Sizzle Safely Say South Yorkshire Fire Crews
South Yorkshire residents planning to celebrate the warm weather with a barbecue this weekend are being reminded to take some basic steps to ensure their party plans don’t go up in smoke.
South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue say al fresco cooking carries a potential fire risk- but only if barbecues are used incorrectly.
Diane Malpass, SYFR head of community safety, said: “Many people will be taking advantage of the beautiful May weather this weekend and after weeks of rain, who can blame them. All we are saying is before you get started with the sausages and kebabs, take a minute to decide where you’re going to site it. Then, when the coals are properly cooled, dispose of them safely.”
To make sure your barbecue goes to plan:-
- Site it on a flat surface well away from trees, shrubs and grassland
- Keep a bucket of water or sand close by, just in case
- Never use petrol or paraffin on a barbecue, only recognised lighters and starter fuels
- Make sure the coals have properly cooled before disposal and empty ashes onto bare soil, not into the bin
Recent high-profile deaths on campsites involving barbecues have also prompted safety campaigners to remind campers of the fatal consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Barbecues continue to give off the deadly gas even after the coals are cool. So campers should never use barbecues inside tents, or to stay warm indoors.
Are you or is someone you know planning or having a baby?
If so come along to a drop in session for information about health and wellbeing for you, your baby and the whole family
There are a variety of agencies involved such as Midwives, Health Visitors, Children’s Centres, Smoke Stop, Infant Feeding, 5-A-Day Nutrition team, Family Information Service all available to give you helpful information.
Saturday 16th June 2012 10.00 — 11.30am at
Penistone Grammar ALC, Huddersfield Road, Penistone, S36 7BX
Bank Holiday Bin Collections
It will be business as usual for the waste and recycling team over the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bank holiday.
Bins will be emptied on their normal scheduled days.
Residents are asked to ensure that their bins are presented for collection by 6am on collection days.
Give Blood at St John’s Community Centre, Penistone
Blood donor sessions will be held at Saint John’s Community Centre in Penistone tomorrow (25th May) between 10am – 8:30pm. For more information please visit http://www.blood.co.uk
Thurlstone Community Group Meeting
Thurlstone Community Group are planning to hold their next meeting on Wednesday 30th May starting at 6:30PM in the Community Room at Thurlstone School Hall – All Welcome!
The RSPB is well known for its dedication to helping everything that tweets, but the launch of its forthcoming Make Your Nature Count survey confirms how much the conservation charity is just as keen to support all garden wildlife from those that snuffle and forage to those that slither and slime.
Make Your Nature Count, running from the 2-10 June 2012, asks people to count the wildlife in their garden or local park over the summer.
Not only is the RSPB asking people to record birds in South Yorkshire, but it also wants to know about some of the other wildlife visiting gardens in the area, like hedgehogs, squirrels, deer and for the first time ever, slow-worms.
Last year 80,000 people nationwide stepped up for nature and took part in the RSPB’s summer survey. Everyone can help save nature by taking part and by doing this survey it helps the RSPB understand what is happening in gardens so they can act by directing their efforts where needed. [note 1]
Results revealed almost half of South Yorkshire gardens had baby blackbirds. Many of those taking part also said that they saw bats in their gardens, with 36% seeing them regularly in the county.
In South Yorkshire, hedgehogs were seen in 26% of gardens monthly compared to 23% nationwide. And as for badgers, 5% enjoyed them visiting their garden in the area each month.
Sarah Houghton, the RSPB’s Make Your Nature Count manager, said: “Gardens are teeming with wildlife at this time of year so it’s the perfect time to take a moment and enjoy it. It also helps to build an important snapshot of summer wildlife in our gardens so we can see which species are thriving and which might need our help.”
Last year’s survey also revealed that grass snakes were around eleven times more likely in rural gardens than urban ones, with nearly one in fifty participants nationally reporting regular sightings.
At this time of year, gardens and green spaces are alive with young birds and the RSPB is asking people to look out for blackbird, robin and song thrush chicks. Counting young birds helps to give an indication of how important our gardens are for these birds to breed in.
Similar to how the RSPB’s winter survey, Big Garden Birdwatch, identifies trends among wintering bird populations, the RSPB believes, in time, Make Your Nature Count will build a picture about summer wildlife in gardens and green spaces nationwide.
Since its launch in 2009 many different species have been recorded in gardens and green spaces in summer. This information is helping identify how summer species are faring and which may need help. By participating in Make Your Nature Count you can help the RSPB save nature.
The RSPB also offers advice on how to make your garden more attractive to wildlife, so that you can see even more wonderful creatures.
But don’t worry if you don’t have a garden; why not take your friends and family to the local park, have a picnic, relax, enjoy the sunshine and watch the wildlife that lives there too.
Sarah added: “We hope thousands of people will step up for nature and donate a little bit of their time in June to help save the nature on their doorstep by taking part in this simple garden wildlife survey.”
To take part, simply spend one hour during the week of 2-10 June, counting the birds and the other wildlife that visit your garden or green space, record the highest number of each species seen at any one time and send us your results.
For further information about Make Your Nature Count visit the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/naturecount where an online survey form will be available from 2nd June.
Alternatively, ring 0300 456 8330 for a Make Your Nature Count survey form. The hotline number will be operational until 6th June 2012.
