TheVillage July/August 2020
villageonline.co.uk
Your Village magazine is back! Please tear off and recycle this cover wash your hands then sit back . . . and enjoy the read.
NEWS & FEATURES from Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Blackwell, Burcot, Beoley, Cofton Hackett, Hopwood Finstall, Bordesley, Rowney Green, Lickey, Lickey End, Marlbrook, The Oakalls . . . and everywhere in between!
Please tear off and recycle this cover front and back wash your hands then sit back . . . and enjoy the read.
TheVillage July/August 2020
villageonline.co.uk
NEWS & FEATURES from Alvechurch, Barnt Green, Blackwell, Burcot Beoley, Cofton Hackett, Finstall, Hopwood, Bordesley, Rowney Green, Lickey, Lickey End, Marlbrook, The Oakalls . . . everywhere in between!
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inside
TheVillage
Issue 212 July/August 2020
Bringing you village life for more than 21 years
Wheelie Annoyed Page 4
Caring Communities Pages 4 & 6
Editorial:
COMPANIONSHIP AND CARE AT HOME
Acting Editor: Richard Peach The Limes Alvechurch Worcestershire B48 7RR
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Daughter Steps Up Page 9
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Lockdown Festival Page 13
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visit: villageonline.co.uk The Village (ISSN 1466-3376) is published by Platform Publishing & Media Ltd (Reg Office: 87 Hewell Rd, Barnt Green, B45 8NL) and printed by Buxton Press in Derbyshire. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written consent is prohibited. The publishers do not accept responsibility for any errors made in advertisements or for claims made by any advertisers which are incorrect. The publishers reserve the right to refuse advertising for any reason. All material submitted for publication is done so at the owner’s risk and no responsibility is accepted by the publisher for its return.
Your Garden Office? Page 38
’Church Escape Drop Page 43
Cover: Big Ted on lockdown gardening duty . . . See Page 4
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Village News
Our caring villages
Villagers pulled together across the area to help vulnerable people who couldn’t go out to shop or fetch prescriptions during the coronavirus lockdown. Mostly supported by parish councils and community groups, which took on the initial co-ordination of volunteers, the schemes were a lifeline for many people. In Alvechurch, volunteers came together under the umbrella of a quickly formed “Alvechurch Cares” team, with financial and administrative backing from Alvechurch Parish Council. The council granted £1,500 to the group in March to ensure there was enough cashflow for making purchases for the people being helped. Thanks to grants from Western Power Distribution and the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, that grant has already been repaid. As the crisis lessened, the Alvechurch Cares team decided to put their services on hold from August 1. But they will be on stand-by and ready to react quickly should there be another lockdown or alert levels go back up to 4.
District councillor Kate Van der Plank, who was involved in setting up Alvechurch Cares, told The Village: “The team have provided support to more than 70 people and completed 170 requests for help. “The service has been provided by a group of 30 volunteers who have operated the phoneline, collected prescriptions, done shopping, led or participated in virtual social groups and who have also helped in some other, more unusual ways. “ Coun Van der Plank said Alvechurch Cares was also helping to support online groups, including Youth At The Lounge, Friendship Matters and Alvechurch and Beoley Stronger Together (concentrating on mental health and wellbeing). She added: “Alvechurch Cares has been a great example of our community coming together to support those in need. As well as our 30 core volunteers and our small steering group, many more people offered help and support - it’s been truly heartwarming.”
See Page 6 for how other parishes helped their villagers.
‘Big Ted’, seen in action on the “real” cover of this issue and left, was praised for his work raising morale in Rowney Green. Ted was seen in changing roles and many outfits over the weeks of lockdown. Alvechurch parish councillor John Cypher told the council: “The McManus family turned Big Ted into a local celebrity. “He really has brought great joy to people passing by.”
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The Village
July/August 2020
Wheelie silly idea
Imagine a row of wheelie bins filling this often-busy pavement (above) seven days a week . . . well, that’s what will face parents with pushchairs or villagers in wheelchairs unless the district council recycles its plans. As Swan Street, Alvechurch, resident Jane Best (pictured, with a borrowed bin to demonstrate the problem) told The Village: “They will literally block the pavement and pedestrians will struggle to get round them.” There is no rear acces to the houses, so the wheelie bins would have to stay on the street. Jane sought help from MP Sajid Javid after Bromsgrove District Council told her it was withdrawing bags for recycled waste and residents would have to use wheelie bins instead. Mr Javid’s office contacted Bromsgrove, but its chief executive, Kevin Dicks, replied that the company dealing with recycled material would no longer accept bags and the only option was “to issue standard green bins”. Jane said: “Maybe we could stand the bins in the road to slow down the traffic?”
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Village News
‘Uplifting’ care across parish
Alvechurch parish councillor Ann Willetts presents a retirement and birthday gift to Rob Watkin, who has stepped down as parish caretaker after 23 years. Coun Willetts and parish clerk Jayne Smailes made the presentation (pre-social distancing) on Rob’s 70th birthday, to thank him for his hard work keeping the area tidy and attractive.
Bus through villages axed
Suspension of the 146 RedditchBirmingham bus service through Hopwood and Alvechurch has been met with alarm. District councillor Kate Van der Plank, who has been in talks with operator Diamond Buses, told The Village: “It’s very disappointing that the currently suspended 146 bus service is unlikely to re-start.” But she said the service wasn’t viable commercially and wasn’t an option for many passengers because of its infrequency and “perceived unreliability”. Along with other community representatives, she called for a rethink of public transport across Bromsgrove district. She hoped a bid for Bromsgrove to have an all-electric bus service under a Government-led £50 million scheme might be part of a rethink of public transport in the district. Meanwhile, changes to the 145 service through Blackwell and Barnt Green are also causing concern for villagers. A new timetable means the service would be too late to be used by people to get to work.
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The Village
Lickey Community Group members Sue and Roy Hughes setting out to deliver leaflets, were among the many volunteers in Lickey and Blackwell. Lickey and Blackwell Parish Council responded quickly to the lockdown, with chairman Nick Forknell establishing a support group to ensure that none of its parishioners was left isolated, writes Keith Woolford. Parish clerk Lisa Winterbourn was appointed to head the team of volunteers and arranged the production and delivery of a support leaflet to every household in the parish. The help offered was mainly food shopping, medicine collection and
telephone chats with people in isolation Lisa told The Village: “We have assisted 20 households with emotional support, prescription collections and shopping in the lockdown period. “The army of willing, enthusiastic and caring volunteers are from all corners of the parish. “It is so reassuring and uplifting to know that we live in such a caring and supportive community,” Lisa added.
The Cofton Hackett community began planning support for vulnerable villagers more than a week before lockdown began in March. A team of volunteers set up a telephone helpline and distributed leaflets to the more than 1,000 homes across the parish. They then followed up with shopping trips for food and prescriptions and other requests. Cofton Hackett Parish Council applauded the effort: “It has been heartening to see how the community has responded positively to help others in this unique situation. This
crisis is far from over, but we can be reassured that the village residents have a generous and enormous heart for their neighbours. Whatever we face in the months to come will be made that bit easier knowing there is support around if we need it.” n In Beoley Parish the Portway Cares group of volunteers helped 34 villagers during lockdown, with the majority at Hillcrest Home Park. n In Barnt Green, parish, district and county councillor Charlie Hotham offered his help and at one point was fetching two or three prescriptions a day from the pharmacy.
Volunteers in action
July/August 2020
Village News
20mph zone for village centre a step closer Emotional: Jules Walton sees her mum Ann through the window at her care home after walking one million steps and (below) Jules with dad Brian, who was also there to cheer her on.
One-in-a-million Jules steps up A Villager walked a million steps during lockdown to raise money for charity, with her millionth step bringing her to the care home where her mother lives. With restrictions in place, Jules Walton was only able to place her hand on the glass window with 78-year-old mum Ann on the other side, but the emotional scene was applauded by family and staff at Grosvenor House, Alvechurch. Jules, aged 50, of Alvechurch, originally pledged to reach 850,000 steps – one for every person in the UK living with dementia – in three months in a challenge organised by The Alzheimer’s Society. But six weeks later, and with three lost toenails, and taking antibiotics for an infected toe, Jules completed one million steps in June as she saw her mum for the first time since lockdown began. “Arriving at the home, did I cry! There were banners, buntings, clapping and whistles, and there in the doorway for me to see was my beautiful mom, albeit through a window,” Jules told The Village. “No words or actions can thank
Grosvenor House for the care and attention given to mom, who has dementia,” she added. And Jules hasn’t stopped walking yet. As The Village went to press, she was 200,000 steps short of her second million, had smashed her target of raising £1,000 and was closing in on £5,000. See Jules’s Just Giving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/stepupfordementiajuliewalton
Alvechurch Parish Council has given its full backing to a 20mph zone in the village centre, due to be implemented later this year, and to pay £1,000 towards the scheme. The area will cover the central section of the village, whether drivers are entering from Tanyard Lane, Radford Road, Swan Street or Bear Hill. Parish chairman Marc Worrall said: “We should accept this wholeheartedly. We had hoped the zone would extend to the school but apparently that would require ‘vertical reinforcement’ – speed bumps! – and the cost would escalate. “The pinch point already slows you down, as do the pedestrian crossings and mini island by the school, so it’s not really warranted to extend the zone. “Speed bumps are also problematic to people living on the road, and emergency vehicles.” Coun John Cypher asked: “The county council is usually opposed to 20mph zones – are we a special case?” County and district councillor Charlie Hotham replied: “County is under pressure to provide them – although they did a survey in Rubery and found that the speed went up! They can use that as a rebuff to other requests. “This is great for us – it will happen anyway, but it’s good to have full parish council support. Alvechurch residents and shops will see the benefit.” Coun Hotham said another £1,000 towards the project was coming from his “divisional fund”. The scheme is currently out for consultation. with interested bodies.
The Village
Speeding morons: See ‘Village Views’ on Page 17 July/August 2020
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Villages in Lockdown
Finding the right ways A common sight during lockdown were villagers out walking every day and discovering the many footpaths weaving through this area. But hiking boots and walking poles were perhaps not always welcome as some landowners and farmers found normally quiet tracts of countryside too busy. It was reported that this had created problems between landowners and walkers asserting their rights of way. District and county councillor Charlie Hotham told Alvechurch Parish Council’s meeting: “There has been a significant amount of conflict between landowners and walkers.” This had happened where landowners had been “trying to keep their rights of way quiet.” Coun Hotham said he had been trying to resolve the conflict. Similar queries were aired on social media, with villagers asking about rules relating to livestock in fields where rights of way crossed. They were also concerned to find out who has priority, walkers or cyclists, on canal towpaths, which also became busy during lockdown.
Which way? As many as 100 frisky and curious bullocks were waiting for walkers wanting to follow this footpath in Bordesley during lockdown.
New approach to ‘Calagate’
The “Calagate” standoff over the right of way through a Barnt Green housing estate blocked by locked gates is still to be resolved. Barnt Green district councillor Charlie Hotham said the head of planning at Bromsgrove, Ruth Bamford, was now considering an “alternative option” after developer Cala Homes had not responded to planning officers. Coun Hotham said he was also going to ask Worcestershire County Council to update the definitive rights of way map it maintains to show the footpath.
Keeping songs and poetry alive It’s been a difficult few months for anyone who enjoys the kind of creative arts where you share with other people, writes Mary Green. Alvechurch Community Choir stopped meeting even before the formal lockdown and we haven’t been able to sing together since. But we soon discovered Zoom, thanks to Alison, one of our more tech-savvy members. We met up online on all kinds of devices and with all sorts of shaky wi-fi, but at least we could keep in touch. If you’ve ever tried, you’ll know a choir can’t sing together that way – you are all at slightly different times and it makes a horrible noise. But we could sing along muted to
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The Village
our recordings from last year! Then some individuals sang solos and some couples sang duets; we had birthday poems, a diamond wedding, and one of our leaders Mike sang some new songs to try singing along to. Alison discovered she could get us all to record ourselves separately to the same backing track, send it in, and she could put us all together. So, we have been able to “sing together” as a choir again. If anyone’s interested in joining the virtual choir, go to alvechurchcommunitychoir.org.uk. If you look in the Pictures and Sounds section you can see us having a go at Country Roads!
July/August 2020
The Withybed Poets have kept writing throughout, although we missed seeing everyone at the Picnic in the Park. One of our members even wrote a poem every day for a time, and we emailed our poems round to each other. We have started having Zoom meetings too. Reading our poems aloud is really important for us – all we don’t have is the lovely food and drink that normally goes with our meetings! If you want to join our writing group please ring Mary on 0121 445 5957. I’m sure other groups have been making music and poetry this way too, and it’s good to know that Alvechurch’s creativity still flourishes.
Alvechurch Parish Council News Regular Zoom meetings have taken place and we would invite anyone wishing to participate in any of our publicised meetings to email our Clerk to request an invite.
NEWSLETTER Summer 2020
In our last Newsletter we said: “A new year provides an opportunity to focus on new and existing challenges for the forthcoming year.” Well, that was an understatement, wasn’t it? The recent pandemic has demonstrated what a wonderful and caring community we have in our Parish. At the first hint of what was to be faced, our District Councillors sought the help and cooperation of the Parish Council to set up a network of volunteers to attend to those vulnerable and in need of support in our community. A considerable amount of time and effort was put in by many to set up the support group, Alvechurch Cares. Many volunteers came forward to help and give up their time to ensure those needing help to obtain essential food supplies or prescriptions were catered for. It would be wrong to single out those that deserve special praise for their part in providing these important services, but a huge ‘thank you’ to all those that have and continue to play a part in all the work being carried out by Alvechurch Cares throughout our Parish.
Hello to Jayne
The Parish Council is delighted to report the appointment of Jayne Smailes as our new Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer. Jayne brings with her a wealth of experience having previously worked for both Town and Parish Councils. Her drive and enthusiasm has made a noticeable difference already. Her experience and organisational skills proved invaluable during the early days of setting up Alvechurch Cares.
See our New Website
The appointment of Jayne also gave the Parish Council an opportunity to upgrade its office IT systems and to also have designed a new website which allows greater flexibility for providing relevant information to Parishioners. Anyone visiting the new website at www.alvechurch.gov.uk will recognise familiar pages but should also benefit
Our PLaygrounds are open
from the availability of agendas, supporting documents, minutes of past meetings, policies, etc. This all forms part of the Parish Council’s desire to keep Parishioners informed of the valuable work being undertaken on their behalf.
You can Zoom in on us!
Inevitably, the Parish Council has had to adapt to dealing with everyday business despite the lockdown. Councillors quickly embraced the need to have virtual meetings and acquainting themselves with unfamiliar technology, like so many of us have had to do.
We’re pleased to announce that following the lifting of Government restrictions, all our playgrounds and gym equipment at The Wiggin are now available for use. The responsibility to sanitise and keep to distancing rules must remain paramount in everyone’s mind. We would hope everyone plays their part in this important role of our everyday life. Visitors to The Wiggin and Hopwood Community Centre will see the new signs erected at both Centres (see picture, below left). These provide clear guidance on restrictions applying to where dogs can be exercised, as well as important safety advice. Dog tethering points have been provided to ensure dog owners abide by the rules.
Post Office update
The Parish Council continues to monitor and engage with representatives of the Post Office. The failure of another attempt to gain planning consent to extend 14 The Square premises has led to the PO withdrawing from their contractual obligations with the property owners and thus paving the way to a new round of inviting expressions of interest to be lodged with them to take up the available franchise. Current Covid-19 restrictions have delayed this process being advertised but the Parish Council has been assured it will take place at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, the Parish Council continues to thank the Sports & Social Club for their continued help and support by allowing the mobile PO on their car park on Friday afternoons to provide such a valuable service.
Contacting the Parish Council
Contact the Parish Council on 0121 447 8016 or email clerk@alvechurch.gov.uk The minutes of recent meetings appear at www.alvechurch.gov.uk and we’re on Facebook at ‘Alvechurch Parish Council’. The views and opinions on this page are those of Alvechurch Parish Council.
Village News
Blackwell’s lockdown festival As plans for its annual extravaganza had to be scrapped, the Blackwell Festival team decided to adapt by calling for residents to hold a “Lockdown Festival” on their drives. Encouraged to decorate houses, wear fancy dress and have picnics – no more persuasion was necessary. While remaining in their own bubbles or exercising social distancing, the participants greeted neighbours with drinks in hand. Children cycled and played ball in the safer cul-de-sacs as the grown-ups sat chatting. It was a brief but welcome respite from the world’s troubles. Festival chairman Pete Hobbs said: “We are pleased that everyone has gone out into their front gardens, put the bunting out and enjoyed picnics.” The cake competition winners were: first prize Camilla (10) and sister Lizzy Button (9), who win four tickets to the Blackwell Music Festival. Joint second were Fraser (9) with brother Harvey Smith (7) and Imogen Leaonelda (10)
who each win a pair of tickets. There were several birthdays celebrated on the day, two at neighbouring homes. Justine, who was “slightly over 21years-old” and five-year-old Elliott who had the street sing “Happy Birthday” to him. Words and pictures of Blackwell villagers enjoying some festive fun by Keith Woolford. All previous Blackwell Festival films can be seen at: Keith Woolford YouTube Channel
The Village
July/August 2020
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Lickey & Blackwell Parish Council News Photography COMPETITION
Newsletter July 2020 Covid-19 in our community
Our Parish is a very caring community. We were inundated with offers of volunteers and help for residents in need throughout the lockdown period when, along with residents, we set up a Covid-19 community support group. Vulnerable people were able to contact us thanks to a leaflet our volunteers distributed to homes in the Parish before lockdown began. Most errands carried out were shopping and picking up prescriptions. Some people simply needed a chat. At the time of writing this article, more than 110 errands have been completed. This partnership between LBPC and the community has been a tremendous success and we as a group are prepared if there is a second wave or a similar situation arises during the winter season. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the support group and to remind residents that we are still here to help. Contact our Executive Officer for more information.
Changes to bus services Residents are concerned that bus services 145 and 202 will be changing their timetables and routes. Cllr King is leading a campaign to ensure we have a service fit for purpose. Current plans mean that Lickey residents will be without bus stops nearby and many will not be able to take the bus to work as the first service will be too late in the day.
We are holding a competition and will choose the best photographs to make a Parish calendar for 2021. We would like to see your photographs of the beauty in our villages (such as this one, above right, posted to our Facebook page by Rob Park) To enter, simply take a photo anywhere in the parish and share it on our Facebook or Instagram with
Road flooding
We have spoken with Bromsgrove District Council regarding the frequent closure of Alvechurch Highway due to flooding. North Worcestershire Wase Management have taken action to have inspections and repairs to drainage from Marlbrook Tip to resolve the problem. The owners of the tip were asked to take measures before the end of July.
Potential School Closure
Birmingham City Council are running a consultation on the possible closure of Hunter’s Hill School on Spirehouse Lane. Many residents are worried about the future of the site should the school close. Please have your say at: www.birminghambeheard.org.uk The link is also on our web page.
Our wildflower cemetery Throughout the growing season our contractor mows between the rows leaving the grasses and wildflowers like trefoil, speedwell, dog daisies, aquilegia, vetch and buttercups to grow. You may have noticed that we are attempting to add some new species. Some of the grass has been removed to trial plants to see what will work well long term. Many thanks to our contractors Jane Banner and 4 Seasons for helping keep our cemetery naturally beautiful. If anyone would like a particular grave to be mown, please
the details of when and where it was taken. We hope to announce the winners in our Christmas newsletter. Good luck and get snapping and sharing! https://instagram.com/lickeyblackwell #LickeyBlackwellphoto
get in touch. We are looking for volunteers to help rejuvenate the Trinity garden there: please also get in touch if you would like to get involved
Litter
We are fortunate to live in a beautiful area and have many residents who collect the litter left by others. Sadly, the problem seems to have worsened recently and we have had to make extra effort to keep our Parish tidy. We would like to encourage everyone to take their litter home, and if you would like to volunteer to pick up litter, please get in touch.
Welcome
We have a new family in charge of Blackwell stores. We would like to welcome Bal and her family and wish them the best of luck.
CONTACT US
The Parish Council office at the Trinity Centre, 411 Old Birmingham Road, Lickey is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.30am–3.30pm. Lisa Winterbourn, our executive officer, may be contacted on eo@lickey andblackwellpc.org or 07930 837770. Much more council information may be found at www.lickeyand blackwellpc.org or www.facebook.com/ lickeyandblackwellcouncil The views and opinions on this page are those of Lickey & Blackwell Parish Council.
Pre-Lockdown Village News
Hopwood WI celebrated its 100th birthday year by hosting the Weatheroak Group Meeting in the Ark, Alvechurch, dressed as 1920s Flappers. The special guest speaker was Stuart Hillard, from BBC TV Sewing Bee. He brought with him the story of how he got into sewing at the age of three and around
100 of his own magnificent quilts. He judged the WI’s competition from the table of hand-made items and President Ann Thurrell’s Medallion Quilt won the Rose Bowl for Hopwood WI. The 100th Birthday celebrations were planned to continue throughout this year. Editor’s note: This was a pre-lockdown event.
A new seat in the sun
New for old: Rowney Green Association chairman Andrew May removes the decrepit bench, ready for the installation. A new bench has been installed on the village green in Rowney Green, overlooking the memorial maple tree, to replace the old bench, which was more than 50 years old. The Rowney Green Association – a group dedicated to community interests – decided to buy the replacement using member-
ship income, and it was installed by villagers Dean Croxton and Pete Jeffs. RGA chairman Andrew May said: “Villagers may like to know that after 50 years of service, the old bench will continue in another venue – although it will be a bit shorter as we had to cut the planks to remove it.” The Village
July/August 2020
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Village Legal
Advertisement feature
Life’s events that call for a Will or review of a Will Lickey Wills specialist Sue Jenden offers advice.
W
ith some countries in complete lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis and the UK tentatively emerging we have lost all sense of certainty or more to the point our illusion of certainty. We never know what the future holds. Whatever events happen in our life and whatever path we are led down there is one thing that applies to us all – we will experience events that trigger the need to create and update a Will. It’s no secret that many people do not enjoy thinking or planning for their death but simply having an updated Will can eliminate complications and make things easier for our loved ones left behind. Generally, it is recommended that one updates their Will every five years, however there are certain life events that should trigger a reminder. Getting married or becoming civil partners Many people do not realise that if they get married or enter into a civil partnership, their Will becomes invalid and must be updated. If they don’t do so, their estate would be distributed according to the rules of intestacy and could result in their spouse or civil partner losing out. New additions to the family Over half of British parents do not have a Will or they have one that is outdated. Having a baby is an event when Wills should be updated to ensure children are taken care of financially and guardians are appointed in the event both parents die before a child attains 18. Without including this in your Will, the courts will decide who will be appointed as guardian. Change in financial situation Experiencing any significant change in your financial situation is a time when one should review the
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The Village
July/August 2020
provisions of a Will to account for the change. Change in health situation Increases in age often brings the risk of health complications. It is important to remember that under certain circumstances, the validity of a Will could be challenged due to your health if for example your mental capacity is impacted by the condition. Death of a loved one If this unfortunate event happens, an update to your Will is often required. Separation or divorce It is important to remember that being separated means that you are still legally married or in a civil partnership, your spouse or civil partner would still be eligible to inherit under your will or the rules of intestacy. Divorce has a bigger impact on a Will. Once the final order is issued, the former spouse or civil partner is removed from the Will in any areas they were mentioned. It is advisable for a divorcee to update their Will as soon as possible to ensure their wishes are carried out. Buying a property For most of us, buying a property is not just the place we call home, it is the largest purchase we will make in our lifetime. Buying property should make one aware of the significance of having, or not having, a Will. Cohabiting with a partner Whilst everyone should make a Will it is particularly important for those who co-habit with their partners. The intestacy rules presently do not
provide any protection for Co-habitees who may need to bring claims against estates to ensure they can keep a roof over their head. Tel: 0121 445 5874 info@suejendenassociates.co.uk www.suejendenassociates.co.uk If you’re concerned that your Will may not fully protect your interests or feel it might need to be updated due to a change in your, or your family’s circumstances, give us a call on 0121 445 5874 or email us on: info@suejendenassociates.co.uk Our offices have remained open in these challenging times and we are continuing to support our clients. Though we are just beginning to have face-to-face meetings again in clients’ gardens, there are other options available. We can take instructions and provide advice over the telephone or by social media before providing draft and final Wills via email or post Sue Jenden is a solicitor and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. The firm is regulated by the Institute of Professional Willwriters. Based at Lickey they cover the whole of Worcestershire and Birmingham. They deal with a broad range of work inducing Wills, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney, trusts and administration of estates.
Village News
Deliver TheVillage
in Hopwood Vacancy for deliverer – must be aged over 14 yrs with dry place to drop off magazines and bank account for payment. Contact: louise@ villageonline.co.uk or call 0121 445 6757 for more information.
Pic/ Keith Woolford
Blackwell now has a Community Litter Pick Station, after the recent delivery of a new A-frame and accessories as part of a scheme by Bromsgrove District Council. With the full support of Lickey & Blackwell Parish Council, Blackwell Stores plays host to the initiative, which encourages a ‘Two Minute Litter Pick’ with bags and a pair of litter-picker grabbers to assist. There is also a station outside Tesco at Marlbrook. Pictured pre-social distancing (above, from left): Councillors Bakul Kumar, Janet King and Nick Forknell introduce the idea to resident Malcolm (second left) and his two dogs.
(Other areas may also become available: please email details to go on our waiting list.)
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Village VillageViews Views
It’s a local spot for lo Lawton’s View
Acting Editor’s note: Some of these letters relate to events earlier in the year and were intended for publication in our April issue, which never appeared. Dear Editor – Something evident during lockdown, after exercise was allowed, was the very large increase in people, cars and bicycles that descended on Barnt Green seemingly out of nowhere. Aside from the predictable Lickey Hill access areas (which is also an issue), this has been especially the case along Bittell Farm Road, Lower Bittell Reservoir, River Arrow wood and the reservoir used by Barnt Green Sailing Club. We are very fortunate to have local access to these areas and beauty spots, but these new visitors have clearly travelled a distance as they come in cars. The Bittell Farm Road and River Arrow wood turning cannot support a large number of cars, nor can the Bittell Farm Road laybys, yet on some days there have been at least 20 cars rammed into the area and hedgerows. Where do the occupants go? To be in groups with full picnics on the bank around the sailing club reservoir having walked in equally large groups around the woods. Why is this a problem? Because Bittell Farm Road has long been used as a speedy “shortcut” with cars
Have your say . . . about anything! 16
The Village
July/August 2020
going at excessive speeds and with so many people around (especially families and dogs), this is literally an accident waiting to happen. These visitors are certainly not local, having heard one child bemoan their parent for bringing them somewhere they can’t play football and the response being we’ll walk the dog, look at the reservoir and go home. Yes, please go home. Where is home anyway? Where have these visitors actually come from? How did they suddenly find out about the area? Will they keep coming after the current situation ends? Sorry, but this is a local spot for local people. Barnt Green Resident
Doggie distancing Dear Editor – Can I please ask that efforts are taken to ensure everyone around the Barnt Green area is aware that due to coronavirus, all dogs should be on a lead at all times in public. Possibly by putting many more signs around Barnt Green and Lickey Hills green spaces, reminding dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead due to coronavirus. There are one or two signs, literally, but not nearly enough and, speaking to those in the village, they weren’t aware that the distance rule applies to their dogs. As a shielding family we’ve only just started to venture out, walking
email: editor@villageonline.co.uk
or write to: Letters, The Village, The Limes, Swan Street, Alvechurch B48 7RR Please include your name and address – even if you request them to be withheld from publication. We reserve the right to edit submissions for reasons of space or legality. The deadline for the next issue is August 17.
cal people H
TheVillage View . . .
from our home to nearby green spaces and on each occasion have met with a dog, not on the lead and whose owner allowed it to jump on my son. I appreciate there are many other issues at this time, but if people are not aware, they cannot take responsibility. I would very much appreciate if possible that more signs are placed, or relevant local dog owner groups are made aware. For the safety of everyone who really needs to take distancing seriously. Barnt Green Resident via email
Stop the speeding morons
Dear Editor – Is there anything that can be done about the speeding after the pinch-point heading towards Redditch, on Swan Street in Alvechurch? It is getting worse, without doubt. Most cars are now speeding past here way above the speed limit and the noise from their engine revs as they impatiently go up the incline is so loud we often have to increase the volume on the TV. A while ago a motorbike sped through in the early hours, heading into the village doing what must’ve been pushing 70mph. It woke most of us along this stretch to the point that it was being talked about in the Swan pub a day or so later! I wrote to Worcestershire Highways who replied, basically accusing us all of imagining the whole thing: “. . . recent speed surveys in the village have shown
continues overleaf
where’s vinny?
SEVEN-YEAR-old Kelly Chandler, of Alvechurch, was the latest winner of a Mini Vinny in our monthly competition – following in the footsteps of older brother Joe! If you want to win one for yourself, you’ll need to try to locate the little hedgehog hiding somewhere in this magazine (the one shown above is just a guide!) Tell us where he’s hiding via phone, email or post – please include your contact details, especially if leaving a voicemail message – and we’ll draw a winner at random. The closing date is midnight on August 10th. We’ll let you know if you’ve won and you can collect your Mini Vinny from our office – and pose for a socially distanced photo with your prize!
ello . . . it’s good to be back; we hope this isn’t a false dawn and that we are about to be sunk by a second wave of this dreadful virus. It has already demonstrated that this country is as vulnerable as anywhere else on the planet and, sadly, more so than many others because of the lack of preparedness and ill-thought responses by those whom we thought were there to lead us. We can only hope they will fare better over the coming months as we peer over the parapets and try to find ways to do the things we’ve being doing without fear our whole lives. For this magazine, it has meant many changes. We had the April issue all ready to go to press, but with so much uncertainty in mid-March, particularly the fear that if there was any real chance of the virus being passed on by us delivering magazines, we couldn’t take that chance, so we put everything on hold. Then the county council, which issues permits to our school-aged deliverers, withdrew that permission as the country was put into lockdown. And that was that. We were all furloughed, and only now are we able to start coming back to life after the county council agreed that our deliverers can work again, with a number of provisions to keep them safe. And you will notice some differences with the magazine itself, most obviously the “throwaway” cover. Many might think this is overkill as stuff is coming through people’s doors every day. But we felt that we wanted to be as safe as we could be and that having a cover that could be torn off, leaving the magazine’s inner pages (that have only ever been touched by machines) safe, would do that and emphasise safety at the same time. We will review this for the next issue. Apparently, the chances of the virus being carried on paper are not high – but it seems there is some evidence that the glossier the surface, the greater the chance. For that reason, we have chosen a different, less shiny, paper for this issue. We considered using a totally uncoated paper, but perhaps that’s an experiment for the next issue. We also have fewer pages than normal, which is understandable as some of our advertisers are still to return to business, and some of the “news” and views are older than usual – but they should all be new to you. Finally, we would like to thank everyone for their tremendous support in getting this magazine published and for all of your messages over the past few months saying how much you were missing us! The Village
July/August 2020
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Village VillageViews Views continued from previous page there is not a speeding issue, however little can be done for individuals who deliberately drive at speed during the early hours. Speed enforcement is a matter for the Police.” They omitted to address the daytime hours I’d mentioned– just like the moron who drove past here a short while ago at about 50mph+ at 4.45pm on a Sunday afternoon. What would we need to do to have a speed table, which creates less engine revving than bumps and, I’ve read, can be used as an “informal” crossing for pedestrians (like the pinch-point is), or another pinch-point installed? A camera would be the best deterrent but the pavement may be too narrow to place one. I wish we could make it a toll road for non-residents so people would be more likely to use the bypass, which seems to be barely used. . . . and there goes another moron! Jane, Swan Street Alvechurch
Village hall can’t host Post Office
Dear Editor – I am writing in response to the letter from Mrs M R Gardner that appeared in the March issue of The Village, in which she suggests that the Alvechurch Village Hall Committee Room could be converted into a post office. Firstly, I need to correct a misconception in the letter – the village hall is not in fact owned or run by the council. It is a registered charity and is run by a management committee of trustees (of which I am chairman) on behalf of its users and the wider community. All trustees are unpaid volunteers who give up their time to help manage and maintain a venue that we think is still one of the hubs of the village – hosting as we do many local groups. I understand Mrs Gardner’s desire to find a space for a new post
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The Village
Pavements are not for parking
Dear Editor – Are white car owners more thoughtless than the owners of cars in other colours? Or was this just a bad white car day in Alvechurch? Parking on the footpath is bad enough, but parking so that the way is completely blocked for pedestrians, especially those with physical disabilities, is just plain selfish. It shouldn’t take a change in the law to get this growing habit recognised for the antisocial act it is. It should be obvious that parking on the footpath will force pedestrians to walk in the road. Hopefully all those who care about their fellow human beings
office in the village. But the committee room is already in regular use for all sorts of gatherings (not just meetings!) by local clubs and societies, as well as by private hirers and as part of events taking place in the main hall. Not only would it be impractical for the hall to give up that space, it would be contrary to the hall’s written constitution, which compels us to maintain it for community use. I’m sorry to read that Mrs Gardner thinks the Committee Room is an uncomfortable and uninviting place. I don’t know when she last visited, but we have tried hard over recent years to improve the environment in that room, and the rest of the hall. I hope that she might visit us again, and perhaps revise her opinion. But if Mrs Gardner – or anyone else – has ideas for further improvements or would like to provide vital help in the running of the hall, we can be contacted at avh.committee@gmail.com. And anyone who might like to hire the Committee Room, or the Main Hall, can call our hall manager, Julie Warrender, on 07455
July/August 2020
do not choose to park their cars where they will be putting parents with children, the disabled, and those with impaired sight at risk of having to walk in the traffic. Janet White, Alvechurch
892909, or find further information at www.alvechurchvillagehall.co.uk Chris Davies Chairman, Alvechurch Village Hall Management Committee
Cofton queries
Dear Editor – I’m afraid Steve and Judy Hewitt (Village Views, March 2020) aren’t the only Cofton residents saying “Spend our money on Cofton”. The new village hall (which isn’t actually in a village) supposedly cost an estimated £1 million to build as an empty shell. A fair few residents have raised concerns about why, when grants are asked for and awarded, that decision should be final. Yet in recent parish council meetings they awarded a top-up to the full grant originally asked for. No public discussion, no consultation. I urge anyone to read the Cofton Hackett Parish Council’s agendas of meetings on their website – clearly you can see that the trustees seem to see the parish council as a endless money pit. The parish council and trustees of
the new hall must be independent of each other . . . Cofton Hackett is no longer a village. Chris Taylor, via email
106 cash rules explained
Dear Editor – Regarding the 106 monies for Cofton Hackett (“Spend our money on Cofton”, March 2020): 106 Monies were earmarked to make improvements in our area, due from the St Modwen new development. It was designated to be used to enhance open spaces in and around the Cofton area: the allotment gardens and the refurbishment of the play area, new benches and planters, all of which will benefit Cofton Hackett. St Modwen built the new village hall as part of their agreement, together with the fitted kitchen. However, equipment was not part of the agreement and, as stated, 106 money is only to be used to enhance open spaces, thus benefitting the whole of the community. The parish council and fundraisers have helped to provided substantial funding towards the equipment. The trustees are working hard to make the hall a success and we hope it continues to be well used. I will continue to monitor where the 106 monies can be spent. Richard Deeming District Councillor for Cofton
Tree reasons
Dear Editor – As daily walkers to the Lickey Country Park, we are surprised at the drastic cutting down of hundreds of healthy looking trees across the park. On enquiring of the reason, we were told that it is to return the area to how it was many years ago, which was heath-land; another reason was disease. Another reason was that two agencies were involved (DEFRA and English Nature) – complicated or what? Can we have a consensus on the correct reason? The recent rainfall has turned
the park into many small streams where there used to be many trees – which, in my opinion, prevented this happening. Remember the blame game regarding Marlbook Tip – one department blaming the other, only brought to light when it was too late? Will this be the case here? Graham Moseley, Cofton Hackett
Tacit concession
Dear Editor – I was perturbed to see the opening page of your March edition devoted to Morris dancers in blackface. In our society, blackface is considered an anachronism and thereby, should not feature in your magazine. It appears to be a tacit concession on the part of the magazine that blackface is acceptable. It is entirely unacceptable. I remind readers of the outrage over the blacking-up of Morris dancers in Birmingham city centre in 2017. George Roberts, Barnt Green
Flowers, not dogs
Dear Editor – I have just come in after transplanting some snowdrops, Scillas, Aconites and Primroses from my garden into the pollinators patch in Barnt Green to be early pollinators on what was a rather barren patch of land. I am trying to plant and encourage pollinators to create the vision that I had of a corridor from Alvechurch through Barnt Green, Cofton to Lickey (which you wrote about in The Village View in February). I found that some dog owners must let their dog off the lead to go to the back of the patch to do its business – this was both messy and smelly for me to clear up. Please do not let your dogs off the lead to go on this patch of land; there is a rope fence to mark it as “off limits”. Rachel Banner, Barnt Green
‘Hugger’ abuse
Dear Editor – The phrase “tree hugger”, as used in the letter “Too many people on the planet?” in your March issue, is a term of abuse for an
environmentalist, made even more unacceptable in linking it to Greta Thunberg. It is a gross distortion of the facts that environmentalists (“tree huggers”) never mention “population”– please see www.populationmatters. org/quotes Charlie Bateman via email
Blackberry Jane?
Dear Editor – I wonder if anyone can remember a woman nicknamed “Blackberry Jane”, who used to wander around the Cofton and Rednal area about 65 years ago? She was an eccentric character who never spoke but dressed all in black – as children we thought she was a witch! I don’t know where she lived, but we would always see her around when I lived in Rednal, and I remember once my mum gave her a cup of tea over the garden fence. I’ve now discovered that she died aged 96 and is buried in the churchyard at St Michael’s – her real name was Elgar Fox. I’d love to know if anyone else recalls her. On another subject, the traffic through Alvechurch, where I now live, is terrible – nobody uses the bypass; they just come straight through the village. Maybe we should make this route a toll road and force people on to the bypass? Margaret Strong Alvechurch
Kindness helped
Dear Editor – I would like to thank everyone in the village who rallied round when our elderly ginger cat Bobby was in collision with a car on Tanyard Lane on Feb 27. We were out, but family, friends, neighbours, acquaintances and total strangers, using Facebook, tracked events as Wendy and Mya transported him speedily towards veterinary attention. Sadly he did not make it but the kindness shown made our loss so much more bearable. Peter McHugh Alvechurch The Village
July/August 2020
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We are still able to admit new residents to The Grange and The Lodge despite the current circumstances relating to Covid-19. Our residents are now enjoying seeing their family and friends again, with visits to the home going ahead with some slight differences, including social distancing. If you would like further details about a permanent or respite stay, please call Mike on 0121 445 5552 or email burcot.haa2@cinnamoncc.com
20 Years Ago 10 Years Ago .
From TheVillage archive
From TheVillage archive
the APRIL 2010 magazine was our 100th issue, although we somehow omitted to mention this inside! The cover showed a peacock butterfly photographed by Dennis Brown, of Hopwood.
THE FATE of the Rover plant at Longbridge hung in the balance as we published our April/May 2000 edition. We also reported on the fight to save our Green Belt, with MP Julie Kirkbride raising the issue in Parliament.
September 2013 – the dig-
September 2013 – the dig-
gers arrive IN THE NEWS: The new Mini building at Rover was revealed as the source of TV “ghosting” across the area, with a delayed signal bouncing off it. Meanwhile, Alvechurch was to get CCTV cameras, the Bordesley bypass plan was said to be “dead”, and bogus tree surgeons were operating in the area.
IN THE NEWS: gers arrive Rowney Green’s village hall was almost ready to re-open after a £300,000 refurb, while the successful “Neighbourhood Partnership” projects in Alvechurch, Beoley and Rubery, aimed at creating grassroots decision-making, were being axed by Bromsgrove District Council.
CUSTOMERS of the Lloyds TSB bank in Barnt Green – the last remaining bank in any of our villages – were protesting against its threatened closure. A petition with more than 1,000 signatures had been sent to the bank’s head office. (It eventually closed in 2006.)
Pupils at Crown Meadow First School, Alvechurch, including Harrison Sawyer, aged 6, Isabel Allen, 6, and Tegan Blower, 7, took part in a French day, dressing and eating in Gallic style.
Alvechurch resident Laura Dearden was part of a crew of 40 young people sailing around the Canary Islands for the residential section of her Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. She said the trip had changed her life.
AS bLACKWELL Scouts celebrated their Centenary, marking 100 years since Scouting first started in Bromsgrove, we printed a picture of buglers from the 1st Lickey Scout Troop which started in 1911. The Village
July/August 2020
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Village Directory
The Village Directory To get your business or service noticed, call Louise on 0121 445 6757
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The Village
July/August 2020
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Village Directory
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The Village
April 2020
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Village Directory
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Village Stargazing
Big beasts Line up
W
ell, what an exciting spring we had! The first launch of Americans into space from US soil for nine years. The Crew Dragon spacecraft worked perfectly, docking itself with the International Space Station and it was visible from Alvechurch on its way there, too. Look up www.heavens-above.com to find when the ISS can be seen again and to see if the next launch of a supply vessel, a Russian Progress, on July 23, is viewable. In the rest of our skies, that odd little thing Corvus has finally gone away. A tiny little constellation, it never rises very high and largely disappears come summer. The really big news of this month is, of course, the opposition of the two largest planets you will ever set eyes on, Jupiter and Saturn. Opposition just means that the
Amateur astronomer Brian Watkiss peers into the Village night sky.
planet is exactly opposite the Sun and for Jupiter this is on July 14 and for Saturn it’s July 20. At this time these giants are at their highest and exactly south at solar midnight, which is one in the morning on our clocks because we made them an hour fast back in March. As we drift into August and the sky wanders westwards, they reach this point earlier in the evening and you won’t have to stay up late to see them. Jupiter, especially, is so big and bright you will be able to see it as soon as the Sun sets, before the sky gets dark, a bit after 9pm. Look to the horizon a little to the east of south. It will not get very
Top - Jupiter and Saturn, the big beasts of our solar system, take turns at opposing the Sun. Right: The Crew Dragon docks with the International Space Station. All images courtesy of NASA
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July/August 2020
high in the sky because being (sort of ) summer, the ecliptic is very low but as August progresses, it will get higher. Saturn follows on, not far behind but being not quite as bright, you will have to wait for the skies to darken a little. Look for it just to the left of Jupiter. The Moon visits on the 1st and the 2nd but, of course, it will also be nearly opposite the Sun and practically full and very bright. August also brings us possibly the best meteor shower of the year, the Perseids. I say the best because, although other meteor showers may have a greater hourly rate and the night is shorter right now, this is the best time of year to be outside watching. Although the official peak is on the 12th, meteors will be visible a good few days either side. Now, I’m often asked “Where is the best place to look for meteors?” The obvious answer is “The sky . . .” This is not as facetious as it sounds (Me? Never). They really can appear anywhere in the sky. It’s just that if you trace their paths back to where they seem to have come from, it will be somewhere in Perseus. You just need to look up at the largest and darkest patch of sky you can find, So, if you find yourself forced to sit outside in the evenings for some reason, get meteor spotting.
Village Weather
Lockdown sunshine Alvechurch amateur weatherman Phil Thomas records the changes.
I
f there was one thing that made the early months of lockdown bearable for many people, it was the weather. As Villagers found themselves with the time to explore their local area, on foot or on bicycle, we were blessed with a very dry and sunny April followed by an even drier May, with more than 250 hours of sunshine to bask in. The last four months followed the trend of warmer than average months. April was one of the warmest in my 30-year records, with a mean temperature of 10.5C (2.3C above the expected value) and May was one of the driest and sunniest months in all my local records, taken from 19902020. Sunshine was measured at 254 hours. Only July 2006 with 279 hours was sunnier. Rainfall was only 5.6mm, one of the driest months over the same 30-year period. There had been only two drier months: July 2011, with 4.0mm of rainfall, and June 2018, with 5.5mm. Rainfall was below normal for March, April and May, although the rainfall in June soon made up for this, with 95.9mm. The reason for the spring anomalies was a high pressure area blocking the Atlantic low pressure areas, bringing, warmer and drier conditions from the south and south east. This returned to a more normal westerly flow from early June. The month started with a couple of warm days followed by cooler wet conditions from the 3rd to the 20th. Temperatures increased from the 21st to the end of the month with a max of 29.3C on the 28th, the mean tempera-
The villages saw a lot of sunshine over the spring . . . while Phil has also been watching this barn owl (right) on feeding flights near his Alvechurch home. ture of 15.3C was 0.9C above the local 30-year mean. But the month overall was very wet, with 95.9mm of rainfall – 162% of the local mean – and three thunder days, on the 13th 16th and 17th. March 2020 Mean Max 10.3C 0.3 above average Mean Min 2.6C 0.2 above average Mean 6.5C 0.3 above average Rainfall 40.4mm 90% of average Sunshine 121.3hrs 128% of average April 2020 Mean Max 16.1C 3.3 above average Mean Min 5.0C 1.4 above average Mean 10.5C 2.3 above average Rainfall 36.6mm 55% of average Sunshine 204.1hrs 173% of average May 2020 Mean Max 18.8C 2.5 above average Mean Min 6.9C 0.2 above average
Mean 12.9C 1.4 above average Rainfall 5.6mm 10% of average Sunshine 253.9hrs 168% of average June 2020 Mean Max 19.9C 0.9 above average Mean Min 10.7C 0.9 above average Mean 15.3C 0.9 above average Rainfall 95.9mm 161% of average Sunshine 154.4hrs 114% of average Spring Averages 2020 The figures for the average temperature and rainfall over March, April and May show that it was indeed very dry and sunny, with half as much sunshine again than would be expected and less than half the rainfall: Mean Max 18.8C 2.1 above average Mean Min 4.8C 0.6 above average Mean 10.0C 1.4 above average Rainfall 83.1mm 48% of average Sunshine 579.2hrs 159% of average
More information at www.alvechurchweather.metsite.com You can see an improved HD weather-cam, updated at one-minute intervals, at: www.alvechurchweather.metsite.com/webcam_alvechurch.php The Village
July/August 2020
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Village Finance
Advertisement feature
Time to review your drawdown planning
T
he dramatic initial falls in equity markets were followed by some recovery and were by no means fully reflected in portfolios that were diversified into bonds and other assets. But there may, of course, be further fluctuations ahead. The falls have reduced the value of people’s pensions, equity ISAs and investment portfolios. For those accumulating savings and contributing regularly to a pension, the general guidance has been to continue contributions and wait for asset prices to recover in the longer term. The situation can be different, however, if you are taking regular withdrawals from your pension fund or other investments and you may need to review your pension planning. TAKING WITHDRAWALS Withdrawals from pension funds are typically derived from dividends, interest and sales of units in the funds you hold in your pension. That is how you are able to benefit from the total returns of capital and
Martin Pryor offers advice on pension income after falls in equity values.
income generated by your pension portfolio. If fund values continue to rise reasonably steadily, the combination of income and capital withdrawals should provide a steady source of income. But a sudden downturn means you would need to sell more units in your funds to support the same level of income. The losses would be crystallised and those units would no longer be in your pension portfolio to bounce back if the market improves again. The impact on long-term values is much greater if the downturn, and the consequent sales of units at lower values, occurs early on in retirement. The technical term for this is “sequencing risk”. Investors with well diversified portfolios have seen some of their holdings decline much less than other components in the portfolio. So the overall impact may well be much less than some of the headline figures, and withdrawals may not have a serious effect on future performance. The necessary rebalancing of portfolios may also allow withdrawals to come
more from funds that have held up relatively well. Many investors have some cash reserves that have been set up for such circumstances. If you are in this position, you might feel that it would be preferable to draw now on these cash reserves and wait for a time to make further drawings from your investments. Under lockdown, our levels of spending have declined with sharp cut-backs on eating out, holidays, clothing and many other purchases. A temporary reduction in expenditure and plans for future spending may be a prudent strategy in the circumstances. There is also the possibility that some taxes are likely to rise soon to cover the costs of the pandemic. Regardless of how you use your drawdown plan, it is essential to review the income you take from your investments on a regular basis. If fund values have fallen — or simply not grown as much as anticipated — you can act accordingly so that long-term plans are not jeopardised. n The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investing in shares should be regarded as a long-term investment and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances. n If you are taking income from your pension using drawdown and have not received advice during these volatile times then please make contact and we can arrange a 60 minute Zoom meeting without charge. n Tel: 07961 162818 martinpryor@ppm-ifa.co.uk www.ppm-ifa.co.uk
The Village
July/August 2020
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Village Country Diary
T
Mary Green reflects on nature’s response to human behaviour . . .
his has been a strange spring and early summer in all ways. Not only have people’s habits been drastically changed by the lockdown, but we have had peculiar weather. It was the sunniest May ever – my solar panels made lots of electricity! It was unusually warm and here in particular extremely dry. All the muddy patches went and were replaced by dry ground. Crops that were sown late because of the wet winter were soon beginning to suffer from lack of rain. I noticed around here that there was no oil-seed rape sown – it was too
Natural reac late by the time the fields dried out. Most arable fields were sown with wheat and barley but there were a few fields not reached. However, as I write this in June it is at last raining properly, so with the warm weather returning it should be good for farms
and gardens. People began walking in the countryside to an unprecedented degree, especially once the one-hour rule on exercise was lifted. I’ve never seen such a steady stream of walkers, especially families, going past my door on the footpath up the fields.
What a lot of ducklings! Apple blossom
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July/August 2020
Walking further afield I found the same, with lots of people saying they had found footpaths they didn’t know existed even after living here a while. Mind you, there were some quiet footpaths too, but I think those are the ones that don’t figure prominently on the apps everyone seems to have nowadays! It’s great to see people taking a new interest in the countryside, and lots have people have asked me about flowers and trees they see. Wildlife has done well during this time, with a few exceptions. The native flowers and trees have been magnificent. All the blossoms have come early and stayed on the trees well in the gentle weather, and the fruit has set very well. This heavy June rain may affect some young fruit badly, but the renewed moisture in the soil will help them swell if they stay on the tree. Wayside flowers had a wonderful boost in the spring when the public verges and grass round Alvechurch
The pollinator wildflower patch in Barnt Green.
Roe deer make their way through a field of buttercups.
ction
were not mown for a long time, and we saw the range of flowers that are there in the soil all the time, and their accompanying butterflies and bees. But normality has returned, and now they’ve all been mown down again. If you get away into real countryside or along the canal, though, the flowers have been gorgeous. They haven’t suffered from the drought, except perhaps being a little smaller, because a natural environment can hold the moisture from earlier in the year. Where vegetation was cut, it has dried out horribly. In May I noticed this especially in the churchyard here. Where they hadn’t been able to mow, the graves were surrounded by ancient herbs like pignut and speedwell and sorrel. Sadly they were mostly mown down later. In Barnt Green there is a lovely patch of (mostly) perennial wildflowers established by the parish council – I hope it survives. The exception to the general
Pignut. blooming was the water birds round here. There were loads of mallard ducklings, though the broods got smaller over the weeks, but hardly any goslings, moorhen chicks or cygnets. My suspicion is that increased pedestrian footfall led to the parent birds leaving the nest more, and increased predator activity, especially rats (due to lack of human debris to feed on) meant more young birds were taken. It has been a bit harder under lockdown to buy local and fresh, if you’re in isolation, and the amount of plastic I’m using has grown hor-
ribly. I’m grateful for all the shops and neighbours who’ve kept me fed, but especially appreciated the fact that I ordered an organic veg box before all this happened, to replace the closed prison shop. I have just UK veggies, and it brings home to you how short things are in the “hungry gap” in March and April and the joy of new vegetables in May. Like so many people, I’m growing my own too and was especially pleased to find a local gardener selling little veg plants outside his house. In this sunny weather and the unaccustomed lack of pollution, I’ve been thinking of the ancient elements of fire and air. The world was once seen to be made of four elements: earth, air, fire and water. It may seem odd that fire was one of the four, as we see it as being something humans have created – even as one of the things that makes us human. But the fire of the sun is an essential in the chain of nature. Many flowers open in the sun and close in the shade. This is especially true of the early spring ones – celandines, dandelions, daisies – and by summer most flowers stay open, expecting the sun. Butterflies and
continues overleaf The Village
July/August 2020
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Village Country Diary
Green winged orchid. continued from previous page dragonflies fly and feed and mate in sunlight. The long hours of sun this year have brought them out. Actual fire has an effect on wildlife as well, not always beneficial. Climate change has led to more wildfires than usual, especially in Australia earlier this year but starting again even here. Some fires in hot climates are “natural” and expected, and animals and plants can live with them and even thrive. But too much will destroy not only plants and small animals but the soil itself so it will take years for the habitat to come back. Unfortunately, burning has been used in the UK deliberately to control vegetation. It was once done on farms after harvest, but now people realise it was destructive to the habitat. It is still used on grouse moors and helps to create vast areas of moorland with nothing but heather and coarse grass. Some
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July/August 2020
people find these areas beautiful, but they are near-deserts ecologically. Fire only exists on this planet because of air – it needs oxygen. All living things need air, but it is also what helps things to decompose. Plants make the atmosphere breathable for us by absorbing carbon, as well as many pollutants, and producing oxygen. There is a wide recognition now that we are polluting our air and altering our climate because of what we put into the air and the way we treat plants. The combination of cutting down forests, ploughing land, draining peatlands and using weedkillers, with producing carbon especially from fossil fuels, has reduced oxy-
gen in relation to carbon and heated up our atmosphere. Added to this there are specific pollutants in fossil fuels that make the air we breathe unhealthy. Plants and soil will absorb them, but not enough if we destroy them too. There was a welcome drop in pollution during lockdown. We have known this for decades, of course. After the Clean Air acts of the 1960s cleaned up the most obvious smogs which I remember from my youth, people seemed to have forgotten about now invisible pollution. But we can change it, at the same time as reversing climate change. We need a combination of a massive reduction in producing carbon and all the particle pollutants that go with it – much of it from fossil Meadow fuels like coal, gas buttercup. and petroleum – and an increase in carbon-absorbing trees, plants and soils, which will also absorb pollutants. Some of things we need to do are difficult – cutting down on flights and individual road transport for example. But others can be much more Naturally achievable. Just managing the trees regenerated and hedges we already have propwoodland. erly would go a long way towards it.
An unmown verge in Alvechurch Instead of planting millions of trees in the wrong places and letting most of them die, we could start by looking after the trees, shrubs and herbal plants we already have - not digging the soil, and not mowing or hedge cutting during the growing season. Just enjoying a walk “in nature” is not enough unless we help it thrive. We have heard the cuckoo in Withybed this year, and I heard lots of their host birds (whose nests they lay in) the reed warblers, at Bittell. Perhaps our habitat is improving! My pictures this time are all within walking distance over the last two months.
God’s Little Acre
A corner of the churchyard in the May sun They have forgotten to mow here. It breathes With waves of pignut, ancient meadow plant Hiding its sweetness underneath the soil. Then sorrel, acid-sweet, wakening the tongue, And speedwell creeping all around the graves Veronica’s flower, on the way to the cross Called speedwell to send us softly on our way, And buttercups of course, making children smile. A piece of God’s Little Acre as it should be The herbs that bring us nourishment and health Buzzing with bees, fluttered by butterflies. I walk past and the rest is mowed flat grass Except around the graves themselves, the dead Being the source of life in flowering. Sad that the living, fearing for their lives Have time to kill the flowers that give them life Leaving the dead to make the flowers bloom. To you who keep the churchyard I would say Consider the lilies. And pignut. And speed well. The Village
July/August 2020
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The Village
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July/August 2020
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the summer
Village Gardening
W
e’ve all been madly gardening in the past few months, especially people who were told to stay at home, and our gardens have been so important to us, not only to keep our sanity but also as a place to meet friends and family at a safe distance. As we go into the summer months here are a few ideas to keep you gardening and enjoying your garden. Planting up pots This year I haven’t planted any bedding, instead I’ve decided to plant up my pots with vegetables, herbs and a few annuals that are good for bees and butterflies. This has given me some lovely broad beans from the red flowered broad bean that I am picking now and will then replant with some kale or winter veg. I put in some pea sticks to hold the plants as they grew and added some well-rotted home-made compost on the top. Remember to use a peat free compost; we still need to be mindful of saving the planet and more of us need to use and order peat free compost to get the nurseries to stock it. If you want to know more about this subject, the RHS have a good advice
Mint growing in a pot.
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The Village
Even after a long spring and early summer in the garden there’s still work to be done, writes Hannah Genders.
page, so I’ve added a link at the end of this article. Herbs and salad crops also grow well in pots, the mixed salad leaves that you plant as seed and cut off every time you need them are ideal. Like the bag of mixed salad from the supermarket, but without the bag and fresh from your garden. Chard comes in many colours and is an attractive plant and I love to cook with spinach, so the perpetual spinach is also a good one to consider growing. All of these can be repeat sown throughout the summer and growing rocket in pots like this, it gets less flea beetle, which keeps the leaves looking healthier. Mint is much better in a pot than in the ground as it will take over in a border, I grow three different kinds of mint and use them for cooking and fresh herbal drinks. If you want flowers instead of edibles, try to order plants that can be re-used in the garden. Bulbs are an obvious choice if you got them in early, but also Achellias (yarrow)
Clipped box . . . follow the rules. July/August 2020
and Erysimum (Perennial wallflower) – both will give you a long flower display, they will grow quite happily in a pot and can then be planted out in the garden in early autumn. Summer pruning As a general rule, you can prune most shrubs and climbers after they have flowered, so there are a few plants that will benefit from a prune in the summer months. Box plants can be trimmed if you want them to have a neat habit, but there are a couple of rules: don’t cut them too hard as you want air to circulate and make sure you clean the blades of your shears between pruning different plants to avoid box blight which is a fungal disease and will devastate many plants if it gets hold. Ceanothus can be pruned in July, the evergreen Ceanothus don’t need pruning regularly but can be neatened up with a light prune now. The small Hebes like Hebe pinguifolia and Hebe rakaiensis, again, don’t need much pruning, but as they are mainly grown for the shape and leaf, trim off the dead flowers now and cut out any dead branches from the winter, but don’t cut them back too hard. Another shrub I regularly forget to prune is Weigela, but it will flower much better if you do, so immediately after flowering, cut back the flowered stems to a side shoot that has produced flowers. Old plants that have become very woody can be rejuvenated by completely taking to the ground one out of every three stems. Roses that have finished flower-
garden ing, will all benefit from being deadheaded regularly, this particularly applies to the gorgeous English roses that are damaged by rain. The climbing plants that will benefit from a prune now are Wisteria. This will have flowered in spring and then produced long, wiry tendrils all over the plant. If you don’t want it to increase in size and want lots of flowers next year, remove this growth to within six leaves from where they join the main stem. Honeysuckle which can easily get very woody should be pruned now, cut back to three or four leaves on this year’s growth, where you can see it has flowered, this pruning will encourage more flower for next year and less leaf growth. The vegetable garden I am continuing with my no-dig vegetable garden and I’ll write more about it in a future article. We are now at our second planting season, the beans and peas have cropped, so I will clear the ground without digging it over and plant up with kale, leeks and brassicas. The compost we added early in the year will continue to feed this second crop, although I have had a problem with couch grass in one bed so I will add some more cardboard and compost on top.
Honeysuckle can be pruned in August. Watering in well is important to help the plants establish. Tidying up With all the time we have had on our hands, here is just one plea, don’t tidy up your garden too much. Most wildlife like a messy corner with a few rotting leaves, wood piles and stinging nettles, even in a small garden an untouched corner will benefit our native flora and fauna. If you want to add some habitat, try a hedgehog box. As long as the hedgehog can roam from your garden to your neighbours you may get a visitor.
n www.rhs.org. uk/advice See the peat-free argument.
Achellia can be grown in a pot for a season
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Annual calendula flower.
Tel: 07779 162959 The Village
July/August 2020
41
Young Villagers
Young Lions waiting to roar again Alvechurch Lions U7s started in November 2018 with three enthusiastic parent/coaches. The team played their first friendly game in March 2019, followed by a series of friendlies before the start of what would be their first season. Their new kit was presented to them by the then Alvechurch first team manager, Darren Byfield, and
sponsored by New Dilshad International restaurant in Alvechurch. In their first game of the new season they had an impressive victory away against Chelmsley Wood Boys. The season had been very positive until the lockdown with the boys reaching their first cup final. Following the early end to the
season the team have been keeping in touch by holding a weekly zoom quiz and their first end of season awards was also a virtual affair with all of the team receiving a trophy as a reward for their hard work during the year. They all now eagerly await the start of the new season – when it is safe to run out on the pitch again.
We can paint a rainbow
Youngsters across The Oakalls and Parklands joined the nationwide show of support for NHS and care workers during lockdown with rainbow artwork on their homes, including the chalk wall by Lily and Milah (above) and the window patterns by Amelia (left). Pictures/Sarah Rees.
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July/August 2020
Village Sport
’Church’s great escape –
Alvechurch FC stay up and management team commit to next season.
T
he pandemic may have saved Alvechurch FC from relegation after the Football Association declared all non-league football below the National leagues null and void. The FA had to decide whether to delay the season until the crisis was over, finish the leagues as they stood and work out the final league tables on a points per game format or declare the season null and void. As there will be no promotions or relegations, Alvechurch FC, which was in a precarious position with relegation looking a real possibility, has had a reprieve and will once again be playing in the Southern League Central Premier Division next season The coronavirus crisis also means the club has some silverware to show for the season. The Worcestershire Senior Cup final against Bromsgrove Sporting was cancelled and both clubs will share the trophy over the next 12 months. And in another fantastic boost for ‘Church, the successful management team of Ian Long, Richard Colwell and goal keeping coach Billy Walwyn, who returned to the club shortly before lockdown kicked in, have committed to lead the team over the next season After four incredible seasons where the club were league runners-up to Hereford with more than 100 points, then won back-to-back promotions and played in a promotion play-off final – plus various cup successes – the management team left at the end of last season to join Stourbridge FC. Despite being in a playoff spot and having reached the first round of the FA Cup, they left Stourbridge by mutual agreement and returned to Lye Meadow for the remainder of the season With the club’s future in the current
Looking forward to more glory days. (Photo/ Ian Macvie)
division secured by the season being declared null and void they, and existing coach Matt Kirby, have committed to manage the club for the next season As the management team prepare for the forthcoming season, captain Jamie Willetts, centre back Joe Hull and Dom Brownhill have committed to stay at the club. Fans favourite Dave Bellis has returned from Stourbridge FC, forward Kieran Cooke has returned to the club for the third time to add pace up front and 19-year-old Jack Downing has signed from Vanarama North side AFC Telford United. The pacey wide man has had experience on loan at
both Redditch Utd and Stourport and is a major addition to the squad Leaving Lye Meadow are last season’s captain Kyle Morrison who is moving up to a higher level by joining National league side Leamington, while both Aaron Birch and Ryan Winwood have joined ambitious side Worcester City l In recognition of the contribution they are making to society, Alvechurch FC will be offering free entry to all NHS staff for the 2020-21 season for all home league fixtures (excluding FA /County Cup Competitions). Anyone who shows a valid NHS ID card will be permitted into the ground free of charge.
Once again the youth and ladies section at Alvechurch FC have benefited from the tireless efforts of Jay and the generosity and goodwill of regulars at The Crown and The Swan. These funds are all invested in developing teams for both boys and girls which are particularly needed after the Club chose to suspend all players’ subscriptions from the end of march The Club’s five-year plan will see us having a girls team in each age group and two youth teams in each age group, and work is now well underway with the Hayes to get it ready to be hosting multiple youth games from the same site in 2021, which is what the Club has been working for the last five years to deliver. We look forward to being able to safely return to football. Scott Wilkinson ( Chairman, Ladies Section) and Bryan Allcott ( Chairman, Youth section) The Village
July/August 2020
43
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