Issuu

Issue 53

Cover photo by Jon Sturdy Photography

Colch ester La b ou r Pa r ty New s

Lib er a l Dem ocr a ts Pa r ty New s

This year’s local election campaign has been dominated by an issue that affects local government but is having an undue influence over everything. Cllr Tim Young Yes, you’ve guessed it, Brexit! There is a great deal of confusion, anger, frustration and bewilderment out there about why and how the politicians in Westminster have managed to make such a hash of things; and that’s coming from Leavers and Remainers. Many residents believe it’s a complete shambles, a total mess and it is hard to disagree with them, so I don’t. It’s fair to say that Theresa May and the government are taking the brunt of the criticism but it is widespread and is damaging our politics and our democracy. When you explain that this is a local election for Colchester Borough Council many of the residents turn much more positive and are far more ready to respond and engage. Issues like crime, anti-social behaviour, Planning, development, housing, recycling and waste collection, congestion, library and post office closures and the state of local facilities and services are what a council election should be about and so it is refreshing when people want to talk about these subjects rather than the dreaded B word.

Start humming. You know the tune ‘always look on the bright side of life’. As we approach the local elections how some will vote, if Cllr David King they do, will depend on how hacked off they, or you really are. Brexit hasn’t helped. But looking around although there is a lot any might want to improve there is a huge amount in which we can take pride. Our town and borough really do have a lot going for it. Some cracking clubs and pubs, award winning parks, boutique hotels, new facilities and regeneration, a great arts scene, the list goes on.

The Labour Party is campaigning hard and we hope to add to our number of Colchester Borough Councillors after May 2nd. We have run a positive and active campaign in many wards reinforced by a radical and exciting local manifesto that concentrates on all the key issues but with care for the

environment at its core. A Labour-led council would make a really positive difference to local residents and the communities in which we live. We want to continue the modernisation and regeneration of Colchester but in a sustainable way whilst protecting and defending our precious local services. The election campaign has been marred by a physical and verbal assault on a Conservative candidate. This is not an attack on one political party or one particular candidate; this is an attack on democracy. It has rightly been condemned right across the political spectrum and we stand together as political activists to uphold our democratic values and not give in to thuggery and violence. Have we learned nothing following the murder of Jo Cox MP? I hope, by the time you read this, the perpetrator has been caught and brought to justice. I sent the sympathy and support of the Labour Group to the Conservative candidate and their Group Leader as soon as I heard of this monstrous incident. The levels of personal abuse, especially on social media, have risen exponentially in recent years and, this year, I even got threatened but to be actually physically assaulted is disgraceful and beyond the pale. I believe in robust political debate. It is healthy to disagree and argue for your principles and values but everyone should surely have a degree of respect for their opponents. We must stand up and be counted to support our democracy because the alternative is anarchy, chaos and violence. We should not forget either that it is political parties that define our democracy. Please remember that whenever any politician knocks on your door regardless of the colour of the rosette.

Building on such success and addressing the issues and the ills we also see is a challenge for us all. Your politicians play a small but important part and for us the annual election cycle is an opportunity to say ‘this is what we want to do’ if residents agree. For Lib Dems that includes divorcing the County Council, to get the powers and the money back to Colchester, to fix our broken roads and keep our libraries open. We know residents want our streets not only to be clean, but to see more police officers on them with robust action on anti-social behaviour. That helps to keep visitors and residents flowing into our town centre. We have puts lots

of money into policing, although it is a government created problem and will do the same again next year, to help how we all feel safe when out and about, day or night, enjoying our shops, cafes and bars, our day and night life. We also want to deliver a New Town Centre Master Plan to make the most of our public space as well redouble our efforts to Preserve and Protect our Environment by tackling pollution, improving recycling and focusing on conservation of our beautiful natural habitats around the borough. But life’s pains and pleasures are influenced by how we see the world, how connected we are others. Lib Dems, in our communities and as a Council, will make sure that the grand plans don’t lose sight of what matters most, the connections, the support needed for those most in need. We want to reduce isolation and loneliness and build trust between communities, with better support and facilities for our young people. That’s a big challenge and won’t be quick, but working with others we will do all we can to help and to build civic pride, to highlight and support the best, ancient or modern, that Colchester has to offer visitors and residents, and each other. Cllr David King Mile End Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member Resources

Colch ester Bor ou gh Cou n cil election r esu lts Following Colchester’s local elections on May 2, the makeup of the council is: Conservative 23; Liberal Democrats 13; Labour 11; Highwoods Independent 3; Green Party 1. Overall turnout 32.6%. For information, please see the results of the May 2 elections posted here: http://ow.ly/e3Xd50tUM9A

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Colch ester Ca stle to m a r k Qu ick Cr ossw or d Pu zzle 75th An n iver sa r y of D-Day Colchester Castle is proud to be working with the Airborne Forces Museum to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day. From the 29 April until 6 October, visitors to Colchester Castle will be able to see a small display about the 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion of the Parachute Regiment to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day and other airborne operations in 1944, which helped liberate Europe. The 9th Battalion was heavily involved in the Normandy landings, and as experienced specialists the Paras trained for many months to seize key objectives. On D-Day itself, they set off from airfields across the UK to land in occupied France. Despite many soldiers landing outside their designated drop zones, they managed to regroup and were able to take the enemy by surprise Through their bravery and training they succeeded in storming the German gun battery at Merville which threatened the British landings

at Sword Beach. Colchester Castle is honoured to be bringing a small Airborne 75 display to the people of Colchester and the Castle’s visitors. The 9th Battalion and the whole of the Parachute Regiment fought with bravery and distinction for the remainder of the War, and this display tells part of their story. The display will feature a Parachute Regiment uniform from the Second World War, alongside poignant stories of some of the Paras who fought in the Normandy campaign, to give an insight into what life must have been like to be a part of one of the most important dates in modern history. For Colchester residents who would like to visit please remember that, at no extra cost, you can upgrade the standard Castle admission to a Resident Pass that entitles you to visit the Castle as many times as you like in a calendar year free of charge. To find out more about Colchester Castle and its history please visit https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/ visit/colchester-castle/

ACROSS 1 Flexible tree possibly includes one (6) 4 Delightful prince (8) 9 Spa got alternative power as temporary measure (7) 11 Giving away nothing but obsolete vessel (7) 12 Neat tequila is drunk initially – why, you say? (4) 13 Turner that can be viewed from both sides (5) 14 Gave birth to dull person (4) 17 Part of the Caribbean populated by chaste women? (6,7) 19 50 invest in city carelessly and without thinking (13) 22 Publicity fellows turned up first (4) 23 Surprisingly nitre is unreactive (5) 24 Most put up with him (4) 27 Ilona staggered across road first perhaps (7) 28 Some electricity is present (7) 29 Law a yob broke outside university city in Africa (8) 30 Glamorous former lover with old nervous habit (6) DOWN 1 Optimistic for certain (8) 2 Working as a monk is? (2,5) 3 Close for the evening mostly (4) 5 Run on flower power? (13) 6 Gather some mature apricots (4) 7 Sinful rascal promises to pay (7) 8 Look, a goose! (6) 10 Supply given to friend for the time being (13) 15 Drunk gives gratuities at start of year (5) 16 One accepting fine is unsuitable (5) 18 Python broadcast I see sounded mesmerising (8) 19 Unbeliever elected by Castro (7) 20 Ask earnestly for new net rate (7) 21 Pal somehow gets round doctor, showing confidence (6) 25 Be aware of speaker’s refusal (4) 26 Vintage unknown – that’s the essential point (4) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 pliant. 4 charming. 9 stop-gap. 11 dead-pan. 12 tidy. 13 rotor. 14 bore. 17 Virgin Islands. 19 instinctively. 22 puff. 23 inert. 24 Stan. 27 ordinal. 28 current. 29 Bulawayo. 30 exotic. DOWN: 1 positive. 2 in order. 3 nigh. 5 hydroelectric. 6 reap. 7 impious. 8 gander. 10 provisionally. 15 tipsy. 16 unfit. 18 hypnotic. 19 infidel. 20 entreat. 21 aplomb. 25 know. 26 crux.

Br igh tlin gsea Lid o – A New Sea son Brightlingsea Lido is gearing up for its second year as a community run facility with improvements and new attractions to build on our success of 2018. We have appointed a new manager, local man Clive Edwards who will take forward the new developments on a day to day basis supported by the trustees and volunteers. The plant room is undergoing a major overhaul, thanks to a grant from the Coastal Revival Fund, which will make a huge difference in the efficiency of how the water quality is managed while saving energy in the process. The ambitious new café will provide a greater range of food and drinks than before, will have indoor and outdoor seating and improve the customer experience. The locally crowd-funded ‘wipe-out’ style inflatable will provide some fun and frolics for the young & young at heart and hopefully attract more visitors to the Lido.

We had a fantastic turnout of potential volunteers in April but we always need more! We need help with getting the Lido ready for opening, front of house, the café and of course lifeguards. Young people doing voluntary service for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards are particularly welcome. If you think you can help please come down to the lido, especially on a Saturday in May or email brightlingsealido@gmail.com The opening day will be May 25th, so fingers crossed for a sunny bank holiday weekend. Exact hours will be posted at the Lido and on our social media sites, so look out for adult only swims, aquacise and other events. One for your diary is the great party band Soul Kitchen who will be playing at the Lido on June 22nd, tickets are on sale now at Spirals, Toggs in the High St and online at eventbrite.co.uk

Qu ick Cr ossw or d Pu zzle Sp r in g Bon a n za for Br igh tlin gsea Food b a n k

“We are so grateful to the Co-op for allowing us to do this again, and for the terrific generosity of Brightlingsea people. They gave so willingly to this cause.

appropriate help organisations, so they can start to tackle their issues.” Brightlingsea Foodbank opens every Wednesday morning from 10:30am until 12:30pm at the Parish Hall, Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, CO7 0BP. Brightlingsea Foodbank, launched in December 2015, is a partner of Colchester Foodbank. As well as food donations, cash is also vitally need to pay for the rental of the warehouse to store the donated food. The running costs are around £1,600 per month. Colchester Foodbank, in partnership with Brightlingsea and Wivenhoe Foodbanks, is currently raising money to buy its own premises, which will benefit everyone.

If you would like to donate to this appeal, please contact Michael Beckett, Chief Operations Officer at Colchester “All the donated food items are taken Foodbank, on 01206 621998, or to a warehouse in Colchester where at 33 Moorside Business Park, East they are securely stored and sorted into Gates, Colchester, CO1 2ZF. For more emergency food parcels for families information about Brightlingsea and individuals in Brightlingsea, Foodbank please call: Win or Frank Wivenhoe and Colchester facing on 07970 480968, or drop into the an unforeseen crisis. “Our job is to foodbank on a Wednesday between help meet their immediate need for 10:30am and 12:30pm at the Parish Hall, SmithsButchers_Quarter_Page_Apr2019.ai 1 02/05/2019 12:17:15 food and signpost them to the most Victoria Place, Brightlingsea, CO7 0BP.

£5 OFF when you spend over £25 valid until end of June

OPENING HOURS Monday

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Friday

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Tuesday

8am – 4pm

Saturday

7.30am – 3pm

Wednesday

8am – 4pm

Sunday

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Tel: 01206 302939 14 High Street, Brightlingsea, Essex CO7 0AE

ACROSS 1 City of ancestral suffering (9) 6 Evasive about son being comfortable (4) 9 Sue assumes two fellows in charge to be enough (7) 10 Disrupted most of literary film preview (7) 11 Blades appearing when people have a row (4) 12 Note lack of talk about one displaying toughness (10) 14 B in test characteristic of a certain group (6) 15 Calming drug is vet’s idea possibly (8) 18 Reliable-sounding Scottish city (8) 19 They work with a tool (6) 22 Applaud – yes, one goes wild, see (4,4,2) 24 Encourage some of our generation (4) 26 A complex plot’s beginning to engross Peter perhaps (7) 27 Loose rocks by church make an unpleasant sound (7) 28 Advance payment for poet first off (4) 29 Former Blue Peter presenter wearing vest? (9) DOWN 1 Stick it to the end, leaving after the others (4,3) 2 Tent fire destroyed one Egyptian queen (9) 3 A family related by blood (4) 4 Two letters read aloud in tent (6) 5 Crooked Eritrean lawyer may ask for one (8) 6 Generous cleaner’s given one board (10) 7 Ring lost in bar or beauty parlour (5) 8 Country producing oil we hear (6) 13 Middle name put first in place for telephone operators (4,6) 16 I close home – that’s serious (2,7) 17 E.g. insert mobile numbers (8) 18 For example, American backed Charles (4,2) 20 Chap is to walk with female (7) 21 Relative keeps us in money (6) 23 Decorate for a party with sailors (5) 25 Exam offers alternative to a student (4) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 Lancaster. 6 cosy. 9 suffice. 10 trailer. 11 oars. 12 resilience. 14 tribal. 15 sedative. 18 Stirling. 19 pliers. 22 clap eyes on. 24 urge. 26 apostle. 27 screech. 28 ante. 29 singleton. DOWN: 1 last out. 2 Nefertiti. 3 akin. 4 teepee. 5 retainer. 6 charitable. 7 salon. 8 Greece. 13 call centre. 16 in earnest. 17 integers. 18 such as. 20 Stephen. 21 cousin. 23 adorn. 25 oral.

Huge-hearted Brightlingsea shoppers have just donated a whopping 260kg of groceries for people in need. They generously gave these items at the recent food drive at Brightlingsea Fiveways Co-op. This is the biggest food drive total ever collected by Brightlingsea Foodbank volunteers. They were stationed at the store door from 9am until 4pm and invited customers to add an extra tin or packet to their regular shop, to give to the foodbank. Win Pomroy, coordinator of Brightlingsea Foodbank volunteers said: “It was amazing. The goods poured in all day long.

Clim a te ch a n ge is h a p p en in g Climate change is happening. It may be uncomfortable news to hear, but that doesn’t make it any less true. The last four years were the hottest four Bernard Jenkin years on record, and the hottest nine years ever recorded all took place this century. Only last month were we treated to a lovely – but unseasonably warm – bank holiday weekend, now confirmed as the hottest ever. Some all too readily seize on individual events to prophesy doom, but there is now an overwhelming accumulation of evidence and a consensus of scientific opinion which suggest that the risks of climate disaster means action needs to be taken. For those saying that humans aren’t to blame – I would encourage them to look at successive reports of the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Yes, there is plenty still to contest, but we cannot afford to wait for certainty. We know what gases causes global warming. Carbon emissions, mass-produced by industrialised economies, have raised the concentration of carbon dioxide

in the atmosphere from a historical average of ~280 parts per millions to a record of 410ppm since the start of the industrial revolution. The consequences are potentially vast. They will affect people in the United Kingdom and around the world. Rising sea levels threaten parts of Essex and our coastal communities, and some whole nations. Desertification increase. The whole of North Africa will run out of ground water by the middle of this century. Warming will expand habitats for insects, such as mosquitos, carrying infectious diseases. Habitat and biodiversity destruction will lead to more mass migration, as people seek escape from increasingly inhospitable areas, in search of water and food security, as well as jobs and prosperity. This has coincided with the fastest period of temperature rises for thousands of years. While the UK has done an admirable job of combatting climate change – reducing its carbon footprint by approximately 40% since 1990 – more must be done. As the young climate activist Greta Thunberg pointed out when she visited Parliament after Easter, much of this reduction has been brought about by

simply relocating the country in which UK carbon is emitted. While it may flatter the UK’s statistics if particularly carbon-intensive goods are no longer made here, making them on the other side of a border doesn’t change the global picture. This isn’t to say that serious progress hasn’t been made. The UK has hugely reduced its reliance on coal – producing nearly one tenth as much energy with the fuel now as it did in 1990. In that time, the amount of renewable energy: solar, wind and tidal, has skyrocketed. Businesses have also played their part: about one third of the reduction

has come from carbon savings there. But more needs to be done, and it needs to be done at an international scale. The United States and China are the two biggest contributors in the world, and India has had the fastest rate of international growth of any major economy. There are serious arguments to be made about the payoffs between rapid industrial development and decarbonisation, but the key point is that we need both. Without economic growth, the world will shrink from the investment that decarbonisation needs. By Bernard Jenkin

01621 893834 07900 332795

Ca stle Pa r k Ba n d sta n d Qu ick Cr ossw or d Pu zzle con cer ts r etu r n A great programme of free concerts is once again taking place at Colchester Castle Park’s iconic Victorian bandstand. Every year, Colchester Borough Council offers a varied musical programme at the bandstand in Upper Castle Park. This year’s concerts include performances from 17 bands including swing, contemporary and brass. All this year’s concerts will take place from 3-5pm, except for the Essex Concert Band on 23 June, which will start at 3.30pm. All concerts are free to attend, and visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and a picnic. Dates for the upcoming 2019 concerts are: 12 May – Essex Yeomanry Band

11 August – The Colchester Band

19 May – Harmonie Concert Band

18 August – The Harmonettes

25 May – The Lisa Graham Duo

24 August – Colne Endeavour Band

26 May – Tilbury Band

25 August – Chelmsford Silver Band

16 June – Sid Bolan Big Band

1 September – Essex Police Band

23 June – Essex Concert Band

8 September – Sweeting Swing Band

30 June – Band of the Parachute Regiment

15 September – St Peter’s Band

ACROSS 1 Mostly training and skill show how easily something can be done (14) 9 Admires new weapon (7) 10 Company chief ordered to get a small house (7) 11 A fool rejected Turner perhaps (4) 12 Transaction includes black fur (5) 13 Endlessly show respect by going down on one? (4) 16 Cut head off...cut head off exotic flower first (7) 17 Get together for prayer (7) 18 A very short dance? (3-4) 21 The weather worried Tim and Alec (7) 23 Transport for vagrant mostly (4) 24 Embargo on nobleman (5) 25 God whose reflection is seen in canal (4) 28 Spoke but spoke indistinctly first off (7) 29 He worked with vicar to keep records (7) 30 Deborah started changing act (5,3,6) DOWN 1 Launch sailing vessel and celebrate lavishly (4,3,4,3) 2 Composition by an Italian poet (7) 3 Melt some of the path away (4) 4 Announcer on the radio for match (7) 5 Rustic leaders of British union get tummy ache (7) 6 Permit takes time for Latvian (4) 7 Apprentice from Aintree messed up (7) 8 Again advanced smaller sum to head, showing persistence (14) 14 Damp has to destroy finally (5) 15 The King lives – that’s crazy! (5) 19 One demands former thespian (7) 20 I put lad off with praise (7) 21 Piece of music for choir at end of perfomance (7) 22 Studio is refurbished late – that’s right (7) 26 River associated with a waste product (4) 27 Copy Spain and Switzerland, love (4) SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 practicability. 9 sidearm. 10 cottage. 11 Tina. 12 sable. 13 knee. 16 execute. 17 collect. 18 one-step. 21 climate. 23 tram. 24 baron. 25 Zeus. 28 uttered. 29 archive. 30 tread the boards. DOWN: 1 push the boat out. 2 andante. 3 thaw. 4 compare. 5 bucolic. 6 Lett. 7 trainee. 8 relentlessness. 14 musty. 15 Elvis. 19 exactor. 20 plaudit. 21 chorale. 22 atelier. 26 urea. 27 echo..

01206 564179 01473 780477

W h a t’s n ew a t th e Zoo!

Colchester Zoo is home to over 240 species, so when we welcome new arrivals it’s an exciting time for us and our visitors. Back in December we welcomed 3 adorable bush dog pups! Since their arrival mum Nina and dad Nico have been very attentive and keepers have also been keeping a close eye on this growing family. The pups were

recently given their vaccinations and their sex has also been confirmed as male! As they continue to grow the trio have now started to explore their outdoor area with the rest of the family and are being shown the ropes by older sibling’s Oakley, Ozara and Octavia. Bush dogs are a rare and unusual canid, with short legs, a bushy tail, a rounded muzzle and webbed feet! The birth of the pups is extremely important to not only Colchester Zoo but also to this species which is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

In January a Fiji banded iguana was transferred from Germany and we delighted that he has settled nicely into his new home. We are excited to welcome this seriously endangered iguana to Colchester Zoo in the hope that he would join our breeding program. The Fiji banded iguana is spectacularly beautiful, the males have a emerald green body with vertical blue and light green stripes on his body and long tail. They can grow up to 80cm in length with their tail that makes up more than two thirds. They use their

tail for balance as it climbs amongst branches. With so much to see and do Colchester Zoo is a great place to visit all year round!

Qu ick Cr ossw or d Pu zzle Leisu r e Wor ld stocks

sw im w ea r m a d e fr om ocea n w a ste

Leisure World Colchester is now stocking Zoggs EcolastTM swimwear in its Zoggs Shop.

ACROSS 1 Darling, principally I’m a comedian but I’m not very bright (6) 5 Editor in charge absorbed by manuscript for doctors (6) 9 Old mule spilled sulphuric acid (5) 10 See 25 Down 12 Scary story from German poet needing no introduction (7) 13 See 8 Down 14 Backward boy Edward pried (5) 16 Thus a popular time is needed for TV series (4-5) 18 Her voting changed in a short space of time (9) 21 Some frown at allegation of birth (5) 22 Crazy for fruit (7) 24 Reaches a turbulent river second (7) 26 Henry’s first pal made off with car part (8) 27 Bird starts to collect eggs from here (5) 28 Son wastes talents (6) 29 Former model’s show (6)

Zoggs’ EcolastTM range is made from abandoned fishing nets, carpet and industrial waste which are rescued from the oceans and landfill through a partnership with Healthy Seas. Healthy Seas is a notfor-profit initiative with a mission to protect our oceans and marine life by collecting abandoned fishing nets that are then transformed into sustainable products.

responsible for the retrieval of ghost fishing nets, raising awareness of the environmental damage these nets cause. It’s estimated 640,000 tons of fishing equipment is discarded in our oceans every year, each taking hundreds of years to decompose. The Healthy Seas initiative also collaborates with fishermen, fish farms and local communities to prevent these nets ending up in the sea by helping to source responsible solutions. Zoggs also donates 10% of profits from Ecolast™ swimwear to the Healthy Seas initiative. The Zoggs Shop at Leisure World Colchester is open 6am-10pm (Mon to Friday), 7am-9pm (Saturday) and 8am-8pm (Sunday).

Working with divers, schools, NGOs and governments, Healthy Seas is

DOWN 2 Old tribe bringing diamonds to Northern Ireland (5) 3 Where racketeering goes on in the courts? (9) 4 Wot’s up? A road’s approaching (7) 5 Girl’s aimless wandering (7) 6 Tea towel perhaps is not so damp (5) 7 Con men opt out in part (9) 8,13 Across “Surely you jest?” famously addressed to judge in court (3,6,2,7) 11 Settled Sheila’s debt somehow (11) 15 One US writer or another by stream (9) 17 Now his rep gets busted for possession (9) 19 They talk incessantly of balloons (7) 20 MP later resolved to tread roughly (7) 23 Boy, a new rising 3 Down champion (5) 25,10 Across Evening Star is going to set out aims for 3 Down champion (5)

SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1 dimwit. 5 medics. 9 oleum. 10 Williams. 12 chiller. 13 serious. 14 nosed. 16 soap-opera. 18 overnight. 21 natal. 22 bananas. 24 arrives. 26 headlamp. 27 hence. 28 skills. 29 expose. DOWN: 2 Iceni. 3 Wimbledon. 4 towards. 5 Melissa. 6 drier. 7 component. 8,13 Across YOUCANNOTBE. 11 established. 15 Steinbeck. 17 ownership. 19 gas-bags. 20 trample. 23 NADAL. 25,10 Across venus.

WALK ON THE W ILD SIDE THIS MAY Come and enjoy the walking events and activities taking place in the borough’s parks and countryside spaces. May is National Walking Month and the perfect time to come and enjoy the walking events and activities taking place in the borough’s parks and countryside spaces. The Introduction to Volunteering Day taking place 10.45am - 3pm at High Woods Country Park on 11 May is ideal for those who enjoy being active and outdoors and working with others. Anyone interested in volunteering can find out more on the Council’s website and is asked to express their interest in this event by contacting countrysidevolunteers@ colchester.gov.uk by 8 May.

For those who would like to “try their hand” at a traditional craft, there’s the free Pole Lathe Day at High Woods Country Park on 19 May which visitors can drop-in to any time between 10am – 3pm. Pyrography will also be available at this event for a small fee. The event is suitable for children, providing they are supervised. If you’d like to spot wildlife on your walk, then the free family-friendly Gosbecks Archaeological Park Wildlife Walk from 10.30am - 12.30pm on 26 May is ideal. Join the ranger to discover what wildlife can be seen across the conservation grassland which should include Skylark singing, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit and, hopefully, Corn Bunting. Visitors are encouraged to bring any Field Guides, ID books or binoculars, they have with them and wear footwear

appropriate footwear for rough ground. Please be aware this event is weather dependent. The family-friendly Butterflies and Beasties event taking place in High Woods Country Park during May half term is a great opportunity for the kids to search for all things butterfly, bug and mini beast related in the park. There will also be themed games and a chance for children to make their own clay creature or mini beast hotel to take home too. This event takes place 10am – 12pm on 29 May and is suitable for ages 4+. Booking for this event is essential and costs £4.40 per child. Health Walks also regularly take place at High Woods Country Park all year round and are led by trained Health Walk Leaders. They are an

ideal way to improve fitness or mobility in a sociable atmosphere and refreshments are available afterwards for a small fee. Booking is not essential but visitors are asked to arrive 10-15 minutes early for a brief introduction. For more information, please visit the Council’s website. Tickets for bookable events can only be purchased through the Visitor Information Centre in Hollytrees Museum, in person at Hollytrees Museum, Castle Park, CO1 1UG or by telephone on 01206 282920, purchases cannot be made at the events. You can also take a self-guided walk around any of our countryside locations. For more information visit colchester.gov.uk/parks

Disp osin g of Ca b les a n d Electr ica l Wa ste Resp on sib ly By Da r iu s G Law s, w ith th a n ks to An th on y Rob er ts Inspired by a satirical internet story about a man who was keeping a drawer of cables and adaptors that ‘might Darius G Laws come in handy’ I approached that popular fellow (environmental warrior) Anthony Roberts at the Colchester Arts Centre to see if we could put our heads together and help out our fellow cable hoarders - and the environment at the same time. We came up with the idea of hosting a Cables Amnesty at the Colchester Arts Centre and with a massive advertising budget of zero we managed to entice a broad range of good folks from all over Colchester to donate their shoeboxes of not really ‘handy’ cables our way. The Borough Council kindly provided us with wheelie bins and promised us that all these ‘handy’ cables, which for most people were just gathering dust, would be recycled appropriately and not sent to landfill. This, ladies and gents, was our main driver - to responsibly recycle and raise awareness of the issue. Yes it meant freeing up some space at home (scarts and phono cables gone so now room for a couple of apple chargers and a cheeky gold plated HDMI right?) but we knew that the metals in these cables must have a

value and should be recycled and not sent to a hole in the ground. The Cables Amnesty proved a hit. We filled up wheelie bins and had some real nostalgic fun, allowing people to view our carefully curated display of soon to be recycled cables and adapters. Even the BBC Breakfast News folks came to join us. That evening, after a large glass of red wine, the mind began to wonder towards dark thoughts, just where had those cables actually gone? Anthony Roberts and I were alone sat on our sofas wrestling with the anxiety of not quite knowing the final destination of the cables. A friend sent me the most horrific video link of a place in Africa (google: ‘Welcome to Sodom’) where the rubber and plastic from cables are burnt off by children and people, covered in grime and inhaling dangerous toxic fumes,smelt circuit boards to extract gold

It was this image that forced the decent chaps that we are to resolve our anxiety and so we sent some emails seeking clarity. The Borough Council was excellent in hooking us up with the people in the business of cable recycling and so we found ourselves committing to visit the Electrical Waste Recycling Centre for Essex and Kent. Upon arrival it was like a scene out of Star Wars, Mountains of cables and electrical waste on a scale that R2D2 and C3PO could dream of. Mercury was being extracted from old television sets, circuit boards and computer RAM was piled up ready to be smelted for gold and other precious metals and ofcourse copper was separated from bog-standard steel found in scart cables. The sheer scale of electrical waste was just enormous. We probed further and found out that the stuff that couldn’t be recycled might end up being incinerated, a process in itself which can produce energy. However what was worrying was that we learnt the UK is way off hitting its overall electrical waste targets compared to other European countries. To put it simply, electrical waste which could be stripped down and recycled is still ending up in landfill. We all have a responsibility as individuals to recycle our electrical waste, mobile phones, batteries,

and cables etc. They really ought not go into landfill and I’m sure there are ways in which the government, working globally, can help local authorities and just us ordinary goldplated HDMI cable loving consumers in this endeavor. We are really interested in your ideas on future Cables Amnesties, this is a ‘work-in-progess’ project so please get in touch. With love from the Cable Guys: Darius G Laws & Anthony Roberts. NB: Scrap Values for precious metals found in cables and electrical waste: 1 tonne of scart cables = £1000 1 tonne of circuit boards (producing) 80g of gold = £2500 1 tonne of old speaker cables (copper) = £3500