In This Issue

May 2021

In this issue:

Community Shop News …………………………………….. 6 Parish Council News ………………………………………...10 Churchyard Maintenance……………………………………..17 National Trust Update……………………………………… 26 The Imperfect Lawn…………………………………………..30

And all our regular features

The Plant Stall

Photograph courtesy of Brenda Cooper PARISH HALL

200 Club The winning numbers for April were: 186 £30, 183 £20, 129 £15, 70 £15, 163 £10, 107 £10.

Good luck in the next draw

Curtain Makers

The Parish Hall needs new curtains. Could you be part of the team that makes them? This is an opportunity to not just enjoy yourself but make an important contribution to the life of the parish. For details contact Challis on 01568 780253

Calling Facebook Users

To obtain Yarpole news on Facebook, search for ‘Yarpole community’.

See what’s on! See what matters in Yarpole! Contribute to the page. Like us and become a friend.

Stay in touch: Yarpole WhatsApp Group

Enjoy chatting and sharing photos with members of our community via the Yarpole Whatsapp group. We now have more than 20 members!

To join this group, please send a message to: Katie Daniels 07786515922 with your mobile number.

Another month and another edition of The Parishioner. It contains useful information relating to our Community Shop which played and continues to play a vital role in supporting us through the challenges of COVID. It also contains a much awaited update on the work of the National Trust in and around Croft Castle. Importantly, it explains, amongst other things, rights of access that can be enjoyed by those living in proximity to the Croft Estate. There is also an account of the work on maintaining the churchyard in Yarpole. In addition there is a wealth of other material from poems to the sighting of first swallows. I hope you enjoy the material it contains.

In fact, once again, there was a plethora of material submitted for consideration. May I also draw your attention to some of the material that appeared in the April edition. There was a request for donations to support the production of The Parishioner and I would also remind you that if you should want to participate in the ‘Adopt a Grave’ initiative details can be found on page 4 of the April edition.

You will also find in the internet version of the current edition (May 2021) material which could not be accommodated in the traditional paper copy. Here you will find work by two of Yarpole’s premier wordsmiths Carol Clare and Jim Ainsworth. I hope you enjoy their work.

Brian

To send in articles and news items, please e-mail us at: [email protected] Or leave in the box at the shop The deadline for all submissions is

THE 10th OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH

There is no newsletter in January or August

To place a commercial advert, please email us at the address above and we’ll send you more information

Prices start at £5 for a ⅛ page ad, with discounts for multiple insertions We also print small ads for parishioners for which we suggest that a small donation is left in the yellow collection box in the shop

3 LOCAL NEWS & NOTICES

Walking Group We meet regularly on the 2nd Friday and 4th Sunday of every month, normally at 10:30 by the church. May walks: Friday 14th and Sunday 23rd. All are welcome to join our walks but please phone to check details if you are not on the email list. Contact: Viv and Brian 782271 or [email protected]

Contemptuous eye coldly searching The Rooks But the black birds cannot be still They must display their disregard by John Pickard And flaunt their madcap challenge to the wind Through a wind-shaken winter window Timid brown Jenny wren-skittering at See them again the flighted gang the bush foot Fierce-beaked joy in their gale riding May glimpse the pirates when they Sky-viking, rollicking down the air’s land slope And shrink from their strutting confi- Aeronauts impossible dence No vulgar colours here just unholy The huddled man skirting his field black Can scarce deflect the blast to stand An age-old uniform of mastery erect But birds in black go air-dancing Alderman pheasant will carefully step Unknowing such earth-bound re- to shelter striction When under a grey storm’s driving Unthinkingly aerobatic cloud The wide-winged hawk can hold his The rooks are a-wing again, tireless, effortless height driven to perform With endless ease to master the impossible As we watch and wonder how and why.

Missing

I am still trying to locate four 6 x 4 feet canvases that were painted for the 2018 Commemoration of WW1 in the church. They depict a flag, a horse, a trench, and a hospital. They are big and cannot be overlooked. I would be grateful for help in locating them. Janet Knight. 01568 780931

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YARPOLE COMMUNITY SHOP NEWS May 2021

KEEPING IT LOCAL

This month the shop is highlighting all the local food we stock - and over the coming months we shall be showcasing some of our stockists to tell you a bit more about them.

We always try and fill our shelves with food produced locally if we can - and if you ever think there is something we should have please let us know - it may just be we aren’t aware of them yet!

New producers are cropping up all the time so please also let us know if you have discovered something we could stock that is produced more locally.

Our honey, eggs, ham, sausages, bread and pies are all well known to be from the local area - but did you know that we also stock locally produced biscuits, cakes and jam? We source our fruit and vegetables as locally as we can and buy seasonally as much as possible - but inevitably some things have to come from further afield - maybe one day we will be surrounded by orange groves?

From the nearby area we have ginger beer, lemonade, apple juice, crisps and butter - as well as, of course, beers from several breweries that are within the locality.

Don’t forget we can do deliveries if you are an account holder - so if you fancy trying something but don’t have the time to pop in then e-mail us on: yar- [email protected] and see how we can help with your local shopping.

BANK HOLIDAYS

For both May bank holidays the shop will be closed but pre-ordered newspapers will be available for collection.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING - DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS MAY 14th!!!!!

A reminder that the deadline for the submission of Project Funding applications is May 14th. Application forms are available from the shop itself or preferably submitted online via the shop page at: yarpole.com/index.php/yarpole-community- shop Received projects will be put to the shareholders at the AGM which hopefully will be held on June 24th.

6 LOCAL SUPPLIER FOCUS

As mentioned above we will run occasional features highlighting some of our local producers and suppliers and start off this month with miEnterprise. I’ll declare an interest straight- away as I work for this organisation. You will probably notice, and hopefully sometimes buy, a range of quiches and cakes, etc. that are delivered on a Friday and carry brown kraft paper labels with a range of producer names like Jill’s Pantry. These are all produced in Leominster by members of miEnterprise Community Interest Company. We are a social enterprise supporting adults and young people with learning disabilities to set up and run their own micro businesses making and selling a variety of food products. Based at Grange Court everything is produced in a supported 5 Star approved kitchen and sold through a variety of outlets including the cafe at Grange Court run by our sister social enterprise; Ludlow local produce market (when some sort of normality returns); Yarpole shop. Catering for events and room bookings at Grange Court. Work is a powerful part of most people’s lives as it brings us a sense of identity, a purpose, responsibility, a chance to learn new skills and a positive role in our community - we aim to give our members those opportunities as well as an answer to the question ‘What do you do?’ Earning some money is frequently less important than these other things but it’s a nice feeling to earn nonetheless …… We would like to thank Yarpole for its support over the years. The sense of achievement for our members comes from selling on the open market on the basis of the quality of their products and they wouldn’t want it to be any other way. Oh, and look out for our ice cream this summer as production is increased. We all need a treat or two! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. A big heartfelt thank you to a number of stalwart volunteers who are now stepping back from their roles - your help over the years has been invaluable and has been much appreci- ated. Thank you also to all those who have been there, or have been able to be there, throughout the last challenging year or so and those returning as things appear to be easing locally and nationally. And while we are giving our thanks, on a very positive note, thank you to a clutch of new volunteers who have stepped forward to join the team in the near future. The community that just keeps on giving! FINALLY - A REMINDER – AGM - JUNE 24TH. After last year’s ‘lockdown special’ online AGM we are hoping to run our AGM this year on June 24th – how and where are yet to be decided upon and obviously will be Covid-dependent. So please put that date in your diaries. There will be some important decisions for shareholders to make, not only with regard to project funding but, also relating to proposed changes to the rules that govern our shop association. Jon

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PENTECOST The disciples had been through 40 days of spiritual despair, joy and anxiety. How were they to manage without Jesus’ presence with them? What exactly were they to do? How were they to start on this greatest of all charges, to carry on Jesus’ work without him to guide them? Jesus’ final words before he ascended into Heaven were, “ Wait here for the promise of the Father and ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost not many days hence: you will then have power and will witness to me both in Jerusalem and the rest of the world.”

It is now that the leadership qualities of Peter emerge; the disciple who had failed him and been for- given was now their practical, inspiring leader. They realise that it is going to need all the faithful followers of Jesus to carry out this work of God on earth and that will require all the energy and leadership of the twelve he had called his friends and that Judas must be replaced. In the upper room they considered 2 from Jesus’ many followers and with prayer chose one, Matthias, to make up the number. They then waited praying and encouraging each other, considering and planning this great work with which they were charged.

As promised, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit of God descended in the form of a flame on the head of each of them and they were illuminated, inspired, filled with courage and were able to speak and be understood in every language. Through the world they travelled and we in this remote island love and revere them to this day.

Janet Chitham

Did you see the pretty Easter Garden alongside the path to church? Thanks to Sue and Keith Smith and Jenny Vaux for creating it. So evocative of the Easter story. As were the wonderful flowers in church. Not a lot of room to work with but our intrepid and talented flower arrangers did a grand job. I’ve been the sole churchwarden for three or four years now. I really would like someone to share the responsibility with me. It’s not arduous as many of the traditional tasks are delegated to or shared with the Management Group. But the Churchwarden continues to be a point of contact for people within and outside of the parish. S/he is involved with decisions affecting services held and general oversight on the management of the church as a whole. And there is also Croft Church for which the PCC and Churchwardens are solely responsible. Ideally the second churchwarden should be a member of the Church of England, but it’s possible to have an assistant provided that post holder is sympathetic to the mission of the church. If you think you could join me please get in touch so that we can talk about what is involved.

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Dawn Goodwin 01568 770387 9 Yarpole Group Parish Council News

The April 2021 Parish Council meeting was held via Zoom. Planning application 200626 Rosebank Cottage, Lucton was discussed. As the application remains largely unchanged since its previous iteration in autumn 2020, the Parish Council agreed that their comments remained unchanged. The Parish Council had previously agreed that it wished to object to the plans. It was also noted that Herefordshire Council is continuing to explore all appropriate legal avenues to secure the integrity of Knoll Cottage, particularly getting the tarpaulin replaced on the roof. Thanks were expressed to Cllr Bowen for judging the scarecrow competition in Lucton and to all those who took part. Thanks were also expressed to the three Lucton residents who cleaned the phone box. A resident has volunteered to revamp the notice board in Lucton, and the offer was gratefully accepted. The issue of the need to repair the Lucton burial ground railings was raised, and it was confirmed that this is an issue for the Parochial Church Council. The Parish Council grant towards maintenance of the Lucton and Yarpole burial grounds (to the agreed formula of 100% of Lucton and 75% of Yarpole costs) has an annual maximum amount available set in the budget, and for 2021/22 this is £1,500.00. Garden planting is ongoing around the Parish Hall, and decoration of the interior will start soon.The correct route of Footpath YP35 was discussed. As Herefordshire Council is the responsible authority for dealing with public rights of way, this has been passed to the locality steward, Balfour Beatty. A note of thanks was expressed to Emma for all her work as clerk over the past years. Although Emma left at the end of March, she acted as Clerk at the April meeting. Having been appointed at this meeting I am writing this report as the new Clerk, from Emma’s draft minutes. I would like to add my personal thanks to Emma for ensuring such a smooth handover. The next meeting of the Parish Council is the Annual Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 4 May. It is likely to be held via Zoom. The Parish Annual Meeting, for the electorate, is scheduled for Tuesday 18 May and will either be held via Zoom, if legislation allows, or in the Parish Hall. This has yet to be confirmed. All Parish Council information and minutes can be found at www.yarpolegroupparishcouncil.org.uk. Residents are welcome to attend meetings (and a zoom invitation can be emailed out if needed) and time is always allowed at the start of the meeting for issues to be raised. Maggie Brown Clerk to Yarpole Group Parish Council, [email protected]

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St Leonard’s Plant Stall The Plant Stall is now up and running for 2021. After many years Helen and Tony Collins have hung up their trowels. A big thank up to them both. Janet Knight and Gilly Lloyd will be looking after the stall, and would be pleased if we would all do a bit of tidying and watering as we go past. Our first satisfied customers were John Pitt and Helen Coverley. To ensure more satisfied customers we would be grateful for lots and lots of plants.

Thank you. Janet and Gilly.

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Tel: 01584 810575 Fax: 01584 811759 [email protected] www.norrisandmiles.co.uk

Yarpole Parish Good Neighbour Scheme

Has volunteers ready to take your calls for help. Restrictions are gradually lifting, so keep your fridge magnet handy and give us a ring when you need some help. Phone: 07885 725776 (phone open Monday – Friday 9.00 – 17.00 & leave a message)

Look out for notices of the AGM. As a result of COVID we did not have one last year

Talk Community Survey Thank you to everyone who has completed the Survey Ques- tionnaire. By the time you read this the results will be known. They will be publicised on the website and else- where. Look out for the information about the launch of Talk Community in Yarpole Parish. What is arranged will be based on what you have told us.

16 Churchyard Maintenance.

The churchyard has always been looked after following the principles suggested by the charity ‘Caring for God’s Acre’. The guidelines recommend not cutting all the churchyard on a regular basis to allow the proliferation of wild flowers. Traditionally churchyards would be cut in July and the cuttings used to make hay. The churchyard at St Leonard’s relies completely on volunteers and any work can only be carried out if there are sufficient volunteers. The current practice in the churchyard is to mow a selection of paths so that the majority of gravestones can be reached through the summer, followed by a cut of the whole churchyard in October to remove all growth back to the ground.

The current problems in the churchyard are twofold. Firstly the need to control the Rosebay Willowherb growing alongside the footpath connecting Green Lane with St Anthony. It is said, quite truthfully, of Rosebay Willowherb that if left uncontrolled it will be in your garden this year, your neighbour’s the year after and his neighbour’s the following year.

On the section behind the Bell Tower there is Giant Hogweed growing. Giant Hog- weed is rated as the UK’s most noxious plant on account of the skin reactions it can cause.

Both these plants need to be cut to prevent them seeding. This means that we will attempt to organise a summer cut as well as a late autumn cut. The paths are cut regularly throughout the summer; this year we plan to follow ‘No Mow May’ in order to allow the flowering and spread of Daisies and Dandelions. This also takes a little pressure off volunteers as fewer cuts are needed.

There is a church compost heap which needs to be used, located along the back wall next to Vicarage Farm. There is a cut path leading to it. Any biodegradable material would be welcome.

The success of past efforts has been visible this year in the proliferation of Snow- drops, Primroses and now the Celandines.

We are planing to participate in Churches Count on Nature which runs as part of Caring for God’s Acre’s Love Your Burial Ground week from Saturday 5th June – Sunday 13th June 2021.

This is an ideal opportunity to record the biodiversity present in our churchyard. Look out for more information.

If you would like to help with either mowing or caring for the churchyard please email your details to either Gill Humphrey [email protected] or Julian Stokes [email protected]

17 Quote of the Month

“ All generalisations are dangerous, even this one.”

Alexandre Dumas.

Submitted by Andrew Praill

Letter to the Editor My first swallow sighting in the village was at 9.00am on the 31.3.2021. This is 6 days earlier than my first sighting last year. I was also delighted to see a barn owl close to Brook- house Farm at 7.00am on the 26th February.

Anne Millard

We’re opening the garden again

If lockdown eases as we all hope it will, everyone will no doubt be making plans for catching up on all the things we’ve missed doing over the past year. But if you are going to be free on Saturday 19th or Sunday 20th June, would you be willing to spare some time to help us?

We’re at Byecroft, Welshman’s Lane, Bircher, HR6 0BP. We’re going to be opening our garden for the National Garden Scheme that weekend, and we’d be so grateful for some help manning the gate, assisting with the teas etc. We’ll be open from 2.00pm until 5.30pm on both days, and if you could spare a couple of hours we’d be so grateful. The National Garden Scheme raises money for a range of charities, including Ma- rie Curie and Parkinsons UK. Hardly any gardens opened last year, and these charities really missed the money gardens usually raise, so it would be great to make this a bumper year for them.

If you can help, please contact Sue Russell on 780559, email peterandsuerus- [email protected] . Thanks so much.

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20 Diocese of Hereford

May 2021

Pentecost or more traditionally Whitsun is I think the Cinderella of Christian festivals, it has never really had the impact of Christmas and Easter. It doesn’t have the same traditions or social events around it which make it stand out in the wider culture either. I think increasingly the church doesn’t really know how to mark the occasion and even the recent ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ prayer campaign which has actually taken off across the churches in recent years doesn’t really make much of Pentecost itself. Yet Pentecost is perhaps one of the most exciting of the church festivals for it marks the moment when God started the church! It is in effect the Church’s birthday, the day that God sent the Holy Spirit to inspire and empower ordinary Christians to do extraordinary things for Him. The Holy Spirit is given freely to all of us as a free gift from God. Jesus promised his disciples that we would receive this gift so that we might know his presence with us as we live out our faith on a daily basis.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another comforter to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you…”- John 14:15-16

The problem is when most of us think of comfort we think of the luxuries of life, or being wrapped up in a warm blanket or duvet. We also think of comfort as something that consoles us when we are upset or in need. Whilst all these things are true the word used in the New Testament has a completely different meaning to those we might expect. The word comfort is the same word that we find in relation to prodding, strengthening or stirring into action. The Bayeux Tapestry has a wonderful panel of Bishop Odo, forcing his men into battle, at the end of his battle club, with the abbreviated Latin words: which when translated means: “Here, Bishop Odo, comforts his troops.” As individuals we might not find such ‘comfort’ comforting but the Holy Spirit is given to equip and spur us into action! In fact, the word comfort has traditionally also meant to give or add strength to someone or to encourage, urge or exhort. When we see the coming of the Holy Spirit in that way it makes much more sense of both Jesus’ words and what we see in the book of Acts as the early church begins to emerge.

The Holy Spirit also empowers us to be the people God created and knows us to be, in that sense the Holy Spirit fills us with God’s wisdom and power for the tasks which he has called us to. On the day of Pentecost it is the Holy Spirit that takes the group of timid and bewildered disciples and equips them to declare the gospel message. Jesus before his Ascension had promised them that they would receive the Holy Spirit to equip them as His witnesses throughout the world

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”- Acts 1:8

This power that comes with the Holy Spirit is very real and is available to us just as it was to the first disciples. It is power to live our lives as God intended, power to encourage us and to strength us for acts of service. It is not to make us feel better, or for our own benefit but it is the power to build one another up and to inspire the Church. So as Pentecost approaches perhaps we need to re-evaluate this slightly misunderstood Christian Festival and celebrate the birthday of the church with a bit more style and flair! Our prayer certainly needs to be ‘Come Holy Spirit!’

May the Spirit, who set the Church on fire upon the Day of Pentecost, bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.

Amen.

Leominster Safer Neighbourhood Team

Hello everyone, As readers of the newsletter you will be aware that I began my role as the local police officer in January this year. Before I took this new role my experiences were as a response officer where I have worked at Ludlow, Hereford and Leominster. Like any new job it takes time to adapt but we’ve managed to get a lot done already.

The team here are in a fortunate position because you the public are forthcoming with information and are approachable, so I thank you for this. Every call, email and conversation you have with us, is important. It helps us develop an understanding of what your problems are.

At the start of the year we set out our goals, many of which focussed on the COVID-19 pan- demic. Some of the restrictions have been removed. Although there are still limitations it means we can meet our families in their garden, go to the pub and finally get our haircuts! Like all of you I look forward to getting back to normal. We are aware that we cannot take the relaxation of rules for granted and it’s down to your efforts of sticking to the directions that we are in the position we’re in. Consequently we will continue a focus on COVID-19.

We are determined to make our roads safer and with the roads getting busier again we decided to look at reducing drug/drink driving and speeding. As for drug/drink driving offences in the past week alone 3 arrests were made for drug driving. We know that the problem is out there and we know that people are getting behind the wheel whilst under the influence. Our chances of catching these offenders are greatly increased when members of the public provide us with information. It is not fair on all of us that there is a minority of people who put us all at risk whilst we drive. The pubs are re- opening; if you see it happening, report it.

We have been conducting mobile speed enforcement in the local parishes, I would encourage you to contact us and your parish councils if you feel a road speed limit is not being adhered to. Mobile speed enforcement is a great deterrent for speeding and we work closely in con- junction with the safer roads partnership if problems persist. We have a roads policing team in Herefordshire who will also help us; for example, last week dog handler PC Davies helped with some speed gun enforcement in the local area. A number of speeding tickets were issued and an additional drug driver was arrested because of this enforcement. As evidenced by the photograph on the front cover Police Dog (PD) Jackson made sure he keeps an eye on things! The last newsletter outlined the positive drug warrants which were conducted in our policing area. We have not stopped here. Since then a further drug search of an address was enforced. This resulted in two more arrests for possession with intent to supply. This was a great result and I thank the officers for their proactive policing. This address was a problem in our community and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on the local public.

PC Beswick 21166 Police Constable | Leominster SNT | West Mercia Police Leominster Police Station, Enterprise Park, Leominster, HR6 0LZ Team email: [email protected]

St Leonards Yarpole. What is going on behind the screen?

We are now starting on the next phase of the work required to restore the chancel to its original and former glory. Under floor heating will be put in place, limecrete will be laid to hide the pipe- work, and after that is cured, new tiles will be laid on top. We are aiming for this being finished in the next couple of months. The screen will come down at this point and the pews re-sited in the chancel.

Then, we have to get sufficient funding in place to have the organ removed, cleaned, restored and brought back into the church to be sited in its new place where it will be more prominent, more a part of the congregation. What some of you may not realise is that hiding behind the organ is another window, a matching window to the three that can be seen at the moment. While the organ is having its makeover, we will, hopefully, be reinstating the window. The chancel then will be as it was intended. Of course, all this comes at a price, and we are applying for grants to aid us in our efforts, but we can’t do it without you. We are intending to have an event using the organ as soon as the floor is done, and we will have another when the organ is in its new place.

We are also asking you to ‘sponsor a pane’. We will have an image of the window on the wall, and we are asking you to sponsor a pane (or more). This will obviously be a virtual pane, and for £10.00 we will add a pane to the window. We will leave envelopes for you to fill with cash or cheque, and if you add your initials we will add them to your pane, marking your donation. Enve- lopes can be left in the post box to the right of the vestry door and will be collected regularly. If you prefer to donate direct to our bank, please contact me for the bank details. Cheques payable to Croft with Yarpole and Lucton PCC

We will keep you updated on any grants that are awarded. So, that is what is going on behind the screen.

Sue Smith 01568 780408

On behalf of St Leonard’s, Yarpole and St Michaels and All Angels, Croft …….

Thank you, thank you, thank you………..

To the donation box feeders, dropping in your coins. To the button pushers, using the Golden Giving donate button on the Yarpole.com website. To the note droppers, using the post box by the vestry. To the card wavers, using the contactless facility. To the anonymous donors direct to the bank.

And a big special THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ……..

To the regular givers through standing orders and to those using the Parish Giving Scheme. Without you, our income for 2020 would have disappeared completely. If you would like more information on how you can support St Leonard’s and St Michaels and All Angels, Croft, with a regular donation by direct debit through the Parish Giving Scheme you can visit their website www.parishgiving.org.uk using 180618221 as our Parish reference, or contact Sue Smith on 01568 780408.

Or for a regular donation by standing order please contact Sue Smith – 01568 780408.

23 The Curious Gardener Celebrating too soon

Plants die. That’s a fact of gardening life that we learn very early on. Wrong soil? Too much water or too little? Vine weevil, voles, moles, mice? There are so many things that can wipe out a plant that sometimes it seems a miracle that any survive at all.

I’ve lost so many plants over the years that you’d think I’d be used to it, but I still get that horrid feeling in my stomach when I realise something is on its way out. Last autumn we lost one of the most crucial plants in the garden, and it’s left a very big hole – literally. One of the central features of our garden is a curved metal- work screen covered in ivy. There’s a round hole cut out of it so that as you walk down the main path you see a green ‘wall’ framing a circular view of the countryside. The plants were very small when they went in, and it took them a while to get going, but last year, after eight years of growing, the ivy finally reached the top of the screen. Hooray! At last our patience was rewarded and we got the effect we were hoping for.

But we celebrated too soon. Our soil is very heavy, and ivy really doesn’t like being waterlogged. The winter had been particularly wet, and last spring our beautiful ivy screen started to look thoughtful. As summer progressed the leaves fell off and the ivy died back. Investigation of the roots showed what the problem was: the roots must have been sitting in water during the winter, and the whole lot had rotted. Eight years of wait- ing, watching, encouraging: all gone.What did we do? Well, there’s only one thing to do when plants die. We dug it all up, improved the drainage and replanted. So now once again we’re looking at a bare metal frame- work, with some miniscule ivies at the base. Only 8 more years to wait…

Sue Russell

Kingsland Bowling Club 40th Anniversary

As you will have read in the April Edition of The Parishioner the Kingsland Bowling Club has recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary, We managed 100 days of bowling. If anyone would like to hear more about our club or would like to take advantage of our 6 week free trial period during the season we would like to hear from you and you will be made very welcome. All you need is a pair of flat shoes because we have everything else you would need.

Malcolm Morgan 01568612633 or [email protected]

Members enjoying a lunch break outside the club house during a competition

National Trust Update

Fishpool Valley Hopefully you will have been aware of vital and urgent forestry works we have had to un- dertake over the last few months in Fishpool Valley as a result of Ash Dieback. The severity of spread of the disease which is affecting ash woodlands globally, has com- pounded the need to remove a larger concentration of ash trees from the valley than would have been originally intended. This work has now been completed. The valley is now ac- cessible for walking and you will still see brash piles and timber stacks which are arranged ready for collection and processing at a later date but this should not prevent walking within the valley. You will see that nature keeps evolving and is coming through already with wildflowers beginning to spread throughout the valley and the work undertaken to restore dams can be seen in its entirety with the sound of running water once again dominating the valley. Some tree planting work has started and will continue with a variety of Oak, Sweet Chestnut, Hornbeam, Cherry, Small leaf Lime and Field Maple which should help to create a mixed woodland which is more robust to any future disease threats and improves the biodiversity for wildlife. Further dam restoration work is planned for later this year, which we will keep you informed on in due course.

Local access and admission to Croft Castle and Parkland

Some of you may be aware that over 10 years ago, a local pass was offered to local residents within the parish of Yarpole, Bircher, Bircher Common and Lucton. This pass ena- bled access to our pay-for-entry areas which are subject to admission. These areas include the entrance and exit drives, the car park, gardens, parkland, play area facilities and our designated and way-marked walks including Fishpool Valley which start near our car park and tearoom. For a number of years now there has been much contested confusion about which areas come under the local pass and this has become increasingly challenging to manage for our staff at the castle who welcome thousands of visitors a year with passes not being shown and therefore no way of being able to verify who is local and who is not. We’d like to change this and improve the arrival experience for everyone involved. Within Croft’s parkland which covers up to 1500 acres, there are Public Rights of Way which start and stop at various points around the estate but they are not continuous walking routes. There are no Public Rights of Way through our entrance drives, car park, gardens, tearoom, play facilities etc. These areas are subject to an admission charge. As a charity set up to look after places in our care we rely heavily on the income from membership and admission and in order to be able to care for Croft and continue to facilitate access we have admission policies in place. If you would like to access these areas you will need to have a local pass, hold a National Trust membership or pay an entry fee. This is a policy which applies to all and the local pass is something we would like to continue to offer as an additional and exclusive benefit.

26 From the 1st May we would like to continue to welcome you into Croft by offering a new local pass which will enable locals within the parish of Yarpole, Bircher, Bircher Common and Lucton free access to our outdoor spaces including our: car park and entrance, toilets, play facilities, gardens, designated parkland walks, Fishpool Valley and parkland spaces. This means any local passes which are currently held will no longer be valid and you’ll just need to get in touch to secure a new one. If you would like a local pass for your household you will need to write to us or email us using the details below to apply for your household pass*. *Please also note that you will need to show your pass to the welcome team in order to gain entry. We maintain a right of refusal to anyone without a pass or refusing to pay or check in. Please help us to enable access for all by applying for and showing your pass on entry.

Your dog in the countryside Farming and livestock management is an integral part of heritage and our countryside along with seasonal wildlife. Unfortunately we are seeing an increasing number of complaints about dogs worrying livestock and disturbing wildlife particularly ground nesting birds at many of our places and particularly in areas where livestock live such as the tenant-farmed fields around the Castle and on Bircher Common. Help us to look after and respect our countryside, wildlife and farming community by ensuring your dog is kept on a lead at all times around sheep and livestock. Avoid fields with cattle if you have a dog, keep away from ewes and lambs and wherever possible, park and walk with us at the castle and ask our welcome team about livestock-free walking routes which can give you and your dog a much more stress-free walking experience.

To get in touch or to apply for your local pass: [email protected]

Business Services Croft Castle Yarpole Herefordshire HR6 9PN Please include a Stamped addressed Envelope when writing to us for your pass. Or arrange to collect your pass from our welcome team by emailing us.

Ana Vaughan Experience & Visitor Programming Manager National Trust Herefordshire

Prayer Join the hands of friend and stranger.

Join the hands of age and youth. Join the faithful and the doubter in their common search for truth. And may the spirit enable us to grow in love.

Submitted by Janet Chitham From Saints and Songs of the West

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Victoria Allen Funeral Services 8 Charlton Rise, Ludlow, Shropshire A friendly local computer repair service in Kingsland, Yarpole and surrounding villages SY8 1ND 01584 879035 Being local there is no call out fee, we fix the Email: [email protected] problem on site, remotely or back at base www.vallenfuneralsludlow.co.uk Call us on 01568 701066

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. Stacey Gardner Foot Health MCFHP MAFHP Registered with the British Association of Foot Health Professionals

Foot care in your own home.

Routine foot care £25, appointments cover: toenail trimming, corns, callus, fungal infections, cracked heel care, diabetic foot care. Call today to have your oven, hob, extractor, microwave or Aga professionally Please allow up to 1 hour for appointments.

Please call 01568 368306 or 07540566871 Colin Hadley For further information visit 01885 400337 07817 477850 www.sgfoothealth.co.uk Email: [email protected]

The Imperfect Lawn

The truth is short grass, frequently mown, is of no use to nature. We spend a lot of time mowing grass, denying food to insects that are essential for pollinating our crops and providing food for our wildlife. We don’t have to neglect our lawns, but we could manage some areas a bit differently. You might want to start by giving your lawnmower a holiday in May and joining the nationwide No Mow May campaign initiated by the charity Plantlife. You might be surprised by what you find in your lawn simply by letting it grow a bit longer. A lawn dotted with daisies, speedwell, selfheal, buttercups, clover, celandines and bird’s foot-trefoil is a beautiful thing. Once such flowers start blooming you will be amazed by the bees and insects that move into your garden. Some of these will be predators like hoverflies, ladybirds and lacewings which will eat the aphids and bugs damaging your garden plants. Bare patches in your lawn can be planted with wildflower plug plants (there are many online companies that provide these). If you want to help bumblebees (and they need helping) then plant red clover, one of their favourite food sources. Once the insects have had their fill and the flowers start to fade you can mow again to restart the process. Allowing some grass to grow much longer and to remain unmown will provide shelter for small mammals, homes for nesting bees and seeds for birds. Barn owls and tawny owls have been seen around the village, so having a few more field voles will help them to feed their young. Plant life has another ongoing campaign to rewild our verges, roadsides and other public spaces. If you are interested in any of these issues or want more information, go to www.plantlife.org.uk/uk

Gill Humphrey

Photograph courtesy of Gill Humphrey

Above photograph courtesy of Gill Humphrey

Photograph of snowscape. Courtesy of Jane Praill

31 Croft with Yarpole and Lucton Parish Church Services May and June 2021

Date Service Church Time

May Holy Communion – Book of Common Sunday 2nd Croft 9.30 Prayer Holy Communion – Common Sunday 9th Yarpole 9.30 Worship Holy Communion -Book of Common Sunday 16th Yarpole 8.30 Prayer Pentecost– Western Parishes Joint Sunday 23rd TBC 10:30 Services

Sunday 30th Lay led service Yarpole 9:30

June Holy Communion – Book of Common Sunday 6th Croft 9:30 Prayer Holy Communion – Common Sunday 13th Yarpole 9.30 Worship Holy Communion – Book of Common Sunday 20th Croft 8:30 Prayer

Sunday 27th Lay Led Service Yarpole 9.30

Please note the change to the usual pattern of service. Any further changes to the programme will be displayed on notice boards and on the Community website

Anyone wishing to contact a priest please phone: Rev. Matthew Burns on 01568 614399, [email protected]

For other information please phone: Priory Office 612124 Monday to Friday 9.30 – 1.00

Churchwarden Barbara Nurse (780637)

32 The Parishioner May 200 Internet Addendum

As explained in the ‘From the Editor’s chair’ there can be an excess of material submitted for publication. I have decided to publish such material in an addendum to the internet version of The Parishioner. It will not be published in the traditional paper copy. I hope you find it interesting. The first piece to appear in this internet addendum is one by Jim Ainsworth a writer who is always worth reading, as are the poems of Carol Clare

Listening to the Radio

I was listening to Radio 4 the other day when this guest on the programme said, rather pompous- ly I thought, ‘Of course, we all construct our own reality.’

‘That’s a complete load of tosh,’ I told him.

I mean if somebody delivers a parcel, places it on the doorstep, takes a picture of it, and then I pick it up, we both know it’s real. I now have a parcel, he has a picture to prove it, and I have a hole in my bank account. End of.

‘So what was in the parcel dear?’ asked Deirdre.* ‘Oh it was the fish we ordered yesterday.’

‘And how are we going to cook it? Shall we do it like last time: pack it in foil with some butter and fennel, roast it in the Aga for 10 minutes, and serve it with new potatoes?’

‘We didn’t do that last time. We’ve never done that.’ ‘Yes we did.’

‘No. Last time – every time – I removed the fillets, made a stock with the bones, sautéd it, and served it with a crushed tomato and preserved lemon dressing.’

‘We have never done that, never.’

I am coming round to the idea that we all construct our own reality. It’s amazing what you can learn listening to the radio.

Jim Ainsworth

*The name has been changed to protect the writer.

33 Nature's tap

The leaves are tumbling from the trees, down onto the ground Nature is turning her tap off. Colours, ah yes, so deep with reds, crimson and gold we see, But it is her seasonal death.

So cold, the village stream has brittle, glazed icing sugar cap, but water flows quietly beneath. The tap is turned half on, but twisted shut and closed on top, life blood to nature almost ceased.

Sucked back into the dark earth, garden flowers wait in hope, life's essence nearly stopped. Earth far from solar warmth, Hades holding tight its grip to release when nature calls.

Wait, there is no absolute infinity in this seasonal time, the quiet gentle easing starts. Filtration of Spring's warm shoulders sends the message deep to the earth's waking heart.

Vibrating stirrings, shaking off the torpor of timeless winter warmth slackens off the earth. With life comes hope again, growth, green and brightly fine never failing, always sound.

Push upwards, find the light, rejoice in the rising sap, Another season, bright the heart, From darkness comes the abundance of summer joy, Nature has turned on her tap.

Carol Clare