Lots to look forward to in December. There’s the official Chester Green Christmas Switch-on, at 4.30pm (for a 5pm switch-on) at the Northside of Chester Green (where Marcus Street meets Chester Green road). They’ll be festive music and the council have confirmed our Chester Green Christmas Tree will be ready in time. Bring a baulbal or similar to help decorate it on the night!

It also marks the start of the Chester Green Christmas Window Trail 2021. The trail map is included with this month’s newsletter, but a mobile-friendly electronic version can also be found at: https://tinyurl.com/CGXMasWindows2021. Can you find the Christmas Pudding hidden in one of the windows? There’s a prize for one person who correctly identifies where it is (drawn at random after Christmas!). If you’re struggling to find it, have no fear, this link will help you (if you view it on a phone ;-)) http://tinyurl.com/HuntThePud

We’re pleased to report that the Community Centre is back up to a full timetable of weekly events. There may be something that takes your fancy. The latest info can always be found at: http://www.chestergreencommunitygroup.yolasite.com/weekly-timetable.php

Anyway, there’s lots more in the newsletter, which will be making its way to you (Little Chester residents!). Electronic versions of the newsletter, and the Christmas Window Trail map can be found below:

Both this month’s, and last month’s, newsletters are attached (forgot to upload last month’s newsletter….apologies!)

Lots going on this month, in Little Chester. There is the Cafe on the Green, a potential Christmas film screening and updates on the latest Aida/Bliss factory redevelopment proposals. Also, the Halloween Disco is back at the Community Centre (and we still have the Little Chester pumpkin counter app for the little ‘uns at Halloween https://openprocessing.org/sketch/1001865!), and the lamppost poppies will be going up soon, all donations are welcome (https://tinyurl.com/CGPoppies2021)!

The real-life copies should be on their way to you, as we speak, but the electronic versions are viewable below:

Below is a link to the August 2021 Newsletter. A massive thanks to everyone who helped organise and run this year’s Picnic on the Green. Although there were still some restrictions (we couldn’t play games…boo), it was a great event showing off some local talent, too! Another big thanks to all the local businesses that gave their support in the form of prizes for the raffle (J R Smith Newsagents, Chester Green Fish Bar, Robert Ashley Barbers, Chester Green Mini Market, The Barbershop and Crumbs on the Green) and the loan of a generator for power (Sunbelt Rentals).

There’s also details of a new group, hoping to meet on Wednesday 4th August (Friends of Chester Green), the upcoming 2nd Chester Green Scarecrow festival and lots more in this month’s edition!

Picnic on the Green is ON (weather permitting!). There are a few changes and a bit of social distancing, but I think we all deserve a day on the Green for our annual event! It starts at 1pm on Sunday 11th July!

There’s also details on the restarting of the Little Chester Local History Group, more classes starting in the area, and even details of a new, local, driving instructor! Do feel free to share!

Lots in the newsletter this month! One of the stolen street signs has been recovered. There’s a free ‘Jazz on the Green’ concert this month, a new Drama group for kids (two separate age-group classes) at the community centre, and details of this year’s Picnic on the Green! Exciting times! The hard copy is on it’s way to you as we speak, or get the electronic version below!

This month’s newsletter is winging its way to you all as we speak! There’s a history book co-written by local resident and history expert, Joan D’arcy (who also sadly passed away in 2020) charting the story of Sir Alfred Haslam, the Marine Refrigeration pioneer who was M.D. of the Haslam Foundry and Engineering Company in City Road, Derby. The book is available to purchase online at https://tinyurl.com/SirHaslamBook

There’s news on the up-coming events like The Chester Green Well Dressing which will be held at the Marcus Street Well on the afternoon of 11th June and for the first time in many years, the boards will be displayed on 12th/13th June at the Well in the Vicarage Garden on Old Chester Road.  We’re also hoping to hold the annual Picnic on the Green on 11th July. There’s also a family cycle ride to Elvaston Castle happening on 22nd May.

There’s more in the newsletter, of course, linked below. Do share!

After a month off (a slow news month, it would seem!), below is the jam-packed April Newsletter. Details on the excellent work of some Chester Green volunteers have done in the upcycling of the planters on the corner of City Road/Old Chester Road, our suggested proposals for the car parking consultation in Chester Green (which should be happening soon…we’re trying to get information from the council on this!), news about the Cricket Pavillion restoration, an Easter real-life Church service, the monthly book exchange and much, much more! Click below for the electronic version. The printed version should be with you all soon (I pick them up tomorrow!)

News just in!. We’ve had a few residents starting to be charged, again, for parking permits which should still be free. I’ve just had this email after chasing this with the council as MiPermit still had the expiration of the free permits as March 2021:

“The expiry date provided by MiPermit will be what they have on record from last year when we extended the scheme for another year. I can confirm that the scheme will continue to be free of charge until the public consultation has been carried out and decision has been made on whether the scheme will continue or not.It is my understanding that the consultation will take place within the next couple of months, but, until then I have emailed MiPermit to ask them to update their records and to extend the free period until 31st March 2022.”

Email from Ian Clarke, 29th March, 2021

The month of January is coming to an end, so it’s time for the February Newsletter. Lots of useful info and news, as always, including:

• A call to help make Chester Green bloom again using donated flowers for the planters!
• Details on the flood defences, Parker’s Piece, and what’s left to do.
• Details on a £500,000 grant which has been made available in Darley Ward to improve house security in our area (see poster below).

We should still be able to get the newsletter printed this month, but it may take a little longer than usual, so do share this electronic version far and wide!

Attached are the December newsletter and the Chester Green Window Trail Map for 2020 which officially starts on Saturday 5th December with a Chester Green lights switch-on starting at 4.30 pm for a 5 pm illumination! NEWS ALERT…..we may be getting a council installed Christmas Tree from the Council (at the junction of Chester Green Road and Marcus Street)…..I’ll update progress on this on Facebook and Nextdoor! More details on the window trail in the newsletter and below…..there’s lots more in the newsletter, so do share/have a look and printed copies of the newsletter, and the map will be with you soon!

CHRISTMAS WINDOW TRAIL – This year’s Window Trail is set to be the biggest and best yet with over 60 homes and businesses taking part, helping to bring some extra Christmas magic to Chester Green at the end of a very difficult year!

At around 4.30 pm for a 5 pm illumination on Saturday the 5th December there will be a grand ‘switch on’ of the lights around the Green, in Camp Street and Marcus Street!  Come out and watch if you can – It should look spectacular and will coincide with the decorated windows sparkling and shining for us all to admire!

A Trail Map is included in this newsletter and further copies will be available in some of the businesses who have very kindly sponsored the map printing.  This year, you can also view the map digitally at: tinyurl.com/CGXmasWindows2020

So…………follow the Trail with your family and friends and keep a lookout for the ‘Christmas pud’ card in one of the windows. If you find it, fill in your details on the back of the map and return it to be entered into a draw to win an Intu voucher. The Trail will continue through to around the end of December so ENJOY!

If finding the hidden Christmas Pudding is proving a problem….this year, Santa’s sent us a special phone web app that can help.  You can find it at tinyurl.com/HuntThePud

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE ENTERTAINMENTS TEAM               

Updates and reports on last month’s Fashion Sale, the Last Post on the Green (no Church Service on Remembrance Sunday due to the new lockdown), and another Chester Green Family bike ride which will hopefully be held in December!

We’ve now got nearly 80 lamp post poppies up in Chester Green. If you’d like to donate to the Royal British Legion, please use the Chester Green just giving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ChesterGreenPoppies or pop a donation into 24 St. Paul’s Road.

Thanks to all for taking part in the Halloween Window Displays and please let the Ents. Team know if you’d like to be included in our Christmas Window Trail 🙂

Printed copies should be coming your way soon!