Norfolk Quiz photo (1)

No prize, but I thought visitors to my site might like to guess

where this is  ……?

Clue : One of Andrews

Save the World – use REAL Nappies

As part of the Save the World/Normal for Norfolk campaign NCC are promoting the use of reuseable (washable) nappies………….they look good, feel good and babies are much more comfortable.

Not only that, they are cheaper in the long run and definitely sustainable.

Since 2001 the County Council have been raising awareness through a Washable Nappy Incentive Scheme.  A £30 discount voucher can be downloaded from their website for the purchase of nappies, because that is where the big financial hit is.  They have had 6,400 requests since the scheme started!!

Staff from the Waste Reduction Scheme are very keen to talk to baby & toddler groups, ante natal classes etc.  Make contact via their web link, or let me know and I’ll pass on details.

 

 

Changes to NHS Health Records

Useful for many but an intrusion of privacy for others……..and another potential for personal information to go astray……

The NHS is soon going to start uploading critical personal medical information (they call it Summary Care Records) on to a website accessible by all out-of-hours services and A&E hospitals.

Passive consent will be used, so if you do not object the information will automatically be made available. 

Suggest you check they have the correct information!

Walking in the Waveney Valley

The latest book in the NCC “health, heritage and biodiversity walks” series has just been published and it covers walks in the Diss & Harleston area.  Diss walkers launced the book on Thursday by going on a walk not featured in the book! but never mind it still ended up with a cup of coffee and a chat………and we were really lucky with lovely warm sunny day.

Getting ready to go...

The walks have been suggested by local people and mapped by the NCC, and made up into a really nice booklet giving local information as well as pretty pictures together with the easy to read maps!

There are about 150 walks so far downloadable from the County website…….

NCC Trading Standards ~ Trusted Traders

A recent addition to the Trading Standards service  in Norfolk is the Trusted Trader site.

I am pleased to find several of the local traders I know listed, and I am sure it will be invaluable to us all over the coming years.

The site also includes details for traders of how to apply to get listed.

Norfolk Myth Buster (1)

It is not true that Norfolk County Council will give you are car if you are an immigrant…………..they do not give cars to anyone.

Gilbert & Sullivan are coming to Diss

What will no doubt prove to be another triumph for the Burgate Singers is the performance of PATIENCE by Gilbert and Sullivan at Diss Corn Hall at 7.30 on Saturday 5th December.

This work is a real musical romp, – lots of fun, jokes and pitter-patter songs.

An extra treat and as part of the BBC’s Sing Hallelujah initiative, they will end the evening with Handel’s grandest of all choruses!

Norfolk’s Biodiversity

We hear more and more about biodiversity – the word stands for biological diversity and refers to all life on the earth: plants, animals and micro-organisms – not just wildlife.

NCC has a whole department just trying to watch out for this is our county and the more they look, the more they find.  It is an enormous task.  Ever more now of course including trying to get rid of the unwanted imports – the American mink (good for coats?) and Japanese knotweed and the Signal crayfish (brought in initially for us to eat, but they escaped) – sadly also the Rhododendron too, a particular favourite of mine.

We have to keep abreast if not ahead of climate change and this creates opportunities as well as challenges.  The public too have to be kept informed to gain an understanding and appreciation of what we have and need to preserve.  

Most residents will know what is on their doorstep, but the range of habitat and life form in Norfolk is tremendous (and thats without including the politicians).

Things like the BBC’s “Spring Watch” programme from Pensthorpe has been tremendously helpful.  Similarly initiatives such as “Wild about the Wensum“, also with the help of Pensthorpe and the Jordan family.

Norfolk’s  Biodiversity Partnership has just celebrated the first 10 years of its Action Plan and at its anniversary meeting the guest speakers were very upbeat about what has been achieved.

The partnership includes NCC and each of the District councils together with the RSPB, Anglian Water, Natural England, Norfolk Wildlife Trust and all the other local bio organisations – Broads Authority etc

There is also a Biodiversity Service which has a really good series of information leaflets, but their website is extremely informative too.

Conservative Humanists

Was pleased to meet Simon Singh during the Tory conference in Manchester.  He was the guest speaker at the Humanist fringe meeting. 

Simon Singh

There is a great tradition of free thought within the  Conservative Party and many of their great thinkers have not felt the need to acquire a religious belief to define their political view.

Accord were also present and hosted a lively discussion.  They campaign for inclusive schools and an end to special arrangements for state funded religious schools.  However they have a belief, which is that there is no place for discrimination in state education.

Their Chairman is Rabbi Jonathan Romain MBE

Progressive Tories – BrightBlue

A new social networking site has just been launched to coincide with the Conference in Manchester and to provide a loud but clear voice for the progressive Conservative movement.

Take a look and sign up to BrightBlue