A neglected strip of land in Middlesbrough has been transformed into a training and community facility.

The area in Grove Hill known as Jellystone has been revitalised by Erimus Housing, which worked with Middlesbrough College and Groundwork to create a training centre for the colleges first horticulture students, as well as providing community allotments.

As the college took on the construction of the buildings and polytunnels, students put their training to good use by working on areas like kitchen-fitting and electrical work to convert shipping containers into classrooms.

To fit in with its surroundings, the building has been given a low profile and set back from the edge of the site. The facility will also be suitably rendered and have planting to screen it.

The official opening was by Mike Carr Chair of Erimus Housing

Mike Carr, who chairs the Erimus Housing board said: Were very pleased with the results of all the hard work at Grove Hill and were very grateful for the patience of local residents who will now be able to benefit from a wonderful addition to their surroundings. The security of the site should also help combat anti-social behaviour.

Michelle MacCallam, principal landscape architect who oversaw the project said: Groundwork and Erimus Housing spoke to all our neighbours and sent out leaflets to make sure we arrived at a design solution satisfactory to all parties.

New Community allotment and training base

The realisation of this project is a tribute to partnership working and sensitive community engagement.

We were also pleased to be able to utilise the skills of our Galvanise team, a project which supports people back into employment.

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Grove Hill's neglected 'Jellystone' land transformed into training and community facility

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --The Medical Affairs function has begun to play an increasingly important role in clinical development, market education, and regulatory compliance, as the healthcare landscape changes.

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Best Practices Launches 2014-2015 Medical Affairs Consortium Survey

'Twister' spotted over Ridgeway Hill

Updated 8:56am Thursday 14th August 2014 in News

Twister picture by Sally Tyler

A HUGE 'twister' travelled across the Ridgeway this morning.

Sally Tyler was at work in Weymouth when she spotted the cloud travel up from the Channel and work its way inland.

It disappeared into the rest of the clouds at Ridgeway Hill.

She said she watched it sweep across the landscape. She said: "It was a bit unusual. I have never seen one coming in land.

"It was huge. When it was travelling towards Hardy's Monument it was quite big in size.

"It was changing constantly as it went along - it was rising and falling."

Lorna Strong took a picture of the twister as it travelled over Upwey.

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'Twister' spotted over Ridgeway Hill

Herdwick fell gather proves a hit with visitors

1:00pm Tuesday 12th August 2014 in News By Allan Tunningley

THE Lake Districts first open Fell Gather has been hailed a great success after it attracted hundreds of locals and tourists to see how a traditional Herdwick farm works.

The event, held at Knott Houses Farm, Grasmere, showcased the vital work of hill farmers and how they help to shape and preserve the landscape of the Cumbrian uplands.

Organised by the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association (HSBA) and backed by Taste Cumbria, the Fell Gather featured shepherds working with livestock in the farming environment, close to the fells where the sheep graze.

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Mary Houston, from Taste Cumbria, said: Herdwick breeders were delighted with the day; it gave them the opportunity to meet and educate more than 300 residents and tourists about the vital work of hill farming in Cumbria.

It was a rare opportunity for the Herdwick community to meet and celebrate the success of their work alongside the Princes Countryside Fund, as well as influence key decision makers about the future of the work of the breeders association.

Flanked by a suite of high quality Herdwick products, from carpets to hot hogget roles, the day represented the Cumbrian cultural landscape as significant, iconic, high quality and progressive offering, to tourists and residents, and the wider agricultural community alike.

HSBA chairman Will Rawling said: Its vitally important to educate the public about the role hill farmers play not just in producing food, but managing the landscapes we all love in the lakes.

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Herdwick fell gather proves a hit with visitors

The explosion of new housing projects across San Francisco is threatening to pull the plug on music and dance clubs from North of the Panhandle to Potrero Hill to the Mission.

In a city going through a housing crisis, every unit is badly needed. But for live music fans, the pressure is stereophonic.

On the one hand, nightclubs in the path of progress are being targeted for demolition to make way for housing, including the eclectic indie rock venue the Elbo Room on Valencia Street; Cafe Cocomo, a salsa dance bar at 650 Indiana St.; and the Sound Factory, a dance club on Rincon Hill.

Still other club owners are looking over their shoulders uneasily as housing proposals crop up across the street or next door, because residences and nightclubs often don't mix well.

The Independent on Divisadero faces the possibility of new, upscale housing on both sides: the former Harding Theater to the south and the Alouis Auto Radiator shop to the north. Both properties are slated for nine units over retail. The Independent, which started out as the Half Note jazz club, has been around for 60 years.

"We are very much aware of the fact that residential development has the potential to disrupt the way that we operate," said Allen Scott of Another Planet Entertainment, which handles booking and promotion for the club. "We welcome the extension of the commercial corridor on Divisadero Street, but we do so with our eyes wide open."

Across the street from the Bottom of the Hill on 17th Street in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, developers are hoping to build 395 units at an old Cor-o-van storage center as well as two smaller projects on Missouri Street around the corner. The smaller projects would include units with decks from which condo owners could peer down at Bottom of the Hill's popular patio.

"For us it seems like development is a train coming down the track," said Tim Benetti, an owner of Bottom of the Hill. "We will do our best to negotiate survival, but if it's too big and comes too fast, I don't know how we are going to negotiate that."

Theoretically, those who choose to move close to a rock club know what they're signing up for. But as every club owner knows, what sounds good in theory is very different at midnight when you have an early appointment or are trying to get your baby back to sleep.

"We have had several people move in behind us and the next day they are calling the police," said Jason Perkins, who owns Brick and Mortar Music Hall on Mission Street as well as the New Parish in Oakland. "We have people moving in who look upon this as a bedroom community. They have to go to bed so they can get up in the morning and get to the Google bus."

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Residential development threatens S.F.'s music, dance clubs

Aug. 8, 2014, 5:33 p.m.

A RARE land release in Jamberoo is attracting great interest with about 200 inquiries for the 31 blocks in the new Chapel Hill development.

Siblings and business partners Lawson Fredericks and Jennifer Macquarie at the Chapel Hill estate. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER

A RARE land release in Jamberoo is attracting great interest with about 200 inquiries for the 31 blocks in the new Chapel Hill development.

MiltonbrookReal Estates Jennifer Macquarieand her brother Lawson Fredericks, themelves sixth generation Jamberoo residents, are auctioning the estate on Sunday, August 17.

Mrs Macquarie said the historic Catholic stone church overlooking the site was a primary feature of the landscape and was the inspiration for the subdivisions name.

She said the new development would be a massive boost to the village in the long-term, bringing a range of new families to the area.

There is a shortage of residential land across the Illawarra, and vacant lots in Jamberoo are as rare as hens teeth, Mrs Macquarie said.

The lots range in size from 800sqm to 2500sqm, which is relatively large these days and that is very appealing, particularly in this lovely country setting.

Future residents of Chapel Hill are within walking distance of the village shops and caf, the school and the golf club, and at the same time get to enjoy fantastic rural and escarpment views.

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Jamberoo's Chapel Hill Land release getting attention

Dear Editor:

It is now necessary for me to make the following points of clarification to correct the misrepresentation of facts authored in Mr. Finchers article in last weeks paper entitled Recommendation could change towns landscape.

The article refers to the hill in downtown Pagosa located between South 6th and 7th streets and Navajo and Piedra streets which includes an undeveloped alley running north and south between Navajo and Piedra.

Mr. Fincher states that the alley runs the full length of the ridge above the cliff which is totally inaccurate. In fact if you walk the alley to be vacated which is stacked out and, anyone interested may do so, you will notice that the alley is well below the ridge and the views of the river and town are for the most part obstructed by the ridge.

Consequently, with limited views, the alley is not suitable for use as a trail and, if in fact, the alley did traverse the ridge I doubt the planning commission would have made the recommendation they did in lieu of a possible future trail.

At the first planning commission meeting to discuss the vacations for the alley as well as the undeveloped part of Navajo Street running over the hill there was an overwhelming majority in support of vacating both the alley and Navajo Street. Not only was there overwhelming support but there were objections to a trail for privacy reasons.

None of the five property owners bordering the proposed vacations as well as neighbors close by had any objections. There were only two objections including Mr. Andersons which Mr. Fincher profusely quoted. However I find it very interesting that none of the many supporters were not mentioned nor what they had to say was reported.

Also the suggestive use of the word concession in the article for my willingness to work with the town to formalize the use of 6th Street which runs though my property as some kind of deal for the approval of the application is not only absurd but I resent the implication. No matter what I would be willing.

The misinformation continues with Mr. Fincher stating at the end of his article that Adams also advocated for banning cargo containers and metal sided buildings which I never advocated in any way shape or form. It is simply untrue.

Mr. Fincher, I believe that the residents of Pagosa place a certain public trust in our local news coverage for unbiased accuracy. I would hope that you would honor that trust.

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Towns landscape

A Prince Georges County zoning authority has denied Wal-Marts request to build a supercenter in Oxon Hill, about a mile from National Harbor.

The decision, issued this week, appears to bring to a halt the companys plans to expand in Prince Georges and is a victory for a group of Oxon Hill parents that has been fighting the project for years.

Wal-Marts plan called for a 100,310-square-foot store on 15 vacant acres owned by the Peterson Cos. adjacent to John Hanson Montessori School on Oxon Hill Road near Indian Head Highway.

Because the county enacted legislation two years ago limiting the size of big-box stores with groceries to 85,000 square feet, Wal-Mart was requesting special permission to build a larger store.

The companys application also asked the county to waive a requirement to have direct vehicular access to an existing arterial roadway.

Instead, the company wanted the county to allow access via an internal street.

Maurene Epps McNeil, the countys zoning hearing examiner, reviewed the case and concluded that the project would adversely impact residents/workers in the area and be detrimental to the use of adjacent properties.

The projects parking design would present safety hazards to students at John Hanson and nearby Oxon Hill High School, the hearing examiner said. Some students would have to cross two vehicular entrances into the proposed store, including one that would be used by trucks going to the loading dock.

Noise stemming from the project would potentially affect the experience of students at John Hanson, who would be able to hear the delivery trucks idling or hear the workers unloading, since the loading area is adjacent to that schools property, the decision said.

Parents of students at John Hanson and Oxon Hill High have voiced concerns about security and the environmental impact on the school community.

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Wal-Marts request to build supercenter in Oxon Hill denied by zoning official

National Trust acquires Hambledon Hill

Updated 8:55am Thursday 7th August 2014 in News

The spectacular Hambledon Hill, one of the finest Iron Age hillforts in Dorset, has been acquired by the National Trust.

Built over 2,000 years ago, the massive earthwork defences lie over one of the most significant early Neolithic landscapes in Western Europe, dating back almost 6,000 years, and is a place that half of British butterfly species call home.

Standing at twice the height of the White Cliffs of Dover and taller than the Shard in London, Hambledon Hill occupies an area of land the size of 50 football pitches. From the summit of the hillfort you can see across three counties Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire and get a real sense of its prehistoric strategic importance.

Jerry Broadway, a National Trust volunteer working on Hambledon Hill, said: When I come here I feel like someone would when they go into St Pauls Cathedral.

When there is no-one else around and I sit on the top of the hill looking at the view I feel very privileged. And to play a small part in looking after the hill is a good feeling.

This is the first hillfort acquired by the National Trust in Dorset for 30 years.

The Trust now cares for seven hillfort sites in a county which is internationally renowned for these special historical places.

Simon Ford, National Trust wildlife adviser, pictured right, said: The beauty of a magical place like Hambledon Hill is the combination of a rich natural and archaeological story that goes back thousands of years.

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National Trust acquires Hambledon Hill

SHANE RHODES SHANE RHODES SHANE RHODES SHANE RHODES SHANE RHODES ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ John Edens LAUREN COSTELLO SITA TAUFA SITA TAUFA SITA TAUFA WILMA McCORKINDALE/Fairfax NZ COLLEEN McKINNEL JOE WATT EVAN HARDING/ Fairfax NZ ASHLEIGH JACKSON MEG BARTON ROBYN EDIE/ Fairfax NZ DEBBIE JAMIESON/ Fairfax NZ DEBBIE JAMIESON/ Fairfax NZ EYETOEYE PHOTOS WILMA MCCORKINDALE/ Fairfax NZ JESSICA RAUBENHEIMER GORDON MCDIARMID GORDON MCDIARMID SHANAE FORBES Bruce Bernasconi NZTA CHRIS WATSON SUPPLIED Barry Harcourt Wilma McCorkindale

Traffic heads north into white-out conditions on SH1 1 (Tutu Hill Rd) in the Clutha District.

Trucks crawl north up SH1 at Kaihiku (between Balclutha and Clinton).

Traffic heads south into white-out conditions on SH1 (Tutu Hill Rd) in the Clutha District.

Emergency services personnel check out a truck crash on Beacon Hill Road about 6km north of Waipahi.

A grader gets to work on Edenale Hill in Southland.

A calf tests out the snow on the outskirts of Ohai.

Peter Templer of Puketihi Farm, Ohai, feeds out to his sheep.

The main street of Ohai is postcard pretty in the snow.

Rachael Johns, 15, gets towed by Shayna McLeod 14, both of Nightcaps.

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Live: Heavy snow blankets the south