Speaker:- Jeff Stubbs Nantwich Civic Society

President Christine welcomed the Mayor of Nantwich Clr. Andrew Martin, who was making his first visit to the Club.

President Christine, also announced that Council had proposed that John Brookshaw be elected as an Honorary Member, in recognition to the service and help he has provided to the Club since joining in 1992 and asked for the Club to approve this proposal, which was duly carried.

The Speaker, Jeff Stubbs, Chairman of the Nantwich Civic Society (and the Nantwich Partnership), described what the organisations does and the many ways in which it benefits the people of Nantwich.  Their goal is “to make Nantwich better for all of us.”  Jeff described a few of the projects the Society has been working on recently:

•     The restoration of the aqueduct, which is complete and has made a huge difference and could not have been done without help and support from the Club.

•     The planting of 350 whips (… otherwise known as hedging plants!).  These are all doing very well, with only 5 not making it through the summer. This previously bare stretch of Waterlode, will now have more visual interest as well as wildlife potential.

            Jeff told us that this project had been on the "to-do list" of Nantwich Partnership for well        over a year, and it was thanks to Rotarians getting involved that the impetus came along to get it done.

•     “Balsam bashing” -  this being the weeding of the Himalayan Balsam which has become invasive along our river bank.  This is an ongoing project with the immediate objective of getting as much Balsam pulled up before it seeds (in the next couple of weeks), thus cutting down the work which will be required next year!  Jeff described this work as ‘satisfying’… and mentioned that both he and Tony Hoy had been on Radio Stoke telling the local listeners about all the handwork being done.  Jeff was particularly grateful for the help and support of members of the Club as well as other local organisations who have been involved.

Jeff thanked Tony Hoy in particular for all his help in the various environment work which the Civic society is undertaking and said it would not have been so successful without Tony’s commitment and the Club’s physical help in the various projects.

In addition, the Society quietly works on and influences council planning; for example the new building work being undertaken at the Residence.

Jeff also mentioned in brief the work which the Nantwich Partnership conducts in association with the Borough Council on matters such as planning applications, traffic problems, infrastructure and so on.

Finally Jeff thanked the Club for allowing him to come and speak to us.

Sarah Perris proposed a vote of thanks for an interesting talk about the work going on in Nantwich in order to provide the attractive environment that we live in.