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Published: 18 November 2024

Like most other organisations, we at MCA have been reviewing our use of the social media platform X (formally known as Twitter).  We didn't use it heavily but thought it should be available for our members. In the light of recent developments, we have now decided to leave. The next question is, do we look for a platform to take its place?  Some have suggested Bluesky, others that we just let it go.

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Published: 23 October 2024

Our Nature team has been busy getting out the news on our Staffordshire Wildlife Trust-led Nature in Your Neighbourhood project. MCA is a partner, alongside Keele University, OUTSIDE Arts, SCVYS youth service and Staffs Moorlands Council. Among the many events we have attended recently was a local branch meeting of the Wildlife Trust’s where the subject was 'Life in The Ravines’ a replanting project to recover from the effects of ash dieback in the valleys of the Peak District National Park. Here is Val Riley (recently awarded an MBE for her voluntary service for nature) pointing to a potential site she has identified for Nature in Your Neighbourhood.

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Published: 23 October 2024

The first ever Leek Textile Week was a stunning success, with its range of talks, walks, installations, exhibitions and interactive workshops attracting artists and performers from all over the country. The brainchild of long-time MCA member and supporter Carry Somers, the week had a strong theme of sustainability running throughout it. Australian writer Clare Press read from ‘Wear Next’, her latest book on the future of sustainable fashion, at an evening of poetry and prose organised by Mark. A number of MCA members had taken part in the associated woad and indigo growing project, including Debbie Potts, pictured here with her own-grown indigo.

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Published: 23 October 2024

Mike and Mark both attended the annual Staffordshire Climate Expo at Uttoxeter Racecourse in September. Ably organised by the Globe Foundation, keynote speakers at the event included Michaela Strachan and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, to whom Mike gave a sustainably-foraged recipe for blackberry whiskey. There was a great range of stalls and attendees and both Mike and Mark made new contacts for MCA and swapped progress and ideas with old friends.

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Published: 23 October 2024

A great day was had by one and all: talking about the Nature in Your Neighbourhood project, playing our Land Use Game, exploring greenhouse gases (in the pink buckets) and of course making wonderful wildlife masks. Huge thanks to Belinda Hargreaves for organising such a tremendous event and also inviting us to have a stall.

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Published: 23 October 2024

MCA has always worked hard to engage the local farming community, to understand their concerns and, where possible, work with them on understanding what's needed in the transition to different forms of agricultural practice.

We are regular stallholders at the Leek and District Agricultural Show and many of our members attend the smaller, more locally focussed events, such as Ipstones and Manifold Shows. But none of us go as far as Phil Barks, himself of farming stock, who is a long-time member of the organising committee of Ipstones Agricultural Show. Here is Phil taking a well-earned break from hammering in stakes and chasing runaway cattle.