Gloucestershire Vegan Group

I have just joined the Gloucestershire Vegan Group. The group is based in Stroud and lead by Imogen who also lives in Stroud. 

They meet up at vegan friendly cafés and restaurants and also arrange walks, and picnics. 

I'm looking forward to meeting the other members soon. 

For more info on the group, please visit their website

http://glosvegans.wordpress.com/

Another Year of Badger Culling in Gloucestershire.

Sadly the Badger Cull has begun again in Gloucestershire. 

Last year I joined the Wounded Badger Patrols and after the IEP review concluded that the cull was ineffective and inhumane we believed that the cull would not continue again this year. 

Incredibly the Government ignored the science and it's own evidence and have continued to cull in Gloucestershire this Autumn.  

My role for GABS (Gloucestershire against badger shooting) is Police Liaisons and I also go out on patrols once or twice a week. 

We were very pleased to be joined by Brian May on one evening as he is a big supporter of our Organisation and he has spoken out many times against the cull. 

 

 

Winning a Stroud Town Community Champion Award 2014

Whiteshill resident, Vanessa Price was delighted to win an Award at Stroud Town Councils "local Community Champions Awards 2014" for her work at Assured Mobility in Stroud and for her contribution to the community through her many voluntary roles.  

The awards, organised by Stroud Town Council, are an opportunity to praise those people who go the extra mile and make the town unique.

Vanessa has worked in the town for over 25 years and she joined the shop in Union Street 2 years ago. 

Vanessa is also a Parish Councillor for Whiteshill and Ruscombe as well as a School Governor at Whiteshill Primary School. 
Vanessa said " I am overwhelmed to have won this award, I love doing my job, which provides solutions for independent living."

Vanessa is also standing as Labour's candidate for the District Elections for Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe on May 22nd. 

"Stroud is full of amazing unsung heroes, who go out of their way to make our town such a strong and vibrant community" said Town Major, Amanda Moriarty. 

The winners were announced at a special town meeting on Thursday 8th May 2014

Related links

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/11208969.Josh_Norman__15__is_one_of_the_stars_of_the_town_awards/

International Workers Day March in Stroud

The 1st of May is Internationals Workers Day, I joined Stroud Labour Party and Gloucestershire Fire Brigade Union members in Stroud Town Centre for the Annual March through the town. 

The sun was shinning and there was a fantastic turnout, Cheltenham Samba Band led the way. There was a good representation from different Working Unions incuding Unite and Unison. 

Afterwards everyone is invited to Stroud Town Hall for a Lunch and refreshments provided by Stroud Labour Party. 

I had an opportunity to meet Dawn Primarola MP, who I have admired for many years for her work as Bristol South MP and Deputy Speaker of The House of Commons.  

Related links

Stroud Community TV voices from International Workers Day March Stroud May 3rd 2014

http://stroudcommunity.tv/international-workers-day-in-stroud/

Gloucestershire County Council Badger Cull Scrutiny Task Group

If you live in Gloucestershire you can complete a survey that is being carried out by Gloucestershire County Council to look at the social and economic impact on residents following last years badger cull pilots in the County. 

Gloucestershire County Council has set up a scrutiny task group looking to establish the social and economic impact of the badger cull on Gloucestershire. The group would welcome contributions from those Gloucestershire residents affected by the cull in the form of responses to the questions below.

https://gloucestershire-consult.objective.co.uk/public/leisure/badger_cull_impact

Other related articles

Green Cllr Sarah Lunon will not sit on Badger Task Force, believing it to be a waste of time. 

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/10959410._/

Canvassing in Whiteshill with Iain McNicol

Today I have been canvassing in Whiteshill with Labour General Secretary Iain McNicol. 

We were also joined by Labour Stroud District Councillors David Drew and Roger Sanders, and County Councillor Lesley Williams. 

Canvassing in Ruscombe

I have been out in Ruscombe this evening canvassing for the upcoming District Elections. 

I was joined by Stroud District Councillors David Drew and Roger Sanders. 

Sharing my Kitchen Garden with the Wildlife

This weekend I have been preparing my kitchen garden for planting. After digging the plot I have planted 2 rows of potatoes and 2 rows of onions. The onions were kindly donated by my neighbour. 

I had a bit of a surprise when I took some of the weeds to our compost heap, when I lifted the old carpet that covers it I found a nest of about 15 slow worms. They looked a bit startled but I put the carpet back down and left them in peace. 

I usually grow my own tomatoes and cucumbers from seed in the greenhouse, but this year I am going to buy them from our Village Plant Sale that takes place on 11th May at the Village Shop. 

Gloucester Vegan Show

Today I Spent the day at Gloucester Vegan Show at The Guildhall. We were invited there to talk about The Wounded Badger Patrols. 

The event was really great with lots of stalls, food tasting, demonstrations and talks. 

I am a vegan and it was very interesting listening to the talks about the reasons to became vegan, animal welfare, questions on the  farming industry, and advice about food options. The Cooking demonstrations were fantastic and really inspiring. 

The other groups at the event included Sea Shepheard, Vervet Monkey Sanctuary,Dean Farm Trust, Mino Valley Farm Animal Sanctuary, and The Vegetarian Food Studio. 

Hundreds Turn Out For Gloucester's Anti Badger Cull March

My husband and I joined about 500 people at the Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting demonstration in Gloucester city centre on Saturday 19th May. 

Pilot culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset were aimed at limiting the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Earlier this month Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said the pilots would continue.

Organiser Carol Cook said the number of people who turned out to demonstrate shows "it is not acceptable for an industry to be killing our wildlife".

She said they were "sympathetic" towards farmers, but added that the "industry needs to look at its own practices" and improve "bio-security in the farmyards themselves" to stop the spread of the disease.

"It isn't us against the farmers at all - everyone can work together to stop this awful disease," she said.

Conservationist Ian Redmond said most badgers do not have the disease and culling is a "recipe for disaster, not for curing the disease".

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has stated that it can only support further pilot culls if effectiveness and humaneness improved and if there are independent monitors.

The BVA said it was also concerned that if culling in the pilot areas stops now there could be an increased risk of TB in cattle.

Here are some links to see videos from the March. 

-A film by Dianne Bartlett from the Glos Badger March featuring Stroud's Ian Redmond from The Born Free Foundation. 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxKW00MceiRtzrt_5GNPi4g/videos

-Domanic Dyer's speech filmed by Ian Redmond. 

http://stroudcommunity.tv/dominic-dyer-addresses-badger-rally-gloucester/

Dangers To Cyclists And The Need For 20mph.

Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend my husband and I were cycling between Fairford and Lechlade when a van travelling over 50mph hit my husband and knocked him off his bike. 

After being taken to hospital by ambulance his injuries were confirmed as damage to his shoulder, arm, back and hand, so he was very lucky. 

It turns out that the road we were cycling along is notorious for accidents, but we were unaware of this as we were not familiar with the local area. We have been put off cycling on the roads for now, but this really highlights the need for road speed limits to be reduced. 

As a Parish Councillor of Whiteshill and Ruscombe we campaigned with Randwick Parish Council for many years to have the speed limit in the Ward reduced to 20mph, and last year this was introduced. 

I recently wrote a letter to the Stroud Life about this. 

"Dear Editor,
It is so good to see that Stroud may soon be getting a reduction in road speed limits to 20mph. 
As a Parish Councillor of Whiteshill and Ruscombe, ourselves and Randwick Parish Council, finally got a Ward wide 20 mph speed limit across Randwick, Whiteshill, and Ruscombe last year. It was not easy to get this introduced, and involved lots of work with County Council, Glos Highways and the support of local residents.
I noted that recent speed check showed that on average, motorist are driving slower through the ward but we still have a long way to go as people are still not used to what feels like an unnaturally slow speed.
With most residential roads in Stroud soon becoming 20mph this will encourage drivers to change their driving habits and I hope that this will continue as they drive up into our Villages.
Statistics show that lower speed limits reduce your chances of being killed if you are hit by a car, this has to be a good thing to pass on to the next generation and improve the areas we all live in."
 

At the moment, recent speed checks carried out over the last two weeks have shown that vehicles are still travelling too fast through the Village, but I hope that once other areas like Stroud and Cashes Green get 20mph speed limits too, drivers will become accustomed to driving slower everywhere. 

Meeting with Maria Eagle MP and Roberta Blackman-Woods MP

This week I have attended 2 meetings at Stroud Labour constituency Offices in Landsdown.

The guest at these meetings were Maria Eagle MP (Shadow Environment Minister) and Roberta Blackman-Woods MP (Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government). 

Maria Eagle MP met with myself and other individuals representing groups involved with the Anti Badger Cull Campaign. She wanted to hear about our experiences on the ground during the Badger Cull Pilot last year.  She also spoke to Dr Chris Cheeseman about his research and vast knowledge of Bovine TB and Badgers. 

I also met Roberta Blackman-Woods on Thursday to talk about her role as Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government, she listened to Labour Councillors concerns about the Governments planning policy and the threat of losing green fields to housing development. 

We also discussed Neighbourhood Plans and their role within local communities and Parish Councils. This was of particular interest to myself as a Parish Councillor, as Whiteshill and Ruscombe are in the process of doing a neighbourhood plan at the moment, Roberta assured me and others at the meeting that the Labour Party fully support Neighbourhood Plans and see them becoming a vital tool for local Councils and communities in the future. 

http://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/11142984.Shadow_environment_secretary_Maria_Eagle_calls_for_stop_to_badger_cull_during_visit_to_Stroud/

Labour Continue To Campaign For Living Wage

As part of the TUC’s Fair Pay Fortnight, former MP and parliamentary candidate David Drew calls on local businesses to follow Stroud District Council’s lead and pay workers the Living Wage. Cllr Drew, who served as Stroud’s MP from 1997 until 2010, was commenting on the findings of the TUC on the proportion of workers paid below the Living Wage, “I was shocked to discover that nearly a fifth of all workers in Stroud are paid below the Living Wage.” The Living Wage is currently set at £7.65 an hour outside London, including Stroud. Cllr Drew continued, “The situation is even worse if you are a part time worker, where over half of all workers receive less than the Living Wage. We are constantly being told by our incumbent MP and Government that the recovery is here, but tell that to people on these poverty wages, as well of those out of jobs like at Listers in Dursley.” 

Cllr Drew went onto to attack his successor as MP, Neil Carmichael, “Last year, Mr. Carmichael refused to rule out voting against a cut in the national minimum wage (Stroud News and Journal, April 2013). I said then and I say now that that position is absolutely disgraceful – I was proud to vote for the National Minimum Wage when in Parliament. Instead, I call on the Government to increase the level of the national minimum age to that of the Living Wage.”

Vanessa Price, Labour’s candidate in Randwick, Whiteshill and Ruscombe, said “It’s vitally important that we continue to press for a Living Wage across Stroud and the whole country. It’s often women who lose out and are paid substantially less compared to their male counterparts. I’m proud to be working with Labour county councillors who are continuing to push for a Living Wage for Gloucestershire County Council school workers paid below the level, 94% of whom are women.”

Cllr Geoff Wheeler (Lab/Coop, Dursley), Leader of Stroud District Council, said “Last year, we made to conscious decision to give council workers a pay rise to the Living Wage level because all the evidence points to the fact that it leads to less sick days, higher worker happiness and efficiency, as well as putting more money in our employee’s pockets that they can spend in and around the Stroud district. I would encourage all local businesses to follow our lead and start paying the Living Wage; at Stroud District Council are really feeling the positive benefits.”

Integrate NHS and Social Care to get best care for elderly people

 Labour’s plans to integrate NHS and social care are the reforms we need to get the best care for elderly people and the best value for taxpayers’ money. 

Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Care and Older People speaking about Monday night’s Panorama, “A Week in A&E: Condition Critical?”, said:

“Fewer elderly people are receiving the vital services that help them get up, washed, dressed and fed so they can stay living independently at home. 

“This isn’t good for them and it is a false economy too, as increasing numbers of frail elderly people are ending up in more expensive beds care when they don’t need to.

“Keith Willet rightly highlights the huge impact that the Government’s cuts to council care budgets have had. He also calls for more joined up services and support. Labour’s plans to integrate NHS and social care and the recommendations of Sir John Oldham’s Commission on Whole Person Care show the real reforms we need to get the best care for elderly people and the best value for taxpayers’ money.”

Syrian Crisis Silent Vigil to mark 3 years.

I joined Cllr Brian Oosthuysen and others at a silent vigual in Stroud High Street today to mark 3 years since the start of the Syrian crisis. 

The Crisis in Syria started with protests against President Bashar al-Assad's regime. 

There has been more than 100,000 people killed to date. 

More than 2 million people have fled Syria, 3/4 of these refugees are woman and children. 

In Our Towns campaign

The IN OUR TOWNS campaign is an initiative funded jointly by BIS and Stroud District Council in response to the Portas Review of the High Street. It will focus initially on Dursley, Painswick, Stroud and Wotton under Edge but welcomes the participation of any town in the District.

The aim of the campaign is to encourage more people to visit their local town.

I attended the Promote your local business event which showed delegates how easy it is to use their smartphone to create high quality promotional videos which can be updated quickly to showcase special promotions or festivals, using free tools/apps.

Split over two days, the first part was about how to make media using your own smart phone or tablet.

Then we used the next day to practice and make media at our own businesses. 

The following evening, we met up again to learn how to share media with minimum effort and cost. 

This was a practical course about gaining confidence and learning new skills to work socially to gain new customers and engage more with existing customers.

I found the event really useful both for my own business, Bumble Bee Face Painting and for my role at Assured Mobility. 

Being a School Governor

School Governors are people who want to make a positive contribution to children's education, and it was certainly the reason why I decided to became a Governor at Whiteshill School in 2010. 

Governors are one of the largest volunteer forces in the country and have an important part to play in raising school standards. The role of the governing body is absolutely key to the effectiveness of a school. Time and time again Ofsted (the national inspection body for schools) has noted that the most effective schools demonstrate effective leadership and management - including by the governing body.

Each individual governor is a member of a governing body, which is established in law as a corporate body.   Individual governors may not act independently of the rest of the governing body. Decisions are the joint responsibility of the governing body.  

The role of the governing body is a strategic one, its key functions are to:

• set the aims and objectives for the school

• set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives

• set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives

• monitor and evaluate the progress the school is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives

• be a source of challenge and support to the headteacher (a critical friend)

The headteacher is responsible for the internal organisation, management and control of the school and the implementation of the strategic framework established by the governing body. 

I am a Community Governor and this works really well with my other role as Parish Councillor, it helps to establish links that are beneficial throughout the Commiunity. 

To find out more about Whiteshill School and it's Governing body 

 http://www.whiteshill.gloucs.sch.uk/

Threat to small Village Schools from proposal for Free School

A plan to open a Free school for 600 pupils (4-16 year olds) is being submitted to the Government.  It’s likely to be in the Stroud/Nailsworth area - if the plan is accepted, it will start to take primary school children in September 2015.
Normally a new school is set up because more places are needed. But the opposite is true here: local schools have too many places. The number of school age children over the next 5 years is low (because birth rates go up and down) - with 600 surplus places in Stroud area. If 600 children leave existing schools and go to the Free School, we’ll have 1,200 surplus places. Some schools will have so few pupils left they won’t be financially viable.
A Free School is supposed to be set up if local people say it’s wanted and needed to improve education. There’s no evidence of a need to improve performance of local schools & little evidence that local people really want or need this school.
Free schools take money and pupils from existing schools and they are not democratically accountable. 
- The Free School will be funded by taxpayers. Money is tight - so why spend millions on a Free School that’s not needed? (and parental satisfaction with local schools is high - why set up another?)
- Free Schools don’t have to use qualified teachers or meet the same standards and test results as ordinary schools.  Will this put pupil achievements at risk? Should all schools meet certain standards?
- Stroud doesn’t need extra school places - we have 600 unfilled school places over 5 years.  There IS a shortage of school places in Gloucester and Cheltenham - setting up a school there makes more sense.
- 3 or 4 schools could close if the Free School opens, including village schools. Smaller schools play an important role in rural communities - closure would be devastating.
- A local secondary school is likely to close too. (And the Free School is a Steiner school, so if it takes pupils from Wynstones, that’s also at risk).
- Steiner Education is already available in this area through the private sector - is it right to use taxpayers’ money to create this free school?

If you share my concerns 
Please write with your concerns to Neil Carmichael MP and to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education (by 31st March 2014) where the decision to give the new Free School a licence will be made.  You could also ask Mr Carmichael for an appointment to discuss the plans.
michael.gove.mp@parliament.uk  neil.carmichael.mp@parliament.uk  

Spring Has Sprung

1st of March and the first day of Spring. I am lucky to have quite a big garden and I love gardening. 

We have a very productive veg patch, 2 greenhouses (from Frecycle), summer house, potting shed, wildlife pond, chickens and Kune Kune pigs. 

Springtime sees me quite busy in the garden, cleaning the greenhouses, digging the veg patch and sowing seeds.

I have opened my garden to the public in the past, including Transition Stroud's Edible Open Gardens. 

Our Kune Kune Pigs

In 2011 we got 2 Kune Kune pigs, they are called Pippa and Katie.

They are a native breed of New Zealand and we chose them because they are the smallest  breed of pig. 

We run a pig keeping workshop through Transitions Stroud as it has become popular for people to keep pigs in there garden so that they can then produce meat that comes from pigs that have lived happy lives outdoors. 

Do Something Different Day at Subscription Rooms

"Do Something Different Day" was a volunteering event, held at Stroud Subscription Rooms on Friday 28th Feb 2014.

It highlights and promotes lots of different volunteer groups and organisations in the local area. When I went along the area was bustling with lots of people keen to know how they could help out. 

Chris Baxter from BBC Radio Glos was recording live from the event for his radio  show, and there seemed to be a great atmosphere with a lot of positivity from visitors and event organisers.

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Open Gardens

In May 2012 I organised the village open gardens through the NGS.

I first contacted them in Nov 2011 and said I would like to do something in Whiteshill and Ruscombe. A representative from the NGS then came and visited some gardens, including my own, to see if we were suitable and to the standard the NGS visitors would expect. 

The representative was very impressed and though it was such a lovely area with wonderful views. 

I then spent the next month going around the villages putting notices through doors asking for people to join the event. 

The open garden event took place in May and we had 13 gardens open, we also offered refreshments at a Ruscombe Chapel and 2 other gardens. 

The event was a great success, with more than 300 visitors, and raising £1075 for charity. 

Visitors loved the gardens and they were impressed with how gardeners had overcome the many challenges of gardening in our hillside locations.

Being a Guest on BBC Radio Glos with Manpreet Mellhi

In February I was asked to be guest on BBC Radio Glos with Manpreet Mellhi for her show "challenge Manpreet".

I talked about how I became a face painter and I showed Manpreet how to paint a simple butterfly design on herself. 

I have been a face painter since 2012 and I set up my business Bumble Bee Face Painting in 2013. 

I face paint for children's parties and public events. 

For more information please visit my Website 

http://bumblebeestroud.weebly.com 

Meeting with Glos Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl

As part of my work with GABS and Glos Wounded  Badger Patrol I was invited to a meeting at Gloucestershire Headquarters with Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl last week.

I am team leader of Glos WBP Legal Liaisons and along with other members of GABS, we met with members of Glos Police and Martin Surl to share and discuss our experiences of the Badger Cull Pilot. 

Afterwards PCC Martin Surl tweeted 

" Vanessa, thanks for coming to see us, tough issues I know, but let's keep the dialogue going".

Why our role at GABS Legal Liasions is still important

"The Independent Experts Panel (IEP) concluded that the cull was both ineffective and inhumane," says Tina Martin, head of GABS's Police Liaison Team, "but claims that there were no public safety issues are completely wrong." During the cull the group kept meticulous records of every incident that occurred during their nightly Wounded Badger Patrols.

"We sent through a specimen list of 26 crimes committed by cullers to the Police in January," continues Tina Martin. " including 5 firearms offences, multiple incidences of harassment and intimidation, wildlife crimes and culling on land without the owner's knowledge or consent. These, however, are just the tip of the iceberg." Of the many harassment incidents, six were committed by the same individual, a man whose attempts at intimidation became so commonplace the group started to refer to him as 'Mullet Man' due to his distinctive hair style.

"We are being frustrated by a very slow response from the police," continues Tina Martin. "We've had several meetings with them since last year and yet there has been very little progress with their investigations. We feel their whole approach to the cull was biased by an assumption that the protest would be 'unlawful', and this led them to completely ignore crimes committed by the cullers."

Some of these crimes happened right in front of officers, including the incident where live ammunition was left on a public footpath. "Not only was this a serious firearms offence but the shooter was acting alone," continues Tina Martin, "this being in direct breach of the safety conditions of the cull licence, which required that night shooters must have another person acting as a safety lookout. The officers on the ground actually led this individual to and from the site, but because they hadn't read the licence conditions they didn't even realise he was committing a crime until we pointed it out."

The GABS Police Liaison Team have reminded police that any breach of the cull licence leading to the death or capture of a badger constitutes a criminal offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Equally, secretly adding roadkill badgers to the cull was not only an offence under the Act 1992 but also the criminal offence of fraud.

"Our protests and monitoring of the cull were entirely lawful," concludes Tina Martin, "and it is totally galling that we have uncovered such a wide range of criminal activity amongst the cullers as well as so many threats to public order and safety. The government has been completely irresponsible handing over the cull contract to a company hastily created by the NFU, who have conducted themselves in such an incompetent and dangerous way. However, we will not allow a slow response from the police to let the government get away with claiming the cull was safe, and we will be pursuing all these cases with the police until they are properly resolved."

Whiteshill and Ruscombe Snow Warden

I have been the Village Snow Warden for Whiteshill and Ruscombe for the last 4 years. My duties include liaising with Gloucestershire Highways and helping to coordinate volunteers.

We aim to organise work parties to help clear important areas including access to The School, Village Shop and vulnerable residents. 

To volunteer or for more information please email  nessprice@live.co.uk

http://www.stroudlife.co.uk/Friends-dig-Gloucestershire-moving/story-17938135-detail/story.html

Transition Stroud Edible Open Gardens

I have taken part in Transition Stroud's Edible Open Gardens for the last 3 years.

My husband and I open our garden to the public and we also run a Pig Keeping workshop. There were several gardens from Whiteshill that took part and the allotment also opened to public for the event.

Ruscombe Jubilee Phone Box Gallery and Circular Walk

To celebrate the Queens Jubilee, Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish Council renovated the Ruscombe phone box.

Councillor Chris Gardner organised the renovation work, which included re painting and lighting, and it is now a gallery. For information on sharing your art or any other request please contact Chris on phsc@tiscali.co.uk

June 5th 2012 saw the opening of the Jubilee Walk which goes through both Whiteshill and Ruscombe with 40 way markers that were designed by children of Whiteshill School. Please see the following link for the opening: http://stroudcommunity.tv/whiteshill-and-ruscombe-diamond-jubilee-walk-2012/

Stroud in Bloom Window Competition

In July I entered the Stroud in Bloom window competition for Assured Mobility where I work.

The theme this year was "edible gardens" and my display included lots of edible plants like tomatoes, beans and some lovely lettuce plants. They were planted in all sorts of recycled containers. 

I was so pleased to achieve a gold medal when the window was later judged. 

Nympsfield Wind Turbine Marks Milestone

The Nympsfield wind turbine, subject to a fierce five-year planning battle between local residents and planners and the Stroud-based renewable energy company Ecotricity, was sweet 16 on December 13th 2013. 

I am a Trustee of the farm that the Turbine is located on. My Uncle owned the farm when the Turbine was built and a Trust was set up after he died to continue our family's interest in the farm and Turbine. I am very interested in all kinds of renewable energy, and so it is important to me to be a stakeholders in the Nympsfield Wind Tutbine. 

Commissioned on Friday, December 13, 1996, the 60-metre Lynch Knoll turbine has, according to Ecotricity, generated over 15 million units (kWh) of electricity – enough to power 227 local homes every year and prevented almost 6,500 tonnes of CO₂from entering the atmosphere.

Lynch Knoll was one of the Britain’s earliest wind turbines and until only recently was the only one in Gloucestershire, before it was joined by a new companion at St Briavels near the Forest of Dean.

Whiteshill & Ruscombe Playing Field Improvements

The Whiteshill & Ruscombe playing field has undergone some improvements over the winter months and it now has a new fence and platform.

The project was funded by SITA Trust and Whiteshill and Ruscombe Parish Council. The design was created by consultation with The Playing field Committee and Whiteshill School. 

To find out more information or to support Whiteshill and Ruscombe Playing Field

http://www.wrpc.org.uk/default.asp?pid=51

Working with GABS and it's Wounded Badger Patrol

As I am a great supporter of wildlife I decided to join The Wounded Badger Patrol group to help protect our native Badgers in Gloucestershire.

During the Pilot Badger Cull in late 2013 I took part in the patrols and since then I have become active in GABS (Gloucestershire against Badger Shooting) and I am now team leader of WBP Legal Liaison. 

During the Pilot Cull I was very honoured to meet Brian May, he came out with the Wounded Badger Patrol one night and he is a great supporter of the anti cull movement. 

We are winning the argument comprehensively with the public against killing badgers," says Nick Berry, one of the founders of GABS, "but there seems to be a lot of work still to do with our MPs." GABS is worried that government politicians are ignoring the science and the basic facts about culling in favour of politics and the narrow interests of core rural supporters. "All the science and wildlife organisations predicted this cull would fail," continues Nick Berry, "and now the government's own Independent Experts Panel (IEP) has condemned the cull as ineffective and inhumane. No amount of spin will alter the facts."

"Specious comparisons with other countries are irrelevant and highly misleading. Britain virtually eradicated bTB in the 1950s and 60s by cattle restrictions alone, without killing a single badger. This method has seen the current trend in infections reversed even before the current cull began. In Wales, where cattle controls are being combined with badger vaccination there has been a 23% drop in cattle infections, and we are determined that the same should happen in the rest of the UK."

GABS also point to the enormous cost of the cull compared to vaccination. "The current costs for culling are over £4,000 per badger whereas the estimates for a volunteer assisted vaccination programme are as low as £150 per badger," concludes Nick Berry. "Culling badgers is a huge diversion from the real causes and solutions to Bovine TB. The government needs to stop wasting our tax money on something that patently does not work and concentrate on what does work. Our MPs need to know that we will not tolerate this futile and expensive cull any longer."

To find out more information on GABS and The Wounded Badger Patrol 

http://www.glosagainstbadgershooting.org/home/4574170082

Whiteshill & Ruscombe is awarded Runner Up in Vibrant Village Awards 2012, Active and healthy community

On the evening of July 14th at Batsford Court, I was very honoured to accept the award for Runner up in the healthy and active community category, The judges were particularly impressed with the range of activities available in the community to ensure residents are kept in the best health. Examples included the jubilee walk and The village Playing Field.
This is the 2nd time I have entered the Village into the awards and last year we picked up Runner Up in Best Community Facility category for The Village Shop.