The Grand Re-Opening of the Parish Hall in Time Old, Yarpole Style, We Will Be Having a Tea Party for the Parish to Celebrate the Re-Opening of the Parish Hall On

Summer 2021

The Grand re-opening of the Parish Hall In time old, Yarpole style, we will be having a tea party for the Parish to celebrate the re-opening of the Parish Hall on

Sunday 1st August 2 till 4pm

Everyone is invited to come along and see all the improvements that have taken place over the last 12 months, the new garden, windows and redecoration. We will also have information about the Community Hub and other community groups in Yarpole. Looking forward to seeing you there.

The Hall Committee

Contents listing on page 2

In this issue:

Yarpole Group Parish Council News-June 2021 5 Looking for a Shed 6 Footpaths on the Croft Estate 7 Would you like to be a tree warden? 8 Parish Council Annual Reports 10 Parish Council Vacancies 16 200 Club Renewal 22 The Bell-1st Birthday Party 26

St Michael Old St Peter’s Church St Leonard’s Church & All Angels Church Lucton Yarpole Croft Castle

Socially distanced Community Churchyard clearing Saturday, 24th July. 1.30pm to 5pm.

We need to do a first cut of the churchyard. The wild flowers have set and it is time to get rid of the invasive weeds.

Bring strimmers, rakes, shears, and You!

Cakes also welcome

2 Last month we received a bumper edition; here is another. This edition contains a wealth of information relating to the work of the institutions we rely on for the governance of our community. There are annual reports relating to the work of our Parish Council. These are accompanied by the monthly newsletter of the Council. These contain evidence of a great deal of work, by our representatives on this body and the officers that support them. You will also find a record of the Annual General Meeting of the Yarpole Shop. This is an institution that is of immense importance and continues to play a key role in our community. The importance of the shop’s contribution cannot be underestimated. If you think you could contribute to the governance of Yarpole you could follow up the advertisements for Magistrates and Parish Councillors. You may have doubts about your ability to discharge such roles. Until you try you will never know. Maybe you could be our next tree warden. They are vital jobs which are of key importance. You could also help to bring the much identified the much discussed Men’s Shed which is in the process of being established. Go on, give it a try! Brian Don't miss out on what's happening! To be added to the events mailing list, email: [email protected]

To send in articles and news items, please e-mail us at: [email protected]

Or leave in the box at the shop

The deadline for all submissions is

THE 10th OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH

To place a commercial advert, please email us at the address above and we’ll send you more information

Prices start at £5 for a ⅛ page ad, with discounts for multiple insertions We also print small ads for parishioners for which we suggest that a small donation is left in the yellow collection box in the shop.

3 What’s on

What’s on Historic Churches Trust Music in Quiet Places.

The Cellist and Conductor Orlando Jopling has agreed to perform for Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust with a concert this Autumn on October 9th. in Canon Pyon Church .

He has such a huge list of achievements that it is a challenge to select just a few. He has worked with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra and the London Mozart Players. He has played as guest cellist with the great UK orchestras and conductors such as Bernard Haitink, Mark Elder, Ricardo Muti and Sir Simon Rattle and has given recitals in places as diverse as the United States, European destinations, Israel and India. He was Principal Conductor and Advisor of the Royal Orchestral Society for 10 years and Associate Conductor of English National Ballet until 2020. He works as guest at the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet and has co- founded two opera companies. He is also Artistic director of the Roman River Festival and last year formed the Rasumovsky Quartet.

We hope very much that you will be able to join us for his programme of inspiring music. Tickets from An evening of sublime cello music from the renowned Orlando Jopling | Line-Up (lineupnow.com)

Stay in touch: Yarpole WhatsApp Group

Enjoy chatting and sharing photos with members of our community via the Yarpole Whatsapp group. We now have more than 30 members!

To join this group, please send a message to: Katie Daniels 07786515922 with your mobile number.

4 Yarpole Group Parish Council News – June 2021

The Chairman accepted resignations from Diane Russell and Geoff Trotter. They are thanked for their work on the Council, and contributions to the Parish. Two vacancies now exist, for Lucton and for Croft & Yarpole. Applications for co-option will be considered on 7th Sep- tember. For further information, please contact the clerk (see below) or see Vacancy Notice in The Parishioner.

The Council is also looking for a Tree Warden. The successful volunteer would be supported by The Herefordshire Tree Warden Network, membership arranged by the Parish Council.

Planning Matters. Application P211311/F Land at the Rear of Yarpole Village Hall, varia- tion of condition 2. YGPC agreed that no response would be submitted.

Reports of the further dismantling of Knoll Cottage Bircher, had been received. A resident asked what progress had been made by Herefordshire Council (HC). Cllr Bowen reported that HC is aware of the problem and is following due process in getting the building repaired, after which it can be sold to recover costs.

Litter and Dog Fouling - Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Clean was considered. YGPC decided not to arrange a group litter pick this year due to COVID-19. Some public-spirited residents are already helping keep the area litter free. A new bin for dog faeces is being purchased for Yarpole and dog owners are reminded… please, please, please pick up after your dog!

Finance. The Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2020/21 was agreed, ready for External Audit. Accounts can be inspected between 14 June to 23 July. Documents will be on the Parish Council website. Current account balance £34,290, business reserve £15,088.69. Contributions to the cost of burial grounds in Yarpole and Lucton were discussed. It was agreed to continue funding 75% of Yarpole costs, with a limit of £1.5k, and to fund mowing costs at Lucton with a limit of £500.

Two traffic updates - the Traffic Regulation Order (yellow line) Scheme at Yarpole is not going ahead, and reports have been received that the Speed Indicator Devices at Bircher are slowing traffic. Many thanks to Councillor Daniels who recharges the batteries on behalf of the Parish.

Plans for the Community Field are beginning to take shape. The first stage will include utility connections, a small car park, a perimeter path, and a vehicle barrier. Details are being re- searched, and will be reported to the Council in due course.

An idea for a permissive footpath to the east of Croft Crescent, development, Yarpole, is being looked into. Landowners and developers will be contacted to see if a route can be agreed.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on Tuesday 6 July 2021, at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome and time is allowed at the start of the meeting for issues to be raised. All parish council information can be found at www.yarpolegroupparishcouncil.org.uk.

5 What’s on

What’s Men’son Sheds Looking for a Shed

One outcome of the recent Community Survey was a perceived need to create a Yarpole Men’s Shed. In consequence a small steering group committed to the reali- sation of this goal has been formed and is in the process of reaching out to the wider community. The initial response to this proposal has been good and the steering group continues its work to bring this project to fruition. Currently this involves active engagement with existing Men’s Sheds in the Marches.

If you would like to help in bringing a Yarpole Men’s Shed into existence please contact us. It is, however, important to remember that while two thirds of Men’s Sheds are for men., a third of members are women. There are some all-women sheds. Please do not assume that women are excluded from membership. They are not! According to the Men’s Shed Association web site the concept on which it is based started in Australia in 1999. Currently there are 2000 Men’s Sheds world- wide. The majority of these sheds focus on community activities entered into as a means of meeting commonly held challenges. This has mostly been a means by which men, working together, in a harmonious and supportive environment can access tools, workbenches, gardening, and other activities identified as important to members.

Men’s Sheds are considered to bring health benefits to participants. They do this by encouraging mental and physical activity and through this, improved well-being. In doing so they are considered as a means by which members can remain integrated and informed of the dynamics of the community in which they live. It is not a sur- prise that the MSA considers a ‘Shed’ as the group regardless of whether or not it meets in a shed.

Men’s Sheds do not have to be based in an actual shed. There is no typical Men’s Shed. It can be based in a shed but it is not compulsory . It can meet in a pub, an old agricultural building, a garage. Many have a physical base but there is no reason why they should not be based around a Whatsapp group or some other virtual meeting place. Neither do they have to be focussed on stereotypical male tasks. They can just as easily be focused on playing a board game or servicing cycles. Anything that facilitates community engagement is possible.

If you are interested in working with us to bring a Shed to Yarpole contact us. You will receive a warm welcome.

Brian and John

6 Footpaths on the Croft Estate

Following the article from National Trust Croft Castle and Parkland in the May edition of the Parishioner which referenced the update of the local pass for Yarpole residents, a meeting was held on June 1st at Croft to discuss issues surrounding footpaths on the estate and to investigate the possibility of future developments to improve the footpath network. Those present were Ana Vaughan, the NT Experience and Visitor Programming Manager, Herefordshire, Iain Carter, the NT Countryside Manager, Herefordshire and Peter Greer, the acting Yarpole Parish footpath officer.

The public rights of way in Croft were discussed and it was established that they were fully respected by the National Trust and that there was no possibility of any limitation in their accessibility to walkers. It was agreed that there were circular and continuous routes within the Fishpools Valley and in other specific areas of the estate, which gave good opportunities for visitors to explore large parts of Croft lands without restrictions. Though the entrance to Croft at Cock Gate is not part of the public footpath system it was agreed that this would not be a problem for walkers who would be free to access the footpath system via this route. As all the public footpaths interlink it was noted that many different environments within the estate could be freely explored including, the Fishpools valley, woodland areas such as Pokehouse Wood and School Wood close to Lucton, while the Ambrey could also be accessed using public footpaths. Whilst the NT understand that dogs have always been walked along footpaths they are keen that members of the public would remember to keep pets on leads when they were around livestock and take any dog waste to proper disposal points.

However, the use of National Trust or Family Membership cards, or payment would be required if visitors were using the Croft car park, the Castle, or the surrounding facilities such as the café or play area. One of the problems the NT has faced has been that members of the public have been passing through reception and using Croft paths as short cuts to access more distant public rights of way and this will no longer be permitted without evidence of membership, or payment.

The felling of ash trees and the general ambieShirley’s nce of the environment was discussed and though there had been plans, in advance of ash dieback, to thin out trees in some areas, the scale of the felling was well beyond that which had original- ly been planned and was regretted by the management team. Some ash trees had been left in the more remote areas, but elsewhere felling had been necessary to ensure public safety, particularly as the steep slopes and thin soils in Croft caused ail- ing trees to be very susceptible to collapse. Unfortunately, the contractors had been allowed to work largely in November and February, two of the wettest months and, therefore, it had been impossible to maintain the condition of the footpath surfaces to a desirable standard. Though surfaces have now been improved Mr Carter said that if it was felt that some parts of the path system needed further improvement he would look upon this favourably. Cont. on page 8

7 Footpaths on the Croft Estate cont. The Croft management team were very positive about the possible reinstatement of for- mer footpaths, particularly a historic route shown on early 20th century maps, linking Lucton paths to the exit route from Croft and it was agreed that the recreation of this path warranted further research. Similarly, there was a good level of agreement that in places gates might be used to replace stiles. The Croft representatives were very keen to maintain an amicable relationship with the residents of Yarpole Parish and the local pass scheme had been re-jigged and improved to facilitate this. It was agreed that where possible the advertising of events and general developments and changes taking place within the estate should be set out by regular items published in the Parishioner giving Yarpole residents advance information about NT thinking, events taking place and plans for the future. Face to face meetings between Yarpole representatives and the Croft team as well as e-mails to discuss problems and to defuse issues that might arise, would be welcomed.

Peter Greer

Tree Warden.

Mr Ian Ramsay, the YPGC Warden has decided to step down. Appointed in 2017Mr Ramsay kept an eye on trees in the Parish, particularly the health of trees overhanging roads and paths, and those with a Tree Preservation Order. His assignments were carried out with enthusiasm, and his advice, most helpful to the Parish Council, was gratefully received. The Parish Council thanks Mr Ramsay for giving his time and expertise. Maggie Brown. Clerk YPGC

Would you like to be a Tree Warden? The Parish Council is looking for a volunteer tree warden. No experience needed. Membership of the Herefordshire Tree Warden Network, offering support to wardens across the county, will be arranged. “Whether you want to get your hands in the earth and plant trees, raise awareness about trees in your local community, or simply be the eyes, ears and voice for the trees in the area, you have what it takes to be a Tree Warden.”

For further information contact Mrs Maggie Brown. [email protected]. 07398 222310

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9 YARPOLE GROUP PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020/21 LUCTON

Lucton has a designated place on all Parish agendas whereby its two councillors can raise issues specific to this area of the Group parish.

The two most vexatious issues of concern have been planning and flooding at the ford.

Time and again Balfour Beatty agents have visited and promised to resolve the flooding by installing a larger drainage pipe. There has been no significant improvement as yet.

A number of planning applications have been objected to, supported by the Neighbourhood Development Plan criteria. Councillors Russel and Trotter have consistently reported views of their community and we commend their efforts to safeguard this rural hamlet.

The comprehensive picture regarding Lucton matters and also Croft with Yarpole can be found on https://yarpolegroupparishcouncil.org.uk/

Audrey Bott. Chairman 20/21

YARPOLE GROUP PARISH COUNCIL ANNUAL REORT FOR 2020/21 CROFT WITH YARPOLE As a result of the Government Covid 19 legislation, the Parish Council did not con- vene for its Annual General or Annual Parish Meetings in May 2020. All officer re- sponsibilities were carried forward for another year. For context some council activities will include decisions from 2019/20. Since July 2020 meetings have been held remotely. (A sharp learning curve for some Councillors). For a full account of Coun- cil’s work, including finances, funding and planning see https:// yarpolegroupparishcouncil.org.uk

COMMUNITY FIELD. Yarpole. The contract for transfer of gifted land to Parish Council was signed and all legal processes completed. Plan for consulting community agreed. A small working group met Red Kite Consultancy. A leaflet was delivered December 2019 to all households asking for their ideas for future use. A visual presentation would be made at the Annual Parish meeting 2020. Survey results ana- lysed and the following were popular: circular footpath, green open space, small car park, children’s play area, small orchard/wild flowers. Further talks on site with Red Kite as result of ideas. Topographical Survey carried out; no problems with land. Two outline draft plans received. Once Covid Regulations allow, after discussion and rec- ommendations a plan will be presented to the community in 2021.The working group is to meet and report at the June meeting.

10 KNOLL Cottage, Bircher, Hereford Council noted the deterioration of this unoccupied listed building. An enforcement order has been issued to the owner and legal proceedings to reclaim monies spent on essential work. The conservation team are looking at ways to safeguard the integrity of the property.

PUMPING STATION/SEWER, Yarpole. This problem dates back to 2007. A meeting with councillors took place with Welsh Water and the Environment Agency. Ingress of surface water from illegal connection (historical) from a number of properties is cause of problem. Date for Welsh water to address public about issues postponed due to Covid 19. Action continues by the Council and members of the Community.

PARISH HALL. Additional gifted land to the hall (part of NDP) to increase size of car park and open space, was transferred to the Council as Custodial trustees. Searches concluded and paperwork ongoing. Council funded 75% (£4250) towards a new boiler when it failed a safety test. Funding for replacement double glazing attracted grants of £9000 and council agreed to provide shortfall of £2646. (Our budget plans allowed us to use money from our reserves account for Community Projects).

FOOTPATHS. Our footpath officer, Peter Greer stood down in March 2020. A new interested volunteer did not take up the task and Peter agreed to fill the vacancy on a temporary basis. Recruitment of additional volunteers encouraging. A search to find a convenient place to store all equipment ongoing. The Council fully supported the PROW plans for 19/20, and 20/21 with generous funding. Croft Crescent. Footpath link. Contact with developers to discuss linking in with nearby footpath to complete a circular walk (See NDP) On Hold.

SPEED LIMIT. Bircher First SID in place in 2019. Second SID bought and in position. Our thanks to Councillor Daniels for negotiating with suppliers and managing the equipment.

AGENDAS. To increase awareness of its discussions and responses, the clerk began posting Agendas and Minutes on Facebook. There is already a monthly summary in the Parishioner. Draft Minutes are available on the Council website.

DISTRICT COUNCILLOR. Despite Sebastian’s increased workload on being appointed Chairman of Hereford Council, he has continued to attend and contribute towards our meetings. He has kept us well-versed on our Authority’s decisions, given guidance on planning matters and worked with appropriate departments to help resolve the security of Knoll Cottage. Disappointingly, our clerk Emma Lewis resigned in March 2021. She has returned to full time employment with University of Hereford. We wish her well in her new career. We welcome Mrs Maggie Brown as our new clerk. In conclusion the Council thanks all volunteer groups and individuals who responded so magnificently during lockdown. There is a deep well of compassion, kindness, ingenuity and resourcefulness in our parish.

Audrey Bott. Chairman 20/21.

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YARPOLE COMMUNITY SHOP

Annual General Meeting 24 June 2021

The Yarpole Community Shop Association Ltd (YCSA) held its AGM virtually at 7.00pm on June 24th 2021. Although the initial intention had been to hold this meeting in St Leonard’s Church together with internet connection for those not able to attend physically, govern-ment regulations unfortunately precluded this.

There were 47 shareholder attendees. The usual agenda items involving approval of the minutes of the previous AGM and matters arising were followed by the Chairman’s report which highlighted the main events of 2020 and the first half of 2021. The Covid pandemic had a major influence on the day-to-day running of the shop and the financial effects were described later by Treasurer, David Cheshire.

Chair’s Report

The Chairman offered sincere thanks to the volunteers who had so ably manned the shop and to Kate Grif- fiths who, as volunteer coordinator had managed her team so efficiently.

Thanks, were also due to all those involved in the running of the shop and especially to Rowena for running the show so professionally and with such great humour! The new re-quirements for picking and packing for home deliveries was managed very efficiently by Rowena and her team, as was the massive increase in sales - especially in the early days of the pandemic.

The Post Office had also been very busy with Rowena multi-tasking as ever. Also, thanks were due to the PO back-up team of Richard Davies and Julian. The sad loss of Tony Corby earlier this year was reported, Tony having been the go-to Post Office back-up for many years.

Also, thanks were due to Helen and her volunteers for keeping the Gallery café going when-ever possible – primarily al fresco!

The Chairman also thanked the other members of the management committee for all of their hard work during the year.

He did highlight the critical need for new blood to join the committee and requested that anyone who may be interested to contact him or one of the other members to find out what is involved. The committee have the ability to co-opt up to two people to join the team.

He repeated what he had said at the last AGM – “The Shop will come out of this difficult time being stronger and even more highly valued by the Community. Looking back 15 or so years ago, the foresight and common sense shown by those who instigated its birth surely has been evidenced over the years but never more so than in the last 18 months.

”Finance Report

The Treasurer, David Cheshire, presented the accounts for 2020 and demonstrated with a graph the boost to sales in the year resulting from the pandemic. This had resulted in a gross margin of 20.9% on sales and a net surplus of £8,476. The administrative costs ap-peared to have increased greatly but he explained that this was partly due to the shop tak-ing the opportunity to support St Leonard’s with donations towards the replacement heat-ing system and to recognise the temporary loss of regular in- come from the Gallery and PCC. After adjusting for these sums there was a clear indi- cation that administrative costs were

14 nonetheless rising due to factors mainly caused by the pandemic and which were likely to persist in the longer term. This meant that the shop needed to maintain levels of sales sub-stantially above those of 2019 to ensure a gross margin large enough to cover ongoing ad-ministration

.David gave an example of where admin costs could be influenced by customers’ behaviour and that concerned payment methods used to settle customer accounts. While the shop recognised that it was essential to offer the convenience of card payment this was a fairly expensive option and bank transfers or cheques remained the cheapest method – for exam-ple settlement of a £300 account balance would cost £2.74 by credit card (£1.84 by debit card) compared with 15p by bank transfer or 30p by cheque. A more detailed explanation will follow in a later issue of The Parishioner). The lower our bank and other financial charges the greater the likelihood of a surplus being returned to the community.

Attendees then voted to accept the 2020 financial accounts and that the 2021 accounts should be prepared without an audit through the auspices of the current accountants, Kendall Wadley.

Board election

There then followed the election of the management board when the following nominees were approved en masse: David Cheshire, Alex Jenkins, Jon Pitts, Andrew Praill and Rebecca Stanners.

Rule Changes

The next item on the agenda was that of the proposed replacement of the current rules of the YCSA by a new set based on the Plunkett Model Rules – these being more up to date and allowing for more flexibility in the future. After a good discussion on the issue of the fre-quency of committee meetings, the proposal to adopt the new rules was approved unani-mously. Therefore, the required 75% threshold which was necessary for the rules to be changed had been passed. The new set of rules would now be sent the Financial Conduct Authority for acceptance and registration. Community Grants Finally, the attendees voted on the distribution of surplus funds to Community projects. There being eleven applications totalling the sum of £8981, the management committee’s recommendation was that all eleven projects should receive funding. A vote was taken, again en masse, with unanimous approval. The meeting closed at 8.00pm

!!STOP PRESS FROM THE SHOP-ANOTHER PRIZE!! Yarpole Shop and Post Office has just been announced as the 2021 Winner of the Countryside Alliance Awards Village Shop and Post Office category for the Mid- lands Region!! Well done to all involved. We now wait to hear about the national finals. Fingers crossed!! Andrew Praill

“Pop Up” Open Garden Event at Enmorefields Huge thanks to all those who came and visited our garden, purchased plants and willow structures. The weather was kind which enabled everyone to linger over their tea and cakes around the garden. A very jolly spur of the moment, which could not have gone ahead without the brave hand of helpers. Thank you!! We raised just short of £900. This will be divided between the Parish Hall and the St Leonards Building Management. Jane and Andrew Praill

15 Yarpole Group Parish Council Vacancies

Applications for co-option are invited for two parish councillors. for Luc- ton Parish and for Croft & Yarpole Parish. Do you have a few hours to spare each month? Do you want to be involved in your community?If the answer is YES, then please apply!

Applicants will be considered at the Parish Council meeting on 7 Septem- ber 2021. Deadline for applications 31 August 2021.To qualify, a person must be at least 18 years old, a British citizen, eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of a member state of the European Union. The person must either be registered on the Electoral Register for the parish, or live in, own land or be a tenant of land or premises in the parish, or work mainly or only in the parish, or live with 3 miles of the Parish.

And finally, you must not be disqualified from holding office as a Council- lor. For further information or an informal chat please contact the clerk, Mrs Maggie Brown. [email protected] Phone 07398 222 310

ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITMENT ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EXPERIENCE!

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The Courtyard is looking for local, independent artists, designers, makers, creators or merchants who are interested in selling their products in its new retail space.

The Courtyard’s new retail space aims to provide Herefordshire-based brands the opportunity to sell their unique gifts, handmade crafts and artisan creations. It will be a space to connect local makers to shoppers, creating a unique and more fulfilling shopping experience.

The Courtyard is specifically looking for brands that are eco-friendly, sustainably/ethically sourced, arts-related, locally made, or artisanal. Brands should fit at least one of these criteria, but do not have to meet them all. The new retail space, which is set to open later in the year, was created as part of The Courtyard’s Capital Expansion Project, Transform The Yard, which saw the building undergo extensive renovations. For more information about becoming part of The Courtyard’s community of independent brands or to submit an expression of interest, visit courtyard.org.uk/jointhemakers

Calling Facebook Users

To obtain Yarpole news on Facebook, search for ‘Yarpole community’.

See what’s on! See what matters in Yarpole! Contribute to the page. Like us and become a friend.

Thursday July 22nd 2-4 in the Churchyard

A Demonstration by Challis Stokes of simple upholstery, including covering a chair pad

TEMPORARY SHOP AND POST OFFICE OPENING HOURS Shop Post Office Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm & 3pm-5pm 9am - 12noon Saturday 9am - 1pm 9am - 12noon Sunday/Bank Holidays closed except for pre-ordered newspapers

Tel: 01568 780148 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.yarpole.com

Saint Leonard’s, Yarpole, HR6 0BD The Marquee will remain open and we are also serving upstairs in the Gallery

Mondays - Wednesdays 10.00hrs - 12.30hrs. Hot and cold drinks and cakes and cheese scones.

Thursdays 10.00hrs - 16.30hrs. Hot and cold drinks and cakes, cheese scones and plain scones, jam and cream, Sandwiches, Toasted Sandwiches and Jacket Potatoes from 12.00hrs -14.00hrs.

NEW THIS YEAR on Thursdays Afternoon Teas, comprising dainty sandwiches, choice of cakes, mini meringues and small scone jam and cream, pot of tea or cup of coffee. from 15.00hrs -16.30hrs. Please pre-order the afternoon tea by Thursday morning.

Fridays 10.00hrs -16.30hrs Hot and cold drinks and cakes, cheese scones and plain scones, jam and cream. Sandwiches, Toasted Sandwiches and Jacket Potatoes from 12.00hrs -14.00hrs.

Saturdays 10.00hrs - 12.30hrs. Hot and cold drinks, cakes and cheese scones 10.15hrs-12.15hrs Bacon Butties.

Payment by cash or card. Contact details: email: [email protected] phone: 01568 780594(cafe) or 780189 (home) or in person in the café.

St Leonards Church, Yarpole.

Update on The Chancel works.

Holes have been dug, and work has begun on filling them up again. Essentially, the area where the underfloor heating is to be installed had been dug out to the necessary depth, and the first layer of limecrete is being laid. All the pipework will then be laid, pressurised and tested before a layer of insulation is laid on top. The next stage will be the screed before laying tiles. Finally, a new step will be made. All steps in the right direction.

It is our intention to protect the area while the curing process is happening, and to move the pews back into the chancel area. The screen will be taken down, and we are very hopeful of having a level of normality in the church by the time you read this article.

Update on the funding for the final phase.

The window has got off to a good start, and up to end of May we have sponsors for 25 (and a half) panes. With a pledge from The Pilgrim Trust, we now have £2755, so still a long way to go. Although the image is of a window, the funds raised are for the moving, restoration and re-siting of the organ as well as the window. We can’t restore the window until we have moved the organ!

Bids have been put in and we have our fingers crossed that they are successful.

Remember, you can donate in cash by filling in the slip, and placing it in the envelope provided and posting it in the box by the vestry. Alternatively, you can make a bank transfer, contact me, Sue Smith, for the bank details, on 01568 780408. Also, you could use the Golden Giving donation button on the Yarpole website. Just go to the website and follow the link. For anyone wishing to donate who doesn’t make the journey to the church, I would be willing to call in and collect your donation. Just give me a call, 01568 780408.

We are a small community, a very supportive community and a very caring community, and together we can make the final phase happen.

Sue Smith

Emails and Texts to the Editor

Dear Brian

On a very wet May Saturday this year, three siblings, Richard, Alastair and Louise, children of Carol and Michael McCarter met for a long awaited reunion at Yarpole Church. It was intended to be a meet up at a location somewhere between Northampton, Sheffield and Exeter where Alastair, Richard and Louise respectively currently live, but the reunion location was the result of a happy accident (involving a) conversation between Andrew Thompson and Alastair, a few weeks before and what better than to meet in Hereford- shire at a village that they hold dear, an opportunity to see some old friends and capture together some fond memories of growing up. It is also the village where their step- father, founder of the Birchpoles and their father are remembered, having had their funer- als in the church. Our meeting was switched from somewhere in Gloucestershire, to Yarpole, and Bircher Common; a visit that combined coffee and bacon roll in the church’s graveyard.

Richard McCarter | Principal Learning Technologist | Digital Learning Team

Sheffield Hallam University

NB. At the end of his recent visit to Yarpole Richard kindly made a gift to the Yarpole Historical Archive. This was of an encaustic tile. A picture of this tile can be seen to the left of this text. It contains a romantic depiction of the Yarpole churchyard.

The tile is believed to have been made by Jones Tiles who operated locally. Richard remembers it hanging in the family home and that it was a favour- ite of his mother.

If you can shed light on the prove- nance of this tile please let us know.

YARPOLE COMMUNITY SHOP NEWS Summer 2021

This month - which is hopefully still a sunny one by the time you read this- we are focussing on the delicious ice cream we get from Bennett’s ice cream of Worcester. The Bennetts family worked hard to buy Manor Farm in Worcestershire in 1918 and started dairy farming which is now being continued by the fifth generation. In 1982 they began their ice cream business which focused on creating a traditional ice cream with farmhouse recipes and production facilities. Chris and Tristan, the farmer Bennetts, tend a herd of over 240 Holstein/ Friesian cows at Manor Farm. In the summer months, the cows are set out to graze on their pastures, set between the rivers Severn and Teme. All of the calves are hand-reared and nurtured by the family, ready to become the next generation of happy, contented cows. The cows are milked twice a day, and the creamiest and freshest morning milk is then collect- ed, pasteurised and turned into delicious ice cream within 24 hours. The shop stocks a wide range of their different flavours- and we ring the changes to ensure we can accommodate all tastes throughout the year. Enjoy!

Children’s summer holiday workshops at The Courtyard 01432 340555

First up is a week of online workshops celebrating all things Olympics. Delivered on Face- book Live at 10am every morning from Monday 12 – Friday 16 July, the sessions range from drama games and dance to sensory storytelling and singing. Olympics Facebook Live Week workshops are free to attend, and booking is not necessary. Next is Be A Star Week Online; a series of online workshops aimed at young people, aged 8-15 with or without additional needs and/or disabilities. The sessions will run daily from 10am – 1pm on Monday 26 – Friday 30 July and will be delivered via Zoom. The Be A Star Week Online workshops will introduce participants to a range of creative disciplines from music, drama and dance to arts and crafts and storytelling. By attending this week of workshops, participants will also complete their Discover Arts Award, a nationally recognised qualification.

From Monday 9 – Friday 13 August children aged 7-12 can get involved in Courtyard Ad- ventures, a series of drama-based workshops, delivered in person at The Courtyard. Partici- pants will use drama to traverse deserts, explore rainforests, climb mountains, conquer space and rediscover their sense of adventure.

Closing The Courtyard’s series of summer workshops is a Film Making Week running from Monday 23 – Friday 27 August. Participants will explore the basics such as; script writing, story boarding, cinematography, directing, sound and lighting. Working in small groups they will explore film making equipment. andplan, shoot and edit their own short film. Film Mak- ing Week is suitable for ages 14+.

For more information or to book onto any of The Courtyard’s summer workshops, visit courtyard.org.uk or call 01432 340555.

Be A Star Week is supported by Children In Need.

20 Welcome Help

Both “Inside and outside your home”

When the day to day running of the home becomes a struggle and the chores mount up, don’t worry, help can be easily sorted and tailored to your needs.

Do you need help with some of these tasks?

Light cleaning Tidying the flower beds Changing the bed linen Edging grass borders Sorting the Laundry Planting bedding plants out Ironing Sorting flower pots/tubs Meal Preparation Spring/autumn help with garden

I’m a local lady who is reliable, genuine, friendly and patient who can assist with the above tasks. To help put the shine and sparkle back into life, just call:

07816 047067 DBS checked, insured and competitive hourly rate.

21 PARISH HALL

Summer 2021

200 Club The winning numbers for June were: 36 £30, 180 £20, 25 £15, 177 £15, 166 £10, 152 £10.

Thank You to all 227 of you who bought 200 club tickets last time. We are now

200 Club Renewal By supporting our 200 Club draw, you will be helping us meet our day to darunning costs at the hall. 50% of the 200 Club donations is issued back as monthly prizes and the remainder of the money will go into to the Parish Hall funds. (If you would rather just give a donation, that too would be wonderful). The subscription remains at just £12 per person to cover July to June, payable by:

1/. BACs transfer. Sort Code 40-28-13, Account No. 81438298, Yarpole Village Hall Management Committee. Please email Jane Praill, Treasurer on [email protected] so that she is aware of your payment. Or 2/. Cheque or cash to any of the collectors: Pete Lloyd 1 St Anthony, Yarpole, Leominster. HR6 0EQ.David Martin Rose Hill Cot- tage, Green Lane, Yarpole Dianne Russell Lavender Cottage, Lucton PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, SO THAT WE CAN SEND YOU YOUR DRAW NUMBER AND A RECEIPT. Cheques made payable to YARPOLE VILLAGE HALL MANAGEMENT COM- MITTEE please. Many thanks for your ongoing support.

Evening Classes The Parish Hall committee have listened to what the respondents of the Community Hub survey have asked for and have arranged evening sessions for both Yoga and Pilates. So far 3 people out of 29 that have asked for these classes have actually contacted the organiser. If you wish to enrol on either class please contact: Yoga - Sarah Williams [email protected] 07900911194 Monday evening 7.30 and Friday afternoons 2.30 to 3.30. Pilates –Jane Lawrence, [email protected] 07810773332 Tuesday evening 6pm and Thursday morning 10.45 for further details.

Become a Magistrate in Herefordshire

Staffordshire and West Mercia Advisory Committee is seeking applications from those interested in becoming a magistrate on the Herefordshire Bench where new magistrates are needed in the Adult Criminal Court. These are voluntary positions; you do not need legal training or formal qualifications to become a magistrate and we are looking for applications from across the county and from all sections of the community. Magistrates are not paid (although some allowances can be claimed), and those who are successful in being appointed must be able to attend training and sit in court for at least 13 days a year – this is a minimum requirement.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 may apply. Applications are particularly welcome from members of Black and Minority Ethnic communities, people under the age of 50, people in paid employment, and people with a disability who are able, either un- assisted or with the benefit of reasonable adjustments, to carry out the full range of a magistrate’s duties. If you are interested in being considered for appointment and want to find out more about the work of a magistrate and how to apply, see: www.gov.uk/ become-magistrate or email [email protected]

Applications for the Adult criminal court open on 1st August 2021 and close on Sep- tember 10th with interviews being held later in the year. Prior to submitting an application at least one observation visit must be made to a magistrate’s court where magistrates [rather than a District Judge] are sitting; each visit should be for a minimum of half a day. Magistrates will tell you what a worthwhile and rewarding position this is – as well as doing something vital within the community, friendships are formed and magistrates enjoy each other’s company.

Thank you. Thank you

On behalf of the Children’s Society, I say thank you.

The Children’s Society boxes raised a total of £268.55. In what was a difficult year, that is a tremendous sum. Three box hold- ers have decided not to renew, so if anyone is interested in having their own box please contact me, Sue Smith on 01568 780408

24 Yarpole Parish Good Neighbour Scheme

The Good Neighbour Scheme AGM has been de- ferred from June to Monday 13 September at 19:00 at St Leonard’s.

We will be joined by Casey who is a local social prescriber. You may wonder about their role and how they operate. Come along to find out more and to have your questions answered.

Good Neighbour Scheme volunteers are ready and waiting to receive your calls for help. Do give us a ring. If you are interested in volunteering for the scheme contact us on 07885 525776 Yarpole Talk Community

Prayer submitted by Janet Chitham Grant to us Lord, we beech thee, the spirit to think and do all such things as be rightful: that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Book of Common Prayer . Collect for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity

Quick Quiz - (Answers see page 29)

1. What does the J stand for in Donald J Trump? 2. Who introduced potatoes to Ireland in 1589? 3. Michael Jackson first wore his now iconic white glove on which 1984 tour? 4. Who was the target of an assassination attempt by John Hinckley in 1981 as the culmination of an effort to impress actress Jodie Foster? 5. How do you sound out SOS in Morse Code? 6. Which actress and her mother died within a day of each other in December 2016? 7. Who wrote the opera from which comes the melody commonly known as Here Comes the Bride? 8. What are the names of the 4 US states which begin with the word ‘New’? 9. During a scandalous political court case in 1998, whose final words to the jury were ‘I hate Linda Trip’? 10. Which of the following cities is the most southerly: Adelaide, Perth, or Mel- bourne?

25 MORTIMER MEDICAL PRACTICE

Patients’ Participation Group (PPG) June 2021

Are you aware of the proposed NHS data gathering which has been postponed until September 2021?

The delay is due to the government taking more time to consult with patients, doctors, healthcare charities and others to ensure the right data is assessed securely to improve health care.

If you would like further information please visit the practice website or contact reception.

Gilly Lloyd 01568 780328 [email protected]

St. Leonards Church Flower Arrangers APPEAL FOR NEW MEMBERS We are looking for new volunteers to join our small friendly group . No experience is necessary, just some of your time and enthusiasm. For more information please contact Janet Knight 780931 or Linda Finney 780427

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27 Croft Ambrey Running Club - Spring Report 2021

Luckily running was one sport that was able to continue during the lockdowns of 2020/21 although finding a different way to do it was the order of the day to keep Croft Ambrey Running Club going during the Covid pandemic.

Luckily we have some very imaginative members who were able to come up with some fantastic ideas to keep our club ‘running together’ when we couldn’t actually meet up - the facebook group and virtual running team events kept us together as a club and since the easing of the restrictions, the club seems to be in a pretty healthy state.

Regular twice-weekly training sessions have started again on Tuesday and Thursday eveings and as an organised sporting event we are able to run as a group again as long as we don’t get too close and everyone completes a Covid questionnaire.

We are very lucky to have such a beautiful part of the world to run in and we have found various places to meet and train each week - the website and weekly newsletter inform runners where to meet each week. Sessions are led by our team of qualified coaches and session content is different each time, to try and appeal to a wide range of runners, of all abilities and all ages.

What has suffered is organised races which are only now beginning to restart and have been few and far-between. Ledbury Harriers put on a 7 mile trail race in April. This was an undulating route around the footpaths surrounding Eastnor Castle. Seventeen Croft runners took part and the Croft men's team won the team event, and the ladies’ team came second. Hereford Couriers held a 5k series - a fast paced road race near Leisure Centre in Hereford repeated in April, May and June. This was again well attended by Croft with sixteen runners taking part in all three races and saw some good individual results for Croft runners with Emma Jones and Bryan Markham, winning their age categories. Croft Ambrey ladies team were winners of the ladies team prize.

Croft Ambrey Running Club welcomes all runners of all abilities from the age of 16. New members are always made to feel welcome. If you are thinking of joining a running club, you will not get a more friendly welcome anywhere else, so check out the website, croftambreyrunningclub.co.uk or our facebook page on how to contact us and we can let you know where the next training session will be so you can come along and give it a go.

Message from the Bishop of Hereford—July 2021

As you read this the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament will be well underway, albeit with reduced seating capacity. A recent development in coverage has been the thrusting of a microphone into the players' faces immediately after the final. It usually starts with the question, “How are you feeling now you have won/ lost?” with the cameras poised to zoom in at the first sign of moisture around the eyes. Gone are the delightful days of Ilie Nastasi, who when asked by a reporter how he felt after losing, replied, “absolutely fantastic, next stupid question!”

A few weeks ago, the Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka was forced to withdraw from a tournament because she refused to participate in post-match publicity. Quite rightly, she suggested that to put losing players under that sort of pressure in public wasn’t good for their mental health. Some would say that being in the public eye makes you fair game. But this isn’t the same as the press offering proper scrutiny. It's using the pain of others as a form of entertainment. You see it all the time in certain news pro- grammes. The same zooming in as the tears flow; the same probing questions to elicit an emotional response.

I think Jesus is mercifully more respectful of our privacy than that. Even if Christians have a dispute with one another, he suggests trying to deal with it in private first, not sharing our grievances through blind copied emails. It may be that over this time of COVID disputes have festered electronically. As we can more freely meet face to face, it will be good to get back into the habit of these private conversations.

+Richard

Melbourne 10.

Lewinsky’s Monica 9.

Mexico New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New 8.

Wagner 7.

Reynolds Debbie and Fisher Carrie 6.

dots three and dashes, three dots, Three 5.

Regan Ronald 4.

Tour Victory 3.

Raleigh Walter Sir 2.

John. 1.

Quiz Quick to Answers

Orleton Pre-school Group Kings Road, Orleton, Ludlow, SY8 4HQ Charity No: 1180030 Telephone: 01568 780143, Email:[email protected]

Summer is just around the corner and the children at Preschool have been enjoying lots of time outdoors in the construction area, paddling pool and practising lots of activities for their virtual Sports Week at the end of June. Despite parents being unable to attend in person this year staff have been determined that one of the most anticipated events of the summer will go ahead for the children. Staff have been busy organising and the children collecting their sponsorship. Parents will be able to see recordings and photographs of the fun and games so as not to miss out! The children have been practising with a range of outdoor equipment such as balls on a string, hula hoops, hurdles and had great fun playing games under the parachute.

Staff and children have loved observing Preschool’s wildlife. Tadpoles have grown into frogs, caterpillars into butterflies and blue tits have nested in the bird box outside.

The children have also been enjoying exploring the theme of space. Space monster pictures were lots of fun, the children loved blowing paint with a straw and created some very colourful creations. Yummy star and moon cupcakes were baked and staff organised a space disco with lots of music and dancing.

If you require any further information on what Orleton Pre-school, Fun Club or Holiday Club has to offer, please take a look at our website www.orletonpreschool.co.uk or contact Tara Morris using the details above.

30 “It’s better to give than to lend, and it costs about the same”

(Sir Philip Gibbs)

Submitted by Andrew Praill

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National Trust: Croft Castle

We’d like to thank all of those who have already applied for their local pass. If you haven’t yet applied, please email [email protected] Thank you so much for your continued support. It means we can continue to look after Croft for everyone, for ever. What can you see and do this summer at Croft Castle?

The gardens, parkland, second-hand bookshop and tea-room at Croft are open daily for you to explore. The castle is open five days a week (closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays) and is open daily during the school holidays. Booking is recommended to guarantee entry, however walk-ins are permitted where there’s space to do so. From wild woodlands to vibrant cottage gardens to picnic in, your summer holiday isn’t complete without a family day out at Croft Castle. It’s the perfect backdrop on a balmy summer’s day with plenty of space to play and lots to see and do; head to our website to find out more. We’re teaming up with Sport England for our Summer of Play, so families can run wild in our newly recreated natural play area which will be open once again this summer holiday. We’re planning on reopening the castle play area as soon as structural repairs have been completed. Please check our website for updates.

What else is happening at Croft?

‘All Alone’ - From summer 2021, we’re working in partnership with Meadow Arts to share a contemporary art project called ‘All Alone’. ‘All Alone’ can be discovered online and also at Croft, with four artworks in Fishpool Valley. ‘All Alone’ explores the two-sided nature of aloneness – enforced isolation vs chosen solitude and the different perceptions of aloneness over time. The recent Covid-19 lockdown has sharply brought into focus the notion of aloneness and may have drastically changed our perception of isolation or solitude. Beyond the physical aspect of being isolated, lockdowns have been a communal experience, but each individual experience is unique, which is isolating in itself. This project will include an on-site outdoor exhibition in Fishpool Valley, with artworks responding to the theme of aloneness. There will also be an ambitious digital component that will enable a wide range of engagement, especially for those who may not be able to visit or may be affected by any ongoing Coronavirus restrictions. The exhibition can be discovered in the valley from the end of July until 31 October 2021, after which it will be deinstalled. You will be able to use your local pass to access and explore the exhibition and project information will be available online or at visitor reception nearer the opening of the exhibition.

Fishpool Valley dam repairs – The two final dams towards the lower end of the valley will be restored from early July to the end of October. This is a really significant milestone for the project and you’ll be able to see the work in action over the summer. This does mean that a small section of public footpath with the agreed consent from Herefordshire Council, will need to be temporarily closed for safety and practicality whilst the work takes place. There will be a signposted diversion in place if you are walking in this area so please follow the signs. [email protected] Croft Castle and Parkland | National Trust

Pizza: A Short Story Jim Ainsworth

We’ve got the grandchildren today. Mustn’t let them get bored. Find something excit- ing to do. ‘Let’s make some pizzas, in the outside oven!’ ‘Yeah!’‘First you’ll need to find some wood. We need them quite – no that’s too big – small. And they must be – no that’s too wet – dry. Keep looking,there’s all that great big field to search.’ ‘Now, would you like to light it? No? OK then.’ How can anybody get bored of anything so quickly? ‘No, you don’t have to stay and watch, if you’ve got something better to do.’

Were they born truculent, or do they have to work at it? ‘Is it ready yet?’ ‘No it’s only been going ten minutes. It’ll take about an hour, maybe two. I’ll roll out the dough and get the tomato sauce ready. You decide what topping you want.’ ‘Chocolate.’ ‘No you can’t have chocolate.’ ‘Why not?’Ater two hours I need to see if it’s up to the right temperature. ‘Pass me that oven thermometer.’ ‘Is it ready Grandad?’ ‘I can’t say.’ ‘Why not?’‘The thermometer’s melted. I suppose it must be OK’ Put pizza in oven for thirty seconds. ‘We can cut off the burnt bits, it’ll be ine in the mid- dle.’‘Mmmm.’ ‘Well that was fun wasn’t it?’

. ‘Can we have some chocolate now?’

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Butterfly Beauties By Gill Humphrey

One of the most miraculous transformations of nature has to be that of the butterfly. Its metamor- phosis from caterpillar to the fluttering, colourful insect it becomes really is astonishing. Sadly, many species of this gorgeous insect have declined alarmingly in recent years, faster even than our native plants or birds.

Gardens can be improved for common and mobile species, but many live in specific habitats and localities and their requirements cannot be fulfilled by gardens alone. Fortunately, conservation groups are working hard to save our most threatened species and even reintroducing ones that have long since disappeared. After a 150-year absence in this country, the larvae of the large blue were reintroduced to Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons in Gloucestershire in 2019, and in the summer of 2020 hundreds of large blues were spotted near the release site. The success of this project depended on many factors, crucially, grazing cows, red ants, thyme and marjoram. It’s a fascinating story. To find out more go to https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/large-blue- butterfly-returns-to-gloucestershire-after-150-years/

To attract butterflies like tortoiseshells, peacocks, red admirals, painted ladies, commas and orange tips you need the right plants. Buddleia, marjoram, red valerian, verbena, sedum, scabious, knap- weed, ragwort and thistles will pull in a wide variety of species. Of course, you will need a wild corner for the thistles! Interestingly, David Goulson, Professor of Biology at Sussex University and specialist in the ecology and conservation of insects, writes that ‘most scientists think butterfly populations are usually not limited by availability of nectar. They need to sip from a flower now and again to top up their energy but, unlike bees, do not need to gather large quantities of nectar for their offspring, and have no interest in pollen.’

So maybe we need to be thinking more about the caterpillars. Nettles are important for the larvae of the red admiral, peacock and comma, but they need to be growing in large areas and in a sunny situation, and should ideally be cut back in June to encourage the soft regrowth the caterpillars like to dine on. Easier for the gardener are clovers and bird’s-foot trefoil and, specifically for orange- tips: cuckoo flowers, and for brimstones: alder buckthorn. Providing flowers like those of the ivy and sedum, which flower in the autumn, will help butterflies, like the small tortoiseshells, get through their winter hibernation. Some butterflies, notably, red admirals, like to feast on rotting fruit, so don’t clear up all your fallen apples. In spring, dandelions, pussy willow and bluebells provide a welcome sugary drink for butterflies newly emerged from hibernation. These decorative insects are so lovely, it’s worth adding a few extra plants into your garden to attract them in.

Stacey Gardner Foot Health MCFHP MAFHP Registered with the British Association of Foot Health Professionals

Foot care in your own home.

Routine foot care £25, appointments cover: toenail trimming, corns, callus, fungal infections, cracked heel care, diabetic foot care.

Please allow up to 1 hour for appointments.

Please call 01568 368306 or 07540566871 For further information visit

38 Painted Lady Butterfly. Gill Humphrey Demoiselle. David Cheshire

Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Gill Humphrey

Tortoiseshell Butterfly Iris Gill Humphrey Carol Clare

Clematis. Carol Clare

39 Croft with Yarpole and Lucton Parish Church Services July, August and September 2021 Date Service Church Time Sunday 4 July Holy Communion – Book of Common Prayer Croft 9.30 Sunday 11 July Holy Communion – Common Worship Yarpole 9.30

Sunday 18 July Holy Communion -Book of Common Prayer Yarpole 8.30

Sunday 25 July Themed Service - Archdeacon Derek Chedzey Yarpole 9.30 Sunday 1 Holy Communion – Book of Common Prayer Croft 9.30 August Sunday 8 Holy Communion – Common Worship Yarpole 9.30 August Sunday 15 Holy Communion -Book of Common Prayer Yarpole 8.30 August Sunday 22 Themed non-communion service Yarpole 9.30 August Sunday 29 5th Sunday joint service Brimfield 11.00 August Sunday 5 Sep- Holy Communion – Book of Common Prayer Croft 9.30 tember Sunday 12 Holy Communion – Common Worship Yarpole 9.30 September Sunday 19 Holy Communion -Book of Common Prayer Yarpole 8.30 September Sunday 26 Themed non-communion service Yarpole 9.30 September

* Please notes the change to the usual pattern of service. Any further changes to the programme will be displayed on notice boards and on the Community website Anyone wishing to contact a priest please phone: Rev. Matthew Burns on 01568 614399, [email protected] For other information please phone: Priory Office 612124 Monday to Friday 9.30 – 1.00