KM
Kirkstall Matters Issue 119
Autumn/Winter 2015
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editor@kirkstall.org.uk
www.kirkstall.org.uk Kirkstall Matters
About Us The KVCA was founded in 1978 with the aim of promoting and benefiting the inhabitants of Kirkstall and the neighbourhood. We are a non-party political, non-secretarian and registered charity. KVCA is also responsible for organising events and activities, for example through the Kirkstall Festival Committee. We act as a pressure group and a watchdog on developments affecting Kirkstall, and campaign and cooperate on a number of issues with other local organisations. Editors Amy Thompson, Stephanie Garrigan and Ewa Gorska kirkstallmatters@gmail.com The views expressed in Kirkstall Matters are those of the contributors and if not attributed to individuals, they are from the editorial team. They are not necessarily the views of the KVCA. Production Kirkstall Matters is the magazine of the Kirkstall Valley Community Association (registered charity number 507822). It is published by volunteers. For details and dates on the next issue please email the editor or check our website: www.kirkstall.org.uk. We also publish articles and news items regularly on our website: www. kirkstall.org.uk, on Twitter @kirkstallonline and our Facebook page. Articles, reader’s letters, poems etc. are welcome. Our preferred format is plain text with separate high resolution images but we can accept other formats. Ideally please email your file as an attachment to the editor or deliver it on disk to our postal address. If you can’t provide your article in electronic form, you can give it to us typed or handwritten. Distribution Delivered through the doors of Kirkstall and beyond by members of the KVCA. If you can help distribute on your local street, please contact us via email at kirkstallmatters@gmail.com. Printed by PPS Grasmere Designed by Studio Patrick www.studiopatrick.co.uk
Note from the Editors Hello Kirkstall! Sorry it's been a while. We hope you haven't missed us too much. We took a little hiatus whilst there was a bit of a shake up over at Kirkstall Matters HQ. But, now, we're back and it's business as usual! We're all new to working on the magazine, so let us introduce ourselves. My name is Amy and I have lived in Kirkstall for over 3 years now. I quickly fell in love with the inclusive community spirit here and I now refuse to live anywhere else! After moving to the area I soon began helping with the development of St Stephens Community Garden and I am now Secretary of this venture; I also organised the first Kirkstall Art Trail this summer which was lots of fun! Stephanie moved to the area just over a year ago after being swayed by the gorgeous Abbey park and leafy streets. Stephanie is a graphic designer who, along with her partner, runs a small film and design agency called Studio Patrick. They both work from home and pass the day listening to the school bells and the church bells of St. Stephens. Ewa is a mum of a 2 year old boy and moved to Kirkstall over a year ago. Ewa plans on home schooling so community, outdoor space and activities are extremely important to her family. She is one of the members of Kirkstall Community Garden which is hugely rewarding and enjoyable and she spends most of her days roaming around Kirkstall Abbey Park. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to contribute to the community via the magazine and we hope you enjoy our efforts! Get your cuppa ready and put your feet up for Issue 119 of Kirkstall Matters.
Amy, Steph and Ewa
Fancy getting involved? How to Join Joining the association is simple. The quickest way to join is through our website www.kirkstall.org.uk and click “Join the KVCA”, or you can fill in and return this form. Would you like to help with Kirkstall Festival? Would you like to get involved in Kirkstall Matters or Kirkstall Online? Could you help deliver Kirkstall Matters on your street? Membership is FREE and includes delivery of Kirkstall Matters within the local area. Post To: KVCA Treasurer, 18 The Rise, Leeds. LS5 3EP
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Introduction from the Chairman Submitted by John, Chairman of the KVCA/Festival
It’s been a very busy summer in Kirkstall with lots going on within the area. We had the ‘Carnival of the Animals’ at the Leisure Centre the weekend before the festival, then our festival on the following Saturday, Sneaky Cinema on the Friday and Saturday night on the festival weekend and to round it off on the following weekend we had the fantastic Kirkstall Art Trail. The festival was our busiest to date and helped of course by some very good weather. We worked with the Museums and Galleries Youth Service who organised a ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition which took place on our Bowling Green Stage, it was brilliant and so well attended. I hope they will do it again next year. All our volunteers who help put the festival on each year did a brilliant job this year and we had several ‘new’ bodies with us who I know enjoyed themselves even though it is hard work and I’m sure they will be with us next year as well! Amy, one of the Kirkstall Matters magazine editorial volunteers organised the Kirkstall Art Trail all by herself which would be quite a task for a team of people. The Art Trail had over forty artists and exhibitors at more than twenty venues and residences. It was well attended and was a fantastic success, it would be hoped Amy will do this again next year but she will need some help this time, any volunteers? After the disappointment of the proposed Tesco site being shelved, it is good to see that the new Kirkstall Bridge Shopping Park is due to open in November.
The site will have retailers such as Pets at Home, M&S, Home Bargains, Costa, JD Sports, Trespass and Pure Gym with lots more to be added. The Forge site is also making steady progress and in the next few years will be a wonderful addition to our areas infrastructure. No one can say for sure what impact these schemes will have on traffic, they can only guess I suppose but it does mean extra jobs in the area and that is a plus. This latest magazine has been produced by a ‘new’ team and it’s a pure joy to have them with us, say hello to Amy, Steph and Ewa, hello girls! We have tried for some years to find a team of people to produce the magazine as it is just too much work for one person and now they’re here, hooray. They will be looking for any comments or contributions from readers or indeed any assistance or help you would like to give. I would just like to add that as you know the magazine is now free but we still have to find the money to produce the three issues per year. If you could afford to make a donation towards the cost of the magazine it would be most appreciated, the address of the treasurer is in the magazine. I hope everyone has had a great summer; I hate winter and am already looking forward to our next festival, the 36th in 2016.
John Chair KVCA/Festival
All our volunteers who help put the festival on each year did a brilliant job this year and we had several ‘new’ bodies with us who I know enjoyed themselves even though it is hard work and I’m sure they will be with us next year as well!
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Planning Permission Granted for First Phase of £400 million Kirkstall Forge Development
Planning permission was granted in September 2015 for a 15,534 sq m, seven storey office building, kick-starting the first phase of the ambitious Kirkstall Forge redevelopment. Planning committee members unanimously granted planning permission. This first commercial development will meet the pent-up demand for high quality flagship office space. Kirkstall Forge is one of the oldest industrial sites in the country; the site has an 800 year history and is the oldest continuously industrialised site in the UK. The site was acquired unconditionally by Commercial Estates Group in 2003. It comprised 600,000 sq ft of predominantly old manufacturing buildings, used in forging and assembling axles destined for the commercial vehicle market. The site became redundant after the site owner, Dana Corporation, relocated the process to Spain.
The 23-hectare brownfield site will be transformed into a thriving mixed-use community in a wooded, riverside setting. It will deliver new homes, a high quality office park, shops, restaurants, a gym, crèche and other facilities. Nick Lee from CEG said: “A lot of hard work has gone into ensuring this will be an exemplar scheme and the team is delighted with the positive comments made by planning committee members in relation to the design and overall vision for the site. This decision means we can be on site early in the New Year with the first phase of development.” The new railway station is set to open on the site later this year, providing connectivity to Leeds city centre in just minutes and acting as a catalyst for extensive employment and residential opportunities. Jon Kenny, Director of CEG, explained: “Ultimately, the Kirkstall Forge development will offer prime office space and new homes with fantastic facilities in a
stunning riverside, woodland location with unsurpassed transport connections into Leeds, Bradford and the Yorkshire Dales.” This is one of the largest regeneration schemes and the most ambitious project in the north of England. £300m is programmed for investment in the site over the next five years, creating more than 2,400 new jobs and enabling almost 10,000 people to live and work on this site by 2020. The development has also secured the national Placemaking Award for Best Mixed-use Development 2015 - The judging panel (which includes urban designers, planners, housebuilders, regeneration companies), the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and English Heritage, said they loved the scheme’s scale, ambition, partnership and environmental values. Further reserved matters planning applications will be submitted in the coming months for the first phase of residential development.
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The bridge’s design is unique to the UK as all deflections and vibrations are borne by the bridge shoulders, while the bridge structure itself remains rigid. A 1,200 tonne crane was used to lift in the 30m long, 18m wide structure, which is supported by five bridge beams weighing between 41 and 47 tonnes. Contractor I&H Brown has overseen the installation.
Kirkstall Neighbourhood Plan The Interim Kirkstall Neighbourhood Forum now has its own website at www.kirkstallforum.org A group of about 70 Kirkstall residents, local businesses and the Kirkstall councillors have applied to the Council for designation as a Neighbourhood Forum under the Localism Act. Once designated by the Council, this Forum will prepare a Kirkstall Neighbourhood Plan, which will give local residents better control over new development and greater influence over the spending of local funds. Anybody who lives, works or does business in Kirkstall can join the Forum and influence the Neighbourhood Plan. It will soon be possible to join via the website, but for the time being, please contact Cllr John Illingworth by phone, email or post, giving your street address and (optional) telephone number. He will ensure that your name is added to the members list. All
significant decisions will be taken openly and democratically at public meetings, and the final plan is expected to reflect the consensus view. When the plan is complete, it will be checked by legal experts for conformity with Planning Law and tested in a Local Referendum. Only when it is supported by a majority of local electors does the new plan acquire the force of law. A Public Meeting of the Interim Neighbourhood Forum took place in Paxton Hall on 15 September. Ian MacKay (Leeds City Council) explained that the Kirkstall application for registration had been advertised by the Council and the public consultation would close on 2 October. Formal recognition as a Neighbourhood Forum could be expected about two weeks later. Work could start from that point to elect officers and a committee, open a bank account and apply for funds. There is a boundary dispute with Headingley Forum which might take a few days to resolve,
but this was not expected to be a major stumbling block and no reason to delay the rest of the project. Members then discussed which local issues they wanted to tackle first when building their Neighbourhood Plan. Boundaries The current proposal from the Interim Neighbourhood Forum (which the Council is still considering) is to designate an area covering the whole of Kirkstall Ward. There is a partial overlap with the previously designated area for the Headingley Neighbourhood Forum around Foxcroft Mount, Queenswood Road, Queenswood Gardens, Queenswood Rise and the southern end of Queenswood Drive. This overlap causes significant problems for Kirkstall residents because this existing Headingley boundary splits the operating area for the Queenswood Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (QTARA) in half. Negotiations will be necessary to resolve this issue.
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Hawksworth Wood Anti-Dog Fouling Campaign Kirkstall Councillors took action on this persistent problem, having received many complaints about dog fouling in Hawksworth Wood. The Inner West Community Committee combined with local people, Hawksworth wood Primary School, the Police, Housing Leeds, HAVA (who have £1m to spend on the estate in 10 years, funded by Big Local Lottery fund) and Hawksworth Wood Community Association (HWCA) to tackle the issue. Cllr Fiona Venner and staff from the Environmental Action Team delivered a school assembly about the health risks of dog excrement. This was hard hitting, whilst also being age appropriate. Children at Hawksworth Wood Primary took part in a poster competition to encourage owners to clear up after their dogs. The winning entries are being made
into metallic signs, funded by HAVA and will soon be seen around the estate. Cllr Venner also met with the School Council to discuss how they might help. They wrote a letter about the impact of dog fouling on their lives which every child took home. A leaflet was made about the health risks of dog fouling, incorporating the children’s designs and some of the text from the school council letter and is in the Vesper Road GP Surgery and Hawksworth Wood Children’s Centre. The highlight of the campaign has been the HWCA annual family fun day on 27th May which included a dog show to bring dog owners together to hear about the campaign. Over 100 people attended the show with categories including the cutest dog, best trick and best sausage catcher! Thanks to Alan Crump for sharing his wisdom and experience of the Kirkstall Festival dog show!
The Inner West Community Committee from Leeds City Council has combined with local people, Hawksworth Wood Primary School, the Police, Housing Leeds, HAVA and the Hawksworth Wood Community Association to tackle the problem of dog fouling on the Hawksworth Wood Estate.
The campaign is already making a real difference with people reporting that the problem is much improved. A recent public meeting focussed on enforcement and how to report people for dog fouling. If a few people can be prosecuted, word will spread and this may be the most effective way of persuading dog owners to be more responsible. The next event will be a dog chipping session in November, which will be another opportunity to bring dog owners together to hear about the campaign. If you would like to get involved in the campaign, or are interested in developing a similar campaign in your area, contact fiona.venner@leeds.gov.uk
Hawksworth Wood AntiDog Fouling Campaign
Hawksworth Wood Primary School wrote as follows about how dog fouling affects their lives: We have all encountered the sticky, smelly mess left by dogs, on our way to school, or when we are out playing with our friends. There is an easy solution to this problem: when out walking with your dog, take a plastic bag and PICK IT UP. We all agree this is not a pleasant job, but it is worth doing if it prevents your son, daughter, my friend or any of us from becoming seriously ill.
Please pick up after your dog! For more information about this campaign, please contact: Kirkstall Environmental Action Team, 0113 222 4406.
A local campaign by local people HWCA Big Local HAVA
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Kirkstall Diary Submitted by Rachel Reeves, MP for Leeds West
As the nights draw in and the sunny afternoon of the Kirkstall Festival feels a long time ago, there is so much happening across Kirkstall that we can all look forward to this winter. On a personal level, many of you will know about the new addition to my family – baby Harry. Harry was born in June and we have spent a lovely few months together while I've taken some maternity leave from Westminster. Following the birth of my second child, I have decided to take a step back from being in the Shadow Cabinet (a twenty four hour job) in order to spend a bit more time with my family in these early years and focus my time on local issues in Leeds West. I know that lots of readers will want to know about progress at Kirsktall Forge. I visited the site earlier this month and I am delighted with the development – progress with the train station is going really well. The first trains will be stopping early in the new year. This will be the first new train station in Leeds since 1986 and will greatly reduce journey times to Leeds and Bradford from Kirkstall. I’m really pleased that Kirkstall Forge is already
creating many jobs and this will increase when full time construction starts on the houses and businesses next year. Lots of Kirkstall Matters readers will know what a fantastic new development this will be and how much extra trade and income, as well as new train and cycle routes, this will bring to our corner of Leeds. I also wanted to let you know that the Kirkstall Bridge Retail Park has just opened. This new development provided numerous construction jobs and opportunities for apprentices over the last year and will now create hundreds of local jobs for people in all of the new shops and cafes as well as giving us new facilities on our doorstep. Of course, we do need to monitor increased traffic and congestion which I know our Councillors are also mindful of. I also wanted to let you know about important changes to how we register to vote. Almost two million people could be dropped off from being able to vote - and we have important local elections and the EU referendum coming up. The new system, Individual Electoral Registration, means that each and every one of us is responsible
for checking that we are on the electoral register. In most cases Leeds City Council will have written to you to confirm that you are able to vote but if you find that you need to register it is really easy to do so. If you have access to a computer you can do it in a couple of minutes at gov.uk/register-to-vote or you can contact Electoral Services on 0113 222 4411 and they will send you a form. I will make sure that I keep everyone up to date with these developments and hope to see many of you out and about over the next few weeks and months. As ever if you want to contact me on any issue - local or national, or book a surgery appointment please contact my office at: Telephone: 0113 255 2311 Email: Rachel.reeves.mp@parliament.uk Address: Unit 8a, Barmley Shopping Centre, Leeds, LS13 2ET You can also follow me on twitter at @RachelReevesMP or on Facebook at facebook.com/rachelreeves10. Best wishes, Rachel
Councillor Surgeries Kirkstall councillors are available to support you with any local issues, including housing, environmental or highways concerns. If you would like to talk to a councillor, our contact details are below. We also hold surgeries at the following times: 1st Saturday of the month
10am
Kirkstall Leisure Centre, 2pm STEP Day Centre (formerly Queenswood Drive Day Centre), Queenswood Drive.
2nd Tuesday of the month
10am
Cragside Close Community Centre, Hawksworth Wood.
3rd Tuesday of the month
7pm
Greenhow Community Centre, Haddon Road, Burley
4th Tuesday of the month
7pm
Queenswood Social Club, Queenswood Drive.
MICE Funding Do you run a community group in Kirkstall? Did you know you can ask your councillors for funding? Councillors have a fund to support local groups called MICE, Member Involvement in Community Engagement. We can give grants of a few hundred pounds to support community activities. Previous groups supported include local allotments, children’s centres, Kirkstall in Bloom, tenants and residents associations and neighbourhood networks which support older people. If you would like to request MICE money, please contact lucinda.yeadon@leeds.gov.uk
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Commercial Road, Kirkstall
1900: Pubs and Pews Submitted by Mike Harwood It is 1900: Edwardian (almost) Kirkstall; not as seen in the glossy, fashion plates of the time. Kirkstall was a solid, industrial village, with its world famous forge and its woollen mills along the river. Commercial Road was perhaps the commercial hub of this little community where the week’s shopping was done. ‘The main shopping area in Kirkstall was Commercial Road from Kirkstall Lane to just beyond Beecroft Street. There were other shops at street corners, but that was where a lot of people did their main shopping. We used to refer to it as “on the bottom” or “on the Village”. There were all kinds of shops….If you went down Commercial road you were going “on the bottom”; if you went down Kirkstall Road you were going “down the road.’ In 1900 Kirkstall was still a village, a busy village. It had thrown off the yoke (as I would see it) of the Cardigan Estate. The 7th and last Earl (the one who insanely led his Brigade to charge the mouths of the Russian Cannon at Balaclava in 1854), had died falling off his horse. His widow, Adeline, had married (though not for long) her Portuguese, Don Antonio Manuelo, Count de Lancastre; and, driven by poverty (relative of course), had sold off the Kirkstall Estate. The village had been taken over by the building developers and the
industrialists. William Henry Kitson, the railway engineer, had his established home at Crooked Acres, now Kirkside, in Morris Lane. The rows of red brick, through terraces and back-to-back terraces (so much part of Kirkstall today) were rising over the green fields; homes for its workers of the industrial revolution. Kirkstall, now joined since 1897 by an electric tram ride to the city centre, was still not just another residential suburb of Leeds (not that it is today!). In 1900, on Commercial Road alone, there were five pubs or beer houses: the Woodman; the Sovereign, the George, the George Hotel and the Shades. So a drink could be had on average perhaps every 120 yards! There were several others in the village. And, at that time, there was religion; (in Kirkstall as a whole) six churches or chapels – two of them on Commercial Road. The population in 1901 was 4,623. Whether patrons of the pubs were the same as the patrons of the churches I do not know! And the doctor’s house at no 75. For the weekly shop, on the road there was (in some cases more than one) a hairdresser’s, bootmaker’s, tailor’s, grocer’s (including a Co-op), and locally famous, almost next to The Royal Sovereign, was Totty’s the draper’s; and a tripe shop; and so on. For the full article please see Kirkstall Online.
Winter by the River Aire Written by Richard Smith
Oh wandering walker watch the River Aire See its wintry chilling waters go flowing by Flanked by trees that are completely bare Its lapping, twirling, whirling eddies run ever so high Threatening to flood the open fields lying all around Whilst hungry, silent seagulls fly beneath a pencil grey sky On this bleak dark day, this river runs steadfastly on its way Pushing, rushing, straining toward a far off sea Its sullied waters running against vast banks of clay Splash! Another piece of land has ceased to be Another water-laden conquest has been made Now there is one less piece of land to see A pale listless twilight will soon quickly fade But beside this river roadside traffic still thunders by To serve the endless needs of a 24/7 trade
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St Stephen’s Well Community Garden Update Sitting here in the community garden in this beautiful autumn sunshine, it’s hard to believe that it was less than 2 years ago that we first stuck a spade in the ground to turn a very overgrown corner of Kirkstall into the thriving garden it is today! We’re still a little worried though that some people don’t know the garden exists, or that it’s open to everyone 24/7. The garden is on the corner of Station Parade and Vicarage View and the newly painted black gates are always open. It’s been a busy year with the garden playing host to a Fireworks Day party in November, the Big Lunch and the fantastic Kirkstall Art Trail this summer; as well as several birthday parties and get-togethers. Anyone can use the garden for a party free of charge, you just need to contact us to let us know so we don’t double book. We have a large brickbuilt barbecue, bunting, music, a gazebo and some garden furniture which you are welcome to use. All we ask is that you leave the garden as you found it. Anyone passing the garden may have noticed our fantastic recycled pop bottle greenhouse which has produced plants for our raised beds this year. We are going to increase the number of raised beds for next year, so even more room to come and have a go at growing your own veg!
We’re trying to expand the use of the garden, and to that end Barbara Doyle kindly offered Tai Chi taster sessions in the garden this month. Thanks too, to Hazel Page whose gardening for beginners sessions also went down very well! If you have an idea for something you would like to see happening in the garden, or you just want to pop in and meet people of different ages and from all walks of life from your neighbourhood, then just come on in. You can give a hand with some gardening or just make new friends! We’ve just been awarded a £500 grant to enhance the planting in the garden, so next year should see a real splash of colour over there! We were also lucky enough to have help from Joe Maiden who supplied fruit trees for the gardens orchard. Joe sadly passed away this week and we’d like to pass on our condolences to his family and friends. We are always looking out for more helpers and new ideas, so if you’d like to get involved, even if you can only spare the odd hour, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch Contact Mandy Long :07910312093 Email: ststephensgarden@gmail.com
We are always looking out for more helpers and new ideas, so if you’d like to get involved, even if you can only spare the odd hour, we’d love to hear from you.
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A Green Fingered Partnership Local residents in Headingley have been enjoying a slice of the good life this year, as Shire Oak Community Garden opened its gates to the public. The garden was set up by Leeds and Yorkshire Housing Association (LYHA) as part of its commitment to ‘making a positive impact locally’. After joining forces with Incredible Edible Kirkstall, they have run several Ecotherapy groups and also a children’s outdoor play group over the summer, called Little Green Fingers. Emily Fulda, Community Engagement Officer at LYHA is thrilled with the garden’s success. “We’re very fortunate to have a beautiful garden here at the office – but it wasn’t being used. So we teamed up with Incredible Edible Kirkstall to make the most of the space for the benefit of the local community. The Ecotherapy group have grown an array of vegetables which Little Green Fingers were able to harvest. The children loved digging up the potatoes! All of this food has now been donated to local food bank Right Choices, based at Headingley Heart Centre.”
Paul Long, founder of Incredible Edible Kirkstall, stressed the importance of teaching children where their food comes from. “If children plant the seeds themselves and watch them grow, they will take pride in fresh produce and are far more likely to eat it when it’s on a plate in front of them. This is what our ‘Plot to Plate’ sustainable education campaign is all about – which we will be promoting to schools and youth organisations in the near future. Food growing is a great way to get people outside and active, ultimately improving health and wellbeing. Working with LYHA has been a great way to extend our work to the local community.” The garden is now being tucked up for the winter, but there will be more opportunities to get involved in the Spring. LYHA and Incredible Edible Kirkstall can both be found on Facebook and Twitter where upcoming events will be advertised.
Food growing is a great way to get people outside and active, ultimately improving health and wellbeing. Working with LYHA has been a great way to extend our work to the local community. Find out more facebook.com/incrediblekirkstall Twitter: @IEKirkstall incrediblekirkstall@gmail.com
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o o l k l l b a l t o s o k m r i i n K g e g k o a rgeous! M p l e H It has been quite a year for Kirkstall in Bloom, with a new Chair (Hannah), Secretary (James), and new members to the committee. We have talked about our different plans and projects, though our main sites have always been the Drink and Be Grateful garden and the Cenotaph. However, it has become apparent to the committee we need more volunteers. With that in mind we planned for our stall at Kirkstall Festival. We had a fantastic day handing out free seed packets and adding volunteers to our emailing list, talking about the work KiB does and interacting with the Kirkstall community. We even got talking with other groups about possible joint projects. There are always more things we’d like to do with KiB, but to do so would require more people. One of the really impressive things about being part of KiB is the number of people who say how much they notice and
appreciate the work we do. This is what keeps us going, on sunny summer days and rainy cold mornings in winter.
want, to help make Kirkstall look blooming gorgeous. We can even provide tools, advice and quite often homemade cake.
There’s a theme throughout this article. Kirkstall in Bloom needs help. We need volunteers to keep going. We do not expect twenty people to pledge two hours every month, however if those twenty people individually gave their two hours every couple of months that would help immensely. If more than twenty volunteers came forward we might be able to tackle some new projects. We would welcome volunteer gardeners and helpers who are interested in joining the committee.
The winter ahead is looking exciting for Kirkstall in Bloom; the committee is looking to plan its Spring planting for the Drink and Be Grateful garden, Cenotaph and Abbey beds, as well as start work on some new projects discussed at Kirkstall Festival. We’ll be at the Drink and Be Grateful at 11:00am on the last Sunday of November.
Kirkstall in Bloom meets once a month, at the moment on the last Sunday of the month. We usually do about two hours gardening; including weeding, litter picking and planting new flowers if required. We’re friendly and welcoming and we don’t mind if you have no experience or can manage a formal garden. We want you as long as you
Note: That thing about not needing gardening experience is true. James the Secretary has had difficulty looking after mustard seeds this Summer! And Hannah has never been able to grow a stable upright Sunflower! Find out more Twitter: @KirkstallBloom kirkstallinbloom@gmail.com
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s New plot holder y wanted at Burle ts n e m t o l l A l e d o M
Hello, some of you will have been to our recent Annual Vegetable and Flower Show held at Burley Model Allotments, this is usually on the first Sunday in September and thank you all very much for your support. We are busy planning for next year and will let you know details nearer the time. We are looking for people to come and join us here at the Allotments as our waiting list is the lowest it has been for many years. Now is the time to apply for an allotment and to get a plot of your own. Come and join us and get your own small piece of heaven! Check out our website burleymodelallotments.org and use the ‘Contact Us’ page to get in touch with us or email our lettings officer directly on bmaalettings@gmail.com Gardening provides so much pleasure and satisfaction and this is doubly so when gardening on an allotment. The social aspect alone is such an attraction; you will meet like-minded folk who will bend over backwards to offer help and advice. To be fair, it will be mainly advice. Apart from the exercise (and the aforementioned bending over backwards) which will help keep you fit, to be involved with nature and watch the seeds that you sow grow into healthy mature plants can give so much fulfilment.
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There are many reasons why people grow fruit and veg and asking a few questions at the start will help you heaps in any quest for Grow Your Own (GYO) success, especially when it comes to planning how to go about things. You may ask yourselves the following questions:
Q
ing Am I grow for taste?
Here at Burley Model Allotments we’d argue that every home-grown fruit and vegetable tastes better than the alternatives bought in the shops, but some take it to a whole new level. Select things you like to eat and try different varieties, for example: tomatoes, soft fruit, especially strawberries and raspberries. Try some of the heritage seed varieties, some have really distinctive flavours and are interesting to grow for that reason alone.
Q
e How big ar the plots?
The size of the plots we have can vary from small beds for beginners to large plots suitable for feeding a family. Our aim is to make space for as many members of the Burley Model Allotments family as possible. Ours is a small but friendly community and we hope you will join us here. If you choose to join us then you can enjoy the benefits of working with the land, revel in the advantages of fresh produce, delight in the healthy exercise and appreciate the recreation, leisure and happiness that an allotment can give you. If all this sounds good, then get in touch with us.
Q
ing to be Am I grow nt? self-sufficie
The whole world and its dog are very keen on this idea, but you really need to be meticulous and organised to really pull this off! If you love a spreadsheet or two, well go on then, perhaps six or seven, this could be for you. To ensure a steady flow of food all year round, you will need to have planting plans and successional sowings strategies coming out of your ears!
Q
ing to Am I grow y? save mone
Growing veg to save money puts a really interesting spin on things. For example: as tasty as they are, you need to work out if it is cost effective to use the big lump of space peas require, when you can buy 1kg frozen packs for £1. The same could be said for many other things which are as cheap as chips, particularly when bought by the boatload. Again planning is required for this.
Q
ing Am I grow for fun?
This is what most folk do it for, when the shackles are off you can just go for it, buying and sowing anything you fancy. Not worrying about plans, just getting out there and growing. If plants die, well, there is always next year. If you are growing for fun, then the easy and attractive plants will probably be the ones to choose. Failure isn’t fun, after all. Summer fruits, bright pink radishes, multicoloured salad leaves, bold beetroot and French beans are all really entertaining and reliable fruit and veg to grow. Potatoes are great fun to harvest, digging around like a treasure hunt. Courgettes are easy, but best of all they can sometimes grow noticeably between morning and night. Some beans and peas can be eaten raw straight from the plant too.
Q
What is an ember? associate m
We currently have both Full and Associate Membership available, we utilise Associate Membership when there is a wait for plots or for people who just want a taste of “alotmenteering”. Associate Members work with an existing plot holder and help tend their plot. This can be a great help to both parties as we occasionally have plot holders who would like a hand working their plots and as such Associate Members are encouraged as it gives an idea of how much work is involved.
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www.kirkstall.org.uk Kirkstall Matters
Art as Conservation Kirkstall artist Hayley Mills-Styles describes how local Conservation Centre proved a great source of inspiration.
Back in January of this year a friend messaged me about the Kirkstall Art Trail, having moved to the area a few months before I was keen to take part in a community arts event. The exhibitions I had previously contributed to were all in a gallery setting so I was excited to showcase my work in a venue not usually associated with art and textiles. When I opened up a dialogue with the trail organiser I originally wanted to create a new collection of work to exhibit, based on my chosen venue, Hollybush Conservation Centre. After a few weeks I realised that time was not on my side and I would have to show existing work alongside some work in progress. I felt a little deflated because I wasn’t sure how I could link this work to the space and if it would be well received by visitors if it didn’t link to The Conservation Volunteers in some way. It wasn’t until I started to research TCV and Hollybush that I found some interesting links between our work.
“Right now, when one third of the UK’s green places are in danger of being lost or degraded, our work is more important than ever.” This extract from the TCV website struck a chord; I had started to create Deconstruct/ Reconstruct as a way of preserving my memories so that other people could engage with them and find elements of their own stories. My own practice was focused on memories which degrade with the passage of time. I had also taken on the role of conservator, taking responsibility for my memories of a childhood which nobody else is in a position to remember. Part of the Hollybush philosophy is that many people find working in green places beneficial to their emotional, physical and social well-being. I believe this to be true of art and craft, the act of making has had an extremely positive effect on my wellbeing and the wellbeing of people I have taught. On the day of the trail, the barn at Hollybush became a thriving gallery space. The wonderful staff and volunteers had
created an amazing space for us to exhibit and it was a great contrast to see the clean lines of my white frames against the stone walls of the barn. Throughout the day I offered visitors to the trail the opportunity to make some memory handkerchiefs and postcards, sharing their own memories with me and each other. I’m fascinated by the dialogue that emerges between people when they begin to stitch and draw together in a space. People shared stories about themselves and helped each other to stitch and draw. The skill sharing and laughter was a great way to spend the day. Having the opportunity to talk to people about my practice was wonderful and people shared their stories and memories with me. I received so much positive feedback about the work I exhibited and got some interest in commissions and workshops.
The skill sharing and laughter was a great way to spend the day. Having the opportunity to talk to people about my practice was wonderful and people shared their stories and memories with me.
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Kirkstall Matters www.kirkstall.org.uk
New Youth Club for Kirkstall Local councillors have supported the launch of a new youth club for children in Kirkstall.
Councillor Kevin Ritchie (Labour, Chair of the Inner West Community Committee) said:
The club takes place at the Kirkstall Educational Cricket Club on Queenswood Drive every Monday from 4pm to 6pm, and began on 14 September, providing fun activities for children and young people aged 8 to 14 years old.
“The Inner West Community Committee
The Inner West Community Committee provided just over £1700 for the club which is run by Youthpoint. As a result, the scheme includes sports, crafts, Xbox tournaments, card games and more.
available for young people to take part
is dedicated to meeting the needs of
its residents and always endeavours to
support schemes like this. I am delighted at the range of local activities now
in. This is a wonderful new programme for the area.”
Kirkstall councillors began the project in response to requests from residents that more activities needed to be made available for young people in the Woodbridges and Queenswoods area.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon (Labour, Kirkstall) said:
Currently the programme is set to run for eight weeks, but could continue if there is high demand.
and it’s great that their local area now
“We consulted young people in
Woodbridges and Queenswoods to ensure
they would get the activities they wanted, has a youth club specifically catered
to them. I’m pleased that the project is having such a positive response.”
Lunchtime Supervisory Assistant Kirkstall St Stephen’s Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Primary School is seeking to appoint a Lunchtime Supervisory Assistant to join our cheerful and hardworking team, supervising children in the dining hall and on the playground. Ideally you should have experience of working with children and be able to work as part of a team. You will also need to be able to establish positive relationships with pupils and act as a role model. Kirkstall St Stephen’s Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure. For an application pack, please contact Mrs Skelton on 0113 382 1960 or email contactus@kirkstallss.net We promote diversity and want a workforce which reflects the population of Leeds.
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www.kirkstall.org.uk Kirkstall Matters
Kirkstall District Centre Environmental and Visual Improvments
Leeds City Council are working on plans to make some environmental and visual improvements to the centre of Kirkstall through some Town & District Centre funding. A draft scheme was consulted on last year and feedback has been incorporated into revised designs. The proposals include: — A new seating and planted area to the front and side of the leisure centre building which will include some public artwork and an interpretation panel. The existing shrubbery has already been removed in readiness for the winter planting season. — L ampost banners designed by children from Beecroft Street Primary School and Kirkstall St Stephens Primary School on lampposts through the central junction area – the first of these were installed in early October. — T here are also improvements planned for the entrance to Kirkstall Abbey Park from next to the new Kirkstall Bridge shopping centre including crown lifting trees, updated information boards, relaying the access path and developing a wildflower meadow. Work is well underway designing the lamppost banners; 15 children from Key Stage 2 in each school and The Tetley in
Leeds have helped design the creative pieces. The children came down to The Tetley for 2 full-day workshops, working with an artist to think about Kirkstall and what they like about living here. The children came up with fantastic ideas and were really enthusiastic. They quickly got into the spirit of things, creating ideas and then deciding between themselves which they liked the best and how to best represent their ideas through artwork. With support from the artist they decided to use tie dye on one fabric design and create a collage on the other. The children were involved in the whole process, including watching the photographer photograph the artwork in order to make it into banners. The second day ended with a tour by the curator around The Tetley. We have got 2 more workshops coming up in November to design the final 2 banners! If you would like any information about the proposals please contact sarah.geary@leeds.gov.uk or have a look at the Facebook and Twitter accounts: facebook.com/LCCInnerWest facebook.com/LCCOuterWest facebook.com/LCCInnerNW
Work is well underway designing the lamppost banners; 15 children from Key Stage 2 in each school and The Tetley in Leeds have helped design the creative pieces.
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Kirkstall Matters www.kirkstall.org.uk
Kirkstall Harriers Summer 2015 Review It’s been another busy summer for the Harriers and this year we celebrate our 30th Anniversary! Our main event was a party night but we also have t-shirts and mugs to commemorate the occasion. Members have also been taking part in all sorts of events locally and nationally.
that time. Well done to Sam Broome, Vikki Daniel, Bethan Thomas-Lloyd, Andrew Kirby, Vicki Hipkiss, Gary Carlisle, Mark McKone, Ewan Malone, Ben Coldwell, Lucy Churm, Laura Hogg, Laura Davies, Catherine Barrett, Malcolm Taylor and Gemma Rathbone, who completed it solo, covering 43 miles!
who passed away recently. More recently, Adam (again), Sheila King and Collette Spencer took part in the Leeds Triathlon in September at Roundhay Park. Sam also recently took part in a 5km open water swim at Ellerton Water Park and became a poster girl for the ‘This Girl Can’ campaign. Well done Sam!
In July we had a stall at the very busy Kirkstall Festival, raising £65 for Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields whilst promoting the club and the sport. In September we hosted Parkrun at Woodhouse Moor on a bit of a wet morning.
Elsewhere we have had runners at a variety of races over various distances and terrains including Rose George at Widdop Fell Race, Laura Davies, Anne Akers and Noel Akers at the Yorkshireman Half Marathon, the Buckleys and Chris Hudson at the Woodland Challenge in Huddersfield and Shevonne McLarnon took part in a 5k in Minnesota whilst visiting family.
Finally best wishes to our former chairman and club stalwart Peter Hey. Peter suffered a heart attack during a training run recently and thanks to the quick actions of Burjor and Adam and the emergency services, Peter is now on the mend and we hope to see him at training again very soon.
The relay season is now over. This year we have had teams at Bradford Millennium Way, Calderdale Way Relay, Leeds Country Way, Golden Acre Park Relay, Danefield Relay and Washburn Relay, organized and coordinated by our captains and vice captains, Laura Davies, Lucy Churm, Alan Brydon and Jason Buckley. Congratulations is due to Shamiso Sisimayi and Adam Moger who took the prize for fastest leg by a mixed pair for leg six of Leeds Country Way! There is only one race left in the Yorkshire Veterans race series after races at Meanwood, Whitby, Crossgates and our own at Kirkstall amongst others. Club members lie in strong positions with several expected to place in their age categories. In July several members took part in the grueling Thunder Run event. This event is a 24 hour event where teams of runners take turns to run a 10km route throughout
It’s been another busy summer for the Harriers and this year we celebrate our 30th Anniversary!
Myself Patrick Nesden and Neil Marshall were at Bishop Wilton half marathon on my birthday in July and myself and Jason have made a couple of trips to my native Newcastle to take part in both the Blaydon Race and the Bridges of the Tyne Five Mile in June and July. Not content with just running, several of our members have gone to the dark side, to triathlon and open water swimming. Adam Moger and Sam Broome were at Ripon Triathlon, an Olympic distance triathlon in July. Adam also completed a half-ironman, the Rubicon Half Marathon at Newby Hall in August, in a very healthy 5 hours 5 minutes. Adam was raising money for Brain Tumour Research Yorkshire in memory of his friend, and a friend to many in the club, Ben Forwood, a member of Hyde Park Harriers
JOIN US Kirkstall Harriers meet every Monday and Wednesday at 6.50pm at Kirkstall Leisure Centre.
kirkstallharriers@googlemail.com www.kirkstallharriers.org.uk www.thisgirlcan.co.uk
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www.kirkstall.org.uk Kirkstall Matters
The Start of a New Season at Burley After finishing last season strongly, albeit with relegation, this new 2015/16 season we are looking forward to bouncing back and putting some good performances and results together. So far, three weeks into the season we are yet to record a victory, we opened with a pre-season friendly against our neighbours up the road from Nunroyd Park. We had what the coach described as a very useful game against Aireborough where some stylish rugby was played in preparation for the new season but we were on the wrong end of a 36-19 result. The competitive season got under way against another close neighbour, Leeds Modernians who have had a change of identity by dropping the Old from their previous name in favour of the Leeds tag. This was in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy, however we were on the reverse of a large 50-5 score line against a side in a higher division. On the positive side, when we had the ball we moved it well and played some good rugby, unfortunately we didn’t have the power to penetrate the Mod’s defence as we would have liked, only managing a single cross of the white wash. The next week our League campaign commenced with an away fixture at the York Railway Institute. With more fine rugby played, we unfortunately were defeated 39-21 as our defence couldn’t match the RI attack. Our second league game, this time at home to Hessle proved to be frustrating as we were again on the wrong end of the final score, losing by a converted try 19-12 and gaining our first bonus point of the season. The second team are also still winless, however, a big positive for this season was fielding a side on the opening day. In the past we have struggled due to lack of
players at the beginning of seasons, but this year we had twenty available players who put a fine performance in against a York RI second XV on Abbey Fields, losing to a more experienced side 29-17. The following week, again a side with good numbers went the short distance over to Morley where a spirited performance ended in another defeat, this time 31-0 although there were a number of positives to be taken from the game. Overall we are still waiting for the elusive victory within the club, but we have a fine band of players across two teams with good camaraderie all round, this can only bode well for the future. New players are blending in well and we would like to see even more new players as the local halls of residence fill up with the new students. One disappointment in the close season is that our main sponsors pulled their support out from the club, we are therefore looking for anyone out there who would be interested in supporting us in the future. Off the field things are finally looking up with the pitch lease looking more positive, this will allow the delayed levelling of the pitch to take place at the end of this season. There has been the usual between season sprucing up of the clubhouse and surrounds and we have replaced furniture in the lounge giving an improved feel to the club. With new student time here, I’m hoping that you, the new students, will read this. We offer a warm welcome to you up the road at Burley and hope to see any of you who would like to play the game, no matter what your level or expertise you are welcome to come along, train and play. Find out more www.pitchero.com/clubs/burleyrufc
NEW STUDENTS With new student time here, I’m hoping that you, the new students, will read this. We offer a warm welcome to you up the road at Burley and hope to see any of you who would like to play the game, no matter what your level or expertise you are welcome to come along, train and play.
JOIN US Training on Tuesdays and Thursdays From 6.30pm until it’s too dark to see. At the Clubhouse, Abbey Road LS5 3NG
It’s been another busy summer for the Harriers and this year we celebrate our 30th Anniversary!
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Kirkstall Matters www.kirkstall.org.uk
Forthcoming BRUFC Fixtures Forthcoming Home Fixtures at Abbey Fields in 2015/2016
Nov 14
Seconds
vs
Yarnbury
Merit
Nov 21
Firsts
vs
Mosborough
League
Nov 28
Seconds
vs
Aireborough
Friendly
Dec 05
Seconds
vs
Osset
Friendly
Dec 12
Firsts
vs
Leeds Corinthians
League
Dec 19
Seconds
vs
Morley
Merit
Jan 9
Seconds
vs
Wetherby
Merit
Jan 16
Firsts
vs
Halifax
League
Jan 23
Seconds
vs
Castleford
Merit
Jan 30
Firsts
vs
Wensleydale
League
Kevin Blackhursts Ten In Ten Challenge Kirkstall Harrier Kevin Blackhurst is taking on the Brathay Ten In Ten next May – That’s ten marathons in ten days!! Kevin is raising money for the Brathay Trust which supports vulnerable and disadvantaged young people throughout the country. The challenge is a massive 262.2 miles over ten days on one of the toughest courses in Britain in Windermere.
Kevin has set up a Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/kevinblackhurs If you can support Kevin please do.
Parkrun in the local area If you’ve thought about trying running but perhaps don’t want to join a club just yet but don’t want to run alone why not have a go at a parkrun? Parkrun is a free weekly timed 5 km event that welcomes all from elite runners, to slower runners and walkers. All you have to do is register on the parkrun website, print off your barcode and turn up for 9am on a Saturday morning. If you don’t want to run why not volunteer? Parkrun is run by volunteers and more are always welcome. There are park runs in various parts of Leeds to try; the original Leeds parkrun at Woodhouse Moor, a slightly hillier course at Roundhay Park, the scenic surroundings of Temple Newsam, Crossflatts Park in the South, the recently added Bramley parkrun, or travel slightly further afield to Oakwell Hall or Horton Park, Bradford.
Why not go along and give it a go? Have a look at the website www.parkrun.org.uk/leeds/
The new place to shop AND EAT IN
Kirkstall M N IS L RR O
RIVER AIRE
5 A6
B6 1
Opening early 2016
D YR BE AB
KIRKSTALL ABBEY
HEADINGLEY
57 RK
5 A6
LN BROAD
KIRKSTALL BRIDGE SHOPPING PARK
57 B61 KI
B6157
ST
A LL HILL
kirkstallbridgeshopping.co.uk Sat Nav LS5 3BL