Spring at Last!

It was beginning to feel like we would never get here, but finally we made it, Spring! What a joy to see a bit of sunshine and watch the land and nature come back to life, hopefully starting a new chapter for all of us.

We, surprisingly, have some good news, we have received a grant from the South Yorkshire Community Fund to help us promote Friends of Birley Spa. We have some lovely new banners to put out when we have events, a noticeboard to provide information for visitors, a laptop, projector and power bank so we can provide talks, slideshows, video screenings etc at the Spa, or indeed anywhere, schools, history groups, care homes, anybody who wants us really ! If the lifting of lockdown goes to plan, fingers crossed, we will be able to do much more.

We are hosting an Easter Trail at the Spa (Covid-safe) on Saturday 3rd April, this is already fully booked. We are also having an Easter Bonnet Competition which opens on 2nd April, please see attached poster or contact our Facebook page.

The Oral History Project has been a little slow to get started due to pandemic related issues but should be fully up and running shortly. We have some wonderful stories already but we know there are still plenty more out there.

Volunteer Days should be able to restart soon, further details when we have them. It is worth pointing out that although we have volunteers working in the grounds, if you would prefer to help in some other way, we would still love to hear from you.

Regarding the future of the Bath House, we have not heard from the council since before Christmas when they were supposed to be undertaking a feasibility study for the buildings future use. It is now the run up to the council elections in May, so the likelihood of any potentially controversial decisions being made are minimal. The council is undergoing changes following the previous leader stepping down and there may be more changes to come. As part of the election process there will also be a referendum on the way the council is run. Following serious campaigning by It's Our City, we will be able to choose how we wish to be governed, whether by the current cabinet system or by a committee system, whatever the outcome, it could have serious implications for all of us. There is also a new Chief Executive at the council, Kate Josephs, who is apparently keen for change for our city. We have emailed her and invited her to Birley Spa to discuss our situation, as yet we have not had a reply.

The last 12 months have been unimaginable for all of us, let's hope we are over the worst. Our campaign to save Birley Spa goes on, the pandemic has proven the case for saving this wonderful site as the green heart of our community. It is time to reclaim what is ours.

---