Sunday 2nd August 2020
Dear Civic Pride,
August already. Gardens full of flowers, weeds that grow too quickly and volunteers out and busy in Rossendale every sunny and/or rainy day. There has been a flurry of activity around the Town Square as we begin to rejuvenate the central garden and planted borders. Many thanks to everyone who has been helping in this huge task, especially as the area generated even more remedial work as the week progressed! There are some great pictures on Facebook of volunteers getting properly stuck in.
Thank you also to Rossendale Borough Council for picking up and taking away the CPR bags of litter and garden rubbish, not just from the centre of town, but collected by Lone Rangers all over the Valley. And don’t forget the fly tipping which can be reported directly on RBC’s website for a quick collection.
The spur road (A682) which leads directly into Rawtenstall was mowed last Monday, having been cheerfully litter-picked the day before by CPR, including some very welcome new volunteers. It definitely makes such a difference to the area! Anne, Gardens Officer, has been sowing and cultivating wild flowers on the New Hall Hey roundabout and on the verges, and fingers were firmly crossed that these were left in peace…..Happily biodiversity and nectar stations remain intact.
Meanwhile, a new rubbish bin installed in Trickett’s Memorial Ground Waterfoot, the deer on the fire station roundabout in Rawtenstall are due to have their antlers repaired, the Rainbow bed is brighter than ever and litter has been collected from Edenfield to the frozen North beyond Crawshawbooth, where rumour has it a new garden may appear (lots of photos and full stories on QT….along with some truly terrible jokes).
And so to the coming week. As you are all aware, new Government advice for Covid-19 and lockdown in our area was issued last Friday, 31st July. At the moment, CPR can still operate our outdoor groups as long as we continue to observe social distancing. Please volunteer safely, and only if you feel comfortable to do so.
Crawshawbooth
Monday 3rd August – 9am – Meet at Indian Harvest car park for a weeding session.
Wednesday 5th August – 6pm – Gardening session at Jubilee Gardens.
[email protected] is completely organised.
Waterfoot
Monday 3rd August – 9:30 until Noon. Gardening at Trickett’s Memorial Ground. Splendid planting and wildlife throughout this lovely garden. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Peaceful plot @ Rawtenstall Cemetery
Tuesday 4th August – 10am – Balsam Bashing. Moira has all the info [email protected] if you would like to join in. The Balsam will be setting seed if we don’t hurry! Native flora and fauna will thank you.
Rawtenstall
Tuesday 4th August- 10am to 12 noon. Town Square Gardens. More weeding, pruning and tidying in this area, building on the fantastic results already achieved last week.
Thursday 6th August – 10am to 12 noon. Town Square Gardens. Same as Tuesday!
Sunday 9th August Himalayan Balsam Bashing. Please note that the open public group session planned for this day has been cancelled because of social distancing concerns. Click here for lots of information about Himalayan Balsam bashing and how to do it.
If you know anyone who would also like to volunteer for Civic Pride, please contact Lynn our Volunteer Engagement Officer for details [email protected] There are so many different roles and tasks within our organisation. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Helen Thomas
Vice Chair, Civic Pride Rossendale
View from the Back Room
Nightmare on Bank Street (2)
Last week we left this important town centre amenity in limbo with masses of hard areas and empty flower beds, so what happened next?
Fanfare of trumpets – CPR to the rescue!
Following a call for help, regular volunteers were mobilised, local schools, young people’s organisations and anybody else who would help out were drafted in. Mature silver birch trees had thankfully been saved but shrubs, trees and plants transformed it into an attractive place for people to meet, socialise and watch the world go by (social distancing was nowhere in sight)!
A regular Clog Market, Farmers Market and other events appeared, although some had to be moved elsewhere due to the damage to the gardens.
At the rear of the town square, a new bus station was built but up to a few weeks ago, the front was overgrown and neglected thanks to Covid restrictions. However, over the last three weeks, huge improvements have been made to the gardens by our fabulous volunteers.
What next? Spinning Point 2 has thankfully been abandoned but no further decisions have been taken. We’re ready, waiting and itching to get involved but until a strategic decision is taken, all we can do is look after what’s there and hope that our efforts are not in vain.
The next instalment will be published when the whole issue is resolved (whenever that is). Until then, I guess I’d better think of another subject for next week’s View from the Back Room!
Roger G