Scruton Sky at Night Nature Notes Farming News by Peter Williams By Andy Johnston by Malcolm Barker Darkening nights now make for better Summer came to a sudden stop on As I sit here on a rainy late August viewing of the evening skies and it is Bank Holiday weekend with strong evening the summer seems to be interesting to note that there are northerly winds significantly reducing slipping away. August, in this area, is proposals to designate parts of the the air temperature. Despite this we still often the wettest month of the year, Dales as a Dark Sky have a handful of nesting house with conversely, February being the Reserve. Full Moon is on the 2nd martins and a pair of swallows. The driest. This February was an exception Sept. and is often called the “Harvest swifts left at the end of August but most to that rule. Moon”, since its light was used to assist unusually one pair nested late in the Around the bank holiday at the end of in farm work prior to mechanisation. season and did not leave until the August we usually get a spell of dry During the morning of the 6th there is a evening of Wednesday 26th, ahead of weather which normally stays beautiful close conjunction between the the storm. throughout September, and this is the Moon and Mars, when the two are time to finish the cereal harvest which separated by only one degree. The this year is the lowest yielding of any sight of the two together in the sky will that I remember. You may have noticed be spectacular to the unaided eye and tall green weeds standing proud of the in binoculars. In fact from the corn. This is a weed called Fat Hen Mediterranean area, Mars will appear which was grown as a crop during the to pass behind the Moon. Iron Age and Roman period. The shadows of the past are still showing The Autumnal Equinox on 22nd Sept. across the land. marks the official start of Autumn. Day and night are almost equal in length Potatoes are now showing signs of again. The 3 space craft I mentioned On leaving the nest young swifts will senescence which is the stage where last month are all now well on their way not put their feet on the ground for four the canopy dies back and the nutrients to Mars, and if you want to participate in years, feeding and sleeping on the from the leaves flow back to the roots the next main launch in 2026, just wing. On reaching West Africa they will and particularly the tubers (the parts we search ‘Send your name to Mars’ and spend time refuelling and then head off eat) helping them grow. you can be ‘on board’. You can also on a grand tour of Africa spending print off a Boarding Pass – just a bit of Christmas in Mozambique and then Stay Safe Online fun for the kids! starting the return journey north via the Congo and then West Africa for a few In the current climate, it is especially weeks of refuelling before the last leg to important to stay safe online. Dr John Scruton Potato Challenge Scruton!! This will only take two or Elmer (a top UK Cyber Security The Big Weigh In three weeks. They have been known to Consultant) has the following simple fly 5,000 kilometres in 5 days!! tips to ensure you don’t fall foul of At the start of lockdown we gave out fraudsters trying to scam you out of The winter migrants will start to arrive bags and seed potatoes to anyone who your hard earned money: was up for a challenge to grow the before the end of September, first 1. Always check the address an email biggest weight of potatoes in one bag. redwings then fieldfares. comes from, especially if it appears to The prizes up for grabs are: 1st prize of be from your bank or online retailer (like £15, second £10 and third £5. St Radegund’s Church Apple or Amazon). On Sunday 6th September at 1:00 pm Harvest Festival – Donations of produce for Hambleton Foodshare can 2. Your bank will never ask for personal we will hold the big weigh in. Due to details over the phone; if you are be left at The Green, Scruton. current restrictions, people should drop suspicious, call them back using the their bags at the entrance to the playing For the latest requirements, please number on the back of your card. field; we will take the bags, weigh them check the website (click on the list of 3. Try, as much as possible, to use and release the results that day. We shortages): will have a trailer at the gate where different passwords for different sites, www.hambletonfoodshare.org.uk especially online banking, PayPal etc. bags can be left with your name and contact number clearly marked on Church Services - Upcoming services 4. Passwords with three random words them. We will return the bags with at St Radegund’s Church (all Covid-19 are harder to break and easier to potatoes back to the gate so people secure, starting at 9:30 am) are: remember (e.g. BananaPhoneLamp12). can collect their crop after 3 pm. 6 Sep. Holy Communion 5. Use a credit card for online You are most welcome to stay for the 13 Sep. Holy Communion purchases, they offer extra protection weigh in as long as social distancing 20 Sep. Harvest Morning Worship and are easier to recover your money rules are respected. Chris Snell (Tel. 27 Sep. Holy Communion from. Never pay for goods with direct 07767 357 173) 4 Oct. Morning Worship bank transfers. Christmas Card 2020 Letters to the Editor Flying at RAF Leeming St Radegund’s Church Council is New Feature There will be increased aircraft pleased to announce that the Village movement for an exercise taking place More dog waste bins please - Judith Christmas Card will go ahead this year at RAF Leeming from 29 August to 30 Jackson, Registered Veterinary Nurse and is grateful to William (Billy) Holmes September 2020. RAF Leeming will be (retired) writes: who has kindly donated a water colour hosting various exercising multi- image ‘A View of Scruton Under Snow’ The number of dogs living in Scruton national, tri-service aircraft throughout for us to use. has increased a lot over the past few the period. Low flying for short periods years and although most owners are may be necessary, along with some responsible and clean up after their night flying. For more information, dogs, a few are leaving dog faeces on contact RAF Leeming on 01677 457281 paths, in fields and on tracks. I saw a man picking up after his dog only to #BecauseWeAllCare deposit the mess in the hedge (out of Claire Canavan is hoping to reach sight etc.) This is both unsightly and people in the Scruton area with a unhygienic. The gentleman in question message about ‘Healthwatch North did not seem to understand the Yorkshire’, which is a registered charity difference between muck spread on the and the independent public voice for land by farmers, the waste of people using local health and social For newcomers: a village Christmas herbivores and the dog mess left by care services across the county. card is produced annually and in return neglectful owners; carnivore muck. I for a donation, all residents are invited have heard of a number of dogs in the to write their Christmas greetings on a village suffering from stomach upsets, signature sheet, copies of which are an illness that can be caused by faeces distributed with the card, to every house left by neglectful owners not cleaning in the Parish. up correctly. If there were more dog The card (without signatures) is also waste bins around the village hopefully available to purchase for your own use more people would use them; towards at £5 per pack of six cards (7” x 5”). All the end of Common Lane would be a Our new campaign aims to help proceeds from card sales and signature very good position. services recover from Covid-19 by donations will this year be in aid of St identifying and addressing the issues Response from the Parish Council – Radegund’s Church Fabric Fund. people are experiencing with their care. We will contact HDC to see if they can The sale of cards and collection of your provide additional bins. The Dog You can get involved by telling us your signed greetings will be organised Warden did issue 3 warnings on a views about how health and social care differently this year, since there will not recent visit, but the problem persists. support can be improved. To take our be the normal village events before quick survey, please visit the website Note from the editor – letters sent to (see below) or call 01904 552 687 (we Christmas. A special flyer with further Scruton News may be edited prior to are happy to ring you back). details and a copy of the Christmas publication. card image will be distributed to every www.healthwatchnorthyorkshire.co.uk household along with next month’s One Hour Free Parking! newsletter (October). There will be an Studio Artwork Sale order form, should you wish to As a result of a petition received from purchase any packs of cards, and BID, NYCC have decided Sue Harpley is having a studio sale of space to write your Christmas greeting that one hour free parking will apply in her Artwork on 1st to 14th September. which you may return along with your Northallerton High Street from 1st Please phone 01609 748 712 to make payment/donation. September until 31st December 2020. an appointment to view. No obligation.

Parish Council Meetings 2020 Scruton Parish Council All Parish Council meetings are Simon Britton 07866 721146 [email protected] suspended until further notice. Trevor Howe 748 355 [email protected] Phill Langan 748 931 [email protected] Syd Nye 748 464 [email protected] Do you have any items for Mike Widmer 748 392 [email protected] Scruton News? Chris Barron (Clerk) 748 315 [email protected] Please email: [email protected] Councillor The deadline for the next edition is 23 Sept. Cllr. Brian Phillips [email protected] The editor reserves the right to make changes for editorial purposes. County Councillor Cllr. Annabel Wilkinson [email protected]

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