Welcome to the first Parish News of this year – and we’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our readers, advertisers and supporters a happy, healthy, peaceful and successful 2026.
February is the third and last month of metrological winter and when the days start noticeably drawing out – there are locally around 13/4 hours more daylight at the end of the month than there are at the beginning.
January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar, by Numa Pompilius around 713 BC – the Romans had previously considered winter a monthless period of the year. February’s name is derived from the Latin term februum, a celebration of the purification ritual Februalia that Romans held in the middle of the month.
This year February starts with a full moon (called the Snow Moon, symbolizing the season's themes of winter survival and preparation for spring’s renewal) at 10.09pm on the 1st, a date which also heralds Ice Cream for Breakfast day. Other notable dates include, of course, St Valentine’s Day on the 14th, when red rose prices reach their zenith and Shrove Tuesday on the 17th, when the eating of pancakes is said to prepare people for the next 40 days of Lent, starting Ash Wednesday.
The 22nd February is National Walking the Dog day but, if that sounds like something dog owners do most other days of the month as well – so what makes it so special? – there is always the Six Nations Rugby to sit, watch and enjoy during most of the month and on into March.
In this issue you will find an update on the review and roll-out of BDC’s new Waste Management Collection Service which, with extra bins and a more involved collection schedule, comes into force in June (Page 5); a new system for Reporting Highways Defects (Page 8); an impressive initiative by Pebmarsh School that raised £1000 for Diabetes UK (Page 11); and a plea for greater consideration when Perambulating Parish Footpaths (Page 14).
There are also reports on the various Christmas Events that took place in our churches during December (Pages 25 and 26) and some further Reading Recommendations from Bookworm to keep you entertained by the fire during the remaining long, dark and cold evenings (Page 15).
We would urge you, wherever possible, to use the services of our valued advertisers – and please make sure you tell them where you read about them; their contributions are essential to Parish News’s continuing presence. We would also love to hear from you about news from your village and/or village hall, information about forthcoming events and activities or any other items of local interest. Please send any articles and pictures to the Editorial address (Page 27).
Cover Picture: Winter Sunset in Pebmarsh by Denzil Fellows
Letter from the Reverend Beverley Vincent
February often feels like a month caught between seasons. Christmas is well and truly packed away. The days are still short, and yet if we look closely, we see signs of hope and bulbs are already pushing through the cold ground. Snowdrops appear almost unnoticed at first, lambing time edges closer and the daylight lingers just a little longer each evening.
In the church calendar, February brings us Candlemas, the feast that marks the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. It’s a moment that can easily be overlooked, but it holds something deeply poignant. Simeon and Anna, two elderly figures who have waited faithfully for years for the Messiah finally see what they have long hoped for: the light of God coming into the world. Simeon describes Jesus as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel”.
Light is such a powerful image at this time of year. We are all weary of darkness by February, dark mornings, dark evenings, and sometimes dark news that weighs heavily on our hearts. Yet Candlemas reminds us that God’s light does not wait for perfect conditions. It shines into ordinary, imperfect, even difficult circumstances. Hope doesn’t arrive with a fanfare; it often comes quietly.
In our small communities, light often shows itself in very practical ways: neighbours checking in on one another, meals shared, lifts offered, conversations held at the gate or over a cup of tea. These moments matter more than we sometimes realise. They are reflections of God’s care, lived out in everyday faithfulness.
As we move through February, my prayer is that we would have eyes to notice the light already among us, to see God’s love at work in the small details of a friendly ‘hello’ or a glimpse of the first snowdrops.
And of course, there is and will always be a warm welcome and the promise of God’s light for you in our churches, which we’d love to share with you.
Blessings,
BDC Waste & Recycling Update
From June Braintree District Council will be rolling out its new waste and recycling service, with more kerbside waste and recycling collections.
The changes to collections being introduced are shown below:
• Green waste as now – once a fortnight, for those subscribing
• Food waste will stay the same – weekly, using the current caddies.
• Black bins (residual waste) will be collected only every 3 weeks.
• Recycling will no longer be in clear sacks but instead in 2 new wheelie bins with alternating fortnightly collections: paper and card in one bin and all other recycling, including glass, in the other.
During the initial public consultation, residents were concerned that they lacked space for two extra bins and feared having larger bins with less frequent general waste collections. Last year BDC assessed homes and believes 82% are suitable for the standard collection service and can accommodate the two new recycling bins. Properties assessed as being unsuitable for the standard service will receive alternative waste receptacles that offer the same capacity as the normal bins.
However, the Council admits some decisions may need reviewing. Details of how to ask for a review are on BDC’s website, where there are also the dates and locations of drop-in events being run by the Council’s waste minimisation team over the next couple of months to answer questions face to face.
A one-off printed ‘collections calendar’, containing more information about how to use the new service, will be delivered to homes in May.
BDC is also planning a separate collection service – that residents will need to apply for – to pick up Absorbent Hygiene Products such as nappies and incontinence pads. This sensitive waste will go into Council-issued sacks and be picked up six times every eight weeks. Details of this additional service are still being finalised…
The roll-out timetable for the new collection service is as follows:
February to May 2026: The new recycling bins will be delivered May 2026: A letter with further information on how to use the new collection service and the printed collection calendar will be distributed June 2026: The new waste and recycling collection service will begin
Things
to do
in the next couple of months…
Men in Tights Alert…!
And to get you in the mood…
Q. Why was Robin Hood rubbish at shooting with his long bow?
A. Because his arrows were all in a quiver! Boom boom…
Reporting Highways Defects
Residents and road users now have an easier way to report road defects and/or problems following a major website update by Essex Highways. This comes as users can no longer raise issues via third-party sites, such as Fix My Street, due to the lack of reporting detail these sites provide.
The ‘Tell Us’ webpage (https://www.essexhighways.org/tell-us) has now been tailored to capture all the necessary information, using an interactive map or What3Words location for the defect or problem being reported. It allows the reporting of different types of defects and enables users to see whether issues have worsened over time. The ‘Track It’ webpage (https://www.essexhighways.org/track-it) lets users see the progress of reports from inspection to repair and whether similar issues have previously been raised. Moving exclusively to ‘Tell Us’ means Essex Highways can manage the 50,000 reports received annually in one place, resulting in a faster and more transparent process.
Although it may be somewhat difficult to believe for users of our local parish roads, in a recent country-wide Government survey, Essex received the top, ‘green’, rating for its road maintenance and repair programme…
Since 2024 ECC has invested £49 million over and above its annual highways’ maintenance budget to help facilitate the repair of potholes and other defects. Additional funding has also been secured recently from the Department for Transport, which has confirmed that ECC will receive over £168 million for carrying out road repairs from now until 2029/30.
USEFUL EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Whatever the weather, you never know when the unexpected might occur. Should there be instances of fallen trees, power outages, flooding and so on, help and support can be found below:
IN AN EMERGENCY: If you think there’s a risk to public safety, do not report it online, please call Essex Highways immediately on 0345 603 7631 or, if you have hearing problems, you can use the text phone service on 0345 758 5592.
FALLEN TREES: To report a fallen tree that is obstructing a highway please contact Essex Highways: https://www.essexhighways.org/tellus/trees-hedges-and-weeds . To report a fallen tree on a highway that is a risk to public safety call: 0345 603 7631
POWER CUTS: In the event of a power cut in your area, report to UK Power Networks by calling 0800 31 63 105 or simply 105. You can also report and check power cuts in your area at https://ukpowernetworks.co.uk/powercut
FLOODING: You can keep an eye on flood warnings here; https://checkfor-flooding.service.gov.uk/
Essex County Council is the local flooding authority: https://www.essex.gov.uk/floods-emergency-planning
Pebmarsh School Welly Walk
Our Inspiring Sponsored Welly Walk for National Diabetes Day
In November, our St John the Baptist school community came together to celebrate National Diabetes Day in a truly remarkable way. Despite the torrential weather, our dedicated children participated in a sponsored Welly Walk, demonstrating their resilience and commitment to supporting their peers with Type 1 diabetes.
The event saw children walking up to three miles around the perimeter of the school, showcasing not only their physical endurance but also their compassion for others. It was heartening to witness the enthusiasm and determination of our students, who braved the elements with smiles on their faces and a shared purpose in their hearts.
Through their efforts, the children raised an impressive £1,000 for Diabetes UK, a charity that supports individuals living with Type 1 diabetes. This magnificent achievement is a testament to the strength of our school spirit and the willingness of our young learners to make a positive impact. Each step taken was a reminder of the importance of community, empathy, and the power of collective action.
We are incredibly proud of all the children who participated, as well as the support from parents and staff – their encouragement and involvement were vital in making this event a success. It is initiatives like these that not only foster a sense of responsibility but also instil values of kindness and support among our students. As we reflect on this inspiring day, we will continue to nurture these qualities in our children, encouraging them to stand up for those in need and to celebrate the strength found in unity. Together, we can make a difference, one step at a time.
Teresa Gage – Head Teacher
Perambulating on Parish Footpaths
Our parishes are blessed with a network of rural paths; all are shortcuts from here to there, many can be linked together to offer circular routes. Most will be walked regularly but a few will be trod only by the more determined. Many, however, share one thing in common… they are public footpaths.
Why is the term ’public’ so important? Well… the legal definition of a public footpath is: “A highway over which the public has a right of way on foot only. A footpath should be at least 1 metre wide across a field where crops are growing and wider where it passes around the edge of a field or along a boundary feature.”
Note that a highway doesn’t have to be Tarmac-ed or paved in anyway. A grassy path along a field edge qualifies as a public footpath. In a few cases, a path across the middle of an otherwise bare field also qualifies.
Let’s leave that for a moment and explore a related topic: if you don’t clean up after your dog in a public place in England and Wales, you could receive a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of up to £100 on the spot, with amounts determined by your local council. This could escalate to a magistrates’ court hearing and a fine of up to £1,000 if you don’t pay.
Notice that word public again, appearing in both the footpath definition and the dog fouling law. That’s entirely deliberate, that grassy path along the edge of a field is a public place. It may well be in the middle of nowhere but the law still applies.
Remember that footpath definition from earlier; “a highway over which the public has a right of way on foot only”? In our parishes there is no right to roam – anywhere. Footpaths are the only means of walking around or across a field. That otherwise empty field may look very inviting and you may struggle to control the urge to strike out in whichever direction you fancy but such action is trespass, a breach of civil law.
Liken it to me wandering across your front lawn, just because it’s there. Now imagine my dog fouling your lawn and me not picking it up. Not too happy are you? In my parish, we’ve had a small spate of dog fouling problems and a couple of “roaming” incidents. Neither is particularly widespread but they’re irritating nonetheless.
So, please enjoy the many lovely paths in our parishes, get out and walk them! Just the paths mind All public footpaths can be found online by searching for ‘Essex PRoW map’. Pebmarsh has a printable footpath map available online, just search for ‘The Footpaths of Pebmarsh Leaflet’
And please pick up after your dog; fouling is anti-social, unhealthy and could cost you money.
The Pebmarsh Path Plodder
Reading Recommendations…
I have two fiction “go to” genres which I look for when seeking an absorbing read: detective series and historical fiction. The following are two good reads I have enjoyed recently in each of these categories:
GALLOWS WOOD: Louisa Scarr
I have been getting a little bored with the usual, runof-the-mill, police procedural plots and so I was pleased to find a new (to me) author who has a somewhat different take on this genre. As with many stories of this type, the lead character is troubled and has her own personal problems to cope with but, in addition to this, she also has her police dog, Moss, a cadaver sniffer dog assigned to her when she made a career change in the police. It is clear that the author has made quite a study of how police dogs are trained and looked after and, for me, this gave this book a different and really interesting angle. The writing style is fluid and easy to follow and, despite her troubles, PC Lucy Halliday is a likeable and professional police dog-handler.
Gallows Wood is the first of three books currently in this series featuring Lucy and Moss; rumour has it that a fourth is on the way and hopefully this may all be the start of a new, long running and very readable police procedural fiction series with a twist.
THE BOLEYN TRAITOR: Philippa Gregory
In this, her latest novel, Philippa Gregory, well known and respected for her work set in the Tudor period of our history, takes a look at one aspect of the fascinating back story of the Boleyn family during the reign of Henry VIII, who reigned from 1509 to 1547. The prime mover is Jane Boleyn, sister-in-law to Anne (Henry’s second wife) whom, for reasons of her own personal gain and security, she helped others to betray; she also helped betray Catherine Howard, who was Henry’s fifth wife. Supported by many of his powerful nobles Henry accused both Queens of adultery and, in order to protect herself, Jane helped to ensure that the accusations stuck. She was ultimately brought to task for her treachery and her Wikapedia entry simply notes that the cause of her death 1542 was “decapitation”.
The author has an absorbing style and has clearly undertaken detailed research for this book. Of course, much of it is fiction but the main plot is understood to be true and a clever depiction of how even high born women were at risk for many reasons during Henry’s reign.
The Bookworm
Gardening Corner
This month brings with it February Gold Daffodils, together with snowdrops, aconites, crocus and iris – colour suddenly returning to our gardens. Needless to say, there are a comprehensive variety of narcissus [daffodils] to choose from, with a large selection of yellows through to white flowers.
In the vegetable garden now is the time to purchase seed potatoes, onion sets, shallots and seeds for spring sowing either outside or in the greenhouse or propagator. Lay the seed potatoes in trays in a frost-free location and they will soon start to sprout ‘eyes’, green shoots. It is most important not to place the spuds in the dark – they need a light location. Onion sets and shallots can be planted next month when the soil starts to dry and warm up a little. As I always say, if in doubt refer to the label or packet instructions.
My shrub of the month is Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’, suitable for a sheltered location. A plant with striking yellow leaves and a white flower it has a pungent orange fragrance, noticeable as you prune for shape. A hardier shrub is an old favourite Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’ – it tends to maintain its evergreen status and has a lovely mixture of gold and off-white foliage.
There are anumber of shrubs which help feed garden birds: Pyracantha, Callicarpa [the beauty bush] and Cotoneaster all tend to be hardy and tolerant of our soil locally – again, there are numerous varieties.
Now the Christmas items are not taking pride of place in our garden centres it’s a good time to replace hand tools, gloves and foot wear. It is also an ideal month for pruning apple and pear trees: cut out the three ‘d’s – dead, diseased and damaged – and any crossing branches and areas where the growth has become dense. If the trees have become too large, take out a third of the growth this year and repeat next year and the year after that. That way you will not shock the tree and it should bear fruit on the remaining two thirds.
To finish this month, if you are having a bonfire, try and be mindful of the wind direction and take the pile apart in case a hedgehog is hibernating in the debris. I know it’s a bind to move everything but these small animals are becoming increasingly rare.
Enjoy your plot.
The Arborist
Gestingthorpe Goings-on
Gestingthorpe Village Hall Coffee Morning & Book Exchange
Fortnightly on Fridays from 10.00am to 12 noon
Join friends and neighbours in the Village Hall for tea, coffee, cake and a chat. All cakes are homemade and served by our fabulous team of volunteers. Tea or coffee and cake £3.00 We are now accepting card payments as well as cash.
Bring a book to swap or buy a book for £1. Our bookcase is located next to the big window in the small hall. There are a large range of books and genres to choose from.
The next Coffee Mornings and Book Exchange will be on 13th & 27th February and 13th & 27th March
All funds raised go towards running & maintaining the Village Hall.
Books on the Move…
The Mobile Library Service visits on a three-weekly basis and stops at the Village Green in Church Street, Gestingthorpe on Wednesdays, between 12.30 to 13.00pm.
On 17th December, a mild evening, Gestingthorpe church was packed for our traditional candle-lit service of carols and readings. 105 people were present, quite a few more than the previous year.
Mulled wine and mince pies were served beforehand, while first the tower bells and then the handbells were rung before Rev Beverley opened the service with a prayer.
As in recent years, the Halstead Exaltation Choir! led our singing to great effect.
Finding the balance between tradition and novelty in the choice of readings and carols requires quite a lot of thought. This time, there were new readings from, among others, Leslie Norris (Camels of the Kings) and Wendy Cope (Cathedral Carol Service). The Choir chose Angels Watching Over Me and O Holy Night as their special numbers.
Thanks are particularly due to the flower arrangers, to those providing sweet music by bell, organ or voice, to the dispensers of wine and mince pies at the door and to the setters-up and the tidiers-away.
It all combined to provide a happy, uplifting evening – a thoughtful start to the Christmas season.
FESTIVE MUSIC QUIZ – THE SOLUTION
A big thank you to all those who supported the Festive Music Quiz, announced in the winter issue of Parish News to raise money for CRISIS, the national charity that seeks to help people out of homelessness.
The objective was to identify the number of song titles hidden in a rewording of the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
The task proved a challenging one as there were over 220 song titles to identify. Congratulations to Julie and Keith Sarti, who found over 170.
They very generously donated their £50 prize to CRISIS. Entries and donations enabled us to send over £250 to the Charity to support the work it does to tackle homelessness.
For anyone who might want a distraction for a few hours, copies of the quiz (and the solutions, if you then want to check your answers) are available from Barry Vincent at barryvincent1950@gmail.com.
Forthcoming Local Events
Hedingham
Heritage Society
Our 2026 offerings continue with a distinctly wildlife theme – we do hope you can join us for both of these talks:
Thursday 5th February 2026: ‘Life in the Undergrowth’. Multi award-winning photographer and wildlife enthusiast, Roger Hance, makes a welcome return with his photographic guide to the natural world in miniature.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Thursday 5th March 2026: ‘Small Ways To Wild
The World’. In this talk, James Canton describes how he transformed the green space behind his new countryside dwelling into a wildlife haven, buzzing with life.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Do join our local and natural history society. Annual membership for 2026 remains at £15.
Members come free to all walks and talks : Non-Members - £5. Everybody is Welcome. Contacts: Trudi: 01787 462 889 : Mark: 07906 472 636
E-mail: hedinghamheritage@gmail.com or visit www.hedinghamheritage.org.uk
Getting in Shape for 2026
Church Matters
St John the Baptist – Pebmarsh
After a busy Christmas I would like to thank all who helped make it happen: those who helped as sidemen for the school service, nativity and carol concert and the people who helped put up our Christmas tree and decorated the church. Thank you once again to Jim Crayston for donating the Christmas tree. Our annual Silver Band Carol Concert had 139 people in attendance –this couldn’t happen without the continued generosity of Bob Laine.
The school events went well, with lots of parents and family able to attend and they raised £224.00 for the church. We would like to thank them for their support.
We have lots of things to sort this year: new window guards to be fitted, lead roof repairs, our five-year electrical test and the next Quinquennial report to assess the building and work required. Tree surgery is needed on some trees and there are many other jobs to tackle. Much of this will be financially supported by the Friends of Pebmarsh with money they raise and grants. We hope that our community will continue to assist us in keeping the church open and regularly used, support us in raising funds to cover our ever increasing costs and help us by volunteering.
Thank you to all who have supported me in the last four years whilst I have been Church Warden. It has been difficult at times and a steep learning curve but an honour to help the community through happy and sad times.
Sarah Burgess – Pebmarsh Churchwarden
St Giles’ Christmas – Great Maplestead
We would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who was involved in bringing the wonder of Christmas to St Giles’ Church. During Advent we enjoyed a Christingle Café Church service which drew new faces into the church and the joy of children joining us too.
As well as the usual Advent services, the school children filled the church for their Carol Concert and at the candlelit Carol Service the choir came together with some wonderful new voices.
Our church looked beautiful and we thank everyone involved in making this happen. A great team effort from our amazing church community.
Denise & Paula – St Giles’ Churchwardens
Round Church Christmas
St John the Baptist – Little Maplestead
We have packed away the tree, the twinkling lights and the little nativity which stands on our font, but the Nativity figures are still there to be admired in front of the altar. They will be there until Candlemas, which falls on February 2nd this year.
Thank you to the dedicated team that put up the lights, the nativity scene and decorated the tree.
The flower arrangers really worked super-hard this year as illness meant they were an arranger down – but you would never have guessed it from the standard of the displays, which were a delight. Thanks go to them.
We began the Christmas services on December 21st with a well-attended Benefice Service, with refreshments and lovely carols.
Our Crib Service was very nearly standing room only; much fun was had during the pass the parcel part of the service, where the Nativity figures were unwrapped one by one and then brought up to be placed during the reading of the Christmas story. The chocolate given out at the end of the service was very popular!
Christmas Day communion was again really well attended with families, visiting relatives and neighbours all filling the church. It was a very special service.
Thanks must go to Maplestead Hall Farm, for a beautiful tree which stood tall and magnificent throughout all the services. Thank you.
Jane Piper
Parish News Information
Advertising/Announcements/Articles
The 2026 Parish News Business Advertising Rates for the year (10 issues, pro-rated as applicable) and for monthly single issue advertisements and event announcements are shown below, along with the Copy/Artwork Deadline dates for the next nine issues of Parish News:
Contacts:
Articles
Please submit these by e-mail, preferably as a Word document attachment with separate images:
½ page: 150-160 words + images Full page: 400-420 words + images
Advertising Ann Harris ann66harris@gmail.com Editorial Parish News Team parishnewsmaplestead@gmail.com
The Parish Representatives, to whom articles and event announcement submissions should be sent, are listed on the Inside Front Cover
