This May marks the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day a day that signified the end of World War II in Europe on May 8, 1945.
Eighty years on, we pause to remember the courage of those who fought and the resilience of those who endured. Their stories remind us that even in the face of despair, hope endures.
As you enjoy the various events in our villages, we take time to remember and reflect, it’s a time to honour those who served and sacrificed, and to give thanks for the peace that followed one of the darkest chapters in human history.
As a church community, we are called to hold that hope and to live out the message of peace that Jesus offers. In the Gospel of John (14:27), Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” These words, spoken before His crucifixion, carry a power that reaches across time. They remind us that true peace is not found in the end of war alone, but in the transforming presence of Christ.
As we reflect on VE Day this month, let us not only look back in remembrance but also look forward in faith. In a world still marked by conflict and division, Jesus calls us to be peacemakers to carry His light into the darkness, to love our neighbours, and to build communities grounded in compassion, justice, and reconciliation.
Let us pray for peace in our world, our nation, our communities and our homes. May the legacy of VE Day inspire us to live with gratitude, to serve with humility, and to hope with courage.
May the God of peace fill your hearts this month with the assurance of His love and the promise of His Kingdom, where peace will reign forevermore.
A Packed Programme of Events
Future Dates for Your Diary
The Committee would like to thank all those who came to Spring Into Gardening on the 27th March.
Special thanks must go to our very own Gardening Guru, Charles Soule, assisted by Evelyn and Denise, all of whom were able to answer the many interesting questions from the audience.
The evening was very well attended and it was nice to see some new faces, who hopefully will participate in this year’s Autumn Show.
It takes place on Saturday 6th September.
So now is the time to start thinking about what you are going to grow and to sow your seeds for the sunflower competition.
The Autumn Show will have lots of categories in which you can participate.
Even if you do not think you have green fingers, we hope that there will be something to interest everyone!
More details in next month’s Parish News.
Local Plan Review – Latest Update
At a meeting of BDC’s Local Plan Sub Committee, held on 15th April 2025, indicative dates for future Local Plan Sub Committee meetings, to consider the various district sites put forward for development following the Call for Sites exercise in 2024, were agreed.
It is anticipated that the proposed sites in Great and Little Maplestead and Pebmarsh will be discussed at a meeting on 19th June 2025.
This date may change, so anyone interested in what might be happening to these parish sites should consult the published meeting agenda on the BDC website nearer the time to ensure that their particular areas of interest will be discussed on the agreed date.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting the planning team on planningpolicy@braintree.gov.uk, who will be happy to assist.
Gardening Corner
Although we are now in May – a good growing month – there is still a possibility of night frosts. If you have potatoes with shoots above ground level, or tender bedding plants in pots, do watch the weather forecast: plants need covering at night until the risk of a ground frost is past. I know I mentioned frost last month but it is well worth repeating the advice; we have local plant sales at this time of year and there is nothing worse than buying annuals and losing them to inclement weather.
Plants in pots need feeding at this time of year – a three-weekly feed with liquid seaweed or tomato feed will keep plants growing well and flowering with vigour.
My recommended plant of the month is Gladiolus. The corms are readily available in garden centres and the colours are spectacular. Plant them at least four inches below the surface of the soil as, when they are mature and with a flowering stem in excess of four feet tall, they are susceptible to wind rock. It is advisable therefore to stake each plant individually to give them extra support.
Be mindful if you are cutting back shrubs; the wild birds are nesting at present. I even have a pheasant with a nest beside a fence with a rambler rose providing overhanging protection. It is not just the garden birds we need to look out for but ground nesting game birds too!
Towards the end of the month outdoor tomatoes can be planted out, as can courgettes and marrows. Sink a 3-inch pot beside all three and this will act as a reservoir when watering. Beetroot, carrots and French beans can all be sown this month in the veggie garden.
If you have a garden pond, ensure there is a means for hedgehogs to escape from the water if they should accidently fall in when drinking.
Enjoy your plot.
Now is also a good time to divide water lilies [Nymphaeaceae] before they take over a pond. It is rather a smelly job! If you can, haul the plants to the side of the pond and either break or cut them in two with a pruning saw. Any debris should be left on the bank to allow small invertebrates to crawl back into the water.
The Arborist
Nature Notes
There is a large, handsome moth that is white with black markings and hides itself during the day by sitting motionless on the trunks of trees. It is named the Peppered Moth and its colour pattern, from which its name derived, offers it great camouflage.
It is famous for giving the world a demonstration of evolution in action; during the industrial revolution air pollution and heavy smog coated trees in black soot and suddenly the moth was no longer camouflaged. A fairly common genetic variation produced darker individuals and these moths, by a happy coincidence, found themselves less likely to be predated. Within quite a short period of time the melanic (dark) form became prevalent. Today, the population has gone back to the original form as there is much less heavy pollution.
I was minded of this event when I found a small black moth in my trap on the 23rd of March and was unable to identify it. I posted a photograph on the Essex Moth Facebook page and got an instant reply – it was a dark form of a species named the Early Reveller, Diurnia fagella. Reading up on the moth, I saw that melanic forms can occur in industrial areas but my garden in Great Maplestead does not qualify as industrial!
Walking through the village a few days ago I noticed a blackbird struggling to hold on to the rubber trim of a parked car window and pecking at its own image. It then noticed an even sharper image in the wing mirror and turned its attack to that. Silly bird I thought, and as I got closer it flew off. An hour or so later I returned to see the bird again engaged in the same activity. I also noticed that there was a lot of droppings on the car, suggesting that this behaviour had been going on for some time. I have also seen male blackbirds fighting in my garden, obviously competing for prospective mates and breeding rights. The poor bird I witnessed may well exhaust itself and not get to breed at all.
Out and about the roadside verges are greening up and all the familiar wildflowers are starting to appear. Ivy-leaved Speedwell, Lesser Celandine and Greater Stitchwort all add brightness and colour, while early butterflies are also appearing, the most dramatic being the large and beautiful butter-yellow Brimstone. The flowering currant in the garden is alive with bees and hover flies, and yesterday I heard the first ‘little-bitof-cheeeeese’ song of a Yellowhammer.
Spring, very definitely, is in the air.
Gestingthorpe Goings-on
Church Service – Wiggery Wood
By kind invitation of Ashley Cooper there will be a service at 3.00pm on Sunday 4th May in Wiggery Wood, Hill Farm, Gestingthorpe. It will be led by Rev. Beverley Vincent, and all are welcome from the neighbouring parishes as well as Gestingthorpe.
Gestingthorpe Grill
The next Gestingthorpe Grill in the Village Hall courtyard will be on Saturday 17th May, 9.45 to 10.45am. £3.50 for a Bacon Roll, Tea or Coffee. Cash Only.
Gestingthorpe Village Hall Coffee Morning & Book Exchange
Fortnightly on Fridays from 10.00am to 12 noon
Please join your friends and neighbours in the Village Hall for tea, coffee, cake and a chat. Tea or coffee and cake £3.00 (cash only). Bring a book to swap with one from our library 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 9th & 23rd May and 6th & 20th June with the 9th May being our special VE80 celebration coffee morning (see notice opposite)
All funds raised go towards the running & maintenance of the Village Hall.
Parish News Information
Advertising/Announcements/Articles
The 2025 Parish News Business Advertising Rates for the year (10 issues, pro-rated as applicable) and for monthly single issue advertisements and fundraising event announcements are shown below, along with the Copy/Artwork Deadline dates for the next six 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
The Parish Representatives, to whom articles and event announcement submissions should be sent, are listed on the Inside Front Cover.
