News

Coronavirus Update

COVID-19

RMNF is following the UK Government’s advice and will not be organising any events until the crisis is over.

We are fortunate to live in a wonderful area and we all know nature can be a powerful force for good in difficult circumstances. Our moors provide space for us to exercise and enjoy the fresh air, they can inspire us, lift our spirits and educate us.

Spring is here and we hope you’ll be able to take the opportunity to enjoy it. Please remember it’s the season for bird nesting and lambing – so please respect the moors and those who try to earn their living from grazing sheep and cattle.

RMNF is a member of the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) and they have made their online content free for all to use – see the Knowhow website.

The NCVO also provides helpful information about Coronavirus that you will find by clicking HERE.

Community is everything in a time of crisis, so please take the time to check on any elderly or vulnerable persons that you know of.

Onshore windfarm subsidies

UK government lifts block on new onshore windfarm subsidies

Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian.

On Monday 2 March 2020 The Guardian reports that four years after ministers scrapped support for new projects the UK has abandoned its opposition to subsidising new onshore windfarms.

For more information please click HERE.

Invitation to the AGM

Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum Annual General Meeting

The AGM will be held on Thursday 21st November 2019 from 7:30pm at Spotland Methodist Church, Rooley Moor Road, Rochdale OL12 7ES

Everyone is warmly invited to attend this years AGM where we will report on the successes and challenges of the last year.

All views are welcome and voting for resolutions and candidates standing for election shall be taken by a simple majority of votes cast at the meeting (including proxy votes). Every member has one vote.

Proxy voting – Any member of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) may appoint another person as a proxy to exercise all or any of that member’s rights to attend, speak and vote at a general meeting of the CIO. Proxies must be appointed by a notice in writing (a “proxy notice”) – please see our constitution for further details.

The charity trustees consider voting by post or email is not required.

You may like to look at the AGM Agenda and Reports Pack, which includes the trustees report and financial statements, ahead of the meeting. This can be found online by clicking HERE.

We look forward to seeing you in November and to hearing your views and opinions about Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email: info@RMNF.org.uk

Rossendale Local Plan

Examination Hearing

Some members of RMNF have submitted Hearing Statements, concerning Matter 16 – Environment [Policies ENV1 – ENV10], to the Planning Inspectors for the Examination Hearing which will start on 24th September.

The Hearing Statements can be seen on Rossendale Council’s website: https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/downloads/download/11237/examination_library

The following link will take you to the current version of the Local Plan, this being the one before the Inspectors: https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/downloads/download/11166/rossendale_local_plan_submission_version_written_statement

Members of the public are able to attend the Examination Hearing and a draft copy of the hearing programme is available by clicking on the following link: EL1.006d_Rossendale_hearings_programme_v1_17_07_19

The Big Spring Clean

Saturday 23 March 2019

This Saturday is the Rochdale In Bloom Big Spring Clean, which is part of the national Keep Britain Tidy campaign.

The Catley Lane Head village spring clean is starting from 10.00 am. Meet at the BBC plaque (near the cattle grid). Some of the group will head down Woodhouse Lane towards Norden, where free refreshments will be available for volunteers from noon at the Old Library. Refreshments are also available for volunteers, from noon at Spotland Methodist Church.

Spotland & Falinge In Bloom is getting involved by organising 3 clean ups. These clean ups start at 10.45 am from any of the following points:

  • Spotland Bridge, by the Scout Hut
  • Spotland Walking Trail, Ings Lane
  • Black Dog Pub, Rooley Moor Road

Each team is heading towards Spotland Methodist Church for a sandwich and refreshments at noon.

The refreshments are kindly being provided by the local Co-op Food stores.

Litter picking equipment will be provided at each of the starting points.

Please come along and get involved.

Diary Dates

Pennine Prospects

Celebrating Our Woodland Heritage

Good afternoon,

Apologies for it being a while since my last update.  It has been a busy start to the year with the final batch of woodland surveys being undertaken.  Only two more left to go and then loads of reporting.

But that will not be the end of activities this year.  Oh no! the project continues up to December, starting with a Woodland Festival this coming Sunday (see poster).  So here are a few dates for the diary:

March 24th

Woodland Festival as Hollingworth Lake hosted by Rochdale Council as part of the project (see attached poster)

April 13th

The Archaeology of Redisher Woods walk hosted by Friends of Redisher Wood Local Nature Reserve: https://www.facebook.com/events/240348600175407/

April 27th

Smithills Woodland Archaeology Walk hosted by the Woodland Trust: https://www.facebook.com/events/963493467372651/

May 11th

QGIS Workshop in Hebden Bridge (more details to follow)

Learn how  to use QGIS, a Geographical Information System software used by archaeologist when undertaking site and landscape wide investigations.  The software has been used widely as part of the Celebrating Our Woodland Heritage project to manage the survey, view and analysis Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data as well as to georeferenced historic maps.  If you fancy learning how to use it for yourself this is your chance (more information will be available next month for this event)

June 13th & 14th

Woodland Heritage Festival at Hollingworth Lake hosted by Rochdale Council as part of the project

June 16th – 29th

Community Excavation of possible First World War practice trenches recorded in Long Wood, Copley during the survey season of 2018.  (more information to follow)

September (sometime and for charity)

Join me for a weekend walk along the Rochdale to Ilkley Roman Road and laugh as I do it dressed as a Roman Legionary to help raise money for a mental health charity.

Oh and there will be a further one or two woodland walks, where you can again laugh at me dressed as a 14th century peasant (it’s a tough job … )!

There will be more events but I need to confirm dates and details.  Not least for a couple of project round-up events later this year which will include the launch of the project book and sculpture trails.

Speak to you soon

All the best

Chris

Christopher Atkinson BA (Hons) MA

Heritage and Landscape Development Manager

Honorary Visiting Lecturer in SAFS University of Bradford