CAUSEWAY MARCH 2021 Future of Causeway Pregnancy and Birth in a Pandemic Thank You Ian Hall - Causeway Legend
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Serving the communities of Thorp Arch and Walton Advertising Index
Contact: John Pendleton, 07828 524568 jlp@proportionmarketing.co.uk
Accountants
Curtains, Furnishing
Holiday Cottages
Gillbeck Associates..........30
Lou’s Threads....................19
Priory Cottages.................22
Peter Howard...................23
Decorators
Kitchens
Alarms
Oliver Willard....................28
Aberford Interiors.............19
PGK Security.....................30
The Decorating Centre.....22
Architects
Electrical Services
Andrew Morgan................28
McNicholas Architects......30
P Collier.............................22
Cameron Beaumont..........05
Bed & Breakfast
Estate Agents
PA/Secretarial Concierge
Four Gables......................23
Beadnall & Copley............32
David Bransby...................27
Funerals
Plumbing and Heating
Tony Barker.......................28
Peter Norman...................30
Gardening
Retail Parks
Lawn Keeper.....................19
Thorp Arch Retail Park......04
Building Materials Kirbys................................14 Carpet Cleaning Wetherby Carpet..............28 Cars/MOT Westmoreland Cars..........31 Chimney Sweep Mooring Brothers.............22
MK Landscaping...............04 Hairdressing
Opticians
Taxi Services Jorvik Travel......................28
Ian Blakey..........................30 Hardware
Tree Services Bardsey Tree Services.......14
Douglas Yeadon................23
Chiropody Boston Spa Chiropody......28
Front Cover - Snowdrops, Mark Gowlett Causeway - Editors Lisa Sherratt and Victora Etherington. Chair, Design, Advertising John Pendleton. Distribution (Thorp Arch) Jane Clayton (Walton) Gay Childe and David Spencer. Big thanks to the entire distribution team. Please refer to the Contacts Page for contact details. The Editor and Management Committee do not endorse any content of articles or advertisements in this magazine nor shall they be liable directly or indirectly for any damages which may arise from information or views contained in these pages. 2
From your Editors causeway.editor@gmail.com
Dear Readers
Welcome to March’s issue of Causeway, hopefully with this comes the promise of warmer weather and Spring truly setting in! This month Lisa is back supporting the editing and has written about her experience of being pregnant and giving birth during lockdown on page 6. We have news from Thorp Arch Parish Council and Wetherby Ward Councillors to keep you updated on the activity in the local area.
If you have any contributions for the magazine or would like to join the team please email us at causeway.editor@gmail.com Blessings
Easter comes early this year at the beginning of April so we have some Easter Craft activities on page 24. We also have information about the York Diocese children’s art competition as part of the Children of Light Festival on page 16 for any budding young artists out there. We’re talking about the future of Causeway on page 17 - in summary if you have any contributions to make, even just 100 words, please do send them over to us on the email below.
Read the full article and get in touch if you can help.
Causeway is a voluntary community magazine which is published 10 times a year (monthly except for January and August). Contributions are considered by our Editorial Team and are invited to be emailed to causeway.editor@gmail.com by 10th of the month prior to publication.
Editor’s Letter 3 Pregnancy and Birth During Lockdown 6 News from our Churches 7 Clergy Letter 8 Sunday Services 9 Thorp Arch Parish Council 10 Wetherby Ward Message 11 Community Information 12
A Little Taste of Walton History 13 Green News 15 Children’s Art Competition 16 The Future of Causeway 17 The Birds in your Garden 18 Ian Hall - Causeway Legend 20 Easy Easter Crafts 24 St Mary’s Churchyard Memorial Grove 26
Any small businesses please do get in touch about our advertising opportunities and we’re on the look-out for a new advertising manager for the magazine too.
Contents
Now available online at issuu.com/ causewaymag and LARGE PRINT VERSION AVAILABLE BY EMAILING CAUSEWAY. EDITOR@GMAIL.COM.
Available online at issuu.com/causewaymag and LARGE PRINT VERSION - EMAIL CAUSEWAY.EDITOR@GMAIL.COM. Causeway is a community magazine produced and distributed by a team of dedicated volunteers which is published 10 times a year (monthly except for January and August). Contributions are considered by our Editorial Team and are invited to be emailed to causeway. editor@gmail.com by 10th of the month prior to publication. 3
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Lockdown Pregnancy and Birth
When we planned to add another child to our family in 2020 we hadn’t expected to be spending most of the year in lockdown - when we found out I was pregnant in mid-April we definitely thought we would be back to normal once the baby arrived in early January 2021!
by Your Space in Leeds and online pregnancy yoga classes, nothing is quite the same as spending time in the company of other people but they did keep me going and meant I allotted time each week for me which otherwise was quite a difficult thing to do!
My first midwife appointment at 10 weeks was relatively normal apart from both midwives being in full PPE! Due to the restrictions on partners attending meetings I opted not to have any scans during my pregnancy. Whilst this might seem strange to others it drastically reduced my stress levels as I didn’t have to worry about getting into Leeds to go for appointments when I didn’t have any childcare. I also decided that I would have another home birth as then I knew that Anthony could be with me throughout the labour and birth, in hospitals partners were unable to join their birthing mother until the very end of the labour if at all depending on the situation - that was not the scenario I wanted to be in!
The meeting with the home birth team to discuss my birth plan was completed over the phone, very different to my first pregnancy as I had probably met most of the team by the time it came to giving birth. My due date was 30th December 2020, but I was sure I would go over as I had with my first. I did go over and went into labour in the early hours of 12th January, we didn’t need to call out the birth team until late on that evening however and thankfully they weren’t busy! They arrived around 12.30am and I was labouring away with regular contractions in front of a roaring fire in the living room with the birth pool being filled in the dining room ready for me to get in. I got in the pool around 3am and Scarlett arrived at 3.40am, weighing a whopping 8lb3oz! Thankfully our community midwife could attend for our next two check-ups at home so we stayed home in the warm for the first two weeks before we ventured outside for the short trips to take Connie to nursery and back.
I arranged to have home visits with the same community midwife each time, this made a massive difference as I had continuity of care, I actually got to know my midwife and she got to know us. The hardest thing throughout my pregnancy was not being able to see anyone other than my direct family in our support bubble. I attended an online pregnancy wellbeing course arranged
Scarlett is thriving and has fitted right in, we can’t wait to share her with family once lockdown is over. LISA 6
News from our Churches Could you support us?
How do you watch our online services? Facebook? Website?
Churches rely on the generosity of their communities to enable their mission and ministry.
It is now possible to view our Facebook live streamed services on the website.
Whilst our church buildings are closed we are unable to receive cash offerings from our regular congregations, visitors and occasional services such as weddings.
On the main page of the website www. BramhamBenefice.org in the middle of the page whenever a live service starts, a window will appear on the screen.
Our buildings cost a lot to maintain and contrary to the popular urban myth, we do not receive government funding to help.
You may have to refresh your browser for this window to appear. To make that window bigger on your screen, hover your mouse over it and click the “Full Screen” icon which looks like 4 arrows pointing outwards. If you can’t hear the sound, hover your mouse and check the sound is not muted in that window.
Could you donate to us online?
We hope this means more people can access our live services easily. Please spread the word about this feature, especially to those who are less confident in accessing our services on Facebook - we hope this will make it much easier for them. Ash Wednesday 17th February 2021 will be marked with a live streamed service at 10am. After this Service Lent Ash Crosses will be available to collect from the back of St. Mary’s, Boston Spa and All Saints’, Bramham. Services can be viewed at: facebook.com/BramhamBenefice www.BramhamBenefice.org/online-services Online giving is a good mechanism to enable one-off donations or to act as an alternative way to give for those who regularly donate by cash. If you feel able to help our Benefice and donate please visit our website BramhamBenefice.org and follow the online giving link at the top of the page. If you would like to donate to one particular church please contact the Parish Office on 01937 844402. Thank you for your continued support.
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Letter from the Clergy Since March 2020 we have had 12 months, 13 full moons, 52 weeks, 366 days, 8,784 hours, 527,040 minutes, one pandemic and three lockdowns (and a partridge in a pear tree)!
We have become a wider and remotely connected Church. As Christians in a community we have found ways to worship at home, connected by the online services, the phone and by prayer. The re-charging of our Christian ‘batteries’ cannot be done together in church, but we are ready to turn outwards and do God’s work. We have reached out to the lonely by phone calls and emails, we have donated hundreds of gifts to those who are struggling financially, we have continued to stock the food bank for those same people and we have offered small daily acts of kindness for those around us.
We get on the phone to each other and talk about all the things we miss; family, holidays, chatting in the coffee shops, mooching around the shops, and calling round to each other’s houses for a cuppa. We bemoan the fact that we cannot go into church for a service and we miss the music and singing hymns. Oh yes! This last year has been a big trial to us all. Now I am going to prod you in the side and make you think of the positive side of life! What can we list that has been something different in our lives that we have learnt, that we have developed, that we have become part of? We have become so much more aware of the rest of the world, all suffering in the same manner, with the same worries over health, loved ones, and vaccines. Borders are no deterrent for this virus, it doesn’t notice our skin colour, our language, or our religion. So where is the positive in this? Suddenly, we are children of the one Creation, on a level playing field with the inhabitants of the whole world. Those of us with computers and mobile phones have become adept at Zooming, Skyping and Facetiming. The technical vocabulary is another great leap forward in our learning. Eighteen months ago if anyone had told you to look on the website, or go onto Facebook, many of us would have replied that we were not quite sure what to do unless a much younger member of the family could help us!
People will tell you that life will never be the same again, after this last year, and I hope for our sakes it will not. We have come so far in twelve months, we have changed ourselves into global, outward looking Christians who know what God asks us to do. We still need to rejoice with each other when we can come together in worship in church, to delight in greeting each other with a hug, but I hope above all that we continue to grow in the knowledge that we are all part of one world and all children of God’s Creation wherever we are and whatever happens to us. With God’s help we will meet whatever comes our way.
We have become statisticians. The graphs of people with the virus, in hospital and sadly, those who have died in a day/week or month are all displayed on our television screens in every news bulletin. This leads to another growth area, compassion. We feel for the families; we share in the grief of so many, we see their pictures on the news, we despair with them when they cannot share the last moments of life with a loved one. We offer a short prayer to ask for comfort for those families.
Keep safe and content in God’s care. REV TRISH
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Sunday Services (see page 7)
17th Century Nun’s Prayer LORD Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful but not moody: helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others’ pains, but help me to endure them with patience. I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint - some of them are hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And, give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. AMEN
SENT IN BY PAULA LETTS THANK YOU!
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TAPC News Feb 2021 New Bench
Housing Developments
The Parish Council have purchased a new bench which is located next to the bus stop by The Pax. We hope you enjoy sitting on it whilst waiting for the bus or taking a rest whilst walking through the village!
The Chartford Homes/Homes England application (18/07278/FU) for 26 dwellings continues on site. The development is well underway with almost all homes now built. Completion date for the site is expected to be March/April 2021. Homes England/Lovells (17/07970 for 119 houses). Ongoing discussions and consultation by Cllrs and local residents continue with Lovell Homes. It is expected that development will commence in the early part of this year. Parish Cllrs are in discussions with the Ministry of Justice Estates (HMP Wealstun) and Highways regarding community issues relating to the cycle path. Volunteers and Helpers Needed
Census 2021
Thorp Arch needs you! We are still looking for volunteers to help keep the village looking good all year round. If you think you could lend a hand now and again or just want to find out what it might involve then we would love to hear from you. Even something small like watering plants would be helpful. Please get in touch with any of Councillor or contact clerk@thorp-arch.or.uk
The census is coming! By taking part, you can help inform decisions about services that shape your community, such as healthcare, education and transport. Visit www.census.gov.uk Works to the Bridge Works to the bridge that commenced in the summer of 2020 will now recommence in midJune, when the contractor will return to continue repairing areas of scour. Please see our website www.thorp-arch.org.uk/Latest_News_16892.aspx
National Lockdown For advice or guidance on restrictions during the national lockdown - www.gov.uk/coronavirus
British Library Development
Police Report
The British Library has submitted a planning application to develop further their site between Thorp Arch and Boston Spa. The plans include upgrading office accommodation for the 550 staff who work on the site while also improving public access so that many more people from the community can explore their collections through tours, curated displays and the Reading Room, along with a new restaurant and café. The library welcomes any feedback on the plans. Please visit: www.bl.uk/projects/bostonspa-plans to find out more about the proposed development and share your feedback by 3rd March. If you would like to speak to someone directly, please contact Senior Planner, Emma Winter on tel. (0113) 2031073, or email emma. winter@carterjonas.co.uk.
One crime reported for December, a burglary on Northfields. Newsletter Sign Up The Parish Council now produce their own electronic Newsletter. This can be accessed via our website: www.thorp-arch.org.uk If you would like to receive the newsletter and other information directly from the us, then please sign up via the website. The Newsletter sign up box can be found on the Homepage. Date of Next Parish Council Meeting The next meeting will be held remotely on Monday 8th March 2021 7-9pm. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact the Clerk on clerk@thorp-arch.org.uk. 10
Wetherby Ward Councillors Wetherby Ward Message
This was the first of its kind in the country and means that the river water will be regularly monitored so that it should become clean and safe enough to swim and paddle. We have been working with the same group who were instrumental in making this happen, to get the Wharfe cleaned up around Wetherby.
Hard to believe we’re in February already. Christmas is but a distant memory and the cold weather is here with a vengeance, causing both delight and disruption. The lights have been taken down and are being put into storage ready for next Christmas. As always, it was excellent to see the community spirit alive and well in getting this sorted for everyone to enjoy!
We persuaded the cross-party Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board at Leeds City Council to embark on an investigation on what could be done to improve the quality of the water. This is now underway and we will share with you the findings when they are published. In the meantime, if you have any thoughts or ideas for consideration, please do make contact.
The Covid vaccination programme is continuing apace and we would like to continue our thanks to the volunteers and medical staff in our area that make this happen so smoothly. It is strange to think that almost 12 million people have been vaccinated in just a matter of weeks.
Another matter that residents may be interested to learn, is that the Highways Department at the Council are now looking into improving the pathway on Dowkell Lane near Lady Elizabeth Hastings primary school.
The advice is changing slightly, if you are in the over-70 age group and have not yet been contacted about having the jab, please do get in touch with your GP to make sure you get an appointment.
The work should be completed before the end of March – hopefully sooner – depending on the weather.
A couple of weeks ago, we were invited to a zoom call by the British Library, to update us on their plans in the Ward. We were very impressed with the schemes as they were presented to us and think they will make a bold statement and improvement if it all comes to fruition.
Finally, please look out for your elderly and vulnerable neighbours, even more so than you normally would, to make sure they’re fine during the current cold weather. If you need help or support, the number to call is 0113 376 0330 or log on to the www.leeds.gov. uk/coronavirus website. As always, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of us if we can be of assistance to you. We can be contacted either via email at alan.lamb@leeds.gov.uk, norma.harrington@leeds.gov.uk or linda.richards@leeds.gov.uk or alternatively our office can be telephoned on 0113 378 8557.
Details can be found by following this link www. bl.uk/projects/boston-spa-plans and the British Library are asking for feedback by 3rd March. You may have seen in the media recently, that a section of the River Wharfe in Ilkley was given special ‘bathing’ status. 11
Community Information WETHERBY IN SUPPORT OF THE ELDERLY (WISE)
you to act in a very short space of time. If you are unsure contact a relative or trusted friend. Any suspected frauds should be reported to Action Fraud.
Founded in October 2003, they offer a wide range of services for the residents of Wetherby and the surrounding villages – you may have used the Boston Spa Cafe. If you feel that you could befriend an old person (it involves a weekly telephone call), then please contact the organisation. You will likely find that it helps both the recipient and the caller. Yel 588994
BOSTON SPA PC Boston Spa PC is keen to hear from local businesses - how could the Parish Council help and support you? They have email addresses for many of our local businesses and we have sent out emails, but if you are a business who has not heard from them please get in touch clerk@ bostonspapc.org.uk
LCC LOCAL WELFARE SUPPORT SCHEME
FOOD BANK
0113 376 0330. This is the first port of call for all Covid-19 related needs as part of the LCC Local Welfare Support Scheme. It feeds into all the other support networks, including Mark Dobson at WiSe (our local area hub coordinators). Anyone needing a local volunteer would be referred to Penny; Citizens Advice and a number of other bodies are a part of this system too.
The hours for collection have been extended Bramham Church Porch 10am-4pm every day St Mary’s Boston Spa 9am-3pm every day. Items needed: > Food, including pasta, rice, tinned potatoes, tinned spaghetti, cooking sauce, tinned meat and fish, rice pudding, custard, sponge puddings, biscuits.
So, this is the number is to give to anyone with needs such as:
> Dog and cat food.
> referrals to the food bank
> Baby products: nappies
> help with gas / electricity top ups
> No UHT milk please - they have plenty.
> needing white goods > needing items for babies
Urgently needed:
> help with shopping
> Toiletries, including shaving foam, razors, shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, tissues, toilet rolls.
> up to date info for anyone put into the shielding group
> Cleaning products, including washing powder, washing up liquid, bleach, kitchen roll.
> emergency food parcels > prescription delivery
SCAM WARNING
The Food Bank has been running since lockdown and is very grateful for all the donations they have received, but sadly the need continues.
Lockdown has led to an increase in scams. They may purport to come from Amazon, your bank, Inland Revenue, Royal Mail, TNT, UPS or HM Revenue & Customs.
BOSTON SPA VOLUNTEER ACTION GROUP
If you are contacted by someone wanting money, to deliver a parcel, to say that you are due a tax refund, or even that your NI number has been used in a crime, be suspicious.
Need help to collect prescriptions, pick up shopping or just want a friendly voice on the end of the phone? Contact Penny Stables to volunteer or if you want assistance. penny. stables@gmail.com or Tel. 07941 979902.
Be especially vigilant if someone is pressuring 12
A Taste of Walton History
One of my favourite things about editing Causeway is finding out more about the villages and the surrounding area.
This view of School House and Moorside Cottages, School Lane, Walton is from a Rowley postcard sent in 1905. G. Rowley was a local postcard publisher in Bishopthorpe Road, York. The three original Moorside Cottages were at one time owned by the Bramham Park Estate, had their own pig-sties at the back and may once have been thatched. In the mid-1920s another cottage was built onto the west (left-hand) end of the terrace close to School House. PAUL CLEARY
I walk past these houses every day with the dogs and so I found their history really interesting. Many thanks to Paul for sending us this postcard VICTORIA and information.
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Green News
The Boston Spa Big Bike Fix Four weeks into the Big Bike Fix and we have had 38 bikes donated and have 9 volunteers cleaning, servicing and fixing the bikes up ready for their new owners. The first batch of 4 bikes was collected by Michael, a community worker in Gipton and taken to their new home: a family in Cross Green on Monday this week. They are extremely grateful. Please do let me know if you have any bikes in any condition that you would like to donate, we can always use old battered unfixable bikes for parts. PENNY STABLES - PENNY.STABLES@BOSTONGREENGROUP.CO.UK - 07941 797902
and they are a bit embarrassed that they hadn’t noticed the high volts for 27 years). But the truth is that ever since we harmonized our declared voltage with Europe to 230 the monopoly electricity industry has maintained the volts at the old level of 240. They kept it a secret but here in Boston Spa we have been looking at the voltages recorded by these new Smart Meters.
Could you write a letter (or an email!) to the Prime Minister? World Leaders will be meeting in Glasgow in November 2021 at the COP26 gathering. They will be expected to make pledges to help Save the Planet and we, as principal hosts, will be wanting to set a good example. The residents of Boston Spa have come up with a rather clever wheeze which will make a saving of 1 million tonnes of CO2 emitted each year at the touch of a switch.
The volts are, indeed, very high. Lowering the volts by 5% reduces customer bills, lowers CO2 emissions, and releases network capacity for the new electric vehicles which are appearing everywhere. It’s a win for customers, a win for the planet, a win for the network operators - and a feather in your cap. Always happy to help.
These canny Yorkshire people have found a way of doing this without spending any money. We think that you may be interested. All you need to do is to tell the Directors of the Electricity Distribution Network Operators to turn the volts down by 5%. The people in the Treasury Department (and the taxpayers) will be really pleased, because it won’t cost a penny. People in the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy may argue that this is too simplistic (they like to make things complicated
KEITH JACKSON (FIET) MEMBER OF BOSTON SPA, WETHERBY AND VILLAGES COMMUNITY GREEN GROUP
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Get Creative Kids!
Children’s Art Competition
What can I do?
As part of their Children of Light Festival, York Diocese are running an art competition which is open to all the children and young people in York diocese.
We want you to create a piece of art on the theme of ‘Being Light in Difficult Times’. This can be anything at all - we encourage you to get as creative as you like! It must be no larger than A4.
This is an opportunity for them to be part of the festival in a creative way.
If you choose to create a sculpture or 3D model, please submit an A4 photograph of this, rather than the sculpture itself.
Winners in local competitions will be entered into a Diocesan wide competition - winners of the Diocesan wide competition will have their work exhibited around the Diocese and will be invited to afternoon tea with the Archbishop of York at Bishopthorpe Palace.
Where do I send it? Please send your artwork clearly labelled on the back with your name, year group and school to: The Parish Office St Mary’s Church High Street Boston Spa LS23 6DR
Who can enter? There are 3 age groups for this competition: Key Stage 1 (school years 1 - 2) Key Stage 2 (school years 3 - 6)
When do I need to send it by?
Key Stage 3 & 4 (school years 7 - 11)
The deadline is: 18th June 2021.
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Be Part of Causeway’s Future
We’re on the Lookout for the Next Fab Four!
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L
1. Could you be our new Advertising Manager?
P
could share please do not hesitate to send it in, perhaps you have a personal blog and would like to share one of your posts in the magazine - we’ll put your URL in there so people can find you online for more posts too.
We are looking for someone to join the committee who enjoys building relationships and wouldn’t have a problem approaching local businesses to support Causeway’s advertising income and liaise with our existing advertisers as well. If this is you please get in touch!
Or perhaps you picked up a new hobby over the last year, if you find it interesting it’s likely others might too. Let’s face it, we all have more time to fill at the moment so any suggestions for things to do are greatly received!
Sadly we have fewer advertisers this year and so we are looking for businesses who would like the opportunity to be exposed to local residents in Walton and Thorp Arch each month, we also offer the opportunity for advertisers when you have information to share too! Get in touch if you think your business would benefit from being involved with Causeway.
3/4. Or Editor(s) for 2022 Time flies when you’re having fun and the end of 2021 means that Victoria and I will have completed two years as editors - do you think you’d like to take over from us next to carry on producing this magazine that has been going for over 35 years now? Get in touch if you would.
2. Perhaps you could become a Content Contributor?
Please send emails of interest to: causeway.editor@gmail.com
We have some really great contributors to Causeway but we consistently have 3-4 pages to fill each month, if you have something you
LISA
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The Birds in Your Garden With lockdown three still in place and unlikely to be relaxed for a few months, I won’t be the only one watching garden birds more closely than in previous years.
view - attached to a shrub or creeper covered wall or fence. A box with a 32mm entrance hole fixed on the wall of a house might attract House Sparrows, and you could try a terrace, as they like nesting communally. For Starlings try a box with a 45mm hole.
What better way to see more of them and help them at the same time than putting up some nestboxes? With birds actively seeking nesting places, it’s still not too late to get them up.
Making your own nest box is fun and not difficult. Have a look at “Nest boxes: Your Complete Guide”, available from the BTO shop to find out more.
The first thing to think about is what you hope to attract, since different species have different requirements. There are plenty of sources of help, and the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) is a good place to start.
Wood is the best material and should be at least 15 mm thick to provide insulation. Pine is easy to cut and its natural resins ensure a reasonable life, whilst hardwoods such as oak are more weather resistant, but harder to cut, and can warp. Use a water-based preservative on the outside and leave the inside bare; there is no need to add any lining.
Most boxes are not used every year, so you may need to persevere, and maybe move them from one year to the next to find the best place. Oh, and it’s not just birds that use them, for example, some bees do...and they are worth watching too.
If you decide to buy one, you have a massive choice, so look around. Good nest boxes will use natural materials that provide plenty of insulation and are easily cleaned. Avoid bright colours, whacky designs, and those incorporated with a bird table! Avoid too, boxes that have a perch on the front: they just make life easier for predators.
Some things to think about when putting up your nest box: If nest boxes of the same type are too close together it may promote aggressive behaviour between neighbours. Keep them away from bird feeders too, to avoid disturbance.
Wherever your nest box comes from, it must have a roof that can be opened easily for cleaning at the end of the season (a vital task come October, to eliminate parasites) and for visits to monitor progress. You can also get boxes that contain a camera.
Shelter your box from the weather - the front should be slightly angled downwards to prevent rain from entering, and not facing the prevailing wind and rain or strong sunlight. Ideally, they should be 1-3m above the ground and fixed to tree trunks, fence posts or similar. If your box has a hole for its entrance, avoid obscuring it with foliage - a clear flight path is important. Make sure it isn’t easily accessible to cats and think about adding a metal plate around the hole to deter squirrels. Conversely, open-fronted nest boxes should be hidden from
To maximise the effect of your acquisition why not join the BTO’s Nesting Neighbours scheme and record your success (or lack of it!). All the information gathered helps build their knowledge base and allows them to monitor our garden birds’ breeding success.
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20 Years of Service Causeway Legend! Ian Hall Time flies when you’re having fun – and Ian Hall has seen two decades fly by in the time that he has been involved with the Causeway Magazine, initially as Advertising Manager and then as Chair, which included the function of treasurer. However, all good things come to an end, and after twenty years on the job, Ian has decided to pass on the baton. John Pendleton, who has been the designer and publisher for almost ten years, will add the position of Chair to his job title (as well as Advertising Manager), and Andrew Crossley has volunteered to handle the finances.
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Thank You Ian! Ian reckons it all began around the year 2000, when Colin Wormald was in charge of procuring advertisements for the Causeway; as Colin wanted to ease out of that position, he asked Ian Hall if he would mind taking over the Wetherby patch. Back then, with the internet still in its youth, it was a matter of knocking on doors, seeing people, and hopefully walking out – maybe a few visits later – with a cheque in hand. Tom Smithson was at the helm at that time, and Ian recalls that Tom printed the magazine free of charge in his printing company, with proceeds from the ad sales going into a church fund (which, eventually, left a healthy balance that was divided equally between Thorp Arch and Walton churches. “It was some £1,600 each,” Ian said).
Awards in 2019), followed by the current editors – who, like Rachel, are also from Walton, – Victoria Etherington and Lisa Sherratt. It has worked out well for each of the editors to serve a 2-year term (starting with Ken), and reducing the number of annual issues from 12 to 10 five years ago has also made the job easier. But back to Ian. He provided us with a brief overview. He is Yorkshire to the core: he was born in Doncaster, moved to Wetherby in 1950 and then to Boston Spa. He and his wife Anne have lived in Thorp Arch since 1977. Ian qualified as Chartered Surveyor in 1958 and has worked in private practice, civil service, Yorkshire Electricity Board, BP, and private practice again before retiring in 1995. Ian and Anne have two children, a son and a daughter. Richard, now 51, lives in Wymondham-Norfolk, and Sally (aged 48) is in Plumpton Green, East Sussex; between them they have produced 5 grandchildren.
Sometime after the Smithsons moved away from Thorp Arch, Ian took over as Chairman and Treasurer, a role he has held for the last 8 years. He has seen the magazine evolve from a black & white church news to a full-colour community magazine, which is distributed free of charge to some 500 households in Thorp Arch and Walton. The printing costs have more than doubled during that time. At one point the magazine grew to over 40 pages but has since levelled out at 32, with advertisers keeping pace with costs – so far, at least.
Ian also has more civic positions on his resume, including eight years on the Thorp Arch Parish Council, and he has been Speaker Liaison for the Boston Spa Men’s Forum, though this is currently suspended due to Covid. However, twenty years is a long time, and disengaging himself from the Causeway has proved to be less easy than one might think. He says he is “gently easing” out… “When you have a long-standing relationship with an advertiser, it’s hard not to have a conversation with them about renewing their ad….”
“It’s tremendous how supportive the advertisers are – after all, the vast majority are not even located in our service area, but they advertise as a service to the community.”
What will he miss most about the Causeway? “I’ll miss the enthusiasm and interest of all who have been involved in any role, from editors to designers to advertising managers – as well as the long-serving distribution team, who hand-deliver the magazine to each household.” He said he is not quitting completely – he hopes to continue with proofreading and local distribution.
It is, of course, also a feather in the cap of the various advertising managers (including David Watts, John Clayton, and Emma Shellard) and their success in selling ad space in the magazine. During his tenure, Ian has worked with seven editors – Rob Trenholme took over from Justine Clayton, then Ken Melber was followed by Anne Watts, and just when hope was failing that new editors could be found, Gaby Morrison and Paula Letts stepped forward. Rachel Bentley similarly stepped into the fray (and won Best Editor and 3rd place in the prestigious Community Magazine
I’m sure Ian will be missed, and on behalf of the community he has served for such a long time, can I say a big Thank You. ANNE WATTS
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Chocolates, Crafts and Gifts... Easter Crafts and Cooking
Instructions
Lockdown feels a little like raising children, the days are long but the years fly by. So it is both with and without surprise I realised that before the next edition of Causeway comes out we will have celebrated Easter - hopefully with (some) family and friends.
Separate the dough into eight triangles. Combine sugar and cinnamon. Dip each marshmallow into butter, roll in cinnamon-sugar and place on a triangle. Pinch dough around marshmallow, sealing all edges. *Make sure to seal well or all the marshmallow will escape.
As a church-based youth worker I have made my fair share of Easter crafts (and messes) over the years...here are a few really simple ideas for cooking and crafts with children that won’t exhaust you after home-schooling!
Dip tops of dough into remaining butter and cinnamon-sugar. Place with sugar side up in greased muffin cups. It helps to use jumbo muffin tins so that the juice doesn’t overflow. Bake at 375ª for 13 -15 minutes. Eat warm.
Empty Tomb Marshmallow Delights Even though my children are now adults, we still enjoy making these as they are delicious as well as being a fun way to talk about Easter with your children. Each of the ingredients represents a part of the story: Large Marshmallows Body of Jesus. Melted Butter Oils of embalming. Cinnamon and Sugar Mix Spices used to anoint the body. Croissant dough The wrapping of Jesus’ body or the tomb. Oven The tomb. Cavity in bun The empty tomb or the empty cloths. Ingredients 1 pack refrigerated croissant dough 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 8 large marshmallows 1/4 cup butter, melted
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...Provides Easter Lockdown Lifts! Bunny Rabbit Clothes Pegs
Personalised Easter Eggs
The website (onelittleproject.com/clothespinbunnies/) suggests taking the spring out of these and gluing the two sides of the peg together, but we made them with the spring in so they are practical and fun!
I have never successfully made my own Easter eggs with molds and chocolate - all that happened was we made a mess and then enjoyed eating, sorry, cleaning up - so not all bad. We did, however, work out how to make personalised eggs for friends and family! We simply bought the eggs along with readymade icing, hundreds and thousands and other decorations and then removed the foil and decorated the egg to give to loved ones! Much easier and less messy!
I still have a few of these in use from when my girls were small...perhaps you could make other animals with them and send us some pictures? They are really easy to make. Paint the peg with white emulsion paint and then use sharpies or craft pens to draw the details on. If you are leaving the spring in you can thread the material for the tie through the spring to make sure it doesn’t fall off when you peg the washing out!
Easter Footprint Card If like Lisa, you have had a baby during lockdown; or been unable to celebrate milestones with family over the last few months, this one could be for you. What aunt, uncle or grandparent wouldn’t love to get one of these? This one comes from the website thrivinghomeblog.com
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St Mary’s Planting Scheme Churchyard Memorial Grove In January 2020 we asked for sponsorship for trees to implement the start of the St. Mary’s Churchyard Memorial Grove development. We are pleased to say ten new Mountain Ash (Rowan) trees are now planted alongside reinforced grass paths and the new ashes burial plots. Thank you to all those who have helped to fund this tree planting work. As we are about to bring the grove into use, we wish to complete the planting scheme with shrub and herbaceous perennial planting to give further structure to the grove. The shrubs will cost approximately £300 and the herbaceous perennials £500. Would you like to contribute to help fund the Memorial Grove? The evergreen shrubs will be planted over the winter and include 8 Osmanthus x burkwoodii at £9.95 each and 15 Sarcococca confuse at £14.95 each. Osmanthus has small white flowers in Spring and Sarcococca the same in Winter. The white flowering herbaceous perennials will hopefully be planted in the spring and include approximately 55 plants of the following species: Anemone x hybrida ’Honorine Jobert’ at £12.95 each, Geranium clarkei ’Kashmir White’ at £8.95 each, Gaura lindheimeri at £8.95 each, Helleborous niger at £8.50 each and Cenolophium denudatum at £8.95 each. They will be planted around each ashes burial plot. Not only will it help to create a peaceful and attractive Memorial Grove but it will also contribute to the existing natural beauty of the churchyard and surrounding area which is enjoyed, used and appreciated by so many of us in our daily lives. If you are interested in making a contribution to the planting please contact the Parish Office on 01937 844402 or email: bramhambenefice@ outlook.com for more information. If you would like to make a donation please ensure cheques are made payable to: St. Mary’s Church, Boston Spa and the envelope is clearly marked with your name and the words ‘Memorial Grove Fund’. 26
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BOSTON SPA CHIROPODY PRACTICE 140 High St, Boston Spa, LS23 6BW 01937 842058 HCPC Registered / Home visits available
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For any detail changes, please contact Lisa Sherratt or Victoria Etherington, Causeway.Editor@gmail.com
CONTACTS FOR THORP ARCH & WALTON ORGANISATIONS THORP ARCH
WALTON
All Saints’ Church Rev. Tricia Anslow 844789. Priest In Charge for Bramham Benefice, Rev. Nick Morgan 849471, 07387 728009, revnjmorgan@gmail.com. Parish Office 844402
St Peter’s Church, Village Church Council Clergy: See All Saints’. Church Wardens: Doreen Lister 842344, Bill Kilby 842561. Secretary: Anne Kilby 842561. Treasurer: Fiona Robinson 843338, fionarob@outlook.com. Flowers & Cleaning: Liz and Geoff Harrison 845978
All Saints’, Parochial Church Council Church Wardens: Kathleen Sanderson 844818. David Spurr 842772, david@mulberrycroft.me.uk. Secretary: Georgina Squires 849747, Treasurer & Covenant Secretary: David Spurr 842772. Flowers: Margaret Smyth 841181
Walton Cricket Club Chair: Caroline Hobson 07860 615154, caroline.hobson@btinternet.com Walton Parish Council Chairman: David Aspland. Vice Chair: Brodie Clark CBE. Clerk: Helena Buck, secretary@walton-pc.gov.uk. Members: Stephen Sharp, Edward Simpson, Mark Wake, David Taylor.
Lady Elizabeth Hastings School Head: Michele O'Donnell, secretary@thorparch-leh.co.uk Friends of the School Chair: Hayley Cullen 07712 175178
Walton Village Hall Booking: Brian Eldred info@waltonvillagehallwetherby.org
TABS Cricket Club Chair: Adam Gough 07725 047555
THORP ARCH & WALTON
Thorp Arch Community Association Secretary: Ian Hall 842665, ian.m.hall1@gmail.com
Wetherby Ward Councillors Norma Harrington 01133 788 557. Alan Lamb via The Fox and Hounds. Linda Richards 0113 3788557 linda.richards@ leeds.gov.uk
Thorp Arch Parish Council Chair: John Richardson, Clerk: Tina Wormley 0113 289 3624, clerk@thorp-arch.org.uk. Members: Ian Grainger (Co-opted), Steve O'Loughlin, Nicola Midgley (Co-opted), Charlotte Dyson (Co-opted)
Causeway Magazine Secretary: Jane Clayton 843153. Editors: Lisa Sherratt and Victoria Etherington causeway.editor@gmail.com. Chair, Design, Advertising: John Pendleton jlp@proportionmarketing.co.uk
Thorp Arch Tennis Club Chair: Neil Brooks. 07960 934497, brooksneil@hotmail. com. Secretary: Jill Tarr. 07709 893046, tarrhigh@hotmail. com. Treasurer: Rob Seldon 541797
Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association (YCA) Chair: Judith Symonds 541799. Sec: Fiona Spence 520271 tawyca@outlook.com, Treasurer: Fran Bowers 01423 880112
Thorp Arch Village Society Chair: Gill Johnson 541485, gilljohnson.tap@gmail.com. Secretary: Sue Clayton 843181. Treasurer: Shirley Davies 541976.
Leeds City Council general.enquiries@leeds.gov.uk
Advertisers! Contact: John Pendleton 07828 524568 or jlp@proportionmarketing.co.uk 29
Advertisers! Contact: John Pendleton 07828 524568 or jlp@proportionmarketing.co.uk 30
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