Sheep have lambs! (Photograph: Colin Wootton)

Richard Fonge writes:

Firstly I must apologise in that I made two assumptions last month which were proved wrong. The winter beans up the concrete road were cultivated out and re planted with barley, and the land on the Stuchbury footpath and across to the Helmdon Rd was sprayed out with round up.

Why? There is an expression in business that “the first loss is the best loss”. and this was the case with the beans. They had struggled to germinate and were not looking good, hence the decision, I suspect. Also with the good weather it was a chance to establish a new crop, and how quickly has that happened. Like the barley up the Moreton Rd the seeds were sown into a good tilth of soil and rolled down straight away to preserve the moisture. Already a healthy looking crop but, like everything else, in dire need of rain.

A conservation grass mixture could still be sown on the other fields now the predominant black grass has been killed off. Black grass is the most destructive weed grass, dominating the crop it’s growing in, and restricting the yield massively of that crop and producing abundant seeds. It’s in these circumstances that the option of a conservation grass mixture with its grant aid is more viable than growing corn. There are many government schemes encouraging farmers to diversify into environmentally friendly practices and the uptake over the last twenty five years or so has been good, combining food production with nature conservation.

Communicating with people about an industry I am proud of has been part of my farming life, whether having school children to watch cows being milked, sheep lambing, or going into schools to talk about the farming life and doing show commentaries. So it gets my “goat” when I hear T.V. presenters, who are doing an excellent job otherwise, refer to a sheep having its babies. Humans have babies!, Cows have calves, sheep lambs, pigs piglets etc. Always remember that these offspring are born and reared for food.

When you are bought up on a farm the rich cycle of life is ever present and that includes the facts of life. When aged six my class was asked to write what we had done or seen over the Easter holiday. I wrote. Daddy let Mary the cow loose in the yard and the bull went for a ride.

Richard Fonge.

The Annual Parish Meeting is an opportunity for all village organisations to present their reports to the Parish Council and for parishioners to ask questions in an open forum.

The Meeting opened with the Chairman of the Parish Council, Richard Fonge, presenting his own report on the work of the Council as follows.

The last year has been a good one for the village, I believe, with your Council playing an active role.

Our task as Councillors is not only to listen and take note of villagers’ views but to maintain the integrity of Sulgrave and bring new ideas to the fore that enhance the quality of life for all those that live here.

There are three initiatives that we can be justly proud of. Firstly, last June we held an event on Castle Green where various organisations came together and put on an afternoon of entertainment followed by an evening of song by The Polka Dots and a fish and chip supper. A great example of the the village pulling together to enjoy one another’s company and raising money. Thanks to the many sponsors, including £1500 from HS2. It cost the Council £400, but this was a village event.

Secondly, the Parish Library in the Church was moved to the north transept. Working closely with the P.C.C. it has become a more welcoming area. Our thanks go to Sue Sanderson for maintaining a good library.

Thirdly, a coffee morning was held to welcome new residents to the village. Ten out of the nineteen invitees came. The event was a great success. This has been an exceptional year for the number of new households. New residents bring new ideas and support to the village and the adage that “Nobody is indispensable” is so very true. Your present Councillors, for example, all moved into Sulgrave over the last fifteen years.

The pub has changed landlords and is attracting more villagers and the Manor, by selling Kiln Farm and Manor Cottage, has at long last seen the renovation of those properties, much to all of our delight. They have been in such a sad state for so long.

Castle Green has been costly this year, with wall repairs and fence renewal and the Pocket Park needs money this coming year. A survey carried out on the future of the park produced some very interesting answers but with the high cost of play equipment your Council is very restricted in what it can afford. HS2 are being approached for funding and Sulgrave Charities have generously offered £2000 towards a new swing.

Gigaclear have come to the village but not completed their work.

The Chronicles of Sulgrave were updated after some initial misgivings. Martin Sirot-Smith, true to form, carried out the update as editor. Some eighty copies have been sold, exceeding expectations and more than covering costs.

Two councillors resigned due to business and family commitments.

Finally my sincere thanks to my fellow Councillors for their selfless work on your behalf. I look upon ourselves as a team and this is borne out by our twice yearly pub suppers, where we enjoy each others company, along with our much respected Clerk, Christine, whose knowledge, sound advice and friendship is respected by all.

Thank you all, not least those loyal villagers who attend our regular meetings. That support means a lot and gives me pride in leading such a special village.

Richard Fonge (Chairman)

 

The following paragraphs comprise summaries of the reports presented by the representatives of the Local Authority and Village Organisations;

West Northamptonshire Council.

Councillor Eastwood reported. The Council is “in the black” financially, with 70% of the budget going on adult and social care. Pot holes are an ongoing problem.

Parochial Church Council.

Shrimp Christie and Andrew Dixon reported. The North Porch of the Church is being re-roofed but there are delays caused by the statutory need to protect bats. The new location for the Library in the Church has been welcomed. A Service to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day 1945 will be held in the Church at 11.00 am on May 10^th.

Church Hall.

Anne Dyde reported. Pilates is now the main source of income. High electricity costs are a continuing concern. The east window is to be renovated.

Sulgrave Manor.

It was reported that a Village Residents’ Pass is now available at a cost of £5 per annum Internal alterations are currently being undertaken. School visits are on the increase. There will be monthly updates and news in village newsletter.

Sulgrave Charities.

Paul Crowley reported. Monies are available for educational needs and the trustees would welcome more applications from young villagers.

Allotments.

These are now back under the control of the Parish Council and will be discussed at the next Parish Council Meeting.

Village Shop.

Charles Smyth-Osbourne reported that the village community shop had enjoyed a successful year. As always new helpers will be welcome. Villagers are also asked to sign up as Members of the Village Shop Association at a one off cost of £5.

Footpaths.

Paul Crowley reported. Paths are generally in good condition. Stones placed in the gateway at bottom of big meadow on Footpath AY7. A weight has been hung and the kissing gate lowered on Stuchbury footpath AY8, with clippings laid. All of this work had been done voluntarily.

Village Website.

Website Editor Colin Wootton reported. He thanked the many contributors. Whilst he still enjoyed doing the website, his personal circumstances dictated that the time was coming when it would be necessary to look for another editor.

Richard Fonge, Chairman, Sulgrave Parish Council.

Each session is from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Find out what has been going on within your village at this Annual meeting, where all organisations present their reports.

H

Happy Easter from Digby and Alison

Richard Fonge writes:

March has begun with warm days and frosty nights and this has allowed, with the land drying up, for first applications of nitrogen fertiliser to be applied to the cereal and oilseed rape crops sown last autumn. Nitrogen promotes growth, greening the plants’ leaves and therefore allowing photosynthesis to be more efficient.

Looking around the farms in the area, there has been a shift away from arable production to conservation mixtures. The land up Barrow hill has been back in conservation grasses the last two years and is being grazed by sheep. Now the same grass types have been planted on the field to Stuchbury and across to the Helmdon Road, and further onto Peter’s Bridge. (The name for that bridge on the Helmdon Road). The reason being that from a business point of view it is better to join these government environmental schemes than grow crops, depending on your individual circumstances and beliefs.

The future of land use is very much up for debate at the moment, with many conflicting arguments and interests. To grow food, to conserve for nature, to build on, for reservoirs and to produce green energy. Great demands on a valuable resource to satisfy an ever growing population on a small island. Let us hope that all those involved in the many debates, look at the bigger picture, not their own particular self interest.

A crop I have been monitoring with interest are the beans planted last December up the concrete road. Will they come to a viable crop? In February the rooks did a lot of damage by eating the seeds. At that time the ground lay wet and no plants could be seen. However, a recent visit suggested that there is a good possibility of a worthwhile crop.

All the grass fields to the east of Sulgrave have had a break from sheep grazing, but ewes and lambs will I am sure be in them by the time you read these notes, and cattle will follow in mid April. Please remember the Countryside Code and make sure dogs are always on a lead when walking our footpaths, and litter is not dropped.

The horse is still very much part of rural life, as it has been from the days when it tilled the soil. Nowadays used for recreation. With the great Cheltenham national hunt race meeting taking place as I write, I will finish with this:

A trainer named Sid Fardell was racing a horse at Cheltenham and the owner who couldn’t be there asked him to text the outcome.

He did by texting S.F S.F S.F S.F. What does that mean replies the owner.

Reply. It was like this. Started Far—-. Slipped and fell. See you Friday. Sid Fardell.

Richard Fonge.

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