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                                                                          Community , Settlement and Place

 

 

In the timeline of the greatest events in the history of chemistry, Aristotle is credited with a proposal on the use of distillation to desalinate sea water in 350 BCE (Khordagui H.K. - 1999)

He would not have been aware that a small community working on a hill top in East Cleveland over 3000 years earlier were routinely desalinating sea water by thermal evaporation.

This community, identified as being the earliest in Western Europe to engage in commercial salt production also represented the early stage growth of a settled community in our region.

 

Salt extraction and processing represents the connecting thread of Community , Settlement and Place within Loftus Parish from the early Neolithic period to the present day.

 

The process of converting Alum shales Into Octahedral salt crystals provided employment , new horizons and hope to many who almost lost it through loss of work and the experience of famine elsewhere. Its principle use as a carrier for wool dye was instrumental in providing significant added value to wool enabling it to become highly desirable in world markets.

 

The young Geologist , Lewis Hunton , who first identified a reliable indicator of the age of rock strata that contained similar fossil deposits no matter where they appeared has provided insight into geological strata formations throughout the world.

 

This continuum of strata connects Polyhalite , a multisalt fertiliser , discovered in seams deep underground in Salzburg , Austria by Friedrich Stromeyer in 1818 to seams deep underground Boulby. The extraction and processing of this salt into essential fertiliser for food production world wide will be a major contributor to our community , settlement and place for years to come.

 

Loftus is currently undergoing a major infrastructural investment through a grant from the Future High Streets Fund. This investment , the first on this scale for over a century , brings about a transformational step forward which will enable residents , visitors and business leaders to advance their visions and reach out to new horizons in a world now adapting to the criteria required to combat climate change.

 

L.A.W.G. are proud to be a strong supporting partner to the Town and Borough Councils in delivering the scheme and assisting in preparing the way forward for the benefit of all who live , work and visit in Loftus Parish area.

 

Reference

Khordagui H.K. (1999) Desalination. In: Environmental Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4494-1_78

Volunteer for Loftus. Join us in the new community woodland park!
AII you need to bring is sturdy footwear and clothes you can get mucky! There is a range of activities but the main purpose is to develop the woodland for Loftus residents. Come and join us - meeting point Loftus Leisure Centre car park.

 

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Wednesday 13th October            Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Thursday 21st October                Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Thursday 27th October                Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Thursday 4th November              Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Wednesday 10th November        Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Thursday 18th November            Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Wednesday 24th November         Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Thursday 2nd December              Mike, Community Woodland     9.30-1pm

Wednesday 8th December           Mike, Community Woodland      9.30-1pm

Thursday 16th December            Mike, Community Woodland      9.30-1pm

Break for Christmas

Thursday 13th January                Mike, Community Woodland      9.30-1pm

interested in becoming a regular volunteer ?
                     Please send your details to
Marshall Best- marshallbest@icloud.com
  07484324446
Natalie Whitworth- natalie.whitworth@groundwork.org.uk 07577344731
Upcoming activities in the new community woodland park

Come and join us for some woodland activities for all the family !

Every Friday _ 1.15pm                               | Weekly health walk group, meet outside Loftus Town Hall - Marshall B

Thursday 5th August,  10am-12               | Come to your senses - Jo Mead

Tuesday 17th August,  10am-12               |  Magical themed event - Natalie W

Thursday 19th August* 1-4pm                  |  Bio Blitz ( free t shirt ! ) - Natalie W

Tuesday 24th August, meet outside         |  Guided Heritage Walk to an archaeological dig at an early Neolithic site,

Loftus Town Hall for 11am start               |  to receive information from Dr Stephen Sherlock-Marshall Best

Thursday 26th August, meet outside       |  Guided Heritage Walk to Loftus Alum Quarry with Geologist Alan Simkins

Loftus Town Hall, for a 10.30am start      |  4,5 miles- Marshall Best

Saturday 11th September 10.30-12         |  Wild Food Walk - Natalie W

Saturday 11th September 1-2.30pm        |  Wild Food Walk - Natalie W

September                                                   |  Bat Walk - Loftus Town Council

October                  Pumpkin Walk              |  Halloween Weekend

To book onto the activities please contact  Jo Mead, Natalie Whitworth, or Marshall Best

Loftus events on Heritage Open Days Friday 10th September and Saturday 11th September 2021

 

We are pleased to advise that our 2021 Heritage Open Day events will include

 

Friday 10th September Loftus Town Hall starting 7.30pm

 

Update on current investigations at Western Europes earliest commercial salt making processing facility near Street Houses by Dr.S.Sherlock

 

The exciting revelation of commercial salt processing in the early Neolithic period ushering in the transition from hunter gatherers to a settled economically active community brings many new dimensions to what we now know as Place and Settlement .

This transformation brought food preservation ,production of dairy products and livestock management.

 

Dr.Sherlock will bring us the latest information to be shared in our community

 

Saturday 11th September Loftus Town Hall 10am to 12 noon

 

John Lord , specialist Flint Knapper will demonstrate the ancient art of flint knapping and we will have the opportunity to examine the stones used and replicas of the flint discovered at the early Neolithic site. We shall also be informed of the sources of many of the flint stone found at the site.

 

Saturday 11th September Loftus Town Hall - depart 1pm

 

 

Free guided Walk to early Neolithic site near Street Houses. Dr.Sherlock will meet us on arrival and inform the group of the current understanding of the beginnings of salt processing in Western Europe

 

Walkers are requested to wear sturdy boots, bring light refreshments and have waterproof clothing if needed.

Loftus Market Place is served by Arriva X4 and 5 buses.
No booking needed ; for more information phone 01287 641000 or e-mail

info@walkingloftusandthenorthyorkshirecoast.com

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Loftus ACORD Walking Group receive £2,129 in funding

Loftus ACCORD Walking Group outside Loftus Co-op, receiving a cheque for £2,129 from the Co-op's Local Good Causes Scheme. The funding will be used towards the local Community Woodland Project, with our partners from Beyond Housing, Groundworks Northeast, Loftus Town Council and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

Dear Friends,
Just a line to advise that Dr.Steve Sherlock will present a review of his current studies at the Saltern site near Streethouses this year in Loftus Town Hall on Friday 7th October starting at 7:30 pm. Since our last visit on Sunday 4th September, the Archaeologists received a visit from the “Digging for Britain “ team led by Professor Alice Roberts. A video of this visit was taken and will be presented on National T.V. in 2023.

Friday 7th October 2022

Please note, no Wellbeing Walk on December 2nd 2022.  (Chistmas lunch)

December 25th 2022 Light up Loftus, Loftus Market Place.

The Christmas Lights will be switched on at 5.30pm

there will be hot dogs, roast Chestnuts, soup and mulled wine etc available in the Market Place

and refeshments and entertainment in the Town Hall

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