Selsley Community Group Newsletter – July 2018

Warning…..great events coming up!

Wildlife wonders.

Green Glows in the Churchyard! On these hot nights, from dusk onwards in the church yard, there is often more to see than you expect… eagle eyed nature loving villagers are looking for the glow worms.

First sightings go to Martin & Beverley who spotted the four glow worms on 24th June at 11.15 pm. The tally is now up to 8, though the recent verge cutting has disturbed one of their preferred spots.

Two pictures taken in Selsley grave yard on 28th June. The left image is what you would expect to see. The right image has received some lighting to highlight the little creature. Lights on happened at 22:28 BST

Has anyone seen more? The challenge is on… Warm, moonless nights are best. Please let us know at: [email protected] if you see any, or report sightings at: http://www.glowworms.org.uk/#Survey (online form or post). Please look, but don’t move them as they glow to attract a mate. Bats about the village… Around dusk, the bats are active from the grove to the church yard – so a trip to see the glow worms can also bring the delight of these little creatures flying around at great speed and chattering in the church belfry.

Pond visitors The harsh winter with frozen ponds killed some of our local newts, but not all and in between the growing vegetation, flowering water lilies, the little creatures are playing dead basking in the sun and coming up to the surface to release small bubbles of air. The odd frog, dragon fly and then a small still head resting above water appeared – a young grass snake – “ hissing Sid”. Though too small to eat the newts, when larger grass snakes feed on them. Grass snakes are not venomous, they are protected and are not meant to be handled. Their defence to predators is the release of a “noxious smell”.

A bit about native snakes There are 3 native species of snake in Britain: the Grass snake (Natrix natrix), the Adder (Viperus berus)and the Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca).

The grass snake is a good swimmer and often takes to the water. It is our longest snake, growing to a maximum of just over a metre. Varying in colour from grey-green to dark olive, it has a distinctive yellow and black collar around the neck, with black bars along the body. NB There is another kind of grass snake (Natrix helvetica) which has been reported in the UK see

Grass snake modelling apple blossom in a Selsley pond

And newts…. As for newts, there are 3 natives: Great Crested (Triturus cristatus), Smooth (Triturus vulgaris), and Palmate (Triturus helvetica).

The Great Crested is heavily built and up to 15 cm long. It has granular and warty looking skin that is dark brown or black with white spots. Bright orange underside with black blotches and a large jagged crest (not female) with a gap and silver stripe on the male during breeding.

The Smooth newt reaches about 10 cm, with a smooth olive green to brown skin covered in black spots. The belly is yellow to orange with small black spots, with a pale spotted throat. The male has a large wavy back crest during breeding.

The Palmate newt is similar to the Smooth in appearance and colour but a little smaller. Also, the throat is pink or white and spotless and a dark stripe runs through It’s that time of the year again…

In the too long grass if you look carefully our native protective orchids are flourishing again. If you would like to help with the conservation work on the common please contact John G for the Cotswold Wardens.

Post-exam hysteria results in boozy campfire parties in the quarries. Several bags of cans, litter and some little metal phials have been removed. These harmful items are sometimes picked up and eaten by grazing cows.

Information plaque for Selsley Common At the last Parish Council meeting, it was agreed that we should try to replace the information plaques on the Common as a step towards reducing damage to the Common and theft of orchids. Education is more effective than a ban.

The plaque which used to be installed by one of the car parks on the Common was removed for refurbishment. The “legs” remain as in the photo. This display gave general information about the flora & fauna of the Common (more information is available on our website.

A reminder… The SCG website is now up and running. It includes a calendar of future events, Selsley Cricket Club fixture list, Walking group, Book Club and the KSPC meeting dates. Take a look and send your suggestions to [email protected] http://selsleycommunitygroup.co.uk/

Road Safety – Selsley Cricket Field wall repair done - brilliantly. At last it has been repaired! After nearly 8 months of SCG and other local residents pressing County Council (GCC) for urgent action due to the road safety hazard for both vehicle drivers and pedestrians - it took the dry stone wall professionals only 2 days to repair it. Thank you for the brilliant job done.

Kings Stanley Parish Council Selsley Cricket Club – Fixtures are now on the Selsley Community Group Website . Knitting & Crotchet Club This has stopped, but if there is anyone who would like to take this for autumn & winter, please contact the community group.

Selsley Community Group Walks The Selsley Community Group Walking Group has been running for nearly 2 years, our aim is to take a monthly walk of about 2 hours in our beautiful local countryside. It is for anyone living in Selsley along with their friends, families and dogs.

We are a very friendly group, extremely lucky with the weather and have a great team who organise the routes. We regularly make the comment “We haven’t seen this part before!”

We always meet at the Bell Inn and have transport if required. Please come along and give it a try, any questions contact Bev Daniels on [email protected]

Thursday 19th July - & Common (including stop at Winstones ice cream) Meet Bell 10am transfer to Minchinhampton for 10.15 start at Market House. Walk 2 hours Easy/moderate walk

Tuesday 14th August - Selsley to Rodborough Manor Meet Bell 10am Walk 2+ hours Moderate some hills

Thursday 20th Sept - Uley Bury Evening walk Meet at Bell 6pm, car share to small car park near Uley Bury . Walk 1 hour Very easy walk, great views. Back to Bell for supper.

Wednesday 24th October - Arlingham & Overton Meet Bell 10am transfer to Arlingham near Red Lion for 10.30 start. Walk 2+ hours Gentle walk, not difficult.

Thursday 15th November - Meet Bell 10am transfer to Painswick Ramblers/Walkers car park for 10.30am start. Walk 2+ hours A couple of short steep parts

Friday 21st December - Along Canal to Lavender Bakery, Chalford Meet Bell 10.30am, car share to parking point along A419 (to be advised) to start 11am Walk 2 hours plus stop for lunch halfway at Lavender Bakery, Christmas Celebration. Flat canal walk, may be a little muddy

Any questions, please contact Bev Daniels - [email protected]

Coming up...... dates for your diary

July Glow worms – are out and visible on hot dark nights after about 10:30pm.

Sunday 8th July Selsley & Rodborough Cricket Club Annual Presidents Day Match. On our ground from 2 pm. It is a lovely spot for a picnic and the weather is usually wonderful for the Club’s big day. Bring your picnic and remember rugs and chairs. Everybody will be most welcome! Tea is at about 4pm.

Thursday 19th July - Walk - Minchinhampton & Common (including stop at Winstones ice cream) Meet at the Bell at 10am to transfer to Minchinhampton for 10.15 start at Market House. Walk 2 hours, easy/moderate walk. Saturday 29th July Selsley Cricket Club Annual Supper – Selsley Scout HQ @ 7pm – tickets sell out quickly so if you would like to join us for the evening please contact Sue or Nigel quickly!

August Tuesday 14th August, Walk - Selsley to Rodborough Manor Meet at the Bell at 10am. Walk 2+ hours, moderate some hills.

Saturday 18 August- SCG 3rd Annual Sausage & Cider Festival, including car boot sale, dog show and Wine stall. Gates open at 3pm- 7.30pm It’s a family event so children can enter free. Teas & coffees are available.

Event schedule Car boot sale set up at 2.30pm, (£5 per car on the day), entry charge for passengers.

Dog show at 3.30pm entry is 50p entrance per class (Prettiest bitch, most handsome dog, best retriever, dog that looks most like their owner, scruffiest dog, dog with the best trick).

Tickets & Pint pots… Tickets on the gate and from The Bell Inn (cash only) These is a refundable £2 deposit per pint pot if you return it .

More Trade stalls are welcome, the charge is £30, so please contact us below to arrange yours.

This is a successful event because of you our volunteers. Your village needs you! IF YOU CAN HELP OUT and with suggestions or ideas, help run a stall, assist on the gate or with parking, please contact [email protected]

Your help is much appreciated! Thank you and please pass the word around or invite as many people as possible come and make this a successful community event.

September

Thursday 20th Sept., Walk - Uley Bury Evening walk Meet at the Bell at 6pm, car share to small car park near Uley Bury . Walk 1 hour, very easy walk, great views. Back to the Bell for supper.

Reminder:- Next Committee Meeting: 9 July 2018 at 8pm – all welcome 3 September 2018 29 October 2018 AGM 19 November 2018

Copy deadline for the next issue 23rd August 2018. Editor Leonie Asquith.

* IF YOU SEE A PROBLEM - REPORT IT *

You can report directly to the following authorities: Potholes Pavements Drainage Street Lighting Public rights of way, other road hazards. Gloucester County Council Tel: 01452 425000 https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-rights-of-way/roads/report-it/

Environmental Health. Fly-tipping. Abandoned Vehicles. Litter. Dog bins. District Council Tel: 01453 766 321 https://www.stroud.gov.uk/report and Neighbourhood Warden: Andy Beamish Tel: 07811263075 [email protected]

If you identify other problems let our Road Safety Group know at [email protected]