A canopy of apples over the Manor gardens

October “Apple Day” weekend at Sulgrave Manor was blessed with fine weather, somewhat grey on Saturday but brilliantly sunny on Sunday afternoon when these photographs were taken. An appreciative crowd enjoyed apples in many disguises – cider, apple juice, toffee apples, jam, preserves and even just plain apples! Entertainments included the Moulton Morris Men, more music by the Green Man (alias Windybagge), ferret racing, Punch and Judy, the Siberian huskies, Owls Galore, numerous children’s games and a variety of refreshments, liquid and otherwise. The gardens hosted a number of traditional craft stands, more delicate exhibits were sheltered by tents and the Manor itself, whilst those who brought their own apples were able to get them identified by experts.

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The Annual Harvest Supper was held in the Church Hall on Saturday 25th September on the eve of the Harvest Festival Service, which included the dedication of the renovated Church Clock.

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The newly restored church clock face

Over a year’s hard work in fund raising and restoration culminated in the restored clock face on the north wall of the tower of the Church of St James the Less being revealed in all its glory in August 2010.

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Chris Peel-Yates (left) and Donald Taylor (right) at the beginning of the vintage ploughing match

A vintage ploughing match was held at Dial House Farm, Sulgrave on Sunday 12th September, organised by Brackley Sodbusters. There were twelve competitors on a beautiful late summer’s day with good dry conditions for the tractors.

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Moulton Morris Men dance on Castle Green

The long awaited day for the celebration of the completion of the Castle Green Restoration Project finally dawned on Sunday September 5th. Rainy weather at the noon start of the various activities failed to dampen the spirits and warm sunshine by mid afternoon welcomed the many villagers who attended this unique event.

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The wonderful cake which was first prize in the draw

On a beautiful summer’s afternoon large numbers of villagers turned out for the Produce Show, some to compete and some simply to enjoy the atmosphere of this traditional village event.

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How two of the nine turbines would have dominated the setting of Sulgrave Manor (visit by schoolchildren in Tudor costume)

At the Sulgrave Parish Council Meeting on Thursday 2nd September, Chairman Graham Roberts presented a letter from Enertrag UK Ltd., the company which had proposed to erect nine 410 feet high wind turbines in the countryside between the village and nearby Weston. After a period of restructuring, and the re-examination of its projects, the company has decided not to proceed with the Sulgrave/Weston Wind Farm scheme (known as the “Weston” wind farm on its website). The reasons given were that the scheme was now considered to be unlikely to receive the necessary planning permission because of issues of cultural heritage and landscape.

The Chairman congratulated members of the Sulgrave and Weston Windfarm Action Group for their year long campaign to prevent this massive development in the unspoilt countryside surrounding the village.

However, the meeting was reminded that the proposal by Broadview Energy Ltd to construct five turbines in the countryside to the south of Sulgrave was very much alive. These would also be 410 feet high and would dominate the village and its immediately surrounding countryside. A planning application is expected later this month. The Parish Council will be consulted on this application and will be meeting to consider its response. The public will be kept fully informed.

See here for details of the Sulgrave/Weston scheme which has been abandoned.

Visit the website of the Helmdon Stuchbury and Greatworth Windfarm Action Group (HSGWAG) for details of the Broadgate Scheme, known as the Spring Farm Ridge Renewable Energy Project.

Thanks to the efforts of Sue Pearce in trimming back the lower branches of an overhanging yew tree, the graves of John Percival and Winifred Hilda Brown and Ernest Charles and Edith and Archie Parker on the north side of the church, can now be plainly seen.

Zero tolerance on alcohol related offending, is the strong message from Northamptonshire Police, as the force launches its hard-hitting countywide marketing campaign to tackling alcohol fuelled violence, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

As part of Operation Nightsafe and in support of the wider multi-agency county alcohol harm reduction strategy, Northamptonshire Police have launched a campaign to raise awareness amongst drinkers that officers are clamping down on violence, disorder and underage drinking.

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OX-EYE DAISY (leucanthemum vulgare)

Also known as marguerite, moon daisy or, in the north of England, dog daisy, this is a plant of old unsprayed hay meadows or, more likely nowadays, of waysides and road verges. The leaves are variable; the lower ones usually rounded, the upper ones narrower and toothed, clasping the stem. The large daisy flowers are borne singly. The rays (petals) are white, and the central disc florets are yellow. Ox-eye daisy is often included in wildflower sowings in meadows or along motorway verges.

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