Path towards Astcote Wood, June 2011 To find out more about the Pattishall I’ve really enjoyed running the pop-up Pattishall Parochial Waites Charity or to download an shop and meeting so many local people Charities application form, please visit: and would like to take this opportunity to www.pattishallparish.org.uk/parish- thank you all for your support so far. Currently we have vacancies for the council/pattishall-charities The shop is based at Pattishall Parish Widows and Widowers’ Monthly Hall, NN12 8NN between Astcote and Pension. Pattishall and is open Wednesday to If you would like to apply, please write to Saturday 8am-4pm. the Clerk giving details of your age and Pippa Reeve the length of time you have been 07903 398533 resident in the Parish. If there are Gardening several applicants, the eldest will be Club selected first. The closing date for this is Wed June 30th. During this lockdown the Philippa’s Pop-up There are also funds available to Gardening Club has Pattishall Preschool support other specific, one-off continued to hold meetings most Farm Shop needs your help ... requirements within the community. months, albeit virtually via Zoom. In fact These are not age dependant and to make it easier for some speakers we Since moving to Pattishall a year ago at decided to take out a Zoom licence so We have an upcoming vacancy to fill of applications should be made to the the start of lockdown, I noticed a gap in ‘Voluntary Treasurer’. If you have clerk. we could have full-length meetings and the village, with the lack of a shop. enable the speakers to co-host and experience in a role like this and would Letters should be addressed to: present their slides as ‘normal’. We've I have previously worked in the wedding, like to help please get in touch. As The Clerk to the Trustees enjoyed hearing about the wildlife that events and food industry, so have a described in the title, this role is Mrs Wendy Watts exists in the parks of Milton Keynes, small amount of experience in this area. voluntary and you will be subject to a 59 Leys Road making sure we've got the right plant in Whilst being furloughed from my DBS check if successful. Pattishall the right place and tips on creating and previous job and having moved away, I Please contact Nicola or Lisa NN12 8JY maintaining herbaceous borders. saw this as the chance to create my own [email protected] business and on the 7th April 2021, a Further information on Pattishall One of the advantages of Zoom is that new village shop was created. Charities can be found at: you can invite speakers from further www.pattishallparish.org.uk/parish- afield. So, on 2nd June we have a talk The aim of the pop-up shop is to supply council/pattishall-charities booked with the Commonwealth War the parish and other villages with local, Graves Commission (CWGC) entitled affordable and good-quality food all on Gardening the World - the Horticulture of the doorstep. Student Grants for 2021/2022 the CWGC and then on 6th July we're off I grew up on a farm in Warwickshire so Off to college or to Wales to wander virtually through the National Botanic Garden of Wales. feel that one of the main aims of the university? farm shop is to support local farmers by Studying for an As lockdown eases we're hoping to selling their products whether the flour apprenticeship? resume our face-to-face meetings in the from Heygates, the meat from Joseph If you are starting or continuing a further autumn and perhaps book 1 or 2 of the Morris or the honey from local farms, education course this autumn and would outings we had planned for last year that along with other products. had to be cancelled. like to apply for a grant, the closing date The bread is very popular, and has the is November 21st 2021 and no late If any other clubs would like to use our lowest food miles, coming from applications will be accepted. Please Zoom licence I would be happy to make Whittlebury Bakery. The renowned pork note the application form needs to be it available at a small cost. pies come from Towbury Court at completed and receipts will be required. Towcester, again with low food miles. Christine Russell AroundPattishall Summer2021 2 3 AroundPattishall Summer2021 The Astcote Flock of Leicester Longwools As you wander through the tree lined During the last few years wool has been Last year most of our fleeces went to footpath leading from Suttons Walk, making a comeback with the resurgence Holland but they also go to Germany, South to North, there is often a flock of of spinning, felting, peg looming, knitting Spain &America as well as to the UK. sheep grazing in an adjacent paddock. etc. The white fleeces were dominant, At present it costs more to shear a The sheep look quite different to the much prized because they can easily be commercial sheep than the value of the commercial breeds more commonly dyed, but this has now been surpassed fleece, whereas the high-quality lustrous seen and are Leicester Longwools. They by the black ones. These fleeces exhibit fleece of the Leicester can still command come in either black or white and are shades of charcoal, amber and grey prices in excess of £25. distinctive with their ringlet fleeces and along with black making beautiful yarn topknots. They are one of the rarest for today’s desire for natural tones and Barry Evans breeds of sheep with about 250 colours. breeding black females and 700 white ones left in the UK. Although rare it does not make them more valuable than their commercial counterparts as fewer people keep them and the subsequent demand is therefore lower. highly undesirable and more than often We Need Some Help We meet once a month, on the first was culled at birth. It may have given Please! Thursday of the month, at 7.00 pm, at Before the Second World War the rise to the old saying “The Black Sheep the hall. So if you could spare an Leicester Longwool was the most of the Family.” I hope you will all agree that hour or so once a month, come along numerous of all our native breeds of and meet us. We are a fun bunch of sheep with numbers running in to Steadily a few black Leicesters Pattishall Parish Hall and Playing Field is a great asset for us all to friendly local people and we do have millions. During the war, the country appeared and in 1986, after nearly some laughs at the meetings I can tell needed land for corn and dairy so only ninety years, the Leicester Association enjoy. We have a great community building and outdoor space in School you! You will make some new friends, sheep adapted for upland grazing were finally recognised the existence of the join in the discussions and encouraged which signalled the demise black sheep! Nevertheless, there are Road that benefits us all, whether coming to enjoy the decision making, and help of the Leicesters and other lowland still breeders, not only of Leicesters but keep this wonderful local breeds. After the war lamb instead of other breeds of sheep, who are many clubs and groups there, book for a party, come community asset going. So mutton became more popular and the completely against black sheep and who why not make a contribution Leicester being slow to mature could not would dearly like to see them treated as to a community event, play football, cricket, enjoy the to the area you live in, how compete with the faster growing they were in Victorian times. Even in the great would that be! commercial sheep. To compound show ring I have been asked by the kids’ play equipment, and matters, synthetic fibres started to presiding judge why I keep black sheep. lots more. Do please contact me if you Needless to say, my sheep came bottom appear, becoming fashionable and much These facilities are kept would like to know more, of the pile. At the next show, The Great desired (after the austere war years) for going by a bunch of lively, have a chat about what we Yorkshire (arguably the most prestigious its affordability and bright colours. and rather lovely, volunteers do, or if you would like to join in the country) the same sheep was on the Hall and Field us at a meeting to see what The Leicester Longwools can trace their awarded reserve longwool champion committees. Three very long it’s all about … you will be heritage back to 1750 when they were beating nearly 300 other sheep. We standing members, Jo, Jane and Iris, very welcome. I look developed by the agricultural pioneer, have shown our Astcote Flock of are retiring from their roles in June forward to hearing from you. Contact Robert Bakewell. He was extremely Leicesters throughout the country and having more than done their bit and me on 01327 830279 or secretive about his breeding programme have been fortunate to have been our very grateful thanks to them. So [email protected]. but, undoubtedly, he did use a black awarded championships or reserve we have some vacancies we would breed of sheep in the genetic mix as an champions at the Suffolk, New Forest, Suzanne like to fill.Think you could help us occasional black lamb was produced Stoneleigh and Berkshire Shows.