Archive for the ‘Out & About’ Category

It’s French!” imports speciality foods from France and is committed to providing high quality products, not available in supermarkets in France or the UK, to people passionate about food.

The initiative has been set up by Carolyn and Simon, a local couple from Clifton, who have been visiting Parwich every Saturday for the past few years whilst their daughter has riding lessons.

As well as their home in Clifton, they have a base in Gascony in South West France. Gascony is the land of d’Artagnan, the inspiration for the character in The Three Musketeers. It is also famed for its ‘douceur de vivre’ (‘sweetness of life’). It is home to foie gras and Armagnac and is an area which has been recognised for many years as producing great food

Carolyn and Simon have personally sourced their products from small, local, artisan farmers and growers. The farms have usually been passed down through several generations and traditional methods are still employed. All of the suppliers are passionate about their products, from conception through to distribution.

The range of products is growing all the time but current highlights include….. read on…..  (more…)

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Day 4, everything has to be finished and part of the team worked until 11pm last night, rumour has it that the bottle of port helped! This morning I just concentrated on the background, thousands of camomile heads. The photo below shows the use of various leaves to form part of the hills in the centrepiece and then primulas picked from gardens to create the folds in the gown.

This evening it was time to put up all the well dressings, however just as the tractor was loaded, it broke down and the heavens opened, not only with rain but hail. Would the boards survive once raised vertically?

The pictures really do not do justice to the nailbitting agonising as we watched the men lift the 5 sections into place. Stephen was up the tree with ropes and the others were either on the ground or in the trailer. Fingers inevitably squashed various bits of clay and this wasn’t helped by the hail which unfortunately caused further saturation and meant that some of the petals & leaves slipped. When we create the dressings we work from bottom to top, so that the petals are rather like feathers on a bird and any rain will just run down the petals & drip off, but if the boards are flat when it rains then it just soaks in. Using spare flowers we filled the gaps and stood back in the near darkness and proudly admired our painstaking work.

Don’t forget the Well Dressings are open from tomorrow, with the blessing commencing at 11am.

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What to do this weekend?

This weekend there are lots of local events to choose from & if you plan carefully you can do everything.

Thursday to Wednesday – Tissington Well Dressings – Food is served at The Stables and certainly over the weekend lunches and Teas are also in the Village Hall (I speak from experience when I say that these cakes are good).

Thursday to Monday – 10am-4pm  – Bradbourne flower festival & ‘affordable art’ show with refreshments provided.  The artists include national & local people.  Our own Ruby Hickmott, will be showing some specialist pieces and more of her artwork can be seen at the end of the month in Parwich as part of DART.  The flowers in the church I am sure will be impressive, it is rumoured that the men are also having a go.  The event is to help raise funds to replace All Saints’ chancel roof.  So come along, enjoy a great day out, visit this delightful Saxon church, remember to admire the views towards Parwich & you may pick up an art bargin – the next Damien Hirst!

Sunday – 3.30 – Parwich Methodist Chapel – Everyone is invited to the final service with refreshments being served afterwards.  All future services will be held in Parwich Church.

Bank Holiday Monday – Tea & Cakes at Alsop Church – 11am – 4pm.  The cakes last month were delicious, looking forward to sampling again.

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Tissington Day 3

The sun was shining this morning so the great debate was how many layers of clothes do I need to wear whilst working in a cow shed? The answer – as many as possible – thermal long johns, two long sleeved thermal vests & two sweatshirts – I had no intention of being cold.

Today we started petalling, which is exciting, because it means that the colour is now beginning. We don’t use whole flowers but peel off individual petals & carefully press them into the clay. Working with the carnations is quite easy, but the tiny chrysanthemum petals takes more concentration, to ensure that there is no bruising and clay doesn’t get on the petals.

 

The centre piece of our well dressing was also started today by two ladies who do this section every year. There is pressure on us all this year because one of the other wells is doing the same design, an amazing coincidence. The two photos below show them using hydrangea to form the sky & separating pine cone seeds to create part of a basket. No detail is too small.

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This blog is not X-rated, but merely a new word that I learnt whilst working at Tissington today. This was the first morning of really getting our hands dirty. The designs for the Well Dressing had been marked on the clay & now we had to outline everything in either tiny coffee beans, which are carefully placed on their side, all facing the same way

or we had to use Black Knobs – in laymans terms the cones from the Alder tree, but this sounds far less exciting. It is a pretty painstaking procedure as the cones are only the size of the tip of your little finger.

There you are hunched up over the boards, back aching, freezing cold and covered in clay – it’s fantastic. After 4 hours of this the outline was finished and we started filling in the background, either with small pieces of parsley or with the minute head of the camomile flower – making certain that they were the correct way round. I’ve probably covered about 30cm in this way, only another 5 metres to go. Guess what I’m doing tomorrow!

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Lewis Noble – Art Workshop

May 6th – 8th – Pear Tree Farm, Matlock

Painting “Emotions” based on Landscape – all media (mainly acrylic)

Learn with Parwich artist Lewis Noble how to focus on your own individual reaction to the landscape and use contemporary techniques to produce semi-abstract images using colour, form, texture. Please bring conte crayons, oil or dry pastel sticks and sketch books for gathering images from the landscape and work up in the studio (mainly acrylic layering)or mixed media of your choice. Primed boards provided, however, please bring your own paper and canvas if preferred.

To book contact:

Email:   sue@derbyshirearts.co.uk    or    Telephone:   01629 534215

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Over the next few days I am going to be posting a “Diary of Tissington Well Dressings”. In 2007 I was fortunate enough to be invited to join one of the Well Dressing teams, either they are desperate or I did a reasonable job last year because I am joining them again.

The Tissington Well Dressings are a fantastic tradition, something to be proud of, a part of our heritage which is all too often being eroded. Today for me was Day 1 – a very easy one. I joined some of the other Parwich Ladies who are involved in other wells at Communion at Tissington Church led by Christopher to celebrate the preparation for the Well Dressings. Afterwards we retired to the village hall for a wonderful cooked breakfast. Work for the Wells has been going on for days, with boards being soaked in the pond, clay puddled and designs drawn. The final boards were lifted today & taken to a “secret” location so that we can begin early tomorrow.

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Plant Sale at Culland Hall

 

For details of 2009 Plant Sale click here

The West Derbyshire Spring Plant Fair
In aid of Mid-Derbyshire Association for Moblie Physiotherapy
11am to 4pm Sunday 27th April
Culland Hall, nr Brailsford

If you can go along and support this sale of unusal plants, as it will raise money for an important local charity administered by our own Debbie Webster.

The Plant Fair is open from 11am to 4pm and is sign posted off the A52 Derby to Ashbourne road.

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Well folks, it’s here again!

Taking place from 1st to 3rd August at Pikehall, the Y Not Festival will showcase over 50 acts across two stages. There’ll be a range of music on offer with live bands playing Folk to Reggae right through to Indie Rock. Also on offer over the weekend will be comedians, real ale, local ciders and a late night disco. There’s camping on all three nights and you can sit round a camp fire until the early hours. Burgers and alcoholic drinks start at £1.50.

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Often when you have friends & family staying regularly you are looking for some different ideas of where to go & where to have a “nibble” out. Well this week I have been trying out some new places.

David Mellor – On the outskirts of Hathersage, a rather innovative design, a round building houses his cutlery making works. Opposite is a delightful shop where you can buy his various designs in cutlery, glass & kitchen ware, as well as other contempory products. Adjecent to here is his cafe & small museum open 7 days a week. Needless to say I did test the quality of his food. The menu is simple but excellent, we opted for home-made soup with major chunky sandwiches, with a salad garnish & pickles. Delicious. We passed on the cakes which I have to say looked slightly more forlorn, we had to leave space for our next stop.

Did you know that David Mellor designed the current traffic light system, which we still use today (but not the somewhat faulty ones on the B5056).

The National Trust Longshaw Estate again on the outskirts of Hathersage & Grindleford. Lots of open moorland walking – great for all (even partically disabled) & great for children to run around. The tea rooms were fine, with good views & nice cakes – ideal after a good walk.

It was only 40 – 45minutes drive so a pleasant afternoon out from Parwich

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We have just added two new pages to this site: an “Eating Out” guide and a “Where To Go” directory.

The “Eating Out” guide lists all the local local pubs, restaurants, cafés and tearooms that we have reviewed on this site to date, along with star ratings. Click on each link to read our review. Most importantly: if you either agree or disagree with our opinions, then please let us know, either in the comments or by e-mail.

The “Where To Go” directory is intended as a guide to other local attractions which have caught our collective eye. Although it only contains one entry at present (hey, you have to start somewhere!), we will be adding to it whenever a new review appears on the blog.

For future reference, these two guides can be found on our ever-expanding USEFUL INFO page.

If you would like to contribute a review of your own, then do please contact us.

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I’ve been told that I need to expand my expertise from tea rooms into dining out. Now I have no problem with this, just in case you hadn’t realised I like my food and I’ll happily send my expenses in at the end of each month, but where to!

This evening we set off with my parents to The Bulls Head at Ashford in the Water. Now it is probably 6 years since we last ate there so I have to say I did ask around for various opinions before I set out. The pub is a proper pub, open fires in each room, locals at the bar & a fantastic looking menu. The choice is not large, which gives a good feeling that it’s freshly prepared and not “snip & ping”, (snip the bag & ping the microwave). On an adjecent table there was a group of 4 and their meal looked so good that the four of us ordered the same, Steak & Stockport Ale Pie with braised red cabbage & dripping roast potatoes, (blow the diet for another day). It was gorgeous, the meat melted and the portions were ample. Dessert, well how could we refuse. We ordered a selection just to check things out, the White Chocolate Baileys Cheesecake was a real melt in the mouth & the Italian chocolate & almond slice was nothing like the brownie the waitress suggested we ordered. Maybe it was a “posh brownie”, slices of delectable chocolate with a berry coulis – I loved it. I have it on good authority that the cheese was good, all I managed to pinch was some of the oat biscuits which were the tastiest I have tried.

Ashford in the Water is a lovely village and not much more than 20 minutes away. So with the lighter evenings, it is a delightful drive, via Monyash & Sheldon. Meals are served from 6.30pm and tables are not reserved. It is a Robinson’s house! Tel:01629 812 931

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For anyone with an interest in contemporary ceramics, an exhibition/sale is being held this weekend at the Devonshire Dome in Buxton, between 10.00am and 4.30pm.

Many of the country’s top potters are exhibiting, and are on hand to talk about their work to anyone who is interested.

The event goes by the name of Earthmarque (official website here), and the intention is to make this an annual occurrence.

The admission price for adults is £4. Children under 16 can enter for free.

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Bentley Brook Quiz Night

There’s good news and bad news relating to upcoming events at the Bentley Brook Inn. Let’s get the bad news over first……there will be no beer festival this year as the brewery extension project is taking lots of time and effort at present. On a more positive note there will be a quiz night on Sunday 20th April starting at 8.30pm. Prizes are promised!

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Chatsworth Plant Fair

For the gardeners please note, there is a plant fair selling rare and unusual plants at Stables Hill, Chatsworth from 11am to 5pm on Sunday 20th April. Admission to the plant fair is free, but the normal parking charges apply. However don’t forget the plant fair next weekend at Culland Hall in aid of Mid Derbyshire Association for Mobile Physiotherapy. If you just want to go to one, go to Culland Hall as it is nearer and in aid of a good cause.

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Dimmingsdale

Last week a friend asked if I had been to Dimmingsdale & I had to say I’d never heard of it.  It’s situated between Oakamoor and Alton Towers in a delightful valley along the River Churnet.  So for the purposes of research three of us set out this afternoon to investigate.  The area is lovely and I would like to return to do some walking & cycling around this area, if you are into bird watching it comes recommended – if you click here and here you can get more information on the area. 

       

Do send in some comments if you have been here & can tell us about the walks & cycling.

Ramblers Retreat

This is a country restaurant & coffee house and when we arrived it was really busy with everyone tucking into a wide variety of Sunday lunches.  They have a small lounge restaurant which was slightly faded, a large conservatory & garden, which was well occupied, in the warmer sun it must be lovely out there.  We just indulged in some puddings, apple & blackberry crumble & a bread & butter pudding, both were home-made with lashings of custard.  The portions were very generous & both were equally delicious.  Open Wed – Sun.

So if you fancy exploring somewhere new, it’s within 25 minutes – a walk, a ride and some food go to Dimmingsdale.

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Harthill Hall for Tea!

For the benefit of all our readers (more than 10,000 now) we decided to try a new venue for tea today.  It was an interesting experience at the Portrait Gallery Cafe at Harthill Hall.  It is just off the B5056, before you turn right towards Bakewell & left to Youlgreave.  The tea room is in a Victorian wooden ‘building’, with chandeliers, gold framed antique paintings & ‘thrones’.  Don chose the ‘throne’, (he wanted me make sure that you all know that it is really a large gold embossed chair and not a you-know -what).   As we pointed out to the very nice waitress the tea & apple cake was very nice but the coffee & Audrey’s scone left a lot to be desired.  When there are so many other good venues around we all felt that we wouldn’t rush back in hurry, but maybe we were just unlucky.

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Our thanks to Denis Laycock for providing us with this post.

Parwich Over Sixties began their new season of visits with a mystery trip. 37 members set off at 6 o’clock with our driver, as usual, keeping very quiet as to our destination.

We soon found ourselves up on the A515 and heading towards Buxton. We were rewarded with some excellent views across the Staffordshire Moorlands as the sun slowly sank in the skies: beautiful shades of green in the fading light.

From Buxton some of us were in ‘new territory’: the A5004 along Long Hill, overlooking the Goyt Valley and then via Kettleshulme to Macclesfield and eventually our destination, The Knot Inn at Rushton Spencer. Several of us had seen a number of hares as we were travelling, and near Kettleshulme a couple of red deer were seen in the woodlands. At The Knot we ejoyed an excellent evening repast before returning home under starlit skies with a beautiful crescent moon (Brrr….more frost!) Back in Parwich just in time to get the heat on in the garden frame after another lovely trip.

Thanks to our driver David, who somehow always finds somewhere new to take us.

Our next visit is Castle Howard near York on May 13th. At present we have spare places on this trip which may be available to non Members. The coach leaves the Green at 8am.  Contact Alan Lowes (tel. 279) to reserve a place, the cost will be £8-50 entry to Castle Howard plus the coach costs.

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Bradbourne

This morning Ben & I went over to Bradbourne to support Flo at the Haven Grange Club Coffee morning in the Church Hall. They raised £103.65. It was a nice little affair, with Flo manning the bric a brac and the cake table.

I asked Flo what the Club was all about. Apparently the Church & Social Services set it up 11 years ago and it is an opportunity for elderly people to get together for coffee & then lunch. A bus comes to Parwich every Tuesday to collect members and returns during the afternoon. It is an ideal opportunity for anyone who is feeling lonely, would like some company and make new friends.

If you are interested or know someone that might benefit from this service, please ring Flo on 390619.

Whilst we were there we wandered over to the Church, but unfortunately it was locked. However over the Bank Holiday Weekend, in aid of the Church roof appeal there will be a flower festival and an affordable arts exhibition with refreshments. We’ll post more details nearer the time, but it will be a great opportunity to see & support the Church and admire those fantastic views of Parwich from the churchyard.

Bradbourne Church Flower Festival And Arts Exhibition
Thursday 1st May – Monday 5th May
10am-4pm
Refreshments available

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National Trust at Ilam & Tea

I decided this afternoon that I ‘needed’, sorry wanted to up my intake of calories, so where to go? I headed off westwards & over the county boundary into Staffordshire & to the delights of Ilam. I did a brisk but short circular walk along the river near the church & cut back across the fields to the tea rooms. It is a walk ideal for anyone, even the slightly infirm (as Ben can vouch using one crutch). We were amazed to see that amongst the swathes of wood anemones, the first bluebells open, whilst frolicking lambs played to our left.

Usually we sit outside & I have to say that the views from the tea garden are probably the best anywhere – overlooking Thorpe Cloud and the start of Dovedale. I am delighted to say that the National Trust has purchased many more chairs & tables so even more of us will be able to sit outside & soak up the views. We were too late for lunch this time, but I do highly recommend it, however the tea & chocolate cake were delicious. The tea rooms are open every day except Wednesday’s & Thursdays, but in the summer they open daily.

Ilam Park N.T is an ideal place to pop down to as it is so local, so if you haven’t been recently or got friends or family coming down to stay, do go and visit.

Ilam Park N.T

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Bus timetables

We have now added full bus timetable information to this site.

Click here to look up timetable information for daily journeys to Ashbourne and Derby, fortnightly journeys to Bakewell, and a variety of other local destinations.

For further bus timetable information, visit Traveline East Midlands.
To view detailed timetables for the county and a route map, go here.

For future reference, you can access the timetables through the USEFUL INFO link at the top of this page, or via the LINKS section on the right hand column.

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In danger of becoming Little Parwich in Ashbourne, at the Horns, the Jewitts provide familiar friendly faces for those of us visiting the big city. An old Ashbourne pub on Victoria Square (known locally as the Butchery), it is at the bottom of the market place, and has over the years been extended into neighbouring shops.

They have been running it for some months now, with Richard heading up the Restaurant and son Cameron the Bar. Having gone there with Brian F for Sunday lunch, I thought I should add it to our Out and About series. The menu is traditional good cooking, with main meals served in generous helpings. (more…)

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Of buses and beer.

While researching bus routes for a forthcoming “Public Transport” section on this site, I made an interesting and useful discovery, which I thought was worth sharing with fellow pub-goers and reluctant drivers.

For anyone who enjoys a lunchtime pint (or three), and who fancies a change of scenery, but who doesn’t relish the thought of having to drive there and back (particularly the latter), it turns out that we have a few bus-based options at our disposal.

Fancy a trip to The Gate or The Miners Arms at Brassington? If so, then a bus leaves Parwich at 12:14 daily (except Sundays), arriving at Brassington church at 12:25. The return journey departs from the church at 13:47, arriving back at Parwich at 13:58.

Alternatively, how about spending a leisurely lunchtime at the Bentley Brook? Catch a bus from Parwich at 11:53, arriving at 12:04. Leave the Bentley Brook at 14:12, and arrive back at 14:19. Again, buses are daily except for Sundays.

(OK, so that’s quite a long lunch break – but it also gives you time to pop over the road to the Leatherbritches Nursery, or to wander down to the Coach and Horses at Fenny Bentley.)

Full bus timetable information will be appearing on this site over the next few days… if I can stay out of the pub long enough.

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All day Derbyshire breakfast

Yesterday, I met friends for lunch in Byways Tearooms in Bakewell. Inspired by Jane B’s ‘Well and truly replete’ post, I thought I would report back on the experience. I have been before, otherwise Byways is easy to miss, off the main street in Water Lane, and then up what seems quite a steep stairway. All the staff are efficient and friendly, and the couple who own it are local; Mr Swindell was brought up in Friden and has a brother and sister living in Parwich. The tearooms at the front retain their original Georgian panelling and character, but, with their mixture of different chairs and tables, they have not been over prettified. There is a newer larger room at the back as well.

The menu is straightforward, but the food excellent. Main meals range from All day Breakfasts, which I had to jacket potatoes and salads. Then there are sandwiches, cream teas and a good range of cakes. When talking later to Jane B about it, she said “Yes that is the place with the great tea, don’t they get a special blend from somewhere.”

Well, I was hungry and enjoyed my good Derbyshire breakfast, and, though it is not haut cuisine nor would they claim such, it is excellent food in relaxing and pleasant surroundings.

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Well and truly replete.

Easter Monday, what shall I do today? Well checking the blog site gave me one idea, bearing in mind that I have a partner who is currently on crutches & can’t walk more than 200 metres. So I decided to go and start the process of testing out various eateries (purely I add for the benefit of this website – and at great sacrifice to myself!) For lunch we headed up to Edge Close Farm Tea Rooms, and having looked at their blackboard menu that included Roast Pork & Stuffing, Homemade Soup & other deletable dishes, we both opted for an All Day Traditional English Breakfast. The plate was full – including locally sourced bacon, sausages & oatcakes all washed down with Earl Grey Tea. We declined the homemade cakes & puddings (including the crumble and custard) because dessert was going to be taken at Alsop Church. (As advertised on this site.)

There we were greeted by Christine & her helpers & torn between which cake to choose – they all looked super & the ones we tasted were. The sun was blazing and we sat outside overlooking the valley, where else could be more perfect. It was lovely to see so many people coming and going and just enjoying themselves. If you missed out of this super afternoon I’ve included the details of the tearooms below & you can go to Alsop Church for Tea & Cake on any Bank Holiday Monday.

Edge Close Farm Tearooms (01298 85144), Flagg.

Winter Opening- Sat & Sun – 10am-4pm
Summer Opening (from April 10th)
Thu & Friday 11am-4pm
Sat & Sun – 10am-5pm

I will “force” myself to go out and test some other establishments & if you have any recommendations do email us.

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Flagg Races: Easter Tuesday.

Flagg Races is held at Flagg Moor on Easter Tuesday, the 25th of March. The first of seven point-to-point steeplechases gets underway at 1.00pm, beginning with the famous stone wall High Peak Hunt Members’ race. The final race runs at 4.40pm.

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Flagg Races is unique as a point-to-point course, in that it is the only remaining point-to-point meeting to run the Hunt Members’ race over natural hunting country.

The geography of the racecourse is perfect for the thousands of spectators who attend, with hilltop parking and well situated spectator areas.

In addition to the thrilling point-to-pointing, there are food outlets, trade stands, a licensed bar, TOTE and bookmakers for anyone who fancies a punt.

Admission to the course is £10 per adult, and free to all under-16s. Car parking is free, and the gates and car parks will be open from 11.00am.

For full details, visit the Flagg Races website.

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Lewis Noble: A Year At Chatsworth.

Parwich artist Lewis Noble is to spend a year working with Chatsworth, making a body of work in response to the estate. The project starts in May 2008, and will culminate in a major exhibition in London, in May 2009. The paintings will also preview at Chatsworth, probably in April 2009.

Lewis spent two months at Chatsworth in 2001 as part of the Vickers Art Award. He will be working both on site and in his Parwich studio.

“I’m relishing the idea of returning to Chatsworth and I want to produce paintings that reflect the many different aspects of place. I can’t say exactly what form the finished work will take as I always like to respond directly to what I see and experience. I don’t want to put any limitations on it”

From May 2008, you will be able to follow his progress on the Lewis Noble Chatsworth Project website. Here you will find the artist’s blog, his image diary, and a chance to view the artwork as it is completed.

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LEAWOOD IN STEAM

Looking for something to do this weekend, then you might be interested in this information sent to us by Rob Francis:

Leawood pump on the Cromford Canal will be in steam this Sunday and Monday – 23/24th March. Entry is free but donations are welcome.

This is a fantastic way of looking through into the power of the industrial revolution that shaped Derbyshire. Also fun for children to see the massive beam engine fully working (all that fire,oil and steam) drawing up water from the Derwent to fill the canal. All functioning as it did 160 years ago.

More information www.middleton-leawood.org.uk

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Lea Rhododendron Gardens

Today I went across to Lea Gardens near Tansley to get the Horticultural Society’s two season tickets, and was surprised to see how many of the earlier azaleas and rhododendrons are already in flower.

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I went to Matlock on Tuesday and when I returned I saw that the speed limit had changed on the B5056, it is now down to 50 mph an hour. Remember this is the road that runs from Bentley Brook to the Hollybush, past Longcliffe.

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