UPCOMING SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISERS & CONTRIBUTORS:
JAN ‘26 EDITION - 5TH DEC ‘25 FEB ‘26 EDITION - 9TH JAN ‘26
From the Editor
I’ve had my thinking cap on as to what was 2025… and I have struggled! I mean, we all know what 2020 was….and 2021….and a bit of 2022 to be fair. That was all about people coming together and pan banging. 2023 and 2024 was the big economic rebuild after the aforementioned years (well, that was the intention!). But 2025? I also asked the team how they would describe 2025 and much wasn’t writeable! However, after much discussion, I think 2025 was the year of TITLES! Whether it was titles being removed, titles being long coveted and then finally being awarded, some titles being denied despite their best efforts to influence the awarding committee and some titles being revealed through the most strange circumstances…..like the people on the Coldplay jumbotron #awkward, and Alan Carr being the ultimate Traitor – who knew??!! (except that Joe Marler is the true winner of Traitors, obviously, we all know it!!).
Anyway, some things never change and true to form, as yet, I have zero gifts purchased and ergo; wrapped. In fact, not even a teeny tiny thought of what I might consider purchasing for gifts for people. No discussions have been held about the day itself either BUT I don’t want you to think that I’m totally disorganised. I did pop on the local auction several Fridays ago, after a bottle of wine one evening and purchased a Christmas Tree. Yep, we are the proud owners of ‘Terry – the Treerannosaurus Rex’ … yep, you read that right. I haven’t dressed him yet but isn’t he glorious!!!
In other news, our Christmas giveaway was such a success last year, that we decided to do it all again, and
yet again we’re giving away the Ultimate Christmas Hamper from Chatsworth! We have also had some lovely donations from our sister company, Artliff Design and Print and some of our fabulous advertisers; S42 Café, DM Furnishings, Greenstripe Innovations, Rock Fall and Goodwins – thankyou for your generosity! Yet again readers, you have to be in it to win it!! We published our winners in the Feb edition last year, so you can see that real people did actually win the prizes and much to our family’s annoyance, not one of our family members won even a golden coin!!!
Thankyou for all your love and support this year. We have had fantastic feedback all year round for the magazines and in particular, we had fabulous feedback from our November edition. It is always lovely to hear and we do get our fair share of people who ring in or email with the negatives (isn’t that always the way!), so it was lovely to have some positive affirmations both for us and our advertisers… so thankyou to those of you who do sing our praises, you are truly appreciated.
See you all in 2026
Merry Christmas Readers!
The Joy of Giving at Christmas
There’s something wonderfully magical about giving at Christmas. It’s not just the twinkling fairy lights, the smell of mince pies, or the rustle of wrapping paper — it’s that heart-warming moment when someone’s face lights up because of a gift chosen just for them.
Of course, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos: crowded high streets, endless online delivery updates, and mysteriously vanishing rolls of festive tape. But real Christmas giving isn’t about how much you spend — it’s about the thought behind it. Whether it’s a homemade treat, a heartfelt card, or even a novelty gift, gifts from the heart always mean the most.
Think back to the best present you ever received. Chances are, it wasn’t the priciest. Maybe it was a hand-knitted scarf that wasn’t quite even, a mug with a silly slogan that still makes you laugh every morning, or the inevitable socks from Aunt Maureen — always the socks! These are the gifts that remind us we’re loved — and that’s the real spirit of Christmas.
Giving can take many forms. It might be a surprise tin of chocolates for a neighbour, a donation to a local food bank, or simply making time for someone who’s feeling lonely. Sometimes, the greatest gift is
our presence — not presents! And let’s face it, no one minds a cup of tea and a mince pie shared with a friend or family member, especially when the kids are busy unwrapping mountains of toys.
And let’s not forget the festive quirks that make Christmas so memorable: the office Secret Santa disasters, children proudly presenting slightly wonky homemade decorations, or that one relative who insists on wrapping gifts in last week’s News Paper to “save the planet.” Or the chocolate that disappears mysteriously before Christmas Day — we all know who’s guilty!
So, this year, when you’re braving the postie queues, the Christmas markets, or yet another trip to the supermarket that feels like a winter endurance test, take a breath and remember why we give. It’s not to fill space under the tree — it’s to fill hearts with love, laughter, and togetherness. Because at the end of the day, the best gifts are the ones that can’t be wrapped.
All Around the Shire
HERE’S ONE I MADE EARLIER
As we are about to begin our All Around the Shire “Traditions of Christmas” presentations, my mind travels back through the decades to when I was a young girl.
At school, small children would be tasked with licking and sticking or pasting endless paperchains to festoon classrooms.
Paper snowflakes adorned the high classroom windows. Gummed paper lanterns dangled from the ceiling.
Growing up in a pub, decorations were everywhere: fairy lights, tinsel, foil hangings, trees groaning with baubles.
Years later, my parents donated to me these pub decorations in my first home. They had absorbed years of smoke and smelled so strongly that they couldn’t be used.
I grew up during the glory days of Blue Peter when John Noakes, Valerie Singleton and Peter Purves presented the children’s programme. I had a go at making an Advent Crown using coat hangers, tinsel, candles and baubles. Needless to say, it was not a success.
Whether your decorations are home-made, shop-bought or second hand, I wish you all a peaceful Christmas filled with happy memories.
Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com for more information.
Plans Unveiled to Mark 50th Anniversary of region’s Legendary Limit Nightclub
The legacy of one of the area’s most influential nightclubs – and the birthplace of the Sheffield’s world-famous electro-pop movement – is set to be celebrated through an ambitious new heritage initiative.
Hundreds of Derbyshire’s young people attended the Limit in the late 1970s and 1980s and there are now plans to celebrate it like never before.
‘Synth City – Celebrating the Legacy of The Limit’ will be a two-and-a-half-year project hoping to capture and commemorate the iconic West Street venue that defined a generation and helped shape Sheffield’s global music reputation.
Opened in 1978, The Limit became the epicentre of Sheffield’s emerging electronic and alternative music scene. It provided an early stage for pioneering acts including The Human League, Clock DVA, Cabaret Voltaire, vice versa (later to become ABC) and Pulp, and was a creative melting pot that helped spark the city’s distinctive electro-pop sound – one that went on to influence artists worldwide.
More than just a club, The Limit became a social lifeline and creative refuge during a time of economic and cultural upheaval. Its DIY spirit and inclusive atmosphere inspired a generation of musicians, fans and creatives who carried its legacy far beyond Sheffield.
The proposed ‘Synth City – Celebrating the Legacy of the Limit’ project aims to preserve and celebrate that story through exhibitions, oral-history recordings, memorabilia digitisation, documentary and a new publication. By reconnecting Sheffield with the stories, images and sounds of its post-punk and synthpop years, it will ensure The Limit’s influence is recognised within the city’s wider cultural heritage.
The initiative already has the backing of Sheffield Archives, Sheffield Music Archive, Sheffield Hallam University, Martyn Ware (Heaven 17/The Human League), Sheffield BID, photographer Pete Hill, Pete Gill (ex-Motörhead/Saxon drummer), the Bailey Brothers, Dirty Stop Outs, and Loretta Cosgrove, Production Designer of the BBC’s acclaimed series Mix Tape, among many others.
Keith Radley, project lead, said: “The Limit wasn’t just a nightclub – it was the birthplace of Sheffield’s electro-pop revolution. Its influence is still felt around the world. With the 50th anniversary approaching in 2028, now feels like the perfect time to properly document and celebrate its impact.”
The Synth City team are now preparing a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to bring the project to life and are keen to demonstrate public enthusiasm.
Keith Radley went on to say: “The Limit was Sheffield’s Hacienda - few venues anywhere in the country have a legacy comparable and we think it’s a history worth celebrating,
recording and making available to wider audiences. What it achieved in its 13 years shaped an entire generation – and that impact is as strong today as it was when the venue shut for the last time in 1991.
“Many artists and clubgoers are now in their late 60s and early 70s and we think it’s important we record their first-hand memories whilst we still can.”
The Limit on West Street
Flyer
U2 at the Limit
S42 CAFÉ & S42 CATERING CO. WHERE CHRISTMAS TASTES BETTER
Step into the magic of the season at S42 Café, Tupton - serving comforting homemade dishes, festive drinks, and the warmest welcome in town. Festive Highlights:
• Spiced lattes & luxury hot chocolates
• Homemade christmas specials
• Cakes, pastries & winter warmers
• S42 catering co. - Festive catering done properly 07380 956 325
Spectacular Grazing Tables | Christmas Graze Boxes
Corporate Events | Weddings & Parties
Let us take care of the food, so you can enjoy the celebration
Opening Times: Mon Fri 9am - 3pm • Sat 9am - 1pm
FIND US ON - S42CAFE, KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR OUR EVENTS AND GROUPS
184A Queen Victoria Road, Tupton, Chesterfield, S42 6DU
Slimming World Recipe Raspberry &
Lemon Semifreddo
Method:
1. Line a 24cm x 11cm x 7cm deep loaf tin with cling film, then line the base with baking paper.
2. Using a fork, lightly crush 100g raspberries with the 1 level tbsp sweetener, if using.
3. For the custard: Spoon the fromage frais, custard and quark into a large bowl and whisk well.
4. Put the egg whites in a large, clean glass bowl and beat with an electric hand whisk on a medium speed until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold
For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk
Looking for a fresh and tasty dessert to serve up this Christmas, and stay on plan... look no further!
the whites, lemon zest and sweetener into the fromage frais mixture, then fold in the remaining raspberries.
5. Add the crushed raspberries and pour into the tin. Cover with cling film, then foil, and freeze for 6-8 hours, or until firm. Transfer to the fridge 1 hour before serving.
6. Remove from the tin and peel off the baking paper. Decorate with extra raspberries and cut into 8 equal slices to serve.
Serves: 8 Syns per serving: 1
Ingredients:
• 400g raspberries, plus extra to decorate
• 1 level tbsp sweetener granules (optional)
For the custard:
• 100g fat-free natural fromage frais
• 200g reduced-fatand-sugar custard from a can/carton
• 200g plain quark
• 2 large egg whites*
• Finely grated zest of ½ unwaxed lemon
• 2 level tbsp sweetener granules
* Pregnant women, the elderly, babies and toddlers are advised to eat eggs showing the British Lion stamp if eating raw or partially cooked eggs
Ready in: 20 mins + 6-8 hours freezing time
COACH TOUR HOLIDAYS
BABBACOMBE
Babbacombe Hotel
50% BAR DEAL IN THEBARSHOW
Mon 12th - Fri 16th Jan 26
5 Days - £299
POTTERS RESORT
Five Lakes Resort, Essex
Mon 2nd - Fri 6th Feb 26
5 Days - All Inclusive - from £575
HALF PRICE DRINKS
EASTBOURNE
Haddon Hall Hotel
Mon 9th - Fri 13th Feb 26
5 Days - £299
2026 BROCHURES ARE NOW OUT
TO BOOK A HOLIDAY PHONE 01773 590 808, 01246 604 764 or 07483 357 958
Go online WWW.CLAIRSCOACHES.CO.UK
SNOW DROPS
Mercure Hotel, Hull
Thu 12th - Fri 13th Feb 26
2 Days - £145
ISLE OF WIGHT
Burlington Hotel, Sandown
Mon 16th - Fri 20th Feb 26
Mon 23rd - Fri 27th Feb 26
5 Days - From £240
LYTHAM ST ANNES SINGLES BREAK
Inn on the Prom
Mon 23rd - Fri 27th Feb 26
5 Days - £395
BOOKING OFFICE: Parkvilla, 124 Market Street, Clay Cross, Derbyshire S45 9LY
LLANDUDNO
Landlubbers Cruise - Tynedale Hotel
Sat 14th - Wed 18th Mar 26
5 Days - £599
CROMER
Hotel De Paris
Sun 22nd - Sat 28th Mar 26
7 Days - £550
MORECAMBE
Auckland Hotel
Mon 23rd - Fri 27th Mar 26
5 Days - £399
MOBILE BOOKING OFFICE LOCATIONS
2nd Tuesday of each month 9am - 1pm | South Normanton Market Place 2nd Thursday of each month 9.30am - 12.00pm | Bolsover Market
2nd Friday of each month 9am - 1pm | Ripley Market Place
3rd Tuesday of each month 9am - 12noon | Blackwell Community Centre
3rd Thursday of each month 9am - 1pm | Alfreton Severn Square Car Park (Outside Poundstretcher)
3rd Friday of each month 9am - 1pm | Sutton-in-Ashfield, Portland Square
Lies, traitors, fake news, corruption and spies. Some things never change. Except that SJ Parris’s Traitor’s Legacy is not set in 2025, but Queen Elizabeth’s Tudor Britain.
It’s historical fiction of the highest quality – the author blends fact and real characters from the period, including William Shakespeare and the Queen’s spymaster, Robert Cecil, alongside atmospheric descriptions of the freezing winter of 1598 in the murky back streets of a violent city.
The story centres around the murder of a young girl of 13, due to be married against her will into a rich and high born family. There are powerful religious and political forces at work which pull in Sophia de Wolfe, a woman of a complex and dubious background who finds herself at the heart of the killing and with desperate personal reasons to find out who is responsible and why. As we know from a different group of traitors – trust no-one.
It’s cleverly plotted, tense and an intelligent and very immersing read. SJ Parris - also known as journalist Stephanie Merritt and also the writer of the much admired Giordano Bruno novels -seems to be embarking on a new series with Sophia de Wolfe and if this book is anything to go by, we’re in for a regular treat.
CLAY CROSS PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE:
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AT CLAY CROSS SOCIAL CENTRE!
Christmas Party Night featuring Blue Savannah on Saturday, 13 December 2025. After a 2-year absence, Clay Cross Parish Council are delighted to welcome back to the Social Centre fantastic female vocalist, Blue Savannah. Blue will be singing a selection of songs through the decades sprinkled with a few sing-along carols! Doors/Bar open from 7PM – Blue onstage from approx. 8.30PM. A great value evening at just £7 a ticket including festive hot food supper!
SATURDAY
Family Christmas Pantomime
- Robin Hood on Sunday, 21 December. Clay Cross Parish Council and Shooting Stars Entertainment present, Robin Hood. Filled with laughter, music and plenty of swashbuckling fun, this timeless pantomime is a thrilling adventure for the whole family. Tickets priced at: Adults £7 Each, Children up to 12 years £5 Each, Family of 4 Ticket £19 Each (including Medium Cadbury Selection Box).
Christmas Services 2025
Christingle Services
Sun 7 Dec, 4pm - St Barnabas, Danesmoor
Sun 14 Dec, 4pm - St Lawrence, North Wingfield th
Sat 20 Dec, 4pm - St John’s, Tupton th
Sun 21 Dec, 4pm - St Mary’s, Pilsley st
Carol Services
Wed 17 Dec, 6pm - St Bart’s, Clay Cross
Sun 21 Dec, 11.15am - St Bart’s, Clay Cross
Sun 21 Dec, 4pm - St Barnabas, Danesmoor
Sun 21 Dec, 6pm - St Lawrence, North Wingfield st Mon 23 Dec, 7pm - Village Green, Pilsley rd
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
4pm - Crib Service - St Lawrence, North Wingfield
Midnight Communion Services: Tupton (9pm), North Wingfield (11pm), Pilsley (11pm) and Clay Cross (11:30pm)
Christmas Day: Family Christmas Praise - 10am (St Mary’s, Pilsley and St Lawrence, North Wingfield)
For full service details, please visit achurchnearyou.com or email admin@northwingfieldteam.org.uk
Sunday 14th December 2025
Community Centre, Valley Road & Rose Court
6:00pm
FAMILY NATIVITY SERVICE
Sunday 21st December 2025
All age service, with children taking part!
10:30am CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
Sunday 21st December 2025
Mince pies served afterwards
6:00pm CHRISTMAS MORNING
Thursday 25th December 2025
Come and celebrate the birth of Jesus!
10:30am
At this festive time of the year, we would like to thank all of those who work tirelessly behind the scenes for New Tupton Ivanhoe F.C.
Volunteers give up time with their families to make sure the club can continue. Without these generous people there would be no New Tupton Ivanhoe F.C.
There is a huge amount of effort that goes into coaching a grassroots football team; from planning and delivering training sessions; Keeping parents up to date; coaching at matches and managing everything behind the scenes. This can be from ordering new kit to organising days out and fundraising for the team.
It does not stop there! The club’s volunteers, manage the administration of a 20+ team club, registering players, collecting subs, and ensuring all the health and safety and safeguarding rules are met.
That is not it either! Volunteers from the club also run one of the largest grassroots football tournaments in the region and have
arranged a range of events and activities throughout the year.
The teams also play an active part in the Tupton community for example the Remembrance Parade and supporting other events in the village.
Christmas is a time of goodwill, and we could not continue to do what we do without the amazing amount of goodwill given to the club by all those that volunteer.
If you Child is involved with any grassroots sporting club, please do think of the volunteers this Christmas. They do not ever want anything in return for what they do but do appreciate a thank you and to be reminded that their effort is appreciated.
If you are looking for a New Year’s Resolution, the next time they ask for support with something consider giving them a few hours of your time to make something happen.
AN
If you are interested in Little Ivanhoes, The Wildcat Centre or joining a team please message the clubs facebook page at: www.facebook.com/newtuptonivanhoefc/ visit: www.newtuptonivanhoefc.co.uk
Contact us: 07399 010579 propowerelec propowerelectrical@hotmail.com www.propowerelectrical.co.uk
Guess the words and Fill in the crossword !
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures. Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Across
7 Freezing the baker’s bonus? (5)
8 Metal said to ban rubbish? (5)
14 Snow home logo with an eye, say, for detail (5)
15 Include second person, say, in farewell? (5)
Down
2 Tunis is not ideal for singles (5)
3 Fool of the Beaker People? (3)
5 Biscuit is not cooked to old length (5)
12 Rice made from peanut oil with an ‘off’ tone (5)
13 A libido, at first used as an excuse (5)
15 Melody herd, say, in dairy farm? (3)
Across 1 Greet in t’ North, making cake for a pud? Yum! (2,2,2,4)
9 US male, say, to sort palette out (4,1,6)
11 Ants’ suppers are a mystery drug (11)
Dairy product unlocked in tumbler kit (10)
pittas as bait is rather over the hill (1,3,4,2)
Nerds all in a tizzy about meals (7)
Terrified to float away in raft, sucker? (10)
Hair, portrayed as a bit of a landing spot (7)
Steam,
Tuna,
Puma, 14 Eloping, 16 Take a tumble.
Crampon, 14 Elk, 15 Gab.
Fill in all the numbers!
This is a sudoku 1 square grid
81 cells
9 3x3 blocks
1 simple rule: Use all the numbers 1-9, with no duplicates allowed, in any row, column, or block.
These puzzles are devised by the brilliant Professor Rebus. For more of his puzzles visit www.pitcherwits.co.uk
MUSEUM
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY
‘We have to go to pay our taxes Mary, it’s the law,’ Joe told her.
‘And how are we supposed to get there, answer me that? If you think I’m walking in my condition you’ve got to be joking.’
Joe sat quietly. When Mary was like this he knew there was no point interrupting her. His mind drifted to the cupboard he had just completed. Ben was a good customer, if he was pleased it could mean more work, and with a young mouth to feed they would need the extra money. Convinced the baby would be a boy he let his imagination fly free, visualising a new sign above the workshop, Joseph and Son.
Are you listening to me?’ Mary barked.
‘Of course I am,’ he lied.
‘So, what’s the answer? How are we going to get there? And don’t you dare say that rusty tandem because I am not pedalling that rickety old thing.’
‘I wouldn’t expect you to.’ Joe smiled, ‘I have spoken to Simeon, from the big house, he says we can borrow his donkey.’ He waited, hoping she’d be pleased.
She wasn’t. ‘A donkey? Unbelievable? You expect me, eight and a half months pregnant, to ride all that way on a donkey? Incredible.’ The door slammed behind her as she left.
Joe smiled uncertainly. ‘She’ll come round. It’ll be like a holiday, an adventure,’ he said out loud, more to convince himself than anything.
The journey was uneventful, though Mary moaned constantly about the daytime heat and the discomfort of sitting on the donkey. She complained about the star keeping her awake at night. In fact it was Joe, awoken by her snoring, who lay all night staring at the beautiful bright star guiding their way.
Eventually, an exhausted Mary, Joe and the sturdy little donkey arrived. Joe hadn’t thought to reserve a room. Who knew it would be so difficult? Everywhere was fully booked. By now Mary was almost crying with fatigue, she had stopped complaining hours ago. It was unlike her to be so quiet and Joe was uneasy, worried that something was wrong. ‘Are you alright, my love?’ he asked. She just snarled through gritted teeth.
He knocked on the door of the last inn, on the road out of town. If there was nothing here, they were done for.
‘We’ve no room if that’s what you’re after,’ the man told them, before Joe had time to speak. At that point Mary cried out and clutched her stomach.
‘Sir, my wife,’ pleaded Joe. ‘She is with child, please, she has to rest, a cellar, a corridor, there must be something you can offer us?’
The inn keeper scratched his flea-ridden head.
‘I suppose you could use the stable, it’s round the back. At least you’ll have shelter. I mucked it out this morning so there’s fresh straw. It’s not much but...’
‘Thank you sir.’ Joe shook the man’s hand before leading the donkey round to the stable. Mary moaned and flinched as her husband helped her down from the saddle. Joe gathered straw to create a makeshift bed. As soon as she lay down, Mary fell asleep. Joe tethered and fed the donkey, then he settled on the fresh straw next to his wife.
Tired as he was, he lay watching the bright star that had accompanied them throughout their journey. It seemed to be directly overhead and was even brighter now.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring? he thought. Then, he laughed at himself. What could happen to a poor carpenter and his wife? Nothing out of the ordinary that’s for sure.
Joyce Janes on behalf of Bakewell Old House Museum
BAKEWELL OLD HOUSE MUSEUM WILL BE CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE FROM 12TH NOVEMBER 2025 TO 25TH MARCH 2026
FOR SURVIVING CHRISTMAS TOP TIPS
Wrapping Wisdom:
Use enough tape to mummify a small child. No one’s escaping that paper fortress.
Gift Guessing:
When you open yet another pair of socks, act shocked. “How did you know?”
The Great Escape:
Pretend to “check on the roast” every 15 minutes. It’s code for “five minutes of peace.”
Shopping Survival:
If you forget the cranberry sauce, just pour red wine over everything and call it “festive fusion.”
Cracker Command:
Always sit next to a weak-wristed relative — victory and the paper crown will be yours.
New Year Prep:
Don’t bother with resolutions. Your only goal is to fit back into your jeans by Easter.
The MPC Services team are here to help make sure that your sewage system is working well, properly maintained, up to date with the latest compliance regulations, working quietly and energy efficient.
Oilwell Nursery
• Hand-made Christmas wreaths, made to personal specification.
• Churchyard wreaths also available to order.
• British Christmas Trees, Nordman Fir Potted Tree.
• Plus much more, Winter Shrubs, Garden Pottery, Bird baths etc.
• Fresh flowers available daily, Orders for Christmas, please call the shop.
Chesterfield Rd, Tibshelf, Alfreton DE55 5NP Tel: 01773 874 321
www.oilwellnursery.co.uk • oilwellnursery@gmail.com
3.9m x 225mm x 38mm
Ideal for: Planters Tables Rustic furniture Man cave Fencing PROMPT
Decking Shelves Raised beds
Colour in the garden during these cold months can be a great antidote to the winter glooms.
Luckily there are a selection of container plants which will brighten things up even if you haven’t managed to get any bulbs in. So we’re talking about the likes of winter pansies and violas, cyclamen (the small ones, not the showy indoor variety), winter heather and ivy and polyanthus. If you’re creating a few pots it’s worth clumping them together in a sheltered part of the garden even though all these plants should be frost resistant.
If you have room to plant in the ground, winter honeysuckle gives you a very pretty creamy flower and a beautiful scent. Hellebores can be pretty vibrant and will usually flower in early spring but in sheltered spots even as early as Christmas. And the beautiful mahonia bush with its spikes of bright yellow flowers is wonderful. The advantage of these three is that they are also great for winter-active bees.
You can prune apple and pear trees before Christmas – along with acers and laburnum. There’s less chance of sap bleed if you do it now.
Most herbs lose their leaves in winter, but you can still grow your own by buying a pot of your favourites in the supermarket then dividing and re-potting into smaller pots for a window sill. Most supermarket pots have loads of seeds crammed into a pot, so can be easily split and thus very economical.
THE PECULIAR ‘YELLOW BRAIN FUNGUS’
Although most fungal fruit-bodies (i.e., mushrooms) appear in the autumn months, some like brackets on trees are year-round, and others such as the hallucinogenic (aka poisonous) ones like the classic red-and-white pixie toadstool, the Fly Agaric, persist well into the winter period. These fungi do include the most remarkable and frequently under-appreciated ‘biodiversity’, their ecology being vital to planetary ecosystems including our own survival. The mushrooms and toadstools with their mostly transient fruitbodies are often all that is seen, whereas the hardworking fungal mycelia are largely hidden from view. Nevertheless, some fungi like the ‘Yellow Brain’ (pictured) are remarkable and grab the attention when you spot them. Yellow Brain has the scientific name of Tremella mesenterica which means trembling and ‘mesentery’ or folded tissue usually attached to intestines or gut. Its peculiar appearance has led to evocative and descriptive common names such as ‘Yellow Brain’, ‘Golden Jelly’, ‘Yellow Trembler’, and finally ‘Witches’ Butter’. Its habitat is to be found on dead wood, with a fruiting season (i.e., when this yellow fruit-body appears) all year-round. However, this is a species that is especially seen during winter. Interestingly too, Yellow Brain is not itself a wood-rotter, but a parasite which feasts on the mycelium of what are known as Crust or Corticoid Fungi which do breakdown dead wood like fallen branches and litter. Yellow Brain lives by parasitising the wood-decomposers, with a common victim being the Rosy Crust Fungus (Peniophora incarnate), often totally enveloped by its parasite.
substance, in China it provides texture in soups. Like many fungi, it may have medicinal properties with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic uses. Of course, hallucinogenic fungi and mushrooms such as the Fly Agaric are frequently associated with the Christmas season and celebrations.
The common names reflect this peculiar fungus’s appearance. Essentially it lacks the obvious structures of most other woodland fungi, and looks like an orange, quivering, gelatinous blob. The smooth fruit-body has characteristically irregular shape, with soft jelly-like texture. The yellow lobes are actually quite tough, greasy, and slimy when wet. They are hard when dry. Colour ranges from pale yellow to bright orange, changing to
Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
YELLOW BRAIN FUNGUS
We work in Clay Cross, Danesmoor, Lower
Pilsley, Old Tupton & Pilsley & all surrounding areas
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