Lichfield News – Food Festival and Bike Ride

Lichfield News

 Food Festival and Bike Ride

 

Lichfield Food Festival Market and Pop Up Cookery Demos

Festival goers will be spoilt for choice with the wide range of food and drink stalls and pop up cookery demonstrations at Lichfield Food Festival Market.
This year’s Lichfield Food Festival Market will take place on the Market Square, and will extend to surrounding streets and through Three Spires Shopping Centre. It will run on Saturday 30 August from 9am to 5pm and on Sunday 31 August between 10am and 4pm.

Organised by Lichfield City Council, the weekend market will bring an abundance of passionately produced food from across the region and beyond, together with a wide range of goods to Lichfield.

Markets’ Officer Rachel Clive said: “With such a versatile selection of delicious traditional British and multi-cultural hot and cold food on offer over the weekend, Lichfield Food Festival Market will definitely have something to suit all tastes. On Sunday children can enjoy the experience with a visit to the children’s activity stall on Market Square where, for £2.50, they can create their own personalised sweetie box to take home.”

To see all of the stall holders that will be showcasing their produce, visit http://www.lichfieldfood.co.uk/market/

One of the market’s highlights will be the pop up cookery demonstrations taking place over the two days of the festival on Market Square, organised by Central England Co-operative in association with chef Simon Smith.

Top chefs from across the region will prepare dishes in front of the crowds using The Co-operative food range.

The series of free displays will kick off on Saturday 30 August at 11am when head chef Paul Gilmore from Restaurant Gilmore will take to the pop up kitchen. They will run on the hour with the last demonstration starting at 4pm. Chefs, including choclatier Daniel Jones, star baker Duncan Hindley, local private caterer Simon Smith, Trevor Hancock from Super Yachts and Gail Abbey from Sospa Fitness, will also be cooking up a storm on Saturday.

On Sunday 31 August, the demonstrations will start at 12noon when Paul Bough will prepare dishes using Henckel Zwilling Knives. The displays will run on hour, and will also feature Richard Turner from Turner’s Restaurant, Matt Davies from Moat House and Sorrento’s Head chef Umberto. The final display of the festival will be by the owner of Lichfield’s Ruby restaurant, who will demonstrate Chinese dishes from 4pm.

Chef Simon Smith said: “From high end dining and healthy eating, to chocolate treats and fun food for the family, there are plenty of displays to choose from.”

Lichfield Food Festival also includes a celebration of local brewers in the Guildhall, cookery demonstrations showcasing kitchen gadgets at The Kitchen Shop and The George Hotel, a children’s Cupcake Hunt starting at St Mary’s in the Market Square (Saturday only), a baking competition at Three Spires Shopping Centre (Sunday), as well as food and drink trails.

Some familiar faces will also be appearing, including TV chef Rachel Green, the QVC and Ideal World TV presenter, Mal Harradine, and Christine Wallace, finalist in the Great British Bake Off.

For the full Lichfield Food Festival programme, please visit http://www.lichfieldfood.co.uk

There will be road closures over the two day festival that will affect Tamworth Street (lower section), Conduit Street, Breadmarket Street, Market Street and Bore Street. To find the nearest car parks, please visitwww.lichfielddc.gov.uk/carparkmap

Lichfield Food Festival is organised in partnership by Lichfield District Council, Central England Co-operative, Chef Simon Smith, Lichfield City Council, Three Spires Shopping Centre, Lichfield Arts, Tippers, Cakeydora, The Kitchen Shop and The George Hotel. It is sponsored by Central England Co-operative, Tippers and NFU Mutual.

August’s cycle ride for all

Everyone’s invited to get on their bike and join a cycle ride to Fisherwick Lakes on Sunday 24 August 2014.
Following July’s Cycle Rides for All, which saw 35 people go on a three and a half mile taster cycle ride that set off from Beacon Park, the partnership behind the series of monthly rides is once again inviting keen cyclists to get on their bike for August’s ride.

The sixth group cycle ride in the series is to Fisherwick Lakes on Sunday 24 August. It is an eight and a half mile cycle ride there and back and has been awarded a level 2 for difficulty, which means it is suitable for all.

Councillor Andy Smith, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure & Parks, said: “We’re always keen to encourage more people to get on their bikes and take part in this healthy and fun activity, and so are pleased to be working in partnership to support these monthly cycle rides. They are a great way for people to discover good cycle routes, meet new people, and have an enjoyable day out.”

To join in this free cycle ride, simply bring your bike to Freedom Cycles, in Lichfield Bus Station, at 10am on Sunday 24 August, where it will be given a safety check before the group sets off. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

To find out more, or to check whether a ride is taking place if the weather is uncertain, please call Freedom Cycles on 01543 411633 or Karl Sproston at Lichfield District Council on 01543 308846.

Details of this and September’s cycle ride can be found online at http://www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/cyclerides.

Cycle Rides for All is run in partnership by Lichfield District Council, Freedom Cycles, Bromford Living, North Lichfield Initiative and Lichfield City Council.

Canal News – Cycling moves up a gear in Staffordshire

Canal News

Cycling moves up a gear in Staffordshire

Local people are being given the opportunity to view exciting plans to develop new cycle paths linking Staffordshire with the Peak District national park along one of the our historic waterways.Caldon Canal courtesy of Julie Arnold

The project will see the creation of four new cycle ways directly into the national park from the surrounding urban areas and is expected to benefit around 3.5 million people.

The project is being funded through the Government’s National Park Cycle Fund, with the Peak District National Park receiving £5 million. An additional £2.5 million will be provided by local authorities and a range of other organisations.

Historic towpath

One of the key routes will see the historic towpath of the Caldon Canal improved to provide a link connecting the Potteries through the Staffordshire Moorlands to the Peak District. The project will see £2m spent on improving the towpath for both walkers and cyclists. The project is the largest investment in Staffordshire’s canal network in recent years and will provide visitors the opportunity to access this green, wildlife-rich gateway into both the Churnet Valley and Peak District National Park.

Contractors, working in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, will start at Stockton Brook in Stoke-on-Trent and work on sections of the towpath progressing towards Endon and on to Cheddleton and Leek.  From there an on road signed route to the Roaches from Leek and to the Manifold Valley will be provided as part of the project.

Drop-in event

A drop-in event giving local people the opportunity to view the plans and speak to some of the organisations behind the project will take place on Thursday 6 February from 4.30pm to 7.00pm at the Stoke-on-Trent Boat Club, off Park Lane in Endon.

Charlotte Atkins, chair of the Canal & River Trust’s Central Shires Waterway Partnership, adds: “We’re delighted to see works progressing to develop this important route with the County Council. Running through some of Staffordshire’s most spectacular countryside and steeped in history, the Caldon Canal is a very special place for visitors to explore.

“We really hope that walkers and cyclists will take the time to stop off and appreciate what the canal, and the communities it runs through have to offer as they make their way into and out of the beautiful Peak District.”

The work is expected to be completed in June 2015. Small sections of the towpath will be closed at a time to allow the work to be carried out safely and to minimise any inconvenience caused.

For further information on the scheme please feel free to drop into the event at the Stoke-on-Trent Boat or contact the project manager at Staffordshire County Council at stephen.knott@staffordshire.gov.uk

Pic – David Jackson

Canal News – Advice re Hedgecutting, and Cycling along the Canal

Canal News

Grand Union Canal approaching Catherine de Barnes near Solihull

Catherine de Barnes Bridge, No 78 is ahead. Visitor moorings here are good. The pub is more of a restaurant with bar, but does still serve real ale.  © Copyright Roger Kidd and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Advice: Grand Union Canal

GUN Hedgecutting South East Waterway

Monday 8 October 2012 – Friday 1 March 2013

We have commenced the annual hedge cutting round, starting on the 1st October running until 1st March. Please be aware this work will result in thorns on towpaths. The specification includes the clearing of cut thorns from the tow path following a cut of the previous year’s growth, our contractors will blow/sweep/rake/clear the thorns off the path, however there will be areas where some thorns remain on the towpath or blow from the hedge onto the towpath following windy conditions. If you are planning a cycling trip please follow link http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/cycling/hints-and-tips for helpful tips. If you have a pet be mindful of tender paws picking up thorns on the path and under the hedgerows following this work.

Enquiries: 03030404040

Cycling along the Grand Union Canal

  Cycling

Cycling is a great way of seeing our network of canals and rivers and getting some exercise at the same time. If you’re planning a day out on your bike why not incorporate our canals into it? Our towpaths offer traffic free routes next to some of the country’s most stunning waterside scenery.

Our canals and rivers attract over 21 million visits from cyclists each year and with thousands of miles of towpaths, which by their nature tend to be fairly level, it’s easy to see why. Where else can you take in such a diverse range of wildlife and the country’s finest heritage structures while you’re out on your bike?

Providing green corridors through our cities and linking our towns and villages together, canal towpaths are used by a range of cyclists from boaters running errands on their bike to experienced cyclists on week-long tours and families taking an afternoon ride together.

Cycling by the Trent & Mersey Canal

The Canal & River Trust welcomes considerate cyclists to its towpaths and you don’t need a permit to use your bike on any of our towpaths. However, we would ask that you take a look at our Greenways Code for Towpaths before you take to the towpaths. Lots of people visit the waterways, for many different reasons, and everyone is entitled to feel happy and safe whilst they’re visiting.

Pontcysyllte aqueduct

The undated plaque nearby says: “Built by Thomas Telford 1795-1805 there are 18 piers made of local stone, the central ones over the Dee being 126′ high up to the ironwork.

The canal runs through an iron trough, 1007′ long, 11’10” wide and 5’3″ deep, the largest in Britain. The iron was supplied by William Hazeldine from his foundries at Shrewsbury and nearby Cefn Mawr.  Total cost £47,000.  Water is fed from the Dee at the Horseshoe falls at Llantysilio near Llangollen.”  © Copyright Peter Craine and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

  Llangollen Canal to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

A flat canal, tow path cycle route which takes you from the beautiful Welsh tourist town of Llangollen to the world famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

This route is not recommended for road bikes, as the tow path is mainly a crushed gravel surface with some tarmac stretches along the way. Make sure you take care when cycling near water and give way to pedestrians.

Llangollen is a beautiful welsh tourist town standing on The River Dee with Castell Dinas Bran standing high above the town. The bridge in the centre of the town which crosses the River Dee was built in 1345. Llangollen also has a fantastic steam railway which runs daily in the holiday season up and down the banks of The River Dee.

1. Start – Llangollen

Start from Heoll y Castell (the main high street in the town).

2. Llangollen to the Wharf Hill

Cycle across the Llangollen Bridge, over the River Dee, away from the main town centre. At the end of the bridge, turn right on to Mill Street and, after 50 yards, turn left up Wharf Hill, which is a very short steep hill. You might like to walk this short section.

At the top of the hill, you will see the Llangollen Canal. When you reach the canal, turn right along the towpath, away from the canal cruise shop, and cycle along the towpath under the bridge and along the right-hand bank of the canal.

3. Wharf Hill to Pontyscyllte

After 100 yards, you will be cycling along the towpath past a wooded area and then you will be cycling out in the open countryside along the canal and under several bridges. The canal roughly follows the route of The River Dee as it meanders along its way, which is over on your right hand side.

After about four miles you will reach Pontyscyllte and will come out at the canal basin by the aqueduct.

Cross over the bridge to the other side of the canal and cycle across the world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which is now a world heritage site. It was built in 1805 by Thomas Telford, is 1,007 ft long, and 126 ft high and you can enjoy some fantastic views of the surrounding area from the aqueduct.

Distance

3.98 miles / 6.41 Kilometers

Route Type

Cycling

oakparkrunners day

Also available when the sun shines!!