Navigation

You are here: Home › General News

Archive | General News

Wellbeing in the Weald August Newsletter.

By on 30/08/2019 in General News, Uncategorized

As August draws to a close we begin to consider what Autumn will bring for us.  For our young people it means a return to school or even starting a new school.  WitW and the Weald Family Hub are funding a pilot scheme teaching mindfulness to children at Cranbrook Primary school to help them cope with challenges to their mental health and wellbeing.  For the rest of us, the allotment, health walks, drop-in sessions and choir will continue as normal and we hope that some of you may join Mark on his day trip to the Imperial War Museum at the end of September, read on for more information.

Also, do look out for Mark’s article in the next edition of Parish Cake (out in September) where he explains his new job role and the plans he has to help people in the community become more active.

August activities
Our allotment now has a shed, opened on a very wet Sunday.  Thanks go to Tony and his son in-law James Pettet of J.P. Joinery for putting it up for us
Karen ran the tombola stall at the Sissinghurst fete and raised over £100 for WitW.

Volunteers needed!

One of the five ways to wellbeing is to GIVE and it states that “individuals who report a greater interest in helping others are more likely to rate themselves as happy”.  But volunteering can also give us opportunities to CONNECT with others, BE ACTIVE, TAKE NOTICE of the envioronment around us, and KEEP LEARNING new things.  We have all certainly noticed the benefits and would like to encourage you to try giving some of your time to a worthy cause.  Here are some local opportunities:

The Community Coffee Morning held in Cranbrook on Sat’s 9.45 – 12 noon.
Helpful hands needed to enable it to continue serving coffee, tea & cake to the public.
Held in Church House and working in friendly groups of 2 or 3, once every
6 to 8 weeks to suit your lifestyle. Training and practise will be given.
Please phone Charlotte 01580 714501 or Linda 01580 712732 if you are interesting in joining our team.

Cranbrook Library is looking for volunteers to help set up and run the following activities.

  • Gardening Club
  • Colouring Club
  • Creative Writing Group 
  • Family History Group 
  • Children’s activities- this could include story time, rhyme time, craft club, lego club.  

If people are interested they need to apply online at  https://www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/libraries/clubs-and-activities-in-libraries/volunteer-in-libraries

Cranbrook Museum needs volunteers to help with the maintenance of the building and grounds.

This would suit anyone with practical DIY or gardening skills; any time that you can spare would be most welcome.  The museum itself is open Tuesday to Saturday from 2 – 4.30pm.

To enquire please call 01580 712929 or 01580 712475 or email Secretary@cranbrookmuseum.org
Wellbeing in the Weald needs people to help us with promotional / fundraising events.
Please email us at hello@wellbeingintheweald.co.uk

Imperial War Museum trip

Mark is intending to visit the IWM in London on 27th Sept and is openly inviting anyone who wishes to join him. 
The arrangements are very loose, there is no need to book just meet Mark at Staplehurst train station, buy your own train tickets and either bring a packed lunch or plan to buy something there.

Meeting time:  Friday 27th Sept  – 9.10am (for the 9.20 train)
Cost:  Approx. £22.20 for adult off-peak return (concessions available)
Parking:  Approx. £6 at the train station
Travel to the Museum:  it is a 15-20 minute walk from Waterloo East but there are also busses
Lunch:  Bring your own or buy up there
N.B. If people could, it might be a good idea to car share to the train station.  Also, we may be able to get group saver tickets on the day if we can group ourselves into fours. 

If you have further questions, or simply want to let Mark know you would like to attend, please email hello@wellbeingintheweald.co.uk or call Mark on 07860 949272

Compass Choir Concert   
This will be on FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER at 7.30pm in St Dunstan’s Church,
Cranbrook and the proceeds of which will be shared 50-50 between the
church’s lighting appeal and WitW.
Lighting has been an issue in the church for some time so they are raising money to replace the old fashioned and ineffective lights;
Compass wishes to help towards this in order to thank them for their hospitality when they started out.
Compass is also dedicated to raising money for organisations that
promote good mental health, so have chosen us as the charity they wish
to share the proceeds with.
If you are interested in joining the choir or want more details about the concert please email anna@compasschoir.org
Dates for your diary
3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th Sep – Wellbeing walks from 9.20am at Congregational Church
4th, 11, 18th, 25th Sep – Drop-in’s/compass choir from 4.15pm at Vestry
Hall
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th Sep – Allotment  from 10.30 to 12pm
Sat 14th Sep – Supporting Dementia Drop-in
Fri 27th Sep – Community day trip to Imperial War Museum, London
Fri 18th Oct – Compass Choir Concert at St. Dunstan’s Church
Sat 16th Nov – Community quiz night at Vestry Hall (details to follow)

Can you Help?

By on 08/08/2019 in General News, Uncategorized

KEEP THE AIR AMBULANCE FLYING
Some years ago the late Eileen Starkey, finding herself with an empty shop and wanting to do something for the community, decided to start a charity shop.
That was when “Charities at Home” came about. Over the years many thousands of pounds have been raised for charity, 50% of the profits going to the Air Ambulance and the remaining 50% being distributed by Cranbrook & Hawkhurst Rotary Club to local charities such as Hospice in the Weald, Cranbrook Blind Club and Cranbrook in Bloom as well as numerous other worthy causes that are so important to the wider community.
Sadly now many of the volunteers are being overtaken by age. In order to keep this valuable service open we desperately need additional volunteers to undertake a two-hour slot Monday to Saturday.
If you feel able to help please contact Mrs Liz Tapper 01580 713836 or Peter Martin 01580 752222 or alternatively email nfreeston2002@aol.com with your telephone number and we will get back to you.

Norman Freeston

Cranbrook & Hawkhurst Rotary Club

Alert – Doorstep Crime

By on 06/08/2019 in General News, Uncategorized
Tree cutting services
We have received reports that doorstep criminals are active in the East Peckham area – all Kent residents should be on alert. 
What happens
Residents are cold-called for tree cutting work
Exorbitant sums of money are demanded 
The criminals drive the resident to the bank to withdraw cash
What to do
NEVER agree to work being carried out from someone who knocks on
your door uninvited 
Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into having work done
If you ask them to leave and they don’t, contact the police on 999
Use reputable traders who are members of the KCC Trading Standards
approved trader scheme, run in partnership with Checkatrade
Get a minimum of 3 quotes in writing
Warn vulnerable family members, friends and neighbours.
 

For advice and to report issues to KCC Trading Standards contact
Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06
Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Public Consultation – Energy and Low Emissions Strategy

By on 22/07/2019 in General News, Uncategorized
Kent and Medway have just launched a consultation on a draft Energy and Low Emissions Strategy. The draft strategy describes how Kent and Medway councils and their partners will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, tackle poor air quality and ensure the county benefits from a competitive, innovative and resilient low carbon economy. The draft Strategy focuses on the actions that need to be delivered in partnership across the public sector; joining up the local activity within Kent and Medway that is being undertaken by councils officers, health professionals, and schools to influence and work with energy and transport providers, housing developers, landlords and other private sector organisations to achieve benefits for everyone. The draft strategy identifies actions that will:

• improve the quality of the air we breathe

• reduce household energy bills

• take action on climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050

• promote sustainable, low carbon transport, walking and cycling

• support economic growth and technological innovation

• promote and develop affordable, clean and secure energy

• bring wider health and environmental benefits to communities, residents and visitors.

The draft strategy and consultation questionnaire can be accessed online until 23rd September. Please click on the link to have your say: http://www.kent.gov.uk/energyandlowemissionsconsultation

RESTORED SUNDAY BUS SERVICES TO CONTINUE – Press release

By on 19/09/2018 in General News

Great News! The Sunday Stagecoach 349 bus service between Hastings and Cranbrook, connecting there with Arriva 5 to Maidstone, is set to continue through winter 2018 and summer 2019 with 5 return services a day.

After a four year absence – and bucking a national trend – the service was restored in spring 2017 linking rural communities and major towns in East Sussex and West Kent to their mutual benefit. On the very first service, the bus helped to get people (two chefs) to their Sunday jobs. Food for thought!

Key to the start-up was a recognition that the growing annual visitor numbers at Bodiam Castle (200,000) and on Kent and East Sussex Railway (100,000) are mainly reliant on cars, putting pressure on local lanes and land for parking. Now there’s a 7 days a week public transport option, with rail connections at Hastings (for Stagecoach bus 349) and Staplehurst (for Arriva bus 5). These connections make ‘car free’ days out feasible to/from London/Brighton/Eastbourne.

Voluntary groups, organisations, parishes, the National Trust, 1066 Marketing and individuals raised sufficient funds to support summer Sunday/school holiday services. At this point, East Sussex and Kent County Councils began conversations with Stagecoach and Arriva resulting in recognition of the ‘cross border’ link and offering limited but crucial support, including for publicity.

Rother Voluntary Action helpfully held the funds raised and the idea was backed by Rother Transport Action Group. Commitment of the cross border Hawkhurst Transport Access Group – with Bodiam and Sandhurst parish members – was also notable and helpful, and the regular attendance of Stagecoach and Arriva at their meetings reflects the shared efforts of all to secure a high quality and comprehensive local and regional bus service. The fruits of this are certainly a great example of ‘partnership working’.

As well as serving attractive and growing village communities of Hawkhurst and Cranbrook, the Stagecoach bus 349 and Arriva 5 also make possible Sunday days out in the country to Sedlescombe organic vineyard, Sandhurst church and Hawkhurst Victorian walled nursery. For village dwellers, the riverside town of Maidstone, and Hastings seaside and medieval Old Town have their unique leisure, arts attractions and shopping opportunities. For walkers, the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offers a network of footpaths across special landscapes of ridges and valleys, with a reward of good pub lunches in picturesque villages.

An e-mail from a young family with a new baby is telling: just moved back to Staplecross after some years in Hastings, they report their relief at having a 7 days a week service linking them to the services they need in the larger towns.

Derrick Coffee

(County Officer, Campaign for Better Transport – East Sussex)

The Stagecoach 349 and Arriva 5 routes and their passengers and linked communities in the High Weald  had a piece to cheer on Sunday last on the Politics Show – BBC South East

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0bp0kf2/sunday-politics-south-east-28102018