Citylife in Lichfield April 2021

LOCAL NEWS
8
Christmas Tree
Delights Locals
The Bank Coffee
House in Alrewas has
been keeping local
residents entertained
during lockdown with
its Christmas tree,
which has been
standing since
November last year!
Having stayed fit and
healthy, the Coffee
shop owners thought that it would be a shame
to take it down, and instead decided to make a
feature of it. Recently, Alrewas Crochet Club
have been adorning the tree with beautiful
handmade decorations to mark different
occasions, such as Burns Night, St David’s Day
and St Patrick’s Day!
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Activate Create
Project for Young
People
Broken Lightbulb is a
community interest
company based in
Lichfield working to
create creating
accessible and vibrant
arts events and creative opportunities that
disrupt and break down inequalities of access in
local communities and focuses on developing
opportunities for young people, women, and
minority and disadvantaged groups through
bespoke learning experiences and the creative
arts.
As well as cultivating arts engagement and
creative opportunities, the organisation
provides coaching and mentoring, consultancy,
workshops, and training to help individuals or
organisations to build their capacity, skills, and
knowledge through our provision of
professional expertise and best practices.
Recently, a new project called Activate Create
has been launched with the age group of 12-16
years old in mind. The project will create an
online platform as a space for young people to
develop networks, skills and confidence
through fun, creative opportunities aimed at
increasing local young people’s social action
engagement.
A modular programme will offer meaningful
opportunities to affect and drive real change in
the area and foster a sense of belonging and
being heard, accepted and valued in the district.
Broken Lightbulb is looking for young people
aged 12-16 to get involved in the project, as
well as local groups, companies and individuals
who wish to contribute or collaborate on this
project.
If you feel you could help, or if you are a young
person/parent who wishes to find out more,
visit www.brokenlightbulb.org or email
activatecreate@brokenlightbulb.org.
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Covidsecure
Voting
Ahead of the elections in May, residents are
being urged to sign up to vote by post or proxy
if they would prefer not to vote in person this
time round.
On Thursday 6th May 2021 residents across
Lichfield District will go to the polls to have
their say on who is Staffordshire’s next Police,
Fire & Crime Commissioner and who
represents them at Staffordshire County
Council.
The Burntwood Neighbourhood Planning
referendum, a by-election for the district ward
of Summerfield & All Saints, and a by-election
for the city ward of Stowe, which were delayed
due to Covid-19, will also take place.
Lichfield District Council is busy making plans
to help people stay safe while casting their vote.
There are a number of ways to have your say in
the May. Voters can cast their vote in a polling
station, by post, or by appointing someone they
trust to vote on their behalf, which is known as
a proxy vote.
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm
on 20th April, and for a proxy vote the deadline
is 5pm on 27th April. To find out how to apply
for a postal or proxy vote visit
www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/elections, email
elections@lichfielddc.gov.uk or call 01543
308125.
If you have not yet registered to vote at your
current address, apply online at
www.gov.uk/registertovote by midnight on
Monday 19th April.
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Lottery Boost for
LHCRT
Lichfield's canal
trust has already
benefited from a
local Community
Lottery which
launched at the beginning of March.
The Lichfield Community Lottery is a weekly
lottery that raises money for good causes
across the Lichfield District.
Tickets cost just £1 each, with a top prize of
£25,000, and for every ticket sold, 60% goes to
local good causes, including Lichfield and
Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust, with 50%
going to the chosen cause and 10% to other
causes in the area of Lichfield District.
Within a week of the Lottery launch the Trust
had already sold 33 of its initial 50-ticket target,
which means it had reached £858 of its £1,300
annual target.
The first draw for the big prize of £25,000 takes
place on Saturday 10th April.
To support Lichfield and Hatherton Canals
Restoration Trust and buy Community Lottery
tickets, visit
www.lichfieldcommunitylottery.co.uk.
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School Named in
Honour of Local Lady
The Gurkha Welfare Trust has recently decided
to name a new school
building in memory of former
Rugeley resident and Rugeley
& Armitage Camera Club
member, Margaret Cross.
Margaret worked tirelessly
for more than 20 years with
husband Rob to support
former Gurkha soldiers and
their families, raising nearly
£110,000. Rob, a member of
Rob and Margaret
Cross
Lichfield St. Chad's Rotary Club, is a keen
photographer and former chairman of Lichfield
Camera Club. Both he and Margaret have given
talks about Nepal and the Gurkhas to
community groups, illustrating their
presentations with some stunning photographs
of their lives in and travels to Nepal and other
far-flung places. Their efforts were
acknowledged with the award of an MBE to
Rob in the 2021 New Year's Honours List.
Sadly, Margaret passed away last August and it is
entirely fitting that she will be given a
permanent memorial in a community she did so
much to support.
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Beacon Park
Trees Felled
A beech tree and a lime tree
in Beacon Park were felled in
March after an inspection
highlighted concerns with
their long-term health.
After carrying out a health
check of the trees in Beacon
Park, an external tree
inspector instructed Lichfield
District Council to remove two of its larger
trees within six months after finding they both
had fungal pathogens.
The lime tree, which is next to the herbaceous
garden, had Ganoderma. This is an aggressive
form of fungus that will decay the tree quickly.
The beech tree, which is next to the pool, had
Ganoderma and Meripilus. Both forms of
fungus are deadly for a tree.
Two new trees are to be planted in their place.