Sustainable Haltwhistle Newsletter December 2024
6 + 6 funding success
We are delighted to report that our Community Chest application was partially successful and we are developing a monthly program of 6 film screenings and 6 lunchtime talks for 2025.

We're looking to kick off in late January with a lunchtime talk followed by a film in February. Details in the next newsletter and on social media in the New Year.

As well as the monthly 6+6 program we've several other workshops and activities in the pipeline including this half day event in February with Nick Morphet, Green County Councillor for Humshaugh. We're always on the look out for people to help with room set-up, stewarding etc at our events. If you could volunteer please contact Abby, HaltwhistleClimateAction@protonmail.com

Cars - Their impact on wildlife and what we can do about it

We all know that motor vehicles are one of the many causes of climate change, but did you know that they're also a significant cause of the biodiversity crisis?
On 25th Feb, Nick Morphet (County Councillor for Humshaugh and leader of Northumberland County Council's Green Party group) will tell us about all of the other ways that motor vehicles harm wildlife.
As well as the more obvious topics such as roadkill, he'll cover topics such as habitat and population fragmentation and noise, light, chemical and particulate pollution.
Nick will suggest practical ways that we can reduce the damage that our cars do to wildlife. As well as questions there will be a short discussion and a free locally sourced sustainable lunch (donations welcome).

10.00 Refreshments
10.30 Presentation - Cllr Nick Morphet
12.00 Discussion
12.30 Lunch
13.30 Close

Booking essential https://shorturl.at/6bWPL



Sun 1st Dec, Community Tree Planting Day, Gilsland
Living Woods invite you to join them during National Tree Week for a day of planting 2000 trees in moorland gullies near Gilsland.
"We will plant a variety of native trees including willow, alder, hawthorn, aspen and birch. The planting area is less than half a mile walk through farmland, up onto moorland, where we will be planting the trees along a series of gullies. The project is in partnership with The Natural World Fund, and aims to improve the habitat."
Details: https://living-woods.org.uk/event/community-tree-planting/




Christmas shopping
Do your friends and family really need more new stuff?
Giving event tickets, experiences and treats supports local performers and practitioners, keeping your money in the local community.
This graphic doesn't distinguish between local and artisan products - look out for craft fairs and farmers' markets - unique gifts often with minimal environmental impact.

Coanwood Meeting House by Sylvia Costelloe
  • Sunday 1st Dec 11am to 3pm. Coanwood Christmas Craft Fair in the delightful and historic, off grid, Quakers Meeting House. Free entry with complementary glass of mulled wine and mince pie!
  • Hexham Farmers' Market - Sat 14th & 21st December
  • Greenhead Farmer's Market - Sun 8th December
  • Brampton Farmers' Market - Sat 21st December

Sustainable Haltwhistle specially recommends:

  • Anything from the Haltwhistle Community Shop and Bookshop.
    Profits from these shops are set to fund lots of community activities and opportunities for young people in and around the town. Donate items you no longer need and buy, at a knock down price, those you do!
  • What's for Tea?
    Zigzag* members created this image as the logo for the next 'Haltwhistle Is Something Special' poster exhibition. The exhibition celebrating local food resources and enterprises will be in Waiting room 1, Haltwhistle Station, early next year. But you can buy tea towels and aprons - and support Zigzag - before Christmas!
    The linen cotton mix tea towels are £7 and the aprons £12. To purchase contact Sue, 07935 259 416, sue@mosspeteral.com
    *Zigzag is a Haltwhistle Partnership initiative aiming to combat social isolation.
  • Hexham Kairos will be selling Palestinian dates and olive oil on their Christmas Market Stall on Saturday Morning, Dec 21st. Find them at the end of the Shambles, next to cheese stall. We sold Kairos's fabulous produce at the Gaza film we screened earlier in the autumn - it's highly recommended!
  • Moss Peteral Christmas Turkeys - (interest declared!) bronze free-range birds, traditionally prepared. Free local delivery. http://www.mosspeteral.com



Swift lunchtime talk report

A huge thanks to Beanie Merson from Gilsland and Matthew Greening from Hexham Swift Heaven who captivated us with details about the lives of swifts and assured us we that we can effectively help these amazing birds - providing nest sites on our homes really can make a difference.
For the last 3000 years swifts have chosen to nest in nooks and crannies in our buildings. In recent times changes in building materials and the drive to make buildings airtight has been good for minimising heat loss, but bad news for our cavity nesting birds.

Some local authorities have made the inclusion of swift bricks a planning permission condition for all new-build homes. Abby is working toward getting this included in Haltwhistle's Local Neighbourhood plan. Beanie urged us all to write to our councils and MP asking for swift bricks to be a planning permission consideration. Beanie will happily supply a template for your letter.

Check out https://www.swiftmapper.org.uk/ to find recorded swift nesting and screaming party sightings. And can add your sightings too.

Both Matthew yafflers@btopenworld.com and Beanie 07725993873 beaniemerson@hotmail.co.uk welcome enquiries from anyone who would like advice about swifts or to purchase a box.

Free Swift box
Our donations plate at the swift talk more than covered lunch ingredient expenses so we're making an early Christmas present of a Swift Box for a local home.

Swift boxes need to be placed over 2 meters above the ground with a clear line of sight to the box. You will need to arrange fixing the box to the property yourself and be able and willing to do this fairly soon. If you'd like to receive the free Swift Box please email your request to HaltwhistleClimateAction@protonmail.com.
Include a sentence about the potential site and why you'd like a swift box.



Tyne for Change update
Abby, as a Sustainable Haltwhistle representative, recently attended a meeting in Hexham to explore setting up a Catchment Stewardship program for the River Tyne. In attendance was Joe Morris MP and representatives from Wylam Clean Tyne, Croquet River Action Group, Transition Tynedale and Hexham Town Council as well as Nick Morphet, Green County Councillor for Humshaugh ward.
Catchment Stewardship is the brainchild of Ian Richardson and aims to redress the fact that the river catchment system has no one steward or responsible party but rather different groups with different priorities and rights over the river. It has 4 strands:
  • Leadership and coordination
  • Collaboration between groups
  • Evidence mapping
  • Citizen stories

Anyone wishing to know more or get involved should contact Haltwhistleclimateaction@protonmail.com







    Yellow Rattle seeds sown!
    Sustainable Haltwhistle and Haltwhistle's Community Gardeners broadcast yellow rattle seeds into the sward of Avenue St Meen's verge in November.
    If the seeds germinate and grow the Yellow Rattle plants will weaken the grass plants and open up the sward for wild flowers to thrive.
    Haltwhistle Town Council will maintain the minimal mowing regime next year, although an early cut may be taken at the 'back' of the verge to prevent scrub encroachment.
    We'll see what flowers appear and may add wild flower seeds or plug plants in future years.



    Thanks from Kate
    The crowdfunder set up to cover Kate Bramfitt's court attendance expenses easily reached the target.
    Kate said: "Thank you so much to everyone who donated money towards my court fines and travel costs. It means I can carry on joining non-violent protests to get urgent climate action from our Government. I really appreciate your support!"
    Kate wasn't jailed, only fined, for her part in that particular non-violent Just Stop Oil protest. Others however are serving lengthy jail terms. Defend Our Juries are petitioning the attorney General, Richard Kermer KC:

    'We are living in the age of failing politicians and murderous lobbyists. They are committing the most deadly crime of our age; oil kills, and we all know it.
    But in the cells today are twenty eight, brave, caring people, guilty only of resisting the fossil fuel industry that will kill millions unless stopped. The shocking truth is that our legal systems have failed to protect society. While ordinary people face years in prison, the real criminals walk free.
    We cannot sit by. We demand the immediate end to the imprisonment of brave, non-violent political prisoners, jailed for telling the truth and acting in resistance to continued extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal.'

    If you believe we should stop jailing those telling the truth join the 68,000 people who have already signed this petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-prison-for-protest



    Sustainable Haltwhistle was represented at the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice in Newcastle earlier in the year.





    Thanks to Sainsbury's for responding to feedback and bringing back Ecover washing up liquid and other products into the Haltwhistle store.



    Get in touch
    Any questions, comments or contributions to this monthly e-newsletter?
    Please contact sue@mosspeteral.com 07935 259416



    Sustainable Haltwhistle aims to reduce the impact of the community of Haltwhistle and surrounding villages on our environment. This will help individuals, families and our community save money and resources and ensure a more sustainable future for us all.

    To join Sustainable Haltwhistle contact Sue Seymour, sue@mosspeteral.com 07935 259416