The 2014 Great Gidding Village Show

The 2014 Great Gidding Village Show

Village Show Update

Another challenging year for gardeners but we feel sure that even after all the difficulties we’ve faced with the weather, the village show is going to have some great entries. It’s always a pleasure to see the fantastic results people achieve with their vegetables and fruit and more than anything it’s being part of a fun village event so please don’t think your entry isn’t worth showing – it will be!
As to the baking side of things, there are all sorts of classes and hopefully you’ll get a chance to try some of the entries. This year we are doing a ‘sealed envelope’ auction where people can put an undisclosed amount of money in an envelope with their name on and we’ll then pick out a bag of goodies from the show and match it with the envelope. People will still be able to retrieve their entry before this auction but if you donate vegetables, fruit or cakes we would be very grateful .
We look forward to seeing you at the BBQ even if you can’t make the show so come along with the family and enjoy a relaxing time with the rest of us. Remember, anyone can enter you don’t have to live in Gidding!

Sue Jarvis

Footpaths and Bridleways

Footpaths and Bridleways

Taking care on foot, horse or in the car

Well, we’re into a very wet start to the year. So most footpaths, Bridleways & verges are sodden. Think ahead before you choose to walk, cycle or ride. It may save you some difficulty & save these surfaces from becoming completely poached up. Choose routes that are less likely to cut up. This is particularly important for riders as tracks & Bridleways take a while to recover. It also saves your horse losing shoes & walkers boots from becoming blocks of clay!

A little more care from drivers would also help our verges & gateways from becoming ruined. Narrower roads need drivers to slow down & wait as other drivers approach, rather than simply maintaining the same speed & mounting the verges. You are also less likely to get stuck & your vehicle less likely to get so dirty & your brakes to collect so much grit & dirt.

Anyway there are still plenty of lovely walks & rides to enjoy & of course places to cycle.

Last words. . . Don’t forget hi vis jackets if it’s dull or misty & of course lights. . .& you drivers!

Have Fun,
Rachel

Access points to footpaths and bridleways in Great Gidding Parish

Village Hall and Recreation Field

Village Hall and Recreation Field

Village Hall & Recreation Field Committee

The next meeting will be on

Date     12th May 2014

Venue  Village Hall meeting room

Time   7:30pm

Members of the public are welcome to attend. This is the AGM where a new committee will be elected and matters concerning the Village Hall and the Recreation Field will be discussed. They are your facilities, please show your support.

Thank you

New and Old on the Rec

New and Old on the Rec

New Play Equipment

Youngsters will be delighted to try out the new play pieces on Great Gidding  Recreation Field. Some of the elements of the older play equipment are showing their age so the Parish Council and the Recreation Field committee sought out some funding and quotes for replacement items which have now been installed and judging by the muddy grass have been thoroughly tested.

Particular thanks to Councillor James for her work in sourcing the funding and quotes to get the play equipment updated.

 

Old Pavilion Demolished

The wooden pavilion has been taken down for safety reasons, the upkeep and maintenance were considered to be prohibitive given the poor usage and the petty vandalism that occurred in recent times.  It makes it easier to decide about a replacement structure should the need arise.

I for one have enjoyed numerous sports and field activities that the pavilion afforded us not least the many barrels of beer that David Shepherd supplied for the cricket fixtures. It really was an idyllic village cricket field scene even when it rained. However things move on and hopefully a new Village Hall and Recreation Field committee will see the potential to reinstate some sort of functional building.

The remmnants of the pavillion

Parish Footpaths and Bridleways

Parish Footpaths and Bridleways

What a lovely autumn we’ve had and a gentle ease into winter

What better time than now to get out into the countryside & explore.
We are so lucky here in the Giddings to have access to so many paths & bridleways. What better way to unwind, take exercise, either alone or with company & enjoy what nature has to offer.

For both riders & walkers the bridle way start, off the Luddington road, leading to the bridge, has been resurfaced. So access along this route will now be easier through the wet months.

Click here for info on the Countryside Code

Click here to view a definitive footpath and bridleway map for Cambridgeshire

You can also report any problems along footpaths or bridle ways on this portal.

For those of you who are really keen, you could take secateurs with you & trim any overhanging brambles on route. This is extremely helpful as these grow rapidly, during the growing months.

Well enjoy the outdoors, whatever the weather!


Merry walking, cycling & riding,
Rachel

O come, all ye faithful recyclers

O come, all ye faithful recyclers

The countdown to Christmas has started, and Huntingdonshire District Council would like to encourage you all to keep the party going by remembering to recycle over the festive period. We are recycling more at home than ever before, which is great, and we don’t want it to be forgotten about during the festivities.

Christmas means more waste to dispose of (well… not just that!)

Christmas is a time for entertaining, which means we all have more waste to dispose of. In Huntingdonshire, we are fortunate to be able to recycle a wide range of materials within the blue bins or clear sacks, which helps us all to recycle more this Christmas. Remember to recycle all of your Christmas cards, wrapping paper (paper type only), sweet tins, and the plastic packaging from your gifts within your recycling bin. Don’t forget that all food waste, including your turkey carcass, vegetable peelings and any leftovers can be placed in your garden waste bin for composting.

New dates for collection

Collections of all waste types will continue throughout the festive period, but your day of collection will change for a few weeks. Collection arrangements are below and you can also download your collection calendar from www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/bins

Normal Change to
Monday 23 Dec Normal
Tuesday 24 Dec Normal
Wednesday 25 Dec Friday 27 Dec
Thursday 26 Dec Saturday 28 Dec
Friday 27 Dec Monday 30 Dec
Monday 30 Dec Tuesday 31 Dec
Tuesday 31 Dec Thursday 2 Jan
Wednesday 1 Jan Friday 3 Jan
Thursday 2 Jan Saturday 4 Jan
Friday 3 Jan Monday 6 Jan
Monday 6 Jan Tuesday 7 Jan
Tuesday 7 Jan Wednesday 8 Jan
Wednesday 8 Jan Thursday 9 Jan
Thursday 9 Jan Friday 10 Jan
Friday 10 Jan Saturday 11 Jan

When the festivities are over, recycling continues and here are a few top tips for a green 2014

Many unwanted materials can be recycled at your local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Alconbury 9am – 4pm
Bluntisham 8am – 4pm
St Neots 8am – 6pm
NB. Sites close at 1pm on Christmas Eve, and are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Find your nearest at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/environment/recycling

Recycling Banks for clothes, textiles, DVD’s, CD’s and books are located throughout the district. Find your local bank at www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

Avoid your blue bin being rejected for collection by keeping out black sacks and textiles

Games, Traditions and Celebrations

Games, Traditions and Celebrations

In Britain we have a rich heritage of traditional celebrations outside of mainstream culture.

Games and events that have evolved over the centuries through annual gatherings or get together’s of like minded people. Some of these have pagan origins, some have evolved just through the need to let ones hair down.

These events have usually been recorded in books but with the age of the internet there has been a revival of interest far beyond any localism . The Lewes Bonfire festival is especially popular. Other popular events include the Bacup Britannia Coco-Nut Dancers,  Ashbourne football (not Match of the Day type football) Hinckley Bullockers  and many more. Keep up to date with country wide events here  Calendar Customs.

 

 

The National Byway

The National Byway

You may have seen the signs but did you know that the National Byway is  a 3,300 mile rural cycle network and is a completely entity  from the National Cycle Network.

Luckily we have both networks passing through our Parish and even sharing the same road for a couple of miles. The National Byway is all about cycling on modestly quiet rural roads and byways and bypassing the busier urban areas. Some market towns are on the route, Oundle is our nearest.

Maps for all the National Byway regions are available from the website.

The Great Fen Project

The Great Fen Project

Landscape changes 7 miles to the East of Great Gidding

 

If you head towards Holme village on the B660 and cross the East Coast mainline railway to your left is the Holme National Nature Reserve , a large area of  Silver Birch woodland. Travel a little further to Ramsey St Mary’s and you will come across the famous Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve. In between and all around is the distinctive black peat soil and deep drainage ditches.

Both these sites have been under pressure to survive , the fen soil keeps on shrinking and the water table gets lower drying these wetland nature reserves out. The reason the water table gets lower is because to  farm the land successfully needs dry soil but the paradox is that the water is constantly being pumped into rivers which are higher than the land.

To stop the rot a grand scheme has been put into place to link the two reserves together by acquiring  the land in between  the two reserves and managing the water table in a nature friendly way. The scheme managed by Natural England and other partners is known as the Great Fen project

 

I would encourage you to visit both reserves as major landscape changes are already under way including the development  of a 500 acre reed bed to the north east of Holme Fen Reserve . Walking in Holme Fen Nature Reserve is fairly dry even in this wet time , so wear stout walking shoes.

Make the most of your visit to the Great Fen project by utilising their comprehensive web site

A selection of photos from around the Holme Fen National Nature Reserve

 

 

 

The Village Produce Show

The Village Produce Show

The Annual Produce Show will be on Saturday 7th September.

Latest posts first, scroll down for show schedule.

June 2013

Only 3 months to go and the pressure is on. The weather is at last trying to help and plants are in catch up mode.

Latest concept in bird detterents Veg in raised beds The allotments holders are setting the pace

 

April

 SHOW SCHEDULE

Vegetables and Fruit

1      Carrots                                 3

2      Potatoes (white)                     5 on a plate

3      Potatoes (coloured)                5 on a plate

4      Courgettes                            2

5      Shallots                                5

6      Onions                                  3 – each under 225 g

7      Onions                                  3 – each over 225 g

8      Runner Beans                        6

9      Longest Runner Bean              1

10    Leeks                                   3

11    Dwarf French Beans                6

12    Beetroot                               3

13    Sweetcorn                             2

14    Tomatoes                              5

15    Cherry Tomatoes                    8

16    Vegetable marrow                   1

17    Apples (dessert)                    5

18    Apples (cooking)                    5

19    Pears                                   5

20    Plums                                   5

21    Collection of cut herbs, 4 varieties in one container

22    Biggest Pumpkin

23    Largest Onion

24    Largest Marrow

25    Top Tray, collection of 3 kinds of vegetables on a tray, selected from the following, number as indicated in brackets.  Onions(3) Potatoes(3) Runner Beans(6) Tomatoes(6) Carrots with tops(6) Parsnips with tops (3)

 

Plants and Flowers

1       Three decorative Dahlias

2       Cut Chrysanthemum – single stem

3       Five cut Roses

4       Gladioloi – 3 stems of same variety

5       Gladioli -5 stems of any varieties

6       Vase of Crocosmia – 3 stems

7       Agapanthus single stem

8       Cactus or Succulent – 1 specimen

9       Best Pot-Plant

10     Top Vase – between 5 and 10 stems of at least 2 varieties

Jam and Chutney – made since 2012 Village Show

1      Jam              Any fruit

2      Jelly             Any fruit

3     Chutney        All ingredients to be listed on label

 

Baking

 

  1. 1.  Apple Cake
Ingredients

  • 225g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
  • 450g cooking apples
  • Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 225g caster sugar, plus extra for dredging
  • 3 large eggs
  • 225g self-raising flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 25g ground almonds
  • 1 tbsp demerara sugar

 

 

METHOD

 

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas4. Grease a deep 23-24cm springform cake tin and line with baking paper. Peel, core and cut the apples into 1cm pieces, and toss with the lemon juice.

2. Using an electric hand whisk, cream together the butter, caster sugar and lemon zest in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, adding a little flour with each addition to keep the mixture smooth.

3. Sift the remaining flour and the baking powder into the bowl and fold in with the ground almonds. Drain the apple pieces well, then stir into the mixture.

4. Spoon into the prepared cake tin, lightly level the top and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Bake in the oven for 1 hour or until well-risen, brown and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If the cake starts to look a little too brown, cover with a sheet of baking paper after about 45 minutes.

5. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Remove the cake from the tin and place on a serving plate. Dredge heavily with the extra caster sugar.

 2       Fruit cake – any size /type of fruit3      Plain Scones      5 on a plate4      Cheese Scones   5 on a plate

5      Sausage Rolls    5 on a plate – shortcrust pastry

6      Bread –  5 White rolls,made by hand

7      Bread – Wholemeal loaf made by machine

8      Shortcake              5 on a plate

 

Craft Section

1      Knitted  handicraft item completed since last year

2      Hard handicraft item completed since last year[woodwork/pottery/metal]

3       An item of patchwork or quilting

4      A hand-made greetings card.

5       Any sewn item, including clothes

 

Miscellaneous

1      Six Brown eggs

2      Six White eggs

3       Bottle of Home made wine

4       Bottle of home made sloe gin. Made in last 2 years

 

 

Children’s Section (under 15)

 

1a    Tallest sunflower                              Age up to and including 10 years

1b    Tallest sunflower                              Age 11 and over

2      Animal made from vegetables and/or flowers

3      A scarecrow (as big as you like)

4      A decorated cup cake    Age up to and including 10 years

5      A decorated cup cake made by entrant   Age 11 and over

6      A decorated hard boiled eg

7      Something made from a kit eg. Woodwork,models,

Soft toy

 

 

March
All the details to follow.

Hopefully the protracted winter will relent soon so that we can get seeds and plants under-way but heading up to Easter 2013 it doesn’t look promising especially for those new potato planters who use Easter as a calendar reference for sowing

Web links that may or may not help you in your quest for produce perfection

Don’t despair take a look at this website for inspiration on how to grow show veg and here for everyday veg

Not to be left out for the cooks amongst you, some baking tips from down under and a taster from Jam World