Common Blue Butterfly (female)
Photo: Chris Behan

Chris Behan writes:

I have always appreciated butterflies in the garden. Margaret and I once had a garden with a large buddleia shrub, which in summer was covered with a blanket of colour. Butterflies.

I think I could recognise a red admiral and a cabbage white (was it a small one or a large one?) and that was it. Then, about three years ago, Martin (a friend for the past 30 years and a butterfly expert amongst other things) decided that he would introduce me to butterflies on our walks through “Midsomer”. Thanks to Martin I can now recognise a common blue, both male and female.

Since coming to live in Sulgrave I have walked the local footpaths and bridleways and in summer photographed the views, the flowers, the bees and the butterflies. But this year there has been an absence of butterflies. I’ve only seen two red admirals, one common blue (male) and one meadow brown in our garden. Strangely though, there are a considerable number of whites, great and small, this year.

Can anyone explain? Is this another example of climate change or the wet winters we have had in recent years?

Hopefully they will be back next summer but, in the meantime, here is a photographic record, taken over the past two years, of what we may have missed this summer.

See next page for the photographs.

(more…)

Photo:Chris Behan

Sulgrave’s second annual Car Show took place at Sulgrave Manor on Sunday 4th September 2016. A huge range of cars, vans, motor cycles and tractors attracted the attention of the many visitors. The event was held in aid of the Church of St James the Less and Sulgrave Manor.

More pictures on the next page.

(more…)

For the first time in several years the annual village Produce Show did not take place in the best of weather. However, those attending enjoyed their time in the Church Hall, viewing the entries, congratulating the winners, taking part in the raffle and sampling the delicious cakes and teas. Many thanks are due to organisers Janet Smith and Maureen Jeffries. See photos of all prize winning entries on the next page.

(more…)

How the turbines would have appeared from the Sulgrave Windmill footpath

Following the demise of the proposal to erect five 125 metre high wind turbines in the countryside between Helmdon, Greatworth and Sulgrave, the Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group has now been disbanded. The following statement has been received from the former Chairman of the Action Group, Keith Jones from Helmdon:

Photo: Chris Behan

The Manor House and Gardens were looking at their very best in bright sunshine for the annual USA Independence Day celebrations. A large crowd of visitors were entertained by a Living History Camp and Battle re-enactment of a skirmish between French and English Army Units in the Ohio Valley in 1754, the latter being commanded by Lt Col George Washington, whose ancestors lived at Sulgrave Manor in Tudor times. Music from the classic era of swing was provided by the Great Central Big Band and the Brackley Wind Ensemble played favourite melodies from the Great War. In addition to the Washington Family History exhibition always on display at the Manor, colourful Native American artefacts of all kinds were to be seen in the Buttery. Representatives of American and British Scout Troops were present throughout the day. Visitors enjoyed a variety of traditional refreshments from both sides of the Atlantic. The celebrations concluded with the ceremonial lowering of the flags of the two nations by the Honour Guard from USAF 501 Com Wing at nearby Croughton, as can be seen in the above picture. More pictures of this ceremony and the other events, with videos, can be seen on the next page.

(more…)

No need for the sun shade on a gloomy June afternoon

For once during this miserable summer the rain held off long enough to allow the Village Fête to take place in the lovely setting of the Sulgrave Manor Gardens, with the much enjoyed dog show, various stalls, teas, croquet on the lawn and the ferret racing without which no Sulgrave summer event would be complete. Inevitably, the rain began during the late afternoon but by then most people were indoors for their pig roast dinners. During the evening music aimed mainly at the “golden oldies” was provided by Donna and the Delleretts.

More photos and a video of the evening entertainment on the next page.

(more…)

How the five turbines would have appeared from the Barrow Hill footpath

In a judgment handed down on 22nd June 2016, three Appeal Court Judges dismissed Broadview Energy Limited’s claim that the Secretary of State had acted unfairly when determining their appeal against the refusal of planning permission for five 125 metre high wind turbines in area of countryside between Helmdon, Stuchbury and Greatworth. Their lordships found nothing in the claim which would merit the quashing of the Secretary of State’s decision to dismiss the appeal. The company now have until July 22nd to decide whether to seek leave to take this claim to the supreme court. See here for the Appeal Court Judgment document.