North Hill Parish Newsletter

April, 2021

Issue #248

FREE

Covering: BATHPOOL, BERRIOWBRIDGE, BOTTERNELL, COADS GREEN, CONGDON’S SHOP, ILLAND, KINGBEAR, LANDREYNE, MIDDLEWOOD, NEWTOWN, NORTH HILL, PENHOLE, SLIPPER HILL, STONAFORD, TREBARTHA, TREFURSDEN, TREKERNELL AND TREMOLLET

Welcome to NorthHillParish.news Notes from the Barn April 2021

With gratitude for the recent sunshine and some relaxing of the lockdown rules, we can welcome in April and Easter-tide, and the opportunity to spend time with friends and family again in both indoor and outdoor settings (subject to government changes). The welcome sight of daffodils and Easter eggs tells us that spring has well and truly sprung and we have much to look forward to.

This month in the newsletter we highlight a local author, John Batey, and his new book, “A Breath of Country Air”, which sets out in a light-hearted way his experiences in the hamlet of Trenhorne over the last ten years. There’s news of the Racehorse Inn’s reopening this month, and a lovely look at the hairy-footed flower bee – one to watch out for in our gardens!

Take care, everyone, and keep up the Hands, Face, Space advice while you’re out and about! Jan Editor Contacting the newsletter remains the same: by email: [email protected], or Via the Contact Us page on the website.

The deadline date for information remains the 23rd of the month. News & Updates from The Racehorse Inn

We are delighted to announce that subject to government Covid-19 lockdown changes, The Racehorse Inn will be reopening on 12th April. We are also welcoming to the Howards' team our new chef, Gareth, who has prepared a huge repertoire of mouth-watering new dishes and desserts which we will be adding to our existing menu favourites. As soon as we are able, we will also get back to putting on our live music nights, special themed menu evenings and charity quizzes, and we can't wait to welcome all our customers back again. Plus, look out for forthcoming news about Spring Rock, an amazing weekend of live music and great food which will be taking place in early June!

In the meantime, we continue to offer our takeaway menu with daily specials and local delivery. The Shop at the Inn has been going great guns and now offers a selection of groceries and produce for your convenience. We look forward to seeing you again very soon! New Book Release from Local Author

‘A Breath of Country Air’ is an affectionate and anecdotal account of living in this idyllic hamlet, which lies off the beaten track. Access is via a narrow lane which goes nowhere other than to the hamlet itself. Traffic is limited to those who live there and delivery vans. So, a sleepy Cornish hamlet where nothing ever happens? At first sight....perhaps, but scratch the surface and surprises tumble out over each other. Back in the late 1920s to early 1930s this was the scene of three suspicious deaths linked to arsenic poisoning, crimes that were never proven despite very strong evidence. Less well known was the occurrence 20 years ago of a major chemical incident which caused ‘gridlock’ in the little hamlet. A little later an ‘Oscar nominated’ actress bought a home in the hamlet. She still owns it...though she is now a rare visitor. In the past she had relationships with both a world famous musician...and a world famous actor. Who were they? All is revealed in the book! However, the thrust is much more a celebration of this beautiful part of inland , its wildlife, and the sweeping vistas of Moor. There are accounts of amusing incidents, told with affection for the delightful mix of people who live here. Author John Batey says, "It is set in the little hamlet of Trenhorne between North Hill and and it sets out (in a light hearted way!) our experiences over the past ten years. It may appeal to anyone who enjoys wildlife, local history, anecdotes...and who has a sense of humour! It’s all true!" How to get a copy: Copies are on sale in Lewannick Post Office at £7, or may be purchased directly from the author for £8.50 (which includes p&p). To order, contact John at [email protected]. About the author: John Batey was for nearly 30 years Head of Sixth Form at School. On retirement he and his wife eventually came to live in the little hamlet of Trenhorne, which lies between North Hill and Lewannick. April Wildlife Notes

by Jen Bousfield I have just been looking up my wildlife diary for the end of March and early April last year. What a difference! This year’s spring is slow… but to look on the positive side, flowers are lasting longer, there is no sense of a rush, the birds are nesting and singing and yes, there are leaves unfurling in sheltered places, their bright greens tempered somewhat by the cold nights. When the weather does warm up, which would be nice for the Easter weekend, there will be an explosion of wildlife so be prepared… there will be much to look out for. Super-large buff-tailed bumble bee queens are looking for nests and I’ve seen the early and tree bumblebees as well. A different kind of bee with a wonderful name, the hairy-footed flower bee, has appeared on time visiting garden flowers such as lungwort and comfrey. I often hear it first because of its steady high-pitched hum. It has a long tongue so hovers in front of the flowers then dashes off to the next. The female is all black with yellow pollen carrying hairs on its rear legs so fairly easy to identify. The male is more ginger in colour and has sets of very long hairs on its middle legs. Usually impossible to photograph, but one was trapped in our covered yard and luckily, I was able to rescue it in time. While in recovery, it allowed me to take some close-up photos. Expect to see the swallows and martins return soon; who will hear the first cuckoo, I wonder, because last year it was near Bathpool. The chiff-chaff have got to Stara Woods, up near the top which was their territory last year, along with the willow warblers. Soon we will start to check the dormouse boxes from mid-April, the start of a survey season that will carry on until autumn; we hope it will be as good as last year’s. My annual plea to all gardeners and farmers ~ please leave some areas to grow wild to support insects and provide shelter and food for wildlife. Barn owls like to feed on voles, who need long tussocky grass to nest in; so neat, short grass results in fewer voles which in turn means fewer barn owls… Business as Usual for Coads Green W.I.

These have been testing times for clubs and organisations, and the Coads Green W.I. has been no exception. The last meeting was a year ago, and President Linda Willan and the committee have met regularly on Zoom since that time, in order to find a way forward and to keep members connected. The future is now looking more hopeful, and after a prolonged discussion, the committee considered a number of options, and decided that it was going to be business as usual. On April 14th the monthly meetings will recommence, after a year, when Ian Butler from Blood Bikes will be giving a talk on Zoom. This will be a first for the whole group, but with a strong swell of support from the membership, it is something that is eagerly anticipated. The Annual General Meeting will take place in the afternoon on May 19th, in an outdoor setting, weather permitting. It is hoped that with the loosening of restrictions, we will reach a point when members will be able to meet indoors again, in the not too distant future. This has been a challenging time, but the Coads Green W.I. sees its future and its role as an integral part of community life. New members, whether new to the area or resident in the wider area, who would like to join us for talks, demonstrations, outside visits, company and friendship are always welcome. Please contact any of the members, or Linda, for further details, by text or phone call on 07725571792. A Message from Reverend Jo Smart & Coads Green Methodist Chapel by Revd Jo Smart Hasn’t it been lovely seeing the first signs of Spring and the new life and hope that this brings? My husband, Andi, and I like to cycle and so we take the opportunity, whenever we can, to get out on our bikes for exercise, cycling around the local lanes. We have loved seeing the hedges burst forth with bunches of daffodils, which certainly brighten up the ride. We have also smiled at the sight of the lambs leaping around in the fields. Of course, we all love seeing signs of life and hope, and that was apparent when we heard about the first steps of lockdown being lifted. As I write, the schools have reopened, and although things are not the same as they were before, it has been good to begin to make some steps forward towards a new “normal”.

For Christians, the theme of death and resurrection, which brings new life and hope, becomes even more apparent when we come to the season of Easter. It is at this time when we remember the death of Jesus on Good Friday and his resurrection on that first Easter morning. That first Easter brought signs of hope and a new “normal” for his followers. Although they did not know exactly what that new “normal” would look like, Jesus told them that he would be with them “always, to the very end of the age” and therefore they went forth trusting in him.

I pray that, as you and your loved ones navigate those first steps out of lockdown, you see the signs of new life and hope which will shape your new “normal”. There have been a lot of challenges and obstacles that we have all had to face over this last year.

However, I hope and pray that together we take the positive signs which we have seen, such as looking out for our neighbours, volunteering to help those in need, as well as the positive impact on the environment and the opportunity to assess what is important in our lives, and allow these to shape and strengthen the society that emerges, trusting in the goodness of one another as we do so.

I wish you all a very happy Easter and may God bless you and those whom you love.

Jo

Revd Jo Smart 01566 782921 [email protected]

Currently, our chapel in Coads Green remains closed but if you would like to join us for any of our Zoom Sunday services or maybe for a coffee on Zoom then please contact me; alternatively if you would like prayer or need a chat then please contact me on the number above. Sheep Worrying: A Cautionary Tale submitted by Anonymous Recently, on a farm in our parish, there has been a serious incident of sheep worrying by a dog or dogs. We would like to tell you about it.

The small flock with their lambs were disturbed during the night. The routine early morning check revealed four dead sheep - three rams and one ewe, leaving one orphaned lamb. The vet’s examination of the carcasses found no cause of death for these healthy sheep, other than stress. Some of the surviving sheep are still in shock the following day, and the pregnant ewes may miscarry their lambs.

Chasing by dogs creates panic and stress in sheep, and can cause death. It is an offence to allow a dog to worry sheep, which includes chasing and attacking. So the police were informed and photographs taken.

The organisation Sheepwatch advises that if you see a dog worrying sheep you should take photographs and call 999. If the switchboard are unsure who to refer you to, ask for the Rural Crime Team or someone who deals with rural issues.

Having sheep isn't just a financial investment, but also a passion and way of life. Farmers and their families spend long hours caring for each animal to keep them happy and healthy.

As agreed by the vet, all evidence points to sheep worrying by dogs. Of course, we don’t know where the dog, or dogs, came from. But we do ask that all owners ensure their dogs are safely at home overnight, and under control when out and about in our beautiful countryside.