Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
28
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY FEBRUARY Wednesday 5 6.30pm Let’s Talk Discussion Group Wednesday 5 7.30pm BEAT meeting in St Peter’s Hall,
Cirencester Thursday 6 10.30am Frampton Mansell Coffee Morning Thursday 6 7.30pm Coates Gardening Club Thursday 13 9am Time Out Bible Discussion Friday 14 Valentine’s Dance & Supper Tuesday 18 7.30pm Frampton Mansell Rural Cinema
WAJDA Thursday 20 2.30pm Good Companions meeting Saturday 22 7pm Race Night in Sapperton Village Hall Thursday 27 9am Time Out Bible Discussion MARCH Saturday 1 7.30pm Quiz Night in Rodmarton Village Hall
1
February 2014
THE WATERSHED MAGAZINE
St Matthew’s, Coates
2
RECTOR
Rev Trevor Kemp 770550
Coates Rectory, Coates GL7 6NR
LOCAL ORDAINED MINISTER (Non-stipendiary)
The Rev Pepita Walker 760211
CURATE (Non-stipendiary)
Rev David Austin 860692
READER
Richard Marlowe 770401
Barrie Cran 770809
STRATEGIC YOUTH MINISTER
Odele Harding 07747 611690
COATES
Church Wardens: Dickie Randall 771300
Tony Berry 770220
Flower Team Leader Heather Wheatley 770829
SAPPERTON WITH FRAMPTON MANSELL
Church Warden: Jeremy Hoskins 760227
Dorothy Mammatt 760852
Deputy warden St Kenelm’s Mark Hamer 760715
Rotas Kate Gordon-Lennox 760651
Secretary PCC Natalie Hunt 760421
RODMARTON AND TARLTON (Chapel of Ease)
Church Wardens
Rodmarton Mary FitzGerald 238607
Sophia Kinmont 841222
Tarlton Jasper Biddulph 770230
Flower Team Leader Sarah Pope 841253
Secretary PCC Jane Marlowe 770401
27
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS Watershed Editor Bob Merrill 771496 Watershed Treasurer Janet Loines 770140 Watershed Intercession Group Anne Chilton 770726 Coates Parish Council Bob Allen 771229 Coates Parish Council clerk Annie Rogers Coates PCC Treasurer Janet Trinder 770525 Coates Gardening Club Margaret Reynolds 771354 Coates Social Club secretary Annabelle Crapper 770266 Coates Tree Warden Geoffrey Moore 770869 Coates Village Hall Susan PJ 770596 Coates Neighbourhood Watch Roger Clarke 07774 642016 Frampton Mansell Village Hall Bookings 760102/760300 Rodmarton & Tarlton PC C/man Paul Drake 770267 Rodmarton & Tarlton PC clerk Susan Hare Rodmarton PCC Treasurer Simon Biddulph 841462 Rodmarton School Colin Jones 841284 Rodmarton Village Hall Betty Hopkins 841287 Rodmarton Cricket Club Nick Clarke 841421 Sapperton with FM PC C/man Sarah Osborn-Smith 760401 Sapperton/FM PCC Treasurer Peter Mammatt 760852 Sapperton/FM Snow Warden Mark Franklin 760226 Sapperton Tree Warden Paul Dingley 760788 Sapperton Village Hall Michelle Hugh 760153 Sapperton School Dawn Thomas 760325 Royal British Legion John Chilton 770726 Good Companions Betty Mixture 770569 Watershed RDA Bob Merrill 771496 Watershed Farm Club Liz Collins District Councillors Thames Head Ward John Birch 770360 Avening Ward Jim Parsons 01453 836596 County Councillor S D E Parsons 821451 Member of Parliament Geoffrey Clifton-Brown 01452 371630 Cirencester Hospital 655711 Police non emergency (24hrs) 101 Lynn Saunders - Village Agent 07776 245 754 Coates Resilience plan agents Tony Berry 770220/07980336303 John Birch 770360/07989946224 David Lattimore771006/07836511011
26
CLOSING DATE FOR NEXT MONTH - 12 FEBRUARY
Contributions should be sent to Bob Merrill at Glebe House, Coates, GL7 6NU. Tel 771496, mobile 07866 972389 or by e-mail to the Watershed magazine at [email protected]. Articles should be in Arial font at 11 point with formatting kept as simple as possible. The editor reserves the right to edit any articles. All articles should be submitted by 12 February 2013 at the latest for
inclusion in the March issue.
MOBILE LIBRARY VISITS
The mobile library visits Coates every 4 weeks. The visit for the next
months will be on Tuesday 18 February and 18 March between
11.55am and 12.55pm outside the village hall.
ADVERTISING IN THE WATERSHED
If you wish to advertise in our parish magazine please contact Bob Merrill at Glebe House, Coates, GL7 6NU. Tel 771496, Mobile 07866 972389 or by e-mail to the Watershed magazine at [email protected]. Adverts at a third of a page cost £15 for a single issue or £60 for 5 issues. Adverts at half a page cost £23 for a single issue or £90 for 5 issues. The magazine is published 10 times every year; July/August and December/January are joint editions. Cheques should be made payable to Watershed magazine.
MOBILE POLICE STATION
Due to a re-organisation of the Mobile Police Station we are not in a position to send out any dates at the moment for February. Once we have completed the re-organisation we will email all the dates for the forthcoming months. There will be changes which we hope will benefit all the communities and we hope to add some additional resources to the Mobile Police Station. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at the email address below. PCSO Simon King 49201 Email: [email protected]
3
FORTHCOMING SERVICES IN THE BENEFICE 2 February Candlemas
9.30am Kemble Holy Communion
9.30am Coates Holy Communion
11am Poole Keynes Family Service
11am Somerford Keynes Morning Prayer
11am Rodmarton Holy Communion
11am Sapperton Family Holy Communion
5 February Midweek Wednesday
10am Kemble Holy Communion
9 February 4th Sunday before Lent
9.30pm Kemble Family Service
9.30am Coates Holy Communion
9.30am Poole Keynes Holy Communion
11am Tarlton Holy Communion
11am Somerford Keynes Holy Communion
11am Rodmarton Matins
11am Frampton Mansell Holy Communion
12 February Midweek Wednesday
10am Kemble Holy Communion
16 February 3rd Sunday before Lent
9.30am Kemble Holy Communion
9.30am Coates Family Service
9.30am Frampton Mansell Family Service
11am Poole Keynes Morning Prayer
11am Somerford Keynes Family Service
11am Rodmarton Holy Communion
19 February Midweek Wednesday
10am Kemble Holy Communion
23 February 2nd Sunday before Lent
8am Tarlton Holy Communion (BCP)
9.30am Kemble Morning Prayers (BCP)
9.30am Coates Holy Communion
9.30am Poole Keynes Holy Communion
11am Somerford Keynes Holy Communion
11am Rodmarton Family Service
11am Frampton Mansell Holy Communion
6pm Kemble The Source
4
REFLECTIONS FROM THE RECTORY
February marks the end of our first year in the Cotswolds. Moving home and work are apparently some of the most stressful things we do and although we have been made to feel very welcome here and have enjoyed making new friends and starting new relationships it has also been quite stressful. The sense of purpose that comes from seeking to be where God wants us to be and to be doing the things God wants us to do provides both peace and direction in the midst of an ever changing world. The start of a new year is one of those points where many of us give thought to what has gone before and what we might expect ahead, many new year resolutions recognise the desire for something to be different in our lives whether it be to read some classic books, improve our fitness or self image or work on our relationships. Such resolutions recognise the desirability for change and also very often our frustration at our inability to achieve it. The key very often is to take one step at a time; such an approach requires consistency and long term effort which is why most of us give up on those New Year resolutions after a few days or weeks.
Being a disciple of Jesus requires the same approach, faith is essentially instant, any decision to believe in God and his promises takes but a moment when we are ready but that is only the first moment of a lifetime of discovery and change. Faith is like a marriage, we meet, we love, we commit and we spend the rest of our lives together discovering the joy and wonder possible within that relationship. Such journeys are full of ups and downs and our journey of love and discovery with God is the same, except that God is always faithful. God always keeps his promises and seeks after our good which to be honest is less true for the rest of us.
I often meet people who have a clear belief in the divine but are either unwilling to follow their convictions or feel inadequate and unworthy before the divine which is very sad. God knows and sees all our strengths and weaknesses yet it does not diminish or change his love for us. Unconditional love is just that, love without conditions or restrictions. That doesn’t mean God wants us to remain less than perfect because love desires the very best for the loved. God wants us to know and experience the fullness of his love and he wants us to grow in love ourselves. This journey is what we call discipleship.
Baptism is a little like that New Year resolution, it is a point of decision, of commitment, it should be the start of our journey of discipleship and friendship with God. Confirmation is an opportunity to affirm and
25
24
PLUM
BING
GUTTER
ING
R.O.W. BERRY HOUSE, PROPERTY &
GARDEN MAINTENANCE TEL (01285) 658398
MOBILE 07971 548962
CALL THE MAN WHO CAN
NO JOB TOO SMALL
PAINTIN
G
DECKING
FENCING
KITCHEN
S BATH
ROOM
S
LEAKS PATIOS
TILES
Do you have a mole problem? With over 30 years experience in traditional mole control I can
effectively, discreetly and humanely remove the culprit(s)!
No gas, chemicals or poisons used and completely safe to
children and pets.
NO MOLE - NO FEE
Fully insured and references available
Telephone: 07766 132934 (Days) 01285 770968 (Evenings)
Member of the British Traditional Molecatchers Register
Member of the Guild of British Molecatchers
BPCA/RSPH Level 2 Certificate in pest control
Call now for a free, no obligation site survey and quote
www.gbestateservices.com
5
strengthen our commitment and to receive encouragement from our church family, particularly in prayer with the bishop as he asks for God’s blessing and the empowering of the Holy Spirit for us. If you would like to think more about faith or would like to know more about baptism or confirmation I would be delighted to share in that with you just give me a call or an email or drop by the Rectory.
With love and prayers
Trevor Kemp
Rector
PRAYERS IN THE BENEFICE
Mondays at Coates at 9am
Tuesdays at Frampton Mansell at noon (Holy Communion on the
first Tuesday in the month; on other Tuesdays there will be devotions)
Wednesdays at Kemble at 10am (Holy Communion)
Tuesdays at Kemble at 8.30am
Fridays at Rodmarton at 9.15am
Saturdays at Somerford Keynes (first Saturday in the month only)
TIME OUT BIBLE DISCUSSION
The Time Out Bible discussion group for mothers of school age children in the benefice will meet this month at 9am on Thursday 13 and 27 February. For more details and venue, please contact Julie on 770123 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
SOME FACTS ABOUT VALENTINE’S DAY
Two saints are said to have inspired Valentine’s Day. Valentine of Terni was a priest who married Roman soldiers against orders from Claudius II. He was believed to have been arrested and killed on February 14 in 269AD. The other was Valentine of Rome, who refused to follow Claudius II’s ban on Christianity.
The first recorded Valentine was sent in 1415 by the English Duke of Orleans. He sent of love letter to his wife from his jail cell in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt.
St Valentine is also the patron saint of epilepsy, plague, greetings, travellers, young people, and bee keepers.
6
NEWS FROM COATES
COATES GARDENING CLUB
Our monthly meetings will begin again on Thursday 6 February at 7.30pm in Coates village hall when Mr Mike Johnson of Fairford will speak on My life as a gardener. We understand that he began his working life at the age of 14 and after wide experience he was employed at a large house in Kent before accompanying Lady Abel Smith to Quenington as her gardener.
We are planning another year of sociable activities and outings with interesting speakers on gardening, local and environmental subjects. There are always refreshments and a raffle
Membership fee for the year is £6.50. Visitors pay £2.50 per evening. All will be welcome.
Margaret Reynolds
COATES PARISH COUNCIL
Coates Parish Council met on 4 January 2014 with 12 Parishioners in attendance. Mr Phillip Griffiths was co-opted onto the Parish Council to fill the outstanding vacancy. The council still need to find a replacement parish clerk. This is a paid post and will be advertised. The date for improved Broadband has been put back because of engineering problems until at least March 2014. The bus shelter and infrastructure had been inspected. Asbestos guttering had been identified and repairs will require a specialist contractor. The issue of parking in one area of Quaker Row was raised again. The chairman said the council would continue to try to find a solution but there was no easy option. Since the last meeting Bromford had failed to come back with any concrete proposal for the Coates Lane garages site. The issue of untreated ice on Trewsbury Road was raised. Highways has outsourced gritting to a private company which had complicated the situation. Councillor Tugwell has a supply of grit which he would deliver to the grit bins as and when requested.
Bob Allen
23
22
HFL Property Services
Garden Maintenance Landscaping – turfing, terraces, fencing
Painting & Decorating – interior and exterior Handyman Service (1/2 day minimum) Tree Surgery
Carpentry – kitchen fitting, wardrobes
Contact: 07887 591971/01285 850672
www.hasslefreeliving.com
Specialist in airport transfers and
long distance journeys.
Friendly, flexible and reliable licensed service available day or night for pre booked journeys.
All UK and European destinations.
Central London a speciality.
Credit card facilities available
Phil Bradley, Cornerstones, Stroud Road, Bisley
Tel: 01452 770337 Mobile: 07082 154968
www.cornerstoneschauffeurservice.co.uk
Proud to have served the Cotswolds for more than a decade.
William Pope Ltd
Paddock and grounds services
All works large or small
Fully qualified, and insured. Please feel free to call me to discuss any requirements for your fields, small holding
garden or estate
07980 274 106
www.williampope.co.uk
7
COATES VILLAGE LOTTERY The January 2014 draw took place on Friday 4 January at 7.30pm with 54 participants.
We are always happy to take on new members and offer draws for any number of months from one to twelve at £4 per month available from Mrs Crane and Mrs Mixture at any time and on draw nights. The prizewinners this month were:
First Prize: £50 to No 5 – Dr J Loines Second Prize: £30 to No 11 – Ms J Trinder Third Prize: £20 to No 52 – Mr T Russell
The next draw will be held on Friday7 February at 7.30pm. Lottery draws are always held on the first Friday of the month at 7.30pm. When there is a Family Night at the village hall, the draw will be held there. When there is no Family Night the draw will be held at the Old School; anyone who wishes to attend the draw is welcome - just knock on the door and come in.
Diana Crane
THE GOOD COMPANIONS
The Good Companions’ Christmas party on 12 December was a great success. Twenty four of us sat down to a very good traditional Christmas dinner followed by entertainment with music that took us back to our dancing days. To conclude the celebration there was a huge raffle organised by our own chairman, Neeve, when all present received at least one prize.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 20 February in Coates village hall at 2.30pm when there will be a quiz and beetle drive. Please come and join in the fun. New members over 55 are always welcome.
Betty Mixture
COBALT APPEAL Many thanks to all who brought their used Christmas cards to me. They were collected and taken to Linton House in Cheltenham where they will be sorted and recycled raising an average of £40,000 for the appeal. Betty Mixture
8
NEWS FROM SAPPERTON AND FRAMPTON MANSELL
STABLE THOUGHTS
Having just spent a delightful week in France at the beginning of the year, I reflected again on the difference just 22 miles can make.
The Christmas decorations stay up for a lot longer than here and I wouldn’t be surprised if there aren’t still decorated fir trees about at the beginning of February, when you read this.
The feast of the Epiphany (Twelfth Night) is very important but there does not seem to be any connection with celebrating the arrival of the Wise Men with removing all signs of Christmas for another year. In fact, some towns have been known to keep their lights strung across the road all year (very handy when it comes to Bastille Day in July).
The traditional food for this time, the Galette de Roi comes in two forms and I have not yet established why – it is either a sweetened Brioche ring cake with sugar atop or a puff pastry tart with an almond filling. Either way the cake contains a figurine and whoever has it in their slice is entitled to wear the cardboard crown and be king or queen for the day.
Traditionally these have been miniature wise men but nowadays it is more often a model of a character from a popular film. We have had Harry Potter in previous years and this year there were a lot of ‘Hobbits’ to be seen (although none in my slice).
However, as I get older my main problem is avoiding the breaking of a tooth should I bite into it – it could end up being a very expensive dentist’s bill just for the chance of being Queen for the day!
If it’s not too late – Happy New Year.
CAROL SINGING
Many thanks to all in Sapperton and Frampton Mansell who organised, sang or donated to this year’s carol singing. We have been able to send £140.70 to Bishop Michael’s Episcopal appeal to help build Brinckman High School in Kasulu in Western Tanganyika.
21
NEW EXERCISE CLASS SOLEY FOR THE OVERWEIGHT CLIENT AT A PRIVATE STUDIO
CLOSE TO CIRENCESTER TOWN CENTRE Are you overweight? Are you concerned about your health? Would you like to form an exercise group for like-minded individuals? Do you lack the confidence, motivation and the knowledge to embark on a safe and effective health and fitness programme? Are you uncomfortable with the thought of exercising in a public leisure facility? Would you like to exercise at a private studio close to Cirencester town centre? If your answer is yes to any or all of the above Tim can help. Tim will be starting an exercise group solely for overweight clients on 6 March. See below for details. Tim Bird is one of Cirencester’s most experienced and highly qualified exercise specialists. His sympathetic, realistic and progressive approach to training can help you achieve your long-term goals
Time: 1145 to 1230 Start Date: Thursday 6 March 2014 Places: Limited to a maximum of 6 Cost: £60 for block of 8 sessions Venue: Unit 9, Whiteway Court, The Whiteway,
GL7 7BA Parking: FREE
To enrol or for further details please contact Tim on:
01285 656986 or 07794 614962 or email [email protected]
20
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
Do you want to find out more about
your ancestors?
Professional historian offers service to
investigate your family history, even a
small section of it….
Local References available
Low charges
Contact me to discuss possibilities: 07966141524/01285 760102
KEMBLE AND DISTRICT ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
WOMEN'S SECTION
On Friday 14 February at 7pm there will be a Valentine’s Dance and supper in Kemble village hall supporting the poppy appeal with live music starting at 8pm. Andy Hughes will be singing live a selection of classic songs from the 1950’s to the present day. The theme asks that you wear something red. The proceeds are in aid of the Poppy Appeal with the first £100 going towards the WW1 centenary poppy appeal. Supper will include lasagna with garlic bread and salad followed by cold dessert.
Tickets at £10 will be limited so reserve early.
All welcome to Kemble village hall on Thursday 27 February when Margaret Stanford will demonstrate the art of winter floral decorations. The meeting commences at 2.30pm with a short business session and afternoon tea.
Further details about the group from Pat on 770385.
9
SCHOOL TIES SAPPERTON
SCHOOL
Schools Out! Well not quite yet. As I write this, it’s 10 days to the end of term, the excitement is intense and everyone is bows-under in the run up to Christmas – surely the best time to be in a Primary School? Last Saturday a good turn out of choristers gave their all in a resounding Carol Concert in Bishops Walk in Cirencester, much to the delight of Saturday shoppers. The acoustics were wonderful and the youngest (and smallest) pupil in the school – well not quite in the school as yet, but in school uniform and determined to start pre-Reception taster days in the Spring – brought the house down.
More Christmas cheer echoes around the school with preparation for the Nativity Play while Years 5 & 6 are looking forward to a cinema trip to see “The Hobbit” (parents – beware nightmares: you have been warned) while, somewhere in between we have to fit in the Friends’ Pantomime in Coates village hall and the Grand Opening of the Classrooms ceremony (sorry about that: I was trying not to mention the classrooms this month – or ever again for that matter). Well, as you can see, life is continuing at a tremendous pace and only half a dogwatch of term left to fit it into.
Well that’s Christmas taken care of. What will the New Year bring? Snow probably – looking at the long term weather forecast – and what joy that will bring to the young citizens of the playground! Sapperton village with its quaint streets and picturesque cottages looks lovely when mantled with snow and reinforces just how lucky the children are to spend their formative school years in such an idyllic, chocolate-box-pretty location. Long may these happy, carefree memories be imprinted on their minds and long may this happy village school continue to serve future generations!
But the snow will melt and, when it does, we have exciting plans to start redeveloping the school grounds and reclaiming the adventure playground. Hopefully, some of this work may involve a partnership with students from Stroud College on work experience – so watch this space, you heard it here first.
Molesworth
10 19
COME AND JOIN US!
At Kemble Primary School
Monday - Friday 8.45am – 12.45pm
(with an option to collect at 11.45am)
Open to all children aged 2 – 4 Tel: 07934 495823
www.kembleplaygroup.co.uk
Find us on Facebook
Firefly Fabrication
Manufacturing
Gates Wine Racks
Railings Candelabra
Rose Arches Signs & Frames
Phil Robbins
07973 819347
18
and the harvest of souls. Autumn then becomes the passion, with November representing the crucifixion. That makes Winter the period representing death, so that Spring, glorious Spring becomes the resurrection, into eternal life. This perspective suggests that all four seasons are fundamentally important, but not equally so.
It also makes spring a goal, a personal goal, something to yearn for. I love the idea of the sleeping trees dreaming the spring – not just dreaming of spring, but conjuring it up through dreaming. It sounds like something out of C S Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, but it might just be that our trees are doing precisely that, dreaming the spring. Perhaps we can all help to dream up the spring – to bring it home, by thought, hope, prayer, meditation, positivity, wishful thinking, whatever. And it’s not just spring for the natural world, but for us too – not least because, like it or not we are part of Nature, and it is part of us. So, the better the spring is dreamed, the better it will be. Bring it on, I hear you say! Yes, but let us use winter to dream the spring properly first. We need winter.
Matthew Oates
NOTES FROM CULKERTON (cont)
Cirencester Male Voice Choir
Rodmarton Village Hall
Saturday 12 April 2014
7.00 for 7.30pm In aid of Bala Children’s Centre in Kenya
Tickets £8 from
or 01285 654591/770230/841452 Rodmarton & Tarlton Children’s Charity
11
FRAMPTON MANSELL COFFEE MORNING
Thursday 6 February - 10.30am to 12pm at Woodstock. Please join us for a coffee and a chinwag! Everyone welcome.
Let’s Talk
Discussion Group
Join us on Wednesday 5 February 2014 at 6.30pm
The Crown, Frampton Mansell
[with our thanks to Simon and Gemma.]
A time to get together and discuss topics of interest.
For further information contact Paul or Pepita on 760211
FRAMPTON MANSELL RURAL CINEMA
A heart-warming and unusual film for both adults and children:
WADJDA (PG) WADJDA is a movie of firsts. This first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia is the story of a young girl living in a suburb of Riyadh determined to raise enough money to buy a bike in a society that sees bicycles as dangerous to a girl's virtue. Even more impressive, WADJDA is the first feature film made by a female Saudi filmmaker in a country where cinemas are banned and women cannot drive or vote.
Tuesday 18 February at 7.30pm Village Hall
Adults: £3.50 Under 16: £2.50
12
NEWS FROM RODMARTON, TARLTON, CULKERTON AND HAZLETON
THOUGHT FOR FEBRUARY
Sometimes February can seem a month of winter too long, and spring still too far off. Easter is late this year: with Christmas past and Lent not starting until March, we might find ourselves facing times of no apparent growth, when the spirit is numb, its sap shrunk and life apparently devoid of meaning or direction.
Nature is a mirror of the human spirit, and while we can be affected by the rhythm of the seasons, we may also draw hope and a sense of the direction which, though now hidden, can bring new life. This takes us to the root of faith. In the following extract, Eamon Duffy, a distinguished historian of Christinanity, speaks of that sense of direction:
I know that faith is a direction, not a state of mind; states of mind change and veer about, but we can hold a direction. It is not in its essence a set of beliefs about anything, though it involves such beliefs. It is a loving and grateful openness to the gift of being. The difference between a believer and a non-believer is not that the believer has one more item in his mind, in his universe. It is that the believer is convinced that reality is to be trusted, that in spite of appearances the world is very good. When we respond to that good, we are not responding to some-thing we have invented, or projected. Meaning is not at our beck and call, and neither is reality. When we try to talk about that reality we find ourselves talking to it, not in philosophy but in adoration, for it is inescapably Personal, and most luminously itself in the life and death of Jesus. Christians are those who find in that life and death an abounding fountain of joy and hope and life ; who affirm and are content to affirm what he affirmed about God, because they find in that affirmation a realism that does justice to life in all its horror and glory.
(© Eamon Duffy, from Faith of our Fathers)
17
I have noticed there has been a mass germination of ‘Cleavers’ or ‘Sticky Weed’ on bare ground in some parts of my garden, which are easy to remove in drier weather. These annual weeds grow quickly and soon smother garden plants. This weed contains silica and our laminitis prone pony thought that it was delicious.
Decorative edges can be part of your vegetable plot using herbs, edible flowers, or cut flowers. These could be anything from 15cm to 45 cm wide and planting suggestions will be made throughout the year.
This month usually brings blasts of cold wind straight from Siberia, if your garden is exposed to this east wind consider putting up a temporary wind break using the same netting that can be used later in the year for greenhouse shading. This cold wind can be the death of young buds and shoots, and be a big step back following a kind mild spell of weather, so protect any plants you can.
Sally Oates
NOTES FROM CULKERTON (cont)
WHERE’S WINTER?
What a start to the year, with widespread flooding, regular gales and, less obviously, some ridiculously mild temperatures. Where’s winter, you might well ask? At the moment, time is racing ahead of itself: Hazel catkins have been prominent along the lanes since before Christmas, birds are tuning up, some of last year’s flowers are still with us and several of this year’s are on their way, and I have even seen a Rook carrying off a stick. Of course, by the time you read this we may be buried in snow drifts, which might make the mild, wet and windy start to the year seem more palatable. Such is the nature of our climate – ever changing, all over the place, a bit like us. So the question is, not so much where is winter, but what is winter?
Perhaps we change skin during December and January, not snake-like, but like a caterpillar, only imperceptibly. Certainly, something more than the calendar year changes during the winter, gradually. The metamorphosis of a butterfly is an excellent metaphor for human existence, especially the caterpillar stage. Like a caterpillar we eat, grow, crawl, move around, consume; then we pupate (a much better word than die) – to emerge as a butterfly, and fly in the glorious sky.
It is worth viewing our four, highly varied seasons through a Christian perspective. Start with Summer, which can represent the ministry,
16
NOTES FROM CULKERTON
GARDENING TIPS FOR FEBRUARY
With so much rain during December and early January, it would seem very unlikely that a hose pipe ban will be needed this year. Natural underground water reservoirs deep in the Cotswold stone are well replenished. Although there were a couple of hard frosts, the temperatures stayed mild, promoting the early germination of bi-annuals like honesty, so avoid weeding these out. Look out for other self sown seedlings of hardy cyclamen, species tulips, love in the mist or pansies.
Early Spring flowers are in full parade with snowdrops, crocus, aconites, dwarf iris, hellebore, pulmonaria and primula which are all the ground huggers. Other spring flowers are blossom in trees and shrubs. Fragrant Sarcococcas (Winterbox), Chimanthus fragrans (Wintersweet), Cornus mas, Lonicera ‘Winter Beauty’, Daphne ‘Jaqueline Postil’, Ribes laurifolium, Prunus ‘Ben-shi-don’, Stachyurus praecox, Camellia sasanqua, Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, Phillyrea latifolia are all recommended for providing nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies.
In the vegetable plot, as soon as the ground is workable fork in compost to improve moisture retention and structure of the soil. As soon as the warmer, drier weather arrives prepare a seed bed for carrots, beetroot, and salad plants.
If the weather continues to be mild and drier, make a sowing of hardy long pod broad beans and early peas in the ground. If the weather is colder then warm the ground first with cloches or black polythene: either make the sowings later in the month, or sow in trays or small pots in a cold green house. Plant out the young beans at the two leaf stage. Varieties of broad bean, ‘Bunyards Exhibition’, ‘Masterpiece’, and the pink seeded ‘Karmazyn’, this is a new introduction from East Europe. Some early pea varieties: ‘Twinkle’, disease resistant and useful for succession sowing; ‘Jaguar’, also disease resistant, fast maturing with a heavy crop; ’Prevail’, a semi leafless type so finding the pods to pick much easier; ‘Premium’ gives a heavy crop of sweet flavour; also old favourites ‘Early Onward’ and ‘Hurst Greenshaft’.
Now is the time to force Rhubarb, cover the crowns with a traditional forcing pot, old bottomless dustbin or make a woven hurdle circle and fill with straw to exclude the light.
13
RODMARTON CHURCH CHOIR
Forthcoming choir services.
Sunday 2 February Candlemas Sunday 30 March Mothering Sunday Sunday 20 April Easter Day
Quiz Night Saturday, 1 March, 7.30pm prompt
Venue:
Rodmarton Village Hall £12 entry per person including 2 course meal
Wine Bar All profits are in aid of the churches of
St Peter’s and St Osmund’s
Teams of six: to book please ring 01285 70401
14
EXHIBITIONS &
EVENTS Faces in the Avebury Stones - An Exhibition by Di Pattison -
Saturday 11 – Sunday 9 February
Entry to our temporary exhibition space is free
Lunchtime Treasure – The Use of Bone through the Ages with
Georgina Hiscock - Thursday 6 February, 12.30pm
Museum lunchtime gallery talks are included in admission. Free to season ticket holders
Painting in Stone - An adult painting workshop with Di Pattison -
Monday 10 February, 10am – 12pm
Cost: £12 per person £10 season ticket holders and friends. Booking essential. (suitable for over 16s)
The Stone Age Sculpture of Avebury - An afternoon talk with Di
Pattison - Monday 10 February, 2 – 3.30pm
Cost: £5.65 adult or £5.00 for season ticket holders and Friends. Booking required.
Corinium Cinema – Breakfast at Tiffany’s - Thursday 13
February, 7pm
Cost: adults £5.50, concessions £4.50.
Painting the Past - An exhibition by Susan Gradwell - Saturday
15 February – Sunday 16 March
Entry to our temporary exhibition space is free
Mini Mosaics – Children’s Activity - Monday 17 February, 10am –
12pm
Cost: £7 or £6 for season ticket holders. Booking essential.
Mosaic Pot Collage – Family Drop-in - Monday 17 February, 10.30
– 11.30am
Cost: £1 per child or free to season ticket holders. Family drop-ins are suitable for children aged 3 and above. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Celtic Warriors – Discovery Zone Family Day - Tuesday 18
February, 10am – 12pm
There will be a nominal £1 charge for the face painting activity.
Archaeology Inspired Print Making – Children’s Activity -
Wednesday 19 February, 10am – 12pm
A printmaking workshop exploring the shapes which occur in the
15
museum’s objects and collections.
Cost: £4 per child or £3 for season ticket holders. Suitable for ages 8-16.
Unearthing the Anglo-Saxons – Discovery Zone Family Day -
Wednesday 19 February, 2 – 3.30pm
Included in admission, just Drop-in! You’ll find us in one of the galleries!
Sponge Printing Mosaics – Family Drop-in - Thursday 20
February, 10.30 – 11.30am
Cost: £1 per child or free to season ticket holders.
Family Film Friday – Brave - Friday 21 February, 11am
Cost: adult £4.65, child £2.50. Advanced booking recommended.
Rural Cinema – About Time - Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 February,
2.15pm
Cost: adults £4.65, concessions £3.85, booking is recommended.
Chedworth Roman Villa - An evening lecture with Dr Nick
Humphris and Alex Auden - Thursday 27 February, 7 – 8.30pm
Contact details: Corinium Museum, Park Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 2BX
T: 01285 655611 E: [email protected]
CIRENCESTER EATING DISORDER SUPPORT GROUP
The local team will be on hand for the monthly meeting on Wednesday 5 February. The 2gether trust for Gloucestershire mental health will be holding an engagement event at the Royal Agricultural University during the national eating disorders week – 24 February to 2 March. The date is scheduled for Tuesday 25 February but timings have not been confirmed as yet. I am working with them on this event as a governor representing the Cotswolds. I will keep you informed via my weekly newshound report in the Wilts and Glos Standard. Obviously it will include eating disorders/self harm/depression in young people and adults.
This year’s national eating disorders week has the support of the winners of Britain’s Got Talent, Diversity, who are pushing the fund raising campaign ‘Sock it to eating disorders.’ (‘Sock it’ came about whilst someone became overcome with emotion during a conference and another person reached in her bag to find a hankie but pulled out a child’s sock instead!)
Further details about the group in confidence from Pat 01285 770385.
