Stand by your spare beds, share your green fields, start working together and Todmorden could share in a cash bonanza of at least £3 million when the opening stages of the Tour De France come to the area next July.

The Grand Depart will be in Yorkshire on July 5 and 6, 2014, one of the days in the Calder Valley, and there is the opportunity for Todmorden to benefit economically before, after and on the race days as well as creating a lasting impression so people will return to visit the area once they have seen what it can offer.

A well-attended public meeting organised by Todmorden Information Centre at Todmorden Town Hall heard Calderdale Council tourism officer Katie Kinsella say: “It doesn’t matter that Todmorden is not on the route. Thousands and thousands of visitors are descending on Calderdale. It will bring just under £100 million to Yorkshire and that’s just a conservative estimate,” she said.

Around £3 million of that could come to Calderdale with a 15 to 30 per cent uplift in visitors and communities that embraced the race and planned and organised well would be best placed to benefit.

“Hotels and bed-and-breakfasts, get ready to take bookings now, and think about how to get people to stay longer,” she said.

Mayor of Todmorden Coun Jayne Booth introduced the speakers and Pam Warhurst, a Todmordian and chairman of Pennine Prospects, said it was an opportunity not to be missed. “This is the biggest opportunity to put Todmorden on the map, to show international tourists what we have got and kick-start the economy in Todmorden,” she said.

Todmorden Information Centre is already producing literature about Todmorden and The Grand Depart and those attending were asked to leave their details depending on which area their interest lay, for example accommodation, businesses or leisure, among others. The Mayor will chair a steering group which will discuss ideas and strategies and it will grasp the nettle quickly, with the first meeting expecting to be held before the end of June. People interested in joining this were asked to leave their contact details.

These little (and not so little!) superheroes from Todmorden Children’s Centre dressed as comic book or fairytale characters to raise awareness of the Forget-Me-Not Children’s Hospice - and they continued the theme at Todmorden Carnival.

They visited Centre Vale Park in the sunshine and had lots of fun playing hide and seek, doing roly polys down the hill and, of course, using their superhero powers!

All had a great time, including making costumes and masks.

You don’t have to be an established bed and breakfast, hotel business or camp site to benefit from the Grand Depart (although it is hoped local businesses like these will).

If you have a spare room to accommodate a visitor and a corridor or cellar for their bicycle, for example, or a field in which tents could be pitched, you can take part.

And you are urged to highlight to the county’s main tourism body, Welcome To Yorkshire, quirky little stories which could put Todmorden in the international spotlight.

Calderdale Council’s tourism officer Katie Kinsella said the Tour was high profile but low cost in terms of local communities in the Calder Valley being able to benefit.

For example, a campsite access scheme for the event was in progress whereby you did not need planning permission to use land you may have to allow people to camp for the event, though you would need to meet some requirements.

Liz Tattersley, of Welcome To Yorkshire, said around 2,000 media representatives as well as 3,000 spectators would be looking for somewhere to stay.

In the case of the media, Welcome To Yorkshire would be providing them with information about places on or near the route and commentators often used these while the race was in progress.

“We want people to send us these quirky facts and tales,” she said. These could be emailed to Pennine Prospects to forward or dropped into Todmorden Information Centre on Burnley Road and they would do the same.

The Information Centre has already produced a guide to what people, groups or businesses can do at this stage, available from the centre.

It covers issues such as getting online early, signing up to official newsletters for updates and emails, thinking of new ways to promote your product and adapting your accommodation.

It’s a story that starts with: “We don’t know what we’ve got ‘till it’s gone!”

The story we hear about, and in some cases you’re the one that has to tell it.

Whatever the context of your woes, wouldn’t it be nice for someone to pre-warn us?

It’s a Saturday afternoon in the Todmorden salon and a good friend of mine has made her way from Hebden Bridge to have her hair done.

It’s been six months since she texted me telling me she’d made a big mistake and seriously damaged her hair whilst doing some home hair colouring.

Her hair had broken off an inch away from her scalp in places and the rest of her hair was left frazzled and distressed.

With her hair still far from a healthy condition she’s finally taken up my advice on scrapping the product she was using and swapping it for good quality professional shampoo.

Our hair is made up from a protein called Keratin, which in itself contains a whopping 21 different amino acids.

We compromise the condition of our hair by, let’s be honest, neglecting and mistreating it in our punishing maintenance ritual of colouring, heated styling and usage of harsh drugstore products. As if it’s all not enough, Did you know sun and atmosphere pollution are aggressors that can contribute to damaged distressed hair?

I pose the question; how much money do we spend on skin care and cosmetics for our face? From anti-aging creams to spf foundations?

So why, oh why, do we continue to avoid spending that little bit extra on products that are going to help your hair look and feel healthier than ever?

Look for panthenol, essential oils algae extracts, wheatgerms and silk proteins. these are all ingredients that nourish our hair into good health and preventing further damage. Sodium lauryl sulphate, ammonium lauryl/lauren sulfate and ammonium xylene sulfate, well, my parents always taught me.. “If you can’t pronounce it, avoid it!”

These detergent ingredients are used in many lower cost shampoos and conditioners and scientifically proven to contribute to hair breakage.

Whether you have tumbling curls or your hair’s sleek and straight, all hair has the potential to look as glamorous as the stars.

It’s often I like to remind people, “Your hair is your greatest accessory!”

A group of bank volunteers swapped financial transactions for horticultural tasks as they helped a community group with a special project.

As part of the “Give and Gain” scheme run by Calderdale Business in the Community, eight members of staff from Halifax Bank visited Incredible Edible Todmorden (IET) to help the group with its herb garden project on Burnley Road, opposite Centre Vale Park.

They dug over, weeded out and completely refurbished the central beds in the herb garden.

Jenny Coleman, from IET, said: “They worked incredibly hard and left the beds looking so much better.

“We did hear a couple of comments about how nice it was to get time in the open air away from their desks and computers, so we hope that they enjoyed their morning as much as the herb beds did. Thank you to all who came.

“Thank you also to the Halifax Bank for supporting the scheme with volunteer labour and also with a small grant which allowed us to purchase some new herb plants and some soil.”

A solicitors’ firm is holding a free legal clinic from its Todmorden office once a week.

Wrigley Claydon, Water Street, Todmorden, is running the clinic every Thursday. Associate solicitor Emma Piszkalo said it provided people with the opportunity to seek advice about any legal matter - excluding criminal - with a free half hour meeting for each client between 1pm and 2pm and 4pm and 6pm.

Todmorden branch of the Royal British Legion is looking to recruit volunteers to recreate a march undertaken by their forbears two days after the outbreak of the Great War.

On Friday, August 6, 1914, following the order to mobilise on August 4 when Britain had entered the war, men from the two Todmorden Territorial Army companies of the Rochdale Battalion of the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers marched to Rochdale to join with men from the Middleton and Rochdale companies.

Their story told in the recently published book The Gallipoli Oak, written by Martin Purdy and Ian Dawson, less than a year later many of them fought and many of them died in the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign. After that, the Western Front and Passchendaele still lay ahead.

One of a number of events being organised to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the war in which ordinary men found themselves in the most extraordinary circumstances in often horrific situations, the Legion is hoping for some volunteers to recreate those first steps next year on the 100th anniversary of the march.

Darren Widdup of the Todmorden branch said; “As part of the Legion’s commemorative events we are recreating the march to Rochdale. We are looking for volunteers to play the part of some of these men. We will be wearing the uniforms although not carrying the packs they carried and a bit of fitness is involved.

“I have also spoken to the Rochdale Legion contingent and in the process of speaking to Middleton. It’s a challenge for people to get into character and step into the shoes of their great-grandfathers and great-uncles. A hundred and six Todmorden men went out to Gallipoli and 45 never returned,” he said.

Darren said there would be a presentation night for anyone interested in August. For more details contact Darren via the United Services Club in White Hart Fold, email dazwiddup@gmail.com or ring him on 07729 563643.

It will be interesting to see what effect last winter has on pest populations this summer.

Insects that winter underground may drown when soil becomes waterlogged. The below-average temperatures and wet weather of our past winter may have had some positive effects! Unfortunately it will also have harmed beneficial insects such as our already depleted bee population.

Slugs may have voracious appetites but they’re fussy eaters too, so the good news is that there are a selection of plants that slugs and snails will avoid. Slugs do not like any plants that are tough, hairy or bitter. They prefer chrysanthemums to dandelions. Then there are plants with glossy leaves, which prevent their tongues scraping away the surface. Also unpopular are those with pungent-smelling foliage such as lavender.

If you can choose from the following list of plants, it’s a satisfying way to repel slugs without extra cost or chemical side effects.

Aquilegias, Astilbes, Begonias, Crocosmias, Euphorbias, Ferns, Fuchsias, Grasses, hardy Geraniums, Hydrangeas, Japanese anemones, Lavenders, Pelargoniums, Penstemons, Roses, Sedums.

Don’t overfeed young plants in springtime as this encourages soft growth which slugs love to eat. Likewise, slugs enjoy tender seedlings. Water the garden in the morning rather than evening, as water trails create night-time slug motorways. Water the roots only. Or you could grow a tasty lettuce as a sacrificial offering!

Place slug traps made from scooped out orange or grapefruit halves cut side down, or yoghurt cups holding a smidgen of beer sunk into the soil.

As advised many times before, please encourage natural predators. If you have space, plant berried trees such as holly or hawthorn to entice thrushes into the garden. Could you create a pond to provide a habitat for frogs, and toads which love a nightly feast of slugs?

Sadly, gardeners need to accept that they cannot be totally eradicated. For further information try the factsheet on slugs at www.gardenorganic.co.uk .

Todmorden in Bloom volunteers have recently planted up hundreds of brightly coloured Begonia bedding plants. Todmorden in Bloom are grateful to our supporters including Todmorden Town Council’s grant which enabled us to buy liners for all our barrier baskets, Upper Calderdale Charity Assist (known as UCCA) for their recent surprise cheque which went towards buying annual plants and bags of compost, and M.G.Caravans for the use of their premises and water for our recent planting up sessions.

Todmorden in Bloom will always welcome more helpers, especially now during our busiest months ahead. For more information please phone Norman on 01706 812205 or Jean on 01706 817492 or see our website at www.todmorden-in-bloom.btck.co.uk

As an incentive to pupils at Bulwell’s St Mary’s C of E Primary to keep up good attendance,the Rotary club has donated a special prize as a reward to one lucky winner.

Bulwell and Basford rotarian George Bagshaw,who died last year,initiated the Bikes for Schools attendance prize initiative in 2009 and the club is keen to carry on his legacy.

The school’s headteacher Daniel Farthing is delighted that the Rotary Club is continuing to support the school.

Rotary members David Smith,Graham Hayes,and Andy Adams attended a special meeting of the School Council during which the attendance prize was handed over to council members.

A pub will attempt to break a world record during a fundraising event on Friday.

The Masons Arms, Todmorden, is holding a Pink Night to raise funds for the Race for Life in Burnley.

During the evening, there will be an attempt to set a new world record for the fastest time to eat three pickled eggs, and the most consumed in an hour.

Treesponsibility is hosting a green wood-working and family activity day in Knott Wood, near Hebden Bridge, on Sunday, June 16.

Visitors will have a chance to try their hand at making candlesticks, spatulas and gypsy roses using traditional wood-working tools.

Children’s activities will include rope bridges and making popcorn on a rocket stove. There will also be a bring and share picnic.

Organiser Dongria Kondh said: “Having an open day in woodland is a great way to celebrate the end of a very hectic tree-planting season.

“Treesponsibility has planted more than 16,000 trees since January, so it will be lovely to have a breather and spend a day having fun in the woods.

“There is safe space for kids to play and climb, and we do hope that lots of people will come and join us to find out a bit more about our work.

“Sadly this is the last event funded by our Access to Nature lottery funding through Natural England.

“We’d like to thank our funders for supporting Treesponsibility’s work with over 1,400 children over the past four years.”

In the afternoon there will be a circular walk round the woodland, guided by naturalist Charles Flynn of the Upper Calderdale Wildlife Network, who will be sharing his botanical knowledge and identifying some of the 633 plant and animal species found in Knott Wood.

Anyone wanting to attend the open day can meet outside Riverside School, Holme Street, Hebden Bridge, at 11am to join Dongria on a walk to the wood, which is approximately one mile away.

Booking is advised, but not necessary. For more information about the event, contact the Treesponsibility team on 07847 815926 or email treesponsibility@yahoo.co.uk.

Todmorden writer and performer Emma Decent‘s solo theatre show ‘Beyond Dreams of Aberystwyth’ has been the subject of discussion on BBC Radio 4’s Midweek programme, when Emma was a guest of presenter Libby Purves.

Emma will present her show at Hebden Bridge Little Theatre on Saturday, July 13 (7.30pm). Tickets: £8 (£5).

More than £52,000 worth of shares in the Fox & Goose pub, Hebden Bridge, have already been sold.

The figure equates to 40 per cent of the total shares available. Many people bought theirs at an advice session on Monday evening.

Plans to make the pub a co-operative venture have recently been aired on BBC Radio Leeds.

Mytholmroyd-based White Ribbon Campaign, which works towards eradicating violence against women and girls, is looking for volunteers.

It needs people to help with IT support for the website, with the newsletter and campaign work, publicity, organising events and fundraising. Call 01422 886545.

Residents have been airing their views on the future of the indoor and outdoor markets in the upper Calder Valley.

As part of the 2020 vision action plan, a consultation was held in St George’s Square, Hebden Bridge, to discuss whether residents wanted to have more outdoor markets and if they wanted it moved from George Street to Lees Yard.

And in Todmorden a group of local stakeholders who secured funding to begin a study into the future sustainability of the town’s indoor and outdoor markets have collated the results of consultation carried out in May.

This was undertaken by Todmorden Market Futures Steering Group which includes representatives from indoor and outdoor traders, Todmorden Town Council, Todmorden Pride, Todmorden Rotary Club, Todmorden Civic Society and Incredible Edible Todmorden.

The results demonstrate a significant support for continuation of the markets into the future.

Many people expressed an interest in supporting a move towards community ownership of the markets and a willingness to become “friends” or members of any potential community association.

In this initial phase of the work the steering group will continue talking to local residents and market traders and will explore successful market economy operating models elsewhere.

It is the intention of the group to apply for incorporation as the Todmorden Markets Trust as part of the governance process. This will ensure that the Trust has complete independence from any single stakeholder group.

Steering group conversations with indoor and outdoor market traders will continue between 3pm and 6pm from Wednesday, July 17, to Saturday, July 20. Further conversations with members of the local community will take place at key locations around the town week commencing Monday, July 15.

Consultation is also set to continue with residents in Hebden Bridge as John Walker, Calderdale markets manager, said the authority didn’t want to do anything that would upset local residents.

Calder ward councillor Janet Battye said: “We worked up plans a few years ago to move the market into Lees Yard and make it a permanent one. It wasn’t possible thenbecause we couldn’t find the funding. But there has been interest in developing and extending the market.

“As part of the Hebden Bridge 2020 Action Plan, we want to look again at this and come up with a number of ideas and options.”

Environment Minister Owen Paterson, speaking today (Wednesday) at the Great Yorkshire Show, explains why he is disappointed with the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform.

Click play to start watching now.

Novelist Jilly Cooper was one of thousands of visitors to the Great Yorkshire Show yesterday (Tuesday).

In this video, she tells us just why she is enjoying this year’s event.

The show - England’s Premier Agricultural Event - runs in Harrogate for three days, finishing tomorrow.

Action in the Main Ring on day two of the Great Yorkshire Show begins with a series of horse classes.

More than 130,000 people are expected to visit The 155th Great Yorkshire Show over the course of three days.

The agricultural show will run until tomorrow (Thursday) at the 250-acre Harrogate showground.

Children will have the chance to throw sponges at their headteacher when Cornholme School hosts its summer fair on Friday, July 12.

Starting at 3pm, activities will include numerous stalls, a chocolate tombola, bouncy castle and a raffle with a first prize of £100. The main event will be headteacher Adam Sapey in the stocks.

The Old Library in Cornholme is inviting people to attend a swap shop event on Sunday, July 14.

Attendees are asked to bring three wearable items of clothing and then walk away afterwards with three new(ish) garments.

Tea and coffee will be available at the volunteer run cafe at the Old Library. The events runs from 1-3pm.