To book: ggvillagehall@gmail.com
or call Andrea: 07985 889780
Mid month a group of scything enthusiasts met in the KW to help drop the grass headland alongside the brook and a bit more besides. Powered by tea and cakes the group was able to get stuck into some decent mowing. It was raked over and rowed up and then baled.
Scything is usually seen as the allotmenteer’s weapon of mowing choice. This has spread to user groups tending nature reserves, churchyards and amenity grass.
Nothing wrong with the power or electric strimmer, you just don’t have to dress up and feed* the scythe as you do with the powered options.
The down side is the raking up but if you want to improve your grass sward then you need to pick up the mown grass anyway.
Using an old scythe that has hung in the cowshed for 60 years isn’t the way forward, the blade is rusty and worn out and the handle is so ridden with woodworm it crumbles in your hand. Obviously Internet shopping is the answer. A height matched snath and a selection of blades along with whetstones for sharpening and a little device for peening (which I’ll talk about on national peening day) is all that’s required.
YouTube offers some scything techniques, suffice today if you mix skiing and Tai-chi movements you’ll find a scything rhythm that suits, otherwise get tuition.
If you treat scything as a hobby it offers fitness and an agreeable peaceful recreation.
The wildflower strip is still fabulous, pulling in winged insects from far and wide. Not quite as vibrant with the ox-eye daisy going over but still plenty of nectar rich flowers available. Hopefully there will be a good seed set for next year.
The trees have grown tremendously well. I just hope the lack of rainfall does not send them into an early leaf fall.
The pond depth at months end is 0 mm which is 0” in old money, evaporation has outpaced 14 mm of early June rainfall.
*A pack of “Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers” will power me for a morning’s scything.
As has already been mentioned, three options for reforming the major local councils in Cambridgeshire have recently been announced.
Further details are available on the Huntingdonshire District Council website www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk but in short, each option would see either a merger of Huntingdonshire with Fenland and Peterborough, or a merger of Huntingdonshire with Fenland, East Cambs and Peterborough or a merger of Huntingdonshire with Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire; all the options will include an incorporation of the services currently carried out by Cambridgeshire County Council.
The ultimate decision will be taken by Central Government, who started this whole process off but please do take the opportunity to participate in the survey.
Having spoken in support of the pool as a resource for the villages in our area, I was delighted when funding was secured to reopen it. The current target for reopening is Spring 2026 but this may be subject to change as work progresses.
Further to my article in March this year, the councillor in North Northants I was liaising with is no longer a council member so I have written to two others who represent Luddington to ask them for an update on what is happending with this application. I will submit provide further information once it becomes available.
My fellow ward District Councillor, Marge Beuttell and I believe in collaborative working. As well as working closely with County Councillor Ian Gardener, we continue to set up meetings for local Parish Councils, where common issues and hopefully, resolutions to issues can be shared. We are currently working to arrange the next meeting date, where we hope to invite a County Council Highways Officer.
Tim Alban
District Councillor for Stilton, Folksworth & Washingley Ward
Huntingdonshire District Council
Tim.alban@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
07903 518967
11.00am – 4.00pm
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July 2025
Sue Jarvis, Paul Joseph-Crank and Krystyna Wojcik, are exhibiting their original work as members of
Peterborough Artists Open Studios (PAOS). https://paos.org.uk
Work will be for sale as well as cards and prints although there is no obligation to buy.
For more information visit:
PLUS…
+ Display of Great Gidding Drawing Group artwork
A small display of work by the Great Gidding Drawing Group will also be on show.
The drawing group meets once a month in the Village Hall typically on the second Thursday of every month to draw still life or figure subjects. Everyone is welcome (not just Giddingites!!) from beginners to experts. Each session includes a few shorter drawing exercises followed by a longer final drawing and of course a chance to natter and compare notes during our coffee and biscuit break half way through! Contact Krystyna for more information.
+ Launch of Book and Jigsaw Puzzle Exchange
The Village Hall Committee is launching a book and jigsaw puzzle exchange. Information on the exchange will be available during the Art in the Village Hall event The book exchange plans to include adult and children’s books, fiction & biographical works only, no nonfiction.
+ Coffee, tea and cakes will be on sale for the whole weekend (in aid of Village Hall funds)
Our friendly, informal group meet once a month in Great Gidding Village Hall for two hours to sketch or paint a still life or figure. All welcome (not just Gidding-ites)!
The sessions are untutored but we do a couple of short drawing exercises followed by a longer drawing session and help and advice will be freely available. All you will need to bring is a sketchbook and pencil or your chosen materials.
Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided.
Time: 10.00am – 12.00 noon
Date: Thursday 12h June 2025
Location: Great Gidding Village Hall
Cost: £6.00 per session (cash only please)
If you’re not able to join us on this occasion, the next session is scheduled for Thursday 10th July 2025.
If you are interested in attending contact Krystyna on 01832 293175 or email kw@krystynawojcik.co.uk
Residents of Main Street will have received information regarding the resurfacing work to take place. Road signs have been installed by the County Council to advise that this work will take place on Saturday 31st May.
Present: Councillors Maciag, Hargrave, Bolton and Hodson and the Clerk.
0192.24 Chairman’s Welcome
0193.24 To receive apologies and reasons for absence
District Councillor Alban – at another meeting
County Councillor Gardener – at another meeting
Parish Councillor Moody – holiday
0194.24 There were no member’s declarations of interests for items on the Agenda
0195.24 No member of the press or public were present.
0196.24 Minutes of the meeting held on 18th March 2025 confirmed as a correct record – proposed by Cllr Hodson and seconded by Cllr Hargrave
0197.24 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.
Clerk:
Cllr Hargrave – the recent event in the Village Hall resulted in a £154.00 donation.
Cllr Hargrave enquired about co-option of Parish Councillors. She will approach one resident and another will be contacted to invite them to apply.
0198.24 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) Bank statements from Barclays Bank
***Interest rates on the Deposit Account are decreasing from 1.35% to 1.25% with effect from 13th May 2025. This applies to Village Hall and Charity Deposit accounts too.
b) PAYMENTS
Cllr Hodson had updated the Cash flow spreadsheet and the Reserves spreadsheet to the end of March and talked through the content.
The following payments were approved:
| Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount | Authorised | Authorised |
| J R Trolove | Wages for January (26 hours) + backdated pay for the previous 2 months due to hourly rate increase error (£76.61) | Xxx | NIL | JRT | |
| J R Trolove | Re-imbursement in respect of Microsoft package annual payment | 84.99 | none | ||
| Manor Farm Tree Services | Removing dead elms from the Pound, beside B660 | £3180.00 | £530.00 | ||
| CAPALC | Annual subscription (Data Protection available through insurers, so exclude) | 284.53 amended to 234.53 | none | ||
| SLCC | Annual Subscription | 36.00 | none | ||
| Catalyst | Extra 10GB of storage | 48.00 | none | ||
| Hunts D C | Rates for Recreation Field | 13.18 | none |
0199.24 PLANNING applications and matters:
0200.24 Recreation Field – Sawtry Colts representative had enquired about regular use for training sessions and weekend matches as Greenfields at Sawtry is fully occupied. After much discussion all agreed that, due to parking issues on and around the field, this would not be approved.
0201.24 Village Maintenance
a) Noticeboard – another location was identified and it was agreed to replace the board outside the former school. Clerk will complete a Huntingdonshire Futures grant in respect of this noticeboard.
DECISION to purchase a noticeboard up the the value of £1500 – proposed by Cllr Maciag and seconded by Cllr Hodson
b) Milking Slade Lane will be closed on 19th June to enable an electricity pole to be replaced – information has been added to the village website.
0203.24 Correspondence received since 18th March 2025 :
a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,
b) Cambridgeshire County Council –Cambridgeshire Matters monthly edition, Traffic Management Centre incident report for roads (92 in Cambridgeshire in March), Highways events planned for April – none locally,
d) CAPALC –newsletter, future training dates
e) Cambs Acre – Staying in Touch newsletter for March
f) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough/Greater Cambridge Partnership – nothing
g) Huntingdonshire Community Policing meetings – invitations to join online meetings on 24/9 and 15/12, both at 7pm.
h) Response from Sam Carling MP regarding Broadband issue – will follow up if a further request is received.
i) SLCC sent a link to a webinar about Devolution of Councils.
0204.24 Items for next meeting:
Donations to Charities – Cllr Moody to present a draft policy.
0205.24 The next meeting will commence with the Annual Parish Council Meeting, to take place on Tuesday 20th May starting at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.
This will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting, starting at 7.00pm
Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on Tuesday 18th March 2025
Present: Councillors Maciag, Moody, Hargrave, Bolton and Hodson, District Councillor Alban and the Clerk.
One member of the Public joined the meeting (CB)
0177.24 Cllr Maciag, as Chairman, welcomed those present to the meeting.
0178.24 Apologies were received from Cllr Ian Gardener due to ill health
0179.24 There were no declarations of Disclosable Interest
0180.24 One member of the Public was in attendance to enquire if there had been any response to the broadband correspondence – Clerk advised that nothing has been heard to date.
0181.24 Minutes of the meeting held on 18th February 2025 were accepted by Cllrs Hodson and Hargrave.
0182.24 To receive reports from Councillors and Clerk.
District Councillor Alban:
He advised that an extraordinary meeting is to be held to discuss re-organisation of Councils. No decisions have yet been made, lots of ideas are being discussed. This will not affect the County Council elections in May.
He has spoken to Councillor Shacklock of North Northants Council and no decision has been made regarding the A D unit application.
The Saturday freighter service for green waste is not viable and, as the take up by householders of the paid collection has been much higher than anticipated, another option is being considered.
Parking on double yellow lines will become a civil parking enforcement at the beginning of April.
He encouraged us to watch/attend the Town and Council Forum events to keep updated of current activities and discussions.
The District wide Parish Council meeting will take place after election date.
Cllr Hargrave:
The jitty between Main Street and Gaines Lane has become overgrown, lots of debris, fallen branches – Clerk will report this on the Highways reporting webpage.
Deadline for the village newsletter is 26th March – Clerk asked to add that there are still Parish Councillor vacancies.
Village Hall – the Net Zero Villages grant was not successful, other grant opportunities will be followed up as and when available.
The small hall will be decorated over Easter weekend.
Pickleball sessions will start in the next couple of months.
A new charging policy takes effect from 1st April 2025.
Cllr Moody:
Requested that purchase of a noticeboard be added to the next agenda.
Clerk:
Automatic response from MP asking for name and address before correspondence replied to. Nothing from other parties. See 0187.24 below
0183.24 FINANCIAL MATTERS:
a) February statements from Barclays Bank
***Interest rates on the Deposit Account are decreasing from 1.35% to 1.25% with effect from 13th May 2025. This applies to Village Hall and Charity Deposit accounts too.
b) PAYMENTS – Clerk’s wage calculation is awaited, therefore no payments to be made at present:
| Who | What for | TOTAL | Invoice includes this VAT amount | Authorised | Authorised |
| J R Trolove | Wages for January (26 hours) | Xxx | NIL | JRT | |
| Defibrillator account: WEL Medical | Spare parts for defibrillator (paid outside of meeting). | 149.94 |
0184.24 PLANNING applications and matters:
There were no planning applications as at 14th March
School site – a notice has appeared on the school fence. In effect the County Council are advising a change of use, to enable the site be sold as a residential development site as there is no known use for educational purposes. Cllr Maciag suggested a response is written to the Secretary of State for Education asking that an access strip be retained to allow vehicular access to the former school house – at present there is no such access and, if this building cannot be sold/used as a dwelling, there is a danger that it will become derelict and we wish to preserve this visible heritage asset in the centre of the village conservation area.
An item will be included in the village newsletter to encourage those who were concerned about the school closure, and the site, to write a response.
A copy of the notice will be forwarded to Milton Estates (Peterborough) and, once our response has been written, that too will be sent to Milton Estates.
0185.24 Recreation Ground – grass cutting contract for 2025
Bradgate have provided a quote for the 2025/26 contract. At the last meeting I was given discretion of a 12% addition on top of last year’s price of £90 per cut, but the increase is 17.14% at £105.43.
Clerk advised that Bradgate had cut the grass today (18th March 2025), although no contract has been agreed. She will advise Bradgate that they have the contract for this year.
0186.24 Village Maintenance –
Contractor updated, works will be carried out within Pound area only – he will liaise with the Clerk in advance of carrying out the work
0187.24 Speaker or subject for Annual Parish Meeting
Clerk has been approached by Alconbury Flood Group who are carrying out works on Alconbury Brook, who have offered a speaker – Cllrs did not feel this affected our Parish.
Clerk suggested asking Connecting Cambridgeshire to attend, and this met with approval – Clerk will invite their representative to attend.
0188.24 Donations to Charities – Cllr Moody will draft a policy and bring to the next meeting.
0189.24 Correspondence received since 18th February 2025 :
a) NALC newsletters – dated Chief Executives Bulletin NALC events,
b) Cambridgeshire County Council –Cambridgeshire Matters monthly edition, Traffic Management Centre incident report for roads, reminder of the 20MPH funding scheme, Highways events planned for March – there are none in this area, micro surfacing programme by Highways Department – none for this area. Way 2 Go Road Safety newsletter (4/3)
County Planning, Minerals and Waste – an email dated 27th January, with 32 pages of notes and guidance on revision of the Local Validation List for planning applications, Children’s Holiday activities and Food for Easter,
press release about Council Budget, another re. tree planting in Priory Park, St Neots, Launch of Public Engagement on Active Travel – invitation to visit venues for presentation and online survey to be completed, invitation to Waste Minimisation event at Pathfinder House on 27th March, Local Government re-organisation documents, notes from the recent Town and Parish Council briefing and pack of documents to be downloaded, advance notice of the Town and Parish Council Forum on 19th June at Burgess Hall, St Ives, Temporary shop wraps for empty retail properties in Huntingdon, Net Zero projects and grants
d) CAPALC –newsletter, future training dates, requested their subscription but sent invoice for another parish, Clerk has requested the correct invoice
e) Cambs Acre – Staying in Touch newsletter for January/February, presentation on Rural Housing Needs,
f) Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough/Greater Cambridge Partnership – bus franchising introduced in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area by the Mayor.
g) Huntingdonshire Community Policing meetings – invitations to join online meetings on 24/9 and 15/12, both at 7pm.
h) Abigail Benson, agent for Milton Estates regarding Little Gidding public footpath signs – and a request from a walker about those footpaths too – this has now been resolved.
i) Defibrilator, water ingress and mouldy due to lack of power supply – spare parts ordered and will be fitted/have been fitted – see payment above.
0190.24 Items for next meeting:
0191.24 The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 15th April starting at 7.30pm
in the Village Hall, Main Street, Great Gidding.
It’s time to get growing for the village produce show, the first one since 2018!
Mark your calendars for Saturday 6th September.
Venue: Great Gidding Village Hall
Schedule: Entries by midday, public viewing 3.00pm–4.00pm.
Schedules are available from the village shop, and coming to your door very soon…
Please contact Sue on (01832) 293271 if you have any queries.
