Issue No 508 November 2020 New arrivals Students and cows on Stonesfield Common The picture shows students from the When cattle are allowed to graze freely they Abingdon and Witney agricultural college select different plants, and even different (who own the cattle) having just herded the parts of the plant, to nibble or browse. Over four cows and their calves up Akeman Street time, this selective eating by the animals onto Stonesfield Common. They will stay on creates a varied structure within the plants the Common until January. The UK has 34 and the habitat. It is this that helps create the native cattle breeds, of which 14 are rare. right conditions for a wide range of plants, These cows are Whitebred Shorthorns. They insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals to exist. are among the 14 and considered rare The weight of the cows ensures that flower according to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. seeds are pressed into the soil by their hooves, which will help germination in the spring. The breed originates from the border country in the North of England and is a good choice These cattle are helping us manage the for upland land management. They require Common to maintain and enhance its Site of little supplementary feeding, so are ideal for Special Scientific Interest status. I hope you’ll overwintering on the rough grazing of visit the cows and be sure to follow the rules Stonesfield Common. The breed are that are posted on the gates. considered to be docile, good mothers, and Richard Morris easy to manage. #Backthewhitehorse Share Offer is now open. See page 6 November 2020 Stonesfield Slate 1 Christmas Gifts from our Creatives A Blackbird Sang (Genny Early Kerry Burniston: painter/ Sonja Burniston: printmaker/ & Tony Davis): art in paper, maker *** illustrator wood and steel inspired by [email protected] [email protected] Nature 01993 891700 01993 891700 (Kerry Burniston) [email protected] www.kerryburniston.co.uk Instagram: @sonjaburniston 01993 891030 Instagram: @kerryburniston A range of colourful and heartfelt www.ablackbirdsang.com I make all sorts! Colourful, highly screen-prints, posters and cards at A range of nature-inspired sustainable decorated paper bird ornaments, prices ranging from £3 to £60. Please gifts in wood, paper and steel: wooden painted pebble jewellery, framed call Kerry for an appointment to view Christmas decorations £6; steel leaves painted slates, oil and acrylic paintings, both Sonja and Kerry’s work at the with quotations £9.95; tealights painted paper collage, prints, same time. (snowdrops, wrens, cow parsley, hares, notecards and small string baskets. deer) £12; garden sculptures £12-£55; Prices range from £2.50 to £400. steel bird silhouettes for fences, gates, Please call for an appointment to view etc. £7.50-£15; indoor/outdoor wall with no obligation to buy. art £79-£329. Local delivery available. Carport Christmas Art & Craft Market 28 & 29 November, 10am-3pm, at Grey Cat Studio, Woodlands Rise, Stonesfield. This event will be subject to Covid-19 guidelines for social distancing and the wearing of masks *** Exhibiting artists Disclaimer The Stonesfield Slate is a village amenity, produced and distributed by volunteers. It can not be held responsible for any of the views expressed in its pages nor does it endorse any of the products or services advertised. Whilst we strive to ensure all information is correct, we are not responsible for anything that happens as a result of you using the information. If you find any errors or omissions then please contact the Publisher and we will endeavour to correct them. The editor and the publishers reserve the right to edit, shorten or omit any article submitted. Publishers Editor for Dec/Jan issue Copy: Diane & Paul Bates, Dale Morris Deadline for next issue 15 Nov Waterloo Barn, Laughton Hill, (898210) Please email copy to Stonesfield, OX29 8DY [email protected] [email protected] (898841) or contact the Editor. [email protected] Editor Printer Advertising: Lynda Parkinson Windrush Press, Witney Deadline for next issue 10 Nov (898418) Advertisements to [email protected] ©TheStonesfieldSlate 2020 slate-ads@stonesfield.online Current and past copies of the Slate available at www.stonesfield.online/slate 2 November 2020 Stonesfield Slate Christmas Gifts from our Creatives Chris Davies: artist/printmaker Nick Hooper Rebecca Sherlaw-Johnson *** (Finalist, BBC Big Painting [email protected] [email protected] Challenge 2018) 07968 286810 01993 891328 / 07771 707818 [email protected] ‘Bird Being’, a children’s story for 11 Paintings, brightly hand-painted boxes, 01993 891693 / 07966 626403 year-olds and over, contains bird tables, bug houses and wooden Facebook: @paintedwallcandy illustrations by Stonesfield artists and items from £10 to £80. Local delivery A range of reasonably-priced prints of will be available from mid-November. available. Photographs can be landscapes and nature from £40 to ‘Six Strings’ CD – solo guitar of Irish provided by email. £70 and Christmas cards from £5 per tunes, awarded five stars by R&R pack. Please get in touch for an magazine and priced at £10. Both Griselda Sherlaw-Johnson: appointment to view. items sold in aid of ‘Back the White embroidered felt designs *** Horse’. [email protected] Claire Fyfe-Jackson Original and colourful embroidered 01993 898327 Jenny Lines: artist/printmaker felt designs including animal tree Instagram: @clairefyfejackson [email protected] decorations, window hangings, small Unique handmade designer jewellery 01993 898454 / 07468 563014 pouches and cases – all hand-sewn in silver and semi-precious stones; www.jennysprints.com and each one individual, they make flowers made from recycled metal. A range of etchings, many inspired by ideal presents. Especially for Christmas – sprigs of the landscape around Stonesfield. Stonesfield Soap Company mistletoe, holly and flower Available framed or unframed from (Tanya Bainbridge): decorations made from recycled £70 to £200. Free delivery in time for handmade soaps, metal, some with crystals, to decorate Christmas within a five mile radius. aromatherapy bath and your home or as a unique present. Please see my website and call or skincare products email for prices, availability and any info@stonesfieldsoap.com Judith Henderson further information. 01993 891949 [email protected] www.stonesfieldsoap.com 07966 314095 David Rudge Light Frame We make a range of luxury artisan Hand-rolled beeswax candles in red, Designs soaps and aromatherapy bath and green or yellow, £2 each/three for £5; [email protected] skincare products crafted from available as long as stocks last. 01993 898084 / 07814 142658 natural plant oils and butters. Prices Proceeds from these to the Friends of www.drlightframedesigns.co.uk range from £4 to £19 depending on Frank Wise School, a Special School in Covent Garden’s silhouette artist product and packaging. Gift sets Banbury. Collection by arrangement. David Rudge lights up your favourite available. Orders received by 10 ‘Pete’s Trees’: a CD of folk fiddle and images in solid light frames. All December qualify for free local guitar performed by silhouettes are hand-cut and lit delivery; collection from us also Henderson:Hooper, £10 from beautifully. Commissions taken. www.wordandnote.com or as above. available. Rachael Sherlaw-Johnson *** [email protected] 01993 891318 www.rachaelsherlaw-johnson.co.uk Vibrant, exciting oil paintings from £40 to £200; cards £2 & books c.£10. Appointments to view can be made subject to Covid-19 guidelines (one person at a time and masks to be worn). Local delivery available. November 2020 Stonesfield Slate 3 Notices & news Changes due to COVID-19 Those who meet the criteria, and have been Please check the latest Government provided with an eight-character account guidelines before attending any events. reference from the NHS Test and Trace Service, will be eligible for a one-off The publishers and editor cannot be held payment of £500. responsible for any events mentioned in the Slate that are changed or cancelled due For more information and to apply for a to any new restrictions that come into force test and trace support payment, see: or for any other reason. www.westoxon.gov.uk/council-tax-and- benefits/coronavirus-council-tax-and- Publishers and editor benefits/ West Oxfordshire District Remembrance Sunday 8 Council November – important The Government has launched a new It is with great regret and sadness that, due payment for those on low incomes who are to the complexities of COVID-19 unable to work while self-isolating. restrictions, there will be NO formal Act of West Oxfordshire District Council will be Remembrance at the War Memorial this processing applications and making year. This decision has only been made payments to those who: after strenuous efforts with the appropriate authorities to find a way for it to go ahead, • Have been told to stay at home and self- and everyone recognises that this isolate by NHS Test and Trace, either ceremony will be hugely missed. because they have tested positive for coronavirus or have recently been in Organisations may still, of course, wish to close contact with someone who has lay wreaths informally, and should do so as tested positive and when they wish. • Are employed or self-employed There will be a service at the Parish Church at 10am, and this will include two minutes’ • Are unable to work from home and will silence at 11am. Everyone is very warmly lose income as a result invited, but of course, numbers have to be • Are currently receiving Universal Credit, strictly limited. If you would like to attend, Working Tax Credit, income-based please email Employment and Support Allowance, [email protected] income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or telephone 898757. Seats will need to be Income Support, Housing Benefit and/ allocated on a first come, first served, or Pension Credit.