Citylife in Lichfield February 2021

LOCAL NEWS
6
Staffordshire Firm’s
First Anniversary
Directors Adam and Sally
Outdoor building firm, Roundpeg Outdoor
Buildings, has not only survived to celebrate its
first-year anniversary, but has thrived enough to
expand its operations by tripling its workforce.
Just one year ago two friends took the brave
leap to launch their own business – creating
handmade bespoke outdoor buildings.
But Adam Timmis and Sally Ann Smith could
never have predicted the major obstacles that
lay ahead for their new venture.
While all new start-ups expect to face a few
challenges during their first year of trading, the
duo has not only had to navigate a global
pandemic but also worldwide timber supply
shortages.
Yet, despite all the odds, Roundpeg Outdoor
Buildings survived.
In another impressive highlight, in November it
was also shortlisted in the Staffordshire
Chamber of Commerce’s Business Awards in
the category of Most Promising Start-Up in the
county.
The pandemic has certainly seen Roundpeg
kept busy with a steady ongoing demand for
outdoor buildings for uses including home
offices, self-employed ventures like salons, gyms
and bars for customers across the West
Midlands.
Visit www.roundpegoutdoorbuildings.co.uk or
find it on Facebook and Instagram
@roundpegoutdoorbuildings.
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Preserving Local
Heathland Habitats
Conservation work to protect endangered
heathland will be starting at Muckley Corner
Common and Pipehill Crossroads Common
soon.
People visiting Muckley Corner Common and
Pipehill Crossroads Common may see
conservation work being carried out this
winter.
Professional contractors will be conducting the
restoration work on areas of heathland under
the supervision of Lichfield District Council’s
ecology team.
Birch specimens and gorse will be thinned out
to stop scrub encroachment that threatens to
invade and reduce the rare heathland habitat
and the wildlife that relies on it. When
complete, the sites will become more open,
improving visibility and access.
These works form part of a £416,409 25-year
biodiversity offset scheme funded by
development, set to restore and manage 9.1
hectares of heathland over three sites within
Lichfield District. They include Muckley Corner
Common, Pipehill Crossroads Common and
Ironstone Road Heaths.
For more information, please contact Lichfield
District Council’s ecology team by emailing
ecology@lichfielddc.gov.uk or calling 01543
308164.
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Council’s Chief
Executive to Step
Down
Lichfield District
Council’s Chief
Executive, Diane Tilley,
has announced she will
be leaving her role in
May.
The news came on 21st
January in a message
from Diane Tilley to
councillors and staff. Of Diane Tilley
the decision, she said:
“After eight years at Lichfield District Council I
have decided the time is right for me to move
on. I feel incredibly privileged to have worked
with such a great team over the years and I
would like to thank everyone for their support
and hard work through some really challenging
times.
“There is still much important work to do in
managing the response to this latest Covid
wave and running one of our biggest elections
ever in very unpredictable circumstances.”
Councillor Doug Pullen, Leader of Lichfield
District Council, said: “I would like to thank
Diane for the work she has done over the last
eight years, ensuring the council is in a robust
financial position to head off the stormy winds
of Covid.
“I am now in the process of seeking a new Chief
Executive to help lead Lichfield District Council
through the challenging, yet exciting, years
ahead.”
Diane will continue in position until the end of
May, and the council is working to appoint her
successor to start in April.
Local Gin Brand’s
New Edition
The founders of small-batch gin brand The
Apiarist have introduced a new ‘Forager Edition’
of the spirit to market, containing the same rich,
sweet honey base as the original signature
version but finished with a special ‘forager’s tea’.
After being blown away by the initial success of
The Apiarist since its launch in October last
year, husband and wife Alex and Natalie Conti
decided to create a brand-new batch of gin
centred around one of their favourite hobbies,
foraging.
Much like its predecessor, The Apiarist Forager
Edition is infused with raw honey from the
Conti’s very own home apiary and contains
botanicals such as juniper, coriander, orris root
and lemon peel. Inspired by local hedgerows,
the unique forager’s tea consists of blackberries,
elderberries, wild strawberry leaves and apple,
giving the gin its natural pink hue.
The Apiarist Forager Edition is currently
available to purchase directly from
www.theapiaristgin.com.
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Reflections of Winter
This lovely photograph shows Minster Pool on
a cold, crisp evening, along with a smiley
snowman. Sent in by Brereton resident, Simon
Wilberforce.