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at the HEFF Taste Kitchen, Shrewsbury – 26 May 2011. |
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To herald English Wine Week celebrated expert Jonathan Hislop led a session in matching regional wines and food in the TASTE Kitchen. [The Taste Kitchen part of the Shropshire Food Enterprise Centre (Vanguard Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3TG) and is a purpose-built demonstration kitchen. It is also an information point for local food - where to buy it, how to use it, how it is produced and where you can go to dine out at cafés and restaurants that make a point of sourcing all their produce locally.] |
| The wines were all from the Mercian region and most of the food from Shropshire. All were of high quality and expertly cooked and presented. It was an evening to be recommended. As usual, Ed Warren, HEFF’s Development Chef, served dishes of the highest standard and the event was, as is customary, very ably managed by Lynn Wood, HEFF Marketing Executive – Shropshire.
Food Suppliers included: |
Asparagus on Rosti Potato with Hollandaise
Mr Moyden’s soft cow’s milk cheese tartlet
Smoked salmon on blini
Roast beef mini Yorkshire pudding
Pork and green peppercorn terrine
Wrekin Blue Cheese and Chocolates |
Over 40 people attended a Wem Civic Society open meeting to talk about the value of producing a Town Design Statement for Wem.
Colin Richards [Historic Environment Manager – Shropshire Council] in a general introduction said that Shropshire Council actively promotes Town Design Statements as a community-led initiative. Design statements provide a framework for engaging local people in the debate about how development can fit into the local built and natural environments. They offer a practical tool in addressing local communities’ concerns on the potential impact of new development on local character, and if used properly, can help developers understand local people’s views and perceptions at the onset of the design and development process. He then followed with a presentation specific to Wem that was accompanied by a series of images of contemporary Wem.
A wide range of points was raised by the audience, including
It proved to be a lively and informative meeting and the contribution by the officers, particularly Colin Richards, was much appreciated by the audience. A number of people agreed to become involved in developing a TDS for Wem.
Any other people who are interested in joining this group should contact Ruth Mansfield (Community Action Officer) on 01939 237428 or via e-mail ruth.mansfield@shropshire.gov.uk
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Pictures supplied by Kevin Dawson and Oliver Richardson
 | Wem Transition Town Initiative teamed up with the Thomas Adams School to plant food trees in the school grounds. A joint bid to the Woodland Trust was given the go-ahead at the beginning of the year. The community tree planting pack provided by the Woodland Trust is the one called 'Wild Harvest'. The pack was made up of 105 native trees: hazel, blackthorn, crab apple, elder, cherry plum and dog rose. Once mature the fruits and nuts will be harvested to produced traditional foods and drinks. These trees could also attract native wildlife to the area. Pupils at the school planted the trees and will act as tree champions and wardens. Planting took place on March 25th. |
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 | Wem Spring Market organised by Wem Civic Society A dozen stalls offered their produce and products for sale to Wemian shoppers on Saturday March 5th 2011 at the Senior Club. Emphasis was on local food and crafts. Refreshements and a raffle provided moments of relaxation amid the busy shopping along with a chance to view the entries to the photographic competition - 'Images of Wem & District'.
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 | Malcolm Adkins gave a well-researched and thought-provoking talk on the townscape of Wem to the members of Wem Civic Society and visitors. A simple definition was provided: one building is architecture, two buildings are a townscape. A few images of Bishops Castle demonstrated the improvements that can be achieved with a programme of sympathetic renovation and the choice of colour schemes that blend and appropriately contrast. The image of Wem High Street (left) shows the curvature of the road, a feature that is always an advantage from an design point of view - the mind is intrigued by what may be around the corner. |
 | Side roads, alleys and gennels offer the same attraction, inviting the visitor to discover what may be off the beaten track. [Image: Noble Street, Wem, 2011] The audience was advised to really look at their town. There was much to admire even if some areas needed substantial work. The car park, particularly the lorry park and the area where the 'bins' are located came in for criticism by speaker and audience alike. For the most part, minor repairs and a lick of paint could work wonders. |
 | A wealth of detail has survived: Victorian wall brackets for street lighting, stonework on shops, cobbled and tiled pathways. [Note the ladder in this image.] Good development and renovation incorporate such features into the refurbished buildings rather than obliterating them. The possibility of linking a 'make-over' with the development of a Town Design Statement for Wem was raised. |
 | Wem Town Hall with its surviving Victorian facade provides an vivid architectural (as well as community) focus to the town. After the formal questions and discussion the chairman expressed the appreciation of the members to Malcolm Adkins for an excellent talk. Following the talk the audience broke into small groups to debate the 'next step'! All images were supplied by Malcolm Adkins. |
 | About 40 attended the Christmas Social held in the Senior Club, Wem on Tuesday, December 14th, 2010. The weather was relatively clement in comparison to the previous week. However the warm drink (a mixture of apple juice, brandy and spices reminiscent of Pimm's No.3 Cup) supplied on arrival was still very welcome. Entertainments included 3 quizzes and an anagram puzzle. The Chairman, Edwin Hargraves became the CVS 'Mastermind' 2010. It was generally agreed that this quiz was demanding. |
| Members proved very adept at solving the Anagrams Puzzle with multiple winners so the prize was distributed between tables where members had not won a competition. There was a musical interlude with a performance of selections of John Cage's 3'44''. The food was supplied by 'Angela's Catering' and members thanked the cooks for the excellent feast with a round of applause. |  |
 | The display in the front window of the Town Hall advertising the harvest market. The market catered for local food producers and craft businesses. The children's quiz organised by the Gardening Club provided fun and education with pictures of vegetables arranged around the hall for identification. The buildings of Wem provided the focus of the Civic Society's quiz with photos to be identified. [For the Wem quiz plus answers, click on the mouse: ] Entrants were still wandering around the streets of Wem searching for answers long after the market had closed. |
| This was the first harvest market held in Wem Town Hall and the organisers were delighted to see a steady stream of shoppers moving among the stalls and buying a range of goods. [For the full range of stalls, click on the mouse: ] Charity stalls were also present with a range of preserves available from the Civic Society. Three storytelling sessions by Daragh Quinn were especially popular with children and their parents, as was the face painting. |  |
 | Wem Combine Harvesters expressed their thanks to all individuals and organisations who helped in setting up the market including: 'Get Fresh', Princes TV, Wem Co-op, Wem Treacle Mine and the staff and volunteers of Wem Town Hall. There are plans for a 2011 Harvest Market. |
Photographs by Oliver Richardson
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 | [L]: The weather was glorious. A perfect day for a leisurely ramble across the mosses. Over 30 club members assembling for the tour which will be led by Bill Allmark ( a retired peat worker who is now employed by Natural England). The path is the disused railway line. [R]: The old peat works machinery. |  |
 | [L]: The remains of the hydraulic engine used in peat working. The shed was erected to protect the machinery. [R]: Club members walking along the trail. No adders were sighted but numerous birds and insects were seen. |  |
 | [L]: The old peat workings now being allowed to return to 'nature'. [R]: An area being reflooded. The cotton grass, not yet flowering, can be seen. |  |
| Wem Local Transition Town: The 'Power Down' Show, film and discussion on transport and sustainability in Wem Town Hall, Wednesday April 7th.. The groups discussed the following ideas and points: Wem:
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| We Have 6 Years ~ Report from Church Stretton. Tuesday 13 October 2009 International climate expert Sir John Houghton pulled no punches when he spoke to a full house at Church Stretton School, Shropshire on Tuesday evening. In an authoritative, detailed and often witty presentation he outlined how the developed countries had generated a global warming process that was already going to result in some two degrees of warming, and bluntly told government to “get a move on” in taking action to prevent runaway climate change. As a former Chair of the International Panel on Climate Change Sir John was able to give a personal insight into the scientific consensus that backed up his call for urgent action. “We’re not a bunch of greenie activists pursuing our own agenda” he said, “we’re scientists who have spent decades doing the research and we have collectively come to this conclusion in probably the most rigorously tested process ever.” In the course of a lengthy question and answer session he refuted suggestions that global warming was due to sunspot activity or other natural factors, and was non-committal about some of the more extreme theories being put forward. “Tipping points and so-called positive feedback -these things may be true”, he said, “they need more research and we don’t know yet – but the things we do know are quite serious enough for us to need to take action now. We have six years in which to take the necessary steps to halt our dependence on fossil fuels – and then to reduce our use to almost zero. There are many ways in which we can do this without destroying our way of life or our economy, in fact many of them would enhance our economic position; but we have got to start doing it now.” Sir John was less than complimentary about politicians who had so far done very little to implement a programme of non- carbon energy production. One slide of a heat-sensitive photograph of the houses of parliament, showing that the seat of government was very poorly insulated, Sir John described as showing “the extent to which hot air is being wasted”. He called for a programme of combined tidal, solar and wind energy to be initiated in the UK, and for the developed countries to support the third world develop similar technologies. “The technology is there; they just need to get a move on.” he said. One of the first things ordinary people could do was phone their electricity company and ask to be put on a green energy tariff. “ If you do that, the energy companies must provide the equivalent of your energy consumption from non-carbon resources” he explained. “If everyone just did that, the energy companies would have no choice but to invest in renewable energy production.” |
 | Commonwood Vineyard on Thursday August 20th 2009 | |
 | Tuesday July 21st 2009 - A talk on 'The role of bees in agriculture' was given by Joanna Schup at an open meeting of the Wem Civic Society. |
| The crucial role that bees play in the pollination of essential food crops was outlined followed by a worrying assessment of the decline of various bee species. The honeybee has a central role to play in crop pollination. The colonies overwinter and are ready to begin pollination as soon as spring arrives whereas other bee species need to build their populations before they can make a significant contribution. The situation in the US where bee colony collapse is widespread is extremely serious. This is probably because of the extensive preactice of monoculture. Vast acreages of a only one food crop, e.g. apples, is available, which means that a healthy mix of proteins is not available to the bees. However the UK does have significant problems; parasitic mites, virues and pesticides forming a lethal cocktail. Gardeners were advised:
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 | Sunday 12th July 2009 - Members of the Wem Local Transition Town group visited Silvaspin [The Hollies, Wem Lane, Soulton, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5RT] |
| The visit (during a series of events at Silvaspin that week) to this 40-acre organic farm was a fascinating insight into the techniques of agro-forestry and forest-gardening. | |
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Tuesday June 30th 2009 - The film 'Farm for the future' was shown at a public meeting hosted by Wem Local TT. |
The issues raised in the following discussions included:
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'Grow your own Fruit & Vegetables' was held at the Senior Club, Chapel St., Wem on Saturday March 14th 2009. |
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| Wem's First Green Fair was voted a success by visitors and organisers. The fair included: two master composters demonstrating the art of compost making, advisors to deal with visitors' queries, a seed exchange stall, a display by Shropshire Organic Gardeners (SOGS). Books, seeds and gardening sundries were also available for sale.WemTTI is very grateful for the support provided by a number of Wem residents and traders in staging this fair. |
 | Terry Hobday (Wem Local TT Chairman) and David Chester-Master (SOGS) pictured with a selection of vegetables from the SOGS display. These vegetables, fresh from the garden included Scorzonera (Oyster Plant), an unusual vegetable rarely seen outside of specialist greengrocers or farmers' markets, which intrigued many visitors. The plant can be harvested from October to April. Younger leaves of Scorzonera can be blanched and served cold in winter salads. More usually the root is eaten and can be prepared in a variety of ways: mashed, baked, fried in batter or baked with a covering of breadcrumbs and cheese. If the vegetable is to be boiled, it should be peeled after not before cooking. Varieties of kale were also available - a useful winter source of greens. A number of visitors were surprised at the range of vegetables available during a relatively harsh winter. | |
| Hazel Adkins demonstrating the production of flowerpots from waste newspaper. A 'Seed Exchange' facility was also available at this stall. 'Seed Exchange' has grown into an important activity from the days when a few gardeners exchanged unwanted seeds locally. It allows the use of surplus seed that would otherwise be wasted. Often it is the only way to obtain older and more unusual varieties of fruit and vegetables. These are the varieties that commercial organisations don't regard as 'viable' in that demand is not sufficient for large scale production or those that producers cannot make a commercial case for the expense of getting a 'sales licence' from the EU. |  | |
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The Master Composters proved to be very popular with visitors. Wem residents are seen here discussing the finer points of compost making with the Master Composters. There is a double advantage to making your own compost:
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The message taken away by many visitors was... 'Start small. Don't try to be self sufficient and be disappointed or overwhelmed. Plant a few seeds to begin with and go on from there.' There are a number of sources of help for the new gardener:
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