Fire Service 0800 number reaches First Century!

Over 100 additional households will be safer as a result of contacting the free help-line 0800 0214  999 -  introduced by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to make access to booking a free home fire risk check in the Burton on Trent area even easier.

The new number, introduced officially on 1st June, provides a direct route for everyone who feels that either they or someone they know or care for would benefit from a free home fire risk check.

The service is particularly targeted at elderly and vulnerable people living in Staffordshire and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is working on a plan that will deliver free home fire risk checks to all the homes of elderly and vulnerable people who have yet to have a check – around 60,000 households.

The Service is aware that it can only achieve this in partnership with many other agencies and with the support of carers, families, friends and neighbours of those most at need making the Service aware so that those people that could benefit from the comprehensive analysis of fire and home safety receive it as a priority.

The new campaign – MORE for Less – More free fire and safety advice in order to secure less fire deaths is part of the Service’s on going  Far MORE  from your Fire and Rescue Service, and is designed to reach the heart of the community and encourage the spirit of neighbourliness that still exists in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive Peter Dartford is spearheading this campaign and commented:

“ The new service has got off to a very positive start and with around 100,000 of the  0800 0241 999 cards circulating in the County with carers and agencies I know that figure will go up as the cards are passed or referrals made.

I know the communities of Staffordshire can and will get behind this call – the spirit of neighbourliness is not dead here and since my move to Staffordshire ten years ago I have really noticed the difference.

Hitting our First Century is great, but we want to reach hundreds more households through this number by Christmas. Think about your neighbour, granny, granddad, mum, dad, uncle or aunt – or someone you care for – would they benefit from a free home fire risk check and get them well and truly safer by Christmas!”

Members of the public are also asked to get in touch if they are a carer or have friends, neighbours or relatives that would benefit from a small batch of cards with the 0800 0241 999 number on them.  Most larger fire stations and Fire Service HQ also have cards, and they are being circulated to health and advice agencies, the police and those that supply information – such as libraries and branches of the charities that look after the elderly.

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Marks…Get Set…Grow!

School children from across the borough will be showing off their gardening skills at this year’s Gardening Olympics event at Shobnall Leisure complex next weekend.
Over 15 local junior and Infant schools have been involved in the East Staffordshire Borough Council-run gardening project, learning about growing vegetables, health eating, and looking after the environment.

The culmination of this project will be a large flower show on Saturday, June 21st at Shobnall Leisure Complex, which will feature BBC television gardener Christine Walkden who will be handing out prizes and giving gardening demonstrations.

All the schools who took part in the project will be entering their hanging baskets and other displays for judging, and can win either a Bronze, Silver or gold medal.

Councillor Philip Atkins, Deputy Leader for Health and Leisure, said: “All the children who have taken part in the Gardening Olympics this year have really enjoyed learning how to grow their own flowers and vegetables.

“Hopefully not only have we helped encourage a new generation of gardeners but also persuaded the children that growing your own vegetables, and more importantly eating them, can be fun as well as better for their health.”

The Gardening Olympics will run from 12.00pm to 4.30pm and is a free family day out with games, entertainment, bouncy castles and musical performances from some of the schools involved in the project.

There will also be the chance for children to compete in fun sporting events such as carrot relay races or shot putting the cabbage.

Visitors will also be able to browse a series of stalls with plants and other goods for sale.

There is ample FREE car parking and refreshments available throughout the day.

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Image via WikipediaSpring Walk is Picture Perfect

Aspiring photographers and nature lovers alike are invited on this season’s special Digital Photography Walk around Jackson’s Bank on Friday, May 2nd.

The walk, which is the third in a series of four walks designed to complement the seasons, will be led by a professional photographer who will be offering inspirational ideas as well as top tips and techniques to help you capture the perfect Spring photo.

One of the highlights walkers may be able to capture is the beautiful display of Bluebells at Jackson’s Bank.

Walkers are asked to meet for a 10.00am start (the walk will finish at 12.00pm) at Jackson’s Bank car park on Brackenhurst Road off the A515 at Newchurch.

Photographers are reminded to bring their camera (and a tripod if they have one) and all walkers will need to wear suitable clothing and footwear for a two-hour walk.

The cost for the walk is £2 - payable on the day.

To book your place or for further information, please call East Staffordshire Borough Council’s Parks and Countryside team on 01283 508724.

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Here are some of the photos I took at Branston Water Park in Burton upon Trent on Saturday:

From Branston Wate…

From Branston Wate…

For more information about Branston Water Park and to see a slideshow of all my photos from last Saturday, click HERE.

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The magical maize maze by moonlight.

Intrepid visitors to The National Forest Maize Maze at Postern House Farm, Tatenhill, Burton on Trent will get the opportunity to explore their giant maize maze after dark during special torchlit evening openings on every Saturday until the end of September.

The first ‘Moonlight Maze Experience’ evening takes place on Saturday 25th August when the maze will remain open until 10.00pm.

Visitors are invited to navigate the three miles of pathways, bridges and towers guided only by moonlight, torchlight and their own intuition.

Tom Robinson of the maze explains, “The maze is a completely different place at night. The atmosphere becomes quite spooky and it’s an amazing sight to see a crop of maize with the beams from up to 300 torches dancing around. It’s like something out of a science fiction film.”

Despite the wet summer so far, the maze has proved a popular summer attraction for locals and tourists alike. Extra entertainment has been laid on for the bank holiday weekend. As well as the evening openings starting on Saturday night, the maze will be visited by the ever popular entertainer ‘Dizzy the Wizard’ on Bank Holiday Monday. Dizzy will stage two magic shows and spend the rest of the time demonstrating his magic on unsuspecting passers by.

Tags: burton on trent, maize maze

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