SOUTH PETHERWIN INDEPENDENT VOLUNTEERS (SPIVS)
SPIVs are a community group operating as a voluntary labour force within the parish of South Petherwin. Currently with around 30 volunteers on the books the group is in the process of applying for various grants to help with insurance, training and equipment. Now a member of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the local LITTER (Lanson’s Initiative To Tackle Environmental Refuse) campaign, the group seeks to establish and maintain active links with neighbouring organisations with similar aims.
There is no formal membership structure apart from the constitutional officers who are annually elected. Volunteers are drawn from the entire community, giving as much time as they can spare and supporting those projects which interest them most. Projects are initiated either by public request or through the Parish council and go through a process of feasibility and funding studies. Current projects are described below with progress reports.
Anyone with time or expertise (in anything) to spare please contact Peter Bailey on 01566 774818 or Jill Lea on 01566 773778 or Email spindvols@yahoo.co.uk
Blooming South Petherwin
On the 27th February members of SPIVs were invited to give a 20 minute talk on South Petherwin Parish by the Environment service of Cornwall Council. At this meeting were two RHS judges of Britain in Bloom (Its your Neighbourhood) and they along with the Council representatives of the Cornwall in Bloom competition agreed that South Petherwin was the sort of community to do well in both competitions.
With such encouragement, and that also of Mike East (head of Cornwall Council Environment Service), SPIVs approached the Parish Council who also gave their blessing. Due to the time scales involved everyone now needs to move ahead quickly as entries have to be in by the end of May and judging for Cornwall in Bloom takes place between 1st and 5th of August. The aim is to show the village at it's best and to include contributions by as many groups and individuals as possible. Everything counts, horticultural endeavour, environmental responsibility and most importantly community participation.
With this in mind a meeting is to be held in the Village Hall on Friday 9th April at 07:30pm and everyone is invited. So if you want to know more or have any good ideas please come along. Any offers of help no matter how big or small would be appreciated. If you can't make the meeting but still want to be involved please phone either Penny Bailey on 774818 or Jill Lea on 773788.
Progress
We had some exciting news on the 18th November. We learned then that our application for a lottery grant had been successful and that we had been awarded £7,200 to buy equipment and set up a store etc. We now need somewhere to site a containerised store or a similar prefabricated building. If anyone has a suitable corner that we could use we will be delighted to hear from them.
Our big day in November was the 11th when the children from South Petherwin School plated daffodil bulbs in the verges by the school and opposite the Methodist Chapel and Hendra Garage. We were joined by representatives of the Cornwall Community Trust and Wales and West utilities whose grant of £500 made this possible.
The children were absolutely amazing and our visitors left with a very high regard for their enthusiasm and with the community spirit that exists in South Petherwin. The children each left with a little teddy bear given them by WWU.
The daffodils were intended to beautify the whole village and Sue Vernon, with the help of Charlie Wheatley and Derek Pitman, have now planted bulbs in both South Petherwin and Dawes House. A big 'Thank you' to them.
The Quarry
This project was the group’s first and was undertaken at the request of the Parish Council. Situated on the village boundary alongside the Launceston road this is undoubtedly the first impression visitors get of South Petherwin. To emphasise this the village name board is situated in the quarry. It’s proximity to the road and lack of fencing made the quarry the natural choice for every fly tipper and litter bug in the area and it was not a pretty sight (or site).
The undergrowth has now been cut back and the rubbish cleared. The site has been landscaped and will be sown with a grass wild flower seed mix to supplement the nettle beds, brambles and native ferns which have been left or replanted as wildlife habitat.
Rock piles will be reinstated to provide shelter for the toads and frogs which inhabit the quarry and much of the timber produced during the clearing phase has been piled to provide habitat for beetles and other invertebrates. At a later date a small pond will be constructed to encourage amphibians to spawn. Bird and bat boxes will be installed under the guidance of the South Petherwin Wildlife Group.
Footpaths
The parish has only two registered footpaths both leading North from Saint Paternus’ Church, South Petherwin and crossing the A30 to arrive eventually in Tregadillett. The paths are not used extensively, mainly due to the lack of maintenance. Public funding for this work is woefully inadequate but County Councils can and will supply materials and furniture provided volunteers will do the work!
The group has carried out a preliminary survey of the paths and are now engaged in a formal survey for the County Council which will for the basis of plans for improving the paths to a stage where all can use them to gain access to the countryside. Future work to make the paths viable will involve cutting back hedges and undergrowth, cutting grass, repairing/replacing stiles, reinstating surfaces, erecting signposts and way markers, making tea (and drinking it) and lots of other jobs. Something for everyone in fact.
Outline plans have been made to enhance the footpaths with information points highlighting historical and environmental items of interest.
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