Spring is here, at the moment it seems no different to Winter.

So to fund raising, I seem to spend most of my time involved with funding one way or another at the moment. The Local Heritage Initiative will pay their final payment in the next few days.

We are still trying to extend our pond westward to increase our running time and create a series of island connected by Monet type bridges to enhance the bio diversity. If we can lease long term the derelict allotments by the stream from the Council a reed filter bed is planned.

We hope Sita Environmental Trust stimulated by a 10% grant from The Greencard Charitable Trust, will fund a scheme at nearly £30,000.

We are also submitting bids to both Northern Rock Foundation and Lloyds/TSB Foundation for core funding for Ben and I spanning over the next three years - more anon.

The Thrive meeting which took place on 21st January at the Mill on the subject of "Alternative Energy" was an instant success so much so we had to advise some people not to come as we could not accommodate them. A total of 35 were at the meeting. Two professional speakers started us off, with inputs from Helen Richardson from Renew North and Ken England from Engineering Measurement, Analysis and Test. Ken gave us some very practical hands on information, but due to a prior appointment Ken's talk was curtailed due to lack of time. Having finished with formalities, another invited guest, Garry Jenkins of MKW Engineering talked to about half a dozen or so of our guests on the subject of small generation, stand alone systems not linked to the grid. Gerry was very informative and told us various ways to generate. One guest was particularly interested in extending daylight hours in polytunnels.

As a spin off from this meeting Michael Wright, Managing Director of MKW Engineering agreed to carry out some specialised work to our pumping mill using the specialist engineering facilities he has available. We already have a £1,000 from the Hadrian Trust to restore the wind pump and with the specialist help from MKW we hope to get the pump up and running.

We have had two generous contributions within the last month. Mr Barnes in Carlisle donated a lathe with an 8ft bed - so we can make four posters! Mr Barnes tells me that the big lathe was originally driven by water power on the Boothby Estates near Carlisle. The lathe requires a new end frame as it was originally built into a wall before it can be up and running.

Mr Philip Hall a local businessman donated a very old belt driven planing machine and this is ready to run. Both machines will be further specialised machines driven by water power.

Well that is about all for this Spring and just to wish you a very Happy Easter from both myself and Ben.