The Village News March 2021 Edition

THE VILLAGE NEWS MARCH 2021 EDITION

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1 – COVER 2 – PARISH COUNCILLORS 3 – STAFF & LOCAL COUNCIL 4 – COUNCIL WORKING GROUPS,COMMITTEES & REPS 5 – REVEREND MANDY Cover Photo 6 – ST EDMUNDS CHURCH The greater spotted 7 – KEITH NICHOLS woodpecker, courtesy of Sam 8 – LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS Auger-Forbes 9 – LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS 10 – LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS 11 – UPCOMING EVENTS 12 – UPCOMING EVENTS 13 – PHOTOS FROM LOCALS 14 – VOLUNTEER GROUPS 15 – LOCAL NEWS 16 – LOCAL NEWS 17 – FUN & GAMES 18 – COMMUNITY GARDEN 19 – AFRICA ALIVE! 20 – KESSINGLAND LIBRARY 21 – KESSINGLAND LIBRARY / ENTRIES

BEACH POST OFFICE, CIRCA 1920’S MARCH’S UPCOMING MEETINGS FULL COUNCIL – 10/03 @10:30

HIGHWAYS – 03/03 @10:00

PLANNING – 10/03 @10:00 & 23/03 @10:00 LEISURE – 15/03 @11:00 PERSONNEL – 22/03 @14:00 FINANCE – 24/03@11:00 EVENTS – 25/03 @10:00 1

YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS

CHAIR COUNCILLOR SID JAMES POSITION VACANT

Tel: 01502 740521 Email:sjames@kessinglan dparishcouncil.org.uk

VICE CHAIR COUNCILLOR DAVE BOYLE JULIE MCLEAN

Tel: 07707201300 Tel:07539696904 Email:dboyle@kessinglan Email:jmclean@kessinglan dparishcouncil.org.uk dparishcouncil.org.uk

COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR ALAN GREEN DAVID MOTTRAM

Tel: 07789644645 Tel: 07377624686 Email:agreen@kessinglan Email:dmottram@kessingl dparishcouncil.org.uk andparishcouncil.org.uk

COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR CHRISTINE COOK BARRY BURDEN

Tel: 07592555345 Tel: 01502 742442 Email:ccook@kessingland Email:bburden@kessingla parishcouncil.org.uk ndparishcouncil.org.uk

COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR BILLY NICHOLLS BOB SAUNDERS

Tel: 07584168200 Tel: 07901530770 Email:bnicholls@kessingla Email:bsaunders@kessing ndparishcouncil.org.uk landparishcouncil.org.uk

COUNCILLOR COUNCILLOR IAN GRAHAM MARTIN DUNNE

Tel: 07985462200 Tel: 01502 741945 Email:igraham@kessingla Email:mdunne@kessinglan ndparishcouncil.org.uk dparishcouncil.org.uk

COUNCILLOR KESSINGLAND PARISH CLAIRE GOWER COUNCIL

Tel: 07747441061 Tel: 01502 744367 Email:cgower@kessinglan Email:clerk@kessinglandp dparishcouncil.org.uk arishcouncil.org.uk Kessingland Parish Council Hall Road Kessingland, Lowestoft Suffolk, NR33 7PP

YOUR PARISH STAFF

CLERK & RFO DEPUTY CLERK NEIL COLEBY SHELLEY HOGG

Telephone: 01502 Telephone: 01502 744367 744367 Email: Email: clerk@kessinglandparish deputyclerk@kessingland council.org.uk parishcouncil.org.uk Office hours: Office Hours: Mon – Thu 9-5 Mon – Thu 9-5

CLEANSING OPERATIVES GENERAL FACTOTUM NIALL MCLEAN RUTH ORRIS PAUL REED

YOUR LOCAL COUNCILLORS

COUNTY COUNCILLOR DISTRICT COUNCILLOR MICHAEL LADD LETITIA SMITH

Tel: 01502 724337 / Tel: 01502 512862 / 07714597994 07596812358

Email: michael.ladd@su Email:Letitia.smith@easts ffolk.gov.uk uffolk.gov.uk

EAST SUFFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk Automated payments 0300 7900509 Out of hours emergencies 0800 440 2516 Find us on Facebook & Twitter

PARISH COUNCIL WORKING GROUPS, COMMITTEES & REPRESENTATIVES

EVENTS & COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE FINANCE & GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

CHAIR – D.Mottram CHAIR – B.Burden

MEMBERS – D.Boyle, J.McLean, C.Cook & C.Gower MEMBERS – D.Boyle, I.Graham, S.James & B.Nicholls

LEISURE & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

CHAIR – B.Nicholls CHAIR – I.Graham

MEMBERS – D.Boyle, B.Burden,J.McLean C.Cook & MEMBERS – D.Boyle, C.Cook & A.Green M.Dunne

PLANNING COMMITTEE EMERGENCY PLANNING WORKING GROUP

CHAIR – M.Dunne CO-ORDINATOR – D.Boyle DEPUTY – S.James MEMBERS – I.Graham, A.Green & B.Saunders MEMBERS – A.Green

HERITAGE WORKING GROUP

HEALTH & SAFETY WORKING GROUP CHAIR – A.Green

CHAIR – D.Boyle MEMBERS – M.Dunne

MEMBERS – C.Cook, J.McLean & B.Nicholls MARSH WARDEN – D.Boyle

HIGHWAYS & FOOTPATHS WORKING GROUP ALLOTMENTS – B.Nicholls

CHAIR – M.Dunne GREENER GROWTH – J.McLean

MEMBERS – A.GreeN & B.Saunders HIDDEN NEEDS IN YOUTH & ELDERLY

BEACH WARDENS C.Cook, C.Gower & D.Mottram NORTH – M.Dunne

SOUTH – S.James KSSC – C.Cook

CLEAN UP TEAMS – D.Boyle BENACRE & KESSINGLAND FLOOD GROUP M.Dunne KESSINGLAND IN NEED TRUST M.Dunne COMPASS SUITE TRUST

COMMUNITY ACTION SUFFOLK B.Burden & M.Dunne C.Cook

REVEREND MANDY

From the Rectory Revd Mandy writes about MOTHERING SUNDAY.

There are some places that speak to our hearts very powerfully. For me there are bits of Hampshire where I was born, twenty houses and a farm in a rural village. The village has memories of my grandmother’s house, of cold winters and a fire, of security, of summers messing about in fields, the woodland and the lakes. Good memories, with a sense of community, belonging and being loved. In the same way, Mothering Sunday is about place, about knowing where we are rooted, what gives us life, how we are related to others with a sense of community, belonging and being loved. Mothering Sunday is a place for starting from and returning to, because Mothering Sunday is about the Mother Church as a place and the “Mothering” of those we love. Mothering Sunday began as an explicitly religious event of the 16th Century, with no connection to mum’s at all. The word "mothering" referred to the "mother church", which is to say the main church or cathedral of the region. Here in our Benefice of Gisleham, Kessingland and Rushmere, it is Kessingland that would be termed the Mother Church, simply because of its size and the geography of the people it serves. It became a tradition that, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, people would return to their Mother Church for a special service. This pilgrimage was apparently known as "going a-mothering", and became something of a holiday event, with domestic servants traditionally given the day off to visit their own families as well as their mother church. Today many of us are disconnected from our roots, from our mother place. Lacking roots we now have to find ways to make a place of safety and welcome for other people at a difficult time. Lent began on February 17th, and on Good Friday that will culminate in the crucifixion of Jesus. His crucifixion was one of three that day, and in his most difficult time and theirs, Jesus created the first Christian community even while he was hanging on the cross. There were others who were finding it difficult because of the horror of Jesus crucifixion, his mother and his closest friend. All four, through Jesus find a new place and a new hope. You see, even in the darkest moments Jesus comes to us and makes a new place of nurture and hope for us. We are all invited. All we have to do is, listen to him, as John was guided to take Mary as his mother and Mary to take John as her son, Jesus draws them together in community. They were all fearful, alarmed, traumatised, and Jesus draws them together in community. This past year has brough so much fear, alarm, many struggles and much suffering; how can we find consolation in and from that? Many people would say through our parents, often through our mothers. A mother is another who “Mothers”us. God is like a mother. Jesus(God the Son),like a mother gathers his people, and is gentle with us as a mother with her children. All love has its source in the immeasurable, wonderful love of God. All consolation comes from God, through being loved, and it comes to us abundantly, so that then, we can give it to others; As we share our MOTHERING love of God with our community. As we love the struggling through Kessingland Church foodbank, as we share the mothering love of God to our FOTO’s (Folks On Their Own), perhaps do another’s shopping, lets us start or continue to pray with and for them from a distance. Then we will find that we are deeply consoled by our own gift of consolation. Not so long ago your mother Church, appealed for the community to come together, give food, write letters, draw pictures, call each other.....Most of whom were filled with understandable anxiety themselves....the response has been overwhelming. The “mothering” we see is wonderful. Strangers responding to each other, mothering each other. Hope began and is very much present in these villages. It is through these small acts of “mothering” we make new communities as Jesus did with his mother and the beloved disciple; and bring about hope in a time of despair and sickness. Happy MOTHERING Sunday, TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT

Revd Mandy Bishop Tel:01502 743154 Co Rural Dean Lothingland. Rector Kessingland Benefice (Gisleham* Kessingland*Rushmere) YOUTube: The True Kessingland Benefice https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmEt_FioJstFJO77-ZGV8Vg/playlists?view_as=subscriber Facebook: Kessingland Benefice - https://www.facebook.com/groups/639319923637673/ Website: kessinglandbenefice.uk https://www.kessinglandbenefice.uk/home-benefice

ST EDMUNDS CHURCH

Photos: Left – St Edmunds Church, Kessingland. Top right – Gisleham Church, Bottom right – Rushmere Church.

LET KEITH LEAD YOU DOWN THE GARDEN PATH!

March, and our gardens have started to wake up! Even in February, there were the odd signs of growth and in some cases blooms too, all the usual appearing to brighten the darkest days, like say the Daffodil ' FEBRUARY GOLD', and this year quite a few others in bloom end part of February and very early March. Also l have some superb Hellebore, like Helleborus ' Niger' the word Niger referring to the plants black roots. We treated ourselves to some real beauties this year as we were not spending money on petrol because of lock down, so cheered ourselves up by buying plants, bulbs etc. Aubrieta, is a very welcome sight on rockeries and hanging over old walls and between paving, Calendula 'pot marigold' never seems to stop blooming,, hence its name... referring to the calender, and blooming 12 months of the year, especially if given shelter or on warmer winters. Like the snowdrop, the Aconite is an early bird, with its green ruff surrounding a buttercup type bloom, a poisonous plant if eaten, I'd like a pound every time l hear gardening experts get the name wrong, calling it Aconitum, which is of course a perennial plant , called by its common name of MONKS HOOD, because each bloom looks like a monks cowl.... and deadly poisonous. I've grown for the last 6 or so years, a plant called Felicia, normally supplied in blue, but got hold of a pink version FELICIA ' Petiolaris' and surprised to see it in full bloom some years well before the snowdrops appearing ! Most Vincas or 'periwinkle' are early starters, classed as, ground cover plants, yes, they do indeed cover the ground, but not necessarily be a suppressor of weeds. There are a lot of plants called ground coverers, but don't get that dense to wipe out weeds. So look into it a bit more before you purchase ! For some years now in my front garden l do grow one of the best ground covering plants, not common but should be, it's called TRACHYSTEMON ' orientalis' with its blue /white flowers, January to at least April with a host of Borage like blooms, appearing before the leaves, later the leaves do get to a decent size, if a winter is mild the leaves stay green, but. any severe frosts put S paid to them, then best to cut back very carefully without damaging the flower stalks, with the leaves gone, the plant does come into its own. A great plant for steep banks to hold soil steady. I mentioned the beautiful herb Borage BORAGO ' officinalis' very easily grown from seed, bees love them, and if left, the seeds germinate readily. and you'll never need to buy them again ! Another great seeder is a perennial Borage, lovely little plant BORAGO 'pygmaea', I've hardly touched on the amount of winter flowering plants, shrubs, trees etc but l will over time.

KEITH NICHOLS... LANDSCAPE GARDENER & PLANTSMAN / AUTHOR . T N B A

Keith has an array of nostalgic photos of his life which we will explore alongside his gardening column as we go along. Pictured left is Keith with his 3 eldest children, Adrian, Rowan and Heather. The photo is from 1986, since the photo Keith has had another son, Dale. The stall Keith is operating here was purchased from Annie Careswell in the late 1960’s, Annie ran it as the last fairground stall making rock in front of your eyes. Keith himself made the game and painted the stall. A showman’s artist painted the characters. Originally Keith used it for candy floss, darts and as a ‘striker’ (a hammer and bell). He then expanded it to incorporate a ring toss, the hooks being on the characters noses! The game was tricky so Keith, ever the gent gave prizes to all who played. Keith had purchased some gold necklaces as the winner’s prizes but these were seldom won until one day a young lad turned up possessing a unique gift for the game, he drew quite a crowd and walked away looking like Mr T covered in gold chains!

LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Kessingland Wildlife by Anne and Tony Anne and I have lived in Kessingland now for around ten years. We are naturalists and have explored all around the village. We have often walked along Marsh Lane and Coopers lane to watch, photograph and record the wildlife. These are indeed very interesting lanes, especially during the summer months. There is a footpath linking the two lanes together and just off this footpath, there are some meadows which lead down to the River Hundred. We have made some interesting finds in these meadows. Anne spotted a rather large wasp-like insect which I caught in my net to examine. I place it in a glass tube to have a good look at it but I could not identify it immediately. We had a good photograph so later at home I was able to identify it as an Ichneumon wasp named Ctenichneumon panzer. (Top left photo) I contacted my friends at Ipswich Museum who confirmed my identification and it was later confirmed by the Natural History Museum in London, that it was only the second record for Britain and obviously a first for Suffolk. On another occasion when sweeping my net through the long grass, among other bugs and beetles, I found a bug that I could identify, though only because I had seen pictures of it in my books. It was a very small bug named Grypocoris stysi (bottom left photo) and it was confirmed as only the second record for Suffolk. The other sighting was at Knettishall Heath.

It is surprising what can be found by those interested enough to search. I would imagine that there or many other creatures that exist but have yet to be found, not just in Kessingland but worldwide. On the path heading toward the bluebell wood, there is a small copse on the right hand side and being avid fungi recorders, we often have a quick look in there. On a tree trunk lying prostrate to the ground we found a splendid fungi growing called Chicken of the Woods, (Laetiporus sulphureus). We photographed it and decided we would come back to see how large it would grow. A few days later we found it had grown to nearly twice its size. Several days later another visit surprised us to find it was nearly two and a half feet across. A superb specimen indeed. Since we moved here, we have recorded much of the wildlife in and around the village and have taken many photographs of what we have recorded. I have used many of the photographs to illustrate one of my talks entitled Kessingland Wildlife by Tony Brown. We enjoy living here and will continue to record the wildlife.

Thank you Tony & Anne for your article, remember if you have something interesting to submit please email [email protected]

LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS

JOSE PATRICIA RUSHMORE

Towards the end of 2019 I sponsored a new bench in memory of Jose Patricia Stevens (Nee Rushmore). It was erected, in the Roy Brown beach garden, facing the beach and opposite the “Sailor’s Home” pub. I have been asked to write a few words to tell you about Jose, who she was and why I requested permission for the seat. Jose Patricia Rushmore was born in Felixstowe in December 1938 when her father, Clifford Rushmore, (“Cliff”) was serving in the RAF and working on the radar station at RAF Bawdsey. From there, the family spent a short spell at RAF Wittering until Cliff left the RAF and moved to Kessingland. Cliff’s wife, Audrey, (Blowers) was a Kessingland girl so initially they stayed with her mother at 4 Geneva Cottages before moving to “2 Seaside Villas”. I am sure they also had a spell in Malta somewhere along the line but details escape me! Jose attended the local junior school before moving on to Lowestoft Grammar. She came into my life in the late 1940s when my mother and I were on one of our annual holidays staying at the “Wave Crest” café (now The “Waterfront”) which had small holiday apartments at the rear. In those days it was owned by a Mr and Mrs Anthony ably assisted by their dog “Moss”! Jose was a part time waitress in the café and that is where we met. We immediately got on (both aged 11/12 !!) and saw one another annually during my family summer holiday. I remember that one year we actually got on the bus and went to the pictures in Lowestoft! Gradually our meetings became less frequent because of school commitments. Those were the days without mobile phones or the internet and very few homes had telephones installed. To make a phone call you had to walk to the village “phone Box” but who could you call? Writing letters was the main way of communicating. I stayed on into 6th form and Jose left school to work, in the music and records department of “Morlings”, an electrical and TV shop in Lowestoft. In 1957 I joined the RAF straight from school starting my career at RAF Cranwell, the RAF College. It was a 3 year course, and during one summer break I visited Lowestoft (I could now drive!) and made a bee line for Morlings music department on the pretext of hoping to find a country and western record by “Slim Whitman”. (I should add that I didn’t even have a record player in those days!) My search for this record was just a way of getting to see Jose again! She didn’t have it in stock but ordered it and later sent it on. I still have it to this day. I learnt during this visit that Jose had applied to join the WRAF. In the years that followed, visits to Kessingland became a regular feature of my periods of leave from the RAF College. Jose and I spent many an hour walking amongst the wild lupins, which covered the sand dunes in those days, and eating freshly boiled brown shrimps on the sea wall in front of the fisherman’s hut. The world was so different then! Because I was an “officer” cadet and she was an “aircraftwoman”, officially, never the twain should meet! Such was our love, in spite of the regulations, we became engaged at Christmas 1959. By this time Jose was a fully qualified chairside assistant to a dentist at RAF Benson and I was still a Flight Cadet. I graduated as a pilot in July 1960 and Jose and I very quickly began to seek the necessary permissions to cross the service rank divide and marry. We were successful and, on 29th October 1960, we married in St Edmund’s Church. Our wedding reception was held in the “Sailor’s Home” pub but we never had a “honeymoon” because I had to be back on duty at RAF Little Rissington on 31st October 1960. We had a dream marriage, enhanced by the birth of our daughter Gabrielle (Gabi) in February 1962. We had overseas tours in Germany and Malta and later Gabi produced three lovely grandsons, James, Alexander and Robert. It is a source of constant regret that our marriage failed sometime after our silver wedding anniversary through no fault on Jose’s part I must say. After several years, Jose married Ron Stevens and I married Margaret Hoad. Sometime after Ron passed away Jose moved into a care home in Bedfordshire quite close to Gabi. It became the norm for me to visit her, with Margaret’s approval, whenever I went over to see Gabi. My visits were always happy occasions and we would spend much of our time talking about the past and our life together. Sometimes it was just as if we had never been apart. As her health deteriorated my visiting priorities altered and I would travel

over from Suffolk specifically to see Jose and then visit Gabi before I drove home. My last visit was two days before she passed away at the age of 80in July 2019. In line with her wishes Jose’s was cremated and her ashes scattered on Kessingland beach. To me this was a very final act and I was troubled by the thought that there might not be any memorial in her name. I believe that everyone’s existence on this planet should be recognised and remembered in some way. I felt it was my responsibility to sponsor a memorial to the person who had been such a huge part of my life and had meant so much to me. Hence my request to Kessingland Parish Council for the seat in her name. The position of her seat is perfect as far as I am concerned, so close to where she used to live, where she had her first job and where we first met.

I would like to thank “Sid” James, Chairman of Kessingland Parish Council, for his tremendous help and support in bringing my request to fruition. He made it all so easy.

Raymond Birch MBE Squadron Leader RAF

From L to R, Councillor 'Sid' James and Squadron Leader Raymond Birch MBE (Retired)

UPCOMING EVENTS - EASTER

UPCOMING EVENTS – SUNFLOWER COMPETITION 2021

PHOTOS FROM LOCAL PEOPLE

Thank you for the lovely photos we received this month, keep them coming!!

Photos Top left-snowy underpass by C.Gower, top right – shadows over the garden by D.Mottram, middle left- Savannah kitten by S.Auger- Forbes, middle right-beach walk by Anna, bottom left- red robin by Jason Durrant & bottom right-dawn canopy by D.Boyle.

VOLUNTEER GROUPS UPDATES

BEACH LITTER PICKERS

The beach clean is planned to start on 08/03, the pickers must be in pairs and start at different areas of the beach. The litter picking room will be open from around 8am for signing in and equipment collection.

FRIDAY VILLAGE LITTER PICK

Village litter picking will resume on 12/03, once again in pairs only and in different areas per pair. The litter picking room will be open from around 8am for signing in and equipment collection.

MARSH GROUP

The marsh group will resume on 08/03, owing to both covid rules and the fact it will be bird nesting season, there will be only two volunteers at the marsh at on time for mainly path management.

The village improvement team were able to get out on the 26/02 to cut back the shrubbery on Rider Haggard lane. Photo below.

VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT TEAM

The team has still been able to undertake some duties, notably, cutting back the shrubbery on Rider Haggard Lane. This has improved access and visibility.

The work undertaken on Rider Haggard Lane.

BIRD RINGERS

The ringers were able to work for the first time this year on Sunday 28/02. 19 birds were caught from just 4 nets with an early finish at 11am. Blue tit - 2 new & 4 retraps , Chiffchaff - 2 new, Dunnock - 1 new & 1 retrap, Long tailed tit - 1 new & 2 retrap, Bullfinch - 1 new female & we caught a second female with her but she had to be released unringed due to scaly leg, Song thrush - 1 new, Cetti's warbler – 1 retrapped male bird originally ringed 30/03/19, he was singing first thing, Robin - 2 new & Blackbird 1retrap. 14

LOCAL NEWS FROM KESSINGLAND AND EAST ANGLIA

Good news, at long last we will be able to reopen Francis Road community field. The government announcement means that from Monday 29/03 the field will be accessible once more. It had been closed due to government policy on gym equipment, outdoor park equipment, skate parks and courts. This will mean that Kessingland FC will also be able to resume training. Thank you for your patience during the closure, we know the field is an asset missed by the village during its enforced closure.

Kessingland Youth Club have been able to make some progress behind the scenes this month, a Facebook group has been set up to allow youths and their advocates to communicate and receive updates on the club and any relevant services. All of the clubs policies and procedures, as well as a register form are available on the page. The team has been attending youth work training and is in the process of purchasing items for the club ahead of its eventual opening. Covid has slowed things down but the team remain committed to the opening of the club. Find us on Facebook under ‘Kessingland Youth Club & Communication Group’.

East Suffolk Council have confirmed work will be carried out to remove a historic oil spill from the North beach, Lowestoft. In May 1978 the oil tanker Eleni V was struck in thick fog by French bulk carrier Roseline. More than 5000 tonnes of oil was spilled from the collision around 4 miles from the coast of Lowestoft. Recent erosion had exposed the oil with some locals attempting to remove sections of it, the oil isn’t believed to be a threat to wildlife but the council have decided to take action in light of the fact further erosion could expose more.

Recent winter storms have uncovered a Suffolk ship wreck at Covehithe. The wreck had been partially uncovered three years ago but has now resurfaced. Judging by the wooden trenails used on the boat it is believed it may date back to the 18th or 19th century.

36 churches in Norfolk & Suffolk are set to benefit from grants from the governments £1.57B Covid recovery fund. Historic England have been working hard to process the grants which will see 28 Norfolk churches share £513,011 as well as 8 Suffolk churches sharing £110,190. The Suffolk churches who will benefit are St Lawrence in South Cove (£15K), St Paul in Wangford (£24,413), St Mary the virgin in Dalham (£4,350), St Peter in Blaxhall (£10K), St Peter in Chillesford (£16,285), St Peter & Paul in Clare (£16K), All Saints in Ashbocking (£7,945) and St Peter in Carlton Colville, pictured (£16,197).

The final refurbished bench was returned to Roy Brown’s garden on Saturday the 27th February by Councillor Billy Nicholls.

This completes his work on the benches and we can all agree they look great and are an improvement. Thank you Billy for your efforts on this project.

You will, I’m sure, have heard some encouraging news recently from a certain Mr Johnson! Here is a simplified visual explaining the key changes of the ‘road map’ as we move slowly out of COVID restrictions. The community will start to feel the benefits of these eases and moving back toward normality is such a good feeling. But, lets not forget our responsibilities and carry on the good work we have all been doing in supporting each other and following the rules. There is light at the end of the tunnel. .

FUN & GAMES

Pictogram’s – Books. Decipher these book titles from the pictogram clues.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

Here in the Garden, Spring is definitely around the corner with the first flush of colour appearing over the last week or so…hopefully not too long before more flowers start to bloom.

Due to the snow & frost of early February, the volunteers haven’t been as busy as they would have liked, but have still managed to get the new raised beds finished and the first plants are in. Shrubs have also been planted near the entrance to the Garden.

On the outer fence new Notice Boards have been put up and a sign for the Gate is nearly ready too. Future plans include a hand carved wooden “Welcome” sign, another kind donation from the Community.

Over the next few weeks attention will be turned to the Vegetable plots, getting them ready so seeds very kindly donated to the Garden can be sown; hopefully there will be a bumper crop to harvest including Beans, Cabbage, Peas, Beetroot, Cauliflower and Sweet Corn to name but a few.

Come along and see for yourself the progress being made, everybody welcome. Dogs are welcome too but please ensure they are kept on a lead to preserve the Flower/Vegetable beds and kindly clean up after them. Thank you.

AFRICA ALIVE

So far this year we have not had a single visitor to Africa Alive but there is at least hope on the horizon, with any luck we will reopen in April. The recent avian influenza outbreak in Norfolk meant that we had to take precautions to protect the bird collection, with all the waterfowl and the flamingos being housed indoors or under cover and the need for disinfectant footbaths and spraying of all vehicles coming on site . Then we had a week of snow and ice to add to the keeper’s workload! BBC Look East showed some lovely shots of the park in the snow. It hasn’t all been bad news, we were recently told that we would receive some funds from the governments zoo support grant which will cover our animal feed and keeper costs and help with some essential maintenance up until the end of March. On the animal front it has been fairly quiet. The Africa fat tailed geckos have produced two eggs which have been set in the incubator. Hopefully they will be fertile! The milky eagle owls are showing positive breeding behaviour and are very protective of their nest site. We managed to transfer 3 Cameroon sheep to Beale Wildlife Park in Berkshire. On a sad note, our male African grey parrot who was bizarrely named Philoctetes (according to Greek mythology, He was a Greek hero, famed as an archer, and a participant in the Trojan War), but affectionately known as Phil by his keepers, passed away. He was coming up to 20 years of age and shared his enclosure with another male Hercules. He was a real character, often sneaking up on keepers when they were cleaning his aviary and follow them around if they didn’t pay him any attention or talk to him. When keepers passed, he would make lots of random noises and repeat whistles. He will be sadly missed by his keepers. Banham’s male tiger Kuzma made the short journey East from Banham to Africa Alive! and is now ‘holidaying’ in our off-show facility until the work on his enclosure has been completed and he can return whence he came.

Best regards, Gary Batters Managing director of zoo’s Zoological society of East Anglia Email – [email protected] Telephone – 01953 887771 ext 291

Photo – Kuzma the tiger

KESSINGLAND LIBRARY

Library Update

We are so pleased to be open again. The services offered can only be limited at the moment but we think it's a great start!

We're offering a Select and Collect service. Just tell us the kind of books and/or authors you like and we'll put together a selection of books for you.

And the Suffolk Libraries Reservations Service has been switched on so you can borrow books from across the whole Suffolk Library Service.

If you want to know more about either of these services just get in touch.

Our opening hours are slightly different to the last time we were open: Tuesday – 12 noon – 4pm Wednesday – 10am – 2pm Friday - 12 noon – 4pm Saturday - 10am – 2pm

And we now have an answering machine so please do give us a call anytime (01502 741212) to order some books and we'll get your books sorted for you as soon as we're next in the Library. Or you can use this form

We hope that we'll be able to offer more services over the coming weeks and we'll let you know about developments via posters on the Library windows and Facebook posts.

Meanwhile, Sue, Carol and I are still in front of the cameras providing Bounce sessions, crafts, quizzes, poems and story-times all on Facebook so please do take a look and like our page. It's lovely to have your support.

Make these 'Leaf People' finger puppets - Carol shows you how on Facebook. Have you heard about Suffolk Libraries Day? It takes place on 20 March but there's lots going on in the weeks leading up to it

Show your love of Suffolk Libraries by creating and displaying a scarecrow inspired by your favourite character from a book, TV, film or theatre and then add it to the Scarecrow Trail map. You can then visit all the scarecrows in your area. Find out more and download the activity guide to help you. http://bit.ly/37udtcO

Join Suffolk Libraries' first ever online quiz on Saturday 20 March at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £3 per person and will help Suffolk Libraries continue to support the residents of Suffolk. http://bit.ly/3pBp9Rw So do join us in our celebration of Suffolk Libraries. http://bit.ly/3kbYrOk

And we're looking forward to seeing you in the Library soon

With best wishes from Lesley, Sue and Carol

ENTRIES / SUBMISSIONS

The Village News welcomes contributions from everyone within the Parish; news and reports from village organisations are particularly welcome but contentious issues or articles promoting personal causes should be avoided – the Editor reserves the right not to print items and to edit items submitted for publication. The views expressed in the Village News, unless stated as such, are not those of the Editor or the council, and no liability can be accepted for any error or omissions although we will publish corrections.

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