NEWSLETTER: 21 JUNE 2020

Get active to fight plastic
Every year an estimated 14 million pieces of plastic end up in and around our canals and rivers. Why not join the Canal & Rivers Trust’s  Plastics Challenge?

It is a bit last minute, but now that restrictions are being relaxed, we have decided to pick up this challenge by doing a litter pick this Friday 26 June, meeting at the container by the lock at 9.30 am, though I feel sure someone will be near the car park on Nursery Lane to distribute sacks and litter picking equipment for anyone who turns up. 

The CRT’s interest is particularly in relation to canals and rivers, so I expect it will concentrate on the Trans-Pennine Trail, the Island and around the Fish Pass.  However, picking anywhere within the locality will be greatly appreciated.  The more helpers that turn up, the better, so tell all your friends.

Hello again everyone. 

Can you believe it’s the longest day today!  It seems only a short time since I wrote last February and yet so much has happened in the meantime, with the Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown since the end of March.  On a personal level, it has been horrendous, with break-ins, thefts and further damage being caused to our home and those of other residents at Lower Sprotborough, so that we now worry about starting any renovation due to the possibility of further criminal activity.

None of that, however, has had any impact on the popularity of the Gorge as visitors have flooded in (no pun intended) on a daily basis since before the lockdown, regardless of social distancing, and the parking has been worse than ever, not helped by the Boat Inn car park being unavailable.  On several occasions cars have been parked all the way up Nursery Lane and on double yellow lines from the car park to the Boat Inn entrance, including inconsiderate parking across the access to the lane to the woods, so that residents have been unable to get in or out.  It is also unacceptable for cars to park in front of the gate to the river bank when the turning space may be required for the farmer and delivery or workers’ vehicles involved in the cottage renovations.

DGCG AGM

This was held in March and we welcomed Ian Carpenter as our new Chairman.  I feel sure he is going to prove to be an excellent choice and will lead us on to better things.  Cllr Alan Bennett, representing Warmsworth Parish Council, was elected Treasurer and other committee members are Cllr Cynthia Ransome, representing S&C Parish Council, Steve Swift and Paul Allot of Sprotbrough and  Mark Whittaker of Warmsworth.

Free Trees

Just to update you on this.  The trees were planted and it is hoped they are now growing well, though I must admit I personally haven’t been able to go and check.

Co-op Community Fund

This fund is progressing very nicely and we have already received nearly £3000 from donations from Co-op members, so a big thank you goes out to all those lovely people who have chosen our group as their designated charity this year.  The final grant will come in October, so there is still time for anyone who shops at the Co-op to become a member and choose us.  There are shops at Askern, Cantley, Doncaster and Edlington, including funeral parlours.

“Sprotbrough Oral History: From Rural Estate to Real Estate”

Unfortunately we had to cancel meetings during the lockdown, but the ‘home-time’ has given me space to make good progress with the book and I am now just waiting for the last three contributors to send in their final amendments.  I am also hoping that we will all soon be able to meet again for a group photograph for the book, which has been impossible so far.  It will then go out to a few ‘readers’ for checking before going to the printers.  I am now hoping it will be out around the end of July. 

Liz Reeve

Secretary

Emails:

lizreeve@dongorgecommunitygroup.com

and

soh.lizreeve@gmail.com

Website: www.dongorgecommunitygroup.com/

Blogs:

http://dongorgecommunitygroup.blogspot.com

and

 https://sprotbroughoralhistory.blogspot.com/

Tel: 01302 313030

Mobile: 07918124040

SPROTBROUGH ORAL HISTORY: From Rural Estate to Real Estate

Won’t be long now. 

The Sprotbrough Oral History project will soon be ending and the book, 

‘Sprotbrough Oral History: 

From Rural Estate to Real Estate’ 

should be available by Summer.

 It tells about life in the village from cradle to grave, from 1925 to 1965, and contains the history of the village, as well as biographies of some of the oldest families living there and of some of those who were able to purchase land to build their own homes after 1925. 

More details later 

If anyone is interested in buying a copy, advance orders are now being taken: please email me at

SOH.lizreeve@gmail.com. Thanks.

A MESSAGE FROM HEALTHWATCH - 4 APRIL 2020

CORONAVIRUS: COVID 19

I hope all our Friends are keeping safe during this difficult time.

I have been asked if I would circulate the following information regarding Helplines which can be accessed within the Doncaster area.  

Please feel free to use them or keep a regular check on the Healthwatch website or Facebook site to keep your eye on any changes which might come into force over the coming weeks, as they are updating both on a regular basis with  key information and links:

www.healthwatchdoncaster.org.uk/coronavirus    and our social media channels are sharing regular updates:

www.facebook.com/hwdoncaster   

www.twitter.com/hwdoncaster  

There is also regular information and updates shared through Doncaster Council’s website:

www.doncaster.gov.uk  

and through a Doncaster official Coronavirus Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/CovidDoncaster

To access help and support from Doncaster Community Hub call 01302 430300, email  enquiries@dncommunityhub.org.uk   online chat  www.dncommunityhub.org.uk   

The Local Hub based at the Dome is providing:

A Helpline  7 days a week from 8.00am to 8.00pm – anyone can ring this if they are vulnerable and have no other support or if they know of someone who needs help

An email service to access and request support

An online chat service daily from 8.00am to 8.00pm

Practical support such as urgent food supplies, shopping, collection of medication and checking up on vulnerable people

Signposting and connecting people to others in the local community and ideas for ways to keep well during this difficult time such as exercising at home, keeping connected; to friends and family or just finding someone to talk to  

A place for those who want to volunteer and help to co-ordinate this with existing voluntary and community organisations

You can also access the following for more information

     

www.nhs.uk

       

www.gov.uk/coronavirus

ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY: CHALLENGES & CHOICES CONSULTATION

The following has dropped into my email box and appears to be addressed to anyone with an opinion to put forward, so I am publishing it here.  It will perhaps be a bit of a challenge in itself to many people, but I feel sure it contains information of interest to many, so please feel free to participate in any way you think fit. A message from the Environment Agency "Corona virus is causing concern across the country for everyone. We wanted to update you about how the Environment Agency and our Environment Programme team has changed its working practices in response to the Covid19 advice from Government. We are following guidance, and therefore all our staff will work from home, unless there is a critical need for alternative working. As you might have experienced, we have been having connectivity issues, some linked to our own systems, and some due to national demand on the network. This week we have put in place arrangements for different ways of working to accommodate so many staff working from home, this has resulted in restricted, but more predictable and reliable network access for staff. We are all making a quick transition in these difficult circumstances. As a result of the important restrictions, our Environment Programme team capacity will be reduced for the following key reasons;  We are working with colleagues to support critical parts of the business, such as pollution response, asset or high risk inspections and national communications; our update EA Strategic Objectives are listed below.  As individuals we continue to work, but many at reduced hours as we support our families and provide home schooling/ child care.  This does mean that elements of the Environment Programme work may have to be slowed or postponed, but we will also be pooling our resources to make sure that we support our partners and your priority work. We appreciate you will also be adjusting your ways of working, and so do update us how we can best support and work with you, and to highlight your priorities. If we haven’t already, we will be in touch shortly with regards specific projects. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support at this challenging time, we look forward to continuing working with you to deliver more great work for the environment across Yorkshire."

Challenges and Choices consultation The deadline for the Challenges and Choices consultation remains unchanged at 24th April 2020. The Don Network will be sending in a response, based on existing data and information - in particular the information gathered through the catchment plan review workshops. If your organisation will no longer be able to submit a response or meet the deadline, please do let us know so that we can feed this back to the Environment Agency.

NEWSLETTER DATED 11 FEBRUARY 2020

I’m afraid there isn’t a great deal to report this time as the November flood is still taking its toll.  My husband and I were evacuated from our house and spent 4 weeks in a Premier Inn before going on a long arranged holiday and returning to temporary accommodation.  The whole event has been quite traumatic and picking up the pieces has been very difficult.

Don Gorge Volunteers

However, our volunteers have continued to turn out on their regular sessions and have been hedge laying on the Trans Pennine Trail or working in the woodlands.  The Weirside project, ie wall building near the fish pass, has had to be halted because of flooding, but we have been given an extension  by Groundwork for Tesco Bags of Help and hope to finish it by the end of the Summer, fine weather prevailing.

Free Trees

The Woodland Trust have donated 105 trees to plant near the fish pass and they will be arriving by the middle of March and we expect to have a planting day early in April.  So check it out with me nearer the time.

Co op Community Fund

We have been very lucky to be chosen as one of the three main recipients of the Co op’s Community Fund this year and so far over £700 has been raised for us.  This is 1% of members shopping bills who have chosen to support us, so if you would like to join them by becoming members and choosing us, it only costs £1 to join and you would be doing us a great favour.  The nearest shops to us can be found at Mexborough on Adwick Road, Wheatley, Woodlands and Askern.  There is also a Co op Undertakers at Edlington which might be something to remember as that would count as well.

“Sprotbrough Oral History: From Rural Estate to Real Estate”

Our monthly meetings have been going really well, with the Christmas Party on the last Friday in November before the Christmas break.  Food was provided by Meryl White, writer of Grandma Abson’s Cookbook, and fruit cordials by Cllr Cynthia Ransome.  Quite a number of personal interviews have been held and we are hoping the book will be ready by early Summer.

Don Gorge Community Group AGM

This will be held prior to our next meeting on Monday 9 March 2020 at 10 am at Martinwells Centre.  We do not have any members as such, but anyone is able to attend as an observer.  Nominations for officers and committee should reach me by 2 March.

Liz Reeve

Secretary

Email

NEWSLETTER - 4 NOVEMBER 2019

NEWSLETTER – 4 November 2019

Hi everyone

DON GORGE CALENDAR 2020

There is just one Calendar left if anyone is interested.

STEPS & FOOTPATH TO VILLAGE FROM NURSERY LANE

If you have ever used this footpath, we are still looking for witnesses; all you need to do is write a statement saying how long you have known it was there and that you have used it. This statement should include your name, address and signature.  It should then be sent to me. Thanks.

CO-OP COMMUNITY FUND

Don’t forget to support us if you are a member of the Co-op by choosing us as your charity for the coming year.

SPROTBROUGH ORAL HISTORY GROUP (SOH)

We had another great meeting on 25 October, even if it did get a little out of control towards the end!  Notes will be going on the SOH Blog shortly.

FREE TREES FROM THE WILDLIFE TRUST

We have now heard that we will receive 105 free trees and shrubs next March and will be looking for help to plant them.  They will enhance the landscaping of the fish pass area and the field alongside.

FACEBOOK

As mentioned above, we now have a new Facebook page for all those who are into social media so updates will be given on there as they arrive.  We hope this will enable information about what we do to be spread more widely and will encourage more local people to become interested in what we try to do.  Just search for Don Gorge Community Group.

For those who don’t do social media, newsletters will still appear as usual, when they will also be sent to Twitter and Facebook.

ENGLISH BLUEBELLS

I recently had an enquiry from a gentleman who wished to donate 2000 English Bluebells to be planted in the woods around the hairpin bend.  However, on asking Natural England if they would approve of this, as it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), they said it should not be done.   Wild garlic grows in profusion in the woodlands on that side of the river, whereas bluebells are more prolific on the north side.  It is Natural England’s policy that only flora which germinate naturally from seed should be encouraged.  As it would not be known where plants would be sourced from, there was also the possibility that they might bring diseases in the soil. 

DON GORGE COMMUNITY GROUP NEWSLETTER 19.10.19

Registered Charity No:  1121646

NEWSLETTER – 19 OCTOBER 2019

Hi everyone

Autumn is now upon us and summer has passed us by; the year has passed so quickly and who knows what the winter will bring us.  The canal has already been over the top and everywhere seems very wet at present so we can only hope it won’t get any worse.

I hope everyone has had a good summer and enjoyable holidays.  We haven’t been anywhere since March so are ready for a Christmas and New Year break, which we are sharing with our daughter and her family.

DON GORGE CALENDAR 2020

Just to confirm that the calendar is now available for collection from me and that there are only a very few copies left if anyone want one.  I would be grateful if collection could be made asap or, alternatively, let me know if you can’t collect so that I can arrange delivery.  Many thanks.

COMMITTEE

More committee members would be very welcome as we are still operating without the necessary officers, ie chair and treasurer, so please give it some thought

The committee has met three times since July and a review shows that we have been involved in the following activities.

CO-OP STAFF DAY

We hosted a good number of managers from the Co-op in July who did a great job bashing Balsam in the fish pass field, but we need to keep up our efforts if we are to win this battle. 

  

NOTICEBOARD

You may have noticed that this was missing for a while, but I can now report that it is back in place near the landing stage, having been restored magnificently by Ken Green with a little help from one or two other of our volunteer team.

SCARECROW FESTIVAL

We created a scarecrow for the village festival at the beginning of September, which received lots of favourable comments, and provided a bit of fun.

STEPS & FOOTPATH TO VILLAGE FROM NURSERY LANE

We are still pursuing the registration of this with Doncaster Ramblers and are looking for witness statements from anyone who has used it in the past or still does.  The further back we can go the better of course.  I have certainly been aware of the steps for most of my life and walked it years ago, though I must admit it hasn’t been a regular occurrence.  Apparently an application was started by someone on 19 November 2009, but not followed through. 

If you have ever used this footpath, all you need to do is write a statement saying how long you have known it was there and that you have used it. This statement should include your name, address and signature.  It should then be sent to me.

CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS

This group continues to meet on alternate Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year.  Numbers have varied throughout the summer due to holidays and family commitments, but we hope they will return to normal now that autumn is upon us.

Doncaster in Bloom: The presentation evening for this competition was held on 16 October and we were thrilled to hear that we had received Silver Gilt Standard for the historic wall which is being renovated by our volunteers near the fish pass.  You will remember we received a grant from Tesco Bags of Help towards this.  It is now almost complete and we are thinking about landscaping and how to finish it off with a picnic table, etc.  Free trees are being offered by the Woodland Trust and we are hoping we might be successful in obtaining some to use as part of this project.

Another brushcutter has been donated to our group by a Friend, for which we are very grateful.

Litter-pick

Following the recent heavy rains, lots of rubbish has again come down the river.  Anyone able to take part in clearing some of this would be welcome to join the volunteers on the following scheduled workdays:

Tuesday 22 and Thursday 31 October.  Meet at either the lock house or the fish pass from 10 am onwards.

PROPOSED CAR PARK, NURSERY LANE

Further to my last report about this, we have found a possible way to reduce legal fees and are continuing to investigate. 

I have had no response following my last Newsletter, but it would be interesting to know if Friends are for or against it, so I’d be grateful if you could let me know.

CO-OP COMMUNITY FUND

Following information reported to you in my last Newsletter, I have just heard this week that we have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries of this fund, which is excellent news.  1% of purchases by members are returned to the community and so far £72,835 has been received by causes in our area.  Purchases can cover food, insurance, funeral costs and legal services.  If you would like to consider becoming a member, it costs just £1 and is very easy to do online.

Stores within a 5 mile radius of Doncaster can be found at Mexborough, Becket Road, Doncaster, Woodlands, Bessacarr and Goodison Boulevard.  I realise the shops are not on our doorsteps, but online facilities are available.  I will report further when I have received more information

I hope you will support this project in any way you can, eg by becoming a member of the Co-op and telling friends and neighbours about it, as it could provide much-needed funds for us.

SPROTBROUGH ORAL HISTORY GROUP (SOH)

We continue to have enjoyable and fruitful meetings of this group on the last Friday of each month at either Sprotbrough St Mary’s Church Hall or The Stables on Main Street. 

Please do come and join us if you have any information from the period 1925-1965 that you think might be useful

HEALTHWATCH

You may remember that one of the grants we received for the SOH group was from Healthwatch and I was invited to go to a meeting this week regarding the utilisation and implementation of technology in patient care.  The gist of the information received was that a patient’s record was accessible by all medical staff involved in their care so that the best treatment could be provided. Mobile phones are being used by all staff to do this and therefore will be apparent on the wards by patients and family members visiting them.  So, if you visit and think staff are wasting time checking their emails or playing games, they are probably just checking a patient’s programme of care!!  They were keen to get this message out to the community, hence my including it here.

Liz Reeve, Secretary

Tel: 01302 313030

Email: lizreeve@dongorgecommunitygroup.com

Website:  http://www.dongorgecommunitygroup.com/

Blog:  http://dongorgecommunitygroup.blogspot.com

Blog:  https://sprotbroughoralhistory.blogspot.com/

Sprotbrough Oral History

Project Manager

Email: soh.lizreeve@gmail.com

Blog: https://sprotbroughoralhistory.blogspot.com/