Great Gaddesden Parish Newsletter

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Number 289 February 2021 From the Editor From the Vicar change, something that none of us much Welcome back, and welcome 2021! Dear Friends enjoy. There’s an important consultation going on It feels like a long time since I last wrote to We have many blessings and a great deal of around the Dacorum Local Plan to add up to you. Christmas has come and gone and freedom and we don’t like those aspects of 5500 houses to the parish (think of the Lockdown is once again with us. At present, our lives being taken from us, but one thing increased circulation!). It’s just like the powers- this time has given us is an opportunity to that-be to try to sneak a consultation in while even though we now have vaccines which will, in the course of time, enable us to get think, to revaluate, it is a time that need not be the Parish News is “off air” in January! (Just wasted. It is a time when we can allow God to kidding Terry and Sir Mike!). Fortunately the out and about, that time hasn’t come yet. th work in us, to speak to us and we have been deadline has been extended to the 28 February Firstly, I do wish you all a Happy New Year, and I’d encourage everyone to have a read of COVID VACCINATION given this time to listen and perhaps for the the centre 4 pages and then make your feelings Have you a covid vaccination certainly a better one than 2020. We hope and first time in a long time to actually hear God. known. pray for life to resume some sort of normal appointment, but are struggling order, but I suspect it will be a new normal. If we believe heaven to be a timeless place and My plea for an article on gardening last month to get there? that time itself has been invented by God for has been taken up by former Parish Councillor How long before we stop wearing face masks this life, to enable us to prepare for that future Malcolm Stodell. Not that I’ll get any gardening The parish council may be able if ever? Will the use of hand cleanser when life with him, then this life is about learning. done this weekend, the garden is currently to help with covid safe transport. entering any building remain part of the ‘new’ covered in a blanket of snow! normal? Will we live with this threat forever – The Peace of God which St Paul talks about The scheme is for vulnerable or or if not this one, some other (God forbid)? being‘beyond our understanding’ (Philippians 4: 7) elderly with no other means of comes from the God whom we do not fully I think few people will deny that this understand, by any means, and Paul reminds Richard Collis getting to your appointment. pandemic is a continuing wakeup call as to the us, we see only in part as in a mirror (1 Corinthians 07971 795571 [email protected] Contact the Parish Clerk on reality of life. We have been living in one 13: 12). 07512 192188 enormous bubble for years and now it has burst. It has left us with lives changed, it has So we need faith, we need to trust in a God [email protected] forced us to examine our lifestyles and the who is unchanging, ever loving and ever impact that has on ourselves, other people and caring. Words from Ecclesiastes remind us the world itself. that, ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven’, (Eccl 3: 1) and Jesus Many of our loved ones have sadly died or himself reminds ‘Do not let your hearts be Oil & Gas Boiler been made very ill by Covid-19, family life has troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14: Annual Service, been thrown into confusion as forced 1). Breakdown Repair separation from our nearest and dearest, both young and old has taken its toll. It is the unchanging aspects of the life that we & Commission know, which will form the basis of the new Through it all, by any method we can, the
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Competitive rates We may pray for ourselves and each other and I am yours in Christ, those whom love and care about, but what is £5million public liability insurance
much harder is to pray for those we’re not so keen on and for those who decide on aspects John. of our lives that we may not like. I’m thinking Dunstable 01582 660597 now about those in government, who I have Mobile 07786 936134 to believe are trying to do the best for the common good, yet are always under the cosh www.griffin-heating.co.uk of criticism.Ido notenvythemonebit.In the relatively small decisions I have had to make over the last year, I have to do a great deal of soul searching, I have had to adapt and 2 From the Vicar change, something that none of us much Dear Friends enjoy. It feels like a long time since I last wrote to We have many blessings and a great deal of you. Christmas has come and gone and freedom and we don’t like those aspects of Lockdown is once again with us. At present, our lives being taken from us, but one thing even though we now have vaccines which this time has given us is an opportunity to will, in the course of time, enable us to get think, to revaluate, it is a time that need not be out and about, that time hasn’t come yet. wasted. It is a time when we can allow God to work in us, to speak to us and we have been Firstly, I do wish you all a Happy New Year, given this time to listen and perhaps for the certainly a better one than 2020. We hope and first time in a long time to actually hear God. pray for life to resume some sort of normal order, but I suspect it will be a new normal. If we believe heaven to be a timeless place and that time itself has been invented by God for How long before we stop wearing face masks this life, to enable us to prepare for that future if ever? Will the use of hand cleanser when life with him, then this life is about learning. entering any building remain part of the ‘new’ normal? Will we live with this threat forever – The Peace of God which St Paul talks about or if not this one, some other (God forbid)? being‘beyond our understanding’ (Philippians 4: 7) comes from the God whom we do not fully I think few people will deny that this understand, by any means, and Paul reminds pandemic is a continuing wakeup call as to the us, we see only in part as in a mirror (1 Corinthians reality of life. We have been living in one 13: 12). enormous bubble for years and now it has burst. It has left us with lives changed, it has So we need faith, we need to trust in a God forced us to examine our lifestyles and the who is unchanging, ever loving and ever impact that has on ourselves, other people and caring. Words from Ecclesiastes remind us the world itself. that, ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven’, (Eccl 3: 1) and Jesus Many of our loved ones have sadly died or himself reminds ‘Do not let your hearts be been made very ill by Covid-19, family life has troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14: been thrown into confusion as forced 1). separation from our nearest and dearest, both young and old has taken its toll. It is the unchanging aspects of the life that we know, which will form the basis of the new Through it all, by any method we can, the normal which is yet to come and what are church has tried as best it can, to maintain those unchanging aspects of life?Faith, hope contact with people, of all ages with faith and and love, these three and the greatest of these is love. without, through online worship, podcasts, (1Cor 13:13),because they are core of the phone calls, financial help and of course by unchanging nature of the God beyond our prayer. understanding. We may pray for ourselves and each other and I am yours in Christ, those whom love and care about, but what is much harder is to pray for those we’re not so keen on and for those who decide on aspects John. of our lives that we may not like. I’m thinking now about those in government, who I have to believe are trying to do the best for the 100 Club winner for October common good, yet are always under the cosh Congratulations to of criticism.Ido notenvythemonebit.In the Wendy Spencer Wilson again! relatively small decisions I have had to make over the last year, I have to do a great deal of with her ticket No. 57. soul searching, I have had to adapt and 3 Census 2021 will provide a snapshot of modern society Lockdown Households across Great Gaddesden will part and we have made it easier for people to From Rev. Christine Taylor, Gaddesden Row Methodist Church soon be asked to take part in Census 2021. do so online on any device, with help and The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that paper questionnaires for those that need them.” Towards the end of February, we will be moving into Lent. This is the period for Chris�ans where gives us the most accurate estimate of all the we spend 40 days preparing ourselves to remember the death and celebrate the resurrec�on of people and households in England and Jesus at Easter. It’s also the �me when we remember how Jesus withdrew to the desert for 40 days Wales. It has been carried out every decade before his ministry. since 1801, with the exception of 1941. It will be the first run predominantly online, Most of us who are not key workers (and some of us who are) have been required to withdraw Census day will be on March 21, but with households receiving a letter with a from some parts of everyday life during this pandemic. Coffee shops, pubs, gyms, work, par�es, the households across the country will receive unique access code, allowing them to hairdressers/barbers, school, extended family, even food shopping have been removed or moved complete the questionnaire on their letters with online codes allowing them to take part from early March. online. The Bible makes it clear isola�on was not an easy �me for Jesus and it’s one of the many computers, phones or tablets. parts of his story that remind me that Jesus stands with all of us at this �me. “A successful census will ensure everyone The census will include questions about your from local government to charities can put sex, age, work, health, education, household Despite the fact it was difficult, in the Bible, the solitary �me was also vital for Jesus to know where services and funding in the places where they size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, his ministry would be headed next and gather strength for the road ahead. In this �me of enforced are most needed,” Iain Bell, deputy national there will be a question asking people wai�ng, maybe we too can find strength for the future when life seems to overwhelm us with its whether they have served in the armed statistician at the Office for National demands. In the future, a memory of this other life that circumstances have forced us into might Statistics, said. forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation send out streams that offer us a whole new way of being. The bedrock of new skills discovered “This could mean things like doctors’ and gender identity. might give us a whole new beginning, or perhaps, the simple gra�tude that things are back to surgeries, schools and new transport routes. “normal,” might help us to manage the difficul�es of everyday life. That’s why it is so important everyone takes Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away Whatever this season of wai�ng for the virus to lose its grip has brought us, we remember in the for 100 years, kept safe for future resurrec�on and in the first buds spreading across the gardens and the floor of the woods that new generations. life comes to the world in different and o�en unexpected ways, some�mes not the ways we ask for For more information, visit census.gov.uk. or expect, but it always arrives.

Prayer

Loving God, We pray for the life of the world. May the result of our wai�ng and watching be the reduc�on in numbers of covid un�l we are safe to meet again, rich and poor countries benefi�ng from scien�fic breakthroughs in health care, all children fed properly and all families given the dignity every human deserves, support for those who are always housebound or always struggling to access educa�on, appropriate recogni�on for those who provide essen�al services and care, care for our vulnerable and unique planet. Hear the prayer we offer through Jesus, Amen.

Contact Rev. Chris�ne Taylor on 07394 828853 [email protected] Or [email protected]

4 Lockdown

From Rev. Christine Taylor, Gaddesden Row Methodist Church

Towards the end of February, we will be moving into Lent. This is the period for Chris�ans where we spend 40 days preparing ourselves to remember the death and celebrate the resurrec�on of Jesus at Easter. It’s also the �me when we remember how Jesus withdrew to the desert for 40 days before his ministry.

Most of us who are not key workers (and some of us who are) have been required to withdraw from some parts of everyday life during this pandemic. Coffee shops, pubs, gyms, work, par�es, the hairdressers/barbers, school, extended family, even food shopping have been removed or moved online. The Bible makes it clear isola�on was not an easy �me for Jesus and it’s one of the many parts of his story that remind me that Jesus stands with all of us at this �me.

Despite the fact it was difficult, in the Bible, the solitary �me was also vital for Jesus to know where his ministry would be headed next and gather strength for the road ahead. In this �me of enforced wai�ng, maybe we too can find strength for the future when life seems to overwhelm us with its demands. In the future, a memory of this other life that circumstances have forced us into might send out streams that offer us a whole new way of being. The bedrock of new skills discovered might give us a whole new beginning, or perhaps, the simple gra�tude that things are back to “normal,” might help us to manage the difficul�es of everyday life.

Whatever this season of wai�ng for the virus to lose its grip has brought us, we remember in the resurrec�on and in the first buds spreading across the gardens and the floor of the woods that new life comes to the world in different and o�en unexpected ways, some�mes not the ways we ask for or expect, but it always arrives.

Prayer

Loving God, We pray for the life of the world. May the result of our wai�ng and watching be the reduc�on in numbers of covid un�l we are safe to meet again, rich and poor countries benefi�ng from scien�fic breakthroughs in health care, all children fed properly and all families given the dignity every human deserves, support for those who are always housebound or always struggling to access educa�on, appropriate recogni�on for those who provide essen�al services and care, care for our vulnerable and unique planet. Hear the prayer we offer through Jesus, Amen.

Contact Rev. Chris�ne Taylor on 07394 828853 Or [email protected]

5 6 What do the stars hold for you this month? Gaddesden Gandalf will tell all... Aries Leo Sagittarius March 21 – April 19 July 23 – August 22 November 22 – December 21 Aries is ruled by Mars. Mars is Leo is ruled by the sun. The Sagittarius is ruled by the God of War and the planet sun is the centre of our galaxy, Jupiter. Jupiter is the archetype of action and courage. Don't let and Leo loves to be the brilliant of expansion and growth. You life pass you by this year, only and shining centre of attention. may have won any races in 2020, because it’s in better shape than If you’re happy and you know it, but you’ve done amazingly well you are. You could do some clap your hands, especially if for someone who has their cardio to catch up or just wait till you’re standing behind your shoelaces tied together. In 2021, life goes jogging past, then trip it partner trying to work from try some Velcro trainers, but up. Life moves a lot slower when home. They’ll laugh and scream don't get ripped off. it has to ice its knee every hour. in delight. Capricorn You can relax the need for cardio Virgo December 22 – January 19 then. August 23 – September 22 Capricorn is ruled by Taurus Virgo is ruled by Saturn. Saturn is the planet of April 20 – May 20 Mercury. While Mercury also responsibility. Decide that 2021 Taurus is ruled by rules Gemini, you need to be will be the year to take care of Venus. You’ll be a Scrooge this smarter than Gemini to get the your loved ones. Visit the ones year. You remember that all the ahead in 2021. Your chances of you can tolerate. Text the others cholesterol build up from all promotion will be greatly and feel warm inside that you those mince pies, turkey dinners, improved if you mention your havedoneyourbit. treats and left overs. Perhaps boss looks like a Hollywood star. Aquarius 2021 should be your year of the Stop yourself before saying January 20 – February 18 rice cake. Shrek. Keep biting that tongue, Aquarius is ruled by Gemini and the pay rise will come. Uranus. Uranus is the rebel. May 21 – June 20 Libra Forget hiding behind the scenes. Gemini is ruled by September 23 – October 22 This year you will stand out more Mercury. Mercury is the planet Libra is ruled by Venus. But than a werewolf at a home of communication. Forget trying with a completely different waxing party. Part your hair on to actually converse with your expression from Taurus. You the left and let them all stare in teenagers this year. Have some have a shot at an exciting new wonder. It's going to be a good red wine and relax. If you want opportunity in 2021. For once it year apart from full moons. to connect with young folks, just doesn’t include delivering door to Pisces provide them with solid wi-fi. door and shouting from 2m February 19 – March 20 away. Break out your best face Pisces is ruled by Cancer mask, dress smart and wait for Neptune. Neptune is the planet June 21 – July 22 opportunity to knock. Cancer is ruled by the of psychic awareness. You want moon. The moon is Scorpio to listen to your higher self, but representative of our emotions. October 23 – November 21 your internal phone reception The secret to keeping emotions Scorpio is ruled by Pluto. Pluto isn't at it's best this year. Skip the on track is eating right. represents deep transformation. texts and pass a few notes (excluding veggies) Have the Winter is a time of reflection for between the halves of your brain. good sense not to wrinkle your you. Dreams can come true in Between them you can figure out nose when the cook tells you 2021, but only if you’re willing to how 2021 will go. what’s for dinner. Smile and eat. show up in your underwear in public. It’s best to stay on your Upsetting emotions can lead to GG cookware bouncing off your medication. head and take years off your lifespan.

7 The Parish Hall committee’s aim is to create from those very nice people in the Treasury. the best possible space to serve those around This will enable us to keep going through us. We understand that community spaces are these unprecedented times. There’s a free so important to all our health and well-being. booking for a Quiz Night waiting for you if This year has been difficult and bought with you read this Rishi! it, real anxieties in running a community This has allowed us to make headway into space. our wish-list of maintenance and We had to close our doors in March once the improvements. We have recently had the first lockdown began, and as restrictions floor sanded and re-varnished and have eased in the Summer, we were able to received good news on attaining a local grant partially open to some regular users who and help from the Parish Council, to help were able to risk assess their activities to meet with the repair to the perimeter fence, to the COVID guidelines and ensure the safety keep the premises and car park secure for all of the people using the hall. users. We also had to do our bit in making sure that We had our AGM in late November via notices were displayed correctly and hand Zoom, but despite the AGM being advertised sanitisers etc. were available for use and the in the local newsletter, there were no guests. hall was regularly cleaned and sanitised. We are here for the community and you are encouraged and welcome to attend next time. Unfortunately, further restrictions are now in place and the lockdown has sadly forced us Hopefully as the Spring approaches and to shut our doors once again. restrictions are lifted, we will start to open once again and provide a great space for the Obviously with few users, and bills still to community to use. We look forward to pay, we did have concerns around how long welcoming back our regular users and our finances would keep us going for. hopefully some new ones. There is a Thankfully, Rishi Sunak, although not a possibility of opening earlier than planned, regular user (although I will check on that), but that would probably be as a local came to our rescue and provided a grant vaccination centre. Watch this space.

8 Parish Hall The Parish Hall committee’s aim is to create from those very nice people in the Treasury. the best possible space to serve those around This will enable us to keep going through us. We understand that community spaces are these unprecedented times. There’s a free so important to all our health and well-being. booking for a Quiz Night waiting for you if This year has been difficult and bought with you read this Rishi! it, real anxieties in running a community This has allowed us to make headway into space. our wish-list of maintenance and We had to close our doors in March once the improvements. We have recently had the first lockdown began, and as restrictions floor sanded and re-varnished and have eased in the Summer, we were able to received good news on attaining a local grant partially open to some regular users who and help from the Parish Council, to help were able to risk assess their activities to meet with the repair to the perimeter fence, to the COVID guidelines and ensure the safety keep the premises and car park secure for all of the people using the hall. users. We also had to do our bit in making sure that We had our AGM in late November via notices were displayed correctly and hand Zoom, but despite the AGM being advertised sanitisers etc. were available for use and the in the local newsletter, there were no guests. hall was regularly cleaned and sanitised. We are here for the community and you are encouraged and welcome to attend next time. Unfortunately, further restrictions are now in place and the lockdown has sadly forced us Hopefully as the Spring approaches and to shut our doors once again. restrictions are lifted, we will start to open once again and provide a great space for the Obviously with few users, and bills still to community to use. We look forward to pay, we did have concerns around how long welcoming back our regular users and our finances would keep us going for. hopefully some new ones. There is a Thankfully, Rishi Sunak, although not a possibility of opening earlier than planned, regular user (although I will check on that), but that would probably be as a local came to our rescue and provided a grant vaccination centre. Watch this space.

9 Free atestes SM Row Electrical Engineer Estim ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

We try to keep an up to date list of birthdays. If anyone wants to add names to our list or knows DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT of people who have moved away and could perhaps have their names removed please contact March issue is The Editor. 01442 240515 th [email protected] 07836 252567 19 February Names are normally removed when the person [email protected] becomes 18, but we can include ‘special’ birthdays Anything after the deadline www.smrow.co.uk for any age. CANNOT be included

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10 We try to keep an up to date list of birthdays. If anyone wants to add names to our list or knows DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT of people who have moved away and could perhaps have their names removed please contact March issue is The Editor. th [email protected] 19 February Names are normally removed when the person becomes 18, but we can include ‘special’ birthdays Anything after the deadline for any age. CANNOT be included February LISA HANNABY NoraVelentzas 1st 2 HOLISTIC & SPIRITUAL THERAPIST SamGarratt 2nd17 07912 874214 Rahanni Celestial Healing BlueKempster 3rd11 Angelic Reiki, Crystal Healing Therapy th NOW SELLING DarcySealey 4 5 HEMPWORX www.moonflower-holistics.co.uk AaronTimlett 6th 13 facebook.com/moonflowerholistics MiaPugh 6th 2 CurtisFlorido 10th14 PETER D. HANNABY Painter and Decorator FreddieBlake 11th 16 Interior and Exterior work OwenChappell 12th13 undertaken HarrisonOliver 16th 12 For competitive quotations Please call Harrison Osborne 17th11 KianBolton 21st9 Mobile: 07765 250092 Home: 01442 288956 AndrewCope 28th 14 11 Great Gaddesden Goings On someone vulnerable who needs a hand John Lowrie during these dark days. Let us know and let's see what we can do. MORE COMPLAINTS! LAST TIME I WAS HERE THE EDITOR PRINTED Christmas is over and I'm back on my IT SO SMALL, PEOPLE COULDN'T wife's list of DIY jobs to keep me busy. READ IT. SO I'VE STARTED IN She asked how we can stop the stairs CAPITALS TO REMIND HIM. AllI from creaking when she walks up them. can say is that it wouldn't have happened Apparently weight watchers wasn't the if Mike Connell was still in charge. (just right answer. teasing Richard). I see I've missed out on the New Year Local Repair Specialists at your Doorstep! What a Christmas! Last minute changes honours list again. and cancellations. I've a friend in Kent IMPORTANT STUFF. Great who ordered an extra large turkey as it Gaddesden has about 450 homes. was a bargain. Then the family cancelled However, Dacorum are planning to make PAINTWORK SCRATCHES and he had enough turkey to feed the Great Gaddesden even Greater by lorry drivers on the M20. My nice wife building an extra 5000 homes. I'm not ALLOY WHEEL DAMAGE and I had a similar issue. We had to exaggerating. This is part of the struggle through ten Ferrero Rocher Dacorum local plan I've mentioned each. Ahhh well. I realised the other day previously. Funnily enough. The plan was BUMPER SCUFFS that this was the first Christmas that I'd released just after the last magazine and not heard Slade. I think it's because my the closing date for consultation is 28th MINOR DENTS bins have been out more than I have, so February, which is fast approaching. I it's hardly surprising. believe they were worried about the AND MORE.. The Christmas lights were good this year impact the parish magazine has. Andrew especially with Gadd Row putting on the Farrow, our council clerk has waded 12 Days of Christmas display organised through the massive amount of by Alex Holroyd and raised over £500! paperwork and done an excellent How good is that. My favourite though is summary for you. Look at the map. You the huge tree in the picture window of will see how large this is. This WILL the big barn house in Pipers Hill. Massive impact on your life. Have a look and see. thing. Always looks stunning. A bit of Andrew will let you know about a zoom tree envy there. Thanks to everyone who meeting on 3rd Feb and details of how decorated their homes for everyone else to join in and feedback to DBC. to enjoy. The village hall and parish There was an advert on the tellybox the council were able to give out some other day narrated by Iggy Pop. Basically Christmas presents to some of the elders the script said 'Some year: Working from in the community. Lisa Hale helped out home became sleeping in the office. by making some masks for the parcels. Shaking hands became odd. We followed Sue and Jim Robinson were Santa's government guidelines. Eat in-eat out. helpers and did the delivering. I'll be Stay in-breath out. We fought for toilet CALL US ON T. 07912 524640 honest. It was done in a rush, so we may rolls and sanitised our hands to last a have missed deserving folk. If you think lifetime. Our weddings were cancelled. BASED IN GADDESDEN ROW someone near you should get some Our graduations postponed' However, it special attention next Christmas, or even was the next line that shook me 'And 12 Great Gaddesden Goings On someone vulnerable who needs a hand John Lowrie during these dark days. Let us know and let's see what we can do. MORE COMPLAINTS! LAST TIME I WAS HERE THE EDITOR PRINTED Christmas is over and I'm back on my IT SO SMALL, PEOPLE COULDN'T wife's list of DIY jobs to keep me busy. READ IT. SO I'VE STARTED IN She asked how we can stop the stairs CAPITALS TO REMIND HIM. AllI from creaking when she walks up them. can say is that it wouldn't have happened Apparently weight watchers wasn't the if Mike Connell was still in charge. (just right answer. teasing Richard). I see I've missed out on the New Year What a Christmas! Last minute changes honours list again. and cancellations. I've a friend in Kent IMPORTANT STUFF. Great who ordered an extra large turkey as it Gaddesden has about 450 homes. was a bargain. Then the family cancelled However, Dacorum are planning to make and he had enough turkey to feed the Great Gaddesden even Greater by lorry drivers on the M20. My nice wife building an extra 5000 homes. I'm not and I had a similar issue. We had to exaggerating. This is part of the struggle through ten Ferrero Rocher Dacorum local plan I've mentioned each. Ahhh well. I realised the other day previously. Funnily enough. The plan was that this was the first Christmas that I'd released just after the last magazine and not heard Slade. I think it's because my the closing date for consultation is 28th bins have been out more than I have, so February, which is fast approaching. I it's hardly surprising. believe they were worried about the The Christmas lights were good this year impact the parish magazine has. Andrew especially with Gadd Row putting on the Farrow, our council clerk has waded 12 Days of Christmas display organised through the massive amount of by Alex Holroyd and raised over £500! paperwork and done an excellent How good is that. My favourite though is summary for you. Look at the map. You the huge tree in the picture window of will see how large this is. This WILL the big barn house in Pipers Hill. Massive impact on your life. Have a look and see. thing. Always looks stunning. A bit of Andrew will let you know about a zoom tree envy there. Thanks to everyone who meeting on 3rd Feb and details of how decorated their homes for everyone else to join in and feedback to DBC. to enjoy. The village hall and parish There was an advert on the tellybox the council were able to give out some other day narrated by Iggy Pop. Basically Christmas presents to some of the elders the script said 'Some year: Working from in the community. Lisa Hale helped out home became sleeping in the office. by making some masks for the parcels. Shaking hands became odd. We followed Sue and Jim Robinson were Santa's government guidelines. Eat in-eat out. helpers and did the delivering. I'll be Stay in-breath out. We fought for toilet honest. It was done in a rush, so we may rolls and sanitised our hands to last a have missed deserving folk. If you think lifetime. Our weddings were cancelled. someone near you should get some Our graduations postponed' However, it special attention next Christmas, or even was the next line that shook me 'And 13 we're just the lucky ones'...... Please Noake Mill Lane. There has also been a I've asked the nice people at Dacorum notice will be issued by the time this goes remember. We ARE the lucky ones. fish sighted in the Gade behind the tyre Borough Council (DBC) planning for to press. Covid, illness and the number 11 and exhaust garage. However, they are updates for ongoing jobs in the parish 6. There are a few other Cupid Green corporation bus can hit anyone, at any insignificant compared to George In no particular order applications going through the system at time. Please take care of yourself, your Morton who is starting to put up some 1. Bishops Tip fence. DBC has to wait the moment. The PC have objected and family, your community. Lets hope there lovely photos on Facebook. He had the and see if Mr Bishop decides to appeal are still in the planning officers hands. is a happy ending to this Covid story for pleasure of spotting a flock of over 90 against the committee decision against I attended a funeral the other day for a allof us. crossbills near Beechwood school. The the fence. He has till the middle of April lovely lady from Bridens Camp. In the second highest ever recorded in Herts. Speaking of the power of advertising. 2021. order of service was the following Wow. The Times of London did a lovely He has great white egret and two green 2. Buildings / business without thought. 'Grant me the serenity to accept article on a pleasant 5 mile walk in the woodpeckers recorded too. permission on The Croft.The the things I cannot change; the courage Gade Valley. Goodness. I can honestly Stop press: While you are out and about, application was withdrawn. DBC are still to change the things I can; and the say that this is probably the only time try and find some fairy doors hidden in in contact with the owners who are wisdom to know the difference'.... I just that Great Gaddesden was busier than the Great Gaddesden area! Sounds like having some additional surveys done. wanted to share that with you. Oxford Street. All we needed was a row fun. DBC are expecting a new application in John of empty red buses down Leighton Life of a parish councillor. You may feel Feb 2021. Buzzard Rd and shady blokes playing that parish councillors are all old retired 3. Solar Panels in The Windings. No 'find the lady' with three cards. It was a boring blokes and girls. But wait. This appeal against the enforcement notice perfect storm. The Times article, good item came up recently which cheered me "Received in a Christmas Card" has been received by DBC. Compliance walking weather, Christmas holidays, Tier up no end. The local allotments were Not everything is Cancelled due in May 2021. This date may slip 4 lockdown restrictions- so people discussing an on-site compostable toilet. Sunshine is not cancelled slightly, as the owners are asking to move wanted to see friends and relatives in the They were discussing the cost, possible Spring is not cancelled the panels within the residential part of open. About 50 cars were parked up in grants etc. It was going to go to a vote to Love is not cancelled their land. DBC are having a few delays Jockey End and it resulted in the grass the allotment plot holders. Then one of Relationships are not cancelled with this request. (This is the first I've paths being turned to mud. There were a our councillors said 'It will be interesting Imagination is not cancelled heard of this request. I'll find out more few comments on Facebook with some to see if they pass the motion'... It made Kindness is not cancelled when I can) people upset and others realising that 'we me smile anyway. Then back to the Conversation is not cancelled are the lucky ones' to live here. Since councillor life of frustration trying to get 4. Cupid Green mobile home. Hmmm. Hope is not cancelled then there has been an increase in things done with masses of red tape. We There are legal arguments on this one, walkers, but personally I don't think we still have a vacancy if you want to join which I'm happy to share if you are Praise be!! will face that perfect storm again. There the fun and frustration. interested. But basically we are stuck with are a few things we can do, if it gets busy it for now. The owner intends to replace I'm writing this just after 9pm on Jan like that, but let's wait and see. it with a barn at some point in the future. 21st. That's the 21st minute of the 21st However, there is going to be a dirty While you are out walking, do a bit of hour on 21st day of the 21st year of the great housing estate built on the other nature spotting. I've mentioned in the 21st century. It doesn't happen often. past about the wildlife I've seen, or not side of the hedge to this mobile home Planning. There has been very little seen. Eg the white pheasant. I'm only a one day. planning activity for the past few months. beginner at this stuff. I'd like to point out 5. Cupid Green experimental polytunnel The Hoo path saga has come up again. that I saw a cormorant in the Water with emergency shower. You have to This has been going on since 2017. The Meadows back in November. Definitely a smile. The planning inspectorate visited parish council are happy with the new cormorant! I mentioned my cormorant the site and saw a few pots on a table in application and have put no objections spot to a colleague while writing this the polytunnel / tent and was happy it in. We recognise that there is one local piece and I was told that the cormorant was being used for agricultural purposes. resident who is strongly opposed. We will frequents the old goldfish lakes up at DBC aren't so sure and an enforcement have to agree to disagree. 14 I've asked the nice people at Dacorum notice will be issued by the time this goes Borough Council (DBC) planning for to press. updates for ongoing jobs in the parish 6. There are a few other Cupid Green In no particular order applications going through the system at 1. Bishops Tip fence. DBC has to wait the moment. The PC have objected and and see if Mr Bishop decides to appeal are still in the planning officers hands. against the committee decision against I attended a funeral the other day for a the fence. He has till the middle of April lovely lady from Bridens Camp. In the 2021. order of service was the following 2. Buildings / business without thought. 'Grant me the serenity to accept permission on The Croft.The the things I cannot change; the courage application was withdrawn. DBC are still to change the things I can; and the in contact with the owners who are wisdom to know the difference'.... I just having some additional surveys done. wanted to share that with you. DBC are expecting a new application in John Feb 2021. 3. Solar Panels in The Windings. No appeal against the enforcement notice "Received in a Christmas Card" has been received by DBC. Compliance Not everything is Cancelled due in May 2021. This date may slip Sunshine is not cancelled slightly, as the owners are asking to move Spring is not cancelled the panels within the residential part of Love is not cancelled their land. DBC are having a few delays Relationships are not cancelled with this request. (This is the first I've Imagination is not cancelled heard of this request. I'll find out more Kindness is not cancelled when I can) Conversation is not cancelled 4. Cupid Green mobile home. Hmmm. Hope is not cancelled There are legal arguments on this one, which I'm happy to share if you are Praise be!! interested. But basically we are stuck with it for now. The owner intends to replace it with a barn at some point in the future. However, there is going to be a dirty To the Editor: great housing estate built on the other I would like to thank everyone who was out on side of the hedge to this mobile home the 29th December giving Brian a lovely send one day. off. He would have been happy and honoured 5. Cupid Green experimental polytunnel so many people thought of him. with emergency shower. You have to We would like to thank all for sending cards. smile. The planning inspectorate visited Best wishes to all and hoping it’s to be a better 2021! the site and saw a few pots on a table in the polytunnel / tent and was happy it From Muriel, Gary, Rhonda was being used for agricultural purposes. and Grandchildren Taylah, Archie, Charle, DBC aren't so sure and an enforcement Emily and Maddie.

15 Parish Council Meetings 2021 Currently on Zoom - see council website for the link

15th February 16th March 19th April 18th May 22nd June 19th July 21st September 18th October 15th November

All meetings commence at 8.00pm unless otherwise noted The Parish Council

Chair: Louise Wilson 01442 842498 Vice-Chair Kevin Fitzgerald 07484 851 266

Members: John Lowrie 07702 880 534 Tony Martin 07730 954 809 Ben Cosbie Ross 07813 842 229 Rod MacGillvray 07887 628 470 Clerk: Andrew Farrow 07512 192 188 [email protected] The Parish Council’s website is available at www.greatgaddesdenparishcouncil.org.uk Search Facebook for: “Great Gaddesden Parish Council”, “Great Gaddesden Community Group” and “Gaddesden Row the Village” Groups

If you’re worried about anything from dog-fowling, fly-tipping, litter, issues with pavements, pot holes etc. please contact one of the Parish Councillors or report it online. Search online for: “Dacorum report it” and look for the Dacorum website, or for highways issues search for: “Herts report it” and look for the Hertfordshire website.

Defibrillator Sites Bridens Camp: The cricket club pavilion Gaddesden Row: In the old phone box at junction of Bradden Lane Great Gaddesden: In the old phone box next to the school St Margaret’s:(currently not available) Water End:The Red Lion Pub, on the perimeter wall by the front entrance

16 DACORUM’S LOCAL PLAN - MAJOR DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSES AND A NEW ROAD IN THIS AREA: BE INFORMED AND HAVE YOUR SAY Consultation deadline 28th February What is it? Great Gaddesden Parish Council key concerns The Local Plan is Dacorum’s response to how it will meet Government targets on There are many thousands of pages in new housing over the next 17 years, its the Local Plan and its supporting plans for employment growth, and what documents. The Parish Council has roads, public transport, water, sewage, summarised what we believe are the key schools, healthcare, shops and other points for our community in consultation pieces of infrastructure are necessary to with Dacorum, other parish and town support them. councils, and various interested organisations, along with our views on It’s particularly important because under those issues. We’ve also indicated new Government proposals, once the where we think a particular issue fits Plan is adopted the volume of housing is best in what is otherwise a slightly pre-approved for development. confusing online consultation form What’s proposed? (details of how to submit your comments may be found at the end of this article. Dacorum is proposing a 25% increase in houses across the borough - that’s an 1.The Vision(Q1 of the consultation) extra 16,600 houses, built at a rate of Dacorum’s Vision emphasises nearly 1,000 houses per year on 2,000 environmental sustainability, but fails to acres of Green Belt, countryside and mention that the cost of delivering it is a urban green space. 25% increase in houses and population Development will be focused on the and theloss of 2,000 acres of Green Belt main towns and larger villages; hamlets and open spaces across the Borough. like Great Gaddesden, Bridens Camp The Vision highlights the potential for and Jockey End won’t be affected, but Hemel Garden Communities to deliver by far the single biggest housing “… green spaces …” but fails to mention development in the Plan will be an that this comes at the cost of over 900 extension of Hemel almost entirely on acres of Green Belt land. The irony of land currently in our parish. building on Green Belt to create less green space seems lost on the planners. The development, called the “Hemel Garden Communities”, will cover 17% of 2. Over-provision of housing(Q2 of the the parish and extend right to the edge consultation) of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding We accept that the country needs more Natural Beauty, all on Green Belt land. It houses, but this plan is based on figures will comprise 1,550 homes built over the that the government has now withdrawn next 17 years, and a further 4,000 because of the impact on Green Belt afterwards, together with schools and land in the south east. As a result, most shops. of the south east received lower housing The other development that may impact targets, but for some reason the revised us will be a new link road which is under target for Dacorum (and the rest of consideration from J8 on the M1 through Hertfordshire) increased despite the the new garden community to the B440 significant impact on Green Belt land. (Dagnall Road) to take traffic from Tring The Government’s most recent target is and Berkhamsted back and forth. based on estimates from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) from 2014. We 17 Great Gaddesden Parish Council DACORUM’S LOCAL PLAN - has Significant concerns with Dacorum’s draft Local Plan. We BE INFORMED AND HAVE YOUR SAY believe the underlying analysis to be flawed, inconsistent and lacking in any material detail on key issues such as the environment, transport and infrastructure. The Parish Council will object strongly to the proposed Plan and ask Dacorum to reconsider. Anyone is able to input to the consultation and we encourage you to do so. Continued from page 17 believe that the Local Plan should be based on the most recent ONS figures from 2018 which suggest a housing target for Dacorum of c. 500 houses pa; almost half the figure on which the Plan is based which wouldsignificantly reduce the need to build on Green Belt. Dacorum is challenging the Government target, butwith such a major uncertainty outstanding this undermines the validity of the draft Plan. 3. Impact on the Green Belt and the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB)(Q2 of the consultation) Although Dacorum states that a key objective is “minimising and managing the requirement for development on the Green Belt land and the impact on the Chilterns AONB”, the scale of the proposed housing development can only have asignificant and detrimental the likely impact of the coronavirus impact on the natural environment. Itis pandemic and recent changes to even possible that it might jeopardise planning which may free up more sites recent proposals to upgrade the AONB in town centres. to a National Park. Anything which reduces the potential 4. Underestimating brownfield potential impact on the Green Belt should be (Q2 of the consultation) explored exhaustively. Although the Plan includes some 5. Unsustainable development (Q3 of brownfield site development, the major the Consultation) housing developments are on the outskirts of Hemel, Berkhamsted and Focusing building on the outskirts of the Tring. The Plan fails to take into account main towns means that the 18 DACORUM’S LOCAL PLAN - CONSULTATION DEADLINE BE INFORMED AND HAVE YOUR SAY 28TH FEBRUARY

proposals”, but the development area allocated to the north of Hemel doesn’t have any existing transport infrastructure and the Plan doesn’t set out what would be put in place. Without a credible plan for sustainable transport, it is likely that the development will result in several thousand more cars on local roads. 6. More congestion on the roads (Q3 of the consultation) The Plan appears to involve restricting the width of the already congested A414 through Hemel to accommodate a new Mass Rapid Transit system to Harlow and other public transport initiatives. It suggests traffic coming from Tring and Berkhamsted would use the new link road in North Hemel from the Dagnall Rd (B440) to J8 on the M1 (marked as the dotted line on map) rather than go through Hemel using the A414. How is traffic from Tring and Berkhamsted supposed to access this new link road? To the north along Dagnall Rd is the single-lane, weight- restricted, bridge at Water End, already the site of frequent accidents. To the west is a road which passes through the middle of Potten End before descending into the narrow streets north of Berkhamsted, then via one of three single lane crossings of the railway, also the sites of frequent accidents, before inevitably arriving at the already highly developments are some distance from congested crossroads in the centre of existing transport infrastructure. The Berkhamsted. No improvements are Plan states that “the local and strategic proposed to existing roads and there road network [has] sufficient capacity isn’t a new link between the A41 and providing there is a greater uptake in Dagnall Rd. walking, cycling and passenger transport”, which is unlikely as the It appears that Hemel’s traffic problems proposed developments are so far from are to be exported to Water End, Great the existing rail and road transport hubs Gaddesden, Potten End and . Berkhamsted. This is unacceptable. The Plan goes on to say that “we are We are also concerned that the continuing to develop the transport increased population in north Hemel will 19 lead to the Dagnall Road being used as How can I make my opinion heard? a ‘rat-run’ to avoid congestion on the M1 You may support the Plan, or you may for journeys to the north. The pinch- object to it. Either way, we feel it is point at Water End Bridge along this crucial that you are aware of it and take route has already been mentioned and the opportunity to provide your input: It with the increased traffic will come is a consultation and Dacorum must increased noise, air pollution, litter and a take account of public views. greater risk to our cyclists and pedestrians in this key rural route across Comments should be submitted either: the AONB. • By post to: Strategic Planning, There is no assessment of how these Dacorum Borough Council, The Forum, existing routes will cope with Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, significantly increased traffic volumes. Hertfordshire, HP1 1DN, or 7. Digital connectivity(Q3 in the • By email to: consultation) [email protected], or The Plan includes a commitment to the • Using the on-line consultation portal at introduction of new digital technology https://consult.dacorum.gov.uk/kse but explicitly links it to new You should also make your views known developments. Existing settlements to your MP and local councillors, which which will not have new housing also for Great Gaddesden Parish are: need to be included in this commitment. • Sir Mike Penning MP at 8. Passenger Transport (Q3 in the [email protected]. If you consultation) write to Sir Mike we suggest as a The Plan includes a commitment to minimum you focus on the urbanisation improving passenger transport which is of Great Gaddesden, the overprovision rightly regarded as essential for people of housing, and the impact on the Green living in rural parts of the Borough, but Belt (see below). again the implication is that • At Hertfordshire CC, Terry Douris at improvements will be linked to new [email protected] developments. This needs to be expanded to include all settlements. • At Dacorum BC, Jane Timmis at [email protected] and/or 9. Water supply and waste water Bert Chapman at disposal (Q6 of the consultation) [email protected] With the chalk aquifer already described • At Great Gaddesden Parish Council, as “over-abstracted” and local residents the Clerk at [email protected] only too aware of the fragility of their water supply, the level of new housing If you want more information you can proposed will put severe strains both on find the Plan and supporting information supply and disposal. With a significant athttp://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/ time-lag in the availability of new water planning-development/planning- supplies we are concerned that the new strategic-planning/new-single-local- developments will increase calls on the plan. This includes a very accessible aquifer, potentially leading to significant “virtual exhibition” and other summary inconvenience for residents but more documents. The Parish Council will also importantly risking damage to the be publishing its more detailed Borough’s precious chalk streams. comments on its website at Dacorum and Affinity Water have www.greatgaddesdenparishcouncil.org. recently spent time and money on uk improving the River Gade, only for this Please have your say before 28th Plan to put that improvement at risk. February 20 21 The Fit-Hut is now even more accessible to even more people!

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We are starting to see a reduction in the hopefully that will give an indication to help number of CoronaVirus cases in you decide when to make the journey there. Hertfordshire but the pressure on our health services and hospitals is still just as intense Free School Meals (FSM) and sadly the number of deaths is an awful This has been much in the news recently, but number to contemplate reminding us of the I am pleased to report that to date need to stay safe and take care. approximately 80% of all the 24,000+ FSM vouchers sent out before Christmas for the It is good to see the opening of the Christmas holiday period have now been Vaccination Centre in Maxted Road Hemel validated. I can confirm that a further batch Hempstead which is being run by our great of vouchers with a value of £15 will be local GP practices and this is making an despatched to schools in early February and important contribution to getting the first 4 these are intended to provide lunches for the groups of people vaccinated. I am aware that half-term week in February. The provision of there are a number of additional vaccination school lunches during term time whether in outlets coming on stream all the time. school or as lunch packs is the responsibility Additionally local testing facilities went live of the school. on 20th January. In all these cases a person would need to be called for a test or Winter weather vaccination depending on their The gritters have been out on a number of circumstances. occasions and all the HCC grit bins were re- filled in readiness for winter. Any orders for Libraries and Ready-Reads neighbour groups or Parish Council grit have Ready-Reads are the Hertfordshire Libraries been delivered. version of Click and Collect. I have taken the decision to maintain this service in due The Rain in Hertfordshire recognition of the Government’s guidance We seem to have been beset by more rain. that libraries may stay open for this service The ground is saturated and so it is taking but balancing this with the request to stay much longer for the water to dissipate. A new home unless absolutely necessary. It was a feature of the Fault reporting service on decision that I took with great care and did www.hertfordshire.gov.uk is that if you hover so because I felt that there are a significant over a particular drain it will show the date number of people for whom reading a book that it was last cleaned and when it due to be can provide them of comfort. I would hope cleaned next. and expect a person making their fortnightly trip to collect and return books would do so Making Contact at the same time that they might do their I hope that I may be able to resume my shopping. informal ‘surgeries’ in the not too distant future and I will let you have details of this Household Waste Recycling Centre on the Parish Council Facebook page. In the I am pleased to report that the centres have meantime if you wish to raise any aspect of re-opened although the Reuse Centres must Hertfordshire County Council, please do not remain closed for the time being. I know that hesitate to contact me on 01442 402273 or by they have been quite busy, but you can check email [email protected] on the website what the queue time is and

23 Finding Nero How old is this area and what used to be here? Who has walked here? How would it have looked 1,000 years ago? These are some of my thoughts each time I’m out. My name is Daniel and my hobby is metal detecting, and over the last two years my hobby has had me up at the crack of dawn, most Sundays, to go digging with my father-in-law Martin, to a field in Great Gaddesden. ¹ Wikipedia tells us that Jetons or jettons are tokens We are lucky enough to have been given or coin-like medals produced across Europe from the permission from local farmers Darren and 13th through the 18th centuries. They were produced Mick Brady to detect on some land they own, as counters for use in calculation² on a counting board and we are very grateful for this. They are as (similar to an abacus). They also found use as a interested in the history of the area and the money substitute in games, similar to modern casino land as we are. I had presented them with two chips or poker chips. Thousands of different jetons display boxes of finds from their field earlier exist, mostly of religious and educational designs. this year as a thank you and to show them ² The Romans similarly used pebbles, with the Latin what sort of items were being found, and to for ‘little stones’ being ‘calculi’ give them an idea of the use of their land The majority of our finds are medieval. over the years. Personal items like thimbles, buckles, buttons So, the question is...what has been found? and cutlery all probably lost unknowingly From our finds I am guessing that the land throughout time. Other finds include items we detect on must have been active at least that tell us that at a certain point, and maybe 1,500 years ago due to the handful of small more than once, the land would have been Roman coins we have found dotted about. It’s worked, and probably for some time. Many an incredible feeling when you find and hold iron nails are scattered across the field and we one, knowing that the last person to own and find broken plough parts and rusty farming hold that coin was Roman, and they dropped tools, but we have also found lots of lead, it 1,500 years ago. You are the first person to some Crotal³ bells and fly terrets which were hold that since the day it was lost. I wonder if used on cattle and horses. the coins were dropped in passing or were the Romans settled in the field we detect in? Regardless, the finds tell me that the Romans were likely settled somewhere near, at some point in time and that is extremely exciting for a determined detectorist. The history on this field is interesting and our finds range from Roman to the 1900’s. They are that varied it tells us that Great Gaddesden has always been active and the land we detect on has up until recently, always served a purpose, whether it be to settle on, to work on or to use it as a passing route. Along with the Roman coins, myself and ³ Crotal bells (from the Greek 'crotalon' being Martin have found coins dating from the late castanet or rattle) also known as rumble bells, were 1600’s to the early 1900’s. We have found a used on horse-drawn vehicles, mostly on country roads, few lead tokens which could possibly date to warn that another vehicle was approaching. back as early as the 1400’s. Two Jettons¹ have We’ve also found some local tools known as been unearthed with one dating back to 1322. metal splitters, which were first designed and The other is late 1500’s. made in Bedfordshire in the early 1800’s. 24 hundreds and even thousands of years. Why wouldn’t you want to save history? It is not only just the items discovered that have me believe the area is littered in history waiting to be found. It is also what the area would have offered the people over time. You have the River Gade which would have been a huge plus for the village, beautiful fields and woodlands, a main route to use for travel or trade, the Great Church and the nearby, now demolished, St Margaret’s Nunnery which both date to the late 1100’s and they would have meant there was activity coming into the area. All of the above would have drawn people towards the village. So that being said, what else was buried, lost or discarded that is still out there yet to be found? Myself and Martin would love to find out and am sure many of you readers would do too. In time we would hope to gain more permissions to save the many artefacts that They would have been used by plaiters to we believe are still hidden around and to learn split straw and have a range of fins and discover more history of the area. We surrounding a long point which would act to would happily dig all day long. We are fully guide the splitter down the centre of the insured, extremely professional and piece of straw. The number of fins would approachable, trusting and honest and we are determine how many pieces the straw was very tidy and respectful when on permissions. split into. These finds are all evidence of a If this article has left you intrigued to know working field. Straw splitting was a common and find out more or if you are interested in local occupation, with the segmented straw the history of your own land then please do being plaited and sold to local milliners and not hesitate in making contact. My email hatters. address is [email protected] or I can It’s a great feeling unearthing history and you be reached through Tony Martin. begin to create images in your mind of what Thanks again to Mick and Darren Brady for may have been happening all them years ago the permission and thank you all for reading. and how the item that you are now holding in your hand, had become lost. Daniel Haley, November 2020 From the finds that we have found I am certain of Roman activity in and around Great Gaddesden, Gaddesden Row and Water End. The area would have probably been a working village and a trade route for some time and would have more than likely been a settlement village for many people from as early as the 6th century and possibly before. These are my opinions and we would love the opportunity to discover more in and around the village. Again, the items found are all from one single field which is enough to tell us that there is plenty more to discover, still hidden deep in the ground, sitting there untouched for

25 26 In the garden now... (Wintersweet) and some viburnum species. Try When the Editor issued the invitation in the last to introduce these plants near your front door newsletter for someone to write a regular or somewhere else you pass regularly, so that gardening tips contribution for this publication you can enjoy their pervasive fragrance. I hesitated for two reasons: Weeding is not everyone's favourite pastime 1.I have no gardening credentials other than particularly when it is chilly outside. enthusiasm and have looked after a number of Unfortunately also it's a hands and knees job, as gardens of varying sizes over many years. hoeing is not desperately effective in the winter months. I would, however, commend it to you 2.I have to accept I cannot compete with the to prevent weeds getting too established. It is wit contained in John Lowrie's regular Great good to get ahead with this before the Gaddesden updates. inevitable pressure on There is a surfeit of your time in the gardening advice available in Spring. It is also magazines and on the satisfying to see the Internet. With this in mind results of your work and to keep within my as well as providing allotted space, I can only thinking time, offer a limited number of including what to put signposts for you to in this article. consider. I, nevertheless, Winter gardens hope you will find some of (gardens that also look interest and pursue them in good in winter!) have more detail elsewhere. become increasingly Enough excuses...... de rigueur in the UK. I can allow you a little This is not hard to longer to snuggle inside to understand as it is place your order for Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) somewhat dull to look vegetable and flower seeds at dead stumps in for the coming year. From last year’s experience brown earth for 5 months of the year. There though it is clear you must get on with this or are many trees and shrubs with wonderful barks you may find you will struggle with availability. and coloured stems, as well as swaying grasses and seedheads that look particularly good after It has been proven beyond doubt that getting a hoar frost backlit by bright winter sunshine. If out into the garden and other green spaces have you have a book token left over from Christmas a beneficial effect on mind and body. Although you couldn't do better than buy “Winter some days are cold and grey, the shortest day is Gardens by Cedric Pollet “. This contains behind us and there is a surprising amount beautiful pictures to enjoy but hopefully also happening if you look closely enough. The some plants for you to select for your 2021 winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), dwarf iris winter garden project. and some snowdrops were already showing themselves before Christmas. The opinionated Possibly contradicting what I have encouraged but superb gardening author Christopher Lloyd above, you should try not to jump up and down said the yellow aconite “consorts admirably too much on your garden beds, particularly if with the mauve of Crocus tommasinianus “. like me you have a heavy, wet clay soil. If you The other wonderful flowers at this time of the need to cross the beds it is a good idea to use a year are hellebores. They are shy and so other plank to reduce soil compaction. than rare exceptions look downwards. To If you are lucky enough to have a wisteria, now appreciate the full beauty of their flowers try to is the time for the winter prune to reduce the plant them on a bank. side-shoots to 2-3 buds from the established Smell is also a very important sense to oblige in framework. these chilly months. There are a number of If the editor allows, I hope to see you next shrubs that can provide this, including month. sarcococca, daphne, chimonanthus Malcolm Stodell 27 Gaddesden Estate News Dacorum Local Plan Consultation Environmental Land Management Scheme. You may already be aware, but Dacorum This scheme will pay farmers for, as Michael Borough Council are consulting on their Gove said, “Public Money for Public Local Plan, which includes proposed Goods”. This is still being trialled and when development of 5,550 houses on Green Belt it is clearer, I hope to be able to explain it. land to the North of Hemel Hempstead, Among other things which are likely to be around Dodds Lane and Cupid Green Lane. covered are soil health, public access, organic Much of this land sits within the Parish and production, carbon capture and climate is immediately adjacent to the Chilterns Area change mitigation. of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Whatever your views on this, it is important Woodlands that that as many voices as possible are heard, The planned felling in High Park Wood was so that the consultation process can reveal a completed last summer. When the ground is true picture of local feeling on the proposals. dryer, probably after May, we will be bringing We will be submitting a response, and we on a machine to mulch the remaining stumps hope that you will too. Further details can be and the “lop and top”, in order to prepare found in the dedicated section of this suitable conditions for replanting with native magazine and through Great Gaddesden tree and understory species. Parish Council. We hope also to clear the diseased Ash trees Farming in New Gorse and do a light thinning in January is a relatively quiet time on the Home Marsh Wood, as well as harvesting some Farm. As usual it is an opportunity for mature Oak, planted about 1830, in Big maintenance of machinery and buildings, as Wood. it is both too early and much too wet to get on the land. One task that comes around at We may well be harvesting and replanting this time of year is the annual inspection for some more Cricket Bat Willows on the Water the Assured Combinable Crops Scheme. This End Meadows. as you would expect involves a considerable Golden Lodge amount or record keeping, paperwork and We are delighted that work on refurbishing computer spreadsheets, in addition to a the Golden Lodge is virtually complete. This thorough inspection and checking out of the has involved a comprehensive “top to toe” grain stores. operation, starting with the roof The End of the Common Agricultural Policy replacement, re-wiring, re-plumbing, insulation and internal and external Now that the UK has left the European redecoration. The property went on the Union the whole basis of farm support is market for letting in mid-January, so by the changing. Under the CAP, farmers received time you read this may well be occupied. an annual payment based on the amount of land they farmed, not owned, subject to Footpaths various conditions. Without this payment Following an article in the “The Times” on many of the farms in the country would have the Saturday after Christmas a very large become unviable without a big rise in number of people came to take their exercise commodity prices and consequently prices in on our local footpaths, often inadequately the shops. Basic Payment Scheme “BPS” is clad for walking in the country. It was now being phased out over the next few cheering to see so many people enjoying the years to be replaced by “ELMS”, the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside during 28 this time of lockdown. However, such large booked in Park and Ride events on 9th May, numbers resulted in the paths becoming very 4th July, 8th August and 12th September. It muddy and spread to a considerable width seems a long way off in these dark days, but across the pasture fields. The path through roll on some sunshine and a Wagyu burger Marsh Wood, which has a hard surface, has from Marbled Meats! been reduced to yards of mud in places. Gaddesden Ride NGH Like everyone we are really hoping that the spring brings with it some form of normality and an ability to meet and do the things that we enjoy together. With this in mind we have

St. John the Baptist, Great Gaddesden, 100 Club

100 Club winners for 2020 Jan John Moore Jnr 77 Jul Sally Hayes 23 Feb Vernon Gray 58 Aug Gill Lambirth 69 Mar Jane Hewett 68 Sep Chris McNicol 10 Apr Sue Lambirth 66 Oct Reg Sheppard 5 May Nick Halsey 30 Nov Anna Sladden 56 Jun Tim Kirby 21 Dec Wendy Spencer Wilson 57

We sold 90 numbers for 2020 Thank you to everyone who bought numbers and special thanks to the 5 winners who re-gifted their winnings to the Church. This year,2021, we have sold all 100 numbers thanks to several new members joining us and several current members buying additional numbers. Your generous support is much appreciated. I will deliver 2021 tickets when Covid restrictions permit!

Phone for a free no obligation written estimate. - High hedges as speciality - Overgrown gardens cleared 01442 255784 - Fences erected and repaired - Tree Lopping - Fruit tree pruning - Shrub trimming WILL KIMBERLEY - General garden tidy up’s GARDEN SERVICES In fact any job in the garden!

29 Gaddesden Row Methodist Church

Although we are unable to meet at the moment, please let us know if there’s anything we can help with or if you would like us to join our prayers with yours. Un�l we are open in person once more, please come and join our friendly prayer mee�ng on Zoom. You can come and quietly pray or join in the responses and the chat if you would like to. Everyone welcome. You can email me for the link or join here: h�ps://us04web.zoom.us/j/ 71754891723?pwd=VVlxRW44Rk9xMVV0NkE5UGFhZ3dCQT09 Alterna�vely, we can post you a wri�en service sheet each week. Contact Rev. Chris�ne Taylor on 07394 828853 or [email protected]

30 Do you want to share your story? Has your house got a rich history? Do you or your family have a long-standing history in the area? Can we see your old photos please? Do you want to join us? Can one of our members chat with you and tell your story?

You can get in touch with the group via the preposterously long email address [email protected] Or you can drop me a note or give me a call …. Tony Martin [email protected] 07730 954 809 31 32 History of Great Gaddesden Hopefully by now you will know that we have watercress beds, buildings great and humble, set up a local history group. the river, farms and the many interesting Its aim is to encourage and assist in research characters that have connections here, past into the history of Great Gaddesden (the and present. All have a story for us to enjoy, Greatest of the Gaddesdens, but in that very share and preserve. British way, being smaller than Little In the meantime however, we are confined to Gaddesden), Gaddesden Row (or The Row Zoom, which is not everyone’s cup of tea as it seems have been known in the past), (although you can bring your own) but Water End (where the water doesn’t end but thankfully we have the Parish Magazine to carries on), Briden’s Camp (reportedly the help us spread the word. Our intention is to site of a Roman camp but not why it is so publish an article every month and collate called) and to far distant Noake Mill. these and more on our website (did I We want to capture and preserve this history, mention that we need a hand?) sharing our discoveries with the community This month we had a guest speaker: Roy and hopefully encouraging, cajoling and Wood, secretary of the Hemel Hempstead occasionally inspiring you to do the same. Local History and Museum Society (and you We have grand plans for a website (but not thought our group name was long!). Roy has yet the technical wherewithal to deliver it – if published much of his research and certainly you do and can, then please let us know) and knows his onions. And street names. It was to meet in real life (or IRL as my children great to get some ideas from such an would no doubt type) when we have all had experienced and enthusiastic researcher. It our jabs. Looking at old documents and was an absolutely wizard evening (albeit on photos online is fine, but even better when the omnipresent Zoom) and we will try and you can touch them ... We hope it won't be organise some more. If you have a topic that long. you’d like to share, we would be delighted to hear from you. It's a great vision and will showcase the rich history that we have: Roman remains (see Tony Martin Finding Nero in this month’s magazine),

Did you know … The railway from Hemel was originally intended to travel up the Gade valley, rather than through Berkhamsted. If it had gone ahead, Great Gaddesden would now have looked far more like Berkhamsted, which in turn would have been considerably smaller. Interestingly it also begs the question as to why the Grand Union went through Berkhamsted rather than the flatter Gade valley? Thoughts appreciated!

We don’t know … Why is Nettleten Road also known as Ladies Mile? And why ‘Ladies’ and not ‘Lady’s’? Something to do with riding or the hunt? Anything to do with Lady Marion Alford? If you know then we would love to hear from you

33 Beyond the deep midwinter Thank goodness for the recent cold snap. For the last few days, it’s been possible to walk without sliding or sinking. The tree planting finished just before Christmas and we now have nearly 2,500 saplings ready to face whatever 2021 brings. Flanders and Swann in their famous Hippopotamus Song provide the anthem for our winter so far…. Mud, Mud Glorious Mud There’s nothing quite like it for cooling the blood….. looking at them all very carefully every week or so and using a variety of potions and jabs to In some places where the animals gather, it’s help them clear up. Never known this to go on been nearly a foot deep of lovely liquid slop. for so long before. Should we blame the And right up until last week, every time we changing weather patterns? Even though it has think the ground may be drying out a little or been pretty damp, we have been able to get out hardening up with frost, it rained again. We for many walks and are really enjoying the shift have just unloaded 6 cubic metres of hardcore from deep midwinter to the sharp frosts and into the worst effected areas. It’s a bit heart growth as green shoots are beginning to show breaking to see it all sink down and mostly the possibility of Spring. vanish in the goo. One question that has stuck with me over But, given these trials, I believe that there is a recent days is why we use so much barbed wire? great deal to be thankful for. People in the Winter is the time for repairing and rebuilding ‘olden days’ as the grandchildren call it, had to fences. We have seen many stretches of new meet some massive challenges to survive the fencing around our area and two strands of winter. Watching the TV programmes on the barbed wire feature in all. When we arrived a medieval farm - with every step a struggle, with few years ago our fencing was also topped boots that leak and heavy damp clothing. A similarly. Whenever we have done any work on million miles away from our experience today! our fences, we have replaced the barbed wire We can stay reasonably warm and dry in most with plain wire tops. This works fine for sheep, types of weather. As the Norwegians say ‘there although I realise, that to keep larger animals is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong safe and secure, barbed wire may be necessary. clothes ‘. Even during this recent lockdown we It may also keep intruders out. But over the last are in a very privileged position, thank few years we have seen at least half a dozen goodness for modern technology, lined boots, deer who have been caught on fences and were and waterproof jackets. either dead or dying. The larger animals seem to We also have the opportunity to choose. As take the boundaries in their stride but the long as the animals are fed, watered, and have youngsters and muntjac often seem to catch shelter when they need it, we can decide when their hooves in the top strand, and the barbed we deal with the jobs outside. We don’t have to wire does its worst. We also regularly find rusty get up at day break and work outside until the sections of wire, long taken down and hidden light goes. Maybe it’s not unreasonable a away in the undergrowth. These are dangerous grumble a bit about getting caught in the rain to any animals including livestock and any again, but many people would be very pleased walkers who stray off track. I bet some people to get the outside exercise that we enjoy, and will thing I am being very naïve, but I do hear some even pay for the privilege. many views that are similar to ours. It would be With a rather strange Christmas over, we are good to see less potential dangers in our local stepping into a more hopeful New Year. countryside. We have pruned most things except the And so, enjoy the coming Spring, stay safe and raspberries – they took ages to lose their leaves overcome the current pandemic and all its this winter, and It won’t be long before we set consequences, see you as the days get longer about vegetable planting seriously. The sheep’s again. feet continue to give them problems, with sores, Robin Douglas and infections in the hoofs. We are currently 34 History Group Mee�ngs

The History Group meets on a regular basis via Zoom: Meeting ID: 893 9914 4036 Passcode: 048299 Anyone with an interest in local history is welcome. Why not log on and join us! Meeting dates for the first part of 2021:

Monthly mee�ng: 7:30pm 8th February

Monthly mee�ng: 7:30pm 8th March

Monthly mee�ng: 7:30pm 12th April

35 CHURCH SERVICES - FEBRUARY

I Sunday 7th February, 2nd Sunday before Lent 9:30am Joint Parish Worship - Eucharist On-line II Sunday 14th February, Next before Lent 9:30am Joint Parish Worship - Morning Prayer On-line Wednesday 17th February, Ash Wednesday From 10am Joint Parish Worship with Imposi�on of Ashes On-line III Sunday 21st February, Lent 1 9:30am Joint Parish Worship - Eucharist On-line IV Sunday 28th February, Lent 2 9:30am Joint Parish Worship - Eucharist On-line I Sunday 3rd March, Lent 3 9:30am Joint Parish Worship - Eucharist On-line Mid-Week Service - Wednesday 10:00am Podcast On-line

As this page is put together, there are no church services in our churches at the moment to impede the spread of Coronavirus. This stance has been approved by our church PCCs. As soon as we are able, we will begin services in one of our churches on Sunday mornings at 9.30am. For the mean�me, we will con�nue to record the services and show them through the websites. Please do tune in to the Podcast which is available through our websites from 10.00am on a Wednesday morning.

Please check our church websites for the most up-to-date information. We apologise if we have to change services with little or no notice. greatgaddesdenchurch.com littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk

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