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(Link August 2008) Nature Notes A group of about 20 youngsters assembled near to Great
Lane bridge on June 6th to watch David Lantsbury from the Jesus Fellowship
collect a swarm of bees that were hanging from a nearby tree. He cut off
the branch they were hanging from and took them to a small hive he had
brought with him. He shook the bees into the hive and closed the lid. Any
bees left outside were able to enter through a small hole. Mr Lantsbury is
willing to collect any swarms of bees at no cost because they add to his
hive at Heyford Hills Farm. Each hive can produce up to 30 jars of honey
each year. The taste of the honey varies according to the season it is
produced. Honey from Oil Seed Rape flowers will taste quite different from
clover honey. The importance of bees cannot be overestimated. It is thought that fruit
and flowers that rely on pollination would die out in six months if there
were no bees to cross-fertilise the plants. It is important that bees are
protected as there has been some concern in recent years about disease in
some areas. Trees are also important to our landscape and it is always disappointing
to see unnecessary damage. Someone of poor insight broke the branches off
a wild cherry tree in the Millennium Green and it is likely to take four
years to recover. These trees were planted by local organisations to mark
the turn of a new century in the hope they would still be there at the
start of the next century. They also represent every native British tree
for future generations to view. Most young people understand the
importance of the environment and it is disappointing to see their future
damaged. They are the ones who will benefit most from the foresight of
those who set up the green. Birds and animals are currently bringing up the next generation and many
frazzled adults can be seen busying themselves trying to feed and protect
their young. Sound familiar? One big difference is that they do not seem
to have grandparents to help them with their responsibilities. However,
they can rely on the neighbours and it is not unusual to see birds gang up
on predators like magpies and hawks. Some parents can also be extremely
brave in trying to distract cats from prowling on their young. Collar
bells, high pitched sensors or water pistol can also help their cause. I have not heard a cuckoo at all this year. This is the first time ever
although some people have heard it in the cricket field area early in the
morning. Let us hope this distinctive sound is not going to disappear from
the English countryside. I would be interested to know whether anyone has seen any feral cats in
the countryside. Please ring 830317 if you have. John Curtis The Competition Runners Up (more on page 5)
Bugbrooke Strollers The Strollers walk on Thursday mornings and visit local
villages or do walks within the parish. On the last Thursday of each month
they have lunch in a local hostelry. During August and September, they will be visiting Harlestone, Littliff
Farm, Brockhall, Tiffield, Nobottle, Church Brampton, Wards Lodge and
Everdon. Anyone wishing to take part in these leisurely strolls will be welcome.
Please phone 830317 for more information if required. John Curtis Bugbrooke History Society The next talk to the group will take place at the
Community Centre at 7.30pm on Wednesday, September 10th. The speaker is
John Brown on the topic of ‘Early Northampton – 3,000BC to the Great
Fire’. The talks are free and everyone is welcome. A small donation is
asked for refreshments. The committee will be making a decision about when to produce a new
pictorial history book. If you come across any old photos from the 1930s
to the present day, we would be interested in putting them on our computer
records so they could be considered for inclusion. Did you know? Bugbrooke Mill only really got going as a major producer of flour and
animals feeds in the 1930s. Up to that point it had been a small mill on
the River Nene similar to those at Flore, Heyford, Harpole, Kislingbury
and Upton. These have now ceased as mills and are either derelict or used
for other purposes, either domestic or business. The old part of Bugbrooke
Mill with the mill house is still in existence but is dominated by the new
structures and silos. The Heygate family started the renovation of the old wooden mill when it
got burned down in the 1930s. They started to introduce modern machinery
and developed a transport system to distribute their goods far and wide.
They also linked to ports like Avonmouth to bring in grain from abroad to
help produce better flour. The business now employs over 200 people and a new mill is being built to
replace some of the older machinery. Hopefully, this will mean an
extension of the milling tradition in Bugbrooke for many years to come. John Curtis Bugbrooke
Rainbows The village has been
very proud to boast 2 Rainbow, 2 Brownie, a Guide and a Ranger unit for
the past 15 or so years. Sadly we will be reduced to one Rainbow unit in
September due to the falling number of girls in the 5–7 age group. We are very grateful to
Barbara Loughney (Delphinium) and Debbie Mellish(Lavender) who have
run the Friday night brownies for many years. Its not always easy
turning up after a weeks work to entertain 15 very enthusiastic Rainbows.
On behalf of all the Rainbows past and present a big thank you for all the
hours of fun you have provided and not forgetting all the hours of
preparation). Congratulations to Bev
Webster (Thursday Rainbows) who gained her Adult Leaders certificate. Jane Causebrook (Bugbrooke
Ranger Guider) Bugbrooke Scout Group The scout group has been going out in the open this
summer term, making the most of the good weather we’ve had. They have
all played rounders and other games on the playing fields. Beavers have
been on a nature ramble round by the canal. They made Fathers’ Day cards
featuring a shirt and tie, and have had an enrolment evening. Beavers went
to the Millennium Green recently where they made a den, enjoyed a picnic
and played Pooh-sticks at the footbridge. On a Cub evening, everyone was fascinated by a return visit from Sally
and her collection of large and small exotic animals including
cockroaches, tarantulas, lizards, skinks, snakes and tortoises, which the
children were allowed to hold. Cubs have been outside in teams, collecting
objects to fill a small matchbox. The winners counted 46 different items
– remarkable! Cubs have cleared and dug part of the Conservation Area in
the churchyard. There were so many huge nettles they had a competition to
see who had the most stings. The following week, they did some planting
and enjoyed a snack and a game of Frisbee after each gardening session.
Cubs are doing nature study, investigating how to recognise garden birds
by their songs, and how to attract moth species with saucers of sugar
water. They’ve cooked flapjacks and are working for badges including Pet
Lovers and Sports badges.
Scouts visited Everdon Stubbs in May. A member of the public enjoying the
bluebells thought we were the police from a distance, in our high
visibility jackets but she didn’t think that for long. Scouts swung on
rope swings, identified trees from emerging young leaves, and found baby
field mice in the brambles at the side of the path. They discovered that
moss and algae grow on the north sides of trees, and enjoyed hot chocolate
and marshmallows before returning home. Scouts went on a Daventry District
organised camp at Welton with 100 others over the May Bank Holiday
weekend. After the lovely weather at the Aylmerton school trip the
previous week, the boys weren’t expecting it to be wet and windy, which
it certainly was. One comment was: “I enjoyed the back to basics camp,
collecting wood, cooking chicken and potatoes in tin foil on the open
fire, and whittling wood to stick bread on the end to toast it. It rained
a lot and I really appreciate a roof over my head now I’m home.”
Scouts have been orienteering with map and compass, and have learned about
poultry keeping with a visit to see newly hatched chicks and point of
hatch turkey eggs, which wiggle in warm water if they’re alive. Explorers went on a survival camp in May, which they organised
themselves, at Welton campsite which has only basic facilities. They
walked 10 miles there and back with full kit, cooked with meths burners
and bivouacked under plastic sheets. This was a tough assignment on a
cold, rainy May day. Explorers have been challenged to try putting up tents blindfold. This is
apparently all about teamwork – not too difficult when people are
communicating and cooperating with each other. Rangers, Explorers and
Scouts met up for a games and barbecue evening. They played rounders and
tug of war between showers of rain. We’re not sure who won, but the food
was great, thanks Richard for doing all the cooking. Explorers look
forward to a trip to London and gliding at Husbands Bosworth. Margaret Raymond,
secretary 830532.
Bugbrooke Guides Hello my name is
Charlotte and
I come from 1st Bugbrooke Guides. We have been doing lots of fun things at
our weekly Guide meetings this year. We celebrated Chinese New Year when Sarah and her mum brought in some
Chinese food and drink, learnt how to write Happy New Year in Chinese and
we each made a blossom tree – the sign of a new start for the Chinese.
The Chinese tea tasted very bland (just like hot water without anything in
it,) and the fruit juice was very sweet – everyone loved the prawn crisp
things, but only Verity liked the water. In March Sue Deveroux (hairdresser) came to guides and told us all about
hair, how to look after your hair and lots of facts about hair, it was
very interesting! Sue told us how to do a massage and how to check
peoples’ hair, we all did a true and false quiz and lastly we got with a
partner and did each other’s hair. There was a competition for the most
creative hairstyle. As we do church cleaning at Guides it was time the church had a little
clean again. Normally I would clean the toilet, but I decided I would do
something different, I chose to dust. We cleaned the church, and before we
went we cleaned the pews. We each got a pew and polished it, it is always
fun! We shall be doing church cleaning again very soon! Hello my name is Lizzie
and I would
like to tell you about what we have been doing at Guides this year.
Recently I have done our ‘Go For It’.
There are a number of challenges and activities that we can choose
from. One of the first activities we completed was ‘Glamorarma’ when
we made smoothies drinks from pink or purple coloured fruits to make it
look girlie. Some of us thought that the taste wasn’t that nice but we
had fun making our own smoothies! After
that we played games such as uno and read magazines. Another challenge was to have fun at a slumber party. We all arrived in
our pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers as if we were ready for bed.
The highlight of the evening was when we organised our own pyjama
fashion show. On Friday 6th June some of the older Guides went away for a Baden Powell
Challenge weekend at McQueen House near Thrapston. When we arrived it was
raining and cold but the other Guides and leaders soon made us feel
welcome. We soon made friends with the Guides from the other packs by
playing games. The next
morning we were up early at 7.30am. After breakfast we were given a number
of challenges. We collected sticks for a fire, made bread and helped
prepare a barbeque for some Guide Leaders visiting that evening. We sat
outside to have the barbeque and performed some little sketches to
entertain the other Guides and the leaders. The following morning we did some craft and made
juggling balls and animals out of pipe cleaners. We also did activities
such as put the word with its saying and mystery challenges and puzzles
before packing up to go home in the afternoon. It was a really good
weekend where we learned new skills and made a whole lot of new friends. Hello
my name is Verity. I
think camp is one of the best parts of Guides because it involves a great
deal of team work for things, like putting up the tents and games and
activities. At our most recent camp in Everdon we had an Olympic theme and
on the last day we played all the events but with some strange twists to
them. For instance for the hurdles we went under chairs, and the shot
putts were water filled balloons. I also enjoyed using the fire lighters
with a man called Mike who specializes in outdoor camping, when we were
having our campfire after orienteering. Overall camp is amazing and I love
going. Playgroup The children have been busy this term, with the primary
topic being holidays. The children took part in a sponsored bounce,
and “Take a Bear to Playgroup” day to raise money for charity.
The pre-schoolers enjoyed a day out at Rookery Farm (thankfully not the
washout predicted by the weathermen!), and had a group photograph taken
for posterity. All the
children are looking forward to sports day and the end of term party. Pay and play, will run throughout the summer holidays so please come
along – it’s Thursdays between 10 and 12. Playgroup needs new committee members for next term, for a variety of
roles. If you are interested in getting involved please contact
Tracey Davis, Playgroup Secretary, on 830780.
Many sessions are already getting full for the new September term – so
contact Playgroup asap if you want a space for your child. Tracey Davis, Secretary The Children’s Society The
amount raised this year in the village collection was £95. Thank you to
all the boxholders. If anyone would like a box to put their small
change in over the year, please get in touch. If you would like to make a
donation contact Sue Nightingale on 831025. WI
– Far From Jam and Jerusalem! The last month our members have been very busy. Our
delegate attended the NFWI AGM in Liverpool – the city of culture –
where, after the serious business of the day, the main guest speaker,
Sandy Toksvig, the well-known radio/TV presenter and writer of
children’s books, had the vast audience in stitches. We were delighted to be a finalist in the Ecovision Fashion Show at
Caroline Chisholm school, Wootton. All items displayed were produced to a
very high standard from recycled materials of all kinds. Others attended an open day at WI’s own college in Oxfordshire where
courses on many subjects may be taken on a weekly or weekend basis. It
also is on target to celebrate its 90th anniversary. On a regular basis, a rota of our ladies oversees refreshments at the NHS
blood donor sessions in the Community Centre. All will be welcome to join our treasure hunt walk around the village on
August 4th, meeting in the church car park at 6.15pm, finishing at the
Sunday School with light refreshment. A charge of £1 will be made. Hope
to see you there. Mothers’ Union On May 8th, a Mothers’ Union meeting was held in the
Sunday School at 2.30pm called ‘Village Life’. Nine members attended.
Lyndsay took a small service, then asked those members present to talk
about how village life was in their youth. This led to a most interesting
afternoon. On May 21st at 7.45pm, 23 members listened to a talk, with slides, by
Peter Barratt on ‘Suffragettes’, a group of women, to whom we women
owe our voting power. Peter’s great grandmother was one of these, so
Peter had a family story to tell with photos of Alice and friends. On June 19th at 2.30pm, the MU held a ‘Wave of Prayer’ in the Sunday
School called ‘Time for Relationships,’ a service of short readings,
hymns and prayers arranged by and for the Diocese of Peterborough and the
MU world wide. Our leader Lyndsay Moss took the service, readings were by
members ending with a prayer for the future. On June 25th, a talk in the Sunday School of Sue and Tony’s building
work in Tanzania at 7.45pm was held. This work in Bulonge clinic is paid
for by Bugbrooke East Africa Trust, our local charity for the Third World.
Dave Clayson and Sue have told us of their efforts in the June LINK. We
thank Sue and Tony for giving their time and know-how for those in need. Pat Archer
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