Britain's Energy Coast team visit the village

Three members from Britain's Energy Coast (BEC) in Cumbria carried out a fact finding mission to Ashton Hayes on 5 March to understand more about community engagement. The team (pictured left with Hugo Deynem) met with Garry Charnock and Roy Alexander before interviewing volunteers at the shop, visiting the recreation field and meeting with residents as they toured the village on a fine day.

We hope to continue our contact with BEC which is trying to encourage communities on the Cumbrian coast to examine the options for renewable energy generation.

BEC Team (L to R: David Jones, David Westwood and Simon Sjenitzer meet Hugo Deynem, in wellies, on a tour of Ashton Hayes. Ian and Rosemary's Gaia House can been seen in the background on the left.)

AHSRA wins first prize out of 200

Congratulations to the AHSRA team for winning first prize (see story below) and full report and photos on the Parish Council Website. Plus an exclusive video interview on YouTube with Mike Powers and Andrew Garman.

ASHRA field shortlisted for national award

Updated on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 11:16AM by Garry Charnock

Our fingers are crossed for the Ashton Hayes Sports and Recreation Association (ASHRA) team which has been shortlisted in the final 3 for the "Most Improved QEII Site, Supported by SITA Trust". Andrew Garman and Mike Powers are going to the awards ceremony this Thursday (29th November) at Lord's Cricket Ground in London and we wish them all the best. Here are the before (2011) and after (today) photos of the field - a magnificient achievement.

This is the text submitted by the ASHRA team. 

Until the summer of 2011, our village had no recreation ground or play area worthy of the name.  Our village football team played their

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Reminder: Energy Company AGM this Thursday 22 Nov.

Ashton Hayes Community Energy (AHCE) is a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means it is owned by the people of Ashton Hayes and works for the benefit of the village. It was set up in October 2011 to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in the village and it owns and manages the solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the recreation field pavilion and school.
The intention is to build up the village’s renewable energy capacity, through further grants and fund-raising initiatives and by investing the profits made by generating green energy. The company is run by a Board of honorary directors, which currently comprises Professor Roy Alexander (Chair), Garry Charnock, Dr Mary Gillie, Kate Harrison and David Wilson. Everybody is invited to our AGM on 22nd November at 7:30 pm in the Parish Rooms at which any village resident over the age of 18 can become a member of the company and have their say in how it moves forward.

More details can be downloaded here.

Become a Snow Angel this Christmas

The village needs you! We are organising a Snow Angels project this year which will support people during the cold weather we are all expecting. We need a range of volunteers to provide services including snow clearing, shopping for neighbours, collecting prescriptions, be-friending people, helping with energy advice, checking on neighbours during snowy and cold spells, knitting blankets, cooking extra portions of hot food to drop off, spending time having a cup of tea and a chat and anything else that you can think off.
We want everyone to be involved and we want all your ideas and offers to volunteer to make life easier this winter and are holding a meeting on Saturday 17th November at 2pm at the Parish Rooms, West End with tea/coffee and pastries.  The meeting will be informal and the aim is to make sure that the project has wide support throughout the village and that we can recruit as many volunteers as possible.