News Archive 2015

Local Charity Helps Wildlife Trust Establish Rare Bittern Habitat at Barton under Needwood

August 2015

Staffordshire Wildlife Trust's campaign to create a new wild life haven  on the edge of Barton under Needwood  to attract breeding pairs of one of Britain's rarest birds has been supported with a £2,000 grant from the Barton  & Dunstall Key Trust.

Tucklesholme Quarry, alongside the River Trent between Barton & Walton on Trent, has been bought by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust so that during the final gravel extraction  banks, slopes and islands can be created that are ideal for establishing reed beds to attract booming Bitterns and a myriad of other species of birds and wildlife.

Student Wins Key Trust Award at John Taylor High School

July 2015

Lisa Thomas is the 2015 winner of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust’s annual award for Leadership at the John Taylor High School and received the award at a recent glittering Presentation Evening at which the school’s outstanding students received their annual awards.

Recognising the best of the school’s four House Leaders the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust Award for Leadership was presented to Lisa, Sherwood House Leader , who received the Key Trust’s Leadership Award perpetual trophy, together with a cheque for £150, & her name has been inscribed on the Trust's  Honours Board  displayed at the school for students, parents, staff & visitors to see.

Trust's £800 Grant Helps Boost Youngsters Interest in Angling

February 2015

Following major improvements to Barton's ancient Fishpond on Efflinch Lane interest in fishing the well-stocked pond has grown substantially. Keen to encourage more young people to take up the sport Barton Parish Council, with an £800 grant from the Trust & support from East Staffordshire Borough Council, has extended one of the fishing platforms to create a safe area for several youngsters to fish, together with an Instructor. The new, larger platform, or fishing 'peg', is also available for 'pond dipping' by village school pupils keen to study the wide variety of 'bugs' and wildlife in this delightful area close to the centre of Barton.

"With the Trust's help this extended fishing peg will be attracting more young people to take up the sport creating a life-long interest and an enduring hobby" said Jacqui Jones, trustee of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust pictured with ESBC Cllr. Julia Jessel & Jeanette Taylor from Barton Parish Council.  "Barton & Dunstall residents of all ages ,who have  an Environment Agency licence , can use the Fishpond all year round without charge and anglers from outside our community must purchase permits from Barton News (Liquor & Allsorts) in Main Street, Barton" she added.

Trust Grant Funds Barton Brownies Identity

January 2015

Barton’s latest thriving Brownie unit is celebrating a £300 grant from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust providing personalised neckers and a Unit flag to identify the 3rd. Barton Brownies at Guiding, public & community events.

Part of Girl Guiding, Brownies is for girls aged seven to ten.  The 3rd. Barton Brownies, formed in October 2012, started with an enthusiastic, dedicated leader with no other resources, now has nineteen members and meets at St James' Church Hall in Barton under Needwood every Wednesday.

"Having built up our Unit it was important to have our very own Flag and neckers with our Unit colours for girls to wear so they can be recognised and identified when out and about at Guiding and public events" said Kerrie Spooner, leader.  

"Now, thanks to a £300 grant from the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust we'll be wearing  our Unit colours with pride,  particularly at our Thinking Day event in Nottingham on 21st February when our Unit joins 4,000 girls involved in Girlguiding" she added.   

“We’re delighted to support 3rd.Barton Brownies and will be pleased to hear from other organisations in Barton and Dunstall who can apply for grants of up to £10,000 or individuals whom we may help with grants of up to £500” said Jacqui Jones, trustee of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust pictured with 3rd.Barton Brownies celebrating their new Unit colours.

Barton & Dunstall Key Trust Appoints New Clerk

January 2015

Following an extensive advertising campaign we are pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Miriam Firth as Clerk to the Trust.

A resident of Barton for some 38 years Miriam has extensive past experience as Patient Advice & Liaison Service Coordinator at Queens Hospital, Burton.  Currently Treasurer and a Trustee of Burton Youth for Christ, the well respected charity working with young people, Miriam brings considerable skills and experience to the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust.

Adrian Wedgwood, chairman of the Barton & Dunstall Key Trust, said "We are very pleased to welcome Miriam as our new Clerk and to have the benefit of her wide-ranging skills as well as her understanding and familiarity with our village communities".

"Barton & Dunstall parishes are privileged to have such a well-managed source of financial support for individuals in need and village community organisations and I'm delighted to be looking after the day to day business of the Trust and supporting its excellent team of Trustees" said Miriam Firth.

Currently being briefed on the detail of the Trust's administration Miriam is expected to be assuming full responsibility for the Trust's business following a hand-over at the Trustees meeting on 6th February.