I have had two trips since my last column, which were both very Cittaslow.
The first was to Italy for a world Cittaslow meeting and then to the Lake District in Cumbria for a family holiday, which included a visit to Cockermouth, one of the latest towns to become a Cittaslow.
The trip to Italy was awesome. Meeting more t
han a hundred people, all from Cittaslow towns in 15 countries was amazing. It was like being part of a huge world family, sharing ideas about how to make better towns, the Cittaslow way.
My trip to the Lake District was equally good. Cumbria has the same wonderful scenery and has put loads of effort into promoting its local food and heritage.
I couldn't get enough of Cumberland sausage, Pot Fest (an international pottery festival) and the ultra modern Reghed Discovery Centre, a brilliant piece of sustainable tourism.
So now back home what's been going on in Diss?
A new book, Go Slow England, seems prominent in almost every bookshop I visit.
We have approved a further four new Cittaslow grants, all for local groups to do some great community Cittaslow projects.
These include grants to the Diss Allotment Association to buy ten new sheds; to the Diss and District Rotary Club, for some new display panels; to the Diss NCT group, for demonstration equipment so that they are able to run antenatal classes in Diss; and to youth group SN Sounds, to assist them to buy their own marquee for their gig events in Diss Park.
Sadly the LEADER+ funding ends this month and we no longer have any grant money to give away.
The Cobbs Yard new seating and planting looks great. Come and see for yourself and visit the shops there.
The Cittaslow Centre is expanding into new things.
With all the concern over the credit crunch, we are launching the Diss Community Bank on August 27, 11am-1pm which will involve a credit union collection point being open every Wednesday at the centre. .
From September 6, the Cittaslow Centre will host a new taster art exhibition from the art collective Waveney Springs.
And to celebrate all we have achieved through the European LEADER+ Cittaslow Diss project, we are organising a Cittaslow Diss exhibition in partnership with the Diss and District Rotary Club to be held on August 23, 10am-4pm, in the Corn Hall.
Entry and refreshments will be free. So if you want to know more about Cittaslow Diss, what we have been doing or what we plan for the future, please come along, all are welcome.
Cynthia Schears is Diss Cittaslow co-ordinator and can be contacted at the Cittaslow Centre, 7 Cobbs Yard, Diss, IP22 4LB, 01379 642002, 07828 123414 or email: cynthiaschears@googlemail.comThe full article contains 469 words and appears in Diss Express newspaper.
