Watley's End Residents Society (WERS) NEWSLETTER - July 2009

Some interesting events held recently (see overleaf) and some more good ones to come:

Sunday 12th July 4-7pm WERS Annual Barbecue At our local Mason's Arms pub with the barbecue in the garden. Come along to chat and have fun with neighbours and friends - open invitation! Drinks from the bar, bring your own meat to Barbie or just turn up to have what's available. Great fun had last year by the 50 who drifted through - with raffle and prizes too.

Thurs 16th July WERS CONSULTATION on Village Design Statement and Parking Policy
7.30pm at the Greenfield Centre

This document is produced BY the community to inform DEVELOPERS as to what new designs for the village should be like to be in keeping with the character. This is the best way to stop extreme overdevelopment such as 1 Common Rd as the Planning Inspector stated didn't currently exist.

Listen to proposed Design principles for the document and give your views on how to protect and enhance our village environment - covers main area of core old cottages Factory Rd, Salem Rd, Common, North Rd East, Gully, Beaver Close, Manor Lane and outliers of cottages as per interest. You don't have to live there to express an opinion as the character is for us all to enjoy.

This Watley's End Statement will be separate to the Winterbourne Parish Plan with its Questionnaire shortly to be sent round, but they have synergies in community planning terms. Both are important for directing future improvement actions.

Tuesday 21st July Community Meeting to discuss Local Vegetable growing and delivery.
7.30pm at the Greenfield Centre

This is WERS supported but part of a new wider initiative to propose setting up vegetable growing again in the area to supply local people with high quality and low air-miles veg. for a healthy diet. It can only happen if there are 50+ people interested in supporting and taking a vegetable box share so please come along to show your interest. Councillors and other local organisations support the principles and are helping access resources needed. Don't let this new initiative fall by the wayside - come along to find out the many benefits for all.

Please join up if you haven't already - membership only £3/household per year and we need a little to keep the society running with its historical recording, talks and events. Open to all interested in Watley's End - don't need to live anywhere in particular! See overleaf.

Reports from Recent WERS Events.

"THE HISTORY OF HATTING IN WATLEY'S END" - Wed March 25th
A full house of 80 awaited Chris Heal when he came to Salem to speak about his research. We learned about many aspects of the industry - the processes involved, like the 'bow'; the unpleasant substances used, like mercury nitrate which accounted for 'mad hatters' disease and the urine which explains 'Penny Lane' in Frampton; the warren set up by the Howses in Cloisters to provide rabbit fur; the families and companies concerned, e.g the Symonds, Vaughans, Francombes and Christies; and some of the associated buildings. He said that nearly all the cottages built in Watley's End before 1810 would have been hatters' dwellings. It was clear from 'question time' that many in the audience had close family links with the industry and even 'newcomers' found it a fascinating evening. We all look forward to Chris' publication to come on "The Felt Hatmakers Of Bristol And South Gloucestershire, 1550 - 1900".

Walk and Talk - Visit to Sunnyacres Farm Watley's End -
Sunday 7th June

Following the last successful walk up on April 10th to Bury Hill, it was fitting to visit a farm on Environment Sunday. Just before meeting up, the heavens opened and thunder ensued. Despite this a dozen brave souls turned up for what turned out to be a super afternoon in the sunshine.

Chris Lowe first took us through the milking process, showing us the new calves as part of their "closed herd" policy for quality control. They have recently increased their beef herd again with prices now rising above token levels. They grow almost all the feed for the cows on the farm. They make silage from meadow grass that they cut several times a year to get the best sugars and also make maize silage, testing the protein levels to create the right balanced diet for cows. We had little time left to talk about the set aside, boundary management for wild animal habitats and other work with Guinea Fowl, Pheasants, etc but may have a follow-up visit later in the year.

Talk on Sustainability
Tuesday 12th May

This talk in Salem Chapel rooms aimed to answer the question as to how sustainable our society is on our planet today and could be in future. It covered the key elements of economic, social and environmental aspects with practical explanations and actions too: The Credit Crunch example where values go awry, issues of inequality in society and the lack of progress on global warming by curbing emissions.. Some of the facts were shocking but some of the solutions to moving forward were outlined from local to global action with community being a key positive theme. A fascinating subject that will remain with us as humanity adapts to "good living and wellbeing within natural limits".

Watley's End Residents Society (WERS) Membership

I would like to join WERS for the year 2008/9 and enclose the membership of £3 per household (cheques payable to Watley's End Residents Society). You can hand this in to Bill Deighton 22 Salem Rd or any other committee member.
You can also join at events.