Supermarkets 48% - Aylsham 90%

Aylsham Plastic Bag FREE
Norfolk’s First Plastic Bag FREE Town
www.aylshamplasticbagfree.co.uk

On 3rd May 2008, the historic market town of Aylsham became Norfolk’s first Plastic Bag FREE town


Press Release

Supermarkets 48% - Aylsham 90%

Today the supermarkets have shouted about the reduction they have achieved in plastic bag use. It’s wonderful news that 346 million fewer plastic bags are now being handed out, but they still handed out 372 million which will continue to have a huge impact on the environment.

Aylsham, a historic market town in the heart of Norfolk, became Norfolk’s first plastic bag free town just over a year ago. A survey was carried out following the move by the town’s traders, and discovered that Aylsham has achieved a reduction of 90%.

What Aylsham has proved, is that if the will of the general public and traders is there, then reducing environmental impact is very achievable. 97% of people support Aylsham’s campaign to go plastic bag free, with over 60% always bringing their own bags and just 1% choosing to ignore the campaign completely.

It was always realised that it would be impossible for Aylsham to become 100% plastic bag free. Even with legislation you can’t get everyone to join a campaign like this, but to achieve a 90% reduction is a huge achievement.

Throughout the process of becoming plastic bag free, Aylsham wrote a blog, which gives helpful information to traders and customers. Other towns who wish to follow suit are welcome to read the blog and learn from the process Aylsham took – www.aylshamplasticbagfree.co.uk

End Press Release

For more information on Aylsham Plastic Bag Free, please visit the Aylsham Plastic Bag Free website – www.aylshamplasticbagfree.co.uk

Or contact:

Aylsham Traders Association
c/o 32 Market Place, Aylsham, Norfolk, NR11 6EN
Website: www.aylshamtraders.co.uk
Email: info@aylshamtraders.co.uk
Tel: 01263 734848

Earthly Ideas
Jason Borthwick
Email: enquiries@earthlyideas.co.uk
Tel: 07776 254019

The project was also supported by:

Norfolk County Council
Alun Housago
Email: alun.housago@norfolk.gov.uk
Tel: 01603 222089

Broadland District Council

Aylsham Town Council

Where's the good news gone?

There are some evenings when you wished you hadn't watched TV. The other night there was Freefall, a drama about the credit crunch, followed by Newsnight, where they were talking about the increasing spread of swine flu.

Don't get me wrong, Freefall was superbly written and really moving, and Paxman was as straight talking as you would expect, but I'd been in an excellent mood before I started to watch and by the end that mood had certainly darkened.

I think the thing that most depressed me, was the shear lack of concern that the bankers in Freefall showed, having no concept of the effect they've had on people's lives without the slightest remorse. I know it was drama, but the writers seem to have really summed up the scum that run our banks. I can't say I've met any bankers who are giving their huge salaries to the people affected by their greed.

Having been reminded of how fragile our financial system is, I was then presented with the unsettling facts about swine flu and the numbers that will die.

Whether the drama got it completely right, maybe there are caring bankers out there, or swine flu will be as bad as the forecasts say, it would be lovely to switch on the TV and see positive news for once.

Clearly good news doesn't make headlines, but I know of some amazingly good stories out there, such as the tourism industry in the UK. This year the numbers of people staying at home and supporting local accommodation is superb. Hopefully we'll have a half decent summer to show those visitors that they can visit again and again. As tourism is the largest industry in Norfolk by a long long way, lets hope that the tourism industry can help Norfolk climb out of recession faster than other areas of the world.

Please No! - Blair to become the president of Europe

I can’t think of a better reason for not ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, than to prevent Tony Blair becoming the president of Europe. Why is it that this man won’t just go away. He led us into an illegal war, with his cronies set up the UK for a major recession and the bank crisis, and now he wants to sit over us again in Europe.

Please, please, please sign the petition at www.stopblair.eu to send the message to the government and the other European powers that he is the wrong man.

Deepdale Backpackers and Camping News June 2009

Well three months have flown by and we've loved every minute we’ve been here. We have really enjoyed meeting some of you and we are really excited to be meeting many more of you over the summer. We’ve worked really hard to maintain the things you all told Alister and Jason that you loved about Deepdale and we hope that the small changes we have made are only helping you to enjoy your time with us more and more. There are some things that we have started to add to Deepdale and we thought this would be the perfect time to let you in on a few of them. We look forward to hearing from you all soon.
Louise, Andrea and the Team at Deepdale


Deepdale Backpackers and Camping is very proud to present to you the Deepdale Yurt
A wonderfully intimate camping experience with the luxury of double beds, a wood burning stove and gently twinkling solar powered fairy lights!
All you could need or want for a comfortable camping experience.

‘Wow! I walked in and my jaw hit the floor!’
James, Burnham Market

www.deepdalebackpackers.co.uk/tipis

Writer’s retreat
20th to 22nd November 2009
Come and explore the boundaries of your imagination in our wonderful converted 17th century Stables on the beautifully atmospheric North Norfolk Coast.
Enjoy the Beaches, Marshes, traditional harbours and breathtaking countryside. Let your creativity flow with our specially designed workshops and critique seminars. Advanced booking essential.

Dog Activity Guide
Holidaying with your beloved pooch is a wonderful experience, even better when there is plenty for you to see and do with your canine companion by your side. For inspiration on places you can go to eat with your pooch, beaches for them to frolic on and so much more please check out our Paws In Motion page.

Cycle Tours
6th to 8th November 2009
Two days of guided cycles tours on the stunning North Norfolk Coast.
Advanced booking is essential.
The North Norfolk Coast is an area of outstanding natural beauty with beautiful panoramic views, gentle rolling hills, and stunning beaches. A local expert will show you the area giving you some information on the history of the area, the wildlife surrounding you and some of the unique geographical features while pushing those boundaries and helping you really see the scenery as you pass by.

Dog Friendly room now available in the Hostel
After many requests and lots of feedback from you all, we’ve gone ahead and made Samphire a room where your K9 companions can come indoors and stay with you. There is only one so you are advised to book well in advance. We look forward to meeting all or Furry Fans.

Singles Walking Week!
19th to 23rd October 2009
Do you have a partner who doesn’t like walking?
Do you love walking but enjoy it even more when you are meeting some new people too?
Do you love walking but are not confident in your map reading skills?
Then welcome to the Deepdale Singles Walking Week! Four days of planned walks guided by a local expert. This is a chance to meet some likeminded people whilst being shown some of the most wonderful sights in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Advanced booking is essential

Deepdale Quest
You’re staying at Deepdale, but what can you do?
There’s so much to see, and so much to do.
So why don’t you follow the Deepdale Quest?
See what it takes to beat the rest.
With questions and riddles to answer and find,
It’s all you need to amuse your body and mind.
So pay your pound and time your dash,
The prize you could win, is worth more than cash!

Up Coming Events

Deepdale Quest
1st May - 1st September

Hunstanton Carnival
28th June

Hunstanton Lifestyles Festival
10th - 12th July

World Snail Racing Championships
18th July

Holkham Country Fair
18th and 19th July

Jelly Festival
1st August

Wells Carnival Week
1st - 8th August

Brancaster Sailing Week
9th - 14th August

Medieval Spectacular
29th - 31st August

Brancaster Mussels in Season
September to early April

Flights of Geese
Mid October to Mid February

Singles Walking Week
19th - 23rd October

Seal Pups on Blakeney Point
November and December

Cycle Tour Weekend
6th - 8th November

Writers Retreat
20th - 22nd November

For more information on any of these events, plus many more, please see our website events and courses page.

This programme may change and will definitely be added to. The most up to date information is on our website at: www.deepdalebackpackers.co.uk/events

Deepdale Farm is on Twitter

Slightly surprised about it, but Deepdale Farm has joined the world of Twitter and you can now get regular weather reports and the occasional update.

http://twitter.com/deepdalefarm

The most frustrating times to come up with ideas

Do you find that your best ideas come to you at the most unhelpful moments?

I always get ideas for this blog when I'm driving somewhere and have no chance to make a note to follow up later.

Wind farms on the Norfolk Coast - the case in favour of them, from Jason Borthwick

I wrote the following in response to a short piece on the Norfolk Coast Blog, that I avidly follow and enjoy. To read their piece visit: norfcoast.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-hot-air-over-wind-farm-plans.html

"I was surprised by your short piece on windturbines around the Norfolk coast.

Obviously you aren't keen on them, which is fair enough, but I can't see why they would damage the tourism-based economy.

The main views from the beauty spots of the the Norfolk coast aren't going to be hugely affected. Yes if you look far to the East of West from the best beaches, you'll see wind turbines in the distance, but they won't be directly in front of your face.

In many places that have embraced wind turbines, including Denmark, New Zealand and Holland, they have found that the wind turbines have actually increased visitor numbers. In the UK, Swaffham found it's visitor numbers increased when the turbines were installed and Cornwall has many and certainly isn't suffering.

Yes, I'm a huge fan of turbines, happily have them around my house, but there's more to it than that. The offshore ones, seem to be having a positive impact on species like lobster and shell fish, which will eat nicely in our restaurants and keep fishing jobs. The visitor centres are very popular and green tourism is hugely on the increase, and the turbines will show our green credentials fully.

I can understand people not being keen, but when faced with it, I personally would prefer a lot of wind turbines to any sort of power station. The Suffolk coast has nuclear stations and those are about to renewed, so they have suffered and will continue to suffer from those ugly blots on the landscape and the fear of nuclear (real or imagined).

The best solution is to make it a legal requirement that every community has to produce their own carbon neutral power. Leave them to decide how they want to do it, but it must be carbon neutral (say based on 15 to 20 years) and then communities can discuss whether wind turbines, photo voltaic cells, power stations, wave power, hydro or other forms of generation are the ones for their locality and their sensibilities."