THE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

BURLEY GATE . FELTON . . . . . Summer Harvest Time

JULY - AUGUST 2021 Letter from the Editor

One of the first things we learn as small children, and in turn teach the next generation, is about sharing. That is “no, I can’t have everything I want, because other people want and need things too”. Have you noticed how often small children confuse the words “need” and want”? – “I need a sweet!” The confusion is not surprising when we remember how frequently we interchange the words ourselves – “do you want / need a wee?!” (not the same things at all, when the child leaves it until the very last second and rushes off!). This confusion seems to permeate much adult thinking as well, and has now become clearly at the forefront of our current situations in several respects. Take Covid for example: (sorry, I know we would rather not, but it has to be addressed). This is one thing that we certainly don’t want to share, but since it’s here and already too well shared, the question arises about vaccination. As one of the richest countries in the world, and having bought and ordered more than enough vaccine for ourselves, should we use up our current supplies to protect younger age groups, or donate at least some to the very poor countries where only a handful of people have received the vaccine, not even including all their health care workers. Either way will help to protect the world in the longer term, but it could take years and, as we are constantly reminded, “nobody is safe until everyone is safe”. So this is about sharing the available stocks of vaccine: what do we need and what do we want? Another issue is also currently very topical – that of climate change and, completely connected, land use. We are very lucky that the land in this country, and of course locally too, is highly productive, but because it’s such an asset, so desirable, everyone wants some. Or should that be needs some? It’s in great demand because we have so many people, all with different wants and needs. We need land for crop and animal farming to feed out population, which in turn determines our choices of what to buy and eat (eg local or mass produced?); for housing (large “executive” or smaller “affordable”?); for travel (motorways, railways or airports?); for leisure (parks, golf courses or swimming pools?), and many others. We can’t fit them all in! Some of these are national decisions, which we may or may not agree with but can only really influence at elections. But there are other choices that we can make ourselves, especially in our own localities, about sharing our wonderful asset of land with the wildlife around us. My granddaughter has been “educating” me about the plants I need in the garden to sustain the bees, who have been suffering badly, and I was pleased to find that we have 90% of the recommended plants already. The hedgerows also contribute a lot, as well as acting as a haven for animals and birds. I love sharing my space with them, and can get quite diverted from writing this Letter by watching them! A final thought on sharing: here I have shared several thoughts with you, for good or ill, and now it’s your turn. Please don’t leave it to someone else, but send a Letter TO the Editor to share your thoughts with us all. Take care, stay safe and keep well. Judy Debenham. [email protected], 01432 820124 2 Apologies It seems that I had a bit of a brainstorm when preparing the May-June Newsletter, resulting in 2 errors. So my sincere apologies: firstly, especially to Much Cowarne residents, for completely omitting the Much Cowarne Church News, carefully prepared as usual by Jill Cooksley; secondly, to Carly Roper, for wrongly identifying her photo of Brockhampton as Brockington. Thank you to the sharp-eyed readers who spotted these errors and contacted me. Editor

3 Thanks to David Bayliss for supplying the dingbats 4 5 Ullingswick 100+ Club Hello all our kind Members of the 100 Club, and any others who would like to join: Here are the last two Draws of this Season: May 2021 June 2021 £20 D & R Ellis (26) £20 Ron Powell (100) £10 Laura (c/o Diana Kelly) (85) £10 Barbara Garrett (83) £5 The Allaways (111) £5 William Pickard (109) It is now nearly time to collect the subs for the next season so if you feel like parting with £12 any time from now do please give it to Sue Wright, Helen Spencer or myself, and if not we will come round to collect when we can. And here’s hoping you are lucky. The church needs the funds more than ever with ongoing work being carried out on the exterior. The gutters are looking great, pointing has been carried out, and new coping stones will soon be in place when they have arrived from the quarry. Do come and have a look. The church is open too if you would like a quiet place to visit. Sally and Penny Mess do a fantastic job of looking after the churchyard. We hope to be able to have some other fund-raising events, social distancing permitting, later in the year. Best wishes and thank you, Susan Dalton

St Luke’s Church Ullingswick Services for July & August 2021 All Welcome

2021 Service First reading Reader * 4th July 10.00am Morning Service 2 Corinthians 12 vs 2-10 D Kelly 18th July 08.30am Holy Communion Ephesians 2 . Vs 11 to end S.Wright 1st August 10.00am Morning Service Ephesians 4 .Vs 1-16 S Mess 15th August 08.30am Holy Communion Galatians 4 Vs 4-7 A. Gardinar 29th August 10.00am Group Benefice Service - details yet to be advised

In addition services of Morning Prayer will be broadcast at 10.00am Via Zoom, on the following dates :- July 4th 11th 18th 25th August 1st 8th 15th 22nd We would ask that all visitors conform to Government guidelines regarding the Covid 19 pandemic, for your protection and that of others. The Church has been specially cleaned and selected items removed to help ensure your protection. Services may be subject to change please view Parish and Church notice boards or contact the Rector on Tel: 01885 482737 Details regarding church services and events can also be found at www.achurchnearyou.com/ullingswick-st-luke

*Readers - If anyone is unable to read on the day listed, please arrange a swap direct with someone else on the list and inform the Church Warden 4 5 6 7 Burley Gate CE Primary School

Burley Gate C E Primary School is very pleased to be opening a nursery class in September for children aged 2-4yrs old. This will mean that once again our local community will have access to nursery provision based at Burley Gate. The Diocese of Multi-Academy Trust, which the school is a part of, has taken ownership of the log cabin, a wonderful purpose-built facility both inside and out. The school has recommissioned the building and, with the help of the local community, work has begun on the grounds so it is ready to welcome our first children in September. The School’s Early Years Teacher will oversee the work of the nursery, and we are pleased to have appointed two experienced and enthusiastic members of staff. Miss Emma Cooke, will be joining us from Bodenham, to be the Nursery Supervisor. We are delighted that she will be joined by Miss Heather Watkins, from Bright Emma Cook and Heather Watkins, our new Nursery Members of Staff Sparks in Hereford, who is a former pupil. A ‘Drop In’ Open Afternoon will be held on Wednesday 14 July between 2.30 pm until 4.00 pm. Everyone is welcome to join in. If you would further information with regards to a place in September for your child, please contact the School Office - Tel No. 01432 820367 or email [email protected]

Burley Gate Village Hall

Plans are being advanced to renovate the small village hall, the entrance lobby and hopefully the front doors - once we can get tradesmen to answer all our queries! The renovation of the small hall with the same acoustic baffles as the main hall we aim to complete by the end of July using grant money. Richard Leitch is leading on this project for us. As part of this we would like to thank volunteers Jill Cooksley and Annie Harding for their work on sewing new curtains using the same material as in the main hall. We hope all this work will refresh the hall. Leon Dodds, our Treasurer, is now moving house down to Sussex, so we would like to thank him for the work he has done keeping our finances under control for the past few years. The 100+ Club is now being compiled - an even worse and more disruptive year of collecting in person the cheques and cash has delayed this due to the lockdown. We hope to do the first draw in July. We are now URGENTLY looking for volunteers to help us out in any shape or form, and this may an hour here, an hour there, or longer. Giles Blackmore 7 Over the Burley Gate

‘My rubbish rant continues’. ‘Why’s that?’ ‘Well look at the photo! A volunteer litter picker told me they were considering stamping your car number plate on your take-away in the UK.’ ‘That’s not a bad idea, might pick up a few stolen cars into the bargain.’ ‘Last month the volunteer filled 400 bin bags of rubbish from around Asda’s Hereford car park.’ ‘I reckon the culprits should be made to do community litter picking for a month or two or six……..’

‘I notice has some new white gates to remind folk it’s a 30mph area.’ ‘Ah, but we have one whacking big gate on the roundabout.’ ‘Yes, but why not white gates so drivers know they are approaching a village – after all the hint is in the name!’

‘You know how people wax eloquently about wonderful fresh country air?’ ‘They should try opening their windows just as the muck-spreader has covered the fields.’ ‘The joys of fresh country living with a lung full of manure!’

‘It’s a funny thing, but whenever I pop into the Community Shop on a Tuesday they begin to chant “Two Tins Tuesday”.’ ‘Oh, so that reminds you to buy some things for the Food Bank collection at “Marigolds”?’ ‘Quite, and of course it’s good business for the shop, so it’s a win-win all round.’

‘Early one spring morning I was walking down the A465 to the Ocle turn off, when high on a wire above, and right in the middle of the road, a tiny goldfinch chatted at such a volume even the noisy speeding cars couldn’t compete with his cheerfulness.’ ‘That’s until his little lungs get clogged up with car fumes.’ ‘But wait until 2030 and the E car……’

Audrey Nunn email: [email protected] or Tel. 820436 and leave a message.

8

Stoke Lacy PCC Village Fete

Saturday 14th August 2.30pm

New Location Stoke Lacy Village Hall

Plants Stalls Small Produce Competition Cream Teas Games

9 Burley Gate Community Shop and Post Office

Most of our readers will know us by now as a small local Community Shop and Post Office located in the car park at Burley Gate Village Hall. The shop is run by a friendly team of volunteers with Phil and Lisa running the Post Office. The Shop and Post Office currently close at 1pm Monday to Friday with weekend opening unchanged. We will endeavour to maintain these hours dependent on the availability of volunteers and staff, and may need to adjust our opening times at short notice. There are no plans at present to change the opening hours. We get deliveries of our staples including newspapers and magazines from Smiths News, milk and cream from Cotteswold Dairy, local eggs from Judy and John Orgee, ham, bacon and cheese from Willersey Provisions, ice cream from Bennetts and honey from Dave and Sue Garrett at Ullingswick. Our volunteers collect bread from Lamings Bakery Wednesday to Saturday, and bread is also available on Tuesdays. Fiona from Kwicksnax supplies us with white and wholemeal rolls with a variety of fillings throughout the week. Shirley Breese from Baddy Marsh Farm brings beautiful posies and bunches of flowers, vegetable and flower plants and seasonal, freshly harvested veg and salad crops. Emma from Farmhouse Bakes in Stoke Lacy continues to tempt us with her wide range of deliciously decadent home-made brownies. Summer is really here with strawberries from the Strawberry Stop, delicious with cream or ice cream or both! The first cherries from Lower Hope are eagerly anticipated and then there will be currants and plums, and so many more locally grown salads and fresh veg to look forward to. Getting your 5-a-day could not be easier or more enjoyable. We are pleased to offer Tom Oliver`s world renowned cider and perry and Wye Valley Brewery beers, which could not be more local. Our stocks of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco, chocolate and other confectionery, biscuits and dry and tinned goods continue to be regularly replenished. The stationery section and greeting card sections, expertly curated by Barry Lawrence, furnish many of your day to day needs with envelopes, `jiffy` bags, pens, pencils, adhesive tape, string, glue sticks and much more besides. Our greetings card range now includes examples from Sue Podbery, Anna, Cara Williams and Araminta, in addition to Archie Miles’ beautiful photographic range. Together with the general cards there is something to suit every occasion. Priory Cleaners have resumed collecting/delivering on TUESDAYS, so please bring items for dry cleaning or laundering on a MONDAY. 10 Post Office Our PO section provides many of the services available on the High Street. Our most popular are: MAILINGS - post your letters and parcels, home or abroad. For urgent mail use our Special Delivery before 1pm next day, our tracked and signed for International Post and Parcelforce 24/48 for those heavier parcels. We also process Catalogue returns that are pre-paid Royal Mail. BANKING - With the closure of many of our High Street banks and ATMs why not pay in cheques and cash with us via your bank card or paying in slip? Cash deposits and withdrawals are available with all major banks, and with all major bank cards. DVLA - Tax or SORN your car here. UTILITY PAYMENTS - Pay your Water Rates, Council Tax, Electric, Gas, Telephone etc. CURRENCY - Currencies are no longer available in branch but can be ordered online at postoffice.co.uk for secure next day delivery to branch (ordered before midday). Mobile phone top-ups, fishing licences and various other goods and services. DROP AND GO. Are you regularly sending mail but don`t have time to wait in the Post Office for it to be processed? Then why not sign up for Drop and Go. An account can be opened with us or online at www.postoffice.co.uk/dropandgo You can then bring your mail to us and we do the rest. See the Post office staff for further details. (The Post Office is closed on Bank Holidays).

Opening Hours Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday SHOP 8:00 – 1:00 8:00 – 1:00 8:00 – 1:00 8:00 – 1:00 8:00 – 1:00 8:30 – 12:30 8:30 – 10:30 POST OFFICE 9:00 – 1:00 9:00 – 1:00 9:00 – 1:00 9:00 – 1:00 9:00 – 1:00 9:00 – 12:30 Closed There are no plans at present to change the opening hours. Telephone 01432 820804 Our small band of dedicated volunteers and staff keep the shop open seven days a week. This entails collecting bread at 7am from Lamings, assembling and preparing the newspaper and bread orders, ordering from our suppliers, shopping, replenishing the shelves, cleaning and much more besides serving behind the counter. Our thanks as always go to them and to our suppliers and their staff who work so hard to help keep us stocked. We are pleased to welcome new friends from the Bodenham area who have migrated to us following Roland Hunt`s retirement and closure of Bodenham Post Office. Many describe themselves as `Bodenham Refugees`, we hope they will soon feel at home in our shop. We send our best Whatever is Linda doing? wishes to Roland for a long and happy retirement. Lisa puts pictures of new stock and up to date shop and Post Office information on the Burley Gate Community Shop Facebook page. It is well worth a look, or even better pop into the shop and see for yourselves. Once again we send our best wishes and thank you for your continued support, patience and good humour as we look forward to the summer season. The Shop Committee: Ruth Jones, Chair - Ron Powell, Treasurer, Postmaster, Accountant Christine Hooper, Secretary - Linda Perry, Shop Coordinator Barry Lawrence, Minutes Secretary The Community Shop and Post Office team 10 11 Burley Gate Community Shop And Post Office Staying Covid 19 Secure: Update

Now that the tremendous COVID vaccination programme is forging ahead with so many people protected from serious illness and hospitalisation, it must be remembered that we can each still contract the virus and pass it onto others. The welcome relaxation of some of the restrictions means that folk are able to travel further afield and associate with larger groups of people. This inevitably increases the risk of infection, even without the complication of new variants. Here at the Shop and Post Office we take minimising the risk of Covid infection to ourselves and our customers extremely seriously. Even if face coverings and social distancing rules are relaxed the shop is a confined space so please continue to follow the HANDS FACE SPACE rules which currently apply. The assumption of many is that as they have had their two jabs they no longer need to take precautions. This could not be farther from the truth. It is even more important that everyone is aware of the risks and shows consideration to others. The current Government guidelines mean we have a cleansing and sanitising regime in place, and have a maximum of TWO CUSTOMERS in the shop at any one time to help maintain social distancing. Everyone coming into the shop must wear a face covering which covers the nose and mouth. If you are unable to wear a face covering, wait by the door and we will come to you. Please use the hand sanitiser provided and respect social distancing.

PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THE SHOP IF: 1. YOU HAVE COVID SYMPTOMS. 2. ARE AWAITING A TEST OR RESULTS OF A TEST. 3. ARE SELF ISOLATING. 4. ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH ANYONE WITH SYMPTOMS OR IS AWAITING A TEST OR THE RESULTS OF A TEST. 5. IF IN DOUBT DO NOT COME INTO THE SHOP. IF YOU NEED ADVICE PLEASE RING US (shop: 01432 820804)

The Volunteers and Staff are justifiably concerned that they would be at increased risk should the requirements for face covering and distancing in shops be relaxed. After all their dogged and selfless commitment for over a year it would be a tragedy if any one of them felt unable to continue due to this increased risk. Surely it is not too much to ask that face coverings continue to be worn for the short time our customers are in the shop to help protect us all on both sides of the counter. Please remember: IF ANY OF THE VOLUNTEERS OR POST OFFICE STAFF HAVE SYMPTOMS OR HAVE TO SELF ISOLATE WE COULD HAVE TO CLOSE FOR 10 DAYS.

Thank you everyone for helping to keep us all safe and well.

With best wishes from behind a mask, Linda Perry (Shop Co-ordinator)

12 Ocle Pychard Group Parish Council Chair Giles Blackmore Ocle Pychard Councillor VACANCY Ocle Pychard Vice-Chair Simon Wells Ullingswick Councillor Pauline Watkins Ocle Pychard Councillor Clare Edwards Felton Councillor Iain Collinson Felton Councillor Ruth Jones Ocle Pychard Ward Councillor Jonathan Lester Councillor Richard Leitch Ullingswick Parish Clerk Emma Thomas Councillor Paul Mess Ullingswick

As the government’s legislation allowing councils to meet remotely via video-conferencing expired on the 7th of May, we brought forward our Annual Parish Meeting and our monthly May meeting to the 6th, as many were still yet to have their vaccinations take effect. They were both short meetings (the Minutes are on the web site), with two main issues. The first was that, due to the lock down, we have spent less than expected which has allowed us to replenish reserves in line with our policy. The second was, we objected strongly to a retrospective planning application at 2 Orchard Cottages in Ocle Pychard. We also, as part of our objection, sent in a note about the need for the enforcement of planning laws, and there has been a surge in retrospective planning applications both in our parishes and across the county. This is unacceptable. The June meeting, held at the usual scheduled date/time (3rd Tuesday of every month at 7.30PM) was our first face to face meeting since March 2020, and we held to the OPGPC Council meeting 15/06/2021 social distancing rules. Again we had a retrospective planning application to deal with and again the issue of enforcement came up, which we urged the Ward Councillor to take up. With the new CEO of Hereford County Council now in place, this was being followed up already so we provided more evidence of shortcomings. The other key planning application is for nearly 100 acres of solar panels in the neighbouring parish of Withington, but we generally viewed that as having merit, with extra trees and hedges being put in, bird and bat boxes, plus grazing underneath probably, on class 3 land. We are now back to face to face meetings so we meet in July, take a break in August and come back in earnest in September. Hope you have a good summer and stay safe. Giles Blackmore, Chairman 12 13 St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Stoke Lacy Sidesmen/Refreshments, Readers, Prayers Year B

July 2021

Date/ Day Service Sidesmen/ Prayers Readers time Refreshments 7th Trinity 4 Songs of Praise with C Walters A Westwood 3.30pm afternoon tea 11th Trinity 5 Holy Communion T Lifely S McKeeman T Lifely 10.30am C McNaught C McNaught 18th Trinity 6 Sung A Westwood BCP* A Westwood 6.30pm Evensong 25th Trinity 7 Holy Communion H Combe R Combe 10.30am B McKereth B McKereth

August 2021

1st Trinity 7 Songs of Praise with H Combe A Westwood H Combe 3.30pm afternoon tea 8th Trinity 8 Holy Communion C McNaught S McKeeman C McNaught 10.30am T Lifely T Lifely

15th Trinity 9 Sung D Boddington BCP* D Boddington 6.30pm Evensong M Boddington M Boddington 22nd Trinity 10 Holy Communion H Combe B Burnett H Combe 10.30am B McKereth B McKereth 29th Trinity 11 5th Sunday at St NO SERVICE AT 10.30am Peter’s STOKE LACY * BCP: Book of Common Prayer

Stoke Lacy 100 Club

May 2021 June 2021 1st Freddie Lewis £20 1st Phil Mackereth £20 2nd Nick Harvey £10 2nd Patrick Howells £10 3rd Sue Mckeeman £5 3rd Amanda Darby £5 Any enquiries, please ring Tina Lifely 01432 820154

14 J H Halling Carpets & Flooring 5a Old Road, Bromyard, HR7 4BQ Tel: 01885498367 - Mobile: 07539223727 www.bromyardcarpets.co.uk - Email: [email protected] Date/ Day Service Sidesmen/ Prayers Readers We can also be found on Facebook & Instagram time Refreshments 7th Trinity 4 Songs of Praise with C Walters A Westwood 3.30pm afternoon tea 11th Trinity 5 Holy Communion T Lifely S McKeeman T Lifely 10.30am C McNaught C McNaught 18th Trinity 6 Sung A Westwood BCP* A Westwood 6.30pm Evensong 25th Trinity 7 Holy Communion H Combe R Combe 10.30am B McKereth B McKereth Now incorporating. House 2 Home @5a 1st Trinity 7 Songs of Praise with H Combe A Westwood H Combe In our carpet showroom 3.30pm afternoon tea Open to the Public Monday to Friday 9am until 4pm 8th Trinity 8 Holy Communion C McNaught S McKeeman C McNaught 10.30am T Lifely T Lifely

15th Trinity 9 Sung D Boddington BCP* D Boddington 6.30pm Evensong M Boddington M Boddington 22nd Trinity 10 Holy Communion H Combe B Burnett H Combe 10.30am B McKereth B McKereth 29th Trinity 11 5th Sunday at St NO SERVICE AT 10.30am Peter’s Bromyard STOKE LACY

Call in and browse our beautiful selection of home accessories and soft furnishings, including the Voyage collection and Florence & Annie handmade cushions and made to measure Blinds & Curtains. Covid restrictions apply, please wear a mask and adhere to social distancing where possible. 15 Our photographs

Thanks to the following for the lovely photographs for this issue: Phil Evans, for the cover “harvesting” picture; Wimpy Bennett, for “7 puppies”, “a puppy”, and “sunset from Ocle Mead”; Gerald Wells, for the cuckoo who flew in to his garden in Much Cowarne; Carly Roper, for “apple blossom”, “bluebell”, “red poppy” and “Kyre Hall”. Please keep them coming for the next issue!

16 Our photographs continued

17 St. Mary’s Church Much Cowarne

May is normally the month when we hold our Bring & Buy Plant Sale in the church; last year we were in lockdown and instead substituted a plant stall outside the gates of Panksbridge Farm, the home of Martin & Marlene Hewitt. As always and in hope of returning to normality, Marlene started planning and sowing in preparation for this year’s sale but by the spring further restrictions on socialising made it obvious that if there was to be a sale some rethinking was necessary. Martin and Marlene therefore decided that this year the sale would be held at Panksbridge in an open sided barn where the plants could be displayed and there was plenty of room and parking space for visitors. Unfortunately May 8th the morning of the sale, saw pouring rain but still volunteers came to help set up tables and put out the plants and by the afternoon the weather was better and from 2pm there was a steady stream of visitors. As always, there was a good variety of shrubs, perennial and annual flowers and vegetables for sale, all from Marlene and other local gardeners. We would like to thank Marlene and Martin and all those who helped them or came to buy, for making the sale possible and enabling a very welcome contribution of £1027 to church funds which have suffered so badly during the pandemic.

Another annual event at St Mary’s is the Spring Clean when volunteers undertake a more thorough clean than is possible at the monthly clean which is again done by volunteers on a rota basis. As can be seen from the photographs, cleaning the windows and reaching the multitude of spiders’ webs involved ingenuity but after two days of mopping, sweeping and polishing, the church was ready to greet the sunshine when it reopened for services at the beginning of June. The small band of ladies and gentlemen did a brilliant job and we thank them most sincerely.

Our regular pattern of services (Matins on the second Sunday of each month and Communion on the fourth Sunday) has now resumed and it is hoped that as regulations are eased, hopefully soon after the time of writing, we shall be able to sing inside church and even to enjoy coffee after the service. The church is also now open every day thanks to the efforts of those on the Key Rota and there is a permanent Book Sales Table in the church with provision for people to make a donation for any books they take. The Prayer Tree is still in the church and all requests for prayers are collected and prayers offered, as requested, at regular intervals. Anyone who wishes prayers to be said for someone is asked to write the request on one of the papers provided and hang it on the tree.

18 Although it is unlikely that we shall be able to hold any large social or fundraising events this year there are 3 events for your diaries:

Coffee Morning on Saturday July 3rd from 10.00am to 12 noon this will hopefully be a chance to celebrate the end of most of the restrictions necessitated by Covid. Please come and join us and enjoy our homemade cakes and a cup of coffee or tea or a cold drink, and take the chance to mix and talk with other parishioners. This will also be a chance to browse the Books Sales Table. Pilgrimage From Stanford Bishop To Ocle Church on Saturday July 25th. The official opening of the Camino Frome Valley (see elsewhere in this Newsletter) on the Feast of St James will be marked by a pilgrimage from St James Church at Stanford Bishop to Ocle Church. Participants will be able to collect a “credencial” at Stanford Bishop and have it stamped at all churches along the route. Services will be held at three of the churches, the final being at Much Cowarne at 11.30am rather than our usual time of 10.00am.

Church Crawl on Saturday September 25th. This is organised by the Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust for their members, this year it will start and finish at Much Cowarne where we shall be providing refreshments. Whilst the actual Crawl is mainly for members/ supporters, any parishioners who wish to hear about the history of St Mary’s Much Cowarne are welcome to come along to the church.

All these occasions will require refreshments and the Churchwardens would be pleased to hear from anyone who is willing to provide cakes or biscuits for any of them. Jill Cooksley

Much Cowarne Plant Sale May 2021

Stoke Lacy Friendship Club

If the Covid plan doesn’t change, we hope to start meeting again on Tuesday 17th August, at 10.30am in Stoke Lacy Village Hall. We look forward to seeing old friends and any other senior citizens who care to look us up. Margaret Woodley, tel. 01432 820270

19 Sheep Washing in Herefordshire?

Does any reader have memories of or family stories about sheep washing in Herefordshire. Not sheep dipping - sheep washing. This story starts just outside our parish of Ullingswick where I first heard about the washing pool used for laundry in village. It is part of the pretty little brook in that village and is believed to date back to Roman times. I was intrigued, so I began googling for more information and I found one reference in The Herefordshire Village Book to the pool having stone washboards. Other than that there were only a couple of references in estate agents details or holiday let adverts, which simply mentioned the nearby ‘washing pool’ in passing. However, every time I googled ‘washing pool Pencombe’, references to other washing pools all over Britain appeared and every one of them related to washing sheep, not laundry. For centuries, apparently, it was common practice to wash sheep before shearing and in many places it appears to have become a fun spectacle for all the locals, if not for the sheep washers. I’m not saying the Pencombe pool was never used for laundry but the fact that almost every online reference to “washing pool” that I found relates to sheep and not laundry made me wonder if it could also have been used for sheepwashing. According to an essay on sheep washes in Gloucestershire, which were built of stone, the practice largely died out by the 1920s although it continued in some places until the end of the Second World War. It seemed to me, from my googling, that in some places in the UK, the practice had disappeared from living memory, but when the subject came up, members of local farming families began to piece together what they had heard or remembered. I found nothing online about sheepwashing in Herefordshire. I began asking around to see if any farmers remembered sheep washing in the area but got nowhere until a Stoke Lacy resident, born in 1940 and whose father had been a farm labourer, recalled sheep washing at Kings Pyon. Then I asked Bromyard History Society which found some photos of sheepwashing in the archive and tracked down the following information thanks to their members:- “Washcroft Farm on the edge of Bromyard was a place where sheep washing occurred. The farm is mentioned as being there in 1285 when there were a dozen farmsteads, now reduced to four or five. There is a pool there which has recently been cleared by conservators. It was common practice before the twentieth century to wash sheep to make shearing easier. It died out before the Great War. Sheep were washed just before shearing (usually two weeks before) so that the wool would be clean to sell. Although the wool would not weigh as much, more money was paid for it because it was clean. There was a sheep wash in the brook on between the Brook House and what was The Mason’s Arms.” Sometimes history can be right under our noses but those who were there might not realise it is being forgotten simply because it has never come up in conversation. Perhaps sheep washing has been forgotten by the wider rural public in Herefordshire, partly because sheep dipping took over. Maybe the older generations of the farming community weren’t about to remind anybody because they were glad to see the back of it, even if everybody else enjoyed watching them get soaked and frozen once a year. My ideas of looking at the Pencombe washing pool with people who know about sheep washing were never realised because of lockdown. Then this year I wondered if there might be Community Newsletter readers out there who remember seeing it or heard their parents or grandparents talking about it and would like to share their stories. I hope so. Mary Ludden (Email: [email protected]) 20 Poetry Corner On Alfresco Drinking There’s a foreign body swimming in my tea, I think it may have winked at me, He don’t like I, I don’t like he, Be gone, be gone away with thee! Thinks when weeding a vegetable bed in Pencombe God grant me the fortitude of Ground Elder, The tenacity of Bind Weed, Knowledge the depth of a dock root and the disposition of a buttercup! “God in his wisdom created the fly, but then forgot to tell us why!” (Edward Lear) I thought that maybe a farmer might quote: “God in his wisdom created the dock....the reason why? .... He clean forgot!” Anne Reece

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PENCOMBE UNDER FIVES PRE-SCHOOL Lower Hope Gardens We had a bittersweet garden opening on 23rd May. It was the first time we had opened to the public since September 2019, but followingBurley the recent Gate death of MrStorage Richards, the owner, it Burley Gate Storage OFSTED GOOD (MAY 2018) was a very poignant afternoon. The weather was against us but it was lovely to see people wandering round and enjoying We accept children 2 – 5 years old, term time, 9-3.30pm Are you short of space? Are you short of space? the garden and wildflower lake. Free funded places available for all children beginning Our Movingnext opening house? is planned for 4th July when the  Moving house? from the term after their third birthday. rhododendronsBuilding anwill extension? be over but the roses should be lovely.  Building an extension? Two year old funded places also available dependent  Garage overflowing?  Garage overflowing? Please keep an eye on the website or Facebook page for  Etc, etc, etc …  Etc, etc, etc … upon meeting certain criteria. up-to-date information. www.lowerhopegardens.co.uk Our pre-school is run by qualified, experienced and  Secure 20ft x 8ft storage containers  Secure 20ft x 8ft storage containers highly-dedicated staff who are fully committed to

providing excellent care and education.

Contact: Lizzie Davies on 01885 400 701

email: [email protected]

Website https://pencombe.hmfa.org.uk/pre-school

W Contact us to discuss your storage needs: Contact us to discuss your storage needs: e also run a baby & toddler group Weds 9.30 - 11.00 am. Mark 07855 406751 Mark 07855 406751

For more information please contact: [email protected] Alison 07815 069475 Alison 07815 069475 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 22 THE ALL NEW MULBERRY CAFÉ AT RADWAY BRIDGE GARDEN CENTRE Radway Bridge Garden Centre & Country Stores is very excited to have taken the café back under its wing. The Contemporary Mulberry café will offer delicious, fresh homemade cooking where most is made by our inhouse chefs, 7 days a week. Freshly prepared breakfasts and lunches, to cakes and scones, everything is made from scratch using the best of fresh local seasonal produce. We will specialise in delicious, rustic homemade food cooked well and with a simplicity that brings out all the natural flavours in fresh seasonal ingredients. We are going back to our traditional Sunday lunches. We are having informal talks with tea with horticultural enthusiasts throughout the year. Cookery demonstrations. Breakfasts and teas are returning, with Santa later in the year. The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed and informal, with free Wi-Fi. There is no need to book and you will be guaranteed a warm friendly welcome. We are really looking forward to welcoming you back to our Mulberry Cafe in 2021.

The Community Newsletter specifications (now hand delivered to over 700 households) Advertising rates 1/4 page (portrait) - £8 per issue 1/2 page (landscape) - £16 per issue Full page (portrait) - £32 per issue Line adverts can be now be taken: 20p per word, minimum £2 per advert; artwork not accepted. Telephone numbers eg 01234 567890 count as 2 words; company names eg Smith and Jones count as 2 words. Advertorials can be negotiated. Copy requirements, please supply news, events or features in an email to the Editor at jbgcommnews@ gmail.com by the copy submission dates below. Copy and advert submission dates September - October issue 2021 - Monday 16th August November - December - Monday 18th October January -February issue 2022 - Monday 13th December The Newsletters are hand delivered to over 700 households in 7 villages, around the first week of the month following the submission date. All items published in this Newsletter are the views of the individual contributors 23 The Frome Valley Group of Parishes July 2021 4th 11th 18th 25th

Much Cowarne 10.00am 11.30am Holy Matins TBA Communion SB Ocle Pychard 8.30am Holy Communion RA Trinity 5 Trinity 6 Trinity 7 St James Green Green Green Red 2 Samuel 5.1- 2 Samuel 6.1- 2 Samuel 7.1- Acts 11.27 - 5,9- 5,12b-19 14a 12.2 10 Psalm 24 Psalm 89.20-37 Psalm 126 Psalm 48 Mark 6.14-29 Mark 6.30- 2 Corinthians Mark 6.1-13 34,53-56 4.7-15 Matthew 20.20- 28

August 2021 1st 8th 15th 22nd 29th

Much Cowarne 10.00am 10.00am Holy 10.00am Matins TBA Communion Group Service SB SB Ocle Pychard 8.30am Holy Communion SB Trinity 9 Trinity 10 The Blessed Trinity 12 Trinity 13 Green Green Virgin Mary Green Green 2 Samuel 2 Samuel 18.5- White 1 Kings 8. 22- Song of 11.26 - 9,15,31-33 Isaiah 61.10,11 30,41- Solomon 2.8-13 12.13a Psalm 130 Psalm 45.10-17 43 Psalm 45.1-2,6- Psalm 51.1-13 John 6.35,41-51 Luke 1.46-55 Psalm 84 9* John 6.24-35 John 6.56-69 Mark 7.1- 8,14,15,21-23

Online Coffee Morning on zoom Our coffee mornings will continue on Wednesdays at 10:30 until we can hold one in person, just let me know if you would like to be added to the list as you can only log in with an invitation Steven Keep up to date by visiting our website http://www.fromevalleychurches.org.uk The Parish Office is currently open on Thursday mornings 10am to 12 midday for telephone calls only on 01885 490229 Outside these times and in case of emergency please contact Rev Steven Baggs 01885 490582 Rev Richard Allaway 07969 699270 24

Our church is now OPEN!

Please join us for our celebratory COFFEE MORNING Saturday 3 July 2021 10.00am – 12.30pm in St Mary’s Church Much Cowarne

Everyone welcome –have a chat over coffee/tea/cold drink and homemade cakes and browse the books for sale

25 A sea of plastic

It’s interesting to compare two cropped photos taken from the gate near Ocle Pychard church. The first was in July 2018 before the polytunnels. The second was in May 2021, in which the central hedge resembles weed floating on a sea of plastic. Alan Debenham

Are you unable to afford to buy food? Struggling to pay bills? In debt? Call for free, non-judgmental, confidential help from

Ring Allyson on 07942 672077 for the Food Bank or Helen on 07434 669103 for Money Advice or email [email protected] for more infor- mation or to volunteer or donate.

26 Ocle Pychard Ramblings

Greetings, What a glorious late May bank holiday we have had. After so many weeks in the wet, cold and gloom it has been wonderful. As I sit in the garden writing this article I can see house martins and swallows dipping and diving overhead hunting the myriad of insects that have hatched and taken to the air. Just in front of me two small blue butterflies are dancing their courtship display; what a joy! Everywhere the sounds of small birds, larger birds, pheasants and lambs permeate the atmosphere: there is an almost tangible feel of growing, greenness and new beginnings in all the trees, bushes, gardens and wild life; so many things going on in the countryside around us. Who said ”the countryside was peaceful and quiet?” Hopefully this wonderfully warm spell of good weather will continue as it lifts the spirits and revives the soul.

Over at Ocle Pychard Church there continues to be a Holy Communion Service at 8.30am on the first Sunday of every month and at the time of writing social distancing rules still apply. Let’s hope that the Covid 19 coronavirus and all its variants are kicked into touch very soon. In the meantime stay safe. Sally Ridler

in aid of the

We will be hosting a Tea (or coffee) & Cake event, subject to COVID guidelines, on Sunday 15th August in the garden of Hillcrest, Ullingswick, HR1 3JG. Everyone is welcome to join us anytime between 2pm & 5pm.

All donations received will be put towards the support we pay annually to the Community Heartbeat Trust, covering the cost of replacement pads / batteries / rescue kits, post rescue counselling, insurance, and much more, for a total of £135, payable in October each year.

Since the installation, there has been one instance when the defibrillator was quickly removed, and although thankfully not required, it brings home just how important, and essential, a defibrillator in our village is.

For more information please contact either Sue Wright on 01432 820127 or Helen Spencer on [email protected]

26 27

REDUCED

Beautiful and high-quality greeting cards featuring photos taken in and around St Luke’s Church, Ullingswick, available to purchase with all proceeds going to the church.

The photos, taken by a local photographer include a large photo on the front and three smaller photos on the back.

The cards, of two different designs, in colour and blank inside, are now 50p each or £2.00 for a pack of 5, including envelope(s), and can be purchased by contacting Helen Spencer ([email protected] / 07816 773735).

28 New Scrap Yard Servicing Bromyard and surrounding areas, Worcester, Tenbury Wells, Malvern, Droitwich and more. Bromyard

Buyers of all Scrap Metal Ferrous, Non Ferrous & Catalytic Converters

Best Prices Paid Cars, Iron, Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Copper, Stainless Steel, Lead, Batteries.

Recycling Metal & Waste Linton Trading Estate Worcester Road Open Mon-Fri 08:00-17:00 Bromyard Sat 08:00-13:00 HR7 4QT Tel: 01885 488448 www.recyclingmw.co.uk 29 ......

Welsh Coastal Cottage To Let – Sleeps 8/9 Situated in New Quay on the heritage coast between Cardigan and . The four bedroom house has been converted, so the living area is on the first floor to take advantage of the outstanding panoramic views and has been recently refurbished. The house is situated on a quiet no through road overlooking the sandy beaches and across Cardigan Bay towards Snowdonia. The house is ideally situated for bird watching, walking (the coastal path is at the end of the terrace road) and the beaches. You often see the local colony of bottle nose dolphins from the house windows. Boat trips for fishing or to see the dolphins and wildlife are available from the quay. Water sport hire and instruction are available in the harbour for all levels of experience. The usual seaside amenities including pubs, restaurants,cafes, fish and chips and shops are all within 3 minute walking distance. Available all year for weeks or short breaks. Cost per week from £350 to £750. Phone: 01432 820242 or 07889 106533 Email: [email protected] ...... 30

CAKE IN THE GARDEN EVENT 5/5/21

The Cake in the Garden event on 5th May 2021 went ahead, despite the earlier postponement and the Covid restrictions, and was a great success thanks to the faithfulness and generosity of all who attended.

The weather was largely kind but we did have to break out the umbrellas for a short time. Despite this, it was lovely to share the time and company of my neighbours from here in the village of Ullingswick.

I would like to thank each individual who attended for coming along and contributing to the success of this event. I held the event in memory of my mum who passed away on 14th March 2021 and I was touched by everyone’s kindness and generosity. Although it was difficult, I am glad that I was able to host it, and I hope we can do even better next year.

We raised a total of £240.19 for the ADRA annual appeal who will be carrying out projects in both the UK and abroad. They also respond to the many natural and manmade disasters that happen around the world, including the St Vincent volcano eruption and the Covid emergency in India. They provide survival kits, water purifying equipment and, in the case of India, an oxygen generation plant for one of the main hospitals. They are working on providing more of these plants in the coming months. For more information, visit their website at: https://adra.org.uk/our-work/

Helen Toney ...... Cider and perry that you can enjoy everyday or on special occasions

www.oliversciderandperry.co.uk OPEN Tel 07768 732026 CIDER & Open Saturdays 10:00am to 4.00pm PERRY for other times please phone ahead Please come, taste and buy at The Old Hop Kilns, Moorhouse Farm, Ocle Pychard, Herefordshire HR1 3QZ We are just off Burley Gate roundabout, where the A417 to Gloucester road intersects the A465 Hereford to Bromyard road. Take Gloucester exit off roundabout towards Newton crossroads and Oliver’s Cider and Perry is first on the right hand side. 31 Useful Contacts

EMERGENCY SERVICES Police, Fire, Ambulance: Emergencies only – 999 Crimestoppers – 0800 555111 Gas – 0800 111999 Electricity – 0800 328 1111 or New Number 105 Welsh Water – 0800 281432 Severn Trent Water – 0800 783 4444

HEALTHCARE NHS 111 – For urgent medical help that is not a 999 emergency, dial FREEPHONE 111 Hereford County Hospital, Union Walk, Hereford HR1 2ER – 01432 355444 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust Community Mental Health Service 25-27a St Owen Street, Hereford – 01432 265123 Herefordshire MIND, Ferncroft, 144 Road, Hereford – 01432 275380 St Michael’s Hospice, Bartestree, Hereford – 01432 851000 Ledbury Community Hospital – 01531 632488

HELP AND SUPPORT Police (for non-emergency help and advice) – 101 NSPCC Helpline (24 hour) – 0808 800 5000 Child Protection Helpline – 0800 800500 Childline (24 hours) – FREEPHONE 0800 1111 Samaritans, 44a Berrington Street, Hereford – 116123 (UK National Number) Herefordshire Carers Emergency Card Scheme – 01432 356068 Age UK – 01531 631280 Citizens Advice Bureau – 0344 826 9685 Action Fraud (for fraud and cyber crime) – actionfraud.police.co.uk – 0300 123 2040 (for non-emergencies) – 0300 333 3000 The Silver Line (for help, advice or protection for older people) – 0800 4 70 80 90 RSPCA (cruelty, neglect, concern 24 hours) – 0300 123 4999

Herefordshire Council: • Council Tax – 01432 260360 • Highways – 01432 261800 • Waste Management, Bin Collections & Recycling – 01432 260051 • Benefits – 01432 260333 • Environmental Health – 01432 261761 • Main Switchboard – 01432 260000

Social Services: • Adult Social Care: help and advice – 01432 260101 • If you have any concerns that a child might be at risk of harm or being harmed, contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01432 260800 (01905 768020 out of hours) 32