Many many thanks from Sawtry foodbank for the continuing support shown by people of the Giddings, and particularly Jed and Aruna at the village shop who are acting as a collection point.
This weeks donations from the village to the foodbank are shown in the photo. Requests for support from the foodbank are starting to increase, and they provided food support for 30 families last week. Every donation is important….even one tin or packet can make a difference. If you would like to contribute, there is a collection basket in the shop, together with a list of what is needed.
Minutes of the online meeting held, via Zoom, on Tuesday 21st July 2020
Present: Cllrs Hill, Hodson, Pudney and Dear at the Village Hall, Great Gidding and County Councillor Gardner joined the meeting later via Zoom.
048.20 Chairman’s Welcome
049.20 To receive apologies and reasons for absence:
District Councillor Alban
050.20 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda – there were none
051.20 Public & Press participation session with respect to items on the Agenda
No members of the Press or Public joined the meeting
052.20 To confirm and accept minutes of the meeting held on 16th June 2020 – these were confirmed by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Pudney
053.20 Matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item – there were none
054.20 COUNCIL ISSUES TO NOTE:
To receive reports from Councillors:
Cllr Hill – Local Highways Initiative Bid meeting – Cllr Hill met with Jo Challis, CambsCC Highways engineer with responsibility for the project, they walked around the village and identified sites for signage, road markings and the speed awareness unit (see printed emails on file that explain further). Due to the narrow grass verges, the “access gates” will be installed at the point of the of the 30MPH signs. CambsCC had offered to order the speed awareness sign (EVOLIS) as they were making a bulk purchase and this would result in a small saving on purchase costs. Further emails discuss the type of post required for the sign, these are additional cost and it was felt that a stronger post (than those used for street signs) would be required due to the addition of a solar powered battery unit. Jo Challis has subsequently enquired if a second post was required and, following discussion at the meeting, it was agreed that this would be preferred but would be dependent on the cost to the Parish Council (Cllr Hill will make enquiries of Jo Challis).
Initially the overall cost of the project was to be in the region of £7700, with the Parish Council to contribute approximately £1000.
Cllr Pudney offered that, if a second post is installed, he would be willing to move the unit between posts.
The 2021-22 bid has been submitted by Cllr Hill and its receipt acknowledged by CambsCC.
Cllrs Dear and Hodson had no further reports.
Cllr Pudney enquired when the grass triangle was cut (junction of Chapel End and Gains Lane), Cllr Dear advised that it has been cut twice so far this (calendar) year. Clerk advised that the County Council were contracted to cut this area once a year.
County Councillor Gardener joined the meeting via ZOOM at this point. He gave his report and then left our meeting to enable him to join Hail Weston Parish Council meeting. His report is attached.
055.20 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) to note Barclays Bank statements
b) to note the Budget control statement
c) PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNTS – Cllr Hill approved and Cllr Pudney seconded online payments in respect of the following:
Who
What for
Amount
VAT
Authorised
Authorised
21
J R Trolove
Wages for May – 27 hours
£xxx
NONE
JRT
PH
22
Bradgate Fencing
Grass cutting on 3/7 Invoice no 8124
99.66
16.61
JRT
PH
d) to approve Clerk’s hours worked between 1st and 30th June ( 34 hours) – signed by NH
056.20 Planning matters:
65 Main Street – removal of hedgerow. Clerk advised that, following notification of the hedge removal, she had contacted Mr Craven of Milton Estates, the owners of the “dry yard” next to No 65, who visited the site on the same day. Clerk also completed an online submission to Huntingdon District Council Planning Department as the site concerned falls within the Conservation Area of the village.
Milton Estates have responded to the Parish Council, but an update from the Conservation Office is awaited (copies of all correspondence can be seen on file).
It was agreed that the Parish Council would take no further action and await the report and advice of the Conservation Officer at Huntingdonshire District Council.
5 Mill Road (this should be No 7) – Copies of emails and photographs can be seen on file – the contractors had dug post holes for a new fence approx. 18 inches adrift from the original and onto land owned by Gidding Charity Trustees. Cllr Hodson met with Mr Craven of Milton Estates, the owner of the cottage, and the fence line was re-instated as the fence was erected, bringing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
Planning Applications – there are 2 applications for the Parish on Hunts DC planning portal, (as at 15/7/20) requests to comment have not been received, although from the website it is noted that there is a delay in processing applications.
057.20 Recreation Ground Update:
The play equipment – notices have been updated and attached to enable use of equipment with guidelines in respect of coronavirus precautions and restrictions. Cllr Hodson requested that a notice be installed in the Noticeboard at the entrance to the Recreation Ground – Clerk will install
Risk assessment by Cllr Hodson on 3/7/2020 identified the following (photographs on file):
Safety matting at the top of the slide had been damaged by the grass cutter. Cllr Hill will arrange to purchase a mat which will be installed over the existing matting.
Some play equipment needs scrubbing clean – Cllr Dear offered to clean this.
Multi Use Games Area– Cllr Pudney’s advised that some initial sketches had been produced. The preferred site (approx. the area of a tennis court and its surround) is just inside the entrance to the Recreation Ground to the right hand side, slightly away from the trees, but this may necessitate the storage container being moved to another area of the field. It was felt that the Winwick end of the field was too wet and overhung with trees. Potentially a mound could be created from soil excavated to create the hard play surface, thereby creating another play option.
Cllr Pudney advised that the pedals on the multi-gym were not operating correctly and he will try to fix this.
058.20 Remembrance Day wreath – reserved, awaiting information regarding service.
Display of large poppies – a resident had enquired last year about displaying large poppies on lampposts through the village. Due to licences required to install/add anything to lampposts this was not to be pursued. Poppies are available for a suggested donation of £1.50 each, Clerk suggested that one poppy be displayed for each villager who had died during the World Wars, possibly displaying them in the Church yard/entrance. Cllr Hodson suggested attaching the poppies to the tree guards on the triangle of grass opposite the village shop, where they could be seen by all.
059.20 Cllr Hill had advised the Clerk of his intention to resign his position as Chairman at this meeting. He also advised that he would remain as a Parish Councillor and would continue with the projects that he was currently involved with. Cllr Pudney expressed thanks to Cllr Hill.
It was agreed by all present that requests to encourage parishioners to join the Parish Council has been made several times through the Clarion/Gidding News/village website over the past year and this has failed to attract any enquiries. Clerk asked Councillors to compile a list of residents who could be sent an “invitation” to join the Parish Council.
Cllr Hodson, as Vice Chairman, took the role of Chairman for the remainder of the meeting.
060.20 Co-option of Parish Councillors – as stated in 059.20 there has been no interest.
061.20 Correspondence received since 16th June 2020 (other than that discussed in agenda items above) – copies can be seen on file.
Due to COVID 19 restrictions emails have been shared almost immediately.
Consultation regarding Huntingdon District Council Licensing Act – Cllr Hill will review this document and share thoughts with Councillors via email.
Extinction Rebellion – Utilising road verges to reverse biodiversity loss – Clerk advised that she had attended talks/workshops on this subject and suggested that, should a parishioner come forward with the interest of sowing a wildflower area/verge, this could be accommodated and grass contractors informed of the areas not to be cut.
Future Road closures and repairs/resurfacing – details and maps shared. The County Council will install road signs/warnings prior to work commencing, therefore parishioners would be made aware at the appropriate time.
Hunts DC – COVID 19 outbreak management – this document can be seen on file.
e) Huntingdonshire District Council – notification of refund of Council Tax payment in respect of Recreation Ground
f) a visitor to the village had highlighted an error on the newt trail directions as they appeared on the village website, and also advised that a tree was blocking the route. Cllr Hodson has requested that the village website be amended to rectify the error and had sawn through the tree that was blocking the route (this has been reported previously on the CambsCC online reporting page). Cllr Hodson had responded to the visitor’s email, thanking him for taking the trouble to inform about the errors/issues.
g) Request for assistance from Parishioner in how to get overhanging trees/vegetation in the area of Gains Lane/Dells Close/ The Jitty removed, to enable BT overhead cables to be replaced/renewed– online report and request made to Cambs CC Highways Department
h) British Horse Society – request for a researcher of ancient routes and footpaths – Cllr Dear offered to carry out the research.
062.20 Items for decisions at next meeting:
Prepare for Co-option of Parish Councillor
Nominations and voting for the position of Vice Chairman
Planning matters – No 65 Main Street (if report received from Planning Dept).
063.20 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 18th August 2020,
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding, unless we are still restricted to holding online meetings.
Minutes of the online meeting held, via Zoom, on Tuesday 16th June 2020
Present: Cllrs Hill, Hodson, Pudney and District Cllr Alban via Zoom and Cllr Dear via telephone link.
031.20 Chairman’s Welcome
032.20 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
County Cllr Gardener
033.20 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda
There were none
034.20 Public & Press participation session with respect to items on the Agenda
There were none
035.20 To confirm and accept minutes of the meeting held on 19th May 2020
Cllr Pudney proposes acceptance, seconded by Cllr Hodson
District Cllr Alban joined at this point.
036.20 Matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.
There was nothing that will not arise later in the meeting.
037.20 COUNCIL ISSUES TO NOTE:
To receive reports from Councillors:
District Cllr Alban advised that:
around 3000 people had applied for Council Tax deferral
at the start of lockdown there were 26 homeless people, who have all, if they wished, been found temporary accommodation.
£28million had been paid out in the form of grants from Huntingdonshire District Council – Cllr Hill thanked Cllr Alban for highlighting the availability of the grant, which had been applied for in respect of the Village Hall and paid within 48 hours. Clerk requested that there be some information made available regarding the “terms and conditions” of this grant, if there will be a reporting phase on how the monies were spent or some follow up action – Cllr Alban will research this aspect.
Bonfires – there had been some reports of nuisance bonfires in local villages, the Fire Service have advised that no bonfires should be lit to aid coronavirus and those suffering with breathing problems.
Cllr Alban reminded that the “My Huntingdonshire” webpage has useful information and reporting links for many District Council matters – https://my.huntingdonshire.gov.uk
038.20 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
Clerk advised that, where possible in the future, payments would be made by BACS. The bank accounts have been altered to enable this to happen. The signatories remain as Clerk and Cllrs Hodson and Hill. The procedure would evolve over the coming months, but all paperwork associated with the financial matters listed below had been forwarded to Councillors via email prior to the meeting
a) Barclays Bank statements
b) Budget control statement and cashflow spreadsheet
c) PAYMENTS to be authorised – scans of invoices provided:
Payment reference
Who
What for
Amount
VAT
Authorised
Authorised
1
16
Bradgate Fencing
Grass cutting
£99.66
£16.61
JRT
PH
2
17
Milton Estates
Footpath Rental
£1.00
NONE
JRT
PH
3
18
J R Trolove
Wages for April – 35 hours
£xxx
NONE
JRT
PH
4
19
Inkwell printing
Parish News
£23.00
NONE
JRT
PH
5) to approve Clerk’s hours worked between 1st and 30th May (27 hours)
*** Payments made since the last meeting:
BHIB – annual insurance for Parish Council £485.11 – no VAT
PH&JRT signed the cheque
Cllr Hodson reminded Clerk that funds in respect of the purchase of defibrillator pads should be transferred to the Village Hall account.
039.20 To view the AGAR documents prepared for the Internal Auditor’s visit.
Proposal to agree and sign the AGAR for the year 2019/20.
To review the Annual Governance Statement for 2019/20.
Proposal to agree and sign the Annual Governance Statement.
Cllr Hodson proposed that the AGAR and the Annual Governance Statement be signed for 2019/20, this was seconded by Cllr Pudney. Cllr Hill will sign to enable the Period of Public Rights to view the unaudited accounts to commence.
Whilst lockdown continues and it is not possible for a member of the public to visit and view documents in the Parish Office, a copy of the accounts would be made available on request to the Parish Clerk.
040.20 Website Accessibility Statement – to discuss NALC document detailing the requirement to review and set up an accessibility statement in connection with Parish Council and its website use. Clerk explained that the requirement was to have a review in place by September. As this Parish Council does not have a dedicated website, but posts information via the village website, it was suggested Catalyst Design, who set up and manage the website, should be consulted regarding the accessibility statement and its implementation. In the meantime, as before, should a member of the public require information they are able to contact the Parish Clerk.
041.20 Recreation Ground Update:
The play equipment remains off limits, signage will be updated/removed as Government advice changes.
Risk assessment undertaken by Cllr Hodson on 12/6/2020 identified that the grass was in need of a cut (Clerk had contacted the contractors and the grass was cut on 16 June). Two sections of the recently installed safety matting had been pulled up and fixing pegs broken – Cllr Hodson relaid this and Cllr Hill will add further fixing pegs.
Cllr Pudney has been in discussion with Huntingdonshire District Council regarding the provision of a Multi Use Games Area, to be sited on the Recreation Ground. He has also spoken to a local builder, and an architect who lives in the village has offered to draw up sketches. The process being that planning permission is sought before grants can be applied for. Any grant application would need to show village support and fund raising activities. Cllr Pudney will continue with the process and update at a future meeting.
Jubilee Wood update:
A style of bench has been chosen to be sited in the open area at the centre of the wood.
Diseased ash trees are still being removed and repurposed where possible.
Orchard Update:
The shelter/seating area is in construction by Cllr Hodson. Clerk has purchased items for this construction and a BACS payment to refund for this purchase has been set up on the Great Gidding Charity Trustees account – invoice scanned and shared via email prior to the meeting.
Payment Reference
Who
What for
Amount
VAT
Authorised
Authorised
5C
J R Trolove
Construction materials purchased from Wickes
£ 252.77
N/A
JRT
PH
042.20 Insurance for Parish Council – renewal due 1st June 2020 –
Approval of Asset Register – this was sent to Councillors by email prior to the Meeting.
Cllr Hill proposed approval of the Asset Register.
043.20 Local Highways Initiative Bid – 2021-22
Luddington Road and Mill Road extension of 30MPH
Cllr Hill had shared his proposal via email with Councillors prior to the meeting. County Cllr Gardener had agreed to support the submission. Cllr Pudney suggested that Milking Slade Lane should also have 30MPH signs installed so that all approaches to the village were covered by the same speed limit. Cllr Hill had estimated the full cost of the project would be £4000 with the Parish Council to contribute approx. 20% of the final cost (when the County Council view the “site” they then estimate the costs involved before agreeing/approving the submission). There was some discussion regarding the benefit, or not, of including “gates” at the entrance to villages – these will be included in the submission. Clerk advised that there was still a box of 30MPH stickers available in the Parish Office and, when the work is underway for the 2019/20 project, this may be a good time to distribute stickers to householders. Cllr Hill will rework the bid and make the submission to the County Council.
044.20 Co-option of Parish Councillors – On the May issue of the Gidding News (distributed to all Parishioners) there was a request for interested persons to make contact, the Clerk advised that there had been no enquiries/offers.
The newsletter had been professionally printed, in colour and on “glossy” paper at a very reasonable cost. On the whole, there had been a favourable response from Parishioners to the new style of newsletter. Councillors agreed that they would use a professional printer in the future, but would prefer it to be printed on recyclable paper.
045.20 Correspondence received since 19th May 2020 (other than that discussed in agenda items above).
Clerk: NO written correspondence has been received since the last meeting. There has been considerable email correspondence throughout the lockdown period which, where appropriate and informative, has been forwarded by the Clerk to Councillors, printed where necessary, and despatched immediately due to the constantly changing advice/content/requirements.
046.20 Items for decisions at next meeting.
Prepare for Election or Co-option of Parish Councillor
030.20 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 21st July 2020,
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding, unless we are still restricted to holding online meetings.
Minutes of the online meeting held, via Zoom, on Tuesday 19th May 2020
Present: Cllrs Hill, Hodson, Pudney
015.20 Chairman’s Welcome
016.20 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
Cllr Dear – unable to access internet
County Cllr Gardener – family bereavement
District Cllr Alban – will join the meeting as soon as possible
017.20 Member’s declaration of Disclosable Interests for items on the Agenda
There were none
018.20 Public & Press participation session with respect to items on the Agenda
There were none
019.20 To confirm and accept minutes of the meeting held on 21st April 2020
Cllr Hodson proposes acceptance, seconded by Cllr Pudney
District Cllr Alban joined at this point.
020.20 Matters arising from those Minutes that will not be discussed as an agenda item.
There was nothing that will not arise later in the meeting.
021.20 COUNCIL ISSUES TO NOTE:
Clerk advises that a notice regarding the cancellation of the Annual Parish Meeting was posted on the Noticeboard at the Village Hall on Monday 11th May 2020.
To receive reports from Councillors:
District Cllr Alban advised that grants are available from Huntingdonshire District Council regarding the Covid19 lockdown for Village Halls – he suggested contacting Glatton Parish Council for further information.
County and District Councils are proposing to join forces on grass cutting within the county/district to ensure there are no overlaps or omissions of areas being kept tidy.
During the period of “lockdown” incidents of fly tipping have increased and “activity” regarding cannabis farms has also been increasing.
022.20 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) to note Barclays Bank statements – viewed online
b) to note the Budget control statement – Cllr Hodson presented the proposed spending for 2020/21 via a spreadsheet, viewed onlin
c) PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNTS – to approve and sign cheques in respect of the following:
4) J R Trolove – Clerks working hours for January (36 Hours) £xxx (no VAT)
5) to approve Clerk’s hours worked between 1st and 30th April = 35 hours
Other payments since the last meeting:
Wave (Anglian Water) Recreation Field water rates £33.03
Huntingdonshire District Council Recreation Field council tax £22.53 CR
d) to view the AGAR documents prepared for the Internal Auditor’s visit – there have been some last minute changes, this will be shared online (and in paper format) and will be ready for minuting and signature at the June meeting. The Internal Auditor has written, setting out how she will carry out the audit should “lockdown” continue over the next few months.
*** Village Hall payment to S R J Landscapes in respect of repair to the fence surrounding the grass area.
*** District Cllr Alban left the meeting.
023.20 Recreation Ground Update:
The play equipment remains off limits at present.
Risk assessment by Cllr Hodson on 11/5/2020 identified that the grass was in need of a cut. Clerk advised that Bradgate had been contacted on 18th May and will cut sometime this week.
A hirer of the Village Hall for yoga sessions had enquired if she may use the Recreation Ground for 1:1 sessions and, if so, what fee would be charged. After discussion, there were no objections, but it was agreed that the Jubilee Wood should be offered as an alternative venue and a nominal charge be applied per session. Clerk will discuss with the hirer.
Jubilee Wood update:
The organiser of 2019 Plant Sale has been requested to choose a style of bench/seat – to be purchased as soon as possible. See https://rusticcarpentry.co.uk/ – curved green oak backless bench, preferably 2 to make semi-circle or 4 to make circle @ £425 each.
Paths have been cut through the Wood using the lawnmower that is on loan.
Orchard Update:
The nursery will not be lifting fruit trees until November 2020. All donors of apple trees for the site have been advised by email (30/3/2020). Cllr Hodson and Clerk will discuss further how to maintain this area.
The Village Pound, opposite Townsend Pond – Clerk advised Councillors that a resident has cleared the undergrowth from this area and sown a bird seed mix to encourage wildlife.
024.20 Planning Application for Disabled Persons Parking Bay in Main Street.
See attached plan – Approval/refusal/observations.
There were no objections to this proposal, but the bus stop must be retained and kept clear of vehicles – Clerk will advise the County Council
025.20 Insurance for Parish Council – renewal due 1st June 2020
Approval of Asset Register to enable quote to be obtained.
Clerk has completed an online request to BHIB for the renewal papers, to date these have not been received.
026.20 Local Highways Initiative Bid – 2021-22 Luddington Road and Mill Road extension of 30MPH
Cllr Hill is working on the bid and will present this at the June meeting.
027.20 Co-option of Parish Councillors – how to attract Parish Councillors.
As it was not possible to hold an Annual Parish Meeting, Cllrs Hill and Pudney will devise the wording for an issue of Gidding News (formerly known as The Clarion), to be distributed to all Parishioners. This will update residents on the work and achievements of the Parish Council over the past year and act as a reminder about support that is available locally during lockdown. A request will be made for residents to join the Parish Council and/or the Village Hall committee
028.20 Correspondence received since 20th April 2020 (other than that discussed in agenda items above). Correspondence will be available to view at the meeting, including the following:
Clerk: NO written correspondence has been received since the last meeting
029.20 Items for decisions at next meeting:
Prepare for Election or Co-option of Parish Councillor
Review of the TO DO lists, to establish works to be carried out, timescales
and funding requirements.
030.20 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 16th June 2020,
starting at 1930 hours in the Village Hall, Great Gidding, unless we are still restricted to holding online meetings.
Across the country, places of worship are slowly opening their doors once again, after the months of closure during the worst of the COVID 19 pandemic. Coronavirus has not gone away. It is still around and still dangerous – witness events in Leicester. It’s just that our chances of encountering it are lower than a few months ago.
We want to say a massive THANK YOU to everybody, because it’s been a big challenge over the past few months. Thank you to everyone who’s been involved in helping and caring for people in our community.
In the past weeks, Great Gidding PCC has thought about how to open St Michael’s for individual prayer, ensuring we take every precaution to ensure that the virus is not transmitted. As you now know, we are now open.
Sundays: 1pm – 5pm Thursdays: 9.30am – 1pm
If you go into your church for prayer, you will find it a bit different. You will be asked to sanitize your hands before you go in and when you leave; pews will be roped off and you’ll have to sit where directed. There won’t be any service leaflets or Bibles to look at. You are asked to keep 2 metres away from others.
But God is the same, and will hear your prayer. Of course, God will also hear your prayer if you decide it’s easier, or safer, to pray at home, or on your walk, or in the bath……
Now, we are being asked to consider how we will slowly re-open our churches for public services. We are not rushing to do this. As we reopen, we need to make sure everybody is safe, and so we need to prepare carefully. This means that we won’t re-introduce any Sunday or Tuesday morning services before the beginning of September (this does not include weddings or funerals, which have their own set of instructions).
However there will be a short period when the church will be shut at the end of this month. After the closure of the church at 5pm on the evening of Sunday 26th July, the church will not be available again for private prayer until the morning of Thursday 6th August.
From September, we will have an interim, or temporary, pattern for a while. During the next few months, and maybe for the foreseeable future, we will have to continue some kind of online presence for those who have enjoyed it, and are not in a position to be in church on a Sunday. Although Great Gidding PCC have done a risk assessment for public worship, some people will not feel safe just at the moment. People remain vulnerable. That doesn’t matter. We need to care for them and to continue that care.
Church just won’t be ‘church’ for a while. There’ll be guided ways in and out; restrictions on where you can sit; you’ll have to sanitize your hands as you come in and go out and even before we receive communion; no one will hand you books – there’ll be a service leaflet for you to pick up; there won’t be any sharing of the peace, or coffee, or taking wine at Holy Communion (and you can’t kneel at the altar rail); there’ll be no singing; and you’ll have to leave your name and address (for Track and Trace purposes). The recommendation is that at least the ministers wear face masks as they distribution of communion. And we have to encourage you to leave rather than stay and talk to one another. Some people won’t want to go to church if it’s like that. That doesn’t matter.
Your ministers don’t want to become ‘super spreaders’. The healthcare professionals and science community are expecting a second wave or spike in COVID 19 cases, especially as autumn comes. We don’t want to do things to increase people’s risk of catching this. Neither do we want to ask volunteers to do lots of work which then has to stop and be repeated.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Fiona or John.
Revd Fiona Brampton 29 Church Road Great Stukeley PE28 4AL Tel: 01480 538 726 or mobile: 07305658032 (WhatsApp on this number) Email: revfiona@norleigh.org.uk
After the blistering heat of May we have been enjoying a complete turn of weather in June with much needed rain and unusually strong winds which may or may not have made the insects happy. Some thunderstorms did reach us but fortunately weren’t serious enough to badly frighten the more sensitive animals and humans among us.
We still had some very warm days at the end of the month and the water level in the pond continues to lower, exposing the banks and generally making it more difficult to see what is going on as the weeds which were previously underwater are starting to poke their heads above the water line and the water is not so clear.
Butterflies
The warm weather has brought out the butterflies in the wood, and as you walk along the paths you can see drifts of Meadow Browns fly up around you. Many other butterflies are present and we can all learn more and connect with with the natural world on our doorstep by taking part in the Big Butterfly Count which starts on Friday 17th July until Sunday 9th August. You can download the App or sheets from the Butterfly Conservation Website (bigbutterflycount.org) and the whole family can take part. It only takes 15 mins so is perfect to do whilst walking around the wood and even if you don’t see any at all, it’s important to record it.
In medieval times chasing butterflies was seen as foolish and perhaps even sinful (wasting good working time!) and as they don’t produce anything useful like honey, or threaten us by stinging or biting they were seen as being pretty useless apart from tempting people away from work. Thank goodness times have changed and we can appreciate their beauty and fascinating lives…
Meadow brown in Jubilee Wood
Fruits
The trees in the wood are full of fruits and it promises to be a bumper year for many of them. Apples of all kinds, medlars, damson and hazel nuts to mention just a few. The village has a juicing press which is available for use by villagers and is now stored at the village hall so if anyone is interested in borrowing it or organising a community fruit pressing, please contact one of the Parish Councillors or the Clerk, Julie Trolove. All their details are on the website.
Trees
Ash dieback continues to be evident in the wood. As the spores of infection can be wind blown and are on the ground in the leaf litter from previous years, it’s almost impossible to control effectively.
It’s tempting to compare our present Covid pandemic with the pathogens that ravage some other species such as Dutch Elm disease, Varroa mite virus in bees, and Ash dieback. The causes may be varied: bacterial, viral, fungal etc., but after talking to someone who knows far more about these sort of things I realised that the pathogens all have one thing in common, and that is that they all need to keep their host alive in order to benefit from them. The more virulent strains are, strangely enough, likely to be the victim of their own success as the host dies so it’s often the less virulent ones that survive which could be seen as a slightly better outcome. We’ve seen how this modifies growth patterns in the Elm trees, which now rarely grow to maturity as the beetles which spread the fungus can detect young elms growing in hedgerows once they reach a certain size. In terms of trees, the hope is that identifying and breeding genetic variants which are resistant to or tolerant of the pathogens will allow us to see mature and plentiful specimens of Ash and Elm throughout our countryside in the future. What will happen to us humans is another matter……
Activities
Ash sheep hurdles made by our very own village hurdle maker
Ash dieback has also provided an opportunity for some of the more creative members of the community to use their skills making sheep hurdles. They were originally used as lightweight fencing panels that could be moved easily from one area to another, wherever they were needed. From penning animals to shear or dip, to offering protection from bad weather, particularly at lambing time. They obviously had to be lightweight so several could be carried at one time over the shoulder but robust enough to be knocked into the ground and be used repeatedly. Michael has already embarked on making some hurdles from young saplings which needed to be thinned within the wood and perhaps it will be possible to get some feedback from him about the intricacies of the craft for a future blog….watch this space as not many villages still have an “old” village hurdle maker!!
Tomorrow, 6th July, Michael has organised a ‘Jubilee Wood ‘walk around’, 7:00 pm for a 7:15 pm start which is open to all. Please remember about social distancing but any questions, ideas and even (constructive!) criticisms will be welcome.
I wish you all a happy and healthy month ahead and hope that the recent lifting of some restrictions have helped to lift your spirits. No better place to celebrate than the Jubilee Wood!
We are delighted to announce that St Michael’s Church will re-open on Sunday 5th July. However, in line with safeguarding rules, the church will only be open for private prayer, and this will be limited to the south aisle, the area to your right as you come into the church. The rest of the church (nave, north aisle, chancel etc) will be closed off and inaccessible.
The church will only be open for two days a week:
Sunday 1pm – 5pm
Thursday 9.30am – 1pm
There will be a sanitation station in the porch, and you are asked to wash your hands on entering and leaving the church. At all times, social distancing of two metres should be observed, and this is especially relevant in the porch area. To help maintain this protocol, certain pews will be marked as ‘out of use’. We have had to remove all prayer books, bibles and other literature.
Whilst churches are allowed to open for public worship (subject to social distancing) from 4th July, we still have to complete a Risk Assessment and other arrangements before we can open up the rest of St Michael’s church for public worship, and this will not be before the beginning of August.
It is over two months since we closed the doors of our church buildings as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. We are delighted that we can now plan towards a gradual reopening over the coming months. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the Government, the Church of England and the Diocese of Ely.
We believe in life in all its fullness. In the current situation, that means that we need to keep everyone who will be using the church, safe. We are currently working through the guidance to see how and when we can safely open our churches for individual prayer, and ensure that the necessary health and safety measures are taken (regular cleaning, social distancing etc). Until this has been done in the best way possible, our buildings will remain closed.
The church, however, is not closed. There are regular acts of worship posted on the North Leightonstone website, and the North Leightonstone Facebook Group. Our ministers – Mandy, Fiona, Jim and Kim – are available to talk or offer prayer (currently over the phone). Contact details can be found on the website (www.norleigh.org.uk).
We are looking forward to welcoming you back into St Michael’s church shortly.
PLEASE NOTE: Little Gidding church is closed, and shrouded, for some months to come while the roof is being restored. Unfortunately this means there is no possibility of visiting it. Ferrar House is also closed at present.
John Clare, the poet, knew what he was talking about when describing his nineteenth century rural world, although even then he was concerned about the changes taking place. I wonder what he would have made of the present ‘lockdown’ and the restrictions that have been placed on all of us. Jubilee Wood has remained open for those of us allowed our daily dose of exercise, and provides both peace and space to relax in as well as a source of fascination for those of us interested in the natural world. The plants, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals that occupy the wood are carrying on as normal, in fact they’re no doubt benefitting from the reduction of air pollution and noise.
Weather
It’s been officially the driest May since records began in 1896 and perhaps we should now be thankful for the wettest February in 150 years, as the trees are still looking healthy and hedges have been flowering well, and the pond is staying at a decent level. With the total rainfall in England just 17 % of the average for May and the UK having its sunniest Spring since 1929 the weather has actually been worth talking about.
Pond Wildlife
Water plays host to some amazing creatures and visiting the pond is always a highlight for us on our walks around the Wood, and the dragonflies and damselflies have been prolific there over the last few weeks. It’s interesting that these ‘Jurassic visitors’ which have been around for millions of years, don’t live for very long, not much more than a year and that’s assuming they don’t get eaten by predators either as an egg, a nymph or an adult. They’ve certainly adapted well to all the changes they’ve encountered. The common blue damselfly is also seen on a daily basis at the pond, and can be identified by its beautiful bright blue colour, small thin shape and its similar shaped pairs of wings. They also hold their wings closed when at rest and their flight is much less purposeful and weaker than the stronger and bigger dragonflies which will often engage in territorial combat on the wing. The wing muscles of dragonflies are attached directly to the wings rather than the thorax allowing them to move each wing independently, which means they can hover like a helicopter, fly backwards and perform hairpin bends at extreme speed…….no wonder they’ve survived for so long.
Dragonflies are a great indicator of water quality , as they only choose clean environments with plenty of oxygen in the water to breed in, and looking at the clear water in the pond and the welcoming mixture of plants it maintains, you can see why it’s such a popular place for them.
Broad-bodied Chaser Dragonfly
Pond Snails
Keeping the water clean by scavenging on detritus and decaying organic matter is a job for another inhabitant of the pond, the freshwater snail. There are more than 30 kinds in Britain and our snails in Jubilee Wood pond can sometimes be seen floating upside down on the surface of the water while taking in air through the opening of their lungs on the underside of their body, performing a sinuous dance as they move around. The sex lives of the pond snails is fascinating for those who are interested in such things and a link to more information will follow at the end of this blog as this author doesn’t quite feel up to the task at the moment…..perhaps ‘lockdown’ is having more effect than I thought!
Water boatmen
Common and widespread in Britain, this brown bug with a body the shape of a boat can be seen in our pond, swimming with its long oar like legs and coming up for air at the water’s surface. The various species of boatmen are difficult to tell apart from each other but all are herbivorous, eating algae and detritus within the pond. During warm weather the adults may even take flight so watch out for them over the next few days.
New Additions
The wood has a new and very attractive addition…..a sheep hurdle made from one of the young Ash trees in the wood. Michael has made a beautiful job of it and you can see it on the left in the top corner of the wood if you walk clockwise from the entrance. He’s hoping to do a workshop on making them once the present restrictions are no longer in place so check out the website at the bottom of the blog if you want to do some research. Thanks to Michael for this information and for actually doing the work in this sweltering heat when most of us just want to collapse in the shade.
Ash hurdle on Jubilee Wood boundary
Maintenance
Michael has also managed to keep the grass pathways tidy, aided by the acquisition of an old ride on mower which allows for selective height cutting in different areas. The hot weather has slowed down the growth of the grass and an abundance of rabbits try to help him as much as possible. Unfortunately they seem to be getting their energy from vegetables being grown on the adjacent allotments but at least they’re sharing them with the Muntjacs.
Some images of the Wood in May 2020
Hopefully, the next few weeks will be more comfortable for many as our exercise time increases and meeting with loved ones becomes a possibility, although restricted by social distancing. The Jubilee Wood is always there for a quiet walk and chance to recharge the batteries so I hope you’ll be able to enjoy it, but if you haven’t been able to, here are some reminders…..
