I first met Alan shortly after we moved to the village and immediately recognised a kindred spirit: we shared a passionate love for nature in all its forms. I met up with Margaret shortly before his funeral, when she explained to me that he wanted his Nature Notes to continue and, when she asked me if I would take on Alan’s role, I was very happy to agree, indeed I felt privileged.
As Alan’s life ebbed away, it was replaced with a huge surge in bird numbers. Over a period of three days in June fourteen different families fledged in the …
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Archives for July 2018
Nature Notes for July – from Paul Lister
Yellingham Farm in July
Winter scene in the middle of July – hay rack, troughs and no grass With the shearing all completed last month, the next main sheep task was to give the dear ewes a complete break from their ever demanding lambs. The lambs have been on their mums for at least 4 months and with some of the lambs growing to be really large, it was time to wean them. We always try to wean them at a time when we can put the ewes onto a field where we have cut hay, or where the grass is not in abundance – this is so the ewes milk dries up as quickly as possible. …
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Payhembury Provisions News – August
Oops, we forgot our own birthday last month, we've now been open for seven years!
Our main aim has been to create a useful and friendly place for everyone to shop locally but as well as that we have had a lot of fun, made friends, learnt a huge amount (still much more to learn) and have given thousands of pounds to village projects and groups. None of it would have been possible without everyone who volunteers in whatever way in the shop, or without our loyal and supportive customers.
Thank you all!
The Beast from the East seems a far-off …
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A Call to Budding Bell Ringers
Have you ever rung a church bell? If you would like to have a go, you are in luck!
We are having an Open Afternoon on:
Saturday 11 August, 1.00 - 4.00pm
Come along! There will be tea and cake and it's all free.
Just turn up - or if you can't make that time, ring 841026 for a different time or day. …
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August Message from Our New Vicar – Rev David Carrington
July 11th the date we were spending our first night as residents of these parishes. Also the date of England’s World Cup Semi-Final. We wanted to enjoy both. The timing was tight.
The removal men emptied our vicarage in Appledore by late afternoon, ahead of delivering the next day. We hurriedly tidied up the last bits, packed camp-beds and overnight things in the car (along with the all-important TV), bade our farewells to our old house, and headed off for the new. We arrived at The Rectory within half an hour of kick-off, the TV still to tune …
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Parish Paper – August 2018
To read or save this issue please click 2018 08 Parish Paper. …
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Alan Jones – a True Villager
Tributes to Alan
The Parish paper is just one of many village organisations which have benefited from Alan's time, expertise and willingness to help. He was not only our treasurer for many years, a post which he took up with a typical 'of course I'll help' when asked, but also a regular contributor with his much loved Nature Notes page. He will be greatly missed.
Mary Whiting
From the time that Alan and Margaret arrived in the village 27 years ago, Alan volunteered to help local organisations. He became Clerk to the Parish Council and a …
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Payhembury Provisions News – July 2018
This month we'd like to start by remembering Alan Jones.
Alan was a loyal supporter of the shop not only as a customer but also as a regular volunteer. He was a very kind person, with many friends, and he always took time to chat to everyone who came into the shop, from the very young to the not so young, and on occasions he even treated us to a song from behind the till. We will all miss him very much.
At the moment the shop is full of summery things and we've got the weather to match, or at least we did when this was written. We have been …
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Yellingham Farm in June
Saturday arrived and my spirits were high as one of my favourite days in the shepherding calendar had arrived – the sheep shearer was on his way. It’s always such a relief to have the sheep shorn, both for the sheep and also the shepherd. This year, due to the weather there is a real threat of flystrike. We had already treated all the lambs with a preventative spray, but with the shearer booked, the ewes had not been treated. Once the shearer says he can come, you literally say yes, because you never know when you might see him again!
The …
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FOPs Update – July 2018
The end of year disco is rapidly approaching - please see below for details.
This is our last event of the year (we aren't organising a Kidz Café) and have tried to keep costs down to enable as many children as possible to come. The DJ for the evening is Rob Elson - Sam's dad! He demo-ed for us at the Easter Bingo and we thought he was good enough to invite back!
We would like to decorate the hall - if you have any disco lights or similar we could borrow we would be really grateful.
As with all events, we rely on volunteers so if you could …
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