGHTON ASTLEY PARISH COUNCIL Allotment Wildlife Garden We are pleased to tell you that there will be work commencing at the end of March 2022 to clear and reinstate the path through the Western Willows allotment wildlife garden, Broughton Way. This area is there for the whole community to enjoy, and the new path will allow wheelchair/pushchair access. DTM Gardens supplied the most competitive quote and has been instructed to carry out the work.

Rotten decking will also be replaced near to the pond, and we have commissioned a ‘Bug Hotel’ to be carved using some of the wood from a felled oak tree on the Leisure Centre site.

The funding has been provided by Harborough District Council who attach strict criteria to how and where the money is spent. In summary this project’s outcome is to support inclusivity to the wider public as well as promoting conservation, biodiversity, and wellbeing. Broughton Astley Volunteer Group (BAVG) will help with the site maintenance and have even managed to attain two fantastic sturdy benches with grant funding from the Central England Co-operative’s Community Dividend Fund. We are sure that the garden will be a lovely place to sit, relax and enjoy the restorative benefits of fresh air, wildlife and, of course, the peace and quiet! The renovation of this site will also support the provision of an allotment plot, rented by the BAVG which is adjacent to the wildlife area and will be used as a community garden to encourage those with impaired movement and to support mental wellbeing, as well as introducing children to the delights of growing their own food, especially the fruit and veg! If you would like to join the Sows & Grows Project on the community allotment, please contact Lainie Whatsize at: contactsowsandgrowsproject@gmail.com

Village Defibrillators We are thrilled to announce that enough funds have been raised to install at least one defibrillator in a disused BT telephone kiosk on Coventry Road. Platform Housing donated a fantastic £2,000.00! This amount will be used to buy an external defibrillator, as well as renovating the kiosk. We are also on our way to raising enough for an additional defibrillator on Frolesworth Road Recreation Ground with special thanks to David Robinson Estates, John at Broughton Astley Gunsmiths, Jo Tait, Broughton Astley Conservative Club, Multicell and Broughton Alive.

If you would like to help us reach our target, please get in touch! reception@broughton-astley.gov.uk or 01455 285655.

April / May 2022

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BROUGHTON ASTLEY PARISH COUNCIL The Harborough Lotto Harborough Lotto was created in 2018 by Harborough District Council. Set up to support community projects in the local area, Harborough Lotto operates on the principle of raising money within the community for the community. The lotto empowers local good causes to raise money in a fun and effective way. In a time of shrinking budgets and increased community need, Harborough Lotto enables people to support the causes they care most about, helping good causes to connect with their supporters. A ticket for Harborough Lotto costs £1 a week. 60% of ticket sales will go to good causes - 50% to our causes (such as defibrillators or play equipment etc.) and 10% to a fund supporting good causes in Harborough District. The funds we raise will directly benefit the Broughton Astley community.

Please visit: https://www.harboroughlotto.co.uk/support/broughton-astley-parishcouncil and perhaps purchase some tickets or subscribe. The top prize is £25,000.00!

Poo Bags from the Parish Office The Parish Council have taken the decision that once our current supply of bags has been depleted, we will not be replacing them. We have around 75 different residents collecting the bags, but the cost of supplying them amounts to over £1000.00 per year. We feel that this is not a fair allocation of public funding.

Nappy bags are a cheap alternative and are available from all supermarkets, alternatively enjoy deliveries straight to your door from Amazon for as little as £1.49. Dog mess is unsightly and a health hazard. If you are a dog owner, you have a legal duty to clean up every time your dog messes in a public place. You may dispose of poo bags in any street bin. You can also contact Harborough District Council if excessive dog mess is littering your street, using the online reporting form: https://www.harborough.gov.uk/ or by calling: 01858 828282.

“ I welcome the new County Council budget for 2022/23 which, despite the financial challenges, still protects the most vulnerable in our County, invests in capital infrastructure projects and in the Green Agenda.

County Councillors are to be given a fund of £25,000 to spend on Highway or environmental projects in their Division.

I will be working closely with the Parish Council to identify suitable projects for the village. If you have any ideas you would like me to consider please email me or call.

My contact details are in the box opposite”.

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April / May 2022

Our Pre School based at Hallbrook Primary School is now taking registrations for September 2022 onwards.

In addition to the 15 and 30 hours free entitlement we are able to provide additional paid sessions as well as access to our well established before and after school club.

Ducklings at Hallbrook Primary School provide a play-based curriculum where children will learn at their own pace in a relaxed and nurturing, purpose built environment with access to our extensive grounds and woodland areas.

Led by Emma Pope, with a degree in Early Years and experience running previous preschools, she is supported by two level 3 qualified pre school practitioners Kayleigh and Amy. Open 5 days a week, with a newly equipped AstroTurf secure L to R: Kayleigh Chapman, Amy Timms, Emma Pope play area, and access to before and after school clubs where Amy also works, Duckling provides a safe, supportive and fun place for pre schoolers. After a thriving and successful first year, places are filling fast for September 2022, so enquire today.

Bookings now being taken!

For more information, to arrange a visit or to request a registration pack, please contact our school office on 01455 285693 or email admin@hallbrook.leics.sch.uk April / May 2022

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