410 feet high wind turbine of the type proposed for the Helmdon Stuchbury Greatworth scheme

A government planning inspector has been appointed to consider the appeal by Broadview Energy Limited against South Northants Council’s refusal of planning permission for the erection of five 125m (410 feet) high wind turbines between Helmdon and Greatworth and very close to houses at Stuchbury. The inquiry will commence on Tuesday 15^th May at a venue yet to be announced and is expected to last for at least 8 days.

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BLUE TIT (Parus caeruleus)

The blue tit is one of the best loved of our garden birds. It is also one of the commonest – the RSPB’s annual Garden Birdwatch records its presence in almost 100% of our gardens; the countryside population is estimated at almost 3.5 million pairs. It can easily be distinguished from the other members of the family by its bright blue crown – the great tit and the coal tit, for example, have black crowns. All three, as well as the unrelated long-tailed tit, are regular frequenters of our bird-food stations. The blue tit’s usual preferred food is insects, caterpillars and so on, but during the winter months it relies on seeds and the peanuts and other items which we offer.

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After a day of torrential rain, almost thirty carol singers turned out to perform traditional carols in many places around the village, whilst the children knocked on doors to wish residents a happy Christmas and make collections for charity.

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As always in the week before Christmas, a dedicated band of villagers has been preparing and erecting the traditional Christmas decorations in strategic points around the village. See here for the story behind these decorations.

See the next page for more pictures of the work in progress.

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The idea of a Christingle service came originally from the Moravian Church in 1747 as a symbol of Christ’s light and love. The Children’s Society introduced it to the Church of England in 1968, and it has since become a popular service for all ages. This was the twenty-second service in the Church of St James the Less, Sulgrave. All money collected goes to the good work of the Children’s Society with the least fortunate of today’s young people. See more photographs of the children performing their nativity play and receiving their oranges with lighted candles….

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David says: "Yes, they are bananas!"

In his second newsletter from Sao Paulo, David Kellett reports that he is learning Portuguese and being made to feel at home by the threat of nearby railway construction and visits to a local Pocket Park.

Full newsletter and more photographs on the next page.

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See the next page for a series of autumnal photographs taken in and around the village.

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With our service men and women being killed or injured in Afghanistan and Iraq on an almost daily basis the work of the British Legion continues to be crucial to them and their families. Please give as generously as you can when you buy your poppies from the village shop. The annual Remembrance Sunday Service will be held in Sulgrave Church at 6.00 pm on Sunday November 13th. Eighteen young men and women who lost their lives in the two world wars are commemorated on the memorial in the church. Read their stories…..

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Pumpkins in a range of sizes now available at the Village Shop. See next page for police advice in respect of Halloween and Bonfire Night.

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Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is delighted to announce the launch of a new venture that we hope will be good for you and good for the environment.

Northamptonshire ACRE will be using the model of a local buying syndicate for domestic heating oil and rolling it out across the county. We believe there will be great strength in harnessing the purchasing power of the many rural communities who are without mains gas so that together, oil-buyers will be able to make significant savings. Experience has already shown that it’s possible to get a discount of around £50 on a single order. And since the scheme is only in its infancy, we see no reason why we can’t improve on that. There are other benefits too – reduced carbon footprint (yes, really), a move towards renewable energy sources and a contribution to funds to support Northamptonshire.

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