‘can’t recommend this bread highly enough! Love arriving home on a Friday to a wee loaf which is dispatched in no time usually with lots of butter and some fine wine… )’

If you would like a weekly delivery then email doorstepbakery@gmail.com

Neil and John getting ready for Pizza Night

achieved.’

Tom receives our award in Glasgow earlier in the month

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland and chair of the judging panel for the Scottish Green Awards said:

“I and the other judges were particularly impressed with the comprehensive approach taken by NHTT to making their area more sustainable. From energy use to transport and food the group have had great ideas and followed them through over the last 2 years. North Howe Transition Toun provide a superb example of how even a small community can start to get to grips with what climate change and high oil prices will bring.”

I think there is cause for us all to be proud for our contribution over the passed few years and look forward to continuing to work together for a more sustainable future for our community.

Once upon a time, a long time ago- well 3 ½ years ago, in a land quite near here, ok here then, there was a sad, tired old park. Although the park was a nice space to have, only a few boys and girls used it’s rusting old swing, ageing chute and faded roundabout. But what really represented the park was its, ugly and rotting shelter.

Then one day two princesses were in the park Princess Cathy Bache and Princess Louise Barron, They felt oh so sad for the tired old park and asked it what they could do to make it a happier place to be.

The park explained how all its friends had shiny new equipment and how many children wouldn’t go and play in it because there wasn’t much to do. The park also said it was embarrassed by the rotten old shelter that many of the Secret Garden Children had to use.

The two princesses spoke with the master wizard John Vaughan and together the 3 made a plan to make the park happy.

This needed magic and so they sought out the fairy godmother Colin Gilbert. Colin wanted to help but explained that even he didn’t have all the magic required and asked the two princesses to seek, wizards, witches- and the National Lottery to help conjure a great spell.

And so our three heroes set off on a magical quest to find magic from all over the Kingdom -of Fife.

First call was to the elfs of FET, (Fife Environmental Trust) Ashley Birrell and  Maria Scott

And then on to Wise old man of the Secret Garden- Tom Hedley.  He contacted his LEADERs in Fife- Lady Barbara Solway and Lady Helen Rorrison. They were enchanted with the idea and want to add their own magic

 

Next was a visit to the splendid and lavish palace of Fife House where Lord of the Swings  Alan Bissett, and his dashing knights  Peter Howden and John McVicar agreed to summon a huge spell between them.

But still they didn’t have a enough magic and the Fairy Godmothers Colin Gilbert, Frances Arbuckle and Fiona Mitchell were approached. They saw great merit in this multi –agency magic and pledged some spells themselves.

 

And last but not least was the Green Giant – NHTT, his directors Tom Morton, Neil Stoddart and Crispin Hays were keen to get Awards for All – despite it being a lottery.

 

Armed with all this magic they asked the Park how it would like to be  transformed. The park wasn’t sure and said it just wanted to be loved.  Ask my friends it wailed.

 

And so our heroes started asking questions of the children in the Village, adults in the village, the Secret Garden, the Community Council , the primary school and those at Bell Baxter School of Magic. We wanted a new shelter, we wanted new equipment, we wanted a skate park and we wanted adult exercise equipment.

 

The good Director Tom Morton designed a shelter and the group rallied together with builder fairies Becky Little and Alison Davie and set to work building the shelter.

 

But as in all fairy tales, nothing runs smoothly. The evil dark Lord Transco swooped down from the sky and stopped the project dead in its tracks, pointing out that work was about to be started over their pipeline!

 

But were the group put off- no, “Lord Transco is full of gas”, cried Princess Louise and the shelter was moved and improved. Then the planning warlock got involved and cried that planning permission was needed… andit was got. As long as it doesn’t have a satellite dish, shouted the community, and it didn’t!

 

Soon the Park began to take shape- new equipment, swings, a chute, a climbing frame, skate park, adult exercise machines, a climbing wall and lots of posts that stick out the ground that I don’t quite know what you are meant to do with !

 

But the snow and ice and snow and more snow of the long dark winter had set in and the shelter couldn’t get built.

 

And then one  Spring day the building fairies Beckie and Alison cast such a spell that they needed all the help of the children in the village and the primary school to build the clay walls and mix their potion.

 

And so now the transformation is complete. The Park became loved again and children travelled from miles around to play in it, the Secret Gardeners could keep dry and the community had a resource to help them get and stay fit.

 

The Park was delighted and beamed with happiness and they all lived happily ever after.

This year there will be some changes as we are now no longer funded we need to make sure that we are in a position to sustain this and other projects established during the CCF funded period. In previous years apple press hire has been free for members but this year it will be £5 for members and those within the NHTT area. The cost for those outwith the area will remain unchanged at £10 for the day. We hope our members will understand that this is crucial and will allow for the upkeep of the press and will be buying new mesh bags to kick off the apple pressing season. Any comments please let us know.

Continued support from the community is as essential as funding for our projects. Louise is currently stepping back from a number of the tasks she has carried out since becoming support worker over 2 years ago. We were wondering if anyone would like to help out with projects such as the apple press. It doesn’t take a lot of time and is mostly monitoring and confirming bookings from the comfort of your own home. Without help the apple press will no longer be available for hire so if you have half an hour to spare a week during the 2 months the apple press is busy then get in touch with Louise.