CAUSEWAY MAY 2021 Martin House New CEO Green News Rhubarb Recipe
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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 - Cherry Blossom, Victoria Etherington 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
As I sit writing this, it is a lovely sunny day, and I would much rather potter in the garden than sit in the house editing. However, as it is already a little on the late side, I have contented myself with sharing this month’s gardening adventures with you on pages 24 and 25. I haven’t been the only one gardening this month, Lady Elizabeth Hastings school share the progress on their garden on page 15. Sandra shares her experiences of lockdown with us on page 20 and Mike gives us some tips for feeding the birds on page 26. There are also some tips for recycling those difficult items on page 13. As lockdown begins to ease, we have news of some real, in person events later this summer in our noticeboard feature on pages 16 and 17. Please do share with us the things you are doing or planning once we are able to meet up indoors from the middle of May. Perhaps without any legal restrictions from June! That would be just lovely, I am looking forward to seeing people again, Zoom is just not the same.
Contents
Although the vaccination program continues to go well and it seems like the roadmap is going to progress according to schedule, please take care and stay safe over the next few weeks.
Editor’s Letter 3 News from Martin House 6 News from our Churches 7 Clergy Letter 8 Sunday Services 9 Thorp Arch Parish Council 10 Mark Stanbow’s Local Photographs 12
If you have any contributions for the magazine or would like to join the team please email us at causeway.editor@gmail. com Blessings
Now available online at issuu.com/ causewaymag and LARGE PRINT VERSION AVAILABLE BY EMAILING CAUSEWAY. EDITOR@GMAIL.COM. 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.
Green News 13 News from Lady Elizabeth Hastings School 15 Noticeboard 16 Rhubarb 18 Children’s Activities with Sandra 20 Tales from an Amateur Gardener 24 The Birds in your Garden 26
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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Senior Appointment Update New chief executive appointed at Martin House
“I love being part of a team that really does make a difference, I’m excited about what the future holds as we continue to grow our services and our reach, while we develop and invest in all those people who make it happen. I genuinely don’t think work gets much better than this!”
Yorkshire charity Martin House Children’s Hospice has appointed Clair Holdsworth as its new chief executive. Clair, who has been acting as interim chief executive since July 2020, has worked at Martin House for nearly five years, and was previously its director of clinical services.
Clair began her career as a physiotherapist, and took on her first leadership role in 2008, managing a multidisciplinary team at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust, before moving into children’s palliative care in 2013. She replaces previous Martin House chief executive Martin Warhurst.
She said: “It is an amazing team and organisation to be part of, but to lead that team and to lead Martin House into the future is a real privilege.”
Martin House cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions from across West, North and East Yorkshire. Its care includes planned respite, emergency care, symptom control and end of life care, as well as supporting bereaved families.
“I’m really excited about taking forward our ambitious plans to continue delivering the highest quality care while reaching even more families who could benefit from our support. Alongside this is delivering our equally ambitious voluntary income growth plans to ensure Martin House is here for families when they need us most in years to come.”
Tim Halstead, chair of trustees at Martin House, said: “Over the last nine months, Clair has done an outstanding job as interim chief executive, in circumstances that have almost certainly been more challenging than any Martin House has faced since it was founded. “The other trustees and I are very much looking forward to continuing to work with Clair and together taking our wonderful organisation on to even greater things. “It is clear that Clair has the strong support of her colleagues and we feel that with Clair at its head, Martin House is in a really strong position, which is a testament to the way that Clair has taken on the challenges of the last year.” For more information about Martin House, visit www.martinhouse.org.uk.
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News from our Churches Christian Aid Week
Wetherby food bank collections
Sunday 9th May to Saturday 16th May. This year’s theme is the Climate Crisis and how it affects people living in poverty the most. From drought to flooding, climate change robs people of control over their lives. We need to work together to stop this injustice.
Wetherby food bank opened in 2014, and last year they provided 314 emergency three day boxes to people in crisis. These food boxes make a huge difference, they help to prevent crime, homelessness, mental health problems and family breakdown.
www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/ christian-aid-week for more information.
They are needed more than ever during the pandemic, and sadly the situation is likely to get worse as furlough ends and people are made redundant.
Plant and Cake Sale Saturday 16th May 10am to 12noon St Mary’s are holding a Plant and Cake Sale. We will have a sale of plants and cakes (Millennium Gardens) – so if you have planted more seeds than you need for your own garden or allotment, please keep us in mind, as we will be looking for plant and cake donations nearer the time.
Boston Spa Volunteer Action Group 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. 07941979902
You can donate in date non-perishable in date food at Bramham Church porch 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week, St Mary’s Boston Spa 9am to 3pm, 7 days a week and Wed 2 to 4pm. Or did you know that Morrisons in Wetherby have ready made donation packs, you just add a pack of the value you wish to donate and take it to the checkout. Go to wetherbyanddistrict.foodbank.org.uk to see which food items they need or to make a financial donation. 7
Letter from the Clergy How do you work out what the date is? I write it at the top of my to-do list each morning! Others cross it off on their calendars.
year we have rejoiced at the revelation of the baby Jesus to the gentiles at Epiphany, we have shared the wilderness days through Lent and watched with the disciples through Holy Week, to share in the utter joy of the Resurrection on Easter day.
The fixed points in any year, such as birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Easter (yes I know it moves but it is one we have an eye on after Christmas!) and if you have school age children, the dates for half terms etc. are all good anchors to work out what we are going to do next.
This month of May sees the marking of Ascension Day and after that we celebrate the birth of the Christian Church with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. From that day we join with all the disciples of the risen Christ and through the Holy Spirit we are able to tell of the good news of forgiveness and love given to us through God our Father.
This year we have a whole new set of dates to work with; March 28th and April 12th have been and gone and our social life has relaxed slightly. Oh, the joy of shopping and having your hair done!
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Health encouraged us to follow their pathway through this pandemic and asked us to, temporarily, change our way of living. The promised outcome was being able to return to normality sometime soon.
We still have some dates to go – this month, on 17th May, we see ourselves in groups of up to 30, such crowds! And then to eat inside at a restaurant or café! Put away the thermal vests and fingerless gloves.
Jesus asks us to follow his way of living, to love God and our neighbour as ourselves, and make this our normal and everyday way of living. The more people who follow this way the more likely we are to achieve a peaceful existence. Our job is to tell others how to follow this way, to encourage others to find the peace of Christ through following the annual calendar of the Church and walking with Christ every day.
If we all behave ourselves, we will see some sense of normality (a new normal?) return next month on 21st June. We can but hope! By next year, all these dates will hopefully be relegated to history, to end up on the history syllabus of our great grandchildren. In our ‘normal’ times we have a strong thread of dates running through our lives, based on something much more enduring than a pandemic. We, as a Christian country are steered through our year by dates from the life of Christ and the birth and times of the Church. So far this
Keep safe and keep walking with Christ. REVD TRISH
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Sunday Services
ALL SAINTS’ THORP ARCH
9.30pm
2nd May
Lay led Parish Worship
9.30pm
16th May
Holy Communion
ST PETER’S WALTON
9.30pm
9th May
Holy Communion
9.30pm
23rd May
Holy Communion
Online Services
mouse and check the sound is not muted in that window. We hope this means more people can access our live services easily.
It is now possible to view our Facebook livestreamed services on the website.
Please spread the word about this feature, especially to those who are less confident in accessing our services on Facebook - this should make it much easier for them.
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. You may have to refresh your browser for this window to appear.
Services can be viewed at: facebook.com/BramhamBenefice
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
www.BramhamBenefice.org/online-services
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TAPC News April 2021 the Parish Council and Leeds City Council, to provide a new and exciting seasonal display this Christmas. If you are interested, please contact the Parish Council at: clerk@thorp-arch.org.uk Speed Indication Devices (SIDs) The Parish Council regularly downloads the data from the SID’s on Church Causeway and Walton Road. The data displays speeds of vehicles, times and dates. The data tables can be viewed on our website: www.thorp-arch.org.uk. There was a slight decrease recorded in vehicle speeds during January as the lockdown commenced. However, speeds have since crept back up to pre lockdown levels. Around 80% of vehicles exceed the 20mph limit on Church Causeway and 45% exceed the 30mph limit on Walton Rd. The data is sent regularly to the police asking them to take action and address the continuing issue of speeding vehicles.
HRH Duke of Edinburgh It is with great sorrow that the community of Thorp Arch learns of the death of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Edinburgh, aged 99. Thorp Arch Parish Council sends its deep condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and her family at this sad time, remembering the inspiring way he carried out his role within the Monarchy, through good and also through difficult times. He always put the interests of others ahead of his own and at the same time showed the strength of character, directness and sense of humour appreciated by his family, by the institution of the Monarchy and by the British people.
Tree Work A number of trees on The Green are due to undergo some improvement and pruning work. Permission has now been granted and the work will commence soon.
Annual Parish Meeting
From time to time, trees in the Parish may require emergency attention. For example, they may be blocking a road or a pavement. This can be reported directly to Leeds City Council who provide a 24-hour emergency service. If a tree or branch is causing immediate danger to a person or property in a public space, call 0113 868 9929, 8am to 4:30pm, Monday to Thursday and 8am to 4pm, Friday. If the emergency is out of office hours, call 0113 376 0499. You will need to provide:
This year the Annual Parish Meeting will be held remotely on Monday 26th April at 7.00pm. Chairman John Richardson will be reporting on the work of the Parish Council over the last year and will take questions from residents. If you would like to join the meeting, please use the following Zoom codes: Meeting ID: 950 3915 9413 Passcode: 298604 Please ensure your name is visible as you enter the meeting.
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The exact location of the tree or branch
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A contact name and telephone number
Christmas Lights Committee
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If a tree is causing an immediate danger to highway users, call the Police on 999.
The Parish Council have received a number of requests from residents to increase the amount and style of Christmas lights in the village. We would like to form a small committee of residents along with representatives from
Works to the Bridge The works to the bridge that commenced in the summer of 2020 will now recommence mid10
TAPC News March 2021 June, when the contractor will return to continue repairing areas of scour. www.thorp-arch.org.uk/ Latest_News_16892.aspx
Register for a community alert: For daily crime updates in your area please register for community alert. Here you will receive updates about crime in your area, and crime prevention advice www.wypcommunityalert.co.uk/
Housing developments The Chartford Homes/Homes England application (18/07278/FU) for 26 dwellings continues on site. The development is now almost complete.
Crime Reporting Please ensure that you report all crimes. For nonurgent issues and to pass on information, call West Yorkshire Police on 101. In an emergency (if a crime is in progress or you think the offenders are nearby), call 999.
The Homes England/Lovells development Ref: 17/07970 for 119 houses, has now started on site. There are a number of conditions that Lovells will be expected to abide by, and the Parish Council will be monitoring these very carefully to ensure they are delivered.
Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired people can use textphone 18001 101. Go to the West Yorkshire Police website - https://www. westyorkshire.police.uk Click on the ‘Contact us’ button and a range of ways to report will appear including the 101 Live Chat System. Or click on the ‘Report it’ function and numerous types of crime which you can report online will appear.
Parish Cllrs are in discussions with the MoJ Estates (HMP Wealstun) and Highways regarding community issues relating to the cycle path. Leeds Vaccination programme
Contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team to speak to a local officer about community issues:
For information about the vaccination programme in Leeds www.leedsccg.nhs.uk/ health/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine.
Email: nel.npt@westyorkshire.pnn.police.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/ WYPLeedsNorthEast
Lifting of Lockdown Restrictions The next phase of the lifting of restrictions has now commenced. The Government has produced a timetable and information about the gradual lifting of restrictions: www.gov.uk/ government/publications/covid-19-responsespring-2021
Twitter: www.twitter.com/WYP_LeedsNE To give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 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 us, then please sign up via the website. The Newsletter sign up box can be found on the Homepage.
Report a Problem Residents can report a range of problems online to Leeds City Council concerning potholes, street lighting, dog fouling, blocked drains, footpaths, bridleways, fallen trees and street signs. Report problems directly at www.leeds. gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/report-an-issuewith-a-road-or-pavement.
Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will be the Annual Meeting held remotely on Thursday 6th May – 7pm to 9pm. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact clerk@thorp-arch.org.uk.
Police Report Three crimes reported for February, two in the Woodlands and one on the Trading Estate. 11
Making his Mark Thorp Arch resident Mark Stanbow took advantage of lockdown by devoting spare time to his hobby of photography. He skilfully captures how beautiful our area is and, when the
opportunity arises, who we are lucky enough to share it with. Why not send in your local images? You can see more of Mark’s photography at www.instagram.com/mstanbow/photos.
Mark Stanbow 12
Green News Did you know about the Boston Spa, Wetherby and Villages Community Green Group?
global greenhouse gas emissions, with 1.3 billion tonnes of fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, seafood and grains being wasted annually? In the UK, approximately 6.5 million tonnes of food is thrown away annually from homes – 4.5 million of which is actually edible.
Their aim is to improve the environment in the local area. With this in mind they have a number of projects aimed to help us reduce waste and recycle more. But...some things are really difficult to recycle, then what? Well Now that lockdown restrictions have been relaxed you can take the following to Yeadons: Empty crisp packets (min 30, flattened), used pens and markers, used toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes, empty, clean and dry baby food pouches, empty, clean and dry coffee pods this now includes Lavazza eco caps, used, empty medicine blister packs.
What can we do to reduce our food wastage? Make smarter lifestyle choices e.g. buy food with less air miles (and packaging) or which is more sustainable Grow your own where possible Educate ourselves to avoid waste – by learning about food storage and preservation, planning meals and using up leftovers
In order to protect the staff and volunteers please store your recycling at home until you’ve got a good quantity to drop off e.g. minimum 30 crisp packets, hand your recycling over in a used plastic bag (which will be recycled) and make sure all items are empty, clean and dry.
Think complete fruits and vegetables (and meat) – since food has become more abundant, we’ve become picky and often discard parts of plants (and animals) which may not be as tender or attractive or take more effort to prepare – often these parts contain the most valuable sources of nutrients too!
What about larger things? You could take it to the recycling site on Thorp Arch trading estate. They will even take some things that still work and pass them onto to organisations that can reuse them.
Eat less meat – this can greatly reduce our food footprint as less land and water is needed for production. Compost what we really cannot avoid wasting – this cuts down our food footprint as wasted food not efficiently dealt with releases methane – a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide.
Perhaps you have a bike that your children have grown out of? Or that you would like to replace with a more up to date one? The Boston Spa Big Bike Fix has received one hundred bikes since it was set up in January! It has donated over 50 fixed bikes, into mostly inner-city Leeds to children and adults who couldn’t afford to buy one.
If you would like to know more visit their website bostongreengroup.co.uk, attend the next meeting on Zoom and the next meeting is on Monday 24 May 2021 at 7.30pm or join the group.
So what about reducing waste? Did you know that wasted food is responsible for 6-8 % of 13
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School update News from Lady Elizabeth Hastings School, Thorp Arch
kitchen. They have created natural weaving and painting areas. The site currently has no storage or water and although the parents have tried to source a shed they have been unsuccessful so far.
This Easter holidays at Lady Elizabeth Hastings School in Thorp Arch the parents and children have been busy working hard to transform the overgrown garden into a usable space for the pupils of the school.
Can you help? The parents have set up a GoFundMe page and are looking for donations to help with a shed and the future development of the garden. Are you a keen local gardener? If you think you could help with the garden please contact Claire Bowley (parent and garden coordinator on clairebowley9@gmail.com)
Parents and children have been volunteering to take turns at weeding and preparing the garden in order for the children to have a space in which to explore. The school is hoping the space can be used for growing vegetables and for Forest School learning which has been proven to boost mental health and wellbeing in children.
The parents are also looking for any donations of plants, or seeds - gofund.me/0e64f07c
The parents have so far created several raised planting areas and are busy making a mud
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Notice Board... Happily we have some actual events to report this month! Although, these are subject to the continued relaxing of the lockdown, so please check anything before you attend.
We meet in late April for our second zoom AGM (we’re complete pro’s at this now!) and a quiz. We are active on facebook (@tawyca) so why not check out this great group and make some new friends as we all ease out of lockdown together. Please contact us on email tawyca@outlook.com or by telephone 01937 520 271. FIONA SPENCE
Thorp Arch and Walton YCA The Thorp Arch & Walton (YCA) ladies group continues to go from strength to strength, despite the challenges lockdown presents us (and everyone else) from meeting face to face.
The Fox and Hounds re-open! Drinks and substantial complimentary snacks were offered for locals on 12th April.
We are holding our meetings via zoom each month and since January have enjoyed some excellent speakers talking about spinal injury, The Samaritans and the birds in your garden by Causeway’s very own Mike Grey! Our group of 60+ ladies from across the Lower Wharfe Valley are very much looking forward to May when we hope to hold an outdoor catch up (if regulations allow) and we are making plans for a return to full meetings as soon as our venue at Boston Spa Methodist Church is able to accommodate us. We have tentative plans for summer lunches and activities and we would welcome any new member who fancies joining our merry throng on zoom, or waiting until we can meet face to face.
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...And things are happening! Boston Spa Festival
Wetherby Festival
3,4,5 September; concerts, performances and shows in the afternoons are planned, along with ancillary activities in which the organisers hope you may also participate. 9, 10, 11 July, activities confirmed so far, Open Gardens, Fun Run and Classic Car meet up...and the scarecrows are back!
Home Security Survey from WiSE
This year the Boston Spa Festival is hoping to beat the 92 scarecrows we had last year over the 3 villages, Thorp Arch, Clifford & Boston Spa.
We have been asked by our Local Police Community Support Officer to let you know about their offer to Wetherby area residents.
The theme for 2021 will be Disney Characters or Super-Heroes. If you are interested in participating, please phone David Watts - 01937 845592 or email info@fourgables.co.uk.
‘’Your Local Police Community Support Officer is conducting `Home securitySurveys’ in your neighbourhood, so this is a great opportunity to meet your local officer and gain Crime Prevention Information which could help prevent you from becoming a victim of crime. Other than passing on your contact details to us you do not need to do anything, as we will come to you. This is a free service and will be conducted externally around your home’’.
No commitment yet, just building up people who are interested. We would look for a firm commitment by end of April start of May. Any questions please feel happy to email or call.
If you would like to take advantage of this offer of a home security survey you can contact the PCSOs as follows: Louise Crossland Wetherby Neighbourhood Policing Team Louise.Crossland@westyorkshire.police.uk, mobile number: 07802717314. We have also been provided with a copy of their ‘Do it Yourself Home Security Check Sheet’ which we can share with you by email – just drop me a line - nicola@w-ise.org.uk
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A Tasty Seasonal Treat! Rhubarb! I love rhubarb, it is tart and yet tasty. On top of that it is such a pleasing word to say! If he thought anyone was talking rubbish, my grandfather would say ‘RHUBARB!’ very loudly. Although we treat it like a fruit, it is actually classified as a vegetable. The stalks can be eaten raw, they have a similar texture to celery, and are slightly sour. However, it is more usual to eat the stalks cooked with sugar and served in a pie or crumble. I don’t have a sweet tooth and so I prefer this recipe, which maintains some of the tartness and all the flavour of the rhubarb.
Roasted rhubarb with oat crumble and yoghurt 100g jumbo oats 60g mixed seeds 4 tbsps golden or maple syrup (Add more if you prefer more sweetness) 1 tbsp vegetable oil 400g chopped rhubarb 2 pink grapefruit peeled and segmented I tsp vanilla essence (or a vanilla pod) Plain yoghurt (I prefer greek yoghurt) Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Mix the oats, 2 tbsps of the syrup, vanilla and the oil together. (do not use olive oil as one of my daughters did when making this recipe - it will taste very peculiar!) Spread the mixture onto a lined baking tray. In a separate oven proof dish mix the rhubarb and remainder of the syrup (this is where you would add extra if you prefer it a little sweeter). Put both tray and dish in the oven for about 15 minutes. Leave it to cool and then serve with the grapefruit, a generous spoon of yoghurt, and scatter the crumble over the top. VICTORIA 18
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Parties, fun and celebration... Award Winning local Entertainer! Sandra, has lived in Boston Spa with her husband and 2 children since 1991. She runs a mobile Entertainment Service which she set up in 2004 after leaving her role as Human Resources Manager with the Police. She is exceptionally creative and her parties are always new and exciting. She has set up a YouTube Channel offering free children’s activities, games, crafts, competitions, puzzles, songs, dance, jokes and much more. It’s all good fun and aimed at all age groups. Go to YouTube and search for Big Events Entertainment with Sandra. The latest video was the Easter Special which involved the Easter Bunny auditioning for a famous movie and having the time of her life. It certainly caused some hilarity whilst filming on location at Jackdaw Crag!
perfect kids party” which is a fabulous resource for anyone planning, organising or hosting, any type of event for any age group. She is currently working on a second book which she is very excited about. It’s about the adventures of Captain Cassie, a female pirate and her struggles living in a man’s world. It is educational and covers topics familiar with most children such as bullying, climate change and plastics in our oceans.
The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, especially anyone working in hospitality and entertainment. However, Sandra says “I am a very positive person and my glass is always half full and so I decided to take advantage of these unfortunate circumstances. COVID-19 has presented me with an opportunity to diversify, consolidate and explore other avenues of income.”
It’s no ordinary book though because it is a hybrid with QR codes which open up videos with Captain Cassie herself acting out some of the scenes.
During lockdown, whilst many of us were watching box sets and eating too much, she has started to offer adult parties and has written and published a book entitled “How to host the
She is also appearing on Steph’s Packed Lunch as one of Steph McGovern’s lunch mates on Channel 4. It has certainly been a busy year with new and exciting adventures for Sandra! 20
...Sandra entertains the nation!
The following QR code will open up a wonderful snail trail for the children to play outside. It’s perfect for social distancing, so much fun and similar to hopscotch but in my opinion much better. Unfortunately it has been lost over the years and forgotten about but Sandra would love to bring it back. Suitable for all ages, including adults so why not get stuck in and create some wonderful memories together? Simply scan the Quick Response Code below using your mobile phone which will open the video link for you. If you’d like to book a party with Sandra please call me on 07709 252579. Her website address is www.sandraentertainment.co.uk or you can scan the QR code in the leaflet above. We are hoping that Sandra will become a regular contributor to Causeway, offering ideas for children’s activities. Perhaps she might even share a few of Captain Cassie’s adventures with us!
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Veg & herbs & flowers & soil... Tales from an Amateur Gardener I have to confess, I am a little disappointed... not one helpful tip from Causeway readers to help me in my endeavour to become a more knowledgeable and competent gardener! I thought the villages would be full of experienced gardeners just bursting to share their tips with a novice. Ah well, I shall struggle on! My latest project has been to turn a small, previously paved area at the end of our long narrow garden into a vegetable patch. This has taken longer than I thought it would as once we (well Andrew!) lifted the paving, we discovered that it had been used as a dumping ground for all sorts of building rubbish. Fortunately, we didn’t discover any bodies, but then nor were there any valuable artifacts either! Sorting it out and digging in some good manure, in between the rain and cold (I am strictly a fair-weather gardener) has taken several months. Optimistically, I had planted some peas and broad beans in the greenhouse, and my daughters bought me some gooseberry bushes. So I had something to plant out once we were ready. We had lifted our rhubarb crowns, and over wintered them in the greenhouse as we wanted to build the new avian flu compliant chicken run where it was previously planted. So we transferred it from the pots into its new home. Sadly this means we won’t get a crop this year. Fortunately a friend has a very productive crown and is happy to trade eggs for rhubarb! I have also sowed potatoes out in this area, previously I have only raised these in containers, where they do surprisingly well given the small space. Once the danger of frost has passed, I will also plant my courgettes here. Although, having learned my lesson last year, I will plant fewer this year!
I am also hoping to establish an asparagus bed. I have planted these in strict accordance with Monty’s instructions, but as yet have not seen any sign that they are doing anything - fingers crossed. Although like the rhubarb, it will be a couple of years before I get a harvest from these.
All of which will give me a little more space in the raised beds for salad crops and herbs. As the girls gave me six asparagus crowns for Easter, 24
...scant reward for all the toil! gardens and do really well on a sunny windowsill. A friend of mine grows salad in teacups on her patio table, it makes a pretty, as well as tasty, centre piece! And as I said potatoes do well in containers. You could also try strawberries or cherry tomatoes in your hanging baskets. As an added bonus, they are attractive as well as practical. Elsewhere in the garden, not a single one of the bluebells I planted has flowers. Is this normal? Do they take a few years to establish? Neither Monty nor Alan had any helpful hints on this matter! Happily all the other bulbs have come up and so the garden has some lovely cheerful flowers.
It has been lovely to potter in my greenhouse over the winter, the novelty of being able to garden somewhere warm and dry has not yet worn off. I was able to grow spinach throughout the winter, and currently have some Kale just about ready for harvest. The lettuce got off to a slow start, but I am proud to say we were able to have homegrown salad with our barbeque over the Easter weekend. And now it is sunny and a bit warmer, it is growing at an amazing rate! In a confident moment, I also decided to try growing my own bedding plants. These seem to be doing quite well...but I made a rookie error and simply wrote ‘bedding’ on the labels and so no have no idea what anything is! The pots and hanging baskets will be an adventure this year!
The herbs I planted in February are ready for pricking out, then I can start to harden them off, before moving them into one of the raised beds. Even the mint I planted, (in a separate container I do know a little about gardening!) is sprouting. Quite a triumph as I am told this is notoriously difficult to raise from seed. I might have enough for a mojito in a few weeks! My indoor lemon tree had flowers this year, so I might even have a home grown lemon as well!
If you have any gardening tips or experiences you would like to share please do send them to us. It doesn’t have to be a full article, if we get a few we can share wisdom, or lack of it in my case! Happy gardening!
You don’t need a large space to grow your own, herbs and salad crops will grow in the smallest of
VICTORIA
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The Birds in Your Garden Feeding Garden Birds during the Breeding Season
Which foods are best, though? A high energy content is vital, and that means avoiding starchy foods such as bread, and instead choosing sunflower seeds, sultanas, raisins and currants soaked in water, mild grated cheese, mealworms, good seed mixtures, preferably without peanuts, soft apples and pears cut in half, bananas and grapes. These are foods that give nesting birds a boost. If you do put out peanuts, make sure that they are fresh and dry, and are in mesh feeders that will not allow large pieces to be taken away.
I am often asked whether or not you should feed garden birds during the breeding season. Could it result in dependency on supplementary food, or reduce the rate of growth of the young birds? The high protein content of invertebrates is vital in promoting the rapid increase in body mass of chicks, and supplementary foods rarely match this.
So, eyes open and good luck in identifying the various scruffy individuals you will see out there before they develop their characteristic pattern of feathers! It’s not always easy to identify juveniles unless mum or dad are there to help.
Tim Harrison, examined this issue during his PhD and commented: “Several studies have looked into the effects of providing extra food for birds during the breeding season, and the vast majority of these have found positive effects - for example, more young successfully reared. There remains a shortage of direct evidence from garden habitats, but the consensus indicates that spring and summer feeding will help birds as they nest.”
One final thought: if you do have cats, it’s a very good idea to keep them in overnight when there are fledglings around. Much of the mayhem takes place in the early hours when adult birds are urgently trying to fill hungry young stomachs that have had no food since the previous evening, and they may be too busy to see danger lurking.ray: gbwmike@gmail.com.
Food shortages can occur at any time of year, and the extra food provided via our feeders can make a big difference to the survival of many garden birds, as long as we provide the sort of high energy food. Initially, most birds with young to feed will use it to sustain themselves, but if their preferred food is in short supply, they will take it to the nest.
MIKE GRAY
Breeding is timed to exploit the availability of natural foods e.g. earthworms for Blackbirds and Song Thrushes, and caterpillars for tits and most finches. So a successful outcome does require a helping hand from the weather. The early warm weather last year resulted in caterpillars and many other bugs emerging early in response, but birds can’t change their egg laying as quickly. Egg laying dates have moved forwards by several days over the last couple of decades, but this is a much slower process. The result was a poor breeding season however, I’m sure it would have been worse had the parents not been able to top-up on the supplementary food we provide. 26
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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
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