Kirkstall Online

In the run up to Kirkstall Festival 2012 we’re asking you to take pictures of everything and anything you love about Kirkstall and your community. These can be artistic, sentimental, fun, odd…anything goes (so long as it’s legal and family friendly!)

These images will be printed and displayed at the festival in our Photo Forest, creating The People’s Exhibition of memories and experiences from the people of Leeds.

We need lots and lots of photos to go into the Photo Forest. Think about what you love, go and take a picture of it, repeat for as many times as you like, and send the pictures to us at tpeleeds@gmail.com. We’ll upload them to the blog at www.tpeleeds.blogspot.com and print them out to display in the Photo Forest. You’ll be included in the credits and retain all rights to your picture, don’t worry, we’re not vultures!

Organised by Kirsty Ware, who also did the People’s Exhibition at 2011 Light Night, the Kirkstall Festival Photo Forest will display your photos in an innovative setting in the festival grounds, its going to be incredible and we’d love your photos to be part of it – remember, your photos can be anything and everything!

(photo right by Dawn Cobe)

Come along to the BTCV Hollybush Christmas Fair on Sunday 4th December from 12-4pm. There will be stalls, gifts, arts and crafts and refreshments! You can also soak up the festive atmosphere on our Winter trail around the garden. Come and join the fun!

For more information, please contact Jess Kandola on 0113 2742335 or at leeds@btcv.org.uk

Saturday 19th November and Sunday 20th November 11am – 3pm

One of Britain’s best preserved abbeys, Kirkstall Abbey was founded in 1152 by Cistercian monks. The Abbey Visitor Centre provides the unique setting for our
Christmas Fayre, a chance to stock up on unusual Christmas crafts, toys and gifts:

Wooden toys, cakes, herbal bath and body products, candles, jewellery, gift baskets, felt craft, Christmas cards and decorations, stained glass, wreaths, paintings, baby soft furnishings, quilts and clothes, jams and pickles…

Free entry for visitors.

The  weather didn’t put people off from attending the Remembrance Service led by Revd Rosemarie Hayes of Kirkstall St Stephen’s. A short, moving service at Kirkstall Cenotaph to remember all those who have fallen.

Did you know that libraries are still active in Kirkstall? Well, I’ve just had a lovely chat with the lady running the mobile library van which is currently parked outside the Children’s Centre on Norman Street. The mobile libraries have been visiting Kirkstall every week since the library closed in July and are open to everyone. Each of the mobile libraries carries computers with free internet access! There are three different mobile libraries (times now added to our calendar):

Community mobile – offering a wide range of materials (weekly)

• Kirkstall Leisure Centre – Fri 09.00 to 12.00
• Morrisons Car Park – Sun 11.00 to 15.00
• Queenswood Road – Thu 09.30 to 11.00

Children and Family mobile – offering a wide range of children’s materials and some adult books (weekly)

• Kirkstall Leisure Centre – Thu 18.15 to 19.15
• Kirkstall Children’s Centre (Norman St) Sun 11.00 to 12.00
• Hawksworth Wood Children and Family Centre – Sun 12.15 to 15.00

Older people mobile – visiting care homes in the area (fortnightly from w/c 7 Nov 2011)

• Sayers Close – Tue 09.00 to 10.00
• Aire Vew Care Home – Tue 10.15 to 11.45
• St Anns Square – Tue 13.45 to 14.45
• Kirkstall Court Care Home – Wed 09.00 to 10.00

Children with a Breeze card can borrow materials straight away, and if you’re not a library-card holder already you only need to bring two proofs of address to join.

They also offer an “at home” service for people who find it difficult to get out, where they will visit every three weeks to bring books to you.

For more details on these services, visit www.leeds.gov.uk/mobilelibraries or phone 0113 2476016

Its a shame that Kirkstall Library has been shut due to underuse, but only if we use our libraries more can we preserve them for the future. If you don’t use and support them we may lose them forever.

Kirkstall-based Buckley Jewellery has launched its 2011 jewelled poppy range in support of the Royal British Legion, supporting serving and ex-Service personnel in the armed forces.

They were first commissioned to design an exclusive Remembrance Poppy Brooch for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in 2009. Company founder and CEO Adrian Buckley personally designed the 18ct gold plated Buckley Poppy Brooch, encrusted with stunning ruby crystals, and donated all of Buckley’s proceeds from the sale of the original poppy brooch that featured on QVC to the RBL. A cheque for £1500 was presented to the RBL and this went towards helping those that need it most.

Last year saw this total rise to over £30,000 and the poppy was featured on a number of TV shows, even appearing on the X-Factor. This year Buckley, based in Wyther Green in Kirkstall, hopes to raise £1 million for the charity.

It is the  Royal British Legions Poppy Appeal’s 90^th Anniversary this year and Adrian is in the process of designing further exclusive products for this landmark occasion, including features in the national press, a two-hour show on QVC hosted by company founder and CEO Adrian Buckley. These are available for sale via the official British Legion Poppy Shop with all profits going directly to the Royal British Legion.

Remembrance Sunday is 13th November at 2.30pm at Kirkstall Cenotaph (by BHS). Wear your Buckley poppy with pride!

Following on from the extremely successful Kirkstall Abbey Deli Market, next year will see the start of a new outdoor market for 2012 in the picturesque 12th century ruins of Kirkstall Abbey. Enjoy a Sunday afternoon browsing hand made crafts, collectables and vintage treasures from across Yorkshire.

The market runs from 12 noon – 3pm on

Spring Market – Sunday 27th May
Summer Market – Sunday 1st July
Autumn Market – Sunday 30th September
Winter Market – Sunday 25th November

They are currently looking for stallholders. If you are interested in having a stall, please call 0113 230 5492, or email Kirkstall.abbey@leeds.gov.uk.

Set up Small Stall (6ftx3ft) £15 per market. Set up Medium Stall (10ftx4ft) £20 per market. Bring your own stall pitch £10 per market. Booking essential. You must provide details of your liability insurance.