Derbyshire wildlife DVD goes on sale at Croots Farm Shop

A new dvd created by Derbyshire film maker John Keeling and detailing a year in the life of the county’s wildlife has just been launched.

A Wildlife Journey through Derbyshire and the Peak District, which is on sale at Croots Farm Shop near Duffield, turns the spotlight on a range of animals and birds, including stoats, water voles, badgers, tawny owls, cuckoos and little owls.

The 44-minute film highlights the changing seasons and includes stunning shots, interesting anecdotes and four of John’s poems.

John’s work has previously been featured on BBC’s Springwatch programme.

“The dvd is a journey throughout the year,” said John, who was born and brought up, and still lives, in Ripley. “99% of it was shot in Derbyshire. It’s about what happens at each time of the year, and contains a varied amount of wildlife.”

John began filming for the dvd during the heavy winter of 2010 and it’s taken him two years to complete the project.

Some of the stars of the film are a family of little owls, water voles in Cromford Canal, dippers at Lathkill Dale and a mountain hare.

Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, said: “John’s work is fascinating and we’re very pleased to have the dvd on sale here, along with his book of poetry.”

A Wildlife Journey through Derbyshire and the Peak District is priced £14.99 and is available at Croots Farm Shop.

Croots Farm Shop & Kitchen is open Sundays from 10am to 4pm (café until 3.45pm), and from Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm). It is closed on Mondays.

www.croots.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Awards for Focus Consultants’ museum refurbishment project

Nottingham-based Focus Consultants is celebrating the news that one of its projects has received two accolades in the awards that are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the property world.

The £5.4m refurbishment of Tudor House Museum in Southampton picked up the conservation project award at the 2012 RICS South East region awards, and went on to be named as the overall project of the year.

The scheme will now go forward with the other regional finalists to the national award ceremony run by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in London later this year.

Focus Consultants, with offices at Phoenix Business Park, Nottingham, Endeavour Park, Boston, Princess Road East, Leicester, Aubourn, Lincoln, and Holborn, London, was the project manager for the refurbishment of Tudor House Museum – a 15th Century Grade 1 listed building and gardens.

“I am absolutely delighted to hear that Tudor House Museum has been named as the conservation project of the year for the south east region by RICS and also its overall project of the year,” said Focus Consultants partner Steven Fletcher.

“The RICS awards are prestigious awards, which shine the light on some of the best projects out there. We are honoured to have been part of the team working on Tudor House Museum, which has five centuries of life under one roof, and which has now been restored and conserved for future generations to enjoy.”

Focus worked with Southampton City Council as project manager on the Heritage Lottery Fund-backed restoration scheme. The museum re-opened last year after nine years of specialist work to conserve, restore and transform the building back to its former glory, and at the same time install the latest audio-video technology to tell the stories behind the building’s unique history.

Focus Consultants has worked on many key heritage, cultural and arts developments across the UK, including the recently opened SeaCity Museum in Southampton and Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, which opened at the end of last year.

The company specialises in creative approaches to securing funding packages and delivering high quality projects across the UK. Since its creation in 1994, Focus has secured over £800 million of grant assistance, and delivered more than £1 billion of projects and programmes - including enterprise support, innovation, culture, health, regeneration, affordable homes and energy carbon sustainability projects.

Other partners in the Tudor House Museum scheme were architects Purcell Miller Tritton LLP and exhibition designers Exhibition Plus.

Photo of Tudor House Museum courtesy of Southampton City Council.

www.focus-consultants.co.uk

Press release issued by Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Chance to win a hamper of bread and cakes for your diamond jubilee street party from Luke Evans Bakery in Derbyshire

Organisers of street parties to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee could win a tasty hamper packed with bread and cakes from Luke Evans Bakery.

The family bakers, which was founded in Derbyshire in 1804, has launched a competition to find the most deserving street party within 20 miles of its bakery at Riddings, near Alfreton.

Luke Evans is urging organisers to write up to 100 words explaining why their street party deserves to win the £100 hamper, which will contain some of the bakery’s most popular products.

“The Queen’s diamond jubilee is a time for national and local celebration, and we know that lots of communities will be holding street parties to mark the occasion,” said David Yates, managing director at Luke Evans Bakery.

“The centrepiece of a street party is usually some kind of buffet, and we’re really pleased to offer the opportunity for communities to win a hamper of bread and cakes.”

Entries need to arrive by Friday May 25th. They can be sent to Helen Waterfall, Luke Evans Bakery, Greenhill Lane, Riddings, Derbyshire, DE55 4AS, or emailed to helenwaterfall@lukeevans.co.uk

Luke Evans Bakery supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club. It also has a shop at Greenhill Lane, Riddings.

Luke Evans Bakery was founded more than 200 years ago by Henry Evans, who named the business after his son. Today it is a modern company with a team of fully trained craft bakers operating 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

www.lukeevans.co.uk

Derbyshire baker Luke Evans Bakery joins National Doughnut Week 2012

Derbyshire baker Luke Evans Bakery is giving customers the perfect excuse to dive into a doughnut by taking part in National Doughnut Week and raising cash for charity.

The baker will be donating 10p from the sale of each doughnut to charity during the week, which runs from Saturday May 12th to Saturday May 19th.

National Doughnut Week has raised more than £735,000 for the Children’s Trust since it was first launched – and this year organisers hope to collect a further £30,000 for the good cause.

This gives everyone the perfect excuse to treat themselves to a delicious doughnut or two, said Luke Evans Bakery managing director David Yates.

“Last year our customers really got behind National Doughnut Week and munched their way through 1,200, which meant we could hand over a decent donation to the Children’s Trust,” said David. “We hope customers will support this good cause again this year.”

Luke Evans Bakery, based at Riddings near Alfreton, will be adding two new doughnuts to its range during National Doughnut Week – chocolate filled and custard filled doughnuts. Alongside its jam and cream doughnuts, the products will be on sale at the firm’s shop in Greenhill Lane, Riddings.

Luke Evans Bakery is one of many participating bakers across the UK helping to raise money for the Children’s Trust, which is a national charity that provides care, education and therapy for children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs.

The firm supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

Luke Evans Bakery was founded more than 200 years ago by Henry Evans, who named the business after his son. Today it is a modern company with a team of fully trained craft bakers operating 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

www.lukeevans.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Orange Tree in Loughborough supports student’s charity effort

Staff at the Orange Tree pub in Loughborough are taking to the saddle to raise money for charity.

The team will cycle 960 miles, but they’ll go nowhere, as they’ll be completing the challenge on an exercise bike in the bar.

The money is being raised in support of customer Alex Carter, 22, who this summer is undertaking a gruelling challenge in aid of Malaria No More UK.

Loughborough University student Alex has pledged to swim 21 miles over two days in Loughborough Olympic Swimming Pool, the equivalent distance of swimming the English Channel, cycle 969 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End, and complete a series of extended marathon runs from Lands End to Loughborough – covering approximately 372 miles over 13 days.

The International Business student is attempting the challenge in aid of Malaria No More UK after almost losing his life to malaria while working in Ghana as a basketball coach in 2008 during his gap year.

Alex spent four days in hospital after contracting a deadly form of malaria, falciparum. Now he has set himself an ambitious personal challenge, which begins in August, and which he has dubbed Victory Over Malaria 1,422 Ultra Triathlon. He hopes to raise £5,000.

The Orange Tree staff have pledged to support his efforts by undertaking their own John O’Groats to Lands End challenge.

“Alex is a housemate of one of our bar staff and a regular at the Orange Tree, and when we heard about his challenge we wanted to do our bit,” said Orange Tree bar supervisor Liam Richards. “We’ll be setting up an exercise bike in the bar and staff will be pedalling the equivalent of Alex’s ride from John O’Groats to Lands End.”

The pub’s efforts begin on Sunday May 20th and Alex will complete the final mile on the evening of Thursday May 24th, when the Orange Tree will also stage a music night in aid of the charity effort.

More than 20 of the Orange Tree’s staff from Loughborough and its sister pubs in Leicester and Nottingham have pledged to do their share of the cycling, including managing director Ben Hings.
All will be doing their bit during their free time.

Customers are being urged to support the charity effort in aid of Malaria No More UK, which is part of a global movement to end suffering and death from malaria.

Sponsorship pages have been set up online and donations are being taken at the bar in Bedford Square, Loughborough.

 The charity push will culminate in an evening of music on Thursday May 24th when two DJs and two bands play at The Orange Tree. Entry is free, with customers being urged to donate to the cause.

“Alex is attempting a gruelling challenge in aid of Malaria No More UK, and we have set ourselves a target of raising more than £1,000 to help the cause,” said Liam. “A little goes a long way in the fight against malaria. £5 is enough to buy, hang and deliver a life-saving mosquito net to a family in Africa, protecting two people from malaria. £10 can transport 150 life-saving nets to a community in rural Ghana – enough to protect 300 people.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/victoryovermalaria for more information or to donate to Alex’s appeal, or leave donations at the Orange Tree.

The photo shows, left to right, Ollie Scott, Dan Newbold, Alex Carter and Liam Richards. Ollie, Dan and Liam are all Orange Tree staff.

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Food and Drink iNet event to help stop waste being a drain on business

East Midlands food and drink companies are being invited to discover ways of transforming waste into energy.

The Food and Drink iNet is staging an event on June 19th which will turn the spotlight on innovative ways of dealing with waste products created during food and drink processing.

It will focus on how to reduce the cost of waste removal, how to match one company’s waste with another firm’s desire to use it, and good waste management.

It will also reveal details of a project being supported by the Food and Drink iNet which is aiming to harness the energy from food production waste using microbial fuel cell technology.

The technology has already been proved to work with dairy effluent, but now Lindhurst Engineering, from Sutton-in-Ashfield, researchers at The University of Nottingham, and dairy products co-operative Arla Foods are working together to see if the system could also be used on food waste.

The team will be looking for volunteer companies to help trial the idea when they showcase the project at the Food and Drink iNet event on June 19th at Hothorpe Hall, Theddingworth, near Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

“Waste removal is a challenge in the food and drink industry,” said Food and Drink iNet director Richard Worrall. “As consumer demand for sustainable products and processes increases, companies must strive to gain the competitive edge in waste management.

“Businesses usually associate waste with additional cost and resources, but there are ways of reducing this.”

Also taking part in the event, which runs from 8.30am to 11am, will be representatives from the University of Northampton’s Centre for Wastes Management and the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP), which matches companies producing waste to those who may have a commercial use for it.

Small or medium-sized food or drink companies that would like to attend the event on June 19th, which is free, should call 0115 9758810 to book or email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), The Food and Drink iNet co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands.

It has developed an effective network to encourage the collaboration of academic expertise and knowledge, and local food and drink business innovation needs. It aims to build on the tradition of innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to help research, develop and implement new products, markets, services and processes.

The Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, The University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.

For more information visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk Issued by Nottingham PR company

Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Opportunities for food and drink producers

East Midlands food and drink producers have flocked to be part of a special Diamond Jubilee event in Mansfield next month.

All the stalls at Mansfield Jubilee Food and Drink Fair on Tuesday June 5th are booked, with a waiting list in operation.

Now East Midlands Fine Foods is inviting firms to take part in a food and drink marquee at the Festival of Heroes event in Grantham, which is being staged on July 7th and 8th.

The aim of the event, which takes place at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, is to raise the profile of the Territorial Army, as well as raise money for Help the Heroes charity and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

A speciality food and drink marquee celebrating the best of British food and drink will be staged within the festival.

“We’re delighted that so many traders are keen to take part in the Mansfield Jubilee Food and Drink Fair, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in the town,” said East Midlands Fine Foods event organiser Toni Jarvis. “We’re now fully booked, but have a waiting list in case of any cancellations.

“However, there’s still space for traders who’d like to join us for the Festival of Heroes event in Grantham in July.”

East Midlands Fine Foods, which promotes food and drink producers from Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland, runs a number of food and drink events in the region, including the monthly Regional and Speciality Food and Drink Market in Nottingham.

Items on sale at the Mansfield event include exotic, fresh and cooked meats, pickles, cheeses, olives and baklava, cakes and coffee.

For more information about stalls call 0115 9758810. For details about the Festival for Heroes event in Grantham visit www.festivalforheroes.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk