Made in Stowmarket. You'd be amazed...

Residents across Suffolk are being encouraged to come along to the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket on Wednesday June 1st to discover the range of items that are made within the town.

Open from 9 a.m., the exhibition will not only show the strength of the manufacturing sector locally but also the amount of people still employed making items ranging from lawn mowers to window blinds today.

There will also be Robert Oberhoffer, an award winning chef with his mobile kitchen who will be carrying out cookery demonstrations throughout the day using locally-sourced ingredients to make a range of delicious dishes.

Free sweets are also being given out – as the malt for the centre of every Malteser is also made in Stowmarket!

Made in Stowmarket has been funded by the Mid Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership and is part of the Stowmarket Festival. Details of the full range of festival activities can be found here.

Family fun at Thornham Walks

Thornham Walks near Eye is offering a range of activities for all the family to get involved in this Easter.

A free lottery funded “Drop in & Join in” event will take place on Thursday 21 April between 10am and 3pm. This “Woodland Play” event will offer a variety of activities for children such as making mobiles, musical instruments, bogarts and also a scavenger hunt.  In addition, there will also be ‘dragon activities’ from 1.30pm onwards at the newly carved dragon. 

The second event will bring a spring to your step as you and your family can take part in the Easter Egg Trial on Easter Sunday (24 April). Why not join in the search by hunting high and low for hidden eggs. It couldn’t be easier, simply follow the clues and every child who reaches the end will be rewarded with a chocolate egg. 

You can even guarantee you look the part by bringing along a homemade Easter bonnet, and entering a competition to win prizes.

Helen Sibley, Thornham Countryside Officer said: “Exploring the countryside is always a great opportunity to have plenty of fun. The Easter Egg Trail always manages to be an increasingly popular event, year after year.” 

Admission for the egg trail is £3 for children, with accompanying adults free.

While at Thornham, why not make a day of it and visit the relaxing surroundings of The Forge Tea Rooms & Restaurant for Sunday Dinner or lunch. Booking is essential, please contact: 01379 783035. Alternatively you could bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful countryside around you.

Reduced hours for Household Waste Recycling Centres

There's always something that needs to be disposed of, something that can't go in a wheelie-bin, and for those, the Household Waste Recycling Centres come into their own.

Unfortunately, as part of the cuts at Suffolk County Council, the Stowmarket site will now open an hour later, Monday to Saturday, making it just that little bit busier. The new hours will be as follows;

Summer (April to September)

9 a.m. until 5 p.m. - Monday to Saturday

Winter (October to March)

9 a.m. until 4 p.m. - Monday to Saturday

All year round

10 a.m. until 4 p.m. - Sundays and bank holidays

Also, bear in mind that the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Eye has been closed, and many of those currently going there will need to go to Bury St Edmunds or Stowmarket instead.

2011 Census: not far away now...

Just a reminder that the decennial Census is due to place in two weeks time, on Sunday 27th March...

"But why is it important?", I hear you ask. Put simply, money. The amount of public service funding your council and primary care trust gets from the Government is based on the number and characteristics of the people who live in the area. So, a low completion rate means less money for local health care services, less money for schools and roads, for education and social services and all of the other things that rural communities like ours depend upon.

So, please make sure that you fill in your questionnaire on, or as soon after, Sunday week as possible. You know it makes sense...

The now monthly coffee morning and produce sale, organised by the Parochial Church Council, will take place at the Church Hall, The Lane, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday (March 12th).

And, following a discussion at Parish Council, we are hoping to arrange for the mobile police station to be parked outside at the same time

So, come along and support this very welcome social event in the calendar of village life...

Mobile Library dates - March 2011

Just a brief reminder that the Mobile Library Service comes to The Lane, here in the village, in The Lane, on two dates this month;

Friday, 4th March

Friday, 18th March

The Mobile Library will be present between 11.45 a.m. and 12 noon.

Coffee Morning and Produce Sale - all welcome!

The now monthly coffee morning and produce sale, organised by the Parochial Church Council, will take place at the Church Hall, The Lane, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday (February 12th).

And, having attended January's event, I can heartily commend the quality of the tea (I take my tea very seriously!), and the cake too. The welcome is a warm one, and it's a great opportunity to meet your neighbours - they might even become friends, you never know. And kids are welcome!

So, come along and support this very welcome social event in the calendar of village life...