SEDGEFIELD DEVELOPMENT TRUST: Updated contact information

There is no longer a telephone number for Sedgefield News or Sedgefield Development Trust. The postal address for both is 3a High Street, Sedgefield TS21 3AT.
Contact details for our organisation and projects are:
Trust: admin@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk
Bees at Hardwick: Facebook Bees at Hardwick
Bicycle and Active Travel: Facebook Sedgefield Bicycle and Active Travel
Days In Days Out: Brenda 07597 116847 or bustybee@live.com
Energy Switch: Peter 07572 502904
Farmers Market: farmers@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk
Friendly Fixers: repaircafe@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk
Homework Help: homework@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk
Sedgefield News: news@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk
Advertising: adverts@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk
Arts Update: sedgefieldartsandevents@outlook.com
Diary and events: diary.sedgefieldnews@gmail.com
Sports Update: chrisjlines@aol.com
Sew Easy: Dorothy 07773 286743
Thermal cameras: thermal@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk
Woodland & Wildlife: woodland@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust.co.uk

POLICE & CRIME COMMISSIONER

Every day, hard-working residents across the UK face the distress of anti-social behaviour (ASB). Unfortunately, ASB is often seen as a minor crime, downplaying its significant impact on individuals and communities. If it’s not addressed it can cause mental distress, anxiety, disrupted sleep, relationship breakdowns, and feelings of powerlessness. Shockingly, research by YouGov reveals that almost one in five adults have considered moving home due to the impact of ASB on their lives.

This is unacceptable, which is why I am committed to a zero-tolerance approach to ASB. To effectively combat ASB, we need to adopt an intelligenceled and data-driven approach. Community intelligence is really important to help us understand ASB patterns and trends as well as identifying those responsible. Therefore, reporting incidents of ASB is so important.

This is why I have been working with the force to make reporting crime and anti-social behaviour easier, accessible and more convenient so we can get an accurate picture of ASB so we can target the hot spot locations.

Improving this has been a key focus since my election. The person answering a 101 or 999 call is usually the first contact people have with the police and has a significant impact on their trust and confidence. Its absolutely critical we get this right. I’m pleased to say Investment in technology and staffing is starting to pay dividends.

All crime and incident related calls are now triaged via the force switchboard. (staffing has increased from three to 11 operatives) On calling 101, an automated voice message now provides the option to report a crime or incident, diverting these calls to the Triage Team.

There is also a dedicated section on the Durham Police and Crime Commissioner’s website durham-pcc.gov.uk created to make it easier for residents to report ASB to the appropriate agencies and understand their rights. Let us work together to ensure that no one suffers in silence and minimize the impact of ASB on individuals' lives.

Joy Allen
Please continue to report incidents of concern to the Police on tel 101 or 999 in an emergency. Issues relating to a Crime can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800555111 and remember any photographic evidence can be emailed to CPSO amy.jorgeson@durham.police.uk. If NHW can assist with further information on any of the above issues, please call in to our next meeting. In the meantime we wish you a happy, healthy and safe New Year.
Steve's Nature Diary

With spring just around the corner many of us will be turning our thoughts to the garden. I have just checked my bird nest boxes for damage, put on my gardening gloves and cleared out last year’s nests ready for this year. Blue Tits have already started to investigate the nest box and a Great Tit has been calling “teacher teacher” - its characteristic call for a few weeks meaning spring is nearly here. The total area of all gardens in the UK exceeds that of our nature reserves, and as development destroys trees, hedges and old buildings, natural nesting sites are in decline.

Nest boxes placed in gardens can make a real difference to the success or failure of a breeding species in an area, especially when accompanied by the regular supply of suitable food and water. If you don’t have a nest box up, you still have time. You can find out more information about them at wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-bird-box. Other gardening jobs will be pruning back the Buddleia ‘ready for a show of flowers in the summer’ and buying some compost.

Talking of compost, I hope like me, you have moved over to using peat free compost. Extracting peat for compost is bad for our climate and for wildlife. Peatlands provide habitat for a rich diversity of plants and animals. Migrating birds feed on peatland insects, while snakes and lizards also thrive in these special places. The UK is already one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and extracting peat destroys complex ecosystems that are vital for nature’s recovery.

You might remember I have mentioned in the past that the UK Government committed to a ban on the sale of bagged peat compost back in 2022. A ban requires changes to the law - and this has not yet happened. The good news is that, in the meantime, many retailers have already removed bagged peat compost from their shelves. More people than ever are going peat-free and helping to keep peat in bogs, not bags! However, peat could be lurking in some unexpected places. These include potted house plants, in trays of bedding plants, and even some of the food we eat like mushrooms and salad leaves can be grown in peat!

For centuries, it was believed that peatlands were of no value unless drained or extracted from. Today, we know this is not true – so why are 80% of the UK’s peatlands still degraded?

Peat extraction for gardening and growing directly contributes to the decline of our peatlands, with knock-on impacts for the interlinked nature and climate crises. You can find more information about the “The Wildlife Trusts” Hidden Peat Campaign at wildlifetrusts.org/ban-salepeat.

Ceddesfeld Hall: Home of Sedgefield Community Association
Ceddesfeld Hall: Home of Sedgefield Community Association

Easter Monday Picnic and Easter Egg Hunt, 1 April 2pm to 4pm
Always great fun, the egg hunt (with chocolate and sweety prizes) is for children under 12yrs on the lawns. There will be decorated eggs and Easter bonnet competitions, with prizes for all ages. Families are welcome to bring their own picnic and the bar will open from 1:30pm to 4pm.

SCA Quiz Night, Saturday 20 April 7:30pm for 8pm
£10 per person to include pie and peas, with quiz master Peter Hinde – tickets from behind the bar, or from Pat, John, Sarah, or Peter. Teams of 6 or less. The SCA quiz is always very popular, so don’t be disappointed!

There will be a raffle, and all proceeds will go towards the entertainment and activities at the Mediaeval Fayre.

Mediaeval Fayre, Saturday 18 May 10am to 4pm Village Green/Ceddesfeld Hall
The Fayre begins with the children’s walking parade from Burton Mews to the central performance arena on the village green. We’re expecting, ‘Mediaeval Madness’ this year, with the historical theme providing a taste of the early, high and late Middle Ages, with activities and entertainment to suit everyone!

The parade will include children from local primary schools and nurseries, to culminate in demonstrations and performances, with mediaeval knights and re-enactments.

SCA will have two tombola stalls (bottles and gifts) while around the green there will be various craft and food stalls as well as the traditional fun fair. Throughout the day, the mediaeval mayhem will continue with knights who will demonstrate their combat skills, local groups doing battle in the tug of war and a fantastic falconry display – not to be missed! Ceddesfeld lawns will be open, for everyone to enjoy birds of prey, tool making, face painting, circus skills, living history re-enactments, bucking bronco and more! Delicious hot and cold refreshments will be served throughout the day and the bar will be open.

Volunteers Essential!
SCA wholly rely on local people, community groups and businesses to get involved, to engage and volunteer support in making large events such as the Fayre sustainable and successful. Any financial sponsorship and support from local firms and businesses, as well as practical help with setting up, taking down, manning stalls, running activities etc, is very necessary, so please do get in touch if you can offer any support and help with the events.

For more information on Ceddesfeld Hall events, regular activities, room hire and bar opening times, contact Wendy on 01740 620206, Pat on 01740 620607, John on 01740 620042, Sarah on 01740 622185. Visit us on Facebook or see the SCA website, www.sedgefieldsca.org.uk

Mayor's Corner

What a coup for Sedgefield last month when we hosted the English Northern Cross Country Championships in East Park.

It was a fantastic day of racing and a logistical masterclass in organisation, with a veritable army of volunteers drawn from several village groups and businesses.

It was a great honour to be asked to present the medals to some of the winning athletes. I hope that we can host the event again in a few years’ time. Certainly, the main players of Northern Athletics were most impressed with the venue, the course and the slick organisation.

1 March sees the Mayor’s Ball and, on 3 March, a Mayor’s Charity Stall at the Farmers’ Market. The ever-popular Moondogs will be strutting their stuff on 22 March. Tickets are available from the STC Offices on weekday mornings.

I hope to see you at some (or all) of these events plus some of the regular coffee mornings. Take care and stay safe.
Take care.
David Jasper

Your Letters

Players’ panto

I have just returned from seeing our village panto for the second time and both performances were outstanding. I have been going to these pantos for over 40 years with my children and grandchildren and every year I think it can’t get any better but the Sedgefield Players and SPYS never disappoint and every performance is so much fun.

We are so lucky to live in a village where we have people giving their time willingly week in, week out to put a smile on our faces. I would just like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone, actors, front and back of house and anyone who helped in anyway.

It was especially nice to see all the children being included and enjoying themselves. It can’t have been easy to organise but they were all fabulous. So once again thank you and looking forward to next year’s production. Pat Jackson

Sedgefield News

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If you would like to help, write a letter or article (or send us some encouragement!) you can drop us a line at news@sedgefielddevelopmenttrust. co.uk.