Esh Village Picnic

A huge thank you to everyone who turned out last Saturday, 28th June, to join in and support our inaugural village picnic. 

Despite a few clouds and the odd spot of rain, the bunting was out, the village green was raked, and the teams were picked for some serious rounders and volley ball action, as well as teas, coffees and fruit juices all served from Hall Road. 

As nightfall crept over the ridge, the festivities continued with bbqs and music… hopefully this was the first of what we hope will be many more  village picnics, bbqs and games days - if you were there and had fun, let us know! Similarly, if you have any ideas for more village events, do be in touch at eshresidentsassociation@gmail.com

Esh's Owl Stolen

 The owl carving in the centre of Esh village has been stolen. It disappeared on Monday night, dug up from it's concrete base on the turning circle at the bottom of Hall Road; the second theft of communal property in the past two months. The first was the theft of one of the half barrels at the eastern entrance to the village used for planting bedding plants and box, which the Residents' Association replaced during our planting project a couple of weeks ago.

The police have been enormously supportive in pursuing the disappearance of the owl, donated to the village by local craftsman Lee Hoskins, as has the local pub, The Cross Keys, who have made their surveillance footage of the area available for scrutiny. If anyone has any information about the theft of the owl, please do get in touch with Durham Constabulary by telephoning 101, or 0345 6060365 if you are calling from outside County Durham or Darlington (calls cost a flat rate of 15p).

Esh is proud to have Lee's work on display and the owl has become something of an icon as residents work together to make the village an even better environment in which to live, work, and play. These petty thefts are a sad indicator, however, that not everybody shares our commitment to, and values of, local community; please do remain vigilant in the protection of your own, and others', property.

Esh Play Area: Project Meeting on Saturday 14th June, 2-4pm

The Mid Durham Area Action Partnership have been working for some time with Esh village residents to implement better facilities and services in the area. The latest project involves the allocation of a generous fund from the County Council to the village to create a new play zone and village parents and children are invited to help the Partnership plan and design the new area.

The next project meeting will take place on Saturday 14th June, from 2-4pm in the village Sports Hall. Everyone is welcome: especially those with exciting ideas for slides, swings, and see-saws!

For more information, please contact Pam Sinclair, Community Development Project Officer, Mid Durham Area Action Partnership, tel: 01207 529 844.

Esh in Bloom

Before...

Well, the rain held off, the wheelbarrows came out, and Esh Village Residents Association armed themselves with trowels, forks and, ingeniously, a system of chains and bolts, to rejuvenate, replenish and re-secure the village flower tubs and planters on the village green.

… and after!

We've had a couple of issues this year with vandalism and theft of the flower tubs, so the first job was to make sure that our handiwork didn't disappear into the hands of a green-fingered thief. Moving, lifting, and securing the tubs looked hard work -- but one thing's for certain: they're even tougher to lift and move now! All 24 of the tubs required last year's plants to be either pulled up or cut back, and new plants to be bedded in: my fingers are still aching as I type, but the effort was worth it!

Looking down Front Street

Still another 23 to go...

We went for some stunning combinations of salvias, petunias, geraniums, and lobelias in mixtures of red, white and blue, which were purchased with local community funding and thriftily sourced at local nurseries, garden centres, and even Lidl!


All we need now is for the sun to shine, and the slugs and snails to  commit to a collective diet, and Esh will be resplendent in Union Jack coloured flowers in time for the World Cup, Wimbledon, and World War commemorations, to name just a few things to celebrate over the coming months. Oh, and the village picnic, scheduled for June 28th. For more details on that one, watch this space!

Chelsea? Hampton Court? No, Esh!

Tub Planting Tomorrow

Esh village is home to some 24 barrel flower tubs located around the village - all along the main road through the village, around the village green, and by the schools and churches - which add another dash of colour to the now very green landscape around us! 

Each spring and autumn, Esh Village Residents' Association replenishes any sickly looking bedding plants, trims the box and cares for the tulip bulbs, and tomorrow, Tuesday 3rd July, we're scheduled to be out and about on our bi-annual planting tour. All village residents are very welcome to join us - all that is required is a hand fork or trowel and some wellies, judging by the latest weather forecast... We'll be setting off from Rutters Garth at 10.30am, with intrepid planters spreading out across the village - do just come and join in if you spot us! 


This year we've opted for a 'red, white, and blue' colour scheme: pictures to follow here shortly!