Improve your neighbourhood

Justin Marsh at the council seeking ideas from members of the public, councillors and stakeholders for potential new recreation and open space projects in the city, as part of the council's 'Improve your Neighbourhood' scheme.

If you would like to suggest an idea, please go to the website at this link to see how the scheme works and what type of projects can be funded: http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/content/community-and-living/local-communities/improve-your-neighbourhood.en

Please have a think and send on your ideas to them.

Thanks

Cherry Hinton Community Groups Fair, Saturday 24th July 12-4pm

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 August 2010 15:40

Cherry Hinton Community Groups Fair, Saturday 24th July 12-4pm Hosted by the Friends of Cherry Hinton Hall

The Fair will run until 4pm when the children can move nextdoor to the library where there will be a story teller - check at the library for details.

The Friends of Cherry Hinton Hall are holding their AGM at 4.30pm.

Plans for the Fair are going really well with over 20 local groups, clubs and organisations taking part with a variety of interests and activities for all ages. From the local history society and the WI to Jo Jingles, for little ones and demonstrations from line dancers and the local martial art club, first aid from St. John's Ambulance, dancing from Cambridge Kerala and many, many more. We even have 'Knit and Natter' bringing along a knitted three piece suite and wedding cake! An ideal opportunity to join the Friends of Cherry Hinton Hall too and pick up a copy of our new flyer!

The Friends have held a logo competition and have invited the local schools who took part to come to the fair, where the winner will be announced and the logo unveiled at 2pm, the winner will be presented with a prize by the Mayor of Cambridge, Sheila Stuart. This logo will be used in all the Friends publicity and publications and on our new notice board in the Hall grounds. We were delighted with the high standard of entries which will all be on display.

Anthony French from the Cambridge City Council will be present with the plans for the redevelopment of the propagation centre in Cherry Hinton Hall, to answer any questions. The master plan would see the historic character of the park restored to the Hall's Victorian qualities with the restoration of the original carriage sweep driveway, the re-establishment of a walled garden and the creation of a patterned rose garden and orchard. The City Council are holding a public consultation over the summer and this is a great opportunity to come and see the plans in detail and have your say.

I am delighted with the response I am getting from residents, local businesses and club organisers alike, with offers of raffle prizes and cakes. "What a good idea" seems to be the general opinion and the tables are filling fast. There are still a few left, free of charge, if anyone would like to come along to what will be a really entertaining afternoon with something for everyone, please pick up a form from the Village Centre. Admission is free and there will be a huge raffle. Tea and cake for only 50p so come on down and see what your family can do right on your doorstep.

We are holding a raffle and selling teas in order to pay for the hire of the venue. If anyone would like to bake or lend a hand selling teas / raffle tickets please call Sandra on tel: 01223 247639 - the more the merrier!

Climbing frame and other matters

Last Updated on Saturday, 10 July 2010 15:40

Meeting with Council 3pm 9th July CHH about climbing frame and other matters

Present: Anthony French, Ian Ross, Judy Webb, Sandra Day and Catherine Mills.

Climbing Frame and Slide

We met by the play area and Ian showed a picture of the proposed unit to replaced the damaged equipment. He will e-mail a copy to us for the website. This seems to cover all requirements but the slide is small. Ian said there was funding for a slide set into the mound at the back of the area near the tennis court. This could be a double width one and would be placed on the other side of the mound and will raise the bank so that the slide would be longer. The slide will also be out of the direct sunlight and therefore did not get too hot. We thought this was a great idea. This would not be in place before the autumn as we cannot have the play area out of action over the school holidays and the placement involves major works and the removal of the existing 'spider frame'.

The council also have an outdoor gym unit and it was proposed that this was set in the area by the tennis court. This would only take a couple of weeks to install as the unit is in storage and only requires ground work but would need to wait until after the Folk Festival before installation.

Notice Board and Bin

We decided that the best place for the notice board was at the junction where the path from in front of the hall going to the play area crosses the road. There is already a couple on the corner near the hall. The ice cream van parks nearby and it is very central, will be seen by most park users, especially people taking a short cut. There will be a bin too as I when I pick up some rubbish by the main gate; I had to walk to the tennis court before I found a bin! This would also encourage ice cream eaters to dispose of their wrappers!

Pond area

We then moved on to the pond area and had a look at the fallen trees that are blocking the brook. Anthony informed us that there are plans to get a tree surgeon in to sort all the trees to open up the length of the brook from the bridge down to Dawes Lane to get more light in.

The council intend to create a wild plant area in the middle of the 'island' behind the nature play area by clearing all the dead trees and shrubbery and add some insect shaped seating for children: seats are created on the legs and wings of butterflies, grasshoppers etc!

We walked back through the propagation centre and admired the well established wild flower meadow.

Thanks to all who could make the meeting.

6th Meeting - 2010/05/19

A good attendance of over 40 people firstly had an update about the master plan of the hall with Stuart informing us that the proposals had been endorsed by Cambridge City Councillors at the 13 May Cambridge City Council South Area Committee. Councillor were also content to accept amendments that may come from the final round of consultation during June, although it was accepted that fundamental changes may need to be referred back for Councillor approval once more. 

Stuart then laid out the next steps which can be found in the minutes on the link below.

The Friends and the City Council are likely to use the same survey (online and print) for the June 2010 exercise, and the City Council has suggested that it would be appropriate if an independent third party construct the survey.

There were also updates on various maintenance and anti-social behaviour issues which you can read about in the minutes.

Stuart also mentioned that there would probably be two ivy clearance days – onebefore the Folk Festival in July and one later in September time.

Bob Daines introduced Andrew Varley who is advocating the use of the former propagation centre as a 'City Farm'. See minutes for the details of the discussion.

Logo Competition: A selection of the best entries from local schoolchildren was arranged and members marked ticks on the rear to vote for their favourites. A number received a quite a few votes. Runner up was Sophie Emma Crook; the winning entry was from Claudia Casciano, age 9, from the Spinney Primary School in Cherry Hinton.

Stuart announced that the City Council has arranged for the Friends to have a stall atthis year's Folk Festival. The stall will be outside the main event area, by the entrance(close to the Samaritans and St John Ambulance).

The Committee has agreed to hold the next Friends meeting at 4.30 pm on Saturday,24 July at Cherry Hinton Village Centre. The intention is to have a number of local organisations / groups all be present for the public to visit during the afternoon(12.00 to 4.00) – and then hold our meeting at the end of the event. One aim of the 24 July meeting is to draw up a roster for people to man the Folk Festival stall during the Folk Festival.

The Committee had also discussed the introduction of a nominal membership fee for the Friends - £2.00 per year was suggested. We could run the membership year to run from July-July – so returning Folk Festival people could renew their membership. We would try and put together a 'welcome pack'. If people filled out a joining form they could also indicate preferences for what any surplus should be spent on – and theFriends would be able to report on progress each summer.  A motion was moved, seconded, and it was agreed to adopt this proposal.

In addition to holding and afternoon meeting  on 24th July, it was suggested and agreed that the remaining meetings take place every two months on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the Baptist Church Centre, the next meeting after July being 15 September 2010.

The full minutes are available here.

AGM - Saturday 24th July 2010

Last Updated on Saturday, 10 July 2010 10:38

The next meeting and our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday 24th July, 4.30pm at the Cherry Hinton Village Centre, Colville Road, Cherry Hinton.

The AGM will be preceded by the first Cherry Hinton Community Groups Fair during the afternoon- please come along! 

The Village Centre is here by the corner of the High Street and Colville Road.

Wildlife Audit helpers required

Last Updated on Sunday, 04 July 2010 17:42

Hi all, We would soon like to do a flora and fauna audit of the CHH grounds possibly at different times of day including nocturnal so that we can try to find out all of the wildlife we have and record it, with the guidance of Guy Belcher (Nature Conservation Projects Officer).

Can I ask for you to reply to me asap please if you are interested in spend a little time to help out with this. Please can you state the kind of times you would and would not be available and particular interest (in as short form as possible please?

i.e. Birds, Weekday eves + Weekends

I'll collate the responses and try to get together a balanced working group to take this forward involving as many people as possible during the most popular\useful times.

Thanks to the volunteers, we will start our first wildlife audit on 15th July at 8pm for an evening audit.