WAXWING (Bombycilla garrulous)
The surely is one of the most handsome of birds. The size of a starling and mainly of a colour variously described as “vinaceous brown”, “cinnamon-grey” or “reddish buff”, it is easily distinguished by its prominent crest, black eye-mark and bib, yellow tipped tail and yellow edged wing feathers. On some of the secondary wing-feathers there are waxy red ‘blobs’, which give the bird its popular name.
Tudor Kitchen demonstration at Sulgrave Manor
Sulgrave Manor is very proud to be one of only twenty museums chosen from the national entries to be taken forward to the next stage of the Guardian’s Family Friendly Museum Award. This is the biggest family friendly award in Britain and the only one judged by families.
Photograph: Jacqueline Fletcher
On several occasions in the past ten or fifteen years albino squirrels have been seen in the village. This one was photographed recently by Jacqueline Fletcher at Kiln Farm.
BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula)
The blackbird is one of the most widely-spread and numerous of British birds. Originally a bird of the wildwood, it has gradually familiarised itself with human habitation and is now a resident of most gardens of any size, replacing the song thrush as the commonest member of the thrush family. Only the adult male is black, with a bright yellow bill, the female is brown, darker above and paler below, while the juvenile’s plumage is mottled brown (it may even be confused with the thrush).
A bogus caller is making calls to residents in South Northamptonshire about council tax refunds. The caller asks for personal details, including bank account information.
We are also aware that some residents have been told by a caller that they owe council tax and threatened with a prison sentence if they do not pay.
We want to remind all residents that this is a bogus call and not one from South Northamptonshire Council. We will not contact residents by phone offering a council tax refund and strongly advise against giving out personal information to such callers.
If any residents have a telephone number for the caller, forward this, and any other details, onto Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.
Photo: Andrew Waite
A light fall of snow on Saturday morning December 18th, was followed by a much heavier fall in late afternoon, as can be seen in this picture taken at the little gateway through the double hedge which marks the footpath along the parish boundary between Sulgrave and Greatworth.
Temperatures of minus six with snow and ice failed to deter the twenty-two people who turned up for the annual carol singing around the village.
Sulgrave Church from Kirklees (Clare Pollak)
Dawn on Tuesday 7th December revealed visions of frost clad trees in bright sunshine, still air and extreme cold. These pictures were taken by Clare and Peter Pollak.
See more pictures….
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-first 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….
How the five turbines could appear from the foopath towards Barrow Hill. M = location of Sulgrave Manor. X = top of already erected meteorological mast.
At the special meeting on 2nd December, Sulgrave Parish Council voted unanimously to oppose the construction of five 125 metre high turbines at the Spring Farm Ridge site between the villages of Helmdon, Sulgrave and Greatworth.