News in Brief

Village Hall

The ground at the side of the hall has been cleared of weeds and rubbish, levelled and a membrane laid with gravel cover to keep the area clean. A lavender hedge will be planted by the Horticultural Club alongside the path.

Youth Club

Many thanks to Jenny Davey for her enthusiasm in getting a Youth Club started in the village.

With help and advice from Mr graham Bail (NCC - Lifelong Learning) Jenny got thirty youngsters to elect a committee and with the help of ten adults will be implementing most of the ideas put forward.

Children's Page

Q:
What kind of horse does a headless horseman ride?

A:
A nightmare!
 

Lime Tree: Church Street/Spinney Close

I have had several enquiries about this tree and why it had to be felled. Mr Rob Payne at NCC has kindly sent me a copy of the report he made on 23 April. He found that fruiting bodies of the decay fungus Ustulina deusta were at various points of the lower trunk., where the soil in in contact with the tree.

Line trees are very susceptible to this fungus, which enters the tree via pruning wounds, possibly sustained several years ago. it is particularly dangerous at is induces a 'brittle stem fracture' and the infected tree can fall without warning, even in still conditions. Fortunately it will not effect the replacement tree.

Judy Stroud (Ex Tree Warden)

Farming Dairy

As I write these notes the rain is falling fast and there is no sign of an anti-cyclone coming this week, but by the time you get your Four All, phase one (rape and winter barley) will hopefully be harvested. Some rape has already been swathed (cut and allowed to stand on long stubble to dry) but prolonged heavy rain drives the crop into the soil, and there is no mechanical means to lift it. In humid conditions the seed very quickly chits, and then is no use whatever.

There are good prospects for the cereal harvest, but I am always cautious in forecasting a record crop until it is safely in the store. The big worry is the low price being offered for new crop grain; upward of £10 tonne less then last year. This fall is in some measure caused by low priced imports from some East European countries, who are fast taking advantage of new technology, and have lower production costs.

Harvest and autumn cultivations creates more farm traffic on the roads and I know how frustrating it can be for a motorist to have to follow a large combine down a country road, where there is insufficient room to pass. It is no use the motorist hooting madly, or even shaking his fist at the driver. Such action does not create a good atmosphere, but rest assured he combine driver will pull over as soon as possible; bearing in mind the farmer hopes the barley to be harvested will end up in the business executive's beer!

John Preston