Thanks to The Northern Echo, Durham Times and The Sunday Sun for their different angles to the Bridge Painting story.
Here are the online versions if you misssed them in the papers:
Sunday 30 May 2010
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Press Release - Bridge Painting Day
Volunteers from Langley Park are being invited to help celebrate World Environment Day on Saturday 5th June by repainting one of the Iron Bridges on the Lanchester Valley Walk for the first time in decades.
It will finally remove the names of many who are now adults that daubed the bridge with their names in years past.
The bridge in question is the first one out of Langley Park on the path towards Durham - and if sufficient people show up and enjoy the day, more bridge paintings will be planned.
The event is organised by We Are Langley Park and takes place during National Volunteering Week. It is one of hundreds of activities happening across County Durham to celebrate the launch of the County Durham Environment Partnership.
Julie Eze, Secretary of We Are Langley Park said, “Nowadays, we tend not to do that many things as a village, so this will be a great chance to meet new people, enjoy our nearby countryside and help improve our local environment all at the same time.”
Durham County Council’s Countryside Service are supplying the paint and brushes, so people just need to bring themselves in some old clothes. Drinks will be on hand to help people cool down or warm up, depending on the weather.
The paint will arrive at 10am and volunteers will be around until 4pm, so people can either make a day of it, or just lend a hand as they are passing.
For more information call 07979 64 69 98 or visit the website at http://www.wearelangleypark.co.uk/
Words for Railway Street Triangle
Use the comments box to add your Words to describe how you would like the Triangle at the end of Railway Street to look - and feel.
Friday 21 May 2010
Langley Park Youth Centre
Every time I drive or walk past this building I do not just see an eyesore, nor do I see the delinquency of the kids that set it on fire and smashed it up . . . I see the failure of us adults to keep it open and running in the first place.
Wednesday 19 May 2010
Langley Park: On doing and not doing
Home
‘We depend on our surroundings obliquely to embody the moods and ideas we respect and then to remind us of them. We look to our buildings to hold us. Like a kind of psychological mould, to a helpful vision of ourselves. We arrange around us material forms which communicate to us what we need – but are at constant risk of forgetting we need – within.
In turn, those places whose outlook matches and legitimizes our own, we tend to honour with the term ‘home’
We need a refuge to shore up our states of mind…”
Alain de Botton – The Architecture of Happiness
In praise of Railway Street
I chose to move here against all practicality…on the basis of an experience of discovery, taking a stroll up the lane, ducking through a slightly overgrown passageway, peeping at the rough stonework and immediately falling in love with the slight wonky-ness of the place.
My love of the aesthetic qualities of this place have not waned for a second, and this winter in Langley Park has been the most beautiful I can remember.
I have a notion that the good naturedness and community mindedness of the residents was somehow evidenced to me in the aesthetics of the street. I can find no other explanation for knowing this would be the first sense of ‘Home’ I have experienced in years.
I do not exaggerate when I say that living here has caused me to evaluate more deeply what impact the aesthetic qualities of public space has on our sense of wellbeing and belonging, and has directly influenced much of my current professional practice
Langley Park – improving our environment, whilst retaining what’s good.
‘We are Langley Park’ is a sustainable structure that has lightness, flexibility and capacity to evolve that will potentially allow it to work more intuitively and sensitively than large hierarchical organizations.
Already social connections are happening across that village that are allowing environmental improvements to happen, that are based not just on the physical appearance and practical use of spaces, but a psychological shift that comes from a sense of responsibility, belonging, and empowerment.
We have spoken a lot about what isn’t working in terms of our environment, and now I would like to prompt a more lively discussion about what IS working so that we can retain and develop it.
I have been considering the approach we might develop to the management of green spaces around the village.
I pulled on the thread of the deceptively simple question: ‘to strim or not to strim’… and ended up thinking about the underlying principles that I think it would be beneficial to explore.
Re-visioning values
Imperfect
Do Nothing
Idle
Slow
We are accustomed to the negative connotations of these words. I suggest a re-evaluation…
Wabi and Sabi
Wabi and Sabi reframes imperfection as Beauty.
It is a Japanese philosophy of life and aesthetics that has helped me to start understanding some of the qualities that draw me to spaces and places.
‘built on the precepts of simplicity, humility, restraint, naturalness, joy and melancholy as well as the defining element of impermanence.
Wabi Sabi … challenges us to unlearn our views of beauty and to rediscover the intimate beauty to be found in the smallest details of nature’s artistry.’ Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers: Leonard Coren
After long pondering of the ‘strimming’ discussion, I started to think abut the opposition if action vs inaction, and began to see the discussion as one essentially between Modernism and Wabi Sabi (or even Postmodernism?)
I feel that Railway Street has ‘Wabi Sabi’ qualities that are hard to define and perhaps these would be easily lost by over – enthusiastic tidying of greenery or surfaces.
Clean and ‘tidy’ are not the same. Clean is a lack of contaminants – such as dog mess, and litter.
Tidy has a huge range of interpretations, and the appropriateness of these levels or interpretations of ‘tidy’ depend very much on context.
They will shift when we are thinking about private and public space, or even urban / suburban / rural space or in-between spaces.
Idleness
We are excited with ‘We Are Langley Park’, and we want to see where we’ve been. Manicuring wild spaces in a ‘modernist’ approach is tempting as we are enthused by seeing the early fruits of community empowerment…
A modicum of idleness may also serve us well. The power not to intervene is also one we can assert.
Sometimes doing nothing is as important as doing something – it’s just harder to explain or justify it’s value as it is harder to measure…and our culture so often demands measurability.
The principles of “do-nothing” agricultural technique described The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka could provide guidance to us in our approach to tending the wild spaces around that are at the boundary of the more urban and rural ‘scapes we inhabit (and the trickier in-between bits that some of us like ‘wild’ and others would prefer more ‘tame’ –both undoubtedly with good reason)
However, the ecological aspect of any intervention needs careful consideration. Our intentions are good, and our practice should match this.
‘What is done must be done properly and with sensitivity. Once the farmer has determined that a plot of land should grow rice or vegetables and has cast the seed, he must assume responsibility for maintaining that plot. To disrupt nature and then to abandon her is harmful and irresponsible.’ The One Straw Revolution: Masanobu Fukuoka:
Slow
The Slow movement is all about creating connection to place, cultural heritage, and each other.
http://www.slowmovement.com/
If we are concerned about a loss of momentum in ‘We are Langley Park’ in the process of deciding a design approach for our shared spaces... perhaps there are creative things that could busy our hands…making bird boxes, undertaking ‘appreciation activities’ such as foraging or photography expeditions…which allow us to gather our thoughts and feelings about what we value in our surroundings.
Applying a slower approach to design solutions should mean we end up with a more satisfying result that suits the very particular context of our village.
Eg: A fence is a quick fix for defining a boundary. Its ‘slow’ addition might be planting a native hedge alongside…which will mature slowly to provide beneficial habitats and the ‘soft edges’ valued in Wabi Sabi.
Activity / inactivity by design
I would like to propose that the application of ‘interim tidying’ in Langley Park is approached in a context sensitive way.
We can start with the more ‘straight forward’ sites, and in the meantime gather people’s responses to any site that are likely to be sensitive in terms of aesthetic / ecological impact.
Lets get to know each other and let us explore the things we love about being here, now…as well as the things that get on our nerves…that’s a starting point.
“Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.” The Book of Tea- Kakuzo Okakura
Jo
Wabi and Sabi reframes imperfection as Beauty.
‘We depend on our surroundings obliquely to embody the moods and ideas we respect and then to remind us of them. We look to our buildings to hold us. Like a kind of psychological mould, to a helpful vision of ourselves. We arrange around us material forms which communicate to us what we need – but are at constant risk of forgetting we need – within.
In turn, those places whose outlook matches and legitimizes our own, we tend to honour with the term ‘home’
We need a refuge to shore up our states of mind…”
Alain de Botton – The Architecture of Happiness
In praise of Railway Street
I chose to move here against all practicality…on the basis of an experience of discovery, taking a stroll up the lane, ducking through a slightly overgrown passageway, peeping at the rough stonework and immediately falling in love with the slight wonky-ness of the place.
My love of the aesthetic qualities of this place have not waned for a second, and this winter in Langley Park has been the most beautiful I can remember.
I have a notion that the good naturedness and community mindedness of the residents was somehow evidenced to me in the aesthetics of the street. I can find no other explanation for knowing this would be the first sense of ‘Home’ I have experienced in years.
I do not exaggerate when I say that living here has caused me to evaluate more deeply what impact the aesthetic qualities of public space has on our sense of wellbeing and belonging, and has directly influenced much of my current professional practice
Langley Park – improving our environment, whilst retaining what’s good.
‘We are Langley Park’ is a sustainable structure that has lightness, flexibility and capacity to evolve that will potentially allow it to work more intuitively and sensitively than large hierarchical organizations.
Already social connections are happening across that village that are allowing environmental improvements to happen, that are based not just on the physical appearance and practical use of spaces, but a psychological shift that comes from a sense of responsibility, belonging, and empowerment.
We have spoken a lot about what isn’t working in terms of our environment, and now I would like to prompt a more lively discussion about what IS working so that we can retain and develop it.
I have been considering the approach we might develop to the management of green spaces around the village.
I pulled on the thread of the deceptively simple question: ‘to strim or not to strim’… and ended up thinking about the underlying principles that I think it would be beneficial to explore.
Re-visioning values
Imperfect
Do Nothing
Idle
Slow
We are accustomed to the negative connotations of these words. I suggest a re-evaluation…
Wabi and Sabi
Wabi and Sabi reframes imperfection as Beauty.
It is a Japanese philosophy of life and aesthetics that has helped me to start understanding some of the qualities that draw me to spaces and places.
‘built on the precepts of simplicity, humility, restraint, naturalness, joy and melancholy as well as the defining element of impermanence.
Wabi Sabi … challenges us to unlearn our views of beauty and to rediscover the intimate beauty to be found in the smallest details of nature’s artistry.’ Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers: Leonard Coren
After long pondering of the ‘strimming’ discussion, I started to think abut the opposition if action vs inaction, and began to see the discussion as one essentially between Modernism and Wabi Sabi (or even Postmodernism?)
I feel that Railway Street has ‘Wabi Sabi’ qualities that are hard to define and perhaps these would be easily lost by over – enthusiastic tidying of greenery or surfaces.
Clean and ‘tidy’ are not the same. Clean is a lack of contaminants – such as dog mess, and litter.
Tidy has a huge range of interpretations, and the appropriateness of these levels or interpretations of ‘tidy’ depend very much on context.
They will shift when we are thinking about private and public space, or even urban / suburban / rural space or in-between spaces.
Idleness
We are excited with ‘We Are Langley Park’, and we want to see where we’ve been. Manicuring wild spaces in a ‘modernist’ approach is tempting as we are enthused by seeing the early fruits of community empowerment…
A modicum of idleness may also serve us well. The power not to intervene is also one we can assert.
Sometimes doing nothing is as important as doing something – it’s just harder to explain or justify it’s value as it is harder to measure…and our culture so often demands measurability.
The principles of “do-nothing” agricultural technique described The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka could provide guidance to us in our approach to tending the wild spaces around that are at the boundary of the more urban and rural ‘scapes we inhabit (and the trickier in-between bits that some of us like ‘wild’ and others would prefer more ‘tame’ –both undoubtedly with good reason)
However, the ecological aspect of any intervention needs careful consideration. Our intentions are good, and our practice should match this.
‘What is done must be done properly and with sensitivity. Once the farmer has determined that a plot of land should grow rice or vegetables and has cast the seed, he must assume responsibility for maintaining that plot. To disrupt nature and then to abandon her is harmful and irresponsible.’ The One Straw Revolution: Masanobu Fukuoka:
Slow
The Slow movement is all about creating connection to place, cultural heritage, and each other.
http://www.slowmovement.com/
If we are concerned about a loss of momentum in ‘We are Langley Park’ in the process of deciding a design approach for our shared spaces... perhaps there are creative things that could busy our hands…making bird boxes, undertaking ‘appreciation activities’ such as foraging or photography expeditions…which allow us to gather our thoughts and feelings about what we value in our surroundings.
Applying a slower approach to design solutions should mean we end up with a more satisfying result that suits the very particular context of our village.
Eg: A fence is a quick fix for defining a boundary. Its ‘slow’ addition might be planting a native hedge alongside…which will mature slowly to provide beneficial habitats and the ‘soft edges’ valued in Wabi Sabi.
Activity / inactivity by design
I would like to propose that the application of ‘interim tidying’ in Langley Park is approached in a context sensitive way.
We can start with the more ‘straight forward’ sites, and in the meantime gather people’s responses to any site that are likely to be sensitive in terms of aesthetic / ecological impact.
Lets get to know each other and let us explore the things we love about being here, now…as well as the things that get on our nerves…that’s a starting point.
“Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence, and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.” The Book of Tea- Kakuzo Okakura
Jo
Wabi and Sabi reframes imperfection as Beauty.
Friday 14 May 2010
The Wall is Safe
The wall that made up part of the old stone bridge at the entrance to Langley Park, sitting just beneath Dean Street, is a cause for concern for many locals.
We can be reassured by Andy Niven - Head of DCC Countryside Service - who wrote:
"I am aware of this bit of wall - it is part of the former bridge and an engineer inspected it for me about a month ago. He is confident it needs no immediate work but advises, if we aren't going to undertake any works in the foreseeable future, that we re-point it. As the wall will be part of the work we hope to do at this location to create an entrance feature and improve the Railway Path crossing, I don't propose to undertake any immediate works. However, Mark Oliphant is keeping a professional eye on the situation and we will carry out any necessary work if the situation changes."
Stobilee Wetlands
Just as you head over the road bridge leaving Langley Park along Kaysburn Rd there is a tiny path entrance.
Go down it!
It takes you past a series of small lakes and ponds filled with wildlife - including an otter - then through the woods before bringing you out at Diggerland.
We went down there last night and took just one bin bag of cans away from the woods. We hope to return over the weekend to clear away the rest.
We have to get this pathway signposted - from the main road and the railway line.
Why do we like to keep these amazing beauty spots so well hidden?
Go down it!
It takes you past a series of small lakes and ponds filled with wildlife - including an otter - then through the woods before bringing you out at Diggerland.
We went down there last night and took just one bin bag of cans away from the woods. We hope to return over the weekend to clear away the rest.
We have to get this pathway signposted - from the main road and the railway line.
Why do we like to keep these amazing beauty spots so well hidden?
Saturday 8 May 2010
Path Cleared - and kept clear
If you have ever been down the path running from Quebec Street to the Allotments via the side of the Sport Ground you will remember how it was always strewn with litter.
Well no more.
This is part of Gary's patch - and even on a random Thursday evening it was still clean and tidy.
Welcome Jo
Jo from Railway St has just joined up - here's what she says about herself:
"art practitioner, keen gardener, interest in space / place design, user design and sustainability in the broadest sense. Have worked with community groups as a practitioner, but as a fairly nomadic person, have never belonged to one .. its about time.
Happy to dig, build, plant, prune, litter pick, talk and make brews. "
Great to have you on board Jo.
cg
"art practitioner, keen gardener, interest in space / place design, user design and sustainability in the broadest sense. Have worked with community groups as a practitioner, but as a fairly nomadic person, have never belonged to one .. its about time.
Happy to dig, build, plant, prune, litter pick, talk and make brews. "
Great to have you on board Jo.
cg
Renewed Sense of Community Sweeps Railway Street
The Railway Street entrance to Langley Park is about to get a make-over - which is great!
But not as great as the sense of ownership residents now feel over their local environment.
Legal issues notwithstanding over who actually owns the various pieces of land, the residents agreed that they would come together on the first Sunday in July to create a place they can be proud of, and jointly maintain.
In a meeting called by Kristy-Jo at No1, and chaired by her, concerns and ideas were raised and dealt with in a manner that left everyone motivated and enthused.
Residents working together,and taking responsibility for their own enviornment means we can all look forward to Railway Street becoming, and remaining, a clean, green and pleasant place to live and visit.
Wednesday 5 May 2010
Green - but not Clean
The main entrance to Langley Park village centre, from the Railway Line, is an overgrown wasteland, covered in cans, bottles and dog mess.
No doubt it is also a haven for wildlife - like mice.
So although it is inviting to animals, it is not at all welcoming to humans passing by from Lanchester to Durham.
It may be green - but it is not clean, or pleasant.
The residents of Railway Street and Logan Street are being invited to a meeting on Saturday to discuss what to do with it and who is going to do it.
Leaflets will be put through everyone's door with the time and location.
See you there.
cg
Tuesday 4 May 2010
Railway Street Resident getting mow-tivated
Some people can't look after their own land - either through disability or infirmity; or because they are not present and rely on their tenants.
Some people won't look after their own land - and while it is easy to judge them, we must remember that for some people it just isn't a priority. Indeed, for some, getting up and going to work isn't a priority; so expecting them to maintain their own street frontage is perhaps a wish too far.
Then there are pieces of land that simply aren't owned, or for which the Council is nominally responsible.
To expect the Council to maintain the myriad pieces of street and land to the standard we want will cost a small fortune - on top of what we already pay (and in Langley Park, this is already at £2.5 million per year).
The only way we can live in the village we want, is for those of us that want it to be clean and green and pleasant to do it ourselves.
Which is why I was thrilled that a resident in Railway Street is taking on responsibility for clearing the triangular piece of waste land that backs on to the Railway Line - using his own time, sweat and mower.
Cheers
cg
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