Meldreth Matters, April 2020

April 2020

In this issue ‌ Coronavirus Information Meldreth Country and Leisure Park Melwood Welcomes Spring

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Contents For COVID-19 Information and Advice See back cover and pages 27-30 Also: Coronavirus: Scams - see page 26 Refuse Collections and Disposal of Refuse - see pages 31-32 Children & Education Development Movement 24-25 Meldreth Manor 22-23 Preschool 15 Primary School 19-21 Shepreth Spitfires 16-17

Village Groups Friends of Holy Trinity 12-13 Friends of Maycroft 35 Local History Group 37 Photographic Club 34 WI 35 Women’s Group 36

Local/National Government Local Councillors 46-49 Parish Council 41-43 Planning 49

Church News Holy Trinity Church 11 Meldreth Church Fete 34 Transport Community Rail Partnership 39

Advice/Information Advertisers’ Index 56 Home-Start 50-51 Mobile Warden Scheme 53 Neighbourhood Watch 26 Parkinson’s 52 Refuse Collections 7, 31-32 Village Directory 54-55 Volunteering 44

Letter to the Editor Country & Leisure Park 7 Gardens & Nature Country & Leisure Park 6-7 Gardening 8-9 Melwood Welcomes Spring 4-5

The opinions expressed in the letters and articles in this magazine are those of the writers, who are responsible for the accuracy of the information contained within them.

The last date for copy is the 12th of each month. Copy should be submitted by email where possible, to meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or delivered to the Editor, Kathryn Betts at 36 North End, Meldreth, SG8 6NT Tel. (01763) 268428 The Editor reserves the right to withhold from publication or to shorten if necessary, any article or letter sent to her.

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Editorial Welcome to the April issue of Meldreth Matters. Firstly, I’d like to thank Robin Farbridge for his help with this issue. He held the fort while I was in Thailand for two weeks; responding to emails and editing articles so that, upon my return, I could still complete the magazine on time. Nevertheless, it’s been quite a challenge for me to put together this month’s issue. With the current situation, things have been changing literally by the minute. I have tried to ensure that the content in the magazine is as up to date as possible but inevitably, some of the information will no longer be relevant by the time you receive this issue. As more and more events and activities were cancelled, the centre pages diary was virtually blank so I have removed this and in its place you will find information on the arrangements in place in Meldreth during the pandemic. If you wish, you can pull out these pages for ease of reference. Sadly, there have already been reports of coronavirus-related scams. Please watch out for these. If in doubt, check with a friend, with one of the trusted contacts on page 26 or with your Coronavirus Community Support volunteer. This is a trying time for all of us but Susan van de Ven and Philippa Hart have done a fantastic job of putting together a great support network in the village (see back cover and centre pages). Now is the time for us to demonstrate the wonderful community spirit that exists in Meldreth and for us all to work together. Stay safe and remember to look out for neighbours and friends who may need your help. Kathryn

This Month’s Cover Picture: Blossom at Meldreth Manor by Faiza Derraz and Devon Hart, April 2018

Meldreth Matters May Issue Assuming that our printers remains open, Meldreth Matters will continue to be published every month. Our copy deadline for the May issue is Sunday 12th April. As we will probably not receive many of our regular articles for the May issue, why not let us have your positive coronavirus-related stories or let us know how you have kept busy if you are in self isolation or quarantine. 3

Melwood Welcomes Spring 2020 http://melwood.btck.co.uk It is usually possible to find at least one clump of snowdrops in bloom in Melwood by New Year’s Day and after a winter with many very mild spells, it was no surprise to see two clumps of Galanthus plicatus in bloom on 1st January. This species is native to Eastern Europe and is generally a more robust plant than Galanthus nivalis, which has a longer history in the UK and is the dominant species in Melwood and most wild habitats. Introduced possibly as far back as the 17th century, it is a naturalised species, The first snowdrops of 2020 in Melwood native to many parts of Photograph by Jim Reid Europe and sometimes considered as native to the UK by virtue of its long history here. Curiously, one clump of what appears to be Galanthus plicatus, is also the last snowdrop to flower in Melwood, often not opening until well into March. 2020 has been a particularly good year for the snowdrops in Melwood, with noticeable spread within the main body of the wood. Winter Aconites have also expanded in recent years and now appear as small clumps or single blooms in many more locations than in recent years; about five years ago there was one main patch and just one or two other individuals. Seed production is good and the plant is toxic if eaten, so the seeds get every chance to drop and germinate. Unlike the Aconites, the flowers and seeds of Primrose, Oxlips and Cowslips are frequently grazed by rabbits and/or deer, with the result that numbers are now declining. The oxlip/primrose hybrids can still be seen scattered around the wood but cowslips have declined in the meadow and there are fewer primroses in the wood. The conservation group have now decided it is time to put in some protection over flowering plants to encourage seed production and natural propagation. 4

Following the snowdrops, there is a good show of daffodils in the wood but these are all garden plants, introduced before the wood became a local nature reserve. As a reserve, the daffodils really should be the native British English native daffodils species, Narcissus Photograph by Jim Reid pseudonarcissus. In 2018 and 2019, the Conservation Group planted bulbs of the native species in two areas of the wood. Along the side of the wood, closest to the meadow, there are very few garden plants and the wild individuals can now be seen and easily identified by their smaller size, pale back petals and only slightly darker trumpet. On the other side of the wood there is more of a mixture and when the foliage starts to die down, it will be necessary to move some plants to try to ensure areas of pure native individuals. At the start of March, many of the nest boxes are already the focus of attention from Blue Tits and Great Tits and I await the first calls of our regular summer visitors. The Chiff chaff is normally the first, historically arriving around 13th to 15th of the month. With the water level in the River Mel now much improved as a result of the very wet February, signs of life in the river have also improved. The occasional trout has been seen, a Kingfisher has been quite frequent in quieter periods and a water vole has been seen on a number of occasions amongst the sedges growing on the river bank. The water shrew was one of the more exciting residents a few years ago but I have not seen this tiny species in recent years. I keep looking. If you are interested in joining the conservation work, please contact: me on (01763) 260231 or Bruce Huett (01763) 232855. For more information, see our website: http://melwood.btck.co.uk. Jim Reid Melwood Conservation Group 5

Meldreth Country and Leisure Park The bid is in! We have sent off a bid for our proposed Country and Leisure Park in Meldreth. It will be considered for inclusion in Greater Cambridgeshire Shared Planning - that is to say the next County Plan. South Cambridgeshire District and City Council, asked for bids in early January which had to be in by the end of February. We made the deadline, even though our idea wasn’t even thought of in January. There are many hurdles to be overcome and at the moment a Country and Leisure Park is a dream. We have made the first step. We now wait to hear what the planners say, which may take until the end of the year. Margaret Lynch Meldreth Country and Leisure Park Association margaret.lynch@intamail.com (01763) 260475

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Letter to the Editor Meldreth Country and Leisure Park The proposal to develop a Country and Leisure Park was outlined in last month’s edition of Meldreth Matters and several people in the village have asked me about this, with particular regard to the possible involvement of the Parish Council. The agreed Parish Council position is that we are not behind the idea nor promoting it; nor do we oppose it in principle. In proposals such as this the Council would normally take an active role in helping to research the scheme but in this case, we are in the position of owning, on behalf of the community, land that is part of the proposal. We are one of five landowners whose land would be needed for the park and thereby in the position of having an obviously direct and significant financial interest. It would therefore be inappropriate for us to be part of the investigation and promotion of a scheme also involving the property of others; we need to remain neutral in this respect, to avoid any possible conflict between promoting or safeguarding our own interest in Mettle Hill and taking due and proper account of the other landowners who might be included in the scheme. We therefore regretfully cannot be involved with researching or managing the scheme but will consider our position as one of the landowners if and when a proposal is produced. This is an appropriate moment to remind readers that the Council regards the village’s site at Mettle Hill as a significant asset and a potential store of value which could play an important part in a number of ways in the future of the village, especially regarding further strains on all local authority funding. It is therefore kept under regular and close review. Richard Goddin Chairman Meldreth Parish Council

Refuse Collections in April Black bins: 16th*, 28th Blue bins: 7th, 22nd*

* late collections due to public holidays

Please note that green bin collections have been suspended until at least Monday 4th May. See pages 31-32 for further information. 7

Notes From a Small Garden I am writing this piece on a beautiful sunny and showery day, with sudden squalls which quickly settle. The daffodils which have put on such a good display this year are ‘dancing in the breeze’. Yesterday we had a very happy meeting of the Veg Plus Club at home here at the Dumb Flea. Not many members were able to come, but it was a lovely evening as the sun set. The great thing was that our many conversations provided plenty of ideas for this month’s copy for Meldreth Matters. Jim was able to come, so we had our expert to refer to at all times! Here are some of the issues that came up, one or two, not for the first time. The first concerns epimediums, lovely dainty plants with coloured leaves but rather small flowers. They grow best out of full sun where the soil is not too dry. Now that I have planted them in the right place in the garden, they are providing excellent ground cover. Our question was; when to cut the leaves off so that the flowers can be seen? We agreed that rather like hellibores, they push up bright new leaves in the spring if they have been carefully pruned. I found a succinct answer at www.homeguides.sfgate.com: ‘The best month to cut back epimedium is in February, when old stems and leaves can be sheared back without removing new flower buds. Blossoms appear commonly in the spring. Removing foliage just before vigorous spring growth also will allow this ground cover plant to recover from the pruning stress.’ This doesn’t mean that it’s not possible to cut the leaves back now, but that one needs to be a bit more careful! Our next question was how to control scale insects, vine weevils and woolly moths/aphids? The RHS site provides good advice for the first two. But one of our members had the moths all over her orchids and amaryllis plants, and sadly has had to throw them all away. They are quite common on fruit trees. crab apples and pyracantha. Most people suggest brushing or washing the leaves with hot soapy water, or burying banana skins round the base of the plant. Insecticide sprays work to a certain extent. The Which gardening site suggests trying Growing Success Fruit and Veg Bug Killer.

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I am going to divide my auriculas so that I have some good plants for the Church fete in June; divided, they will flower better apparently. They are such beautiful daisy-like plants much loved by the Victorians. Some years ago I spent a fortune on a wire circular ‘theatre’ for 3½ inch terracotta pots, which has been a lovely thing to own. Or you could store them on shelves or an old wooden ladder. They grow best in gritty well-drained soil or compost. Other questions and answers about growing celeriac and leeks will have to wait till next month! Tasks for the garden in April:  Cut back Montana clematis, Christmas boxes and the winterflowering honeysuckle  Continue to plant veg seeds and plant seed potatoes  Sow grass seed and wild flowers for a wild flower meadow  Tie in climbing and rambling roses  Get weeding! I’m off to see a Veg Plus member’s dark red magnolia tree now. I’m very envious of her as they often don’t do well in our part of the world. Good gardening from Jim and me. Julie Draper juliedraper@dumbflea.co.uk

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Holy Trinity is OPEN for Private Prayer You may have heard that on 17th March the Archbishops of Canterbury and York directed that all churches and cathedrals suspend public acts of worship with immediate effect, due to the coronavirus pandemic. This is upsetting for a great number of people, and will mean that we cannot hold public services over one of the most sacred and holy times of year - Holy Week and Easter - and most likely for some time afterwards as we do not know how long this will go on for. However, and most emphatically, Holy Trinity is still open for private prayer, peace, and contemplation during daylight hours. Everyone is welcome to come in and spend as long as they like in the presence of God in this very special and ancient building. If you are unable to get to church, or are self-isolating, or just fancy a chat, do get in touch with us - we will pray for you if you would like. We are currently developing ways of keeping the worshipping life of the parish going whilst we are “dispersed�, so please keep an eye out on our website (www.allsaintsmelbournholytrinitymeldreth.co.uk) or our Facebook page (@ASMHTM) for more details - or ask someone who you know comes to church. The BBC are giving more air time to church services on Sundays and there are lots of other churches, including our own Ely Cathedral, which are live-streaming worship for those with internet access. If you had a baptism or wedding planned at Holy Trinity, or would like to discuss booking one, please be in touch with us directly, if we have not been in touch with you already, as special circumstances apply at the moment. You can get hold of me on (01763) 220626 or vicar.melbournmeldreth@gmail.com Blessings and every good wish to you all: Strength and Wisdom in the Lord! The Revd Lizzie Shipp Parish Priest

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Friends of Holy Trinity www.foht.org.uk In February Peter Allen gave a fascinating insight into his 50 years in the world of journalism. After he left school he worked for his local newspaper and then emigrated to Australia and worked for the Sydney Daily Telegraph where most mornings started with a cool refreshing drink. In the 1970’s he returned to the UK with his family, initially working in radio with Independent Radio News and LBC, including a spell as a Westminster correspondent and followed this with a period at ITN including covering both Gulf Wars. Peter is probably best known for his work at Radio 5 Live where, with his co-presenter Jane Garvey, they have been described as “friendly, informal, brisk, and mercifully, not terribly politically correct". Many journalists look forward to an ‘exclusive’ and Peter found he was the only Westminster correspondent present in 1979 when Jim Callaghan lost a vote of confidence by one vote. Even higher profile reporting was when Diana, Princess of Wales died and Peter, with James Naughtie, hosted the BBC Radio coverage of her death which saw Radios 2, 3, 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live joining together to broadcast a single programme. One interesting Westminster anecdote was when Margaret Thatcher was answering press questions and Bernard Ingham, her chief press secretary, reminder her they had to leave for another engagement; she insisted on answering more and more questions until she had exhausted the press of all their questions. Journalism does bring poignant moments and Peter said: ‘Of all the people I have interviewed over the decades two stand out, not just because of their courage but because they have the courage to forgive. Suffering seems to have forged them into something finer. The two involved were: “Harry Wizer, who was in a lift in the twin towers when the planes struck. The lift plunged and he thought he would die. Then it juddered to a halt, the doors flew open and he was struck in the face by a fireball; this was presumably aircraft fuel, literally a ball of fire. He was terribly burnt and his lungs permanently scarred; days later his wife only recognised him by his wedding ring. 12

And yet when I spoke to him years later, actually just after Osama bin Laden had been killed, he was compassionate and calm. Of terrorism he said ‘People need to be given a reason to live, not a reason to die.’ “The second was Setsuko Thurlow, a young girl from Hiroshima who emerged from the horror of that event without anger or hatred or demand for retribution from those who dropped the bomb. She wanted only that the world should be free of nuclear weapons and dedicated her life to that ambition.”

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Meldreth Pre-School www.meldrethpreschool.com Rain, wind, sun, snow … we’ve seen many different types of weather this half term and this has given the children at preschool a chance to experience for themselves the inspiration for their learning topic. Weather-related activities included looking at windmills, playing parachute games, decorating rainbow biscuits, painting splashy rainy day pictures and making kites. Other fun activities this half term have included making pizza, baking cakes and crumble, and celebrating World Book Day with dressing up and reading our favorite books. Our new ‘Show and Tell’ sessions offer the children a chance to bring in a favourite item from home or topic to share and discuss with the other children. The children have been learning the importance of washing hands, drawing round their hands and of course making messy hand prints, followed by some very thorough hand-washing. The staff at preschool help and encourage the children in good personal hygiene practices. The children have a special hand-washing song, sung to the tune of Frère Jacques, which is used everyday. Top and bottom, top and bottom In between, in between Rub your hands together, rub your hands together Nice and clean, nice and clean We sadly said farewell this half term to Lucy who has been with us for a number of years. Thank you to Lucy for all her hard work; we wish her the very best of luck in her new career opportunity. If you have any questions for the preschool or would like to enquire about places for September please contact us by email: manager@meldrethpreschool.com. Julia Moore Meldreth Preschool

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Shepreth Spitfires Football Club www.SheprethSpitfires.co.uk The Shepreth Spitfires are a local low-cost football club who play and train both in Shepreth and now also at the Eternit Sports and Social Club. The Spitfires fees are only £50 per year including a full kit and all training, and further financial assistance can also be given. This is because the Club strongly believes that football should be accessible for everyone. The Eternit Sports and Social Club is now the venue of some of the teams’ home matches and training sessions and it is this local facility, along with some of our other sponsors and people that help us, that really assist us in developing the children’s footballing skills and enjoyment. This process is helped by our ethos to keep squad numbers low so that children get lots of time playing their beloved footie. The 2019-20 season is the Spitfires’ second year in league football where they play in the mini soccer Cambridgeshire and Crow Leagues. The Club has grown so much that there are now over 60 children of all abilities enjoying their football with their team mates on 16

Saturdays and Sundays. The children have done so well and amazingly, all teams have moved steadily up the divisions, some settling in the very top divisions and others playing up an age group. This year the children have enjoyed free trips with their team mates to obstacle courses, play barns and farms. They have hosted their first tournament at the Eternit Sports and Social Club and are looking forward this season to another at the Shepreth Fete. The children have fundraised for their club too, finding that their own hard work can help to provide the kit and equipment that they need. We have also been able to congratulate many of our young Spitfires as they carry on their footballing pathways at Norwich City, Peterborough and Cambridge FC. All in all it has been a lovely fun two years with the young Shepreth Spitfires and if any boys or girls would like to join the Football club please contact Sean on 07510 175370 or Lucy at lucy_smith_9@yahoo.co.uk or use our web page at www.SheprethSpitfires.co.uk. Lucy Smith

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Meldreth Primary School www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk World Book Day falls in March every year and is incorporated into a week of literature orientated events to promote and nurture a love of reading among our children. This year, there was a theme of Journeys, inspired by a children’s picture book, Journey, by Aaron Becker. Children worked collaboratively in mixed age groups to produce some huge magical flying machines and imaginary maps which are currently on display around school. Andy Lawrence of the wonderful Widdershins Puppet Theatre visited over two days to ensure that every child was able to learn how he makes his breath-taking puppets and to create a puppet of their own, made from a potato, a garlic clove and a few other bits and bobs. Leo explains; ‘The great man showed us all behind the scenes of how he made his puppets, like the belly-dancer, Scheherzade, Ug the Stone Age Boy and Ikea George. Keira continues; ‘The next puppet Andy showed us was Elvis Schumacker the First. He showed how if the puppet just picks up a flower, it doesn’t look so good; however if you make the puppet pick up the flower much more slowly, it gives more suspense.’ The children also made some thoroughly uplifting reflections on their own relationship with reading. Scarlett explained; ‘Books are a portal of love, war, peace, heartlessness 19

or adventure … reading is a part of my soul. If I feel distressed, happy or even vengeful, a book, any book, melts away all reality and emotions and I feel lost! Every time I pick up a book, just a few chapters will make me fall into the main characters’ shoes.’ In the same vein, William tells us that; ‘When I read, it’s like I’m being the main character right there in the action and the adventure.’ ‘When I was little and just learning to read,’ writes Amelia, ‘I used to read the Peter and Jane books, but sometimes I just guessed what happened in the book from the pictures. As I got older, I learned that words are so powerful because a few times, I’ve cried after finishing because the last line is so powerful!’ Charlotte writes; ‘I love it when the characters start feeling desperate near the end of a chapter and then I’m called out to dinner and start acting like I am the character and my brother and sister stare at me as if I’m crazy. Sometimes I can’t tell the difference between the book world and the real world. My favourite place to read is my room, because I love it when silence overcomes the sounds and the voices of my brother and sister are replaced by the penetrating sounds of the characters.’ Book week is never complete without the grand parade of costumes when 20

everyone dresses up as characters from their favourite books! Dressed as Dumbledore, Bertie found that; ‘Many people stared at my delicate beard as I wobbled past … but then everyone started crowding round me and suddenly, I was the centre of attention! First, I expelled Hermione and Ginny and everyone laughed. Some people started stroking my beard, but stopped when they felt a bristle!’ Elliot came as Robin from David Walliams’ The Midnight Gang. ‘I wanted to come as Robin because me and my mum are reading the book at home. I really enjoyed coming as Robin because he is always in his PJs and I like wearing a bandage on my head!’ Archie said that lots of people were going to do an Alice in Wonderland theme, so he decided to join in. He said; ‘I’ll be the caterpillar, but the costume was £90 so I changed my mind. I didn’t want to spend a ton of money on a one-time-use costume so I came as the Ace of Diamonds

instead. I bought a roll of red duct tape and taped up my sword, the bade, the quillion and the handle.’ All the staff dressed up as well as the children and I have to say that all in all we had a pretty tremendous celebration of reading! Andrew Jones Deputy Headteacher 21

Meldreth Manor School We have had a busy month here at Meldreth Manor School. We are definitely feeling a spring in our step as it warms up and the days get longer. Cambridge Science Centre came and provided our students with a fully interactive ‘Destination Space’ show, followed by two smaller hands-on workshops. The students learnt about the characteristics of each of the planets in our solar system through shape, texture and smell. The students particularly enjoyed the explosions, whizzes and pops!

World Book Day

Every member of the school team came in fancy dress as their favourite book character to celebrate World Book Day. I think you’ll agree that we look splendid and there were some very stylish and creative costumes. 22

Our sensory room was adorned with sensory decorations and art work prepared in class around the theme of our favourite books and through the day we enjoyed numerous wonderful stories told by staff in character. This all brought extra fun and interest to the students’ learning for the day. Great team effort and team spirit. The refurbishment of our hydrotherapy pool (left) is well underway. Despite unforeseen challenges the team are working relentlessly to keep progress on track over these next few months. Nadine McFadden Head of Education Meldreth Manor School nadine.mcfadden@the-aurora-group.com

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Development Movement Do you enjoy working with children? Would you be interested in acquiring additional qualifications in order to make a difference? Do you want to learn about a very simple, physical technique which can be used at home, in a nursery or at a school? Do you believe that children learn best when they relaxed, active and having fun? If your answer is yes then I would like to introduce you to the Veronica Sherborne Developmental Movement. What is Developmental Movement? Developmental Movement is a technique that can be particularly beneficial to children with learning disabilities, children with physical disabilities and children who are emotionally and behaviourally disturbed. Developed in the 1960’s, this is a system intended to support children’s regular development. Established by Veronica Sherborne, the method is derived from children’s natural needs in conjunction with adult participation. The purpose of participating in developmental movement sessions is to create an opportunity for children to get to know their bodies, to build up their confidence and help them to integrate within a group. Thanks to this system, a child begins to trust himself/herself and feel safe. He/she becomes more active and creative. What do we do in sessions? Sessions are based on work in pairs; a child and an adult under the guidance of the Practitioner. During exercises, or as Veronica Sherborne would call them ‘relations’, we use physical and emotional contact to build a sense of security. Each session is created within the same regular framework of ‘relations’ working ‘with’, ‘against, ‘together’ and ‘creativity time.’ All activities are based on natural, spontaneous and happy play initiated by adults. After every activity there is a relaxation time. At all times, there is a friendly and understanding atmosphere of warmth and security. Veronica Sherburne Veronica Sherborne (1922-1990) was an English pedagogue. In a book she wrote in 1990, named “Developmental Movement for Children”, 24

she says: “Movemental experiences are fundamental to the development of all children, but are particularly important to children with special needs, who often have difficulty in relating to their own bodies and to other people.” Who am I? I am a member of the Veronica Sherborne Association, a Developmental Movement Advanced Practitioner and a qualified PE teacher with 20 years of experience in both mainstream and special needs schools. I am a class teacher at Meldreth Manor School. I am also a mother. Olga Bak

Developmental Movement Course: Level 1 Saturday 2nd May 2020 9.00am – 4.00pm Meldreth Village Hall Leader: Olga Bak Cost: £30 Biscuits, hot drinks and lunch provided If you are interested please contact me via email no later than Monday 20th April: ICLOlgaBak@gmail.com You will need comfortable clothing, e.g. t-shirt, tracksuit bottoms, trainers and a blanket. The number of participants is limited, so don’t miss out! Looking forward to hearing from you, Olga Bak

There is nothing more beautiful than a smile on the face of a happy child 25

Coronavirus: Scams We are probably all worried, to a greater or lesser extent, about the spread of coronavirus, but alongside the threat to health is a threat from scammers using the fear of coronavirus to trick victims into losing money or revealing personal information. In early March, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau had identified 21 reports of fraud where Coronavirus was mentioned, with victim losses totalling over £800,000. Reporting numbers for coronavirus related frauds are expected to rise as the virus continues to spread across the world. Of the 21 reports, ten were made by victims who attempted to purchase protective face masks from fraudulent sellers. One victim reported losing over £15,000 when they purchased face masks that were never delivered. There have also been multiple reports about coronavirus-themed phishing emails attempting to trick people into opening malicious attachments or revealing sensitive personal and financial information. One common tactic used by fraudsters is to contact potential victims by email, purporting to be from research organisations affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). They claim to be able to provide the recipient with a list of coronavirus infected people in their area. In order to access this information, the victim needs to click on a link, which leads to a malicious website, or is asked to make a payment in Bitcoin. Scam messages: don’t click on the links or attachments in suspicious emails, and never respond to unsolicited messages and calls that ask for your personal or financial details. Shopping online: if you’re making a purchase from a company or person you don’t know, carry out research first and ask someone you trust for advice. If you make a purchase, use a credit card, as most major credit card providers insure online purchases. If you're not sure whether something is a scam, talk to one of the trusted contacts in Meldreth: Graham (01763) 260358, Linda (01763) 261405, Peter (01763) 260323 or Tim (01763) 262801. Always report scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk: every report matters. Meldreth Neighbourhood Watch 26

Meldreth Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Support informa on, support and ideas This pull-out contains the following informa on 1. What the NHS says about the virus, how to keep safe, and the difference between ‘Stay at Home/Self-Isola on’ and ‘Social Distancing’ 2. Food, prescrip ons and essen al li s 3. Advice lines and helpful informa on 4. Keeping relaxed and busy WHAT IS COVID-19? This is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus. Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms [this is called ‘Self-Isola on’] Stay at home if you have either:

 a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back. You do not need to measure your temperature.

 a new, con nuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Use the online 111coronavirus service to check your symptoms and find out what to do next: h ps://111.nhs.uk/covid-19. Only call 111 if you cannot get help online. How long to stay at home

 If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to stay at home for 7 days.  A er 7 days: a. if you do not have a high temperature, you do not need to stay at home b. if you s ll have a high temperature, stay at home un l your temperature returns to normal c. you do not need to stay at home if you just have a cough a er 7 days. A cough can last for several weeks a er the infec on has gone.

 If you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll need to stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person in the home started having symptoms.

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 if you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condi on, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days. If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible. Staying at home means you should:

   

not go to work, school or public areas not use public transport or taxis not have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home

 you can use your garden, if you have one. You can also leave the house to exercise – but stay at least 2 metres away from other people. How to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus [this is called ‘Social Distancing’] Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading. It is par cularly important for people who:

   

are 70 or over

   

wash your hands with soap and water o en – do this for at least 20 seconds

     

put used ssues in the bin immediately and wash your hands a erwards

have a long-term condi on are pregnant have a weakened immune system

DO always wash your hands when you get home or into work use hand sani ser gel if soap and water are not available cover your mouth and nose with a ssue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus only travel on public transport if you need to work from home, if you can avoid social ac vi es, such as going to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas avoid events with large groups of people

DON’T

 touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean  have visitors to your home, including friends and family 28

FOOD, PRESCRIPTIONS AND ESSENTIAL LIFTS Grocery deliveries Bury Lane Farm Shop: (01763) 260418 deliveries@burylanefarmshop.co.uk) Fieldgate Nurseries: (01763) 260737 Takeaways - please check for days and mes Bri sh Queen Meldreth: (01763) 260252 Shepreth Plough: (01763) 290348 Melbourn Hub: (01763) 263303 Milkman Plumbs Dairy: (01223) 893033 Supermarket priority shopping for elderly and vulnerable people: Waitrose - Priority hour every day, first opening hour 7-8am. Tesco - Priority hour on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am-10am (apart from Express stores). Note: Supermarkets are asking online customers to go to physical stores in order to free up delivery slots for the elderly and vulnerable. Ways to help others with meals and food:

 Making soup or a family supper? Make some extra for an isolated neighbour  Doing a grocery order on-line? Order some items for an isolated neighbour. Our Community Support network can help get things to your neighbour if you are staying at home. Pharmacy Collec ons Our local GP and independent pharmacies are asking that we don’t visit their premises if we have Coronavirus symptoms. However, a friend, rela ve or helper can collect for you. Transport Royston and District Community Transport: (01763) 245228. Note: RDCT is in need of new drivers – can you help? See page 44 for more informa on. ADVICE LINES AND HELPFUL INFORMATION NHS Coronavirus up-to-date informa on: h ps://www.nhs.uk/condi ons/coronavirus-covid-19 Healthwatch – helping to find general informa on: Tel 0330 355 1285, h ps://www.healthwatchcambridgeshire.co.uk/advice-and-informa on Help in a Mental Health Crisis NHS: Dial 111, Op on 2. Age UK: If you need advice or informa on on money, care or health, call 0800 678 1602. Open 8am to 7pm, every day of the year. 29

Cambridgeshire Police reminder: “Fraudsters may use the fact more people are staying at home as an opportunity to operate doorstep scams. Remember, someone posing as a good Samaritan and offering to help those in isola on with things like buying shopping, then keeping the money, is commi ng the . This should be reported to local police by calling 101 or in the event of an emergency, call 999.” If you are not sure if someone is genuine, telephone one of the Neighbourhood Watch trusted contacts on page 26 or your Coronavirus Community Support Volunteer. Refuse Collec ons: Please note that green bin collec ons have been suspended un l at least Monday 4th May. See pages 31-32 for COVID-19 related advice on the disposal of refuse. Meldreth Coronavirus Community Support Facebook Page: h ps://www.facebook.com/groups/MeldrethCoronavirusCommunitySupport/ A temporary place for pos ng helpful informa on or asking for advice. KEEPING RELAXED AND BUSY Fresh air and nature are listed by health organisa ons as very important in our daily rou nes. Check out Meldreth football legend Luke Chadwick’s Facebook page: type in “Football fun at home” Make a map! How do you cycle from Meldreth to…? All ages please! Whether your skills are crea ve and on the silly side, or prac cal and technical, we need maps of local cycle connec ons for people who want to take up cycling but don’t know the best routes. Send your results to a10corridorcycle@gmail.com. Plant a seed: Can you grow some sta on pla orm flowers at home? We’ll need them for the pla orm tubs. Contact sarahgrove.msfcrp@gmail.com. Cut brambles away from walking and cycle paths – carry your secateurs! Contact us if you’d like to do more. BE KIND AND UNDERSTANDING Being cooped up with nearest and dearest will have its ups and downs. If you have the luxury of household company and would like to lend support to someone who is lonely, please join our network. We need back-up help to cover when people are in ‘Stay at Home’ mode. And thank you! To our health and care workers, our teachers working in new ways, to all delivery van drivers out there, our pos es, bin lorry crews, local shops and pubs scrambling to adapt their food and meal provision to those in need, and everyone working to create support and friendship in our community. Philippa Hart and Susan van de Ven philippajoyhart@gmail.com, 07811323571 susanvandeven5@gmail.com, 07905325574 30

SCDC News release: Refuse Collections Thursday 19 February 2020 Green Bin Collections Suspended Green bin collections across Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire will not take place between Monday 23rd March and Monday 4th May. The Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service, a partnership between Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils, has made the decision in order to support staff and the recycling and waste service as a whole during the Coronavirus outbreak. The suspension of green bin collections will allow crews to concentrate on emptying blue and black bins during the coming weeks. It will also assist with any future staff sickness or self-isolation issues. As always, residents are being encouraged to waste as little food as possible, so they minimise the amount they need to throw away. For this period only, the advice to residents who do have food waste will be to put it into the black bin. Residents are also being asked to consider postponing any gardening so garden waste that would normally go in the green bin does not build up. Residents who are subscribed to the additional green bin collection scheme, and therefore pay for more than one green bin to be collected, will see a reduced fee for their permit upon renewal in the October. The bulky waste collection service, which collects large items from residents’ homes, will also be suspended during this period. Head of the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service, Trevor Nicoll, said: “Our priority is to try and maintain a regular waste collection service throughout the difficult months ahead and to do what we can to support the health and wellbeing of all our staff and residents. We’re making this change now to make sure we can focus on collecting blue and black bins as normal for as long as we possibly can. Our bin collection crews are trying their very best and deserve all the help we can give them. Suspending green bin collections will take some of this burden off them – they each walk the equivalent of a half marathon every shift. Residents can help by trying their very best to absolutely 31

minimise the amount of food that they are throwing out and trying not to generate garden waste for now. Finally, it would also be a big help to our hardworking crews if residents whose bins don’t have much waste inside can wait until it is full before putting it out – if they think they can manage until their next collection.” Double Bag Black Bin Waste if Suffering Symptoms The Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service has also published advice on handling waste if your household is displaying symptoms of Coronavirus. If you're experiencing the main symptoms - a new, continuous cough and/or a high temperature - please be very careful when disposing of your personal waste (including used tissues and disposable cleaning cloths/wipes) at home. The advice for disposal of this waste is as follows:  It should be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full  The plastic bag should then be placed in a second bin bag and tied  It should be kept separate from other waste in a suitable secure place on your property for 72 hours before being placed in the black bin as normal  The principle behind this method is that after 72 hours outside the body, the virus is no longer viable. This approach will help keep bin collection crews as safe as possible.  Other household rubbish and recycling should be treated as normal. If you or anyone in your home is self-isolating or is confirmed as having Coronavirus, Cambridgeshire County Council are politely asking that you do not go to any of their Household Recycling Centres. Find out more about your www.scambs.gov.uk/recycling.

local

bin

collection

services

at

Residents who experience any waste-related difficulties during this period are asked to email waste@scambs.gov.uk or call 03450 450 063. Please note that it may take longer than usual to receive a response as the service adapts to different working practices. South Cambridgeshire District Council 32

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Meldreth Church Fete 2020 The date for this year’s Meldreth Church Fete has been set for Saturday 13th June. Due to the Coronavirus outbreak the date may need to be moved, but it is still our intention for the Fete to happen. The Church’s annual summer fundraising event will again host a collection of attractions including games, stalls and refreshments. We are keen to involve as many people from the village and local area as possible; so if you represent a local group or society and would like to run a stall or would like to offer a donation please get in touch. Also we only have a small organising committee, we are very keen for additional help. This could be delivering leaflets, collecting bottles, running stalls, etc. So again if you can help us in a way, no matter how small, please contact us. For more information please contact me via churchfete2020@gmail.com or call (01763) 260183 or 07588 678521. Duncan Hopper

Melbourn and District Photographic Club www.melbournphotoclub.com Due to COVID-19, all of our April events have been cancelled. Assuming normality resumes, our meetings will start again in September. Meetings are usually held weekly from 7.30 to 9.30pm on Tuesdays at Foxton Village Hall from September to April and visitors are welcome (£2 entry fee). The Club has a diverse membership, a friendly and supportive atmosphere and welcomes new members whatever their ability. Anyone wishing to know more details or see some of our work should visit our website at melbournphotoclub.com or email me at melbournphotoclub@hotmail.com. Peter North Secretary Melbourn & District Photographic Club 34

Friends of Maycroft March came in like a lion, though a little bedraggled. The onset of spring - a plethora of flowers - nature in full flow. Our additional plantings of daffodils and crocuses, supplied by Phillimore’s, are blooming with vigour. We are taking steps to spread the plantings of wildflowers and snowdrops to new sites from the old garden, which surely date back to when our premises were called The Homestead in the early 1900s. Carol & Ray

Meldreth WI We started our new year with our AGM and all officers and committee were elected. Our Programmes Secretary has done an excellent job arranging speakers for the following year; the programme will soon be advertised on our notice board outside the village shop and perhaps in Meldreth Matters Brice Huett then gave a short talk on the restoration of the River Mel and we were shown a film entitled Waterlight, a journey along the River Mel. It was a local project started in 2018 and gradually the three-mile long river has been cleaned of all debris and now the river flows clearly and peacefully and is home to a growing wildlife. The composer Ralph Vaughan Williams at one time lived in the area and perhaps some of his compositions were written while walking along the riverside. This month Dr Geoff Hales was due to be telling us about Mary Kingsley, a Cambridgeshire explorer and writer, and her travels throughout West Africa. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have cancelled our April and May meetings. Kathleen Thompson 35

Melbourn & Meldreth Women’s Group In February Una Cleminson came to talk to us about The Royal British Legion of which she is the National Chairman. She’s a ground breaker as she was the first woman officer in 99 years and later became an associate member. When she asked how to become a full member, she was told that she had to serve for seven days in the military; she joined the Territorial Army nursing unit intending to do seven days but that became 20 years! The British Legion was formed in May 1921 from four other associations, and was originally formed to fight for war pensions. It still campaigns today and anyone who is ex-military can ask for their help. The Legion became Royal in 1971. They are a worldwide organisation (except in Scotland although they do run the Poppy Appeal there as in England). Membership is over 227,000 and their president is usually a recently retired military person rotating through the Army, Navy and Air Force. They take people on pilgrimage trips to many countries, to see graves of parents, they run pop-in centres, nursing homes and education packs to educate youngsters and they support other charities such as ‘SAFFA’ and ‘Combat Stress’. They also give an annual donation to the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League which enables widows to have two meals a day! They funded and run a new centre at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, which is used for teaching and is available for hire. Fundraising is vitally important to enable their work to carry on. Sue Toule gave heartfelt thanks to Una and a donation. If you wish to contact Una her email is ucleminson@britishlegion.org.uk For our April meeting, Peter Draper was due to talk to us about the Church and show us some things of interest. However, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic our meeting has been cancelled. We are a small friendly group and charge £1 on the night and there is an option to donate to our charity pot, the Helen Rollason Cancer Trust. We finish our meetings with tea/coffee and biscuits. If you would like to know more about the group or need a lift please telephone one of the committee members: Pat Smith (01763) 262575, Sue Toule (01763) 260955, Anne Harrison (01763) 261775, Angela Leach (01763) 262793, Pat Ames (01763) 261130, Kimmi Crosby (07976228377) or Mary Bailey (01763) 220171. Pat Smith 36

Meldreth Local History Group www.meldrethhistory.org.uk Meldreth Local History Group regret that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 we have decided to cancel our Coffee Morning and AGM which was scheduled for Monday 6th April. We have cancelled our Monday meetings for the time being as well. Some members of our group will continue to work on history projects from home during this period. Are You Self-Isolating? If you are staying at home more than usual and have time on your hands, this may be a good opportunity for past or present Meldreth residents to write a piece about their time in the village. Any era will suffice: you may like to check the memories section on our site for inspiration. Please email your piece as a Word document to info@meldrethhistory.org.uk and attach any photographs to your email. We also have projects that you can help with by working from home, so please get in touch if you would like to be involved with the Group during this period. New Website On a more positive note, Community Sites have been working hard on our new website. It has been necessary to cancel our training session for the new site but we hope that by the time you receive this, a handful of Group members will have been able to receive training remotely. We anticipate that the new site will be live some time in April or May. It will have the same address so just go to www.meldrethhistory.org.uk to check or follow us on Facebook for the latest news: https://engb.facebook.com/meldrethhistory.

Take care everyone. We will be back in full swing soon. Joan Gane Chairman (01763) 260219

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Whaddon Road, Meldreth, SG8 5RL

Club Facili es

Entertainments

Licensed bar Hall available for private hire for any occasion (compe ve rates) Fully equipped gymnasium (annual subscrip on) Snooker room, Pool table Large children's outdoor ac vity area Bowls green, Petanque pistes Football pitches, changing rooms

1st Friday of the month Melbourn Rock Club One Saturday a month Melbourn Rock Club Rock and Roll Night Every Thursday night Eternit bingo—starts 7.30pm Local gig venue

Big charity events during the year Motorcycle Rally - Air Ambulance - Mini Chill weekend - Camping - Local Chari es Club Charity - LUPUS

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Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership www.meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk Get Involved with Station Gardening this Spring Station tubs: planting, tending and watering: Everyone is welcome to help keep our station tubs tended and planted up for the new season, including Duke of Edinburgh students and anyone else looking for community volunteering experience. We’ll soon be in gardening mode again, so please get in touch if you’d like to help out at Meldreth, Shepreth, or Foxton Stations, either on your own or with our gardening groups. Thanks to all the volunteers who’ve ensured that a cheerful display is on hand all year round, to greet travellers and send them on their way. Shepreth Station ‘Memorial Garden’ – a bit of TLC: This piece of garden has quite a colourful history. It was incorrectly fenced off for us back in the day when Network Rail inadvertently applied herbicide to the wildlife garden that existed before the full level crossing barriers were installed. As it turns out, it’s a good thing that this happened, as we have secured a strip of nature for the future. The brambles are all very overgrown now so we are planning to get things in better shape this spring. Please contact us if you’re interested in helping out. New Secure Cycle Parking for Meldreth Station Please check it out! By the time you read this, the new parking facility should be in place, funded by the Department for Transport Cycle Rail Fund and the South Cambridgeshire District Council Zero Carbon Communities Grant. The contractors have neatly distributed all the historic station garden topsoil around the perimeter of the new shelter, so something new can take root. If you’re interested in all the train service and station issues covered at our recent Rail User Group meeting, please check out the minutes on our website: www.meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk. Many thanks Susan van de Ven and Sarah Grove Meldreth Shepreth and Foxton Community Rail Partnership Sarahgrove.msfcrp@gmail.com or susanvandeven5@gmail.com 07905 325574

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Meldreth Parish Council www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Meeting held on Thursday 5 March 2020 The main points of this Meeting are set out below in the usual summary format. The full formal minutes can be viewed in due course on the website at www.meldreth-pc.org.uk and on the Parish Council notice board; these will be presented for approval at the next Parish Council meeting. Discussions and decisions:  District and County Councillors’ Report: our County Councillor is organising a review of drainage within the village, as there is continuing concern about blocked drains in the highways and local road flooding even after fairly moderate rain. Parish Councillors will be informed of possible dates and will join the County Councillor in this exercise. Concern was expressed about the distribution of the County Council budget; this appears to overemphasise centralised County spending, on issues such as headquarters buildings, to the neglect of the needs of local communities.  Planning Issues: the timing of the felling of trees on the

development site south of Whitecroft Road appears to be in contravention of a planning condition and this issue is being raised with the enforcement officers at SCDC.  Railway Issues: the Council approved its annual contribution of

£700 to the Community Rail Partnership. This is a partnership of Meldreth, Melbourn, Shepreth, Foxton and Barrington Parish Councils and GTR. It has secured support for projects such as the cycle store at Meldreth station and the grants to local stations from the Passenger Benefit Fund. It is an important link between the rail services and local communities. The Chairman thanked Councillor van de Ven for her important contributions as chair of the CRP and for all the work performed on railway and transport issues.  Tree on Cemetery Grave: there was a discussion about an ash tree

growing on a neglected grave in the cemetery. It was agreed to fell the tree as it is disturbing the grave on which it is growing and could disturb the surrounding area. 41

 Kissing Gate: repairs to the kissing gate in the High Street and the

latch at the cemetery gate will be carried out in the very near future.  Recreation Ground: A tree was duly purchased under the South

Cambridgeshire £60 grant scheme and has been planted at the recreation ground. Another tree has been donated by a parish councillor and has also recently been planted there. Tree guards for both trees are being procured. The cost and feasibility of installing a hard surface between the two basketball hoops remains under review, with a need to obtain three quotations. Most of the play equipment is in good order but as reported previously some repair and maintenance is needed. SCDC has been approached to see whether they can help with regard to clearing the ditch at the rear of Howard Road. The Council will procure bark chippings to dress the very muddy area adjoining the gated entrance to the recreation ground off Howard Road. It was reported that three football matches have been cancelled because of the effects of rain on the pitch; the pitch is however generally well drained and has stood up well to the very wet conditions.  Annual Tree Survey: the Survey Report was provided to our Tree

Warden who has advised on what steps the Council should take to implement its findings. The Council agreed in principle to carry out all the work specified in the survey but this will be subject to two further quotations. With regard to the ancillary issue of village tree planting, proposals for additional trees have been received from a resident and from our tree warden. These proposals are being circulated to councillors and a covering note prepared, following which there will be a discussion at the April Council meeting, both to consider these proposals and any further possibilities identified by Council members.  Melbourn Area Youth Development: Councillor Pat Gilmore will

stand down from the management board of MAYD, with Councillor Nick Garner remaining as Meldreth’s representative. There will be a further discussion about MAYD at the next Council meeting.  Financial Regulations and Standing Orders: these Council

documents are subject to annual review. The Council agreed to endorse them for the forthcoming financial year. 42

ď‚Ź Other Issues: there is concern about the amounts of straw on the

road and the effect this has on our highway drains. This is falling from uncovered trailers and the issue will be raised with the business in Orwell at Malton Farm and other local farms as necessary. Next meeting: Thursday 2nd April 2020. Meldreth Parish Council

Important Notice: Parish Office Please note that the Parish Office is closed to visitors. response to the national crisis.

This is in

Contact should be made by email or telephone as follows: Parish Clerk: parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk, (01763) 269928.

Meldreth Parish Council - Contact Details http://www.meldreth-pc.org.uk Parish Office, Meldreth Sheltered Scheme, Elin Way, Royston SG8 6LT

Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12.30-2.30pm By appointment at other times Parish Clerk: Mrs J Damant (01763) 269928 Mr R Goddin (Chairman) (01763) 260061

parishclerk@meldreth-pc.org.uk goddin@btinternet.com

Mr R A Searles (Vice Ch)

(01763) 260435

robert.searles@btinternet.com

Mrs C J Fallon

(01763) 262822

joan.fallonpc@gmail.com

Mr N Garner

(01763) 268328

nickphgarner@gmail.com

Mrs P Gilmore

(01763) 263138

patgilmore.mpc@gmail.com

Dr R James

(01763) 261085

roger+pc@rogerjames.net

Mr C A Land

(01763) 261004

conradland@btinternet.com

Mr Nigel Pellatt

(01763) 262444

nppellatt@btconnect.com

Mr A Young

(01763) 263484

andrewmpc@gmail.com

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Volunteering Opportunities Your Village Needs You Your Village Hall is looking for a volunteer for the role of Hon Secretary to the Trustees. Working under guidance from the Chairman, the duties include:  originate and circulate meeting notes and agendas  oversee housekeepers and duties  arrange routine maintenance and repairs  purchase housekeeping supplies as necessary

Your duties would average 2-3 hours per week, while Trustees’ meetings are held quarterly. If you are interested or know someone who is please contact Paul Ray on (01763) 260304 or p_ray@btopenworld.com. Pat Gilmore

Royston & District Community Transport www.roytrans.co.uk With the expected isolation of those aged 70+, we at Royston & District Community Transport will be losing approximately 80% of our volunteer drivers. Are there any younger car owners out there who would be available to help fill in the gaps especially over the next few months? There will be less demand but we still need to provide a service for the elderly and disadvantaged from our community to get to essential medical appointments and for us to deliver prescriptions and food if necessary. You will need to have a DBS check if you haven’t got one already and you are paid your mileage at a rate of 50p per mile. If you are interested please contact us on (01763) 245228 or email info@roytrans.co.uk. Pru Burton RDCT 44

Dog Walker & Animal Sitter Plus Holiday House Checks

Dust Free Wood Floor Sanding & Restoration

My name is Kim, I am a caring and experienced dog walker with Kennel Club gold certificate. I can also cater for other pets in your own home. I know your Pets are Family. References available. Insured. I also do house checks for those on holiday with or without pets. References available.

Please call or text Kim on 07737 155554

Is your Wooden Floor in need of Sanding? Call today on 01223 863 632 Please quote “Meldreth Mag� Denny Lodge Business Park, Ely Road, Chittering

Cambourne Self Storage Outdoor Storage 24 Hour Access 7 Days a Week 365 Days a Year 24 Hour Remotely Monitored CCTV Sensor Flood Lighting Keypad Entry and High Security Locks, Vehicle Access Directly to Unit Doors

01767 676189

To advertise in this space telephone Beverley Cottrell on (01763) 262176 or email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com See our rates on page 56

www.CambourneSelfStorage.co.uk

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District and County Councillors’ Reports Heating Oil Club Rebate Royston and District Community Transport (RDCT) has received the annual rebate for our bulk-buying household Heating Oil Club, from our bulk-buyer Agricole Oil. The Oil Club was set up about ten years ago as a way of helping local people who depend on oil for household heating to get best available prices. There’s no joining fee and people can use it just once – no obligations. Every year we get a community rebate on every order, which is donated to a community cause. This year’s rebate of £100 goes to RDCT; they say that in addition to cash, their greatest need is volunteer drivers! Their number is (01763) 245228. If you’d like to know more about how the Oil Club might be able to help you, please contact our supplier, Jeremy Cole, on (01954) 719452. Resurfacing Footways, Whitecroft Road and Fenny Lane Our Local Highways Officer has managed to allocate some funding toward footways, to be activated in the near future. How can I get my local street swept? South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) has a new structure for looking after street cleaning and path clearance, by concentrating on geographic sectors and rotating around each one every ten weeks. Anyone can get in touch to report a hot spot. Give it a try; their email: https://www.scambs.gov.uk/climate-and-environment/street-care-andcleaning. Annual Drainage Tour A tour will be taking place this spring, as usual, and we’ll be responding to local concerns as well as taking a basic look at all the known hot spots. Five-Year Housing Land Supply In a recent planning appeal decision for a scheme in Over, the appellant asked the Inspector to look at all the major sites with planning permission currently in South Cambridgeshire’s housing pipeline and specifically whether the number of houses allocated under those permissions are going to be delivered in the timescales envisaged by the Local Plan. Although the appeal was lost, the Inspector took the view that many of the sites would not deliver homes in the required 46

timeframe. This means that the five-year housing land supply, which before the appeal was calculated at 5.3 years, is now 5.07 which is perilously close to dropping below the magic five year marker which establishes that the Local Plan is sound. SCDC is currently reviewing all its major site allocations to establish what can be done to deliver more homes more quickly. Bus and Community Transport Subsidies The subsidy for contracted bus services including the 127 now rests entirely with the Combined Authority. The budget for the coming financial year has been agreed by the Combined Authority and remains the same as last year’s, though there is an increased need for bus subsidies if all current contracted services are to keep running; £5.8m for concessionary bus pass reimbursements, £300,000 for Community Transport and £2.4m for subsidised bus services. The concessionary pass item is demand-led with the greatest demand naturally coming from the areas with the best bus services. Local Authority Budgets South Cambridgeshire District Council: On a budget of £20 million, the council has pledged £5 million toward addressing climate change. In addition to strengthening the Zero Carbon Communities initiative, the council will spend: 

£100,000 for Zero Carbon Communities Grant fund



£1.3 million on improving energy efficiency of Council homes



£1.3 million replacing 1,800 District Council owned streetlights with LEDs to reduce energy consumption by 60%



Around £400,000 on an electric bin lorry to see whether it is viable to shift from a diesel to an all-electric fleet



£1.9 million ‘greening’ its offices to cut energy bills and show others how they could go green



The budget also provides: An extra £200,000 to expand new mobile warden schemes throughout district, in addition to £21,000 already budgeted for existing schemes £200,000 supporting local business SCDC is on track to generate through its own investments, for example via Ermine Street Housing, a quarter of its revenue spending 47

requirement. The SCDC council tax rise is £5 per year per Band D property and equates to the maximum permissible rise. Cambridgeshire County Council: On a budget of £615 million, the Council provides £16 million toward climate action. The bulk of this goes toward environmental credentials for the council’s new HQ premises at Alconbury, which ironically lacks public transport links. While the Adult Social Care precept of 2% will be taken in full, General Council Tax increases by less than the maximum allowed (1.59% v 1.99%) bringing revenue spend available for local services down by £1.7 million. Council finance remains in critical state. The chosen increase of 1.59% saves 11 pence per-week for a Band D property. The Council’s income is now £22 million per year less than it could have been if the administration had used the permitted council tax flexibility in recent years. CPSL Mind at the Melbourn Hub: Good Mood Café and Calm Spaces A new Good Life Service from CPSL Mind is now underway at the Melbourn Hub and is open to all. This takes a fresh approach to community-based wellbeing support and has been developed alongside individuals with lived experience of mental health problems. The Good Life Service focuses on individual strengths and skills. It encourages peer support and community connectivity and is available to adults aged eighteen and upwards living in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It has something for everyone, regardless of whether or not they have a diagnosed mental health problem. You’ll find the Good Mood Café at the Hub every Friday from 2.00- 4.00pm; the Calm Spaces is every Tuesday, 2.00-4.00pm. Please drop by the Hub, or contact Jose to learn more. NHS Health Checks at the Melbourn Hub Melbourn Hub is hosting ‘Everyone Health’, free NHS Health checks for those aged between 40 and 74 to assess the risk of developing certain diseases and to offer advice. Call 0333 005 0093 for details of the sessions or find more information here: http:// www.everyonehealth.co.uk/cambridgeshire-county-council/nhs-healthcheck. 48

Memory Cafés at the Melbourn Hub Melbourn Hub hosts a monthly Memory Café organised by ‘Community Support for Dementia’. The café provides music, entertainment, activities and much needed support and practical advice for those living with dementia and their families and carers. Entry is free and there’s no need to book. The next cafés, at 2.30pm and 4.00pm, will be held on Saturday 18th April and Saturday 9th May. Coronavirus Responsibilities and Local Action Cambridgeshire County Council is the Lead on Health Emergency Planning and works regularly and systematically with its partner agencies. This is a fast-moving situation at the time of writing so it is hard to know what key messages will be important when the April edition of Meldreth Matters is distributed. But we do know that local Food Banks are reporting low flow on their usual stream of donations. The Trussell Trust runs food banks in Cambridge and Letchworth and can be reached on 07772 538628 or info@ccfb.org.uk. Sadly, as you may already know, the Royston Food Bank closed a few months ago. If you have any questions about anything we might be able to help with, please feel free to contact us any time. Jose Hales and Philippa Hart, District Councillors Susan van de Ven, County Councillor

Planning Matters The minutes of Meldreth Parish Council planning meetings are available on the Parish Council’s website: www.meldreth-pc.org.uk. Full details of all planning applications may be viewed on the SCDC website: http://plan.scambs.gov.uk/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display. Kathryn Betts Editor

Meldreth Matters is Online To view this or past issues, follow us on: issuu.com/meldrethmatters 49

Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire Calling All Swimmers We are looking for swimmers to join a team to take part in our Home-Start Aquathon to be held at 8.00pm on Sunday 17th May at Royston Leisure Centre. All you need to do is get some sponsorship and turn up on the night and have fun! It is not a race, you will swim with a team of six in relay for 55 minutes. If you would like to take part, we have three swimmers for the team already, we would love to hear from you. There is always a great atmosphere during this popular event, we have 14 teams booked so far from local schools, army cadets, swimming clubs, one of our Trustees has a team and local youth and sports clubs. Please call me on (01763) 262262 if you would like further information or a chat about this event. Tracy Aggett Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire

The Letting Centre Established 23 years, The Letting Centre is a local, dedicated letting agency based in Melbourn. With longstanding clients some of whom have been with us for 20 years or more, we aim to provide a personal, tailored service covering Cambridge, Royston, Buntingford, Saffron Walden and surrounding villages. We offer discounted fees for multiple properties, as well as those located in Melbourn and surrounding area. Call us for a free market appraisal and comprehensive landlord pack.

The Letting Centre, 107 High St, Melbourn, Cambridgeshire SG8 6AP Tel. 01763 263039 email enquiries@letting-centre.co.uk www.letting-centre.co.uk

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Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire

Amazon Smile Do you shop with Amazon? Did you know you can help raise funds for Home-Start Royston, Buntingford and South Cambridgeshire at no extra cost to yourself? Next time you shop, just head to smile.amazon.co.uk instead of the usual Amazon homepage and select Home-Start Royston and South Cambridgeshire as your chosen charity. Amazon will then donate to us every time you shop. Just remember to bookmark the smile.amazon.co.uk homepage and use it every time you shop. Many thanks for your support.

East Herts Lottery Raise money for Home-Start Royston, Buntingford and South Cambridgeshire and give yourself the chance of winning ÂŁ25,000!!! The East Herts Lottery is open to everyone. Buy a ticket and 50p from every ÂŁ1 comes directly to us with another 10p going to other good causes. There will be a draw every Saturday night, when a 6-digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last two to six numbers from the winning combination. Match all six and you win the jackpot! To ensure that we will benefit, go to https://www.easthertslottery.co.uk, click to buy tickets and choose Home-Start as the cause you would like to support. Tracy Aggett Office Manager Home-Start Royston & South Cambridgeshire 51

Is Anyone in Your Village Living with Parkinson’s? Most of us do know of someone who has been diagnosed with this condition, who is now living with the knowledge of what that implies for themselves and for their family and friends in the future. The Cambridge Branch of Parkinson’s UK The Cambridge Branch exists so that People with Parkinson’s (PwPs) do not have to face the future alone. We have meetings, offer therapies and have a bi-monthly Newsletter which gives advice, information, and companionship. Our members say that knowing that you are not alone is the best possible aid to coming to terms with the diagnosis. In the next year the Cambridge Branch aims to offer transport assistance to PwPs, many of them living in Cambridgeshire villages with limited bus services, who would not otherwise be able to benefit from its meetings and therapies. Offering this support to everyone who will benefit from it inevitably costs money and street collections and donations are supplemented each year by the Branch’s fundraising activities. The Annual Spring Tulip Fun Run This year, the run was due to take place on Sunday 19th April. However, this has now been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, we hope that it will take place on Sunday 11th October. It is a 7 km/4 mile, level route leaving and returning to Scotsdale’s Garden Centre in Shelford. In 2020 we are inviting all the villages in the area to enter a team. In so doing a village might be the first to win the David Johnston Memorial Trophy created in memory of a member who was an enthusiastic participant in the past. It will be awarded annually to the person or group, family, village or business, making the greatest contribution to the Fun Run, whether it be in enrolling runners and walkers, raising money, or overcoming the greatest challenge by taking part. For details go to https://www.parkinsonscambridge.org.uk, or call Caroline on (01223) 314279. Caroline Bent co-Secretary Cambridge Branch of Parkinson’s UK 52

Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme Supporting people in Melbourn, Meldreth & Shepreth Can we help you? Your relative? Your neighbour? What is the service? We offer twice weekly visits and daily phone calls to support elderly or mobility impaired residents in their own homes by building a friendship and helping prevent social isolation. We can carry out errands such as local shopping, collecting prescriptions, paying bills or going to the Post Office so people can remain supported and independent at home. We can also help couples or those living with their family. We are also trained to support people living with dementia. Who provides the services? Mobile wardens, who have all been carefully selected for their caring nature and are DBS checked. What will it cost? We do make a small charge for the services, which is from as little as £7.50 per week. How can I join? For more information please contact Jeannie on 07808 735066 or Jane on 07592 821976. Melbourn Mobile Warden Scheme is a registered charity PC Repairs

MELDRETH

Advice & Installation of Home Networks Help with Selecting a computer

LANDSCAPES

Fault Finding Brian Girling 01223 208529 (Wimpole)

Design & Layout Plans

E-mail bg@moncraft.co.uk We can also provide the following services: Design of brochures, posters, business cards, etc. A4/A3 laminating • A4 comb-Binding Small print runs on A6 to A3 media

Hard Landscaping & Lighting Planting & Water Features

Little Hands Nursery School The Moor, Melbourn

Pergolas, Decking, etc

Little Hands is a Private Nursery School specialising in quality education for the under fives and offers: Flexible hourly booking - open 08.30 to 16.30 Term time bookings with optional holiday club Bumble Bee room for children 12 – 24 months Ladybird room for 2 year olds Butterfly room for children 3-5 years With optional “ready for school sessions”

Tel: 01763 261463

All sessions have a high staff to child ratio and are available for eligible funded 2 year olds and all funded 3/4 year olds with no extra charges Categorised as “Outstanding” by Ofsted

www.meldrethlandscapes.co.uk

For further information contact Anne McCrossen: 01763 260964 lh-melbourn@btconnect.com

Kneesworth Rd., Meldreth, Royston, Herts

Little Hands is also at Bourn, Linton and Newton visit the website at www.littlehands.co.uk

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Mick Taylor—(01763) 261118 Graham Borgonon—(01763) 260358 (01763) 262158, open 7am-10pm, 7 days Sherida Richards—(01763) 262512 Paul Ray—(01763) 260304

Cycling Group Local History Group Lunch Club Melwood Cons. Group

John Rogger—(01763) 260809 (01763) 260129; www.meldrethhistory.org.uk Nikki & Julie—07599 292327 (01763) 232855; www.melwood.btck.co.uk

Photographic Group

www.melbourn-photographic-club.co.uk

Revelation U3A WI

Miriam Skuce—(01763) 262440 Chris Davison—(01763) 264189 Jane Bates—(01763) 261638

Sport

Bowls Club Croquet Club Meldreth United FC Table Tennis Tennis Club

Vivien Constable—(01223) 207557 Janet Pope—(01763) 248239 07930 650036 Christine Knight—(01763) 261676 (01763) 243376; http://cspark.at/Meldr2

Church

Rev. Lizzie Shipp Rev. Mary Price Bells John Price (Friends)

(01763) 220626; https://allsaintsmelbournholytrinitymeldreth.co.uk (01763) 261569 Peter Hinton—(01763) 262045 (01763) 260048; www.foht.org.uk

Baby & Toddler Group Hartbeeps Pre-School Primary School

Thea Peacock—07930 893201 Kelly@hartbeeps.com 07518 173653; www.meldrethPreschool.com (01763) 260432; www.meldreth.cambs.sch.uk

Parish Council District Councillors

Please see details at end of Parish Council report Philippa Hart—07811 323571 Jose Hales—07703 262649 03450 450500; www.scambs.gov.uk/ Susan van de Ven—07905 325574 susanvandeven.mycouncillor.org.uk/ 0345 045 5200; www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ Anthony Browne; www.anthonybrowne.org/

Councils & Govt.

Clubs & Societies

Facilities

Litter Picker Neighbourhood Watch One Stop Village Hall Bookings Village Hall Chairman

Childn.

Village Directory

District Council Offices County Councillor County Council Offices MP

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Transport Health Support Services Emergencies NonEmerg. Misc.

Station Ticket Office

Opening hours: Mon - Fri 7-11.15am, Sat 8.45am - 1.25pm

Rail User Group

07905 325574; www.meldrethsheprethfoxtonrail.org.uk

Govia/Great Northern

www.thameslinkrailway.com

The Trainline Stagecoach Potholes, Highways problems, etc. Streetlights (faulty)

www.thetrainline.com www.stagecoachbus.com/Cambridge 0345 045 5212; http://www2.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ HighwaysReports/Highways/ReportProblem1.aspx 08007838 247 - give location, fault & SC or CCC no.

Melbourn Surgery Addenbrooke’s NHS

(01763) 260220; Dispensary—(01763) 261246 (01223) 245151 111 (24 hour non-emergency number)

Childline

Community Transport Home-Start Melbourn Time Bank Mind (mental health) Samaritans

0800 1111 (24 hours) Cambridge: 0344 848 7979 Royston: 03444 111 444 www.citizensadvice.org.uk (01763) 245228; www.roytrans.co.uk (01763) 262262; www.hsrsc.org.uk (01763) 263303; https://tol2.timebanking.org/melbourn 0300 123 3393 (9am-6pm M-F); www.mind.org.uk 116 123 (24 hours); www.samaritans.org

General Emergency Gas Electricity Anglian Water Cambridge Water

999 or 112 0800 111 999 0800 783 8838 03457 145145; www.anglianwater.co.uk (01223) 706050; www.cambridge-water.co.uk

Crimestoppers

S Cambs Fire & Rescue

0800 555 111; crimestoppers-uk.org 101; www.cambs.police.uk Report issues: www.contactcambspolice.uk (01480) 444500; www.cambsfire.gov.uk

Melbourn Hub

(01763) 263303; www.melbournhub.com

Royston Museum

(01763) 242587; www.roystonmuseum.org.uk

Taxi (Butler Meltax)

(01763) 244444; 212223

Citizens Advice Bureau

Police

Details of village groups and facilities can be found in the Meldreth Today section at www.meldrethhistory.org.uk. Meldreth Matters Team: Chairman: Lesley Farbridge 261578; Editor & Layout: Kathryn Betts 268428; Proof-reading: Ken McLean 261243; Treasurer, Secretary & Trade Advertising: Beverley Cottrell 262176; Advertising Layout: Richard Burns 263121; Editorial Assistant: Robin Farbridge; Distribution: Bill Peters 260983; Founder: Ann Barnes Meldreth Matters is available online at issuu.com (search for Meldreth)

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Advertising Rates Size per issue Half page £27.25 Quarter page £16.50 Eighth page £8.75 Business listing per line

6 months £134.00 £74.00 £43.00 £11.00

12 months £216.00 £118.00 £65.00 £16.00

Occasional full page advertising features are also available on request. For all advertising enquiries, please email meldrethmatters@hotmail.com or telephone Beverley Cottrell on (01763) 262176.

Index to Advertisers Meldreth Matters depends entirely on advertising revenue to cover its production costs. Please mention Meldreth Matters when contacting our advertisers. AngliEAR Hearing ..........................40 Art of Clean ....................................33 Art of Clean Wood ..........................45 Aurora Meldreth Manor (Job)..........40 Cambourne Self Storage ..................45 Cambridge Solar .......................Cover CHS Day Centre .............................14 CHS Group ...............................Cover Coton Electrical ..............................18 The Country Store ...........................33 Dog Walker/Animal Sitter ...............45 Ely Design Group ............................18 Eternit Sports and Social Club .........38 Eve Construction .............................13 Gilhooly ...........................................2 Huw Shortle Window Cleaning .......13 iPlaster ............................................33 Lawn Partners ...................................6 The Letting Centre ..........................50 Little Hands Nursery School ...........53 Melbourn Flooring ..........................10 Melbourn Village College (1) ...........23

Melbourn Village College (2)............17 Meldreth Landscapes .......................53 Meldreth Plant Hire .........................11 Minders Keepers (Job) .....................18 Moncraft Computers .......................53 Nancy Foster Footcare .....................14 Newlings of Royston Funeral Service23 Nigel Wigg Home Improvement ........2 Office to Let ....................................10 P D Property Services .........................6 Penn Farm Physiotherapy ..................2 Reflections Hair Studio ....................18 Richard Burns Electrician .................13 Rod’s PC Support ......................Cover Royston Fencing ..............................33 Sage Blinds and Interiors .................10 Slimming World ........................Cover Summit Landscapes ..........................33 Trademark Kitchens .........................45 Village Garden Services ...................33 Yoga2 Classes ..................................14 Z Web Hosting ................................38

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We can make life a little easier Local Community Services delivered from Moorlands Court Homecare: our fully trained carers visit you in your home. Sitting service: a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers time for themselves. Day Centre: based at Moorlands Court with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch. Meals service: nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you. Housekeeping: we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping. To find out more, call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564 or email: denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk

RML

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RML IT Consultants Ltd Newton Hall, Town Street, Newton, Cambridge CB22 7ZE Tel: +44 (0) 1223 873747, Mobile 07946 216268 Email: info@rmlconsultants.co.uk

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whatever the size of your company we can help‌ Internet connection and security Firewall/VPN solutions provider Installations and upgrades Network and computer support Wireless networking and security

GIVE ME A CALL ON:07946 216268

All our solutions are individually specified for your company ensuring the best and most cost-effective result:

Implementation of messaging systems Web design and content management Email compliance (archiving and retrieval) Hardware and software expertise and sourcing

Meldreth Coronavirus (COVID-19) Community Support The village has set up a network of volunteers to help provide support during this time. Every household should receive a flyer which will include contact details of your neighbourhood volunteer. Can you help? Please email us, indicating what you can offer. If you don’t have email, please telephone one of us: Philippa Hart: philippajoyhart@gmail.com, 07811323571 Susan van de Ven: susanvandeven5@gmail.com, 07905325574 If you need help, please call the telephone number on your flyer. Should you wish to check that the flyer is proper and official call either Susan or Philippa first and we will be able to verify your volunteer. We would like to be able to assist with:  Maintaining social contact  Collecting prescriptions  Essential shopping  Is there something else?

Please see the centre pages of Meldreth Matters for further information and advice Meldreth Matters is printed by Plumridge Printers 41 High St Linton 01223 891407