The brand new season follows hot on the heels of the popular monthly Market's glowing annual survey results and, according to Market organisers, there's never been a better time to buy local!

Market organiser Lorna Jackson said: "The first Farmers' Market of the year is a sure sign that spring is in the air, and we can't wait to get started again.

"We had some great news in January when the results of our annual survey came in - showing that we more than doubled our visitor numbers last year.

"But we were especially delighted that a big majority of shoppers thought the wide range of fresh local produce difficult to find elsewhere was their favourite thing about the Market.

"And that was before the outcry caused by the ongoing horsemeat scandal - something that really made people sit up and think how and where their food actually comes from.

"Alternatively, everyone involved with the Farmers' Market has a great passion for good locally produced food.

"We're proud to say that all our produce is either grown, reared, caught, brewed, baked or made by the stallholders - generally from within a 50-mile radius.

"That's not only good for the environment - saving thousands of air, road & sea miles - it's great for shoppers who can chat freely with the stallholders and know exactly where their food is coming from."

Lorna added: "I can't wait to see all our stallholders back together again for the start of another year.

"It's a perfect time to come to Saltburn and stay all day. Wander round the Market, the shops, the cafes, the art galleries, the salesrooms, the pier, and maybe even the beach and the woods. That's what Saltburn's all about."

• Saltburn Farmers' Market returns for a brand new season on Saturday 9 March at 9am, just outside Sainsbury's, near the Railway Station. A popular mix of favourite stalls and special guests sell a mix of fresh seasonal fruit & veg, meat & game, free-range eggs, honey & jams, cakes & fudge, wild mushrooms, fresh herbs & chillies, wine & cheese, plus a range of local art & crafts.

The Skinningrove Bonfire, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, was under threat due to recent funding cuts, but a £4,000 donation from Coast & Country's 'Your Way, You Say' scheme has saved the event on November 5.

Adrian Hill, from the Skinningrove Bonfire Committee, said: "Coast & Country's donation has lifted our spirits. We were struggling for donations due to the recession hitting the businesses that normally give us funding. The £4,000 from Coast & Country has covered our shortfall and is enabling us to go ahead."

Iain Sim, Chief Executive of Coast & Country, said: "It is wonderful to know that Coast & Country has saved the event. It would have been a great shame to have seen an event with such a tradition like the Skinningrove Bonfire die.

"The bonfire epitomises local community spirit and through our 'Your Way, You Say' initiative, Coast & Country is proud to be able to assist."

Under the 'Your Way, You Say' scheme, voluntary and community groups are invited to submit proposals, which would benefit the community or the environment. Coast & Country tenants then vote for the ideas that they think are most worthy of receiving financial support from a £60,000 fund. This way, tenants are able to make the decisions on where community funding is spent.

The Skinningrove bonfire takes on a theme every year, this year's is the London Olympics. The bonfire will resemble the London Olympic stadium and will take around ten days to build with about 5,000 spectators expected to attend.

Mr Hill added: "The bonfire costs around £12,000 to stage, so in order to secure the bonfire for next year, we will be out in force with collection buckets on the night. We encourage everyone who enjoys the bonfire to give generously to ensure it continues.

"The bonfire brings people together, not only on the night but during the building stage too. It helps put East Cleveland on the map, bringing people from all over the world to Skinningrove, coming from places like Denmark and New Zealand, to come and see the bonfire."

Coast & Country Housing: Established in 2001, Coast & Country is a 'not for profit' local Housing Company limited by guarantee. It is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and is regulated by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). As the largest RSL within Redcar and Cleveland, its current rental housing stock totals 10,309.
Its properties and estates are located in a diverse range of urban estates, seaside resorts and rural villages. Coast & Country believes that working together with local communities to find local solutions is a key factor in building and sustaining communities.
Delivering high quality homes Coast & Country is contributing to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of the communities within the immediate region and beyond.
Coast & Country aims to ensure that its regeneration work will have a positive impact on people's lives, achieving a careful balance of new homes for sale and for rent creating the kind of neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.
For more information log on to: www.cch-online.org.uk

The Carr family-of-eight has moved into a home at Coast & Country's Hummersea Hills development at Loftus.

Trevor Carr, who was a former Royal Engineer Search Team Commander/Bomb Disposal, had struggled to find a home for his family, which was both affordable and suitable. After contacting Coast & Country he was offered a house at Hummersea Hills.

Trevor, 36, said: "I left the army to spend more time with my family but renting privately turned out to be unsustainable for us. Coast & Country has been brilliant from the start and I am very happy we got in touch with them."

Trevor now lives with his wife Angela Carr, a 34-year-old housewife, and their six children Nicole, 17, Connor, 12, Brooke, 10, Kieran 6, Kendra, 2, and one-year-old Kayla in a new four bedroom house.

Trevor, a Warehouse Operative at Tesco Distribution Teesport, said: "In the army I had to move around a lot and it is really nice to have a stable home and live in one place where I can grow as part of the community.

"The house is really lovely and very spacious. It has quite a big garden, which is great for all our children to play in. We are all very pleased."

Coast & Country is one of the largest regeneration and housing companies in the North-East. As part of its £22 million Hummersea Hills development, Coast & Country is regenerating housing on a rundown estate at Loftus. Coast & Country, in partnership with Southdale Ltd which is a national building and development firm, is building 300 high quality environmentally-friendly homes.

Iain Sim, Coast & Country Chief Executive, said: "Coast & Country is here to provide families in need with a safe and secure roof over their heads in sustainable neighbourhoods.

"We are very pleased to have been able to continue the long standing tradition of taking care of our armed forces by providing Trevor and his family the chance to rebuild their lives.

"The Hummersea Hills development has been a real success so far and we hope to be able to provide more homes fit for true heroes in the future."

Britain has a long and proud history of providing housing for former military personnel serving our country.

After the end of World War 1 the government passed a Housing Act which marked the beginning of slum housing clearance. The properties built for soldiers returning from war were called 'Homes Fit For Heroes'.

After World War 2 the country once again faced a severe housing shortage due to many homes, infrastructure, electricity supplies and roads being badly damaged during the conflict. The majority of the population in 1945 found themselves living in poor conditions in rented housing. As a result the government began a programme of investment in accommodation to rent to deal with the shortage.

This has provided the foundation for today's social housing schemes, which provide invaluable resources for those who are most in need.

Coast & Country Housing: Established in 2001, Coast & Country is a 'not for profit' local Housing Company limited by guarantee. It is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and is regulated by the Tenant Services Authority. As the largest RSL within Redcar and Cleveland, its current rental housing stock totals 10,309.
Its properties and estates are located in a diverse range of urban estates, seaside resorts and rural villages. Coast & Country believes that working together with local communities to find local solutions is a key factor in building and sustaining communities.
Delivering high quality homes Coast & Country is contributing to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of the communities within the immediate region and beyond.
Coast & Country aims to ensure that its regeneration work will have a positive impact on people's lives, achieving a careful balance of new homes for sale and for rent creating the kind of neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.
For more information log on to: www.cch-online.org.uk

Honey was the theme of the day, with shoppers also enjoying the Market's popular mix of fresh locally produced fruit & veg, meat & game, cheese, wine, plants & herbs, cakes, fudge, pottery, wool and artworks.

Lorna Jackson of Farmers' Market organisers Food First said: "It's been another amazing day at Saltburn. We've been busy right through the day, with over 40 young people and their families enjoying our Bizzy Bees Treasure Hunt this morning.

"Again, a lot of our stallholders have sold out by lunchtime, and we'd like to thank everyone who came along and made it such an enjoyable day.

"It's always great to see so many regular and brand new customers who share our passion for good local food, and we can't wait for our next Market here on Saturday 9 June."

• Saltburn Farmers' Market: Saturday 9 June. Over 25 stalls include a mix of fresh seasonal locally produced fruit & veg, meat & game, cheese, wine, plants & herbs, cakes, fudge, pottery, wool and artworks. Just outside Sainsbury's, near Saltburn Railway Station, starts at 9am.

• Further Market's take place on the second Saturday of the month; July 14, September 8, October 13, November 10 and December 8.

Every mouthful of food we eat is dependant on crop pollination by bees, so we need a thriving bee population. Yet, colony numbers have been declining since 2007 across the world. With this worrying statistic, whatever the cause - pesticides? mobile phones? parasites? - we wanted to share with you some of the fascinating facts about bees and beekeeping so have a honey pot of treats in store at this months farmers market.

A Bizzy Bees Family Treasure Hunt and Quiz,gets underway from 9am on the morning, with honeypot clues dotted around all 25 stalls, before a special Farmers' Market Childrens' Hamper is presented to the winner at 11am.

The town's Allotment Association will be on hand to sow attractive flower seeds at their stall - everyone taking part can then take their new plants home with them
And, weather permitting, shoppers will be able to see bees at work as popular stallholder and beekeeper Allan Stonehouse, from Beez Neez Apiary, will bring along a demonstration hive, with all bees safely behind glass to ensure no stings at the stall.

Read more about Allan and his honey along with other great products coming into the market this Saturday to include:a Honey Wine from Skinningrove Wines; honey and seed flapjack and gingerbread bees from The Gingerbread House; locally made beauty products from beehive in Brotton; and out for tasters and feedback - some new honey cheeses from Yorkshiredale Cheese company including Cranberry and honey, Strawberry and honey, Cherry and honey

All in all its going to be a great market for everyone that comes along nice and early.
As always please forward this email to friends and colleagues to make sure no one misses the buzzy market!

Also please vote for Real Meals Deli - Deli of the year competition at www.delioftheyear.co.uk/search-by-region/Realmeals/ and check out further market stories on Saltburn Farmers Market Facebook Page

Whitecliffe Primary School, in Carlin How, submitted a bid to Coast & Country's Your Way You Say scheme for funding to create a mosaic.

Your Way You Say supports projects that benefit the community or enhance the environment.

The artwork, designed by Whitecliffe pupils working with local artist Glynis Johnson, is based on the local legend of a merman being captured by Skinningrove fishermen.

The mosaic, which is displayed on a wall at the Riverside Centre in Skinningrove, was official unveiled by the Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Councillor Olwyn Peters.

Councillor Barry Hunt also has supported the scheme by contributing £500 from money allocated to him as Brotton ward councillor by Redcar and Cleveland Council for local community projects.

Iain Sim, Chief Executive of Coast & Country, which is one of the largest regeneration and housing companies in the North East, said: "Coast & Country sees community involvement as extremely important and the mosaic that the Whitecliffe pupils have helped create will be an artistic asset to the area for many years to come.

"The merman legend is part of East Cleveland's heritage and the pupils are to be commended for all the thought, imagination and hard work they have put into bidding for finance and then creating this eye catching piece of artwork."

Chris Shannon, head teacher of Whitecliffe Primary School, said: " Whitecliffe has a strong record of encouraging pupils to reach their full potential in the broadest sense and this includes encouraging them to become involved in projects, such as the merman mosaic, that benefit the wider community."

Councillor Hunt said: "The merman mosaic is destined to be a local focal point and the youngsters from Whitecliffe School should be very proud of their artistic achievement."

Councillor Peters said: "The Merman mosaic showcases the creative talent and artistic flair that exists among young people in East Cleveland."

Coast & Country Housing: Established in 2001, Coast & Country is a 'not for profit' local Housing Company limited by guarantee. It is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and is regulated by the Tenant Services Authority. As the largest RSL within Redcar and Cleveland, its current rental housing stock totals 10,309.

Its properties and estates are located in a diverse range of urban estates, seaside resorts and rural villages. Coast & Country believes that working together with local communities to find local solutions is a key factor in building and sustaining communities.

Delivering high quality homes Coast & Country is contributing to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of the communities within the immediate region and beyond.

Coast & Country aims to ensure that its regeneration work will have a positive impact on people's lives, achieving a careful balance of new homes for sale and for rent creating the kind of neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.

For more information log on to: www.cch-online.org.uk

When people smoke, it's the smoke that causes harmful disease and death - not the nicotine. E-cigs work by supplying nicotine (in a range of varying strengths) by a clean delivery system, posing less than 1% of the risk of tobacco cigarettes, but offering smokers a satisfying experience with all the "advantages" of smoking, but none of the disadvantages.

Tony Brown, founder of local Community Interest Company (CIC), Living Sober, an organisation which provides rehabilitation and support to those with chronic alcohol problems who want to rehabilitate back in the community is a strong advocate of E-cigarettes. A recovered alcoholic himself, Tony is acutely aware that many of the individuals he works with at Living Sober, are also struggling with addiction to tobacco.

"The average success rate for pharmaceutically-assisted attempts to quit smoking (patches, gum etc.) is about 5%. Many smokers try and fail repeatedly. In contrast, e-cigs have a very high success rate. Even some anti-tobacco campaigners who have carried out research suggest a 78% success rate after a year," Tony comments.

"And I'm living proof that they work - lots of people try and give up for health reasons, for the sake of their kids or families or for financial reasons. I don't smoke e-cigs for any of those reasons. The fact is, I actually enjoy the experience more, but the health benefits of switching to ecigs has to be a major selling point for a lot of people. E-cigarettes cannot cause cancer as there is no smoke, only a water-based vapour, and carcinogens are present at the same microscopic level as in pharmaceutical products such as nicotine skin patches. E-cigarettes cannot cause heart disease as there is no carbon monoxide or toxins. They are as safe as they can be."

Living Sober is using World Vaping Day to bring the use of E-cigarettes to a wider audience in Redcar & Cleveland. They are holding an open day at Larkswood Community Centre, Redcar (near Aldi) on March 22nd between 10am and 2pm.

Tony continues, "Anyone can come along, and try a free vaper tasting session. There'll be lots of information available, and lots of people on hand who are living breathing success stories. They can tell you from personal experience, as I can, what a great alternative e-cigarettes are. "

ENDS

Living Sober is a Community Interest Company (CIC) founded in 2005 to provide rehabilitation and support to those with chronic alcohol problems who want to rehabilitate back in the community within Redcar & Cleveland. The region currently has one of the highest number of alcohol-related hospital admissions in the North East England. Further evidence suggests that alcohol related harm and problematic use costs over £20 billion a year, with alcohol related injuries and illnesses costing the NHS up to £1.7 billion a year. Living Sober is committed to helping and rehabilitating those who are dependent drinkers and seen by many to be a 'drain' on society.

The directors and volunteers have over 50 years' experience in all aspects of recovery, including assessment, detoxification, residential rehab and critically long term aftercare for those who want to remain sober. Everyone in the team has been there, done that and worn the t-shirt.

Living Sober's dedication to rehabilitation benefits not only the individual but also the family members and the local community as a whole. Its philosophy is one of total abstinence from alcohol for those who are dependent drinkers. It supports their long term recovery at every step, through care (detox and rehab) and after care for as long as required.

Living Sober goes from strength to strength with over 79 clients achieving over a year's sobriety. 20 have returned to work, over 100 have embarked some form of education or training nearly all are reunited with friends and family. All have become assets to society, rather than been an expensive drain.

E-cigarettes

An electronic cigarette is a device that uses a small battery and heater to vaporize nicotine liquid for inhalation. Most e-cigarettes contain propylene glycol (a non-toxic, liquid base), nicotine and food flavouring. They are intended as an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes. They are not designed to treat nicotine addiction, only provide nicotine in a safer manner. However, many experts agree that switching to electronic cigarettes is almost as good as quitting smoking.

Additionally, some people have reportedly used the reduced nicotine levels available to wean themselves off of nicotine altogether and now use 0mg nicotine liquid.

While nothing is 100% safe and further testing needs to be done regarding long-term use, based on the fact that it contains only ingredients already shown to be safe for human consumption and research studies show that they do not contain most of the

toxins or levels of carcinogens that are found in tobacco cigarettes, we are reasonably certain it is considerably safer than tobacco cigarette smoking.

The American Association of Public Health Physicians (AAPHP) supports the use of electronic cigarettes as a reduced harm tobacco product and released a statement that electronic cigarettes "could save the lives of 4 million of the 8 millioncurrent adult American smokers who will otherwise die of a tobacco-related illness over the next 20 years."

Other resources:

http://www.living-sober.co.uk

www.world-vaping-day.com

http://live.psu.edu/youtube/Ejcnzho95FA?mid=5295763

http://louisville.edu/medschool/news-archive/uofl-research-shows-substituting-with-smokeless-tobacco-saves-lives

Market organiser Lorna Jackson from Saltburn's Real Meals Deli and allotment holder Emily Stewart will be making a Spicy Farmers' Market Soup using fresh ingredients from the Market itself - and all profits raised from the day's soup sales will be used to help maintain and improve the town's 160 allotments.

Lorna Jackson said: "We're really looking forward to this. We'll be making the soup using ingredients from the Market, including fresh seasonal veg from the local allotments. "Saltburn's allotments are literally just a few hundred yards up the road from the Market, so it really doesn't get any fresher or more local than that!"

Allotment Association secretary Sue Featherstone said: "We love the Farmer's Market, and have a stall every month to raise funds to help maintain and improve the allotments. "We currently have 160 allotments, with at least two-thirds of each garden used solely to grow fresh fruit & veg, and I think the Farmers' Market is a great place to come and buy good quality locally produced seasonal food."

Adding a seasonal foodie tip, Sue said: "This is also a great time of year to catch parsnips at their best. The first frost brings the sweetest parsnips, with the frost converting the starch into sugar. So the soup is going to be a proper treat."

The eggs are on sale from new stallholders David Laing, Grewgrass Lodge,  Marske.
 
Retired policeman David Laing and his wife Christine transformed Grewgrass Lodge from an empty shell into a rural idyll offering green tourist holiday retreats in four acres of woodland. Now, perching happily amongst holiday visitors from as far afield as Australia, Canada and South Africa, over 200 free-range chickens wander happily through the woods alongside an array of ducks, pheasants, rabbits and the occasional roe deer.
 
The resulting eggs are proving popular with people buying directly from the lodge and now Saltburn Farmers Market shoppers can look forward to buying the eggs for themselves from Davids stall on Saturday June 11.
 
David Laing says: "We feel quite lucky to live the life we do every day here. We're surrounded by wildlife, and our hens are free to roam in the woods and grassland all day long. It's almost like a big family, with the hens coming and going into their huts as they please at the end of each day. "We have two types of hen; firstly the distinctive Black Rock, laying large eggs with distinctly yellow yolks, and we also have a lot of former battery hens laying large tasty eggs on an almost daily basis.

Saltburns popular Farmers' Market has proved a big hit since launching in Easter 2008 and now regularly attracts over 3,500 people to the elegant seaside town with a huge mix of locally produced food, drink and artworks.
 
Saltburn Farmers' Market features over 25 stalls and will take place outside Sainsbury's, near Saltburn Railway Station, between 9am-3pm on Saturday 11 June.
 
For more info on Grewgrass Lodge, visit www.grewgrasslodge.com
For info on saltburn farmers market visit www.facebook.com/pages/Saltburn-Farmers-Market/214847838539613

A group of students from Freeborough Academy in Brotton gave up free time to dig out pathways to improve wheelchair access, planted shrubs and helped install a gazebo at Kilton Thorpe School.

The five young people worked under the supervision of mentors from Coast & Country - Mark Walker, Charlotte Bagley and James Welford.
Iain Sim, Chief Executive of Coast & Country, one of the largest housing and regeneration companies in the North East, said: "The Kilton Thorpe project demonstrates the benefits of our Future Leaders initiative.
"It provides valuable life lessons for young people which will stand them in good stead when they enter the world of work or the next stage of their education, and gets them involved in worthwhile community projects."
Kevin Thompson, head teacher at Kilton Thorpe School, said: "The Freeborough students are a credit to the area. They are to be commended for giving up substantial amounts of their free time to help improve the outside environment at Kilton Thorpe, where they have done a fantastic job."

Six schools from across the Redcar and Cleveland borough are taking part in this year's Coast & Country Future Leaders scheme where one young person will win the prize of an apprenticeship with the company starting in 2012.

They are Bydales, Marske, Sacred Heart and Redcar Community College, all Redcar, Nunthorpe, Laurence Jackson, Guisborough, and Freeborough, Brotton.

Those taking part face a series of challenges including organising, budgeting for and completing community improvement projects and taking part in an outward bound course.

One student, who demonstrates initiative, team working and leadership qualities, will eventually be named a Future Leader and will be awarded an apprenticeship with Coast & Country.

Coast & Country Housing: Established in 2001, Coast & Country took over the ownership and management of homes from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in July 2002.
The Company is a 'not for profit' local Housing Company limited by guarantee. It is a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) and is regulated by the Tenant Services Authority.
As the largest RSL within Redcar and Cleveland, its current rental housing stock totals 10,309.
Its properties and estates are located in a diverse range of urban estates, seaside resorts and rural villages. Coast & Country believes that working together with local communities to find local solutions is a key factor in building and sustaining communities.
Delivering high quality homes Coast & Country is contributing to the prosperity, wider regeneration and sustainability of the communities within the immediate region and beyond.
Coast & Country aims to ensure that its regeneration work will have a positive impact on people's lives, achieving a careful balance of new homes for sale and for rent creating the kind of neighbourhoods that will flourish well into the future.
For more information log on to: www.cch-online.org.uk

A great line up for Saltburn Farmers Market this Saturday, April 9.
 
25 stalls full of locally sourced, hand made goodies including: Cheese, Wine, Organic Meat, Sausages, Organic Vegetables, Cakes, Cupcakes, Fudge, Fruit Bars, Smoked Fish, Fish Pate, Soaps, Jewellery, Pottery, Face Creams, Garden Plants, Home ware, Gingerbreads, Alpaca wool, Local Honey .... and much much more.... plus.. will  Real Meals bring out their Paella Pan... we'll have to wait and see!
 
New this market .... Garth Herbs - specialist growers of culinary herbs for your garden, your back yard or your kitchen window sill........all providing a great range of flavours for the cook
 
and last but not least ....the chance to catch up with what  The National Trust does... ....also buy membership at this months farmers market which then entitles you to free entry to hundreds and hundreds of historical properties, locally, regionally and nationally!
 
Join the thousands of people that flock to the market every month and grab yourself a taste of Saltburn! 9am till 2pm - in the square - outside Sainsburys.