Take Notice!

Check out the latest addition to the village - a shiny new noticeboard! 

Shared between the C of E Primary School and the Esh Village Residents' Association, the noticeboard is designed to replace the old phone box for village and school notices and announcements. If there's something you'd like to put on the noticeboard, please get in touch at eshresidentsassociation@gmail.com

Please note that all notices will be subject to approval by the EVRA committee. 

Esh Village Residents' Association Meeting

A quick reminder that the Esh Village Residents' Association's monthly meeting takes place tonight, 7pm, at the Cross Keys. 

Items on the agenda include planning events and activities for next month's Heritage Weekend, the Photography Competition and the upkeep of the village environment (I feel another litter pick coming on...). Everyone is welcome - the more the merrier! See you there...

An Esh Debut?

Spotted: a black squirrel on the eastern side of Esh village! 

Although there are technically only two types of squirrel in the UK, the native red (Sciurus vulgaris) and the North American grey (Sciurus carolinensis), a third variant, the black squirrel, appears to have trekked and swung its way up the country to the dizzy heights of Esh village. 

Black squirrels are actually grey squirrels with higher levels of black pigment (melanin) in their fur due to a genetic mutation. They were first introduced to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in the late 19th century, but, either through escape or release, have slowly taken up residence across the country. According to the Black Squirrel Project, a study conducted by researchers at Angela Ruskin University, the mutated gene travels about half a mile a year, and to date there have only been seven sightings in County Durham; the sighting in Esh marking an eighth appearance. The Forestry Commission is also running a similar project, and both institutions ask that anyone who spots a black squirrel contact them directly. Esh is now marked on the Black Squirrel Project's map... although whether the squirrels are just passing though or here to stay remains to be seen... Keep your eyes peeled and do get in touch if you spot any more! 

A quick note...

St Michael's & All Angels, Esh with Hamsteels

... just to say that the Village Calendar has been updated to include church services at St Michaels & All Angels, Esh with Hamsteels for the coming weeks and more information about the WI meetings (monthly speaker, competitions, etc.). If there's anything you'd like including on the
Calendar or if the sharp-eyed notice anything amiss, please don't hesitate to get in touch by leaving a comment on the Calendar page or by sending a comment via the form on the Residents' Association page. 

Your Village Your Voice Goes From Strength to Strength

Some of you might remember a post a month back mentioning that the Mid-Durham Area Action Partnership, headed up by Andy Coulthard, was working closely with the various communities in Esh - the schools, the churches, the Parish Council and the Residents' Association to name just a few -  to help facilitate communications between local government bodies and the village. 

Following a meeting in June between the AAP and Esh residents, an action plan was drawn up to help address some of the issues concerning villagers (the blocked drains - a popular topic around here! - dog fouling, overgrown verges, road safety, and horse droppings on the roads and pavements being just a couple). An up to date copy of the action plan can be found on the blog detailing the progress made so far... as you'll be able to tell from the plan, Andy and his team have been seriously busy in the last 6 weeks and made huge strides already! 

BIG Lottery Funding in Esh

Lots of recent village projects, events, and collaboration with the two village schools, Esh CofE Primary School and St Michael's Esh Laude Primary School, have only been possible due to a generous grant from the BIG Lottery Fund. Check out the new slideshow on the Gallery page for a few shots of what the grant went towards...

Who knew road drains could be so exciting?!

From this...

To this!

Yesterday, a momentous happening occurred in Esh: the road drains were cleared! The Residents' Association had been in regular contact with the County Council for several months regarding the blocked drains and localised flooding, and yesterday afternoon all the accumulated surface debris, horse manure and mud was cleared out and the drains restored to sparking (and fully-functioning) condition... just in time for a downpour to give their newly-acquired drainage power a test-drive! A big thank you to the brave souls from the Council who grappled with the grates, the garbage, and the grime to free Front Street from the floods and floating manhole covers.