Emma Noble

Urgent police warning on fraud

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The following email has been received from the police, please share the information with family and friends who may be vulnerable:

We have had a number of offences again today and so a significant series across Herefordshire over the last 5-6 days and a group targeting our elderly population, some of whom have lost many thousands of pounds.

We have set up an investigative team to try and stop the current number of offences which all appear linked but would ask that together with the posters that we please ask that people talk about this with family, friends and service users.  The targeted group is the elderly but in the main single females.  This demographic will probably respond better to word of mouth rather than our usual routes.

No one will phone to ask for account details, pin numbers or for money to be collected by couriers so people just need to put the phone down.  Please ask them to call the police if they have someone attempt this tactic.

The more people we can get talking about this the better chance we have of protecting the relevant demographic so please spread the word.  Thank you.

Detective Chief Inspector Jon Roberts

            

Tree Week 22 November – 1 December

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Herefordshire Tree Network is holding various events. Please see the details below.

Friday 22nd November: Made in the Marches Gallery is holding another popular music evening at 12 Church St, Kington HR5 3AZ. 6pm until 9.00 pm. Live music, refreshments, and a £100 raffle prize to be spent in the gallery, with proceeds going to Herefordshire tree planting projects. More info 07531 820195 or on www.madeinthemarches.com
Saturday 23rd November: Split Hazel Basketry Workshop, Learn the techniques for making a traditional split-hazel frame basket, known as a ‘swallow basket’ due to its similarity to a swallows nest. 10:00am – 4:00pm at Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum. £70 pp. Over the day you will prepare all of the components, straight from rods of hazel, with a minimum of tools, before assembling then into a basket of your own creating. Booking: ring 01432 530088 or go to www.herefordshirewt.org/events/2019-11-23-split-hazel-basketry
Sunday 24th November: A walking talk on the new trees in the Long Acre and Rope Walk Linear Arboretum with local Cllr and Ross tree warden Rob Taylor. Meet at the Bandstand, 14 Wye St, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7BX at 11 am for a walk along the newly planted linear Arboretum discussing some of the sixty to eighty different trees. There will be a tree planting demo using rope tree ties (no plastic!). Duration: one to two hours. For more info contact Rob on robtaylor3456@gmail.com
Wednesday 27th November: Textures of Trees: exploring with hands and charcoal with Artist-in-Residence, Richard Bavin, at Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum, 10 am to 1.30 pm. A hands-on workshop involving gathering up leaves, cones, twigs and other bits of trees from the woodland floor – these will become our subject for charcoal drawing. Suitable for beginners as well as those with some experience – a great way of getting into experimental drawing. £35. To book:
www.herefordshirewt.org/events/2019-11-27-textures-trees-exploring-hands-charcoal
Thursday 28th November: Hereford in Bloom will be planting a willow in one of Hereford’s finest Conservation areas by the famous duck pond (remnant of the city’s historic moat), Cantilupe St (HR1 2NU), at 10.30am. This is the culmination of local action to replace the much loved mature willow that died last year. More info if needed: 07710715235
Friday 29th November: Ancient Trees – why are they so important for people and wildlife? A wide ranging talk with well-known tree expert and ecologist Tim Dixon, covering the social and natural history of old trees, particularly in Herefordshire. Tim will explore the extraordinary and complex world of ancient trees from a human and wildlife perspective and explore some of the current opportunities that rewilding might offer for future generations. Venue: DKP café, The Left Bank, Hereford HR4 9DG. Doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start and 9.30pm finish.. £3 members, £4 non-members towards supporting and managing the city reserves. Book: www.herefordshirewt.org/events/2019-11-29-ancient-trees-why-are-they-so-important-people-and-wildlife
Saturday 30th November: Hereford City Tree Trail: City tree warden, Nic Howes will lead a new guided walk, starting outside west front of Hereford Cathedral at 10:00 to return there by 12:00. This event is an opportunity for a group to trial Hereford City Council’s forthcoming Tree Trail app – participants will be given a link to the Trail on Google Maps, which they can follow on a Smartphone if they wish.
Saturday 30th November: a very rural walk of approximately 3 miles (2 hours), led by Aymestrey tree warden Ken Holland, meeting at Aymestrey Parish Hall (A4110, HR6 9SU), at 10.30am for refreshments. Plenty of car parking. The route is flat with one stile to climb over, with the main walk through fields and along a track by the River Lugg, so may be muddy. Dogs on leads and kids are welcome. More info: 01568 770367. Possibility of a bit of tree planting en route subject to landowner consent.
h.Tree Week is part of The Tree Council’s National Tree Week ~ www.treecouncil.org.uk

New water abstraction licenses needed

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Water Abstraction licences·If you abstract or impound water or plan to do so, you may need to apply for an abstraction or impoundment licence.

·         If you used to abstract water under an exemption, you must apply for a new licence (also known as a new authorisation). You must apply before 31 December 2019. Please apply as soon as you can so that the Environment Agency has enough time to accept and validate it before 31 December 2019

·         Information, guidance & forms – click HERE

Environment Agency hotline for previously exempt abstractors

The Environment Agency has established a free hotline and bookable appointments service to help previously exempt abstractors complete their New Authorisation application forms by 1 October in order to meet the deadline of 31/12/2019.

The dedicated team will be supporting New Authorisations applicants by:

  • answering any specific questions you may have
  • helping you to decide if you need to apply for a licence
  • talking you through completing your application form
  • arranging a convenient call-back time to take them through their application
  • The hotline and bookable appointments service can be accessed by calling our normal National Customer Contact Centre service on 03708 506506 and asking for New Authorisations, or by email via enquiries@environment‐agency.gov.uk.

Volunteers needed for Onside charity

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Onside a local charity which works across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, is looking for people to take on the role of a Relevant Persons Representative (RPR).

As an RPR the volunteer would be visiting a person just once every 6-8 weeks for no more than 1 hour. Volunteering would be local to where the volunteer lives.  Volunteers as an RPR are safeguarding the rights of vulnerable people who don’t have the mental capacity to consent to care or treatment.

Onside’s Volunteer Manager, Claire Watkins, said   “Our volunteers give their time, their passion and enthusiasm, this role is very worthwhile and rewarding.”

Volunteers are ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds they just need to be good listeners and have some time to give.  We also have further opportunities with other advocacy projects.

If you can picture yourself in the role of an Onside volunteer please call Claire Watkins – Volunteer Manager on 01905 27525 or email  claire.watkins@onside-advocacy.org.uk to find out more. This type of volunteering is flexible to fit with your life and circumstances. Free training (throughout the year) is provided and all expenses paid.