MinchLIFE Newsletter – 3 February 2021

Dear all,

As this Lockdown drags on, life is obviously very difficult for everyone but we do have to remember how lucky we are living in such a supportive community.  We have so many outlets offering food and drink to buy and for delivery.  There are really too many to mention but special thanks to the most local:   The Amberley Inn; The Chip Shed; Hall’s Bakery; Henry’s; The Kitchen; M & B Stores; and last but not least Taylor’s.   

A Message from the Chairman of Minch Life – Lou Buckley
Sadly, Minch Life is going to have to postpone the Minchinhampton Country Fayre from 2021 to 2022, as we are not going to have sufficient time to fundraise for the event whilst in lockdown or satisfy the understandably strict regulations for hosting an event of this size.  However, we are excited and look forward to 2022 with renewed vigour and enthusiasm, and would ask that if there are people in the Minchinhampton community that can offer their time or skills either to the Fayre or indeed to the Committee (the website, fundraising, event planning and organisation, Made by Minch etc) please drop me a line at chair@minchlife.com.

We’re always looking for new thoughts and ideas on the committee, and can honestly say, we will struggle to run another Country Fayre with only 8 people manning it!  If you enjoy the Fayre and enjoy the community warmth it generates, please don’t be shy in volunteering your services, just half an hour of your time on the day would be a massive help!  If circumstances allow, we’ll try to host something on Saturday, 18th September this year on a smaller scale!  Thank you Minch, Lou (Chair@minchlife.com), www.minchlife.com

Minch Virtual Open Gardens
Thank goodness for the early flowers which buoy us up through the dark days of January and February, with their promise of Spring.  Cheer us all by sharing photos of the gems in your winter garden on the Minchlife website – follow links to the Minch Virtual Open Gardens pages.  Videos accepted too.  https://minchlife.com

**stop press to Gardeners**  We have just been alerted that Blue Diamond Garden Centre in Nailsworth is temporarily closed. If anyone is planning to visit it is best to check beforehand.  This also affects click & collect.

At home Celebrations?
Burleigh Court Hotel are offering a locally-sourced set menu with four courses, finish-at-home dishes skilfully prepared and boxed up by Head Chef Shaun.  Two-rosette meals (meat, vegetarian and vegan) are available to help you mark and celebrate special occasions. Think Valentines, Mother’s Day, Birthdays and Anniversaries… or even just a special weekend treat.  Pre-order your Valentines treat meal from £35 for two from Burleigh Court at: https://www.burleighcourtcotswolds.co.uk/burleigh-at-home/

Community Help required!
You will no doubt have seen the news reports surrounding school lunches and the importance of children having a proper meal.   You also may have seen this week’s Countryfile where they visited The Long Table at Brimscombe.  Keith our Community Freezer is proud to announce that he, and the Long Table, are working alongside Minchinhampton Academy to ensure that all children in our community have access to nutritious home-cooked meals during these unprecedented times.  But the reality is, funding is required for this essential project.  Some pledges have already been received from members of our community, but more are required to make this project work.   

It is hoped to start straight away, and 3 weeks of funding are required to cover the project until after half term (roughly £3,000).  If you can help, or know of a company that could be approached, please contact the Minch Coronavirus Response Group on 07307 155119 or email minchcrg@gmail.com

Keith the Community Freezer is open at The Hub in Minchinhampton, 9.30 – 10.30 am on Wednesdays.  Deliveries can be arranged for those in need (see contact details above).

Minchinhampton Surgery – Vaccine news:
Please visit Minchinhampton Surgery website for more information.
Minchinhampton Surgery is one of a group of 5 local surgeries working together to deliver the coronavirus vaccination to their collective patients.  There are many restrictions imposed on them that limit how fast they can roll out the vaccination programme.  Rowcroft is the designated vaccination centre.  Eligible Patients are invited (please bear in mind that there are over 7.5k patients registered to Minchinhampton).  The good news is that Gloucestershire is ahead of the game and the surgery, is fighting hard to ensure patients get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Minchinhampton Surgery has taken the decision not to book 2nd vaccination appointments until nearer the date that they are due (12 weeks from 1st vaccination).  They have made this decision in order to avoid the possibility of having to cancel and rearrange appointments at the last minute.

They understand that other local surgeries have taken a different approach and booked their patients in already.   They have decided to wait until nearer the time when they are in receipt of reliable information regarding the vaccine supply.  Please be assured they will contact you with an appointment when it is due. The surgery thanks you for your continued understanding.

IT Devices required:
Minchinhampton School is looking for some help.  A lot of families don’t have enough computers for every member of the family to work online at home.  In this case, these children are then entitled to go to school, but in practice our school is already running at safe capacity.  Nick Moss, the Head Teacher writes: “If you have any spare IT devices at home, we are taking donations into school.  We will recycle them properly and get them to families who need them.   It goes without saying – please take off all the data you need before handing them in because all data will be removed.”  Please contact the school direct if you can help.

Market House news
The Trustees of Minchinhampton Market House CIO have contacted us with a thank you message following their survey on improvement to the Undercroft.  Please click here to read document in full.  They still require donations to match-fund the Village Hall Improvement grant that has been applied for.   

Horsfall House – Open Gardens Required!
It is planned to hold an open gardens event on Sunday, 20th June this year to raise much needed funds for Horsfall House.   If you would like to take part and open your garden in Minchinhampton please contact Kathy Hurst.  Email:  Kathy@63windmillroad.co.uk or tel: 01453 882960.

Minchinhampton Community Library
As stated in December’s newsletter, the library is currently closed.  A decision regarding reopening/click and collect will be made by the Trustees in due course.  Check the library website or library door for further news.

Parish Council News:  A message from the Chairman, Nick Hurst
The Council are in the process of introducing traffic regulation orders across the whole of the parish and these will, hopefully, bring the traffic speed down to 30 mph generally and 20 mph throughout the town of Minchinhampton and in Amberley and Box.  There has been discussion about the Vehicle Activated Sign at present near the Ragged Cot. This is being used to collect data of traffic volume and speed – this will, of course, be adjusted to allow for differences after Lockdown.

Litter and Dog Mess
It is very noticeable that the amount of litter and dog mess has increased considerably over the course of the year, on the footpaths and commons.  Our MinchLife facebook page has reported many problems, and the Facebook Group “Five Valleys Wombles” are encouraging everyone to pick up litter whilst walking around our beautiful commons/villages.   People can join this group if they wish to and post pictures and encourage others to litter-pick. 

Cotteswold Naturalists’ Field Club
As the club is unable to meet at their regular venues for some time, David Thackray, CNFC Lecture Secretary, has arranged five monthly lectures by Zoom.  These virtual meetings will take place on the first Wednesday of the month, February – June 2021 at 2.30 pm.   The programme has been emailed to current members and before each meeting, they will be contacted again with a Zoom Invitation.

Events:
As expected, the events diary is relatively empty.  For more information on listings, please see our website. 

Wednesday, 3 February, 2.30-3.30 pm.  Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club, Enchanted Cotswold Country:  John Drinkwater and the Arts and Crafts Movement.  Zoom Lecture.  Members only.
Monday, 8 February, 7.00-9.00 pm.  Parish Council Planning Zoom Meeting. 
Monday, 15 February, 7.00-9.00 pm.  Parish Council Finance Zoom Meeting.
Friday, 19 February, 1.00-2.00pm.  Madhus Rasoi Valentine’s Takeaway.  Box Village Hall.  Advance bookings: 01453 755934, email info@madhusrasoi.co.uk
Monday, 22 February, 7.00-9.00 pm.  Parish Council Full Zoom Meeting.
Wednesday, 3 March, 2.30-3.30 pm.  Cotteswold Naturalists Field Club, Farmsteads and Buildings – Recording and researching the past for the future.  Zoom Lecture.  Members only.

Do get in touch if you would like us to add anything to our Newsletters or if you see any omissions or alterations.  We are particularly keen to hear how all the various clubs have been operating during the past year.

Anne and Janet
info@minchlife.com