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News in Brief
Poop Scoop
The last week of July was Poop Scoop Week! Sadly some local dog owners allow their pets to foul pavements and walks. Long Lane is particularly abused at the moment.
Garden Party
The Garden Party at Springfield House on 6 July raised £460 for the Church. About sixty people enjoyed strawberries and cream, savory nibbles and a glass or two of wine.
Leisure Field
The agreement with Elton estates has been received and will be finalised soon. Ian Wade agreed to advise a committee on the running of the Leisure Field.
Parish Council
The Parish Council agreed to take Parishioner's comments towards the end of the Meetings. This will allow them to comment on matters discussed during the meeting.
Children's Page
Teacher:
What did Little John say when Robin Hood fired at him and missed?
Pupil:
That was an arrow escape!
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Warmington Postcard
Dated 25 July 1911, this postcard was sent by a young girl called Alice to 'Miss Roza Johnson, c/o Mrs Todd, Fairholm, Glapthorn Rd, Oundle.' From the message on the card is would seem Alice attended Warmington School.
The card was spotted in an antique fair in Wells, Norfolk by Colin Slater of Castle Farm.
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School News
The pouring rain on the Saturday of the fete did not dampen the children's enthusiasm for the day. After weeks of practicing the Maypole dancing the children were brilliant. The crowning of the King, Ethan Szimansky and the Queen, Ratchel Murray added to the highlights of the day. The event raised over £500.
A new piece of play equipment has been installed in the playground which has been provided by the PFA. The children have recently taken part in an Incrediball competition (Junior Rounders) with the girls team coming fourth.
Riverside Ramblings
"Ragwort thou humble flower with tattered leaves
I love to see thee come and litter gold...
So bright and daring that the very light
Of rich sunshine doth to paleness russ..."
John Clare was well aware of the problems weeds cause farmers - as were other writers over the centuries. Chaucer complained about nettles in 1380; Thomas Tussler wrote much about weeds in 1557; Shakespeare in Richard II wrote 'I will go root away noisome weeds that without profit suck the soil's fertility from wholesome flowers'.
And yet John Clare marvelled at the 'gold' and 'sunshine' of the common ragwort! So might drivers today along motorways, and many lesser roads, exclaim at the profusion of ragwort which has seasonally succeeded coltsfoot, cowslips and dandelions along central reservations and verges and is now spreading into fields.
This profusion should cause cattle men, horse owners and children with ponies great anxiety. Ragwort has been described as the nastiest of English weeds. It is a killer. Old MAFF statistics claimed that half the cases of stock poisoning in Britain were due to ragwort.
If a purge of ragwort were to be pursued could DEFRA take a leaf out of the Oregon Department of Agriculture's book? It abandoned sprays and successfully introduced the cinnabar moth and ragwort flea-beetle. What a feast the insects would have! Herbicides might produce an answer - but the problems flowing in the pesticides' wake were unforeseen and have not been solved yet.
Juliet Wilson
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