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A Newsletter for the Villages of King's Thorn, & Much Birch – May 2008

Much Birch Village Market Don’t forget the next Market which is on DIARY DATES MAY 2008 FRIDAY 25TH APRIL between 2.30pm. 1ST MAY – M.B.P.C. Meeting and 4.30pm. in Much Birch Community 10TH MAY – Grand Designs & Posh Puds Hall. Cut your ‘food miles’.... come along 13TH MAY – Evergreen Club Outing to support producers. 13TH MAY – Whist Drive The MAY market is FRIDAY 23RD. As 20TH MAY – W.I. well as the usual producers, we have some 23RD MAY – Village Market new ones. Greenflynn greengrocers bring 29TH MAY - Bingo vegetables and fruit at reasonable prices and Lynn, from Fresh From the Field, will ADVANCE NOTICES take orders for Free Range poultry, as well 11TH JUNE- New Mills Farm walk with Adrian Harvey as bringing a small amount for sale on the 15TH JUNE- Open gardens at Uplands day. The Country Fudge Company had a 27TH JUNE – Halfway Community Theatre stand for the first time in January and has 4TH JULY- Summer Pudding evening asked to come again, which is what we like to hear! Laura is bringing unusual herbaceous plants to help us look forward ______9.00 The Park, Wormelow to summer. Hopefully, by the time you Grand Designs – Posh Puds 9.05 Tump Lane (Middle) read this, we shall have a regular Come and hear the behind the scenes story 9.10 Poor Clares Convent fishmonger too. of GRAND DESIGNS’ visit to Hallow 9.15 Kings Thorn Bus Shelter We wish Lorraine and Gordon Games, of End House, Much Birch; the trials, 9.20 M.B. Church Bus Stop Gorzac Farms, well, after their accident on tribulations, fun & excitement of building 9.25 Axe & Cleaver Bus Stop the way to the January Market and look your own grand design. 9.40 Merton Hotel forward to seeing them again soon. There will be punch on arrival and 9.45 Fonteine Court ______Please come to visit us and maybe enjoy a afterwards you can try as many puds and cup of tea or coffee and a piece of cake desserts as your little tum can manage! Whist Drive provided by Chris . Bring your own drink. We are holding a Whist Drive at Little For further details please contact Kath SATURDAY, 10TH MAY at 7.00pm. in Birch Village Hall on TUESDAY 13TH Watts 01981 540382 Much Birch hall, For tickets at £10 per MAY. We shall start at 7.30pm. The ______head Please ring: Lesley 01981 540366 or entrance fee will be £1.50. There are M.B.P.C. John 540980 excellent prizes and refreshments will be Parish Council Meetings This must be the perfect way to spend a available. New players are always The Parish Council meets on the first Saturday evening! welcome. Thursday of each month (excluding ______August & January) at 7.30pm. in the Evergreen Club W.I. Community Centre. Local residents are The sun shone on us in Tewkesbury for The Open meeting in April was a great very welcome to attend and air their views the morning of our first outing of the year. success. Ellie Targett gave a very in the Open Discussion. The afternoon in the Cotswolds, with interesting talk. Unfortunately there are no minutes for Mary Badger, was as great a success as it The meeting on TUESDAY 20TH MAY is publication this month. was last year and very much enjoyed by a Resolutions meeting which is for TH Next meeting everyone. On TUESDAY 13 MAY we members only. THURSDAY 1ST MAY at 7.00pm. is the shall be going to Hungerford, arriving in ______Annual Meeting of Much Birch Parish. It time to browse in the antique shops or Bingo will be followed by the AGM of M.B. stroll along the Kennett and Avon canal. This will be at Little Birch Village Hall on Parish Council and then the Parish There is a handy café and a choice of THURSDAY 29TH MAY. Eyes down Council Meeting. places for lunch. In the afternoon we at 8.00pm. There are good prizes and have a trip on a canal boat with tea. The Parish Clerk refreshments will be available. cost is £15 for members and £17 for If you have any queries on Parish Council ______matters please telephone the Clerk on visitors. This includes the boat fare and 01432 870874 or write to: Mrs Kath tea. The numb er to ring is 01981 540932. Halfway Community Theatre TH Greenow, Hackford House, Dinedor, The pick-ups are:- On FRIDAY 27 JUNE at 7.30pm in , HR2 6PD. 8.45 Brandon Coach Depot Much Birch Community Hall, we proudly 8.55 Tump Lane (bungalows) present our 'SUMMER SIZZLER'!!! Join us for an evening of music and and sat outside and waited to walk home Daisy Cooke’s wedding. He worked up drama, including a welcome return to the at lunchtime. until noon at Whitecross Farm, Bridstow, folk group 'Compost Heap'. In those days water was a precious cycled home to Little Birch, had a wash Tickets are £6.00 from Jenny Wrigley on resource and while a rainwater tank for and change and met up with Frank at 01981 540617. washing was helpful all drinking water Sunnybank to walk to Little Birch Church. (Strawberries and sparkling wine are had to be carried twice a day from the He sang in the choir at Little Birch Church included) . local wells and Wrigglebrook Pitch for many years with the three brothers and ______seemed very steep when carrying two three sisters Bowen from Church Farm. Local News buckets of water. They enjoyed summer outings to Barry, th A warm welcome is extended to MANDY On his 14 . birthday in 1931, Frank saw Bristol and Bath and the Forest of Dean and STEPHEN NAYLOR who have the teacher, Mrs. Jones at 9am. and told under the leadership of the then curate, moved into Prospect Cottage together with her he had found a job. She wished him Rev. Ind. their dog, ’Meg’. We hope they will be well and off he went to the Guy’s Hospital In the 1930’s, the rifle club at Kings Thorn very happy in their new home. Estate Yard at the bottom of the Thorn and was very strong and Frank with David Congratulations are sent to ELAINE and started work at 9.30am. His first job was Dyke, Vic Symonds, Raymond Gwynne DAN LANE, who have moved to Lea, on at Twyford where a cottage chimney was and others won the Hereford League on at the birth of Alice May who weighed in at being rebuilt and he assisted the late least two occasions and he still had the 8lb. Charles Gwynne (Roy’s father). He medals that were awarded. These small A very warm welcome is also given to worked for Guy’s Hospital for some 12 bore target competitions took place mainly PATSY and ANDREW COLLINSON years, mainly on building maintenance in the winter evenings which meant that who are preparing to move into Model and learned a good deal about bricklaying they had to race home from work, have Cottage, Little Birch with their 3 children, and stonework especially from the late their meal and a wash and then catch a bus Holley, Iona and Aidan. We hope they Frank Verry and in due time became a if they were playing away. The matches will be very happy in the community. skilled craftsman himself. took them all over the area from Ross to It is good to report that FRANK SHORT In those days Guys Hospital Estate Wellington. On the way home, Frank is feeling much better and now at home covered some 10,000 acres across most of would play the mouth-organ to lead the after his stay in Gloucester Hospital. from Vowchurch to singing which only stopped when the We are sorry to hear of the death of MR. Ross in the south and Lyde to the north. instrument became blocked with crisps! FRANK COOKE of Little Birch at the Travelling to these farms was by bicycle They had a one-valve radio in the family Weir Nursing Home at the age of 90. for which an allowance of one shilling per cottage and, in 1939, they heard Frank was born at Snowdell, Holme Lacy, week (10p) on top of the ten shillings Chamberlain telling them that war had the home of his mother’s sister. He never (50p) wage (a total of 55p per five-and-a- been declared with Germany. He joined saw his father who was killed in Belgium half days’ work in present monetary the Home Guard in 1940 and uniforms in Sept. 1917 a few months after he was denominations). The employees had to be were issued in 1941. Training took place born. This left his mother in great distress at their place of work by 7.30am. A during the evenings and at week ends and as she could no longer manage their number of amusing incidents occurred there was a look out point in the field smallholding in Little Birch and so she over that period including one at Stretton opposite Lower House at the far end of moved in with her parents at a cottage at Sugwas, where there were three Barrack Hill from where the Munitions Ramsden, Upper Bogmarsh. At the age of interconnecting fishponds. There was a Factory at Rotherwas and the city could be four, Frank started school at Holme Lacy leak in the stonework of one of the ponds observed. The Home Guard also guarded and with the late Dulcie Morgan (nee requiring the water to be drained to effect important road junctions and carried out Ruck) who lived at Newtown, walked the repair. Frank was working with Frank vehicle checks. In 1942, Frank joined the across the fields down to Holme Lacy and Verry and when the pond was almost Royal Artillery and after training at back again after school no matter what the empty, the latter picked up five or six Paignton, was posted to Plymouth to man weather. Two years later after his large fish and secreted them in his six inch guns which were guarding the grandfather died his mother and ‘poachers pocket’. Almost immediately, harbour and which suffered continued grandmother moved to ‘Sunnybank’ in the farmer appeared to see how the work German air attacks. Later that year, he was Parish Lane, Little Birch. This stood on was progressing and then the fish started posted to Whitby where again there were the site now occupied by ‘Willowside’. jumping in the poachers pocket. Frank two large guns overlooking the sea. This enabled him to attend Much Birch Verry started jumping up and down too These were housed in the camouflaged School where he stayed until he was and the farmer asked Frank Cooke if there Ladies and Gents toilets. Every morning, fourteen. He was very good at drawing was anything the matter with him. This the soldiers had to run up 101 steps near and painting and won a 1st and 2nd prize at went on for some minutes finally the the Abbey where an officer would hand a Much Birch Flower Show. From the farmer walked away muttering that Frank out breakfast chits. Then they had to run play area of the ‘Old School’, the children Verry ought to visit the doctor! back down and into the town to get their could see and hear what was coming along On another occasion the two of them were meal. the main road and there was great racing each other home from Llangarron. In 1943, he joined the mountain Artillery excitement whenever a car or lorry Unfortunately their bikes got too close and Battery at Edinburgh and later the unit approached. The junction at the top of the pedal of his mate’s cycle became moved to Dingwall for training where he Tump Lane was much more abrupt and entangled in the spokes of his rear wheel. qualified as a radio signaler. The guns vision very limited so that accidents This resulted in him having to wheel his and all equipment were carried by mules. between cars, horse drawn vehicles, motor cycle, with the rear wheel off, all the way It was bitterly cold weather in the Scottish bikes and pedal bikes happened quite back to Carslake’s Garage at Much Birch mountains and it was no fun trying to frequently - nothing changes. Frank’s for repairs. control the stubborn mules. Later he th dog ‘Ben’, always followed him to school On Saturday August 4 . 1937, Frank was trained to be a radar operator and was due to be best man at Frank Short and based at Ravenscarr on the East Yorkshire coast, overlooking the North Sea. This Weekend leave was spent by going to there. He sat in the entrance with others was in the early days of radar and each Bombay by train. Young boys would to take the entry money for the Saturday unit could only sweep 10 miles in each jump on the train as it was pulling into the night dances , which were so popular, that, direction so that there were similar units station and if one wore spectacles and each week, coach loads of people came every 20 miles along the coast. The unit leaned out of the window, they would be from Hereford and Credenhill Camp. had to track the paths of both British and whipped off and the boys were gone He had always been keen on Football and German planes and also shipping through before the spectacles could be recovered. Boxing and on 17th May 1955, got up at the minefields in the North Sea. On one Troops were billeted in open ended 2.45am to listen to the Don Cockell and summer evening, Frank picked up what thatched structures . One day he found a Rocky Marciano world heavy weight title appeared to be a large stationary vessel in monkey sitting on his bed looking in his fight. the North Sea and radioed an alert to the shaving mirror. The monkey kept looking Vera and Frank bought Shirley Cottage Admiralty in Newcastle. He then went behind the mirror to see where the other from Jack and Sid Watkins in July1956. outside with his binoculars and found that monkey was. Further improvements were made to the the radar was picking up a very large flock Meals were served in mess tins which had cottage and water was only connected of seagulls resting on the sea. He radioed to be collected from the cook house but after Frank laid an alkathene pipe in the 60 Newcastle again just in time to prevent the walking back to the billet could be yard long trench he had dug from ‘The ‘Invasion Alert’ being put into operation. hazardous as hawks would swoop over Glen’. In July 1967 his mother suffered a A German bomber was gunned down and your shoulders and whip the food out of severe stroke and died in Hospital shortly crashed below the cliffs where he was the tins. Biscuits were also part of the afterwards. based and, after Canadian specialists took rations but they were often infested with After he passed his driving test, he took whatever equipment they wanted, Frank weevils. over a Morris 8 from his step-father, Mr. and his colleagues climbed down and took He returned home in September 1946 Boneham. Vera and he enjoyed several the leftover radio equipment which was having disembarked in Liverpool and been holidays, even travelling up to Newcastle, somehow fixed to play Victor Sylvester demobilised in York. He married Vera at which took all day, as there were no records for the dances at Staintondale Monkseaton, Whitley Bay on 5th April motorways at that time. In 1968, he three or four miles away which were 1947. They came to live in Sunnybank bought a Riley Kestrel from H.A.Saunders attended by the soldiers and farmers’ Cottage with Frank’s mother and then trading in his old Viva, which had always daughters from the surrounding areas . moved into Shirley Cottage in January suffered many problems. He took his The quickest route for the soldiers was by 1948 when they began to improve the neice, Joan and her husband Ken down to ‘sleeper walking’ down the railway track property as there were no facilities in any see the new Severn Bridge and finished up and the girls came on horseback over the shape or form. on the motorway. Undaunted they sped moors. He started work for Chivers, the builders, over the bridge and Frank decided to show He used the metal they hacked off the at the Rotherwas factory and bought a his visitors how fast the Riley would go, plane to make model aircraft which were Royal Enfield motor cycle in 1950 to help eventually reaching in excess of 100mph, so good that the different fighters and him get to work in varying locations in frightening himself as well as his visitors bombers were instantly recognisable. They Hereford. Vera also added to their income in the process. have stood proudly on the sideboard at his by going to pick fruit and hops. She also Vera and Frank left Shirley Cottage in home ever since. kept poultry and helped him build up a 1983 to move into ‘Daneswood’ with Due to a shortage of Grade 1 fit men, very productive garden. He worked on Vera’s mother, Mrs. Herring, because she women were trained to operate the radar various churches in the neighbourhood was getting very frail. She died in May and Frank returned to his Artillery Battery. and recalled the scariest moments when 1988, and had given Frank and Vera a Early in 1945, the unit was posted to working on the tower of St. Davids, Much pretty hard time as they only had one India. They sailed on a converted Polish Dewchurch, when wooden ladders were room in which to live. cruise liner from Glasgow down to the roped together to get to the right height They were now able to live a more normal English channel, through the and they swayed violently in the wind. No life, to get out and about and enjoy life a Mediterranean and Suez Canal into the Health and Safety then!! bit better. The Riley was taken in part Indian Ocean and disembarked at He also helped build the chapel at exchange for a Ford Fiesta Ghia. Bombay. Whenever long distance Credenhill Camp, extended the rear of the They were very friendly with Miss swimming cropped up in conversation, building at Carvers Solicitors and worked Lawrence their next door neighbour and Frank would always say that he swam the on the MEB showroom in Widemarsh joined the Evergreen Club at L.B.Hall and furthest, in fact all the way to India. This Street, the council estate at Mordiford, the the Red Cross Over 60’s Club which met was partly true as there was a swimming houses on Redhill, the council estate in at Park Hall. Both clubs organised outings pool on the ship in which he swam every Tump Lane and the strong room at the and thrived for many years. Vera’s health day. SAS camp Bradbury Lines (later renamed gradually declined in the late 1990’s and The unit was based near Hyderabad and Stirling Lines). He was a skilled bricklayer she sadly passed away in 1999 which left trained in the mountains, using mules to and mason and was always given the Frank utterly devastated as he had done carry the guns and equipment. Frank used tricky jobs, such as building the bay everything for her and nursed her for a to say that the gun carriage wheels would windows and chimneys. long period. However, he was very be roped over the mule, one each side with Most of the social life of the village determined and with the help of Joyce and the breach and barrel on their backs. This centred around the school, church and the Roger Allsebrook and a number of friends was terribly heavy and the mules often lost Memorial Hall at Kings Thorn, where in the village, he managed to keep going their footing and rolled down the dances and whist drives were held each very well. His cousin, Dorothy, from little mountainside. Undeterred, they would week. Fund raising events were also held Dewchurch also visited regularly. He shake off the dust and start off up the to raise cash for a village hall in Little bought a new Toyota Yaris and did his mountain again. Birch. When the hall was opened in 1951, shopping and attended the Evergreen and Frank and Vera spent many happy hours Pop-In Clubs as well as keeping up his garden. Joan and Ken came down from insulation of the building and to carryout Lesley Lowe 01981 540366 Prudhoe, near Newcastle as often as they redecoration works. [email protected] could and took him for days out around These benefits to all user groups were ______the county. In 2006, Frank suffered an mainly achieved after securing a grant Neighbourhood Watch aneurysm which caused him to become from the ‘Welcome to our Future’, an Overnight 29th February/1st March a large th fragile. He celebrated his 90 birthday on organisation dedicated to sustainable quantity of sheets of insulation was taken th 7 July 2007 with a party at home developments. The Organisation manages from premises being renovated at Broad organised by Joan. the Severn Waste Environmental Fund in Oak. In November, his health began to Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Overnight 5th & 6th March a dumper truck deteriorate and he struggled to get through necessary ‘topping up’ monies were and an excavator were moved from a the winter, eventually going into hospital obtained by a range of local fund raising building site at Grafton Inn. They were in March and then to The Weir Nursing activities organised by the Hall abandoned half a mile away. th Home where he died peacefully at on 13 Management Committee. Between 10th and 11th March a cement April. His funeral service was held in Very grateful thanks go to the ‘Welcome mixer was taken from premises being th Little Birch Church on 25 April and was to our Future’ Organisation, and to Glen renovated at the bottom of Barrack Hill. followed by internment in Vera’s grave at Simms and Dave Jones who carried out Overnight 14th/15th March 600 litres of Much Birch. He will be very sadly missed. the enabling building and electrical work. heating oil was taken from a storage tank Thanks are expressed to the doctors and ______at premises in Wormbridge. nurses from Much Birch Surgery for their Catering Course During March, flowers on a grave at St care whilst he was at home. Mary’s Church, Little Birch have been 12 people attended the ‘Food Safety in At the time of writing, MRS. MACLEOD removed and destroyed. Catering Course’ which was held in Much of Tump Lane has just passed away and Between 22nd & 24th a farm building was Birch Community Hall recently. more will appear next month. attacked at Callow. A roof sheet was taken Congratulations to them all on obtaining ______off and the building entered. A VW drop the Level 2 Award. The course Footpaths Officer side vehicle and its load of slates was concentrated on the first principles of There is a vacancy for a Footpaths Officer taken. good practice, covering the things needed for Much Birch Parish. Parish Councils Overnight 23rd/24th damage was caused to to ensure that the food which is made and appoint Footpaths Officers who work a car in a driveway at Green lane and a prepared, is safe to serve, sell, and is safe directly to the relevant Herefordshire window was smashed in premises near to to eat. All the principles are based on Council Footpaths Warden and copy Kingstone Church. scientific research, sound operational information to the Parish Council. The Overnight 24th/25th March two HGVs that experience and legal requirements. Well post is voluntary. were parked in lay-bys on the A465 at done to all! Job Description Wormbridge and Allensmore had diesel ______The Parish Footpaths Officer needs to taken from their tanks. walk the Parish footpaths regularly to Much Birch 100 Club Draw During the daytime 25th March a bag of ensure they are kept clear. He/she is a The April draw took place on Sunday, aluminium horseshoes was taken from representative of Herefordshire Council 13th April in Much Birch Community premises at St Devereux. th th and should be diplomatic and unbiased at Hall at 7.00pm Between 17 and 30 March heating oil all times. The essence of the job is co- The winners were: was taken from premises at Garway Hill. operation. The Parish Footpaths officer 1. No. 48 - Mrs P. Eggerton, Much Birch We are still experiencing thefts of heating will be directly responsible to the 2. No. 62 – Dr. J. Dinnen, Much Birch oil from domestic and commercial Herefordshire Council’s Area Warden. The next draw will take place on 10th May premises. A house in a semi -isolated The Parish Council are to be kept 2008 at 7.00pm at the Grand Designs and location in Kings Thorn had a large informed of footpath matters by way of a Posh Pudds event in Much Birch amount of oil taken, possibly between written report to The Parish Council and Community Hall. 1500 and 2000 litres, whilst the occupiers attendance at Parish Council meetings. John Jones, Chairman/Promoter were on holiday last week. For more information and also if you Central Heating Oil Also, a building site in Madley suffered a would like to apply for the position in this By grouping together it is possible to pay similar loss, this time about 1000 litres. I voluntary role please write or telephone: less for our oil! know Madley is off our area, but it's worth Mrs. Kath Greenow, Much Birch Parish A co-ordinator gathers orders from people being aware of incidents close by. Clerk, Hackford House, Dinedor, Hereford needing oil that month and contacts local Altogether in Herefordshire since 1st HR2 6PD. 01432 870874. Please note: companies for the best discounts. One November 2007, over 70 fuel thefts have The closing date for applications is Friday been reported, this includes theft from rd dealer I spoke to said this was between 1/2 23 May 2008. and 1% per litre, so on 1000 it could be up farms, industrial units, domestic premises, ______to £10.00. They are happy to do this and vehicles. because besides giving them a large There will undoubtedly have been many M.B. Community Hall more thefts that have not been reported to The ongoing upgrading of Much Birch order it cuts down on their tanker journeys, us, so the figure could be much higher. Community Hall has benefitted from the On 14th April, a gas meter was stolen installation of a new central heating boiler allowing the driver to spend, say, a morning in one small area. One group from a wall in a new housing development which will improve the warmth of the in Kingstone. ordered 25,500 lts, for 27 drops. building in a more efficient and economic Garden Crime If you are interested in the scheme or way and which replaced the problematic How to Nip it in the Bud would consider co-ordinating it, contact 30 year old boiler. The opportunity was Garden crime is an unfortunate reality. me and we can see if it will be viable in also taken at the same time to upgrade the Although many people take steps to our villages. protect their homes and the property inside them, they leave valuable equipment in These should be checked to ensure they not possible any more because the village gardens and unsecured sheds, providing cover garden and shed equipment and shop is no longer in Kings Thorn and, easy pickings for opportunist thieves. whether or not any minimum standards of quite naturally, the Post Office and Stores Power tools, mowers, garden tools, security apply. in Wormelow doesn’t feel able to make mountain bikes and golf clubs are just Do you know a Good Citizen? this collection. So we have no money some examples of expensive equipment West Mercia Constabulary is keen to hear coming in. Everybody in the community left in sheds that are not strong or secure about public-spirited youngsters as it of Much and Little Birch and Kings Thorn enough to protect them from thieves. To begins the search for the Good Citizens of has a free copy of the Newsletter put make matters worse, these stolen items 2008. through their letterbox at a cost of could then be used by the intruder to break Teachers, group leaders and members of approximately 25p per copy or £2.75 per into your house. the public are being asked to nominate year. About thirty households now have Around 1000 shed burglaries take place young people who have made outstanding it electronically, but that is a very small every year within West Mercia, which contributions to their local communities. proportion of our readers. Has anybody a highlights the importance of storing Good Citizen Awards are presented to bright idea as to how we can recoup some valuable items securely. Effective garden young people aged 18 or under, who have of the outlay so that the Parish Councils security covers everything from boundary carried out acts of outstanding courage or are not out of pocket. Should we fences and gates to the valuables stored generosity, or who have displayed discontinue the hard copy and simply have inside your shed. immense community spirit over the last it on the website? As part of our Safe & Secure campaign twelve months. we've pulled together the following hints Nomination forms have been sent to head This would, of course disenfranchise all and tips to keep your garden - and teachers at primary and high schools and those who do not have access to the therefore your home - secure. to youth groups across the force area. internet, which, to my mind is Protecting Your Boundaries They can also be downloaded from the unthinkable. The boundaries of your property are your West Mercia Constabulary website. Let us know your views and ideas please. first line of defence against burglars. Your Officers based @ Peterchurch Email me or write so that we can publish Gates, fences and walls which are not kept Sgt Robin Davies your views and ideas. in good repair could allow intruders to Email: Editor access the back and sides of your property. [email protected] ______Make sure that: Local Police Officer Rear garden fences are high enough to PC Andrew Bundy Items/Copy make climbing them difficult. A trellis can Mobile No: 07855 385 844 Please may I have items for the JUNE be used to add additional height Email: issue via post to : Side gates are positioned as close to the [email protected] Mrs. S.E. Mathews, Folly Cottage, Little front of the house as possible. Thieves will Community Support Officers Birch, HR2 8BD; or left in the post box at be put off by the fact that they are in full CSO 6173 Fiona Witcher 'Bramleys' or by email attachment in Word view of the neighbours Mobile No: 07779 141232 format to: Gates are kept locked at all times Email: [email protected] by Defensive Planting [email protected] Defensive planting’ is the term used to CSO 6993 Kevin Powell ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ describe the way you can use certain Mobile No: 07779 141 232 18TH MAY prickly plants, bushes and shrubs to deter Email: burglars. [email protected] ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ Think about using it to protect vulnerable Hereford Rural South Answer phone areas such as fences, windows, drainpipes 01432 346756 and boundary walls. Berberis, Pyracantha, Holly and Hawthorn are just a Non-Emergency phone few examples of defensive planting. Ask 08457 444 888 for advice at your local garden centre. Emergency phone 999 This green-leafed security measure is not meant to replace, but to complement other Your Local Representatives security measures, such as lighting, locks East and alarms. JOHN BULBECK - 540178 Secure Your Shed! Central Most garden sheds are not designed for BOB PETERS - 540670 safe storage and expensive items should West not be stored in them. BETTY PHILPOTT - 540614 However, if you have no alternative, there ______are steps you can take to maximise its security: Newsletter Keep your shed in good condition In the good old days when we had a Fit a closed shackle padlock to the door. Village Shop and Post Office, there was a Fittings should be bolted through the door tin on the shop counter into which people and any screws concealed would put their loose change or the odd £1 Fit grilles or mesh to the windows to help pay for its production. Other Invest in an alarm residents used to send donations – Household insurance policies anything from £1 to £5. This is