Cople News March 2022 by Ian Whiting

Cople News March 2022

Some lovely daffodils to celebrate St David’s Day on 1st March

Editor’s Notes As I said I would, I visited another Club in Cople. This time it was the Carpet Bowls Club, which meet every Wednesday in the Village Hall between 7.15 and 9.45pm. A great time was had, but perhaps I should have retired after my third go. My first one hit the big bit of wood in the middle of the carpet (they should get rid of this as it gets in the way!!), the 2nd one was too heavy and went straight out the back of the carpet ( I believe this may be called the House, but I could be getting confused with Curling). The 3rd one, it was wonderful, right line, right length, just kissed the jack. It seemed that the harder I tried the worse I got, not helped by the fact my husband seemed to be doing very well indeed, so much so that he says we’re going back again as soon as we can. Everyone was very friendly, asking what you thought of the game, how you got on. It doesn’t cost the earth to play/join the Club, I believe it is a massive £3.00 to join the Club and £3.00 each week to play. (Cheaper than heating your house at the moment)., but if your interested call Pauline Baynes on 01234 838102 or turn up on a Wednesday evening. Some dates for your diary are 7th May when another Cople Sale Trail is being held — more details on page 29 and Friends of Sheerhatch School are holding another Collection Day on 15th June—more details nearer the time. The calendar in the centre pages is getting quite full these days. A good sign I feel. Libby & Linda

Cople News

Editor : Libby Sands, 77 Willington Road, Cople, Beds, MK44 3TL. Tel 07702 616300 Sub-Editor: Linda Behan 32 Grange Lane, Cople, Beds. MK44 3TT Tel 07825 259174 Email: coplenews@gmail.com Deadline for copy and advertising 6pm on 15th of every month

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Message from Rev. Lynne Dear Friends, As we enter into spring, that wonderful season of new life and new growth, we also enter into the season of Lent. As always on the eve of Ash Wednesday we enjoy feasting on pancakes in a bid to use up all those sweet treats that are lurking in our baking cupboards! You are warmly welcome to join us at St John’s Moggerhanger on Shrove Tuesday for pancakes at 10.30am, or if you have children at school come along to Willington Methodist Church between 4pm and 6pm for pancakes and fun for all! Once we have eaten our fill of pancakes, we enter into the more sombre mood of Ash Wednesday. In our Ash Wednesday service people will be anointed with ashes, as a sign of repentance. The ashes are made by burning last year’s Palm Crosses, crushing them and mixing the ash with holy oil. The words used are: ‘remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return, turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ’. Lent is normally a time of self-reflection, thinking about those things in our life that are not perhaps as we would like them to be, and trying to improve them. Many people ‘give up’ something during the period of Lent, like chocolate, and by doing so enter into the spiritual discipline of fasting. But maybe this year, it would be good to ‘take up’ instead. Take up love, kindness, helping others and so being a light in the world. Expressing these values fully in our daily lives helps us to grow in faith. The Ash Wednesday will take place at All Saints Cople on Wednesday 2nd March at 7pm and you are very welcome to join us. With many blessings, Lynne

Cople Church Coffee Morning Saturday 26th March 2022 10.30-12.00 (in the church) You are warmly invited join us for our March coffee morning. This month the coffee morning will be run by the bell ringers, who will be happy to talk to you about bell ringing and how to become a campanologist. Delicious cakes and drinks will be available All ages welcome. A perfect way to meet up with others from the village and around.

All money raised to go to the church. We look forward to seeing you.

Names from the Register No names were supplied

All Saints Church The current contact details for Cople Church are as follows: Tel: 01234 974722. email: cmwvicar@gmail.com Churchwardens June Thomas Julie Scherrer 34 Grange Lane 26 Grange Way Cople, Beds Willington, Beds MK44 3TT MK44 3QW Tel: 01234 831705 juneshanahan748@btinternet.com 5

Tel: 01234 838623 julie@scherrer.co.uk

Cople Litter Pick 31st January 2022

Below are photos of the Litter pickers and the enormous amount of litter collected from around the village. Where does it all come from?

Sheerhatch Primary School has been judged ‘Good’ in all areas following an OFSTED inspection in November.

We are delighted that the report recognises all that we have done since the creation of the school in 2017 from the merger of the previous village lower schools in saying that ‘leaders have successfully improved the quality of education and established a single identity for the school across the two separate sites.’ The report also highlights that ‘staff are committed to ensuring that all pupils achieve well,’ that ‘pupils are confident and have well-developed social skills,’ and that ‘pastoral care for pupils and their families is very strong.’ I am very proud of our school with its dedicated staff, committed governors and fabulous children. I am so pleased that the report gives them all the recognition that they deserve. The full report can be read on the school website. https://sheerhatchprimary.org.uk/ Miss Helen Ryan, Headteacher

Mobile Hairdresser/ Barber Do you need a haircut? Local, Reliable and Friendly Fully qualified and experienced

Call Donna 01234 838980 or 07773 553055

Cople Carpet Bowls Have you ever thought of playing Carpet Bowls?

Why not come and join us in a game in Cople Village Hall every Wednesday evening between 7.15 - 9.45pm. There is no need for any special equipment, we provide everything you need. Come and give it a try

Enquiries Contact Pauline 01234 838102

donnasmall906@gmail.com

Ironing Help Available Would YOU like some help with your IRONING ? Then this is the right ad' to read. I help a few clients like you, so I may be the person you need. I live in a neighbouring village. l'll collect and return to your door. I can give you a reference or two. Please call me to find out some more. Brenda. 07761 627621

Tuesday Club Peter Sarn from Marie Curie was our guest on Tuesday 8th February. Marie Curie is a registered charitable organisation which provides care and support to people with terminal illnesses and their families. It was established in 1948 the same year as the N.H.S.

Marie Curie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland. She was a physicist and a chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity. She won the Nobel Peace Prize twice. Marie Curie provide practical information and support on all aspects of coping with terminal illness, dying and bereavement at home or in one of their nine hospices. Peter who has worked for Marie Curie for 5 years talked about some ingenious fund raising ideas as they need to raise several million pounds a year. (Hopefully 15 million in 2022!). In just 2 hours with a collection tin the average would be £83. This would provide more than 4 hours of expert care from a Marie Curie Nurse. “Step into Spring” could you take 10,000 steps through out March to raise funds for the Great Daffodil Appeal? Marie Curie cared for 35,999 people in 2019/2020 in the community. And a further 8,781 in their hospices. Thank you to all who once again helped to make our annual “bring and buy” Very successful. Peter was delighted with our donation we gave him at the end of the evening. Julie Crawford who is a Pilates teacher will be our March speaker. Tuesday 8th March at 7.30pm in Cople Village Hall. “Health and Well Being“ Open to all please join us on what I’m sure will be an enlightening and informative evening. Eithne Dandy.

Nearly New Centre Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm & Saturday 10am to 1pm At Sue Ryder Palliative Care Home St. John’s Moggerhanger

Blunham Community Cinema Village Hall, Blunham MK44 3NN The Blunham Community Cinema on Friday 25th March 2022, presents ‘Dark Waters (Cert. 12A) starring Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins. A corporate defence attorney takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company that exposes a lengthy history of pollution. Film starts promptly at 7.30pm, doors open at 7.00pm. Entry by ticket only. Adults £5.00, Children £3.00. Family (2A + 2C) £12.00 Sweets, Drinks, Ice Cream & Pop Corn available For tickets or any further information contact Sue on 01767 640515 or 07783 046020. Covid Guidelines may be in force.

Blunham and District Gardening Club The next meeting of the Gardening Club is to be held on Tuesday 1st March 2022 at 7.30pm. The speaker will be Sue Lang talking about The Life and History of the Black Cat Farm Shop. Refreshments will be served. Visitors welcome. For further information contact Brenda Leaf 01767 640624

Mobile Library News — March 2022 The mobile library is now visiting the village fortnightly on a Wednesday. It will call at All Saints Road—10.00 - 10.20am; Water End—10.25 - 10.40am and The Five Bells—10.45 -11.05am. The dates for March are 2nd 16th and 30th We are now allowed onto the van to choose our books.

Knit and Stitch Come and meet your friends in the Five Bells on alternate Fridays from 10.00am until 12.00noon.

The dates for March are 4th and 18th bring your knitting, crochet, embroidery or just bring along yourself to chat and enjoy coffee and cake. 16

Mothers Union Members met in February to prepare their programme for the year. A number of ideas and suggestions were put forward as well as various venues to hold our meetings. Our next meeting will be held on Monday 14 March at 2pm at 35 Abley Fields, when our new vicar, Rev. Lynne Sandle, will be coming along to talk to us. th

Also in March we shall be hosting the annual MU Lady Day service, but this will be held in Willington Church at 2pm on Friday 25th March and is a cluster service. This will involve around 10 or 11 groups in the Northern Cluster who will be parading their banners. The service will include the admission of new members and the transition from a branch to a group, as well as taking Communion. There will also be a raffle and refreshments. Liz Buck Prayer Mothering Sunday As we give special thanks today for our mothers, we remember too, all who have cared, guided and nurtured our lives. As we walk with Christ, may we also reflect kindness, compassion, justice and humility to all we meet, in his name. (MU Prayer Diary)

Eating Out It is with regret (mainly from Mrs Butter) that Roland has not been able to ‘Eat Out’ this month. He hopes to return to be able to submit a review to the magazine for April. Roland Butter

COPLE VILLAGE TRUST (Registered Charity No. 1090113)

200 CLUB Monthly draw of £60 - £30 and £10 – you never know your luck may be in! Subs are due each February, however you can join at any time of the year. Prize winners for January 2022 1st prize of £60 214 John Squire 2nd prize of £30 103 Zane Brown 3rd prize of £10 165 Mick Gosbee Thank you for your support All monies raised are used to maintain and improve the Village Hall, Playing Field & Playground. Treasurer:

Catherine Bayliss catherine.bayliss@btinternet.com 01234 838704/07880 890508

Contact:

Jane Barnard JaneB2014@hotmail.com 01234 838004

Some exciting news. nd

On June 2 , The Queen will celebrate her Platinum Jubilee – the only one of our Monarchs to do so, and I don’t expect there will be another one! So, a special song has been commissioned and all 54 Commonwealth Countries have been invited to sing this song on that special day, as beacons are lit in each country. I have accepted that invitation on behalf, not only of the Benefice Choir, but of the villages of Cople, Moggerhanger and Willington. It is hoped that many villagers will want to go to see the Beacon lit, and join in the singing, and Moggerhanger Park have kindly agreed to host it. It will be a splendid evening. In May we’ll have a sing-along evening in each church to give everybody the chance to learn the song, which is tuneful and easy to learn. Revd. Lynne will be sending first notices to you for the March edition of our magazines, and I will send you further details as we go through Spring. We hope this will be a truly “Villages” occasion.

Thank you. Shirley Jones

Hi my name is Tracy and my business is well established within Willington. I provide a full range of treatments: Waxing, Electrolysis, Eye Treatments. Relaxing Body Massage, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology. Pedicures, Manicures, Shellac Gel Varnish. Facials, including Non-Surgical Facelifts. With over 20 years experience in the beauty industry I will always welcome new customers and be happy to sit down and discuss your requirements. 15% off your first treatment (new customers only)

Telephone: 01234 831894 or 07825 615839 email: tracy.essentialbeauty@gmail.com follow me on Facebook: @essentialbeautytracy 35 Chapel Lane, Willington.

ALL COVID SAFE, WEARING FULL PPE and COVID POLICY IN PLACE.

CARDINGTON COPLE AND EASTCOTTS CHARITY Charity Registration Number: 210585

One Bedroomed Almshouse will shortly become available in Cardington Notice is given that a forthcoming vacancy exists for an Almsperson of this Charity. People with limited resources, who are in need and are resident in the Parishes of Cardington, Cople, Harrowden, Shortstown and Cotton End are eligible for appointment. In special cases, to be approved by the Charity Commissioners, persons who do not possess the prescribed qualification as to residence may be appointed if otherwise qualified. Almspeople will be required to contribute a weekly sum towards the cost of maintaining the Almshouses of the Charity. Please Note: - This property is not immediately available. Expressions of interest in writing please, in the first instance to: Mrs Sandra Thacker, Clerk to the Trustees, 30 Water End, Cople, Beds MK44 3TY Closing Date: 11 March 2022

ACE PEST LIMITED Fast Efficient Service

Rats, Mice, Fleas, Moles, Wasps, Bird Proofing etc We offer very competitive rates with normally same day service Proprietor: Mr J. T. Hillyard Telephone 01234 - 838391

Planning Permission

New Build Houses

Residential Extensions

Building Regulation Drawings

To discuss your upcoming project please contact: Thomas Cropley 07734465308 Tom@gostwickarchitecture.com 11 Gostwick Place, Willington, Bedford

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HERITAGE PAINTERS & DECORATORS EXTERNAL & INTERNAL PAINTING & DECORATING WALL PAPER HANGING, ARTEX & COVING OFFICE: 01767 691010 MOBILE: 07860 601567 EmaiL: heritagewestwood@btinternet.com www.heritagedecorators.co.uk

FULLY INSURED FREE ESTIMATES 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE 21

Calendar of events in March 2022 Day/date Event Shrove Tuesday 1st Ash Wednesday 2nd

Thursday 3rd Friday 4th Saturday 5th Sunday 6th Monday 7th Tuesday 8th Wednesday 9th Thursday 10th Sunday 13th Monday 14th Wednesday 16th

Thursday 17th Friday 18th Saturday 19th Sunday 20th Monday 21st Wednesday 23rd Thursday 24th Friday 25th Saturday 26th Mothering Sunday 27th

Monday 28th Wednesday 30th

Thursday 31st

Location and time

Pancakes Pancakes Benefice Choir Library van Ash Wednesday Service Carpet Bowls Morning Prayers Knit & Stitch Coffee Morning Morning Praise Holy Communion Black Wheelie Bin Tuesday Club Benefice Choir Carpet Bowls Morning Prayers Morning Praise Holy Communion Orange Wheelie Bin Mother’s Union Benefice Choir Library Van Carpet Bowls Morning Prayers Knit & Stitch Race Night Morning Praise Holy Communion Black Wheelie Bin Benefice Choir Carpet Bowls Morning Prayers Blunham Cinema Lady Day Service Coffee Morning Morning Praise All-age Service Songs of Praise Orange Wheelie Bin Benefice Choir Library Van Carpet Bowls Morning Prayers

St John’s Church, Moggerhanger between Willington Methodist Chapel between 4.0 Cople Church @ 09.30am See page 16 for times and locations Cople Church @ 7.00pm Cople Village Hall between 7.15 & 9.45pm Willington Church @ 09.30am The Five Bells from 10.00am Willington Church @ 10.30am Livestreamed from Cople Church @ 09.30 Moggerhanger Church @ 11.00am

Cople Village Hall @ 7.30pm ‘Health & We Willington Church @ 09.30am Cople Village Hall between 7.15 & 9.45pm Willington Church @ 09.30am Livestreamed from Willington Church @ 0 Cople Church @ 11.00am

35 Abley Fields @ 2.00pm Cople Church @ 09.30am See page 16 for times and locations Cople Village Hall between 7.15 & 9.45pm Willington Church @ 09.30am The Five Bells from 10.00am Moggerhanger Village Hall @ 6.30pm Livestreamed from Moggerhanger Church Willington Church @ 11.00am

Willington Church @ 09.30am Cople Village Hall 7.15 – 9.45pm Willington Church @ 09.30am Blunham Village Hall film night @ 7.00pm Willington Church @ 2.00pm – Mother’s U Cople Church from 10.30am All-age Service Livestreamed from Cople C Willington Church @ 11.00am Moggerhanger Church @ 6.00pm

Cople Church @ 09.30am See page 16 for times and locations Cople Village Hall between 7.15 & 9.45pm Willington Church @ 09.30am

If anyone would like to join the livestreamed Morning Praise services, please contact Mel Ebbage 24

Contact

n 10.30am & 1.00pm 00 & 6.00pm

Shirley Jones

Pauline Baynes Hazel Shreeves

0am

ell Being’

Shirley Jones Pauline Baynes

09.30am

Liz Buck Shirley Jones Pauline Baynes Hazel Shreeves

h @ 09.30am

m Union

Shirley Jones Pauline Baynes Sue 01767 640572 Liz Buck

Church @ 09.30am

Pauline Baynes

e at cmwbeneficeoffice@gmail.com 25

Home Delivery Service in Bedfordshire Villages 27

**COPLE CANINE MASSAGE THERAPY ** Cople Canine Massage Therapy are pleased to announce that I can now offer canine conditioning as well as massage therapy to help keep your dogs living their best lives. The Canine Conditioning Academy (CCA) Foundation programme uses exercises designed to develop the core muscles of the dog leading to improved posture, balance and co-ordination, all of which are important for correct movement and can assist in reducing the risk of injury. The beauty of this programme of exercises is that it can be introduced at any age from early puppyhood to senior dogs helping them to create the correct muscle blueprint for a strong balanced body. Development of core stability is particularly important for working or sporting dogs but is equally beneficial for all dogs whatever activities they take part in. The CCA Foundation programme has been created using current research knowledge and techniques from the spheres of human, equine and canine training and rehabilitation. It is designed to be a fun and exciting way to exercise your dog while developing and maintaining foundation fitness and reducing the possibility of musculoskeletal injury. For more information and details of individual and group sessions please contact Fiona Hughes on 07808 588133.

Dear Cople residents, GNiC are collecting again for the food bank on Saturday 5th March between 9am and 11am. Please leave an item or items in view on your doorstep or somewhere where we can see it easily from the road . The last time we dropped the food off a gentleman Volunteer explained the process to me and I thought I would share.

Step 1. The food is donated to the food bank. Step 2. Volunteers sort the food, check it is in date, store it, ready to be given to people in need at the food bank. Depending on the size of the family they have a list that they follow which will feed the person or persons for three days. Step 3. Food bank partners with a wide range of care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police, identify people in crisis and issue them with a voucher. If someone turns up at the food bank without a voucher, they are helped to get that voucher. Step 4. Food bank clients bring their voucher to a food bank centre where is can be redeemed for three days emergency food. Volunteers signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem. Examples of foods needed: Tinned meat, tinned fish, tinned veg, tinned fruit, pasta sauces, coffee, Milk (UHT or powered), tea bags, fruit juices (long life), tinned pudding, jam, 250g/500g rice, pasta as well as toiletries Fact: 13 million people live below the poverty line in the UK. To find out more about our food bank visit: Bedford.foodbank.org.uk Thank you Cople for your previous generosity, please help us on Saturday 5th March by putting your donating on your doorstep.

GNiC

Cople Parish Council Cople Parish Council A Parish Council meeting was held at Cople Village Hall on Monday 17 th January 2022, this was attended by five Parish Councillors, the Clerk and Neighbourhood Plan Chair. There were apologies from one Parish Councillor and one Bedford Borough Councillor. Public Participation • There were no members of the public present. If you feel that you would like to raise a concern or issue, you are very welcome, please can you contact the Clerk in advance of the meeting if you wish to attend. The next Parish Council meeting is on Monday 21st March 2022 at 7.30pm. Borough Councillors report • Borough Councillor Moon had sent his apologies. Police Crime Statistics • Two incidents reported details on Appendix 1 available from the Parish Council website. Cople to Cardington Footpath Councillor Hughes provided an update; A potential alternative route would not be suitable. The Clerk & the Chair would continue to liase with the Rights of Way Officer regarding the permissive footpath. The Estate Manager advised that a change was being made to the access point to the permissive path on Water End. Speed Watch • At the November 2021 meeting a discussion was held around reducing speed limits to 20mph. Borough Councillor Moon had received advice on this matter which was circulated to Councilors prior to the meeting • The Speed Watch volunteers had not been able to meet to carry out a survey due to the weather & limited daylight hours. It was hoped to undertake sessions again in February. Cople Village Play facilities Councillor Hinkley would be reporting to Cople Village Trust on 19 th January 2022 with quotations and plans. Digital Connectivity A quote was awaited form BT OpenReach. It could be possible to look at other suppliers. Litter Pick The litter pick was booked for the 30th January at 10.30am. Councillor Sankersingh would accept the equipment. Councillor Small and Councillor Sankersingh would plan routes. See photographs later in magazine. Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group update 32

The Chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group supplied a written update, below, which was circulated to Councillors prior to the meeting and attended the Parish Council to address the Councillors. • The group has been working on evidence gathering & the village questionnaire. Progress has been understandably slow during the Christmas & New Year period. The group aims to complete these aspects of the Neighbourhood Plan by the end of March. • Our consultant, Sally Chapman, will be attending the March meeting to review progress to date & to advise on the next steps. Highway issues • A resident had reported to large pothole in Rye Crescent. The Highways Inspector had raised an order for this & was chasing orders for two patches on the footway leading to Willington Road. • A resident had asked if a dog waste bin could be installed by the entrance of bridleway 2, directly opposite the entrance to Water End Cople. • The Parish Councillors recommended looking into placing a waste bin or dog waste bin on the area at the entrance to Water End, where a Parish Council bench was located. A dog waste bin would be preferable. The Parish Council agreed to fund the purchase & installation from CIL funds. It was agreed that if quotation was in line with the previous bin purchase the Clerk could proceed with the purchase.

Safety of Northill Road/Willington Road/Grange Lane junction Councillor Hinkley had notified Libby Sands of the volunteers that were available. The Clerk would invite Libby Sands to attend the March Parish Council meeting. The 30mph roundels & some of the white lines on Grange Lane had been repainted. Platinum Jubilee Consideration was given to a Big Picnic on the playing field. Councillor Hughes would look into opening the Sports and Social Club & would contact the Village Hall to see if it could be opened to allow the facilities to be used. The Clerk would see if the field was available on Friday 03 rd June 2022. New matters for discussion at the next meeting Councillor Miller Donkin would ask if a local police surgery could be considered at the next Police Priority Setting meeting. A full copy of the minutes of the Cople Parish Council meetings are available on the website cople-pc.gov.uk. If you would like to engage with the Parish Council about any matter please contact Anne, Parish Council Clerk, by e-mail clerk@cople-pc.gov.uk.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place at 19:30hrs on 21st March 2022 at Cople Village Hall. All members of the public are entitled to attend the meeting & are cordially invited by the Council to do so. 33

WILLINGTON VILLAGE HALL MONDAY NIGHTS DURING TERM TIME 6:30pm until 8:00pm If you are interested in joining us please register online:JoinUs@girlguiding.org.uk

Further information can be obtained from Brown Owl Tel :07914 240494 Email: willingtongirlguiding@gmail.com

B. W. Taylor Plumbing Roofing and all Building Maintenance From “Complete Bathrooms and Kitchens” including tiling and plastering through to “Ball Valves and “Garden Taps” No Job too small Local Reliable service at Reasonable Rates References Supplied if Required

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Phone for special discount on tyres using the code: COPLE MOT’s carried out while you wait. Phone 01767 60194 35

The Five Bells. Menu

Starters Carrot and Coriander soup with fresh ciabatta (Gf available) £5.95 Panko chicken goujons, salad, sweet chilli dip £6.95 Creamy garlic mushrooms in a white wine sauce on a ciabatta £6.95 Duo of salmon mousse, brown toast (Gf available) £6.95 Mains Hand crafted steak and ale pie, with mash and vegetables or chips and peas served with homemade gravy £13.95 Ale battered cod, chips, peas and our own tartare sauce £12.95 Vegan Keralan cauliflower and red pepper curry with steamed rice £11.95 (add chicken £14.95) Pollomilanese panko chicken breast on a bed of linguine with a creamy garlic white wine and mushroom sauce £14.95 Cajun spiced chicken breast with sweet potato fries and a dressed salad £13.95 Whole tail scampi, chips, peas and our own tartare sauce £12.95

Please see our specials board for lots more including steaks

News from The Five Bells Firstly, we would like to thank everyone for their continued support and look forward to seeing more of you in the future.

Events

Please check Facebook for details of forthcoming events Food

Fish and chips Friday £10 Wednesday and Thursday lunch 2 meals for £15.95, For choices see Facebook and specials board — from Noon to 3.00pm Jobs at The Five Bells Full time Chef/cook required Please call or pop in for details.

SJ TAX & ACCOUNTING QUALIFIED ACCOUNTANT

Professional friendly services, Tax advice, Free initial consultation, Sole traders, Ltd companies, bookkeeping, payroll, CIS, VAT & Tax. E: sally@sjtax.co.uk Tel: 01234 831997 Mob: 07899 808592 Willington Peace Memorial Hall, Church Road, Willington, Beds, MK44 3PU

Open daily: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9.15-12.15 & Wed 9—3pm With lunch club available 12.15-1.15

Sessional day care for 2-4year olds during term time. £12.00 for a 3hr session (£4.00 extra for lunch club) We also except 2 and 3/4 year old NEF funding To enquire about a place for your child please email Stacey and Hayley at willingtots@outlook.com or call on 07972 148085

DOWN ON THE FARM 13—Charlie Porter Sadly, our farm is not blessed with many mature trees. Most of the valuable big trees were felled by the Shuttleworth Estate in the years before we bought the farm. Unfortunately, many of those that remained are now succumbing to various diseases, the Ashes to Ash Die Back and the Horse Chestnuts to a disease called Phytophera, or Bleeding Canker. To try and compensate for this, over the last 30 or so years we have been planting little woods and some hedgerow trees. These are now developing into lovely visual and wildlife assets for the farm. To ensure that these grow on to become environmentally valuable areas, the trees have to be managed. The current wood that we are working on is one that we planted in 2003. We decided to name this wood Moxhole Wood, as when we looked at some very old maps, we discovered that this particular corner of the field used to be the site of a farmstead called Moxhole Farm. This steading ceased to exist in the early 1800s, thanks to either the Duke of Bedford (DofB) or of Marlborough when they owned the area and reshaped the field boundaries. Moxhill Farm still exists on the top of the hill above us and has a similar set of buildings as our own, built by the DofB. It would be really interesting to know exactly why these two farms had the prefix MOX to their names. An old medieval word possibly? An interesting puzzle to solve one day.

When this wood was planted it was under rules laid out by the Forestry Commission, as they helped to fund its creation. One of the rules stated that the trees must be planted at a spacing of no more than 3 metres apart, and that you couldn’t do any thinning out for at least 15 years. For the first 10 years of the wood’s life, it was environmentally rich, as the trees had not yet canopied over, and there was a rich understory of rough grass and flowers. However, as the trees grew, the sunshine was gradually cut off from the undergrowth, and the grass died away, to leave the bottom of the wood very bare and barren. Recently we were advised by a woodland specialist that we needed to cut out some glades in the wood. The rule of thumb being that these openings need to be as wide as the trees are tall, to allow sufficient sunlight in. So, 10 patches about 40 feet across were cut out, spaced through this little wood. This involved felling about 100 young trees. The felled trunk wood is cut into lengths about 6 feet long and stacked into piles, and the tops are put into heaps amongst the standing trees. These heaps and piles will make good over wintering and living areas for various small mammals, such as voles, shrews, mice and hedgehogs. They also make good places for frogs and toads to hibernate in, the technical name for them being Hibernaculae. As the wood gradually begins to rot it, also makes a good home and food resource for various invertebrates, such as stag beetles and woodlice. Within a year we could begin to see the benefits, as the sunlight, streaming into these glades, brought the grass and scrub back to life. These for40

mer barren areas are now beginning to provide food and shelter for the little birds and beasts to live on and in. We are currently thinning other areas of the wood, removing the poor and diseased trees first, to allow the best trees to grow on to maturity. About 50% of the trees need to be removed for now, possibly more will need to be felled in years to come. This wood will again be stacked to provide wildlife refuges. My friend Stuart who helps me with this work, has invested in a gadget to put on his digger that is like a giant pair of secateurs. This tool is able to cut through trunks 9 inches in diameter and then into 6-foot lengths. Felling trees like this is so much faster and safer than with a chain saw. It does seem strange to be cutting down trees that you have nurtured for nearly 20 years, but the benefits become apparent so quickly that you soon realise that what you have done is the best thing that you could possibly have done. In the fields at the moment the most likely creature for you to spot will be a deer. This will be one of two species, and at first sight they are difficult to tell apart. They are the Muntjac and the Chinese Water Deer. But on closer inspection they are actually very different. The first clue is where you spot them, the Chinese favouring the middle of fields, whereas the more secretive Muntjac prefer to be by a hedge or wood. Their size, shape and colour are also very different. The Chinese are fawn, have big fluffy ears, no antlers and are about 2 feet high. The Muntjac, however, are brown, sometimes with a golden head stripe, little ears, spikey antlers on the males and are about 18 inches high. Their gait is also very different; the Chinese move fluidly, like a proper deer, whereas the Muntjac scuttles and scampers. Muntjac are also much more vocal, their nickname being the Barking Deer, usually being heard at night when they sound just like a barking fox. One feature that the males of both species share is their large canine teeth, used mainly for fighting in territorial disputes and at mating time. The Water Deer’s tusks are actually so long that they make grazing difficult, so they have evolved to be able to draw these teeth back when eating, but to then pull them forward when needed for fighting Both these species were introduced in Victorian times to be kept in Deer Parks, the Chinese from Korea and China, where they are now endangered, and the Muntjac from South East Asia. The D o B is responsible for our local populations, as some escaped from his park at Woburn. Muntjac are now common nation- wide, but the Chinese are still more common near to their originating deer parks. Chinese Water Deer on left. Muntjac on right

PB ELECTRICAL SERVICES All electrical works undertaken from :Full rewires, part rewires. New distribution boards. Additional sockets and light fittings. CCTV installations. No job to small. Call Paul on 07840 683417 or email paulblackmore3@gmail.com

Gardening in March 2022 The days are getting longer, the temperature is warming up, daffodils are beginning to herald what for many, is the start of the gardening year, although regular readers will know that I debunk such a suggestion, so grab your new coat and shiny new tools and put them through their paces! And see if they are as good as their manufacturers tell you they are! Around a month ago, in a garden surrounded by farmer’s fields, I became very aware of the new shoots of daffodils liberally scattering the areas where they had been planted and with a perfect circular hole around an inch (2.5cm) close by. The culprit? I was convinced it was a squirrel. Other signs around the garden confirmed this. Then, early one morning, while still dark, I suddenly became aware of something moving on top of a planter filled with wallflowers, daffs. and tulips. It was a mouse! In many ways, I marvelled as I watched him/her diving head first into the compost, nibbling at the new young growth emerging from the bulb and then discarding the tougher, older material on top. Although truly fascinating to witness it was also, in equal measure, extremely annoying; given the expense and time taken to plant hundreds of bulbs to see them destroyed like this just at the time they were starting to show was heart breaking to put it mildly but as I always say, all animals have to eat; they all have their role to play in the great chain of being will call the natural world and I will just have to devise a way of keeping them away next year as for me, killing them is absolutely not an option. As always, an interesting response to last month’s alternative to Glyphosate ‘recipe’ came from one reader who got in touch to recommend a book that some of you might find of interest. Unambiguously entitled, Toxic Legacy: How The Weedkiller Glyphosate Is Destroying Our Health And The Environment, it is written by the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Researcher, Dr. Stephanie Seneff. The central thesis of the work is described by its author ‘[that there is] mounting evidence that the world’s most commonly used weedkiller is the root cause for our epidemic of debilitating chronic diseases’. If you do get yourself a copy, please let me know what you make of it. A number of people have asked when the Garden Waste Bin Collection will resume, Bedford Borough Council helpfully informed me that it will start on the 1st March. And don’t forget, you no longer have to book a slot at the Tidy Tips. Simply turn up like you did in those halcyon preCovid days. 44

A question I always get asked at this time of the year, and this year is no different, ‘can I cut my lawn yet?’. And the answer I always give is ‘well, it depends on your lawn and it depends on your lawn mower!’. If your lawn has the consistency of porridge, or has standing water, leave until it dries out as you will cause a lot of damage. But if your lawn is firm, raise the height of cut on the mower by one so if you normally cut on 3, lift to 4, and give it a trim. Box off the clippings as you will also collect leaves, small twigs etc. A mower with a roller generally creates less damage than one with a wheel in each corner and the old adage that you shouldn’t cut a lawn when its wet does not really apply to modern rotary mowers. Although having said that, having worked for many years on professional sports pitches, in particular, football, lawn tennis and golf where we always used cylinder mowers, we cut in practically all weathers and conditions though we had the advantage of the ground underneath being drained with mole drains, tile pipes or their plastic equivalent. For those of you who wondered where the ‘just for fun’ quiz question was last month, it’s back! The term, vulgaris, regularly appears in the botanical names of plants e.g. Primula vulgaris; what does it mean? Answer next month. As usual, many thanks to all of you for contributing to this column, keep them coming, and please contact me with any gardening tasks or queries you may have, email: lawndocgardens@aol.com or Tel: 01767 627 581 or 07796 328 855.

Lawn Doctor Garden Services Clearance, Redesign, Maintenance Tel: 01767 627 581 or 07796 328 855 Email: LawnDocGardens@aol.com Tree Care, Planting, Weeding, Hedge Trimming, Turfing, Jungle Clearing, Landscaping, Lawn Improvement, Patio/Drive Pressure Washing/Weedkilling, Holiday Watering etc., etc. 45

Village Contacts Over 60's Club Secretary: Hazel Shreeves Tel: 01234 838817

Cople Web Site Contact: Ian Whiting Tel: 01234 838347 Email: ian@cople.org.uk Web Site:www.cople.org.uk

Mothers Union Contact: Jill Ebbs Tel: 01234 838659

Village Agent Wendy Worgan Tel:0800 039 1234

Cople Village Trust Chair: Catherine Bayliss Tel: 01234 838704

Mobile: 07717 269440 wendyw@bedsrcc.org.uk

Cople Sports & Social Club Chair: David Hughes Tel: 01234 838669

Cople Parish Council Clerk: Anne Pape

Tel: 01234 376645 clerk@cople-pc.gov.uk

Tuesday Club Contact: Joy Duthie Tel: 01234 838407

https://cople-pc.gov.uk/

GREAT NEIGHBOURS in COPLE is our local good neighbourhood scheme, which seeks to support residents of our village in a manner that will enable them to remain independent for as long as possible. Our volunteers help local people by giving some of their time to undertake tasks such as shopping, picking up prescriptions, light household duties, gardening or putting out the bins or by spending some time with people who may feel isolated or lonely. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or want to talk to someone about using the service, please feel free to contact us on 07746 624208 on Monday to Friday between 1.00 – 3.00pm or email us at gniccople@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook for further information.

Cople Village Hall & Playing Field Available for hire for parties, meetings, conferences etc. Main Hall and/or Committee Room - hire charge from £9 per hour, special rate of £25 for children’s parties (conditions apply). Bookings Officer, Laura Saunders—please email if possible villagehallenquiries@cople.org.uk or phone 07967 830790 Website: www.cople.org.uk/village hall 46

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