The Flying Goose Issue 57 September 2020 A quarterly newsletter for the parish and ward of Wolvercote ISSUE57 SEPTEMBER 2020 ISSUE 57 SEPTEMBER 2020 I wonder if it is because I live alone that I have not found How has it been so far? Lockdown too difficult! At the beginning I made a list of projects that I have been putting off for some time: tidying the LOCKDOWN (and on p 3) loft, getting rid of all the elder and bindweed in the garden, rebuilding a wall in the garden and replacing a fence near the canal. I had to be careful because with the recycling areas being closed, storage needed to be under control. I have completed four upholstery projects. I really enjoy stripping a chair to its skeleton and then rebuilding it. I do classes and our teacher has always been available online for advice. I am a trustee of SSNAP, a charity that supports the Neonatal Unit at the JR. We have met via Zoom several times to discuss the current issues, including finances, facing us all. One project I have enjoyed is making some face masks in aid of the charity. I love doing jigsaws and have swapped with neighbours. The Thursday evening clapping for the NHS meant we talked afterwards for some time, sharing experiences. The telephone has been used more than usual and I have been in contact with friends who are unable to travel. Isn’t Zoom wonderful? We have had family meetings and a group of friends talked long into the night. What I have really missed is sharing meals with friends and relations, seeing friends and being touched and having / giving a hug. Roll on being allowed to touch people again. Caroline Pepys On 24 February I returned from a week in hospital and Photo: Julian Cooper two convalescing, with an elbow in a sling and a ‘care package’. Lockdown - with 40% lung function I was defined as highly vulnerable - felt like a sentence to an indeterminate term and no holidays. It intensified experience - good and bad. Initially I was weepy and fearful - of choking with Covid, of loss – friends I might never see again if unable to drive. Happily I now can, and the car even passed its MOT! It’s been survivable largely due to support from good neighbours and friends from St Peter’s. Will and Sandie, Charlotte, Diane, the family at 92, Amanda and Fred ensured I was up and about, and shopped for essentials, plus printing ink, plants, crisps, chocolate and wine! This, with my Godstow Road frontage, meant I could see and talk with actual, not virtual, people. Some local friends I have come to know much better and was regularly on the ’phone with those further away. A line fault induced near panic! I learned to Zoom but found it a frustrating substitute. Lockdown was a missed opportunity to improve IT skills, but they’ve been sufficient to allow streaming Church. I have greatly missed Sunday Eucharist and coffee so am very appreciative of the Team and Val’s eNewsletters. I was pleased when Margaret B introduced me to a project sewing scrubs for the JR but found it required sustained application! More leisurely, I had begun a canvas work project to keep me occupied. Reading and rereading has been good, music and such gardening as I can manage also. I’ve had to ration news bulletins and on line newspaper in an attempt to contain the sadness and my anger at HMG’s mishandling of this crisis. And there was Spring, with vastly improved air quality, beautiful weather, Jackie’s ‘Springwatch’ emails, new season’s fruit and veg gifted by friends from garden, allotment or PYO. I’ve heard a cuckoo and seen a house martin chick fledge from the nest under my eaves. I’ve been fortunate - and re-recognise the need to share appreciation of people and experience in the moment, as tomorrow may be too late. Evelyn Bryant 1 The Flying Goose Issue 57 September 2020 HEDGEHOGS IN LOCKDOWN - Alison McDonald Hedgehogs are omnivores but, because of the long-lasting drought, I felt that the amount of their normal food, such as slugs and insects, might be scarce, and fruit was not yet ripe. I had seen hedgehog droppings on my front terrace so decided to put out some food. As I stepped out of the door, there within a metre of my foot was a hedgehog! I put the bowl down and watched as he quietly scoffed his food and then sipped the birds’ water. He went away and I was gratified. The next evening Tweedledee arrived with Tweedledum, who is just a fraction smaller, and together they polished off the food from the same bowl. A couple of days later Alice came. She is half the size of the twins. When she saw me she flattened herself against the paving and closed her eyes. I think she must be too young to roll herself into a ball. I threw out a handful of food just below my window. Her eyes opened, her nose twitched and she was soon foraging successfully. In due course, Patch (named for the pale bristles on her right flank) put in an appearance and ate the scattered titbits. The twins (or are they mates?) come frequently and Alice keeps to herself most evenings. Some evenings I hear them coming. On others I can only suspect that the hedgehogs have been. The opposition are a pair of fox cubs, pigeons and collared doves. Dr McDonald also drew the picture WOLVERCOTE COMMONERS “Summertime, and the living is easy” as George Gershwin’s famous song goes. We may all have problems to deal with, but at least the weather means we can all get outside and enjoy meeting each other, despite all the current restrictions. Every time I go for a walk on any of the Commons, I feel my mood improving. I hope it’s the same for you. Lately, Wolvercote Common had a visit from Natural England to check on the condition of the Common to see if it is being kept in line with the rules governing its SSSI Status. It passed with flying colours, the report showing that there is an abundance of flowers which have blossomed and set seed. This has helped pollinators, and will help invertebrates too. The plants include meadow barley, lady’s bedstraw, red clover, red fescue and small catstail, as well as birdsfoot trefoil (sometimes known as 'egg and bacon'). Regular walkers will have noticed that the thistles have been “topped” to stop their seeds spreading and dominating. This does mean that some grass gets cut too, but it’s not collected for hay. Wolvercote Green has been cut for hay, and once new grass has grown, a few cattle will be put on there until the autumn. This is to care for that part of the common land, which is also a SSSI. Nearby, the canal towpath has now been properly renewed, and is a lovely walk, thanks to the City Council and the Canal and River Trust. Mary Brown, Chair 2 . .. . .. .. . ... .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. . . .. .. .... . .. .. . . . . . .. ... .. .. ... .. .. .. .. . .. ... .. .. .. ... ... ... .. . . . . . . .. .. . .. .... ... . .. .. . . . .. ... .. .. .. .. ... . . .. . . .. .. . . .. . . .. ... . . .. . ... . . . .. . . . ... .. .. . .. . .. . . .. .. .. . ... . .. . . . ... .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. . . . . .. ..