Yellow rattle is an annual most often found in old meadows and pastures on well-drained limey soil. It varies in height up to perhaps two feet. On stiff stems, the narrow leaves are toothed and borne in opposite pairs. The flowers, from May to July, are yellow, two lipped and in loose spikes. The inflated seed containers (calyxes) are purse-shaped and, when ripe, the flat, winged seeds rattle inside, hence the plant’s name.
Photo courtesy Jennifer Dancer
Jennifer Dancer has kindly supplied this photograph of her great grandfather Albert Henry Smith, headmaster of Sulgrave School before and during the Great War 1914-18. The photograph was taken in 1913 and shows him seated outside the School House with his wife Ellen (née Malin) and four daughters Helen Jessie, Dora Amy, Edith Abigail and Lilian.
Photo: Jill Barrett
Jill Barrett reports the sighting of a muntjac deer in the Pocket Park. They are very shy creatures and Jill did well to get this photo before it fled!
Blackbird Cottage - PC Gez Shillito investigates
Builders employed by Mr and Mrs Tattersall on renovations to their property Blackbird Cottage, Little Street, Sulgrave yesterday (8th June) found what appeared to be the remains of a small baby, possibly hidden for a hundred years or more.
The postponed celebrations to mark the completion of the Castle Green Restoration Project will now take place on Sunday 5th September.
All of the previously planned activities will take place, including: Licensed Bar by Star, Barbecue, Children’s historical treasure hunt, Bird nest box building, Morris dancers, Saxon actors, Teas, Stalls, Bouncy castle, Natural History exhibition and more.
COMMON VETCH (Vicia sativa)
The vetches are members of the pea family (Leguminosae) which takes in a wide range of plants, from trees such as robinia and laburnum, via shrubs (broom and gorse) to peas, beans, lupins, clovers and numerous others. A common feature is that the seeds are borne in pods.
Another fine picture of the village in former days sent in by Jim Oakley, this time the Thatched House, Manor Cottage and Kiln Farm in 1927.
GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)
The goldfinch is one of the most colourful and attractive of our native birds. With its red, white and black head, black tail and black wings with a brilliant yellow band, it is easily distinguished. The two sexes are identical in appearance, but young goldfinches lack the head colours. It frequents orchards, gardens and areas of rough grassland, where it feeds mainly on seeds and especially on thistles. In recent years the ready availability from bird-food suppliers of nyjer seeds has made it very easy to attract goldfinches to one’s garden.
Sulgrave Produce Show will be held in Sulgrave Church Hall on Saturday 4th September 2010 from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
It has been suggested that many people who use the village community shop would find it useful to have a quick online reference to special offers available at the shop on a daily basis. To this end a new page is being added to the website entitled “TODAY AT THE SHOP”. This can be seen on the right hand side of the home page and clicking on to it will access a link to a facsimile of the shop’s advertising board showing special offers available on that day. Other information will be added as appropriate. An empty board will mean that the website editor is away (rare), that there are no special items (very rare), that the shop is shut (even more rare)!