Tasburgh Quarterly & Church News by Tasburgh Parish Council

TASBURGH

QUARTERLY & CHURCH NEWS

Photo courtesy of : Amy Prendergast

ISSUE NO. 62

SPRING 2021

Classifieds

Useful Names & Contact Details LOCAL COUNCIL & COUNCILLORS

Parish Council Chair Parish Council Clerk DISTRICT COUNCILLOR COUNTY COUNCILLOR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Jill Casson 01508 470334 Tina Eagle 01508 494569 Michael Edney 07725 971282 Mrs Alison Thomas 01508 530652 Mr Richard Bacon 01379 643728 richardbaconmp@parliament.uk

URGENT NUMBERS

EMERGENCY Non Emergency Police enquiries@norfolk.pnn.police.uk Non Emergency Medical Power Cuts

GP SURGERY Long Stratton Medical Partnership

999 101 111 105

Swan Lane , Tharston

01508 530781

CHURCH Church News Rev’d Dawn Davidson Parochial Church Council/Yellow Pages Mrs Julia Orpin

01508 498924 01508 470983

VILLAGE HALL Chair Secretary TASBURGH SCHOOL & PRE-SCHOOL Preston CE Primary School Tas Valley Pre-school & Playroup COMMUNITY GROUPS Community Speed Watch The Tasburgh Society Tasburgh Carers Group 1st Tasburgh Scout Group Social Club Eurolink Tasburgh Allotment Society (TAS)

Dave Moore 01508 471041 admin@tasburghvillagehall.org.uk bookings @tasburghvillagehall.org.uk 01508 470454 Victoria Johnson chair.tvplaygroup@gmail.com Willie Crawshay Adrienne Watts Rachel Mahoney Graham Pates Don Proudfoot Mr Alan Jones Mr Simon Orford

01508 471650 01508 470217 01508 471271 01508 471518 01508 471408 01508 470092 01508 471539

Tasburgh United Football Club Andy Whyte 07384 231207 Coffee Pot and Crafts Julia Fowler 01508 471833 St Mary’s Guild Mrs Ann Crawshay 01508 470634 Fitness Club (Over 50's) Mrs Ann Gibbins 01508 470225 Fat Dad’s Football Mr Bill Wheeler 01508 471633 Martial Arts Mr Andrew Gillingwater 07775 890359 Tasburgh Tea Room Mrs Valerie Cook 01508 470298 Inaccuracies or omissions? Please contact tasburghpc@btinternet.com. 3

Tasburgh Parish Council, Serving the Village of Tasburgh

Meetings Parish Council meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month in the Committee Room of the Village Hall at 8pm (refreshments available from 7.30pm). Planning Meetings, if required, are usually held on the first Tuesday of the month, in the Village Hall Committee Room at 8pm. Agendas are posted on the village notice boards and the website at least three days beforehand. Public are welcome to attend all Parish Council meetings; this is your opportunity to speak or ask questions. Due to Covid-19 restrictions on social distancing some of the meetings below may now be held remotely. If you wish to access the meeting please email the Clerk who can provide you with an invitation link. Meeting Dates 2021 19th January 16th February 16th March 20th April

18th May 15th June 20th July 17th August

21st September 19th October 16th November 14th December

Please note, if you would like an item to appear on the Agenda, details must be sent to the Clerk at least eight days before the meeting. The Council is unable to make a decision on anything not included on the agenda but can discuss newly raised matters and refer them to the next meeting. Minutes of meetings are posted on the website or are available from the Clerk. Parish Council Surgeries Councillors are still willing to discuss any issues you may have with you; their contact details can be found opposite on page 5. 4

Tasburgh Parish Council, Serving the Village of Tasburgh Contacting the Parish Council If you would like to know more, have any comments about Tasburgh Parish Council and its work, or you have any issues you wish to be raised, please contact one of the Councillors or the Parish Clerk. YOUR COUNCILLORS Jill Casson 12 Hastings Close chair.tasburghpc@gmail.com

470334

Willie Crawshay

The Grange, Low Road willie.crawshay@btconnect.com

471650

Brian Hill

8 Harvey Close brianhill.tasburghpc@gmail.com

471011

Geoff Merchant

14 Orchard Way geoffmerchant@btinternet.com

470606

Andrew Patrick

Jasmine Cottage 07775 898301 andrewpatrick.tasburghpc@gmail.com

Keith Read

Thornly Barn, Saxlingham Lane k.a.read@btinternet.com

470229

Matthew Read

1 Harvey Close matt.read@taspc@gmail.com

470612

Adrienne Watts

Grove Cottage Awatts.tas@hotmail.co.uk

470217

Preston Thomas

4 Church Road 07730 049077 prestonthomas.tasburghpc@gmail.com

Parish Clerk Tina Eagle 17 Alder Close Poringland, Norfolk, NR14 7LY 01508 494569 Email: tasburghpc@btinternet.com Website https://tasburghpc.wixsite.com/tasburghpc 5

Tasburgh Parish Council A Happy New Year to everyone. Unfortunately we currently find ourselves in lockdown again, with Covid-19 cases having risen steeply in our area before Christmas. However, hopefully we have now turned a corner, with cases reducing again and the vaccination campaign well under way. Also, Spring is definitely on the way, with snowdrops out and birdsong everywhere. The playground remains open, although the outdoor gym equipment has been temporarily closed. If you are using the play equipment, please observe the rules around social distancing. These measures will help keep residents safe. Remember that if you do need assistance of any sort during this time, the Early Help Hub at South Norfolk District Council is still running (0344 8008020) . Also, if you run a small business and are experiencing financial difficulties help is again available from South Norfolk District Council. On top of everything else, the rain recently does not seem to have stopped,and we know that a number of you adjoining the river have recently experienced flooding. If you have had water actually in your property (rather than just the garden), then you should notify water.management@norfolk.gov.uk. It has been agreed that in the event of future flooding, the village should have its own supply of sandbags quickly and readily available. If you do need help in the future please contact:

Andrew Patrick on 07775 898301 Our thanks go to everyone who helped out during the recent crisis Even in lockdown, speeding traffic and volume continue to be problems but especially along Low Road. The Parish Council are currently having conversations with Norfolk County Council around possible measures to reduce speed and protect pedestrians walking along the road, which is many more of us during the lockdown. However, the Highways budget for such calming measures is very limited in the current climate, and the village need to produce strong evidence of the problem. The SAMS machine does produce figures on traffic volumes and speeds to help with this. We have also begun to maintain a log of all incidents involving traffic to help 6

Tasburgh Parish Council strengthen the case. If you witness or experience any accidents or nearmisses, please can you email details to the Clerk and they will be added to the log. The Parish Council have recently introduced a scheme that has had some success in other villages by issuing 30mph speed limit stickers that residents can display prominently on the sides of their wheelie bins. These have been distributed to residents in Church Road, Grove Lane, Low Road and Saxlingham Road as these have the biggest problem with through traffic, and are now prominent along Low Road on bin day. If residents in Church Road would like more stickers for their green, black or brown bin please contact the Clerk as we would like to see as many stickers on those bins as possible. One of the highlights of lockdown 1 was the Snake Rock that appeared in Grove Lane, consisting of stones painted by the village children (and some adults). These have not disappeared but have been kept in safe storage. They have now all been carefully photographed, and will be displayed on a two-sided board, along with information on their creation, which should soon be placed on the village green. Thanks to everyone involved in this effort. Whilst it is lovely to see so many residents walking around the village, PLEASE REMEMBER when using Horseshoe Footpath to ALWAYS KEEP to the footpath and not to walk on the ploughed area which may contain crops. This footpath is a privilege not a right. Parish Council meetings continue to be held virtually for the time being. Details of future meetings will be advertised on Facebook, website and noticeboards. There is still the opportunity for members of the public to participate in our meetings. If you would like to join one, the link is shown on the agenda, or you can email our Clerk and she will send you the necessary link. You can join from computer, tablet or phone, and the process is very easy. You can also use the website https://tasburghpc.wixsite.com/ or our facebook page to forward comments or questions to the Parish Council. Jill Casson, Chair 7

Tasburgh Neighbourhood Plan A big thank you to everyone who participated in our short survey last month. We are currently in the process of analysing all of your reponses and a full report will be available for the next Quarterly. The following are the some of the highlights from your replies:

Adrienne Watts, Chair Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Group

Tasburgh Sports & Social Club CHAIRMAN’S BLOG Hello here we are with the first Blog of the year but it’s only a short one, the Club is closed because of the virus but there are still things for the Directors to do to make sure we are ready to open as soon as H M Gov .U K gives us the green light. We have a full list of entertainment ready for next year and for what will remain of this Year, also the room will be having a bit of a spruce up {spring clean} and of course we have to make sure we are stocked up ready for the opening. For those of you who are paid up members from 2019/20 we are letting your membership run through to end March 2022. Due to not knowing when we will open, anyone who wishes to join this year we ask that you pay £5. So please if you are a member make sure to have your card with you just in case that nice person behind the bar does not remember you. It looks like we will be busy when we get the signal with club events and private events booked via the Village Hall, we are short staffed so if you feel you could help behind the bar get in touch with Iain or Don 471057 or 471408. I hope you all stay safe and well Cheers for now ‘Don the Don’ Chairman TSSC

Cheers from me Don ‘The Don ‘

Tasburgh Eurolink Sadly, although there is some light at the end of the COVID tunnel with the vaccines being administered with impressive speed, life is most certainly not back to the “normal” Eurolink would have liked. Our annual wine tasting, which would have taken place on Saturday 27th February, has of course been cancelled. We have decided to hold a zoom social for the group in its place. We also hold zoom meetings for committee members when needed, which isn’t often with such limited options for activities! The visit of our Belgian friends has also been cancelled again, at their request, and reprogrammed for May 2022. Nothing has previously stopped the annual get together from taking place since 1989 when the twinning was set up, so having to postpone for two years in a row is really hard for us all. Families from the two sides of the channel keep in touch, such long standing friendships will not easily be lost. I have nothing more to report for the moment, but am sincerely hoping that, by the time the next quarterly goes to press, we will at least have some concrete plans to tell you about. Helen Burnett: helenmburnett@gmail.com (Chair) Alan Jones: jonesa@talk21.com (Secretary) or any other member of the group

TASBURGH OUTREACH POST OFFICE TASBURGH VILLAGE HALL Opening Times: Tuesday 9.30am - 12.30pm 10

Tasburgh Village Hall As a result of the advert in the last Quarterly we have increased our trustee numbers. However I am mindful that we have an AGM looming in May/June and some trustees will not be continuing. Please think about joining us and if you would like to be considered or need more information please contact me. Tasburgh Village Hall Management Committee are STILL looking for a

someone who can take on this role as a Trustee or ex-officio If you would like to find out more about what is involved, please contact Dave Moore, Chair 01508 471041 dave.moore0246@gmail.com The hall remains open although for limited authorised activities only. We still have substantial running costs but are very grateful for the grants received which have enabled us to keep our community hall viable and Covid compliant. I am pleased to report that the Village Hall continues to attract interest as we have a growing list of events pre booked for 2022. As soon as regulations allow we can hit the ground running. Other than the 300 Club, normal fundraising events are currently on hold. Dave Moore, Chair 11

Tasburgh COVID-19

TASBURGH ROCK SNAKE- 2020 In June 2020 in the middle of The Covid-19 pandemic and inspired by a news article, myself, Emma Townsend and Amy Prendergast decided to start a village rock snake. We hoped that Tasburgh residents could come together and express their sentiments and feelings during such a challenging and unusual time. The response was such, that when a couple of long standing Tasburgh residents suggested we somehow make it a permanent feature to commemorate this time, we all agreed it would be a good idea. Tasburgh villagers, Brian and Carole Hill got together with some contacts and came up with various ideas on how we could preserve the wonderful images created by villagers. After some discussions regarding budget and feasibility, it was decided that photos of each stone, mounted on durable metal, would work best. We look forward to progressing this and hope to see it displayed in the village in the coming months. Laura Boon 12

South Norfolk District Council

DO YOU RUN A BUSINESS FROM HOME? GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED Self-employed and been hit financially by the COVID-19 pandemic? We have funding available to help you get back on your feet. Find out if you’re eligible for a discretionary business grant and apply https://www.south-norfolk.gov.uk/coronavirus-information/supportbusinesses/business-support-grants 13

Norfolk County Council ANNOUNCING NEW DATES FOR COMPOSTING FOR BEGINNERS WORKSHOPS New dates for free Composting For Beginners online workshops this March 2021. Designed to help you get started or improve your composting you can now book your free workshop via https://www.norfolkrecycles.com 100% of people who have attended workshops before said it had given them the confidence to start or continue composting. All workshops are delivered by Norfolk Master Composters Dates are as follows: Wednesday 3rd March 2021. 7pm – 8pm. Thursday 11th March 2021, 2pm – 3pm. Thursday 18th March 2021, 7pm – 8pm. Thursday 25th March 2021, 2pm – 3pm. IF YOU ARE CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE THEN YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PRIORITY SLOTS FOR SUPERMARKET HOME DELIVERIES TO HELP YOU AVOID THE SHOPS. To get a priority slot, you will need to register for the National Shielding Support Service here www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shieldingsupport who will share your information with supermarkets, and enable you to receive important updates quickly. You will also need to register with your preferred supermarket as an online customer, and they will email you to say these slots are open to you. If you need help to register, please call Norfolk County Council on 0344 800 8020 option 1, then option 4. 14

Preston Primary School School in lockdown is not normal. The ones of us who have to come because we have parents who are teachers, doctors, nurses, shop keepers etc. It is very quiet and strange each day. We start at 9am with a Teams meeting (that's all our class and it’s good to see them for a few minutes) on our smart board in our classroom. Then laptops for most of the day. The school work is different we do English and Maths in the morning, then after lunch we do anything from art to geography and science. We have lunch in the classroom which we bring from home, this is the only classroom we are allowed in. We each have a table and sit apart- there are virtually as many adults as children! We have learnt lots of other things and I have learnt French knitting. We really wish that we could go back to normal life and we hope that you are all well. Article written by Ruby, Aiden and Toby, Year 5 & 6 children

FRIEND AGAINST SCAMS By completing the online learning, you can learn about the different types of scams and how to spot and support a victim. www.norfolk.gov.uk/friendsagainstscams You can also report scams to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline using their online report form or

03454 040506

Tas Valley Pre-School and Playgroup

Sessions will start again when there are more daylight hours! If in the meantime you would like to volunteer, please contact the Scheme Co-ordinator Willie Crawshay willie.crawshay@btconnect.com https://www.communityspeedwatch.org 17

1st Tasburgh Sea Scout Group Despite the challenges of the past year, scouting has continued in Tasburgh, albeit in a more limited way than previously. When the lockdown restrictions were eased over the summer all three sections (beavers, cubs and scouts) managed to hold outdoor meetings giving the youngsters the opportunity to meet their friends and enjoy some scouting activities. We made sure that we followed the strict guidance from our national organisation and the leadership team did an amazing job thinking of new games and challenges which were 'covid secure', ensuring that the games involved the young people keeping a safe social distance from each other whilst still having fun. The darker nights and inclement weather that the late autumn brought made outdoor activities more difficult however just before Christmas the scout section managed to hold a couple of meetings, incorporating a treasure hunt around the village and games with torches. Thanks as ever must go to the leadership team who worked hard to put everything in place for the meetings to run safely. As we start the new year under a new lockdown, we are resuming online meetings where possible but sadly a number or our young people and adult leaders are no longer with us. As it has been almost a year since our regular meetings, a cohort of young people have grown too old for scouts and have moved on, and for many young people and adult leaders the events of the last year have had an impact on the time and energy that they have to participate or volunteer. It is a shame that we have not been able to come together to thank everyone that has contributed to the group over the years and to celebrate the successes of our young people. More optimistically, we are looking forward to the time when we can restart our face to face meetings again, whenever that might be. Plans are in place for each of the sections to restart as soon as we are allowed and we would love to welcome new young people, both girls and boys, and adults to join us. If you haven't experienced scouting before, check the website www.scouts.org.uk to find out more about us and what scouting is all about, or drop us an email; trudymus@gmail.com Trudy Musgrove, Assistant Group Scout Leader 18

The Tasburgh Society Like lots of other village groups, the Tasburgh Society is hibernating at the moment. In the meantime you might like this short history about our village pubs, cheers! Adrienne Watts

THE PUBS OF TASBURGH

Although it will be a few weeks before residents can meet up again to enjoy a pint or a glass of wine, 140 years ago the village supported no less than four pubs, a ratio of one for every twenty six households! The Countryman was then known as The Bird in Hand, and belonged to the Norwich brewery, Youngs Crawshay and Youngs, before becoming a Bullards pub. Records suggest that there had been a hostelry on that site since the 1500s, although the current building is rather later. It is though that its rather odd shape may have enabled a watch to be kept up and down the road for approaching coaches, perhaps requiring a quick change of horses, but the coming of the railway in 1850 greatly reduced that passing trade. Although some of the upper windows have since been bricked in, they are still visible today. The other pub in Upper Tasburgh was The Cherry Tree on Church Road, now Birch Grove at the entrance to Woodland Rise, which had been licenced to sell beers and cider since at least 1854, when it also operated as a shop. It seems the use of the name, The Cherry Tree, didn’t appear until about 1880 when the landlord was Mr Abel Couzens who also used the land behind as a market garden. He was still running the pub in 1907 when the magistrates in Long Statton refused to renew his licence and the pub was forced to close its doors, not because of any wrong doing but because the brewery owners of the other pubs objected, saying that with a declining population, the village no longer needed four pubs! The Horseshoes on Low Road became a pub in the early 1840s, its name no doubt chosen because of its proximity to the Smithy adjoining Forge Cottage. In the 1850s the premises were let to Cann & Co, a Wymondham brewery, and eventually became owned by Steward and Patteson of Norwich. After they and Bullards had jointly bought out their Norwich rival, Morgans, a meeting was held to rationalise their respective operations, and it was agreed that The Bird in Hand should be kept open but The Horseshoes should be allowed to close as the turnover in 1962 had dropped to less than a barrel a week. The fourth pub was The White Horse, at the other end of the village on Saxlingham Lane, where White Horse Cottage now stands. Like The Cherry Tree, it was only licenced to sell beers and cider, and the earliest known licensee from 1850 was Mr Jefferies, who was also a blacksmith. The White Horse name was in use from at least 1861 until about 1926 when the pub was destroyed in a fire, but it had by then given its name to the farm opposite. Ben Goodfellow 27

Hethersett & Tas Valley Cricket Club The virtual club AGM was held on November 25th, with several changes to the committee. Harriet Curtis has been elected as Chair for the 2021 season, with Mark Worley stepping down after three very successful years in the role. Other changes to the committee have seen Stephen Hayes elected as Treasurer and Tom Collishaw as Joint Vice-Chair. We are hopeful of a full cricket season in 2021 and are preparing our grounds and fixtures with this in mind. Indoor training for all of our members has been impacted by the winter lockdown, but we aim to return as soon as restrictions allow, with a full sporting and social calendar throughout spring and summer. Club Head Coach Ben France will be running a virtual pre-season training schedule via Zoom, which will be open to all members. Throughout February, 83 of our members are taking part in a team-based walking challenge as a way of keeping fit and maintaining the social fabric of our club, which for us is as important as our cricket. As predicted, this is turning into quite a competition, so it will be interesting to see the cumulative mileage at the end of the challenge in March. We will again be running the ECB All-Stars scheme this summer. All Stars Cricket provides a fantastic first experience for all children aged 5-8 years old where they’re guaranteed 8 weeks of jam-packed fun, activity and skills development. The programme is designed to introduce children to the sport, teaching them new skills, helping them make new friends and have a great time doing so. Every child that registers will receive a backpack full of goodies! Training for juniors is planned to recommence outside at Tas Valley every Thursday from the start of May, with primary school age children welcomed from 6pm to 7pm and high school age children from 7pm to 8pm. No experience is necessary, and we will be opening our bar to allow parents to enjoy a summer evening drink whilst the kids burn up some energy saved up over the winter lockdown! This season, our Ladies team, which is open to ladies and girls from the age of 13 upwards, has entered the new Norfolk Cricket Board Softball League in addition to the regular hardball league. Softball cricket is ideal for those new to cricket and those that want to enjoy sport in a simple, fun competitive way. New members are always welcomed! HTVCC’s fantastic grounds and open space lends itself to socially distanced socialising. As always, if you’re interested in becoming a playing or social member, please look for details on our website, social media pages or via the attached QR code.

Matt Bird Club Development Officer matthew.bird@me.com 28

Burrfeld Park The park has become Burrfeld Lake, an unusual feature in the village at the moment, and it will certainly take some time for the water level to get back to normal. When the board walk was originally installed, though, we never thought it would be used to actually walk over water! Despite the extreme weather of late we are still keeping busy. We have replaced one of the information signs at the western gate and have also installed a further explanation sign on the History of Burrfeld Park by the pond. Further solitary bee logs have also been installed. The observation box lid is also in need of repair. We have all the necessary materials to undertake the repair we just need the weather to improve! Brian Hill

TASBURGH PHOTOGRAPHERS Remember if you enjoy taking seasonal photographs and would like one of them to be featured on the front cover of a future Tasburgh Quarterly & Church News THEN WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO SEE THEM! All photographs will be credited and may be held for future issues Email your photographs for consideration to tasburghpc@btinternet.com 29

Healthy Planet - Healthy Communities I have begun to notice that our weather and climate is different now to what I knew as a child in the 1980s, aren’t as consistently cold and summers seem much hotter. Many people in the village said that they hadn’t seen a flood as big as we had on Christmas Eve. More extreme rainfall and higher river flows are an impact of the climate breakdown. We need to reduce carbon emissions by 7.6 % each year until 2030 to prevent irreversible climate breakdown. I’ve been reading ‘How bad are bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything’ by Mike Berners-Lee (2020), it’s full of easily accessible facts to help you make lifestyle choices. Not many people realise that carbon is stored in our soils as well as in plants like trees. Peaty soils hold a vast amount of carbon, their water-logged nature means that plant material takes millennia to break down. Yet we are digging up peat and using this precious resource to grow our tomatoes. This means the peat dries out and the carbon is released back into the air. Emissions from UK peatland threaten to cancel out all carbon reduction achieved through new and existing forests. There are decent alternatives to peat and there is an initiative to phase out its use but progress has been very slow. I think it is a worthwhile investment to pay a few more pounds to protect our unique peat bogs. Foundry Nurseries sell a peat-free potting compost called New Horizon by Marshalls, which is very good. We have used Dalefoot’s wool and bracken compost for seed compost, which was good. Morningthorpe Recycling Centre sell a compost made from garden waste that is quite coarse but good for improving soil in the garden. Or even better you can make your own compost in your garden

Amy Prendergast

HIGHWAY PROBLEMS CAN STILL BE REPORTED From pot-holes to pavements and more It couldn't be easier!

You can report anonymously, or you can register. If you register you will receive updates on the steps taken to resolve the problem www.norfolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/roads/report-a-problem

Health & Wellbeing Welcome to the new corner of the Village magazine focusing on Health and Wellbeing At the moment maintaining our best health, whether it be physical or mental, has never been more important. We often think of our mental and physical health as separate but finding the connection between the two is a good way to manage our overall wellbeing. Mindfulness is one way of making that connect. But what exactly is it and how can it help? The term ‘mindfulness’ can mean lots of things and can be practiced in many ways. From how we go about our daily activities to meditation practice. We can practice it without realising sometimes too, when we are absorbed in a hobby, job or type of exercise we enjoy and need to think about, like yoga or swimming. Simply being on a walk and looking at things around us, without really thinking about them or having other thoughts is being mindful. In essence, mindfulness is simply a way to bring our focus into the here and now, to the moment and to stop our minds doing what they do best: thinking. Why do we want to do that? Well, if you are happy and relaxed maybe you don’t but if you are suffering with your thoughts running away with you, leading to feelings of stress and anxiety, then effectively ‘red traffic lighting them’ can be super helpful. In this way actually connecting our bodies and minds using mindfulness practice can be more than just restorative, it can literally be a lifesaver in times of anxiety or physical illness. Our minds can help our bodies and vica versa. If you find yourself struggling with anxiety or stress, which many of us are, take a moment to sit, with eyes closed, comfortably and just shift your focus into your hands. Can you feel them? How do they feel? What sensations do you have? If you can’t feel them after a few moments, ask yourself ‘How do I know they are there?’. Just a minute of this can have a calming effect on your mind by stopping the runaway train of your thoughts. If you’re partial to an App there are a few great (and free) ones out there to help you find some peace and quiet in your mind. Apps like Calm, Headspace and Insight Timer are particularly good. Next issue we will be looking at cold water therapy and how this can help you boost your immunity and sense of wellbeing.

Jackie Trenavin, Mindful Body Coach jackie@mindfulbodycoach.co.uk 31

Tasburgh Allotment Society News from down on the Allotments This is always a challenging Quarter to report on and entertain with. None more so than this 2021 version. I normally rely on setting some dates up in your diaries. In its place we can only remain dreaming of sun and socialising, which will return, and then the events will follow. Looking back to what has been happening recently; the usual TAS Christmas party in the bar was replaced by the ubiquitous Zoom meeting. The highlight of which was our Chair Chris Austin appearing online dressed in full Santa outfit. Well top half anyway. Who knows what was going on below the waistline out of shot? Moving quickly on… The Allotment site has just come out of its hibernation phase. Still there have been jobs to do. Another generous dollop of quality muck dumped over the fence from a neighbouring Gerald Barnes (thanks Gerald) has meant a flurry of barrowing from members and of course there is never a month goes by that does not offer some sort of harvest. Leeks and Parsnips are still making a trip to the site worthwhile. Personally, I’m well behind with the digging. I’m putting this down to the biblical rainfall we’ve endured this winter. The allotments are luckily on relatively high ground, which leads us to spare a thought for those who bore the brunt of the River Tas spilling over on Christmas Eve. With that being a rather scant account of what has been going on, I’m going to take this chance to wow you with a potted history of the development of Allotment holding of which an existence of sorts, can be seen to go back as far as Anglo Saxon times. The basis of today’s allotments though goes back to 1800s when land was offered to the ‘very poorest to grow food themselves’. By 1908 an Act was in force placing a duty on local authorities to provide this land according to demand where possible and by 1919 a further Act went some way to ensuring this was available to all (especially those returning from WW1) and not a chosen few. Finally, in 1925 yet another Act established that Ministerial land could not be sold off without consent, bolstering the Allotment movement. We can see the early part of the last century really set up the system which we recognise today. Times have changed though, In 1846 a Bosworth Parish account stated1 ‘Every (allotment) occupier is expected to attend divine service on Sundays; and any occupier who digs potatoes or otherwise works on his land on Sunday shall immediately forfeit the same’. Would not get much done if that was in place for TAS today. 32

Tasburgh Allotment Society As is common, I dare not offer any plans for the coming year. Watch out though for as these events and dates materialise when life allows them to. 1.

NSALG (Registered 1930)– A Brief History of Allotments. Online https://www.nsalg.org.uk/allotment-info/brief-history-of-allotments/

Simon Orford – Secretary to TAS

TASBURGH TIDY NETWORK SPRING CLEAN Thanks to those keeping up the valuable tidying as you walk the village. An annual event will be held later in the year but no possibility to arrange this at the present. Keep an eye out for an announcement

Tharston & District WI Lockdown, lockdown, lockdown …. with luck, fingers crossed and with the vaccination, this may be the last one we have to endure. Last year really did not go to plan! We cancelled meetings and activities but we did manage to hold some outdoor events during the summer. We enjoyed an afternoon tea, which was provided free for members, and a quiz with cake afternoon. Members paid their subs and we have tried to give them something back although we only managed three meetings. We gave a plant earlier in the year then we made up ‘a meeting in a bag’ which was given out to members. We have planned a programme for 2021 and hope that meetings will be able to resume as soon as possible, although it may need to be outdoors. Roll on the warmer weather! Members of committee travelled round during December to deliver Christmas gifts to members. I hope all were pleased to receive a large tub of sweets and a card, along with our programme and the WI membership booklet. Once again it was really good to stand outside and have a good chat. We have tried hard to keep in touch with our members with phone calls, newsletters and more recently coffee mornings via zoom. The latest coffee morning included a game of handbag bingo!. We are now to try zoom for a WI monthly meeting with a speaker. This will be good but how we have missed the friendship, laughter, conversation, and of course tea and cake, that the WI offers at their meetings. Heather Jeary 33

Tasburgh United Charities Tasburgh United Charities have a certain amount of money available each year to use in assisting residents of the Parish who, regardless of age and for whatever reason, find themselves in need of financial help. We know that in these very difficult times, many of you will be facing great uncertainty as to your futures, and may therefore be experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties beyond your control. We are only a small charity and have limited funds, but we would like to stress that we are here for ALL inhabitants of Tasburgh. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you do find yourself in need of help, as that is the reason the Charities exist. Assistance can be given by a outright grant towards general expenses, by contribution towards a particular expense, a temporary loan or by purchases of equipment for use. We also give distributions to residents over the age of 18 who are in fulltime education. If you are heading off to university this September, even if you may be living at home or studying online to begin with, we can help towards purchases of books and other equipment. you may need. If you would like assistance, or to be considered for a distribution, please contact one of the trustees below. All applications will be considered in the strictest confidence. Mrs Jill Casson 12 Hastings Close 470334

Mr Keith Read Thornly Barn, Saxlingham Lane 470229

Mr Geoff Merchant 14 Orchard Way 470606

Mr Roger Burnett 22 Orchard Way 471031

Our application form and privacy notice are also available on the Parish Council website (under ‘About’). If you would prefer to apply using this method, then please download the form and then forward it to one of the trustees as named above. 34

Tasburgh Poets Corner

CRISIS Part 1 - I am COVID

They go about familiar lives as if they have no care, But very soon I’ll change all that, they won’t see me but I’m there. Football crowds and busy shops, thronging people in the town, They are making my life easy, so now I’ll bring them down. Sore throat and a cough will be the first signs they are ill, They’ll think no one will die of this, but pretty soon they will. I’ll prey upon the weakest, the vulnerable and the old, It’s too late when they realise this is not flu or a cold. Nothing now can stop me as I spread across the nations, The death rate is increasing as I take friends and relations. The world does not know how to cope, they’ve not been here before, The NHS is struggling before they pass a law – To keep everybody well apart so they cannot pass me on, And after weeks of better news, they think that I am gone. But discipline and foresight are things that they all lack, So, before you get your hopes up, I’ve got bad news – I’M BACK

Part 2 - Hope

Salvation comes in many forms, no two of us the same, Many are still waiting, for some it never came. For lots of us it’s simple, the offer of a job, A cash win or a bonus, saved by a few bob. For others it goes deeper, their lives are in a mess, They live on pills and promises, just to relieve the stress. Though all of us have problems, we live in hope and fear, But no one was prepared for what we’ve lived with this past year. Through tragedy and hardship, a stoicism has evolved, All must pull together until this problem has been solved. Now hope is round the corner, a return to peace and calm, Everyone’s salvation is just a quick shot in the arm. Robert Buttle 35

Tasburgh Treats - Poem in a Bowl Just after Christmas I picked up a winter bug that laid me low for a few days, struggling to even get out of my pyjamas. A dear friend came to my rescue, leaving a container of chicken soup outside my back door. It was full of chicken and vegetable goodness and so thick that I wasn’t sure whether to use a spoon or a knife and fork to eat it. I am sure it speeded my recovery. LEMONY, WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH TURKEY AND GREENS Time: 45 minutes Serves 4 3 tbsp olive oil 1 large onion diced 1 large carrot diced 1 bunch sturdy greens (kale, cavolo nero, mustard greens, collard greens, cabbage) 1 tbsp tomato paste ¾ tsp ground cumin, plus more to taste ½ tsp red pepper/chilli flakes, plus more to taste ½ lb minced or finely chopped turkey/chicken 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger 1tsp salt 1 ½ - 1 ¾ pint chicken stock 2 (15 ounce) cans of white or cannellini beans, chickpeas, mixed beans, drained and rinsed 1 cup chopped fresh soft herbs such as parsley, mint, dill, basil, tarragon, chives or a combination. Fresh lemon juice to taste. Add oil to a large pan over a medium-high heat for about 30 seconds until it thins out. Add onion and carrot and sauté until very soft and brown at the edges, 7-10 minutes. Rinse the green and pull the leaves off the stems. Tear or chop into bite size pieces and set aside. When the onion is golden, add tomato paste, ¾ tsp cumin and ½ tsp red pepper flakes/chilli flakes and sauté until paste darkens, about 1 minute. Add turkey/chicken, garlic, ginger and salt and sauté, breaking up the meat with your spoon, until the meat is lightly browned, 4-7 minutes. Add stock and beans and bring to a simmer. Let it simmer until the soup is thick and flavourful, adding more salt if needed, 15 -25 minutes. If you like a thicker broth, you can mash some of the beans with the back of the spoon to release their starch or leave the beans whole for a brothier soup. Add the greens to the pot and simmer until they are very soft. This will take 5-10 minutes for most greens, but tough collard greens might take 15 minutes. Add a little water if the broth gets too reduced. Stir in the herbs and lemon juice, taste and add more salt, cumin and lemon until the broth is lively and bright tasting. Serve topped with a drizzle of olive oil and more pepper flakes if desired.

Julie Lawrence 36

Tasburgh Carers Group We continue to have our fortnightly Zoom meetings which have been a great way of keeping connected. Members have shared news, offered advice and support to other members and also have shared more lighter moments during this difficult time. VACCINATION SUPPORT Vaccinations are a top topic each fortnight now and at the last meeting I was able to pass on some information from Caring Together. They say, “Whether it is the carer or the person they are looking after who has the appointment, practicalities such as transport or finding replacement care for the person who is being looked after can be a challenge” “When a carer gets an invitation for a vaccination appointment, they can contact us, and we will work with them to help in every way we can. If you are a carer who has a problem attending a coronavirus vaccination appointment please contact Caring Together on: 0345 241 0954 or email hello@caringtogether.org www.caringtogether.org New members are always welcome at our carers group. Please also pass our information on to any friends, neighbours or relatives from Tasburgh or surrounding villages who may be interested in connecting with us. For further information you can contact the secretary of the group Rachel Mahoney Tel 01508 471271 email rachel.mahoney71@gmail.com

Do you, or someone you know, needs extra support during a power cut? @UKPowerNetworks provides FREE services to vulnerable customers. Visit https://www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut/priority-services-register for more information 37

Long Stratton Medical Partnership LIGHT AT THE END OF A VERY DARK TUNNEL! After almost a full year of very difficult, scary, and anxious times, we are entering 2021 with a glimmer of hope that is starting to burn much brighter for us all - that glimmer of hope is the rollout of the COVID 19 Vaccine Programme. At the time of writing, I can report that in conjunction with 8 other Practices in our Primary Care Network, we have successfully set up and run our Vaccine Centre at Poringland for the last 5 weeks. During that time 1,474 of LSMP’s most vulnerable patients have been vaccinated. Every care home resident and carer has received their first jab, and we are doing home visits to our housebound patients. 88% of all our 80+ year old population have received their first jab, 68% of our 75 - 79 year old population, and we are now working hard to get through the 70 - 74 year olds. Having spent time along with many members of my team too at the Poringland site, it has been heart-warming to talk to so many patients as they come through the centre, to see the hope in people's eyes that this year may see the return to some sense of normality. I do have to just sound a word of caution and reiterate the message that just because the first dose has been administered, we still need to be very careful and follow government guidelines. You can still be a carrier of COVID even though you have had your vaccination, and it is as much about keeping other people safe as it is protecting yourself. I would sincerely like to thank every member of staff, every volunteer, and yourselves for the support that has been shown to this programme. Please, if you haven't yet been contacted, bear with us. We will get to you, but we are governed by supplies, and shelf life of the vaccine. Over the next couple of weeks we are being given supplies of the AstraZeneca "Oxford" vaccine, and we will be able to offer appointments at both our Newton Flotman and Long Stratton sites. This is because the AZ vaccine does not have quite the same constrains as the Pfizer one from a storage point of view. The Partners and I want to have offered the vaccine to everyone aged 70 and above, plus our clinically extremely vulnerable population, by the middle of February. From that point on we can start working towards vaccinating the people under 70 and those with underlying health conditions. After 10-12 weeks we will be inviting you back for your second dose so we are in this for "the long haul." I want to pay tribute to our partner services too that are running the mass 38

Long Stratton Medical Partnership vaccination sites at Castle Quarter in Norwich, and Attleborough. If you are contacted by either of them, you can choose to go to them to receive your vaccine. We are aware that it has been confusing - but the pace of change has been enormous, and the volume of people that are being communicated to is huge so there will always be some glitches in communication. This has been one of the most challenging, but also most satisfying periods of my working life, and I know that every clinician, and support member of staff, feels the same way. Whilst delivering this programme of vaccinations, we are very mindful that COVID isn't the only thing happening so we are here for you! Although our way of working has had to change, we are very much open - we are continuing our long term condition reviews and our GP's and Nurses are working very hard to maintain an efficient and caring service for you all. Our dispensaries are both open and fully functioning again even though the pick-up is from outside the buildings. We can't wait to be able to reopen our doors and welcome you all back to a sense of normality. Keith Burnett, Practice Manager If you are a local business who does not advertise in the Quarterly, then why not consider doing so. The Quarterly is published every quarter and is delivered free of charge to residents in Tasburgh

COST OF ADVERTISING

If you wish to advertise in the Quarterly please contact tasburghpc@btinternet.com. prices as follows: Greyscale: full page £34.00, half page £24.00, quarter page £12.50 Colour: full page £65.00, half page £45.00, quarter page £25.00. Discount of 10% available to those living and trading in Tasburgh, and a further 5% when four issues are booked and paid for in advance.

NEXT EDITION The Summer edition of the Quarterly and Church News will be distributed by the end of May Contributions from local organisations are always welcomed and can be emailed to the Parish Clerk for inclusion. We would be particularly pleased to receive suggestions for regular articles. All articles to the Parish Clerk, tasburghpc@btinternet.com by 7th May 2021 39

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A large print version of the Tasburgh Quarterly and Church News is available upon request Please contact 01508 494569 41

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