The Littleton Link February 2021 Editors letter Dear All Welcome to the February issue of The Littleton Link. We woke to a dose of snow in January on the weekend before the Big Garden Birdwatch, for which I hope that some of you managed to take part. Data collated from the study helps to increase our understanding of the challenges faced by wildlife in our ever changing world. In this issue we’ve updates from your Parish Councils, Evesham Sea Cadets, the Farm Animal Sanctuary, the Youth Bus team, some ‘thanks’ and news about the forthcoming Census. Whatever you do this month, please stay safe and healthy. Kind regards and best wishes that you all stay well, Mary Cover photo: David’s Amaryllis (Graham Lampitt) 2 WYCHAVON DISTRICT COUNCIL And VENTILATE As we’re now in winter it might seem to be counter-intuitive to open our windows. If it’s cold outside why would we want to let all that cold air in? Well it’s important to ventilate as if you meet people you do not live with indoors, such as someone working in your home, you should make sure you let as much fresh air in as you can without getting uncomfortably cold (for example by opening windows). Approximately 1 in 3 people who have coronavirus have no symptoms and could be spreading it without realising it. To keep informed of all things related to coronavirus visit the following websites: https://www.gov.uk https://worcestershire.gov.uk To keep up-to-date with any changes sign up for an email direct to your email address. For more information go to: https://www.wychavon.gov.uk/covid-19-update 3 4 A BIG ‘THANK YOU’ TO OUR POSTIE, DARREN Residents of School Lane in Middle Littleton decided to have a collection and make a ‘socially distanced’ presentation to Darren, our lovely postie, who has been ever cheerful delivering all our post this past year. Initially thinking was to get him a voucher, however after further thought a hamper made up of all his favourites goodies was decided upon. Thank you Darren x 5 A THANK YOU MESSAGE FROM JEAN BAYLISS Jean would like to thank all her friends in the village for the kind good wishes she has received either by phone or the receipt of cards. All have been very much appreciated and Jean would like to wish everyone a Happy & Healthy New Year LITTLETONS VILLAGE HALL The Village Hall Committee would normally be advising the date and time of the Annual General Meeting due to be held in February. This year it will obviously not be held in February due to the current lockdown. We will be looking at a meeting date sometime during April/May depending on restrictions. The current treasurer, Gerald Perks, has indicated that he will not be standing next year. If anyone is interested in taking on this post please contact Gerald on 01386 830 416 or email [email protected] 6 7 New Year, new resolutions. A few ideas and encouragement from the Youth Bus Team A New Year’s resolution is a promise that you make to yourself at the start of the new year. It could focus on continuing good practice, changing an unwanted trait or behaviour, accomplishing a personal goal or starting a new hobby. New Year’s resolutions are not only for adults, they are a great example of goal setting that can help children with their self- development, build self-confidence and to develop healthy habits. When setting goals, they should be achievable, simple, and realistic. Only around 12% of people who make New Year’s resolutions felt that they were successful in achieving their goals! and only 40% of people can sustain their New Year’s resolutions after 6 months, so work hard to stick to yours, choose a specific goal, limit the number of resolutions you make, start small, and focus on one goal at a time, avoid resolutions you haven’t stuck to previously, and ask family and friends for help. And remember if you break your resolutions that’s fine too, don’t be hard on yourself, just use it to motivate you even more! Some examples of possible New Year’s resolutions: - I will keep my bedroom clean and tidy. - I will put things away when I’ve finished with them. - I will help with more chores around the house. - I will help to look after the pets. - I will believe in myself. 8 - I’ll take more steps towards a big goal. - I will spend more time with my family. - I will work hard in school. - I will do my homework on time. - I will learn a new hobby. - I will spend more time on things I enjoy. - I will read a new book each month. - I will play outside more often. - I will start a gratitude journal of good things that happen. Would you like to share your new years resolution with us? If so message us on our Facebook page and we will share it to inspire others www.facebook.com/wychavonyouthbus The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch took place at the end of January. Results can be submitted online until 19-Feb and by post until 15-Feb. Every count is important so even if you didn’t see anything please submit your result. Finding out which birds don’t visit your area is as important as understanding those which do. Find all the details here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/get- involved/activities/birdwatch 9 Eric Hutchinson and The Link Eric Hutchinson and The Rev’d Dennis Russell (The Vicar at that time) got together in the 1970’s, and felt that a village magazine for the three villages that were the Littletons was long overdue. The first issue was printed in the garage of the Vicarage in South Littleton using an ancient and well-worn gestetner duplicator. This carried on until the 80’s, when the Littleton Resource Centre opened in the Village Hall, and suddenly modern state of the art facilities became available. It included a duplicator that did not break down with regular monotony. A happy band of helpers assembled every month in School House, in Middle Littleton, to collate and staple the duplicated A4 sheets. This method of production carried on for several years. The finished Link was then distributed by a band of volunteers to all the occupants of houses who had decided to purchase the Link at a cost of 10p per issue. The next change came in the 90’s when production of the Link was taken over by Rev’d Richard Evans and South Littleton Parish Council. The funding coming from both Parish Councils. This became a free magazine, delivered to every house in the Littletons. It was printed commercially, and became the Link as we know it today. It is with great sadness that I have to report that Eric passed away on Christmas day 2020, after a long illness. He moved away from Middle Littleton some years ago, and lived with his partner in Tewkesbury and then Bredon. Eric was not only partially responsible for the formation of the Link, he was a Parish Councillor for many years, also Secretary of the Royal British Legion Club, he belonged to the ‘Just Us Players’ an amateur 10 dramatic group who used to perform in the Village Hall, and he was a bell-ringer at St Nicholas Church. He also found time to teach maths at St Egwins School in Evesham. Peter Brown 11 12 SOUTH LITTLETON PARISH COUNCIL We currently have three vacancies on the council. If you would like to be involved in enhancing your village and can spare a couple of hours a month, please contact Sean Arble, Clerk, via email: [email protected] to register your interest. Cllr Victoria Servier was voted Vice Chair. The council are looking to improve your play parks. If you have any suggestions or ideas of what might be needed, please advise the clerk so the council can consider your ideas. County councillor report can be found on South Littleton parish website http://www.southlittleton.org.uk Highways/roadworks - to keep up to date on the roads affected see: https://one.network/ This is a new website and is very good to see all the roadworks locally and across the UK. Please can parishioners remember to maintain their hedges which overhang public footpaths and/or roads. The cycleway from the edge of the village to Blackminster school is hopefully due to commence in April, all being well. Blocked drains around the parish have now been identified by 2 councillors and reported. County have now marked and commenced this work. In the future, residents can notify the clerk of any blockages and he can report for you. Although we are now well in to January, this is the first opportunity I've had to wish you all a belated happy and safe new year. Louise Bucknall SLPC Chair Further updates will be available on the website at: www.southlittleton.org.uk including details of how to join in Parish Councils meetings which are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. 13 14 A new year, and another lockdown has meant we must take our Sea Cadet learning back online for our Cadets. We are having regular weekly meetings of all our Cadets and using this time to work through (virtually) all the theory side of our learning. This means that as soon as we are allowed to be back to face to face parading we can concentrate on getting back out on the water and doing all the practical outdoor skills and adventurous training that our Cadets have missed so much being cooped up at home.