At the time of writing, our angry orange acquaintance over the pond hasn’t colonised us yet, but he is on track with his world domination plans! We’ll all be calling it a ‘Sidewalk’ rather than a ‘Pavement’ in no time!! I am obviously joking before anybody writes in, but times are certainly strange. Still, it doesn’t do to dwell on such misery and negativity, there is plenty of that doing the rounds at the moment, so back to more important issues…. we are currently debating the size of the Wagon Wheels in the office this week! Specifically, we love a jammy Wagon Wheel but we were a little outraged about the size these days. Alas, it probably does me a favour as I somewhat vainly try and shed the Christmas chub, but this is besides the point. Anyway, in other news, did everyone enjoy a bit of bird twitching? We clocked quite a few Finches, a couple of Robins, some Tits and a fair few Wood Pigeons.
I know you’re only supposed to record the number you see at any one time but I still couldn’t tell you if there are 64 sparrows visiting our garden or if it’s the same 3 on rotation, who kept popping back to see whether I’d topped up the feeder?!
We’ve also published our Christmas comp winners in this edition as usual. Thankyou so much for entering and well done to the winners who bypassed our sneaky red herring and saw straight through the fact that Rockin’ Robin was not in fact, a Christmas song. Sarah loved bob bob bobbing around and delivering the goodies like Buddy the Elf! And I believe our winners were super excited to have won. So, we’ll do another giveaway in late Spring, so keep your eyes peeled because we’re lining up some cracking gifts again….it isn’t far away now!
Happy Reading,
Emily x
Competition Winners
We ran the most fabulous competition in December with amazing support from local companies and bumper entries from local residents. One of the challenges was to spot all the Christmas songs illustrated in the picture – and we did warn you there would be a red herring! Many of you correctly noticed that “Rockin’ Robin” sneaked in, despite not actually being a Christmas song at all. We wanted to share the pics of the happy winners to show that we didn’t just run off with the gifts ourselves (although we wanted to!!), and also to remind you all… “you’ve got to be in it to win it!!
Photo: Nick Rhodes
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Slimming World Recipe
Chicken Supreme
Method:
1. Preheat your oven to 200°C/ fan 180°C/gas 6.
2. Put the asparagus and peppers in a non-stick roasting tin. Spray with 1 cal cooking spray and roast for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
3. At the same time, spray a medium non-stick frying pan with 1 cal cooking spray and put it over a low-medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and stir-fry for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.
This spin on the french classic is full of flavour and perfect for a special evening in.
4. Add the chicken, bacon and mushrooms and cook for a further 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked.
5. While the chicken’s cooking, put the quark, stock, mustard powder and a little seasoning in a large bowl. Mix really well to get a thick sauce.
6. Add the sauce to the chicken mixture, stir really well and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve with a third of a plate of the roasted veg.
Ingredients:
• Bunch of asparagus, woody ends snapped off
• 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and roughly chopped
• 2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, thickly sliced
• 4 back bacon rashers, visible fat removed, roughly chopped
• 300g button mushrooms, cut in half
• 100g plain quark
• 100ml hot chicken stock
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1 tsp dried parsley
All Around the Shire
CHIP PANS
We all grew up with one of these in the kitchen. Ours was in use on several days of the week and was always sat on one of the back burners of the hob when not in use.
My mum made great chips. With salt and vinegar, there was nothing better for tea. She would lift them from the fat in the wire basket, give a little shake and then tumble them onto the plate. In my younger childhood, she used lard and I used to love watching it melt away to a liquid on the heat, revealing the cremated crumbs at the bottom of the pan from food fried for previous teas and suppers. When cold, the wire basket would be set into the lard like twigs in ice.
The greatest joy would be when my parents had a Vesta Chow Mein and deep fried the crispy noodles in the hot fat. It was like magic watching them puff up in the pan.
The 1990s saw the end of an era. The fire brigade came to fit smoke detectors in the house and gave us a free deep
fat frier in exchange for taking away the old chip pan. The firemen ceremonially removed it from the kitchen as though it were radioactive.
As I remember, I can almost smell the hot fat bubbling as the chips cooked to a perfect golden colour. Frozen oven chips just don’t give the same satisfaction.
Funtastic February 2026
February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s certainly one of the busiest.
This month, our front covers celebrate everything that makes February special — from national events and cultural celebrations to local festivals and simple moments of joy. With 11 editions, each cover highlights a different theme, while together they showcase the variety and vibrancy that February brings to our communities.
ALFRETON EDITION Food lovers will spot PANCAKE DAY (17TH FEB) featured on the cover. A long-standing tradition that brings families together, it’s a day of fun, indulgence and friendly competition — who can flip the best pancake?
BAKEWELL EDITON CHINESE NEW YEAR (17TH FEB TIL 3RD MAR), welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse. Marked by colour, symbolism and hope for the year ahead, it represents renewal, energy and ambition — themes that resonate well beyond the celebrations themselves.
BROADMEADOWS EDITION Derby hosts the UK GHOST STORY FESTIVAL (FROM 27TH FEB), offering a fascinating mix of folklore, history and storytelling. Perfect for long winter evenings, it taps into our love of mystery and the supernatural.
CLAY CROSS EDITION Local culture shines with the CHESTERFIELD WINTER BEER FESTIVAL (6TH & 7TH FEB), a popular event bringing people together to enjoy craft ales, good company and a lively atmosphere — a true winter highlight.
DARLEY DALE EDITION Music fans can look forward to THE BRIT AWARDS (28TH FEB), celebrating British musical talent and creativity. It’s a night that reflects the diversity and influence of UK music, both past and present.
HUTHWAITE & SUTTON EDITION Sport features strongly this month, beginning with the WINTER OLYMPICS (6TH TIL 22ND FEB). Athletes from across the world come together to demonstrate dedication, resilience and excellence, providing inspiration and drama during the colder weeks.
KIRKBY-IN-ASHFIELD EDITION NATIONAL LOVE YOUR PET DAY (20TH FEB) reminds us of the comfort, loyalty and happiness our pets bring into our lives every day.
MATLOCK EDITION Friendship is celebrated with GALENTINE’S DAY (13TH FEB), recognising the importance of strong bonds between friends and the joy of supporting one another.
RIPLEY EDITION Kindness is celebrated with RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY (17TH FEB), a reminder that small gestures can make a big difference. From helping a neighbour to offering a smile, this day highlights the power of compassion within our communities.
SELSTON EDITION Love takes centre stage with VALENTINE’S DAY, CELEBRATED on 14TH FEB. Whether romantic, platonic or self-love, Valentine’s is a reminder to pause and appreciate the people who matter most, making it a perfect symbol of connection and warmth during winter.
SWANWICK EDITION Rugby returns with the SIX NATIONS (STARTS ON 5TH FEB), uniting fans across the UK in friendly rivalry and national pride as teams battle it out on the pitch.
Together, these 11 covers tell the story of February - a month full of celebration, connection and community spirit, proving that even the coldest weeks can be rich with warmth and meaning.
MUSEUM LEAD MINES, HARDSHIP & MURDER
Lead mining has taken place in Derbyshire since the Romans ruled Britain. They used lead for water pipes, coffins, weights and pewter tableware. (pewter is made of tin and lead).
In the Derbyshire area, Lutudarum was considered to be the administrative centre of lead mining, the exact location isn’t known. At one time it was thought to be near Carsington, now it is considered more likely that it would have been sited in the Wirksworth area. A Barmote Court was established in 1288, in Wirksworth, to regulate the lead mining industry. The Court dealt with territorial rights and disputes, and they also collected royalties.
A number of lead ingots (known as pigs) have been found around the area over the years. Opinions differ as to the first discovery. A ‘pig,’ said to have been discovered in 1777 in Cromford, states it to be the ‘Property of Caesar Hadrian Augustus from the Lutudarum mines.’ Another pig, discovered in 1783 on Matlock Bank, near an old smelting hearth, has an inscription which translates as a product of ‘Lucius Aruconius Vericundus from the Lutudarensian mine.’
What is certain, is that many remnants of the lead mining industry remain in our area.
Mining has always been a precarious business, lead mining being one of the most dangerous. Apart from the obvious hazards for miners, narrow entrances, equipment breaking, chains snapping, falling rock, suffocation or underground floods, those mining lead had other issues to face. They would have inhaled toxic dust, probably had drunk contaminated water and generally
had to endure extended exposure to the poisonous lead. Their health must have been affected terribly and many died young.
Lead poisoning causes damage to internal organs, a loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain. Many would have died without even realising it was their work that had caused it. To be fair to the mine owners, they probably weren’t fully aware of the dangers involved, and of course workers could be easily replaced if they fell ill or died.
Lead mining was a lucrative business with competition fierce. At Magpie Mine, near Sheldon, disputes with nearby Maypitt Mine raged for years. In 1833 things came to a head, when, in an effort to force the Maypitt miners to abandon their mine, the men in Magpie set underground fires. Tragically, three men from Maypitt died.
Twenty-four miners from Magpie were immediately arrested and put on trial for murder. Eventually all were released, partly due to past provocation by the Maypitt men, but also because of the difficulty in identifying the instigators of this heinous crime. They ‘got away with it’ but wait! The wives of the men who died put a curse on Magpie Mine and it was closed only two years later.
Lead mining took place at Magpie Mine from around 1740. Listed as a Scheduled Monument in 1974, when the mine closed for the last time, the remaining buildings are cared for by the Peak District Mines Historical Society. It is possible to walk round the old lead workings; it’s an interesting place to visit.
If you do visit Magpie Mine, especially on a wild, windy or a hazy day, give a thought to those who were lost. Listen out for the curse echoing on the wind, as you soak up the atmosphere created by these fascinating abandoned workings. THE
Joyce Janes on behalf of Bakewell Old House Museum
D O O R S
D e r w e n t
D e r w e n t
W i n d o w s & D o o r s
W i n d o w s & D o o r s
w w w . d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k w w w . d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k
i n f o @ d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k i n f o @ d e r w e n t w i n d o w s . c o . u k
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
Across
1 Athletic? Casting my eye over it (9)
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures.
Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Across
5 That woman needs some therapy! (3)
6 Bit of compassion for donkey, please (3)
10 Nice index in your earpiece! (3)
11 Arched overhang at final mistake (7)
12 Produce eggs in action replay (3)
16 Trip to have gone out from (3)
17 With a nod back to University type (3)
Down
2 Romulus and Remus, twins having obligation (4)
3 Bargain event place in Cheshire? (4)
8 Heated, he put it back (3,2)
14 Stringed instrument with money in it, say (4)
15 Spot a quiet, slow leak (4)
7 Restarted the match while at loggerheads with her twin (5,2) 13 DIY, suckers? (7)
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This is a twisty and compelling historical thriller set in Germany on the cusp of World War II. The world’s athletes, the media, and visitors from across the globe have gathered for the start of the Winter Olympics in Bavaria.
The powerful Nazi government intends this to be a triumph. Its propaganda machine is in overdrive, temporarily hiding its anti-Jewish signs and behaviour, for nothing can be allowed to besmirch Adolf Hitler’s ascendancy.
And when a movie star, who happens to be the mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister is murdered, this must also be kept hidden from the world.
This book cleverly mixes real figures and events with fiction. But it doesn’t shy from the sometimes savage reality of life under the Nazi regime. Often these kinds of stories are told from the perspective of a foreign spy who goes in to save the day. But this novel is far more interestingly and subtly told from the voice of a German policeman, albeit one who is profoundly distrustful of his government. It’s very fast paced, atmospheric and well researched and a fascinating look at deep political corruption. Evil in High Places, in fact.
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GARDENERS CALENDAR
If there’s a patch of milder weather in February it can be a good time for getting things into the ground early, with the usual caveats not to plant in waterlogged or frozen ground.
Fruiting bushes and plants such as raspberries and blackcurrants and strawberries can be planted in the ground now. Give strawberries some good manure and don’t plant too deep – the crown of the plant should be level with the soil, not beneath it.
If you didn’t get round to putting alliums or late spring favourite bulbs such as lilies or anemones in last autumn there is still time to do it though they will flower a little later. Soak anemone bulbs well before planting.
Plants tolerating an early start in the soil include hardy geraniums and Japanese anemones. Both are happy in light shade.
Cut back last season’s long stems of sedums which are starting to show buds. This avoids the buds being damaged or constrained as they grow.
TOP TIP
Cornus, also known as dogwood, are those bushes which provide brightly coloured vibrant winter stems. If you cut them back almost to ground level once they have done their job this winter, it gives you much more chance of producing really good colour next year.
IS SPRING ON ITS WAY?
Mild autumn conditions were followed by a swift downturn in the weather through December and into January with deep frosts and heavy snowfalls. However, despite the spells of cold, wintry weather, there were signs of the seasons changing and even of Spring on its way. Hazel catkins are some of the earliest signs of Spring arriving especially in places such as along the Monsal Trail around Hassop, and in the nearby Derbyshire Dales. Some summertime flowers persisted into late December, with garden roses suddenly reappearing, and wildflowers like Red Campion, Common Hogweed, Cow Parsley, Herb Robert and Ox-eye Daisy all still to be found blooming in the Peak’s countryside. Indeed, in woodlands, parks, and gardens, birdlife has also been showing signs of change with first territorial songs given by Mistle Thrushes hidden in the highest branches of tall trees. Loud and melodious these birds sound rather like a Blackbird’s song but less sweet and not so inventive. Also in early December, there were bursts of song from Great Tits and then more recently Blue Tits too, as the Robins change subtly back from their slightly harsh winter song to a sweeter sound of springtime. Tawny Owls, active in local woods since late November, are now well into their breeding season and increasingly vocal. Great Spotted Woodpeckers can be heard with their repeated, high-pitched, ‘chik-chik-chik’ calls delivered from the tree-tops along with their territorial drumming on favoured trunks. On rivers such as the Derbyshire Derwent, the Mallard ducks have already paired up and in some cases have young broods already on the go, and the parent birds are anxiously
trying to keep the ducklings safe from harm. Not all will be successful. Moorhens and Coots are becoming more actively territorial with aggressive encounters increasingly frequent. Exotic Mandarin Ducks are seeking out suitable nest-sites often in tree-holes, and Little Grebes are back on their breeding areas and establishing territories. Another early bird that sings during February and March to establish its riverside territories, is the Dipper or as it used to be known, the Water Ousel.
In gardens around the region, early signs of Spring on its way were to be seen in late December with the first Snowdrops just pushing through. Now, with the weather noticeably milder, carpets of brilliantwhite Snowdrops are joined by the bright yellows and purples of the ubiquitous Crocuses, and early honeybees and hoverflies are drawn to their rich supplies of nectar. Interestingly, the ever-increasing carpets of Snowdrops, in both gardens and the wider countryside, are welcomed and, in some places, have become major tourist attractions for visitors to heritage houses and the like. That Snowdrops are not native but a European import, probably from medieval times, is conveniently overlooked and we treasure them despite this. Our views on the merits and perils of nonnative and so-called ‘alien’ species are surprisingly subjective! Early-season daffodils are also appearing and, in some cases, followed by the rather uncommon Wild Daffodils such as in woodlands around Matlock and the Cromford Canal.
Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
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