The Derbyshire County Cricket Club squad will return to training today (1 July) and begin their preparations for the 2020 season.

The phased return, which will closely follow current government guidance, initially allows players to train in one-hour, one-to-one slots with coaches. This schedule will gradually increase over the next few weeks to include larger group sessions.

The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that should all government guidelines allow, the 2020 domestic season will start on 1 August, with a revised schedule and fixture list to be announced.

Dave Houghton, Head of Cricket, said: “This is another positive step towards playing competitive cricket this summer and that’s something everyone at Derbyshire is working towards.”

He added: “All of the players have been proactive in managing their fitness, but now we can pick up a bat and ball again with the aim of returning to competitive cricket in August.”

This year’s popular Chesterfield Festival of Cricket event, which was due to take place in June and July at Queen’s Park, has been postponed. When cricket returns, tickets purchased for the original fixture dates will remain valid.

Click here to find out more about the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket

Please note: The below picture was taken a previous cricket event held at Queen’s Park

Ashgate Hospicecare have announced that this year’s Sparkle Night Walk will be a virtual event called the ‘Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night 2020’ and will go ahead on Saturday 19th September 2020.

Thousands of people were set to take part in this Chesterfield’s biggest fundraising event but due to COVID-19, the event had to be postponed. The event, which is a hugely important date in the diary for so many fundraisers and volunteers across North Derbyshire, promises to still provide the Sparkle spirit like every year and the local hospice needs your support more than ever.

Carl Jones, Fundraising Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “We know that the Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk is a hugely important date in the diary for thousands of our fundraisers and volunteers. For it not to go ahead in the usual way is disappointing for everyone. That’s why we’ve decided to launch Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night to ensure North Derbyshire can still come together in a safe and responsible way to raise vital funds for Ashgate Hospicecare.”

“By walking, running, cycling or dancing in your bunny ears and special edition t-shirt from 8pm on Saturday 19th September 2020, you’ll be a part of a unique virtual event unlike any other – and the difference it will make to local people living with a life-limiting illness and their families will be huge.”

“Last year, more than 3,000 people came together to raise over £263,000 and we need your support again this year more than ever before to ensure Ashgate Hospicecare is here for the future. Please sign up now, choose a challenge involving walking, running, cycling or dancing and join us on Facebook to party from 7pm – because together, we sparkle.”

Like every year, there will be some special surprises in store for the big night that will help recreate that unforgettable Sparkle atmosphere from home – and with younger children and pets able to get involved this year for the first time as well, we’re sure it will just as memorable.

Steven Collis, from Derby, will be participating in his third Sparkle Night Walk this year. He said: “Having experienced the Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk in person, it’s such a shame we can’t all be together as we would normally be. That said, I’m still really excited to take part in the Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night this year, and I can’t wait to get involved in a new way – I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The past few months have been hugely challenging for the charity and the wider community. At Ashgate Hospicecare, they have had to transform the way they provide their care, in the most difficult of circumstances, to reach more people than ever before. They have also expanded their end of life and bereavement support into the wider community, including care homes. And that’s why they need your support now more than ever.

For more details and to sign up for this year’s Markovitz Virtual Sparkle Night, click here.

Click here to read more about Ashgate Hospicecare

Residents across Derbyshire can take part in a wide range of free online courses this summer organised by Derbyshire County Council.

Some courses can be done online at a pace that suits you while other courses will be delivered remotely using Zoom where learners will be part of a live class with a tutor and fellow learners.

Learners will be provided with a list of materials or equipment they need for each session. All you need is a laptop, tablet or smart phone with internet access.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital, DSFS (Derbyshire Support & Facilities Services), Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Cycle Campaign have helped to create a new sustainable commute route.

Crow Lane has been closed to general traffic to create a safe route that stretches almost from the town’s train station towards the hospital’s grounds. It means that cycling from the town centre has become easier and safer for commuters, encouraging the use of greener forms of transport. It also links the town centre to closer, existing cycle paths and further afield.

It’s the result of a joint request from the Royal and the Chesterfield Cycle Campaign to Derbyshire County Council to close Crow Lane to traffic at the town end with a view to making it a permanent solution.

A spokesperson for DSFS said: “It’s been part of our site access plan to try and encourage more sustainable forms of transport and the move to close Crow Lane to traffic is fantastic news. We know from consulting with colleagues that more people would be willing to cycle in if it was safe to do so, but cycling up Hady Hill is not ideal.”

“The reason why Crow Lane was the preferred option is because it links to the town centre and other, nearby cycle paths. There has been a large increase in cycling since lockdown and electric bikes are increasing in popularity. To be able to cycle without being impeded by traffic makes it more appealing from a health and safety perspective as well as a safety point of view.”

The route can only be accessed by car via the Calow end for residents and has been done initially as an emergency closure for three weeks. The closure will then become temporary for 18 months with a view to making it permanent at the end of that period.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Simon Spencer said: “We’re pleased to have been able to offer a route for people to cycle safely from the middle of Chesterfield to the Royal. We’re making changes to town centres across the county, to make it easier for people to walk or cycle to the shops or places like the Royal.”

It’s the latest in a string of initiatives introduced by Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services for the Royal with the intention of encouraging alternatives to driving and addressing issues surrounding site access.

DSFS added: “We’ve recently opened new and refurbished shower and changing facilities for those cycling, walking or running to work, allowing them to freshen up and change into their work clothes. We have  just launched a cycle to work scheme which does not have the usual £1000 limit, so will enable staff to get an electric bike helping staff to cycle up the hill. We’re also about to improve our bus shelter accommodation and introduced electronic bus timetables to make it easier and more comfortable to get the bus to and from work.”

“We’d like to thank the Chesterfield Cycle Campaign and Derbyshire County Council for working with us and making this happen. It underlines our joint commitment to improving the environment, encouraging greener forms of transport and working on behalf of our colleagues to provide safe and effective, sustainable commutes.”