North Hill Parish Newsletter May 2021 Issue #249 FREE

Covering: BATHPOOL, BERRIOWBRIDGE, BOTTERNELL, COADS GREEN, CONGDON’S SHOP, ILLAND, KINGBEAR, LANDREYNE, MIDDLEWOOD, NEWTOWN, NORTH HILL, PENHOLE, SLIPPER HILL, STONAFORD, TREBARTHA, TREFURSDEN, TREKERNELL AND TREMOLLET

Welcome to NorthHillParish.News Notes from the Barn May 2021 Sometimes the whole Climate Change Crisis seems so overwhelming that it’s hard to see what we as individuals can do to make any impact and bring about the sea change that seems to be required. This month in the newsletter we are bringing you the first in a series of articles addressing the Climate Emergency, and looking at the ways that we can all make our own contribution, by examining how we live our lives and what changes we can implement, no matter how small. The Climate Emergency group is appealing to our local community to come up with project ideas that we can implement at the local level, so if this is something that is dear to your heart, please do stick your hand up and get involved.

I’m very sad to report that it has been decided that it’s still too early to be able to hold the North Hill Horticultural Show in August this year. Fingers crossed for 2022.

In other news – Lockdown is lifting! Optimism abounds. But please do still take care, keep your distance, wear your masks, we’re not out of the woods yet.

Jan Editor

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IN THIS EDITION…….

Page 3 Climate Emergency – Can we take the future for granted?

4 Easter Treats All Round for the Coads Green W.I.

5 Coads Green W.I enjoy their first meeting since March 2020!

6 Wildlife Notes for May

7 Cedric Wheeler Steps Down as Chair of the Leading Lights Players

8 North Hill Parish Graveyard Extension – Your Views Sought

9 Church Services resume in May

10 Events Calendar

Contacting the newsletter remains the same: by email: [email protected], or Via the Contact Us page on the website. The deadline date for information remains the 23rd of the month.

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Climate Emergency – Can we take the future for granted?

The natural world is all around us and a constant source of delight for all of us living in Parishes such as North Hill. If only we could take the future for granted. As the pandemic starts to recede and thankfully takes less of a hold on everyone’s daily lives, we find ourselves on another journey – to a carbon neutral future.

This article is intended to be the first in a series that looks at the many ways we can help make a positive contribution to the pressing need for climate restoration. I should first explain that I am privileged to be the Parish Council’s representative for climate related matters and I feel grateful for the opportunity to take over Kevin Tharme’s role in the Parish’s Climate Emergency Action Group after the extraordinarily successful Climate Emergency Fayre that was held in the Village Hall in February last year. I hope that we can build on this and all the other initiatives that many of you are taking in support of a more sustainable future.

Is it realistic to ignore the challenges we’re facing and hope they will go away? The most important aspect, and the focus of these articles, is the wide variety of contributions that we can all make within the Parish whether by using the Terracycle recycling points, supporting local shops, planting trees, recommending books from the Parish library or offering your own ideas for projects that will reduce our carbon footprints.

To understand the importance of this, we have to appreciate the wider context. The official data shows that our allowable emissions, the ‘carbon budget’, will run out by about 2034, as recognized by Council’s commendable Development Plan and its vision of a carbon neutral Cornwall by 2030. I am grateful to the Parish Council for their support and our own declaration of a climate emergency. Sadly, the daily world news is now a constant reminder that action has to be taken and we are all inextricably involved.

So what to do? There is a huge transition ahead and we are on this journey together. I would not expect the Parish Newsletter to carry the burden of a full-blown climate debate, but neither is it realistic to ignore the challenges we’re facing and hope they will simply go away. It is worth bringing our thoughts back home

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First of all, and most importantly, it’s worth appreciating all the local initiatives that are already in place. Please have a look at our website, www.northhillclimate.org which, thanks to Jill Goodman’s untiring work, is colourful, interesting and right up to date. You will find a treasure chest of interesting stories, useful hints, realistic perspectives and the links to help you support us in many different ways. Please do join in, set up initiatives of your own or simply let us know what you think on matters that are climate related.

A recent report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) thinktank drew attention to the huge contribution that community schemes are making to the climate crisis, even when set up for unrelated issues. The point is well made. Any initiative that benefits people in the Parish is an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance the landscape for climate restoration and make lifestyle changes for the better. Let’s build a consensus on changes we can all believe in.

I hope these articles will encourage ideas and stir some useful debates. In the public at large, many are still understandably confused. A few still wonder if climate change is real at all. Others think it may be too late. The transitions required often sound expensive and difficult. As an engineer, I tend to find myself in the ‘actions speak louder than words’ camp (and they do, of course) but now is a time when shared perspectives may be as valuable as individual contributions. Let’s build a consensus on changes we can all believe in.

Please get in touch through the website and let us know if there are particular opportunities, questions or topics you would like discussed in these pages, especially where they are of close interest to people across the Parish. Thank you! Ralph Hudson

Easter treats all round for the Coads Green W.I.

The sunshine heralded a wonderful Easter weekend and with it came some special treats for the members. The Coads Green W.I. committee meets regularly on Zoom and, together, following on from the successful Christmas meeting in a bag, planned a special surprise.

Each member received a gift bag, delivered by either Pat Mallett or Daphne Tucker, which contained a hand made Easter greetings card, with a message from the president, Linda Willan, and the committee, an Easter quiz, a copy of the W.I. County News, a knitted Forget-me-not, chocolate eggs, delicious homemade Easter biscuits and a bunch of daffodils.

It just goes to show that no one is too old, nor too young at heart, for a visit from the Easter Bunny!

It just goes to show that no one is too old, nor too young at heart, for a visit from the Easter bunny!

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Coads Green W.I. enjoy their first monthly meeting since March 2020

It was a real pleasure to log on, on Wednesday, April 14th, to see fellow members and to enjoy a very interesting, engaging and informative talk from John Penlerick, the Cornwall coordinator and fleet manager of Blood Bikes, from his home in .

The crucial role of Blood Bikes is to carry blood samples and specimens, medical supplies and breast milk, as swiftly as possible, between hospitals and surgeries, throughout Cornwall. There are sixty six members, in total, including fifty riders, thirty years of age or more, with advanced training, and fifteen bikes. The bikes are BMWs, brand new or second hand, adhering to the highest standards of safety, fitted with cameras and trackers.

Cornwall is divided into three operational areas and since the Covid pandemic, the work of Blood Bikes has doubled. In the last year, there have been over six thousand journeys.

There are, in fact, thirty four Blood Bike associations throughout the country, all run by volunteers and supported by donations and fundraising. They receive no support from the government or the NHS.

Daphne Tucker gave the vote of thanks and was appreciative of the detailed information that we were given about the charity and the role that Blood Bikes play. Daphne also thanked president, Linda Willan, for setting up the first Zoom meeting for the Coads Green W.I. and congratulated her on the success of the evening.

In the business part of the meeting, Linda reminded members that the combined Resolutions meeting and the AGM will take place on Wednesday, May 19th, at 3.00 p.m.in the field outside the chapel at Coads Green. The June meeting will feature a talk by Karen Long, on the topic of hedgehogs.

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Wildlife notes for May~

Isn’t it lovely to look outside and see the beginnings of a green haze across the branches? But all agree that this is a late spring compared to last year.

Locally, the cuckoos are up on the moor and calling; swallows are settling back and not just flying through. Still seeing huge buff- tailed bumblebees searching for nest sites and we are now seeing fully sized violet oil beetles (photo from Gill Naylor) trundling through the grass looking for celandines, one of their favourite foods.

The early purple orchids are just beginning to show on the hedge banks, and the bluebells are in flower in sunny, sheltered places.

The hedgehogs are very active and it is lovely to see some in colour (photo from Kevin Tharme). We just hope that fewer end their lives on the side of the road this year.

The dawn chorus is getting really loud! I’ve heard the first willow warblers at the top of Stara Woods, together with the chiff- chaff and black caps. And we did find two sleepy dormice on the 21st. More nest box checks to do but these two were still a good weight which is hopeful.

Hearing squawks from inside the greenhouse, I found a well grown song thrush fledgling who could not find its way out. I pounced and caught it first time and took it outside where its deafening yells brought in both parents. What was really nice was to find it and a sibling just inside the wood the next morning, being fed by the parents. With this dry weather, finding suitable soft food for thrushes and blackbirds must be difficult but damp leaf litter near streams is an excellent place to start.

May will be a good month for seeing the first of the moorland butterflies like the small pearl-bordered fritillary. No news of house martins yet but they’ll be here very soon and we may see swifts although I am not sure that we have any breeding sites in the parish.

If we can have some rain and then a return to warm sunshine, I think we’ll all be very happy! Jen Bousfield

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Cedric Wheeler Steps Down as Chair of the Leading Lights Players Cedric Wheeler has been an integral part of the Leading Lights Players (North Hill’s pantomime group) for over 20 years, and for many of those years he has been at the helm as Chairman. This year, he decided it was time to step down after so many years of being involved, although he has promised he will continue to support the group with the lighting during performances and to continue making the outstanding props he has constructed for years, for which we are immensely grateful. Cedric has a wealth of knowledge and experience and we will truly miss him.

To honour his years of service to the group, a presentation was made to him of an engraved commemorative sundial, which he has already found a place for in full sun in his rockery. We would like to publicly thank Cedric for everything he has done for the group – it is richer for his involvement.

Mike Wright has taken on the role of Chairman and we are convinced he will be more than capable, despite having very big shoes to fill.

Cedric Wheeler and his wife Margaret

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NORTH HILL PARISH GRAVEYARD - YOUR VIEWS?

North Hill Parish Council would like to consult the residents of North Hill Parish in relation to the new proposed Graveyard. The Parish Council have two options highlighted on the plan below, and wish to hear your comments. When Government Guidelines allow the Parish Council will be holding a site meeting, this is hoped to be in June, but in the meantime, if you do have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me:

Adele Jones at [email protected] or any one of our Councillors.

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Lewannick and North Hill Church News

We will be following the current Covid Guide lines for a little while yet.

May— Church Services

Sun,2nd 9.30 am Morning Worship

Sun, 9th 9.30 am Morning Worship

Sun, 16th 9.30 am Holy Communion

Sun,23rd 10.00 am Morning Worship

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Extra News

We are delighted to announce that the Rev Sean Clancy will be joining us. He will be priest-in-charge of and North Hill, , , and with Bolventor and team vicar in Launceston. He will be licensed on Tuesday15th June. Time and place to be announced.

Our coffee shop will be opening on Tuesday, May 18th —— 1.30pm — 3.30pm. We will then be opening every Tuesday and Thursday. 1.30pm — 3.30pm. We plan to do more in the future.

Clergy contact

Revd Jo Smart - 01566 782921 Revd Peter Knight - 01566 777607

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Numbers ch, 7 v 24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace

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