Nassington Newsletter - March 2024

Editors Message

March is the third month of the year and the first month of Spring. It’s the month when daffodils and snowdrops start to flower – and yes I have already seen some as I write this ! The month when new born lambs can be heard in the fields, the days start to get longer and the sun is supposed to appear more often and get warmer! Well lets hope for the later because we most definitely have had our fill of grey skies and rain! March can be a complete mixture of the elements and every day can be different, and this year March must be one of the busiest calendar months - there is so much happening !

Not only is it Mothers Day on the 10th March, where we celebrate our love not just for our mother’s but for everyone in our lives and the Church is celebrating with an informal service for all where posies will be given , but Easter is also this month starting with Good Friday on the 29th March and ending on Easter Monday on the 1st April. Once again many services are being held within our parish but maybe an important date to note for our younger residents might be the Easter Egg Hunt around the Church on Easter Sunday after the 9.30am service – all are welcome.

Take a look at the ‘What’s On’ calendar this month because as well as the regular weekly/monthly activities there are so many other events happening …. Live entertainment at The Queens Head, the History Group are holding a talk and the cricket club and pre-school have joined forces to hold an amazing culinary delight for all.

Wow! – so much to do and take part in, all within our amazing village. So come on, put your shoes (and coat) on and go along to support these great events happening on our doorstep - better still – go with a friend or neighbour!

March is officially the start of Spring so get out there – make new friends and put a ‘spring’ in your step. It’s a new start for nature – so let it be a new start for you !

As always – stay happy and healthy. The Newsletter Team

What’s on in March

Weekly

Mondays 10 -12.30pm - The Biscuit Tin at The Village Hall

Fridays at 11am - The Walking Group meet outside The Black Horse pub

Fridays 5.30 -8.30pm, Sat and Sun 1.30-4.30pm - Cricket Clubhouse open. Eat in or take away food every Friday 6 – 8pm. Order in person at the Clubhouse.

Saturdays – 8 -10.30am - Breakfast Club at the Cricket Clubhouse

See separate listing of all Church Services

Monthly

2nd Wednesday of the month (13th) 7.30pm - Parish Council meeting at The Village Hall

3rd Wednesday of the month - Nassington Ladies Group

Last Friday of the month – 2pm ‘Game On’ at The Village Hall

Specific Dates

Tuesday 12th March 6-8pm - Youth Club at The Church

Saturday 16th March 7pm - Tom Stone – Live entertainment at The

Queens Head

Sunday 17th March 12.30 – 4pm - St Patrick’s Day Carvery with Afternoon

Tea as dessert or just Afternoon Tea 2-4.30pm at The Cricket Clubhouse. Contact Paul 07932 954633 or Pre-School 01780 783844 to make a booking

Sunday 17th March 3-5pm - Nassington History Group Talk at The Village Hall

Events to look forward to...

Thursday 4th April 7.30pm - Open Mic Night – at The Queens Head

Friday 12th April 11-1pm – Coffee morning raising funds for Cancer Research at The Village Hall

Saturday 13th April – afternoon – Nature Walk with Frances and Charlotte – details to follow

Saturday 20th April 2pm – Nassington Ladies Group Fashion Show at Yarnell Village Hall

Sunday 28th April 3-5pm – Nassington History Group Talk at The Village Hall

Saturday 18th May – Nassington School May Fayre

Go to bit.ly/NassEvents to see a full list of calendar events in the village.

Vicar: Rev Jane Tailby

01780 782271

E-mail jdtailby@aol.com

Every Sunday: 5.00 p.m. Zoom service

Log-in details from Rev Jane (jdtailby@aol.com)

Every Wednesday: 10.00 a.m. Morning Prayer – Wansford

Every Thursday: 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion BCP - Nassington

Easter plans already! As you will see from the service list it’s a busy month with different services marking important days in our church’s calendar. Lent continues through March with Mothering Sunday on 10th March as a pause for refreshment in the middle of our Lent disciplines. We all need time to pause and refresh now and again, and Mothering Sunday reminds us of that, as well as giving thanks for all those who care for us and love us, particularly our mothers and those who are like mothers to us. In Nassington we will have a more informal service for all ages, and of course posies! There are Communion services in our other churches, but still with flowers!

After that we set off again on our Lent journey, first with our all age craft service on the afternoon of 17th – all are welcome to come and try something a bit different! Then, in our imaginations we begin to share Jesus’ last week on earth. We begin with a benefice service at Thornhaugh on Palm Sunday with a real journey, albeit a short one, as we process down through the village with our palms. Each day of Holy Week there are services in our various churches as we journey to the cross together, In Nassington Church we will be hosting the Thursday evening “Passover with Jesus” as we share in some of the food and prayers that Jesus would have shared with his disciples at the Last Supper, drawing out its meanings for us now. We are starting at 6 pm so that hopefully families and individuals will be able to join us. It would help us to know how many we are expecting so if let me know if you’re planning to come, that would be great, but don’t worry if you don’t – just come along and be part of something rather different from our usual services.

On Good Friday our travels take us to the foot of the cross at services at Wansford and Woodnewton before we end our journey in the joyful Garden of Resurrection on Easter morning. Here in Nassington our Easter Communion service (a simple and accessible communion service) will be followed by an Easter Egg Hunt in the churchyard – all welcome!

Needless to say all are welcome at our services in any of our churches over this very special month in the church’s calendar. There are simple, informal services and more formal services; hopefully something for everyone – and all are most welcome.

Where-ever your journeys take you in the next few months, may you be blessed and encouraged, and may you have good travelling companions!

With every blessing,

Revd. Jane

MARCH SERVICES IN THE WATERSMETE BENEFICE

3rd March

8.15am Holy Communion BCP Nassington

9.30am Holy Communion Nassington

9.30am Holy Communion Thornhaugh

9.30am Holy Communion Woodnewton

11am Holy Commiunion Apethorpe

10th March Mothering Sunday

9.30am Informal Mothering Service for All Nassington

9.30am Mothering Sunday Holy Communion Wansford

11am Mothering Sunday Holy Communion Yarwell

17th March

9.30am Morning Prayer Thornhaugh

9.30am Holy Communion Woodnewton

11am Holy Communion Apethorpe

3pm Craft Service for all ages Nassington

3pm Methodist Service Yarwell

17th March

9.30am Morning Prayer Thornhaugh

9.30am Holy Communion Woodnewton

11am Holy Communion Apethorpe

3pm Craft Service for all ages Nassington

3pm Methodist Service Yarwell

24th March Palm Sunday

10am Benefice Palm Sunday Nassington

Procession & Holy Communion (Gather at the Village Green)

25th—27th March Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

8.30am Morning Prayer for Holy Week Apethorpe

6pm Compline for Holy week Yarwell

28th March Maundy Thursday

6pm The passover for Jesus Nassington

29th March Good Friday

12 noon Good Friday readings and poems Wansford

12noon The final hour at the cross Woodnewton

31st March Easter Sunday

9.30am Easter Cumminion for all followed by Easter Egg hunt Nassington

9.30am Easter communion for all Wansford

11am Easter communion for all Rarwell

11am tbc Easter communion for all Apethorpe

Time tbc Easter communion fot all Woodnewton

Time tbc Easter communion fot all Thornhaugh

A Passover with Jesus Maundy Thursday – 28th March 6.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.

A time together sharing some of the food and readings and prayers that Jesus and his disciples would have used at the “Last Supper” leading into a short Communion service.

All welcome.

(Revd Jane – 01780 782271)

Parish Council News – March 2024

Contacting the Parish Council: (Direct links to all email contacts are on the village website)

Public meetings 2nd Weds each month:

Next meeting Wednesday 13th March 7.30pm

Contact the clerk 01780 435084 or clerk@nassington.org.uk. www.nassington..org..uk facebook.com/Nassington. Tweet nasspc

Neighbourhood Plan Open Event

Nassington Village Hall, March 6th 4pm - 7pm and March 9th 12pm to 2pm

An opportunity to view the draft neighbourhood plan and learn about policies that will help shape Nassington.

There has been an enormous amount of work gathering information surrounding the disproportionately high (at least County level) biodiversity significance of the parish of Nassington. Protection of these important habitat areas (and the species living in them) from inappropriate development, both on a site-by-site basis and through ‘habitat connectivity’ measures, is a keystone objective of this Neighbourhood Plan. There are a number of Local Green Spaces and Important Open Spaces (these are specific planning designations) as well as designation of ‘wildlife corridors’ and identification of species habitats. The plan includes a design code which helps to provide guidance for future development, so that new expansion will not detract from what makes Nassington the place it is. The main driver behind the necessity for the plan was a new community hub – a replacement village hall facility with an outdoor area and muga, The intention is that this will be facilitated as part of a small housing development. The plan also addresses affordable housing

As there will be a referendum in order for the plan to become part of the planning process, we encourage people to become familiar with it at this early stage and feedback their thoughts.

It is anticipated too that Heating Nassington will attend the event to share their findings to date and give people a chance to learn more about the aims of the Heating Nassington group.

NEWS FROM WANSFORD AND KINGS CLIFFE PRACTICE

This month we are featuring our reception team. They play a crucial role in the smooth functioning of a GP practice, serving as the first point of contact for patients and contributing significantly to the overall patient experience. Their responsibilities extend beyond traditional reception duties, encompassing a blend of administrative, interpersonal, and organisational tasks.

One of the primary responsibilities of GP receptionists is to greet patients and visitors, both in person and over the phone. They are often the first point of contact for patients seeking medical assistance. The team manage the scheduling of appointments, ensuring efficient use of the doctor and nurse’s time and minimising patient waiting periods. They will sign-post to other services if appropriate.

They perform initial triage by assessing the urgency of a patient's condition. This involves gathering basic information about symptoms and working to a protocol designed by the doctors to ascertain if a condition is urgent for an ‘on-the-day’ slot. They handle various other appointment types (e.g. blood tests, cervical screening, dressings, injections, health checks, routine GP appointments, and routine follow-ups. Additionally, they coordinate with other healthcare professionals for consultations and referrals (e.g. they can book appointments with podiatry, physio and nurses who are based at the City Care Centre in Peterborough who offer times more suitable to the working population).

Our receptionists also have administrative responsibilities and include registering new patients, maintaining patient records, updating contact information and managing electronic or paper-based filing systems. They can also handle prescription queries and liaise with other health professionals.

Maintaining patient confidentiality and adhering to healthcare regulations, is paramount for our reception team. They handle sensitive information and must ensure that it is protected and disclosed only as required by law. Receptionists juggle various tasks simultaneously, such as answering phones, managing appointments, and handling administrative duties. Effective time management is key to ensuring the efficient flow of operations.

Our receptionists often encounter challenging situations, such as dealing with upset or anxious patients and handling emergencies. Quick thinking and effective problem-solving skills are essential for navigating these situations and maintaining a positive atmosphere within the practice They also take a fair amount of abuse from patients and we remind patients that we have a zero tolerance and ask that you are polite and respectful.

With the integration of electronic health records and digital communication systems in healthcare, GP receptionists need to be technologically proficient. They use computer systems to schedule appointments, update patient records, and communicate with other healthcare professionals. In summary, GP receptionists are integral members of the healthcare team, contributing to the overall patient experience and the efficient functioning of a medical practice. Their diverse skill set, ranging from interpersonal communication to administrative prowess, makes them vital in creating a positive and organized healthcare environment

NEWS FROM WANSFORD PHARMACY

March is a reminder for us to prioritize the health of our hearts, which is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle is just one way to take care of this vital organ, for example by reducing our intake of caffeine, alcohol, and salt. These substances can put a strain on the heart and increase the risk of heart disease. Additionally, we should focus on incorporating exercise into our daily routine, even if it's just activities like housework or gardening. Being active helps to keep our hearts strong and improves overall cardiovascular health. Another important step in maintaining a healthy heart is quitting smoking. Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease and quitting is the best decision you can make for your heart health. If you need assistance in quitting, don't hesitate to ask our pharmacy staff for help. They can provide you with valuable resources and support to make the process easier. In addition to making lifestyle changes, it's important to monitor your blood pressure regularly. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease.

We offer free blood pressure checks, so take advantage of this service to stay informed about your heart health. If you want to go a step further, you can consider purchasing a Heart Health Home Blood Test Kit. This kit allows you to monitor your cholesterol levels and other important markers of heart health from the comfort of your own home.

Managing your weight is another crucial aspect of heart health. Excess weight puts added strain on the heart and increases the risk of developing heart disease. By maintaining a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise, you can reduce the burden on your heart and improve overall cardiovascular function. Lastly, it's important to always take your prescribed anti-hypertensive medications as directed. These medications are specifically chosen to support your heart health and should not be skipped or taken inconsistently. Following your doctor's instructions will ensure that you are getting the full benefit of your medication regimen.

Remember, taking care of your heart is a lifelong commitment. By making these lifestyle changes and following these tips, you can improve your heart health and reduce the risk of heart disease. Let's prioritize our hearts this March and beyond. Embrace a heart-healthy lifestyle.

News from the Nene Valley Railway - Tornado Returns!

In 1990 a group of people came together to share an extraordinary ambition: to build a brand new mainline steam locomotive. After 19 years of incredible effort, locomotive No 60163 Tornado moved under its own power for the first time in 2008. Now, having been out of action for a full overhaul, Tornado is making its return to steam on the Nene Valley Railway over the Easter weekend, with four return services per day, and a fish and trip special in the evening of 30 March.

However, Tornado will not be the only star attraction running over the long weekend as our very own little blue tank engine, Thomas, will be running from Wansford to Yarwell as well! And on Saturday 23 March you can even get to drive Thomas yourself!

For full details of this and all our other running days and events, please visit NVR.ORG.UK.

COFFEE MORNING TO RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH

12TH APRIL 11-1PM

NASSINGTON VILLAGE HALL

Hi, my name is Nicola Goy. I am hosting a coffee morning with my mother in law, Delya Tebbs, to raise money for cancer research. Some of you may know Delya, as she has lived in Nassington most of her life. Unfortunately, last year she was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, this time with kidney cancer. Thankfully, due to advances in treatment she is now cancer free. My Dad also received a cancer diagnosis last year and is also now on the road to recovery. This is sadly not the case for everyone, including several good friends of Delya's and fellow Nassington residents. As a result we want to do something to help. I am running the London marathon in April and will join Delya for the cancer research Shine Night Half Marathon walk in September. We are aiming to raise as much as we can. Both of us love baking (and eating ) cake. A coffee morning seemed like a great way to fundraise and also gives people the chance to get together for a cause that has touched so many.

We would love it if you could join us on 12th April from 11am. Also, if you would like to bake something any cakes would be gratefully received.

Wellbeing Tip of The Month

Mad March, Magical March, Mindful Movement March…

March is commonly referred to as "Mad March" in some contexts, particularly here in the United Kingdom. This term is often used to describe the chaotic and energetic atmosphere that can be experienced during the month. In many parts of the UK, March is known for its various festivals, events, and celebrations, such as St. Patrick's Day, the Cheltenham Festival, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (The 2024 Festival programme is announced on the 7th of March and tickets go on public sale 21st March!).

These events draw large crowds and contribute to the lively and bustling atmosphere, hence the "madness" associated with March.

On the other hand, "Magical March" is not a widely recognised term or phrase. However, some people may use it to describe the month in a positive and enchanting way. March is often associated with the arrival of spring, the blooming of flowers, and the return of warmer weather. It can be seen as a time of renewal, hope, and the emergence of new beginnings. The transition from winter to spring can indeed feel magical, as nature undergoes a transformation and brings forth new life.

“Mindful Movement March” means engage in activities that promote mindfulness and physical wellbeing. Whether it's yoga, dancing, or going for a mindful walk in nature. Find a form of movement that allows you to connect with your body and be present in the moment.

So, while "Mad March" is a more commonly used term to describe the energetic and eventful nature of the month, "Magical March" can be a subjective expression that highlights the beauty and enchantment associated with the arrival of spring and “Mindful Movement March” reminds us that it's important to prioritise your wellbeing amidst the chaos. By incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine, you can navigate this busy month with greater calmness, clarity, and enjoyment.

May the early spring

Awaken your Soul and Remind you to

Celebrate the season with the Hope and joy it brings

Yours in Let’s MARCH into Spring Lady Wellbeing

soniacullington@wowfitness.co.uk

07534920666

Open Gardens 2024

This is advance notice that we will be holding Open Gardens in Nassington this year on the weekend of 29/30 June, to avoid the Elton gardens walk which is on Sunday 23 June. It is a very enjoyable and popular event, which we last held in 2022. It attracts a range of people into the village and also raises money for the church. I will be in touch with those who previously opened their garden, to see whether they will be willing to open their garden again. We are always delighted if we can have some new gardens included, so please let me know if you would like to be included, or you know someone else who is interested in opening their garden.

If you don’t want to open your garden, then you can still support it, by helping out serving teas in the Church, selling tickets at the car parks, or buying tickets and visiting the gardens. Lets hope for good weather. Also we will need a small group to manage the publicity and other actions that need to be undertaken in planning for the event. Please let me know if you would like to be involved. It’s not too onerous!

Happy gardening,

01780 783855

Hilary Hardie hilary.hardie@btinternet.com

Our Youth Club sessions have been popular on the first Tuesday of the month through the Autumn and Winter months. Our last session of the season is on Tuesday March 12th, 6-8pm . As the lighter evenings come along our young people like to be more outside and enjoying the great range of activities on offer in our village and beyond. Over time youngsters have been able to enjoy table tennis, archery, giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, table top curling, badminton, guitars, keyboard ,drums and table football. But perhaps most of all they have enjoyed just hanging out together in a safe place.

Sessions will resume in September . Anyone coming for the first time or needing further information can contact jdtailby@aol.com or paul.tate53@hotmail.co.uk

GRIFFINS

SOLID FUEL MERCHANTS

The Old Station Yard , Nassington

Suppliers of:

Coal & Smokeless Fuels

Cash & Carry Pre-packs

Calor Gas, P’Boro Fuels

Gas

Coal Bunkers, Charcoal

Office: 12 Church Hill, Castor 01733 380470

Coal Yard : Nassington

Tel : 01780 782540

Nassington History Group—Schedule of Events

For further information on any of the following please contact Karen Palenski through the History Group website (nassingtonhistory.com) or on 07957 128462.

Tales from… Sacred Places: what secrets lie within and below Nassington churchyard and the Nassington and Yarwell cemetery? Learn too about the Saxon cemetery uncovered along the Fotheringhay Road in the 1940s and also about the valuable work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Speakers: Karen Palenski and Stewart Mcgeoch.

Sunday March 17th, 3-5pm, Nassington Village Hall. Free admission, refreshments included.

Guided Tour of the site of the Roman town at Durobrivae,Water Newton: Join us for a guided tour of the former Roman town of Durobrivae and learn, amongst many other things, about the Water Newton treasure found in the 1970s.

Speaker: Professor Stephen Upex MClfA, FSA

Sunday, June 9th, 2-4pm, Water Newton. £8 admission.

The Forgotten Funeral: Mary, Queen of Scots: Catherine of Aragon was not the only queen buried in Peterborough Cathedral in the Tudor period.

Learn more about Mary, Queen of Scots’ remarkable life and death, and the circumstances behind her burial and later exhumation.

Speaker: Stuart Orme, Curator, Oliver Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon.

Sunday April 28th, 3-5pm, Nassington Village Hall. £3 admission (cash only please), refreshments included.

Richard III - good King or maniac?: Richard III remains one of England’s most controversial and enigmatic Kings but was he just the victim of Tudor propaganda?

Speaker: Stuart Orme, Curator, Oliver Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon.

Sunday October 6th, 3-5pm, Nassington Village Hall. £3 admission (cash only please), refreshments included.

Tales from… Behind the Veil: What ghostly visitors haunt Nassington’s homes? Learn not just about our village ghouls and the houses and locations where they lurk but also the history of ghost lore.

Speaker: Karen Palenski

Sunday October 27th, 3-5pm, Nassington Village Hall. Free admission, refreshments included.

Nassington Village Hall

Nassington Village Hall was acquired in 1983 as a facility for all villagers for the participation in, and enjoyment of, recreational, social and educational activities. As a space for groups to use, both for events and for meetings, it is also available for private and individual bookings for parties and other social events. The village hall underwent a modest expansion in 1998 with the building of a new storage area and, later, a replacement boiler system and refurbishment of the kitchen. More recently there has been some upgrading of toilet facilities and new, double-glazed windows to replace the cracked, draughty, and in some cases dangerous, originals. The hall now also has wifi which is free for all users. For many years, prior to the opening of the new purpose-built facility near the cricket field, the hall was home to the pre-school. There was also a thriving lunch club which ran weekly and was staffed by local volunteers. Cubs, Scouts, and latterly Beavers met regularly though, having closed temporarily as a result of the pandemic, unfortunately did not return. Although it is hoped that, at some point in the future, we may have a new facility to replace the existing hall, we need to keep the current building in as good repair as possible, and to maintain it appropriately. Attracting new groups and activities has proved difficult when other venues are more user-friendly and offer better facilities. Trustees have endeavoured, however, to encourage usage of the hall for as many as possible and to promote it as a valuable asset to the village. We are grateful to the Parish Council for their support – moral and financial – in helping to keep the hall functioning and open for business. Currently, the building requires improvements to the lighting, repair of the front wall, and some internal redecoration. m The hall is booked on a regular basis for weekly heath and wellbeing classes (eg Qigong, Body fitness etc), and for the popular Monday morning “Biscuit Tin” which provide a warm space, refreshments, and a much-welcomed opportunity for people to socialise. A new games afternoon is now held on the last Friday of each month. .

The Parish Council meets here in the evening of the second Wednesday of the month, and the now well-established History Group uses the hall as its base The trustees regularly hold events to provide not only much-needed funds for the hall, but also to encourage village participation. The last quiz attracted over sixty participants and raised just shy of £800. The quiz, with supper, will be held again this year on Saturday November 16th – advance warning given! We are also planning to hold a race night, again with food, date to be announced soon and to support Nassington Church’s Open Gardens weekend in June. So please do come along to the various events and activities that are held, spread the word that the village hall is open and available to all, and be encouraged to book for a private function. To book, or enquire, please go online to nassington.org.uk/village-hall/ or email villagehall@nassington.org.uk. You can also find us on the facebook group: facebook.com/NassVH . We also always welcome donations toward the upkeep of the hall. I conclude by thanking my fellow trustees for their time and support, given selflessly, to keep Nassington Village Hall functioning as a facility for all.

Tony Cooper - Chairman of Trustees

The village hall is a charity and it's there for the use of us all. If you would like to make a donation to the charity please get in touch with me Tony Cooper Chair of the Trustees via mrtonycooper@gmail.com As always your continued support for our village hall is greatly appreciated......

NASSINGTON'S OWN CHARITY

Did you know that a Nassington Charity has been supporting our young people since 1618? That's when Lady Grace Mildmay left some income from rents to help equip children in local parishes for apprenticeships and a fund was set up to be administered by local people.

Although the terms have widened to include students in higher education, it is still administered by village trustees – currently the Rev. Jane Tailby, Hannah Mason, Robert Phipps and Gill Rowe.

Every year grants are awarded to young people in Nassington to assist with the purchase of books and equipment. In the last sixteen years over sixty grants have been made, to apprentices, to students and to every young person who fulfils the criteria.

The income from the Trust is now far less in purchasing power than it was even ten years ago. We have been very fortunate that donations from local people have enabled us to supplement this income, but we have to recognise that we may soon have to reduce the amount offered – currently £50 to all eligible applicants – just at a time when the cost of living has sky rocketed.

We know that some village groups do raise money for charities. If you are a member of such a group, may we ask that when you are drawing up plans you give some thought to a contribution to the Mildmay?

And if you know someone who might be eligible for assistance, do tell them to look out for the annual application details in the Newsletter!

Many thanks

The Trustees of the Lady Mildmay Apprenticing Charity (Secretary – Gill Rowe gillyrowe@hotmail.com)

Our February event was very well attended by over thirty members. As the planned florist from Wansford was no longer available, we were delighted to welcome Judy Mee who provided a delightful glimpse of better times ahead. With everyone thoroughly fed up of the relentless rain and gloomy weather, it was a joy to see a whole host of colourful flowers. Judy expertly arranged and created a number of wonderful displays of varying sizes which she very kindly donated to the raffle – the lucky winners were able to take home a taste of spring to enjoy.

CHANGE OF PLAN—Calling all animal lovers – in place of our planned event for this month we are now going to have a talk by an ex-dog handling officer with the Metropolitan Police. Usual venue – Nassington village hallWednesday 20th March at 7pm.

Reminder - Subscriptions (£10 for the year) are still being taken – this month will be the last chance to pay at the hall.

Early alert – the spring fashion show has now been confirmed – Saturday 20th April at Yarwell Village Hall – doors will open at 1.30pm – tickets £5 can be bought in advance – these will be available at this month’s meeting. However those who wish to just turn up and pay at the door – everyone welcome. If any member fancies being a ‘catwalk model’ we are still looking for a few more volunteers.

Wendy Spencer

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Easter Egg Brownies

5 creme eggs

175g/6oz dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

175g/6oz unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

2 tbsp cocoa powder

3 large free-range eggs

150g/5½oz caster sugar

150g/5½oz light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

115g/4oz plain flour

½ tsp fine sea salt

150g/5½oz shortbread biscuits, roughly chopped (optional)

Place the chocolate eggs in the freezer. (This will make them easier to cut cleanly and means they won’t melt too much in the oven.) Grease and line a square 20cm/8in cake tin. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.

Place the chocolate, butter and cocoa powder in a heatproof glass bowl and set it over a saucepan of gently simmering water, making sure the water does not touch the bowl. Stir until completely melted and then remove from the heat. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, caster sugar, light brown sugar and vanilla until smooth. Pour into the chocolate mixture and mix well. Add in the flour and salt and mix until smooth. Stir in the shortbread. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin.

Take the chocolate eggs out of the freezer and slice them in half vertically. Nestle them into the brownie mixture, with the insides of the eggs facing up, and bake for 27–30 minutes until just set. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely before slicing into squares

Top 3 tips for getting your lawn ready for the Spring

It might not be shorts and flip-flop weather just yet, but we’ve made it through another winter. So, we suggest now is the time to step into your garden and start prepping your turf for spring. We’re heading towards another glorious hammock season where flowers bloom, BBQs sizzle, garden games get dusted off and your lawn starts growing again. So, let’s help you get the perfect lawn…

Rake for it -Raking your lawn is about more than just collecting those excess leaves. It’s also a matter of getting on top of your thatch issues because even a half-inch layer of thatch is considered excessive. The other thing you’re looking for is matted patches of grass because that can be a tell-tale sign your lawn has caught a bad case of snow mold, a disease that can keep spreading unless treated. Luckily, a good old raking session can be enough to solve this problem.

Put the ‘act’ in Compact—When a lawn is enjoyed year after year, there’s a chance it can suffer from compacted soil, which can lead to other issues, such as moss. Thankfully, there is a simple answer and that’s lawn aeration your choices are put on those stilettos and start walking across the lawn piercing holes every 2 inches apart, or we can help you time it perfectly.

Tune up your mower— We’re guessing your lean, possibly green, grass-chopping machine is going to be getting it’s cut on this summer. So, replace the spark plug, give the oil a change, grease up all the fittings, give it a new air filter, scrape the mowing deck until it’s glistening and, most importantly of all, give the blades a good sharpen. If you genuinely care about having a healthy lawn, the last thing you want to do is cut it with blades as blunt as a wooden spoon.