STOCKBRIDGE LONGSTOCK & LECKFORD - July 2021 £1 - Stockbridge Parish Council
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The Parish Magazine for £1 STOCKBRIDGE LONGSTOCK & LECKFORD July 2021
The Parishes of Stockbridge, Longstock and Leckford
in the Mid-Test Benefice
Rector: The Rev’d Philip Bowden
Phone no. 01264 810810
rector@midtest.org.uk
Website: http://www.2day.ws/stockbridge
All Enquiries, including enquiries about Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals:
Please contact our Rector, see details above
This Magazine: 11 issues a year: (£8 if paid in advance, £1 per copy)
Editors: Frances Candler 811776, Jennifer Kidd 811179
Distribution: Sylvia Shepard 810603 ; Advertisements: advertstockmag@gmail.com
August copy deadline: 15 July 2021 email: editorsstockmag@gmail.com
St Peter’s Stockbridge St Mary’s Longstock St Nicholas’ Leckford
Churchwarden Churchwarden Churchwarden
David Williams 811072 Madeleine Hedley 810284 Dawn Williams 810724
Hon Secretary Hon Secretary Hon Secretary
Micki Nadal 810567 Richard Robinson 810388 Micki Nadal 810567
Hon Treasurer Hon Treasurer Hon Treasurer
Barbara North 810732 Madeleine Hedley 810284 David Barnes 810516
Beavers Organist and Choir Mistress Alex Lawrence (Chair)07789 433133
Frances Waghorn 01962 776048 Dawn Williams 810724 Clerk: Belinda Baker 07770 406607
Bell ringers (Longstock) Pastoral Visitors stockbridgeparishcouncil@gmail.com
Chris Reynell 810569 Vacancy www.stockbridgeparishcouncil.org.uk
Bell ringers (Stockbridge) RBL (Houghton branch) Stockbridge Pharmacy 810624
Micki Nadal 810567 David Williams (Chair) 811072 Stockbridge Police Station
Brownies (meet in Chilbolton) Iain Bell (Sec) 811636 (Non emergencies) 101
Julie Shone 01962 761269 Angela McMeekin:Poppies 810236 Stockbridge Primary School
Church Mouse Books Scouts (incorporating Stockbridge Pre-School)
Briar Philips 810838 Mark Lovell 07786 435847 Emma Jefferies (Head) 810550
Cub Scouts Scout Group Explorers Stockbridge Rec Ground
Mo Collins 01256 895534 Andrea Zanchi 07747 720735 Greg Willcox (Chair) 07768 266288
HCC County Councillor Louise Henderson 07436 899054 Paul Barker(Sec) 01794 389131
Cllr Andrew Gibson 861087 St Thomas More Church Stockbridge Surgery 810524
Kent Hill Scout Hall Father Mark Hogan 01962 852804 Out of hours urgent treatment or advice
Leigh Dance 811074 Hants Doctors On Call freephone 111
Stockbridge Church Flowers Sec
Leckford Parish Council Angela McMeekin 810236 Stockbridge Town Hall
Dawn Williams 810724 Stockbridge Community Cinema Kim Candler (Chair) 811776
Longstock Garden Club Paul Kidd 811179 On-line bookings
Peter Moore 07881573493 Stockbridge Community Market www.stockbridgetownhall.co.uk
peter.r.moore@gmail.com Carol Preston 07925 287870 or phone 01264 513299
Longstock Mayflies Stockbridge Court Leet Test Valley School
Liz Howard 07870 612127 Guy Boney (Lord of the Manor) Mrs T Wilden (Head) 810555
Longstock Parish Council 810614 Trout ’n About
Chair: Sophie Walters 07740 443460 Diana Tym (Bailiff) 810363 Anne Stables 07734 715081
Clerk: Mark Flewitt 810752 Stockbridge Dramatic Society TVBC Councillor
Longstock Village Hall Mark Frank 810562 Cllr Tony Ward 01794 389649
Selina Musters 810459 Stockbridge Football Club Unity Transport
Longstock & Leckford WI Glenn Curtis (Chair) 07585 112523 (Joyrides Shopping Bus)
Sue Hill 811779 Greg Willcox(Hon Sec) 07768 266288 01264 356808
Neighbour Care 0845 0943713 Email: stockbridgefc@hotmail.com
Calls cost 7p/min + network charge. Stockbridge Music
Tim Lowden 810601
Stockbridge Parish Council
2
From the Rector
Disappointments
We had all hoped that by now the lockdown would be ‘over’, and life would have returned to normal.
Of course, we all realise that this is a somewhat subjective notation, with the global pandemic still
raging, and are aware that of course it will not be over for any of us until it is over for all of us.
However, it was disappointing for us to have to accept the reality that the new delta variant of covid
has caused a delay in the plan to reopen society in this country.
In Church life, it would have been this final step that would have made all the difference to our
religious practice. While we have been fortunate not to have been closed down again, as we were last
April, the restrictions on singing, mask wearing and seating in church have caused many people to feel
and comment that public worship in church is not what they had hoped for. It has been very
disappointing.
However, facing up to disappointment is what will determine how it affects us. As I was growing up, I
remember someone teaching me that often my personal disappointments were in fact me falling victim
to my own expectations. A disappointment is only so if we had hoped for something better, and yet it
is our hopes that keep us going in the face of disappointment. Yes, we had hoped to lift the lockdown
on 21 June, but it is the hope that we will be able to do so on 19 July that keeps us going.
Christian faith is about the triumph of hope over disappointments. Jesus’ followers were disappointed
to realise that he was not the sort of saviour they had expected to free them from imperial
domination. They disappointed themselves when they abandoned him at his arrest, and were
disappointed to witness him die on the cross. However, the story concludes with their hopes being
fulfilled as they experience the risen Christ, and our heritage is being able to hold tightly to the hope of
sharing in that resurrection.
Ultimately hope overcomes our sense of disappointment, and one day those hopes will be fulfilled.
The Rev’d Philip Bowden
Contents
All Change 19 Prayer for July 31
And Next We Have a Plague of Mice 25 Recipe: Eton Mess 28
Church News 28-31 Spitfire House Gardens Open Day 20-21
Editorial 4 Stockbridge Music 13
Events 4-5 Stockbridge Parish Council 7
From Field to Clamp - Silage in Longstock 12-13 Stockbridge Practice 17
From The Area Dean 31 Stockbridge Primary and Pre-School News 9
From The Rector 3 Stockbridge Racecourse - A Bite Size Fact 20
Learning to Live After Bereavement 15 Stockbridge War Memorial Update 14
Nitrate Neutrality 9 Stock-U Puzzle 7
Notes From A Bookseller 27 Stock-U Puzzle Solution 23
Potting Shed Cuttings for July 23 Walk On The Wild Side 11
Well Done Fred 21
Cover Photo: Red Admiral by Nigel Rugman
Footers this month have been chosen in honour of the sport of fishing
3
From the Editorial Team Stockbridge
We were pleased to learn that residents in one of
Community
our neighbouring villages are planning to re-launch Cinema
their community magazine after a period of closure.
We wish them well in their endeavor and take Cinema Paradiso (12A)
particular note of the fact that they are urging all
residents to think about contributing to the success Friday 16 July
of the magazine by sending material for their pages. 7.30pm (2hrs 4min)
It reminds us once again of how very fortunate we (Foreign Language drama in Italian with subtitles)
are to have such a loyal band of contributors who
are able to cover such a wide range of topics to Young Salvatore Di Vita discovers the perfect
engage and inform us. escape from life in his war-torn Sicilian village:
the Cinema Paradiso movie house, where
This month we welcome what we hope will the projectionist Alfredo instils in the boy a deep
first of a number of contributions from Colin
Stokes and Ryan Bundy both of whom have much love of films. When Salvatore grows up, falls in
to tell us about activity in our own locality. Thank love with a beautiful local girl and takes over
you also to our friends at the Bookmark who have as the Paradiso's projectionist, Alfredo must
also focused on matters local in this month’s most convince Salvatore to leave his small town and
enlightening contribution. pursue his passion for filmmaking.
We are also quite sure that National Fishing Month,
which runs from 26 July until 31 August, will Summerland (PG)
generate some particular activity in and around our
villages. If you have tales to tell, (tall or otherwise), Wednesday 21 July
and images to share we would love to hear from 5.00pm and 7.30pm (1hr 39min)
you. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy our fishy During World War II, reclusive writer Alice
footers.
has her sequestered life upended when Frank,
We have taken note of Reverend Phill’s warning an evacuee from the London Blitz, is left in
not to set our expectations to high but maybe . . . her care. Despite initially resolving to be rid of
just maybe . . . July will be our last month of him, Alice finds herself and her emotions
restrictions. Fingers crossed!! reawakened by him.
Frances Candler and Jennifer Kidd Tickets £6.00 (£5.50 + £0.50 booking fee)
01264 811776 and 01264 811179 available online via our website
stockbridgecinema.org.uk or via the
Ticketsource telephone booking service
0333 666 3366 (additional £1.75 fee per booking)
Test Villages U3A Please note there is reduced hall capacity with a
socially distanced seating allocation system in use.
Wednesday 7 July 2pm Face coverings must be worn at all times (unless
government rules change).
Alan Jones
'It's not what you say'
Stockbridge Music Returns!
Zoom link sent in advance to all U3A members
To join please email tvu3amembership@gmail.com Duo Bayanello with Andrey Lebedev
St Peter’s Church
7.30pm, Saturday 7 August
Copy for Magazine See page 13 for full details
Copy date for the August Magazine:
15 July 2021 Wherwell History
Please send emails to:
editorsstockmag@gmail.com Group
or phone Frances Candler on 01264 811776
or Jennifer Kidd on 01264 811179 No meeting in July
The fishing was good . . .
4
Stockbridge Open Gardens 2021 Saturday 24th &
Free
et
off-stre g
Sunday 25th July
parkin 1.30 - 5.30pm
Stockbridge
Community
Market
Every Thursday
morning
Lots of wonderful gardens to visit plus
9.30 - 11.45am
allotments & Primary School gardens
in Stockbridge Town
Hall
Teas and
Plant stall The Market is Back!
on church
lawn
Selling the very best local and
home-made produce
Pies, cakes, breads, soups,
eggs and vegetables.
ts £10, under 16s free
Tickets on sale at church or car park Adul Handmade crafts, toys,
books, plants, & bric-a-brac.
Please come along and
browse
Free drop-in IT Help Desk
and Wi-Fi access
stockbridgegardens.co.uk Stockbridge Gardens Open 2021
July
Stockbridge Town Hall
Jul 2 Nina Capes Design
Events Jul 3 Antique Fair
Jul 4 Blackstone Chalk
Weekly
Jul 5-6 Wild Bazaar
Mon am Paula Fletcher Pilates
Jul 9-10 Capital Cashmere
Mon am Pilates Unlimited
Jul 12-14 Wild Bazaar
Tues am Su Joy Art Class
Jul 15 Stockbridge Parish Council
Wed Yoga with Dionne
Jul 16 Stockbridge Community Cinema
Thu Iyengar Yoga
Jul 17 South Central Makers
Thu Michele Buhl-Nielsen Drawing Class
Jul 19 SOS AGM
Thu am Stockbridge Community Market
Jul 20-21 Wild Bazaar
Thu pm Joga
Jul 21 Stockbridge Community Cinema
Fri am Moo Music
Jul 23-24 Cocoon
Hurford Hall will be closed during the daytime from July Jul 25 Blackstone Chalk
5 - 9 for the replacement of the curtains and July 31-1 Antiques and Curios
refurbishment of the stage proscenium. July 31-1 Hawkmoor Books
. . . it was the catching that was bad. (AK Best)
5
Tel 01264 810139 www.thehubstockbridge.co.uk
Old London Road Stockbridge SO20 6EJ
Chilbolton Chair Company
Makers & upholsterers of fine quality furniture
● Bespoke hand made furniture
● Complete re-upholstery of all furniture
● Supply of a wide range of fabrics
● Curtains, blinds, soft furnishings
● Stock items available for sale
Unit 12B, Stonefield Park, Chilbolton SO20 6BL
Tel: 01264 861117
email: info@chilboltonchaircompany.co.uk
Mobile: 07582 850810 or 07961 800601
www.chilboltonchaircompany.co.uk
●
●
●
●
●
Heathercroft Meadow Flowers
Fisherman's Prayer: Lord help me to catch a fish so large . . .
6
Stockbridge Parish Council News
Meetings Communication with the PC
The Stockbridge Councillors met virtually on 20 May Cllr Boney brought to the Council’s attention that
to discuss matters arising and those going forward sometimes matters were discussed on social media
but, due to the fact that the legislation allowing with the assumption that it would come to the
Councils to meet virtually had not been renewed, the Council’s attention. He stressed that this was not the
Council could not meet officially. The Council will be case and that the Council can only deal with issues
meeting outside in June in order to comply with 1975 that are bought up at the public section of the
Local Government legislation and the present Covid meetings or are sent into the Clerk.
restrictions on public meetings. At the time of writing
the restrictions have been extended into July and past Old London Road
the scheduled July Council meeting, and it is likely that The Council understands that HCC would like to
the Council will look to hold the July meeting outside meet with members of the Council to scope the
as well. project to make Old London Road one way. Whilst
this is a step forward from the previous silence from
HCC Consultation HCC, it was expected that things would be further
Hampshire County Council has launched a forward than “scoping” at this stage.
consultation to understand the views of residents and
stakeholders across Hampshire on options to help the Street Cleaning
Authority deliver a balanced budget up to 2023/24. Cllr Bell has been undertaking excellent work
More information is available on the webpage below: organising the bi-weekly clean of the High Street.
Serving Hampshire - Balancing the Budget Consultation | However, it would be helpful if TVBC were more in
About the Council | Hampshire County Council touch with the holidays of their staff. Cllr Bell was a
(hants.gov.uk) bit embarrassed to find that the expected clean did
not happen on Tuesday 15th June because the driver
HCC feels that opportunities for reducing costs are was on holiday and no one had informed him. He
getting harder to find and so therefore it is important would like to thank the near universal number of
that the County Council listens to the views of resi- drivers who moved their cars on that morning and the
dents and stakeholders, many of whom are likely to be Council apologises for the fact that it was to no avail.
affected by the outcomes. The consultation runs until
18 July. Belinda Baker (Clerk to the Parish Council)
Fly Tipping
The Council has had a number of reports of fly tipping Stock-U
in the area. This is illegal activity and any spotted Every row, column and square must contain the
should be reported to TVBC. TVBC is aiming to take numbers 1-9 once only. Solution on page 23.
a more rigorous stance in this matter and has recently
taken a man, who dumped a caravan doused in diesel
on The Broadlands Estate, to court. The man claimed
he was doing a friend a favour after removing the
caravan from an address in East Wellow. However,
instead of disposing of it legally, he dumped it,
including the contents which consisted of boxes and
bags of furniture, household rubbish and other waste.
He was ordered to pay almost £1,500 in court.
Benches on the Marsh
Stockbridge Council would like to confirm that unfor-
tunately there is no opportunity for placing benches
on the marsh, as requested by one resident. It was
thought a pleasant idea and the Council approached
the National Trust but not only is the area protected
but the ground at the marsh is too unstable and soft
and any bench that was installed there would likely
sink into the ground.
. . . That even I, in the telling of it, never need to lie.
7
General Property Maintenance Service
Repair or replace fascias soffits and
guttering
Decking, patios and general garden
maintenance
Fit or repair kitchens and bathrooms
Architraves and built-in cupboards
Tiling inside and out
Fast efficient and friendly service with over 20 years
experience in the business.
Full references on request
For information or a quote contact Jay Colbourne
01264 860143 or 07833 382225
email jay.colbourne@yahoo.com
or find us on Facebook
The angling fever is a very real disease . . .
8
Stockbridge Primary and Nitrate Neutrality
Pre-School News (reprinted from Mid-Test Matters issue 21, with kind
permission of Cllrs Alison Johnston, Ian Jeffrey and Tony Ward)
Inching ever closer
Summer term always ends too soon; dry and warm
playtimes and lunchtimes are a treat after a fairly cold
winter. Despite my optimism and excitement for a
return to ‘normal’ in the last entry, we’ve found a happy
medium for now which allows the children greater
normality and limits numbers on site and mixing of
bubbles where possible. We will pursue this until at least
September, if not beyond depending on Government
regulations.
You might see our pre-schoolers out and about over the
next few weeks as they begin to experience small, short Nutrient overload creates vast mats of algae over the
visits out of the school grounds. Coming back from half Solent’s mudflats, stopping oxygen getting through to the
term full of the joys of the seaside, they have recreated an animals in the sediment and causing mass mortality,
ice cream parlour in our play area and used the sandpit as especially in hot weather. Algae also forms a barrier to
a beach too. They topped all of this off with a visit to the many birds which rely on probing the mud or picking off
shop for an ice-cream and then enjoyed the sunshine in tiny invertebrates from its surface. Lastly, these mats can
the playpark – a great way to enjoy the sunshine. smother some of our most special yet threatened
habitats: seagrass beds and saltmarshes, choking them to
Our older children may not have been able to go on their
death and risking erosion.
residential trip as Wales had different rules on
residentials from England, but we are currently working
Whilst nitrate pollution arises from a number of sources,
on a plan which we hope will be an excellent alternative.
including in particular agricultural run-off and outfalls,
Meanwhile, our Year 3s will be camping on the school
new occupied dwellings would add to the pressures
field and Year 5s will get to go to Calshot as planned in
through the waste water generated.
July. Year 4s attended Tile Barn in the New Forest for an
extended day in place of their residential - so we’ve In an attempt to reduce the impact of new
almost caught up. developments, regulations now mean permission cannot
Learning in the classroom is getting back on track too. be granted unless a development is nitrate neutral. Any
Children are working extremely hard on our ‘necessity additional nitrate resulting from development in the
curriculum’ – the bits that need to be covered in order to Solent fluvial catchment area has to either be removed
prepare children and equip them with the necessary skills or offset in some way. This has for some time now put
for their next academic year. We have written our own the brakes on planning permissions, affecting over 90
progression of the National curriculum based on what we applications and 500 plus homes in Test Valley alone.
know the children have already covered and what they’ll
need for September. One thing that has returned to our To unlock this situation Test Valley Borough Council is
school is our extra-curricular offer with clubs that are on actively seeking to buy agricultural land that is currently
after school. We’ve managed this in a COVID safe way adding nitrates. This can then be taken out of agricultural
with no bubble mixing, but children can once again attend use and converted to a nature reserve/woodland for the
art clubs, boxercise, gardening, orienteering and more. benefit of the Test Valley residents. Then, for a fee, a
developer can use portions of this land to offset the
A new addition to our team is ‘Fudge’ our school dog. nitrates caused by their own developments.
She belongs to Mrs Holdich, one of our team, and has
begun school life well settling into class visits and hearing Stop Press: TVBC has purchased credits from Roke
readers. We are gradually teaching her some ‘tricks’ such Manor Ltd in relation to land at Roke Manor Farm,
as turning a book page, choosing cards or resources and resulting from the cessation of nitrate inputs from the
‘settling’ on a mat to hear readers with a head on their previous agricultural use. This means that applicants will
leg. Children are so excited to work with her but be able to participate in the council’s scheme, and have
understand they have to work in a different way – namely these credits allocated to them, mitigating against
quietly!! nitrogen increases that their application would produce.
The end of term is looming and will be over before we This in turn, will ensure future development is nitrate
know it, but we intend to squeeze every last bit of neutral in terms of its overall impact. For larger schemes,
learning and fun out of it as possible developers have the option of purchasing credits directly
Emma Jefferies from Roke Manor Ltd.
Headteacher
. . . only cured by the application of cold water and fresh untainted air. (T Gordon)
9
Phone: 01980 670 226 01264 874 464
or 07850 849 960
email: graemelark@outlook.com
A day without fishing . . . is like a day without sunshine
10Walk On The Wild Side!
It is extraordinary the degree to which modern science and
research can inform our lives. We now know, for example, that
the great outdoors is good for our psyche and for our sense of
well-being. Gosh. I am surprised that no one has ever researched
whether the sight of hot toast, melting dollops of butter and thick
cut marmalade makes one salivate. No doubt soon, now that I have
planted the idea, this will form the basis of someone’s PhD thesis…
Whilst we are on the subject of things droll, think about my
headline. When as a boy I swam in the River Cam, that would have
been simply described as ‘going swimming’. Now, such activity
becomes elevated to the levels of ‘wild swimming’. I even saw
pictures of an all-enveloping waterproof duvet-like garment you can
wear so as not to get cold whilst doing your ‘wild swimming’. How
wet can you be, if you know what I mean? As for ‘rewilding’ of the
countryside, I am sure we would all love to bump into the odd wolf
or bear whilst walking our Cockerpoos on Stockbridge Downs.
Quite.
Now that is off my chest, I come, albeit circuitously, to the real
subject of this piece. This is a lovely time of year to ‘walk on the
wild side’, as we transition through to full summer from a ‘for
goodness sake let’s forget this last spring’. Always, there are new
sights to surprise. Last year we had magnificent displays of wild red
poppies everywhere. This year, seemingly, every hedgerow is
covered in huge, almost supernatural, webs of the Ermine moth
(look closely inside to see the caterpillars surrounded by lots of
yum yum grub to sustain them).
The humble buttercup never looked more, well, buttery. Wild
columbines are everywhere in their different hues. The dappled
sunlight changes simple leaves into images of gold. The orange
poppy has a beauty of its own, in no way inferior to its flamboyant
red cousin, whilst, if you lie flat in the churchyard the humble daisy
shouts its bold presence. As a photographer, I look for those
details, but my ‘focus’ is always on issues of light, composition,
exposure, how photogenic a scene is - maybe I am guilty of missing
the ‘bigger picture’, or of failing to appreciate a scene for its own
merits.
You, on the other hand, have need for no such constraints.
However, eye-balls are no more or less than the lenses on a
camera. The trick is to use them in both wide angle as well as close
up mode, from straight on to side on, from up as well as down.
No-one, not least plant and insects, enjoy or appear at their best
being looked down on from on high. Sometimes the best view of
the stamens in a flower and of the bumble bee taking its nectar
requires a little bending and swivelling. The trick is to amble slowly
to give those eye-balls proper time to process the kaleidoscope of
wonderful summer images that pass before them. And, of course,
this is SO good for one!
As a final thought, don’t you think ‘walking on the wild side’ - rather
than just saying ‘go for a walk’ - sounds hip and properly woke? Or
am I on the wrong page?
Nigel Rugman
11From Field to Clamp - Silage in Longstock
We are all aware of the increase in farming activity at this time of year. We turned to Ryan Bundy for help in
understanding what is going on, and in this series of photographs he explains one method of silage making.
31 May 2021
This is the first part of the process of cutting grass to
then be made into silage. The tractor being used at
Longstock has a front and rear mounted mower unit.
Both mowers cut the grass which is then left in rows.
This process is carried out using a tractor and rake.
The next process involves the use of a forage
harvester which picks up the grass and then cuts it
before blowing it out of the machine into the trailer
that is running alongside the forage harvester.
The grass is then normally spread across the field in-
order that it can dry a bit before the next process can
be carried out.
3 June 2021
The grass has to be made into rows ready for the
forage harvester to pick it up.
Once the trailer is full the tractor will then take the
trailer load of grass to the silage clamp.
When the tractor and trailer arrive at the clamp the
grass is tipped out of the trailer. The most important
I am convinced that the ideal combination leading to a happy life . . .
12part of the silage making process happens here. The Duo Bayanello
grass is pushed up to form a clamp using a forklift and
tractor fitted with a front attachment. (Iosif Purits, Accordion &
Cecilia Bignall, Cello)
with
Andrey Lebedev, Guitar
Saturday 7 August 2021 - 7.30pm
St Peter’s Church, Stockbridge
To open Stockbridge Music’s post-pandemic summer /
autumn season, we are thrilled to welcome one of the
most exciting ensembles on the international music
scene - Russian accordionist Iosif Purits, British
cellist Cecilia Bignall (who make up Duo
Bayanello), and Australian-Russian guitarist
Andrey Lebedev. Together they are performers,
The grass will then be rolled by the tractor and forklift. collaborators, arrangers and composers who cross
This is carried out by driving up and down over the musical boundaries with virtuosity and flair.
grass, this process has the effect of removing trapped
air and compacting the grass.
Iosif, Cecilia and Andrey are all international artists in
their own rights and no strangers to the most
celebrated concert platforms across the world. As a
With the grass now in the clamp it will be covered and trio they recently completed a 22-date tour across
left to ferment before being used to feed the cattle Russia and Siberia, and Duo Bayanello has broadcast
during winter. live from the Southbank Centre on BBC Radio 3’s ‘In
Ryan Bundy Tune’ and featured on BBC2 Proms Extra.
Fishy Humour This concert is an exciting excursion into new
territory for Stockbridge Music, and we are looking
After a day of fishing the man hadn’t forward to showcasing the trio’s exciting and varied
caught a thing. On the way home, he programme. They bring a broad spectrum of genres
stopped at the fish market. and styles, ranging from Tango, Gypsy, Folk and
Classical, and featuring works by composers, such as
“I want the biggest three trout you’ve got”, he said.
Piazzolla and de Falla, from all corners of the globe.
But when the fishmonger started to wrap them up This promises to be an evening of music-making of the
the man stopped him highest order, a fitting celebration of the return of live
”No need for that”, he said, “just throw them at me”. performance to Stockbridge.
“Why would I do that?”, asked the fishmonger. Tickets cost £18, refundable if the event has to be
The man replied, “So I can tell my wife that I caught cancelled due to any changes in government
three fish today”. restrictions. To book, please head to
https://www.stockbridgemusic.uk/buy-tickets/
. . . Is to have time to both fish and read. (B Murphy)
13Stockbridge War Memorial Update
You will all be aware that Stockbridge War Memorial showing signs of instability. Over the following years a
has been in the wars. It was damaged, and perhaps series of inspections were carried out resulting in a
weakened in 1971, when a vehicle crashed into it. The number of stone inserts being installed at the base of
current problems, however, started in January 1990 the cross to improve its stability. As warned by the
when a yew tree in Old St Peter’s churchyard was professionals, too much movement was occurring and
blown over in a storm and knocked the cross off its the repairs proved to be short-term stop gaps. A
plinth. It must have been quite a storm. The extent of letter from Tom Beattie of Historic Stonework
the damage was such that on appointing Messrs PWL Conservation in 2015 states, “I was disappointed to
& EA Page to undertake the repairs (for £1,070 + see that the mortar repairs around the base of the
VAT), the Parish Clerk wrote, “It would be cross on the west elevation have detached and ... the
appreciated if you could collect the damaged cross as pointing around the new stone insert on the opposite
soon as possible before vandalism disposes of any of side has started to collapse. I am not wholly surprised
the parts.” since it is obvious that the cross itself suffers
considerable movement in high, if not moderate,
The memorial was designed by Edwin Lutyens, who winds and the pinching movement at the bedding joint
was a friend of Herbert Johnson and the architect for between the cross and the base puts great stress on
his house at Marsh Court just south of Stockbridge. the mortars placed thereon.”
He also designed the cross at King’s Somborne and
the memorial to Mrs Herbert Johnson in Stockbridge Further repairs were undertaken, but in March 2018
cemetery. The War Memorial was unveiled in 1921 the Memorial started to lean over and become
by Mrs Herbert Johnson. The cross is some 6m tall unstable. The cross was removed from its plinth as an
and its plinth bears the names of those from the emergency measure. Following the removal of the
Stockbridge area who fell in the two World Wars. cross, Consulting Engineers were appointed by
Stockbridge Parish Council to design the necessary
The repairs carried out in 1990 involved the structural repairs. The repairs comprise a new section
installation of stainless steel dowels connecting the of stone at the base of the cross to replace the
base of the cross to the plinth. These have proved to existing degraded section, and the installation of a
be insufficient to prevent movement in high winds, and stainless steel strengthening plate between the upper
over time the stonework at the base of the cross has and lower sections of the shaft of the cross, and a
degraded. By 2012, the cross on the Memorial was second heavier section of plate between the base of
the cross and the plinth, see below.
ft
sha
ting
Exis
e
ston
Ne w
ning
n gth e
Stre plate
The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of something elusive but attainable . . .
14Preparation of the design, approval by all the relevant Learning to Live After r
bodies, planning permission and the tender process all
took time. Funds also had to be found (£10,500 – no Bereavement
VAT), of which half has been raised locally, and a grant It is one year and six months since my husband, friend
from the War Memorials Trust (WMT) covers the and cheerleader died. Garry died very suddenly, totally
other half. (This does not include costs already paid unexpectedly and the shock stayed with me for many
for the emergency demolition and design and planning weeks. My family and friends were all very good –
required to go out to tender). Matters had just about and the number of cards and flowers which arrived in
got to the stage of appointing Blackwell and Moody the days after his death was overwhelming. All
(B&M) at Magdalen Masonry Works, Winchester, to commented on his humour, his hard work and his
undertake the work, when coronavirus struck. friendliness.
Lockdowns, furloughs etc. created about a year’s delay.
However, it is great to be able to report that the work Lots of people were saying – you must come around
is now nearing completion. for supper, or a coffee . . . but then Covid 19 arrived
with the lockdown, and months of isolation with
The new piece of stone is Portland Jordans basebed permitted walks with friends the only social contact.
material, a very high quality memorial stone, and a I know there are many others who have been left
good match to the existing stone cross material. All widowed – some for many years, others more
the stonework has been completed in B&M’s yard and recently. Some deaths have been unexpected, and
the stainless steel plates resined to the lower shaft. others have followed a long and painful illness. Missing
The slot in the top of the plinth his been cut on site to your partner is like losing half of you – no more
receive the strengthening plate. This revealed the shared cups of tea, walks, chats and discussions – even
quality of the original construction. The shaft of the arguments. The radio fills the silence.
cross was jointed some 15cm into the plinth, and is as
strong now as the day it was made. The shaft insert, What I have missed more than anything is being able
which snapped off when the cross was knocked down, to talk and be with others who are likewise missing
measures some 15cm by 43cm of Portland stone, their loved one. I was hoping to go to a bereavement
which says a lot about the strength of the storm that café, but of course, that too was closed because of
originally caused the damage. The slot penetrates 40cm Covid 19. So there has been much reliance on family
into the plinth. At its base, a further insert joint was and close friends.
found between the top stone block of the plinth and A year on and I don’t cry quite so much – in the early
the wider stone below; very high quality workmanship. months something each day would trigger floods of
tears – now tears come only 3 or 4 times a week. I
The remaining work is Doff steam cleaning (approved
needed to have a focus – and for the first 3 months I
by WMT) of the stone pieces of the cross at B&M
had my lovely horse to go and look after, but he died
workshop so that high access scaffolding is not
and his loss, and the loss of exercise and focus was
required on site, and cleaning of the Memorial plinth
hard to cope with. But the churchyard wall collapsed
on site. At that point erection will take place. A day’s
in April 2020 and that certainly provided me with
excitement with a crane, and all will be completed.
something to do - I became quite expert in filling in
Kim Candler grant application forms!
After the initial shock, having something to do was
very important – so church work gave me something
Fishy Quotes of a challenge and a reason to keep going.
Some people are under the I was grateful for the prayers of others, some were
impression that all that is required to praying daily and knowing this has helped. I and a few
make a good fisherman is the ability others are exploring whether it would be helpful to
to tell lies easily and without blushing; meet up as a bereaved group to see how we could
but this is a mistake. Mere bald fabrication is support each other – and to be there for any newly
useless; the veriest tyro can manage that. It is in bereaved people. There are plenty of books and a
fairly new one is ‘The Madness of Grief’, by Revd
the circumstantial detail, the embellishing touches
Richard Coles.
of probability, the general air of scrupulous - almost
of pedantic - veracity, that the experienced angler I hope there may be some out there who would be
is seen. interested in such a group – if so, please give me a ring
Jerome K. Jerome on 01264 810284.
Maddie Hedley
. . . A perpetual series of occasions for hope. (J Burcha)
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Men and fish are alike . . .
16patients and this is not acceptable. We ask all patients
to treat our staff with kindness.
Anonymised Data Sharing from GP Records
PRACTICE
This begins on 1 July. The NHS needs data about the
patients it treats in order to plan and deliver its
Physiotherapy Appointments services and to ensure that care and treatment
available to book provided is safe and effective. The General Practice
Did you know we have a Data for Planning and Research data collection will
Physiotherapist at the Surgery? If help the NHS to improve health and care services for
you are experiencing joint pains everyone by collecting patient data that can be used to
then please ring the surgery and ask do this. For example, patient data can help the NHS
to be put on the list for the to:
Physiotherapist. There are appointments on Tuesdays
and Fridays, curently this is a telephone appointment 1. monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of
but face to face examination is arranged if required. care
If, after a consultation with the Physiotherapist, you 2. plan how to deliver better health and care services
need a sick note or medication this will also be 3. prevent the spread of infectious diseases
arranged.
4. identify new treatments and medicines through
COVID vaccination status health research
A record of your COVID vaccination status can be
found on the NHS App (if you are signed up) or by GP practices already share patient data for these
telephoning 119. We are unable to provide this purposes, but this new data collection will be more
information direct from the surgery. efficient and effective. Further information is available
at https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-
Appointments collections-and-data-sets/data-collections/general-
We appreciate that certain newspapers have indicated practice-data-for-planning-and-research/transparency-
that all surgeries were required to offer face to face notice. Information is also available at
appointments from 17 May 2021. This was StockbridgeSurgery.co.uk including the opt-out form.
unfortunately not in line with the actual NHS guidance
issued to all surgeries. Stockbridge Surgery has never
stopped offering face to face appointments, where
there is a clinical need, throughout the pandemic. For
safety we initially undertake a phone or video call
triage appointment which enables us to assess the
need for a face-to-face appointment.
On Monday 24 May staff at the Stockbridge and
Broughton sites saw 68 patients face-to-face. These
were provided by both our GP and Nursing staff.
This is in addition to 70 telephone / video / eConsult
appointments and 60 other patient queries for GPs.
We are working on opening up more routine
telephone appointments with GPs in June / July but,
due to demand, there is likely to be at least a 4 week
wait for a routine appointment. We will aim to book
you with a GP who has been involved in your care
because continuity is important. This may mean
waiting a little longer.
From early June, there will be additional information
on our website regarding accessing the right care.
Reception Staff
Our reception staff are not able to book you a face-
to-face appointment with a GP currently. Whilst we
understand this is frustrating, our front-line staff are
currently experiencing a high level of abuse from
. . . They both get into trouble when they open their mouths.
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Fishing is a discipline in the equality of men . . .
18All Change
Patrick Melville invites us to reflect on our management of our reactions to Change
When someone makes the time to say ‘thank you’ to kids into THE local school”. We had never spoken to
you, does it make you happy? The gesture alone can anyone at the church before, let alone him! I told him
give a big grin. I wasn’t going to write a piece for June that story in 2019 and he laughed, saying that he had
but on receiving this comment: “Thanks, Patrick, for never said it before or after! We made time to attend
your article. I enjoyed the parts about change” - as that service for one piece of change, and got so much
you can tell, I changed my mind! more. After this, I also went to that church more and
took so much more away. And, in case you wanted to
The physical and social changes around our
know - our kids got into that local school!
communities have been prominent. The impacts have
been strong – both in good ways and negative ways. As you go into June and July make time to take in your
Looking back at the recent event, is a bit like walking positive changes, especially if you are on Danebury
up Danebury Ring with achy legs, and then looking Ring!
back and taking in how far you have gone and the
If you want to chat with me or ask me any questions,
beautiful views.
feel free to ask Frances or Jennifer for my email
With the changes in our communities, you might have address – I’d be happy to talk.
found it harder to make time to take in what is Patrick Melville
happening around you which is positive. How many
times have you taken in the negative changes, such as Fishy Quotes
congestion on Stockbridge High Street and not taken
in the thanks from the driver who you allowed to take More than half the intense enjoyment of
their parking spot? That is a normal response as we fly-fishing is derived from the beautiful
get busier, and more distracted. Another way to surroundings, the satisfaction felt from
describe the words ‘take in’ is ‘listen’. These busier being in the open air, the new lease of
times are harder to listen to our positive moments life secured thereby, and the many, many pleasant
because of the distractions in our minds and the recollections of all one has seen, heard and done.
distractions around us. Charles F. Orvis
Recently, I read a lovely tip from a book called ‘God’s
Plan for your Wellbeing’, by Dave Smith. Dave talks
about Wellbeing in all parts of our lives – Physical,
Mental, Emotional, Financial, Relational, and
Vocational. I recommend it. He gives a good tip on
how to listen through using an anagram: take the
letters from ‘Listen’ to create the word ‘Silent’. We
find it harder to listen amongst the noise of these
busier changes. He refers to the story of Elijah; it is
only after an earthquake and fire when he can hear
God talking in a ‘gentle whisper’. Making time for
silence makes it easier for us to take in and notice our
positive moments.
Sometimes we are forced to make the time but it can
benefit us; in 2013, my family and I had just come back
to the UK after living in Paris, and were undergoing
big stressful changes. After we arrived, we quickly
realised that we needed to get our kids into school
and thankfully found a good school. The only problem
was that we needed to go to a local church to register
them. We Googled a local church and found St
Mary’s Bryanston Square. We put the next Sunday
into our diary, to go as soon as we could. At the
beginning of the service, the vicar, John, welcomed
everyone to the church to “meet new people, or get
back into autumn mode, or have free coffee, or get
your kids into the local school.” I repeat, “Get your
. . . For all men are equal before fish.
19Stockbridge Racecourse - A Bite Spitfire House Gardens
Size Fact Open Day
Driving up the road to my old home, which in the old
days would have been beside the gallops of the old What a lovely
Stockbridge racecourse, I had to pull aside for a car afternoon I had on
coming down. I didn’t recognize the driver, but we Saturday the 5th
stopped and chatted nonetheless. It transpired that the of June. I took
driver was the writer, Suzi Prichard-Jones, over from myself for a short
Florida to promote her new book. trip to Chattis Hill
near Stockbridge
I’ve lived in the middle of, what was the old Stockbridge for a Gardens
racecourse for more than 60 years, so we spoke for Open Day hosted
some time while she asked me many questions about its by Tessa and Clive
history. Unfortunately, I admit I am no expert on racing Redshaw as part of the National Gardens Scheme
matters and, without Gerald to correct me, I couldn’t be (NGS). (Tessa's surname used to be Lambert
sure of all my facts. before she married). I wish I could have brought
However, I did remember that my mother-in-law, The along my wife Kelly, but she works every other
Honorable Zeta Lambert, youngest daughter of Lord weekend and misses out on so much.
Austin of Longbridge, had over 60 winners when she was
running the Chattis Hill stables. I suggested she take a As a keen amateur photographer I like to get creative
look at Lionel Edwards’ painting in St Peter’s Church and with different subjects and gardens are one of my
at the carvings in the Grosvenor. I should have told her favourite subjects to see what I can come up with.
to visit “The Bookmark” shop in Stockbridge – maybe
After parking the car, I slung the camera and an
she did.
additional long range lens over my neck ready for
As a result of our impromptu action (they are fitted with straps by the way). I
chat, she gave me a beautifully paid my admission fee and read the introductory
bound copy of her book, ‘The leaflet handed to me. I started out by getting a few
Thoroughbred’s Ticking Time
Bomb’. Pictured in the book is
a famous horse, ‘The Tetrarch’
(1911-1935), sold to Atty
Persse while trainer at Chattis
Hill. He cost 1,300 guineas
which, in those days, would
have been a good sum. He was
known as the spotted wonder,
having been born a chestnut
with black spots.
Due to injury, The Tetrarch only raced as a two-year-
old, but he was
lightning fast, shots of the immaculate Spitfire House and lawns,
was unbeaten and then moved on to the pond eying up ideas for shots
voted best to take and from which angles and with what zoom
two-year-old of adjustments etc. Knowing I had all afternoon to get
the 20th cen creative, I took my time with the ideas as I knew I
tury. His could take plenty of pictures later getting different
trainer said of effects with
him, “He was a both my
freak and lenses. I
their will came across
never be his likes again.” He later sired three winning a lovely
colts of the St Ledger – Caligula 1917, Polemarch 1918 orchard,
and Salmon-Trout 1921. He was sold to Major Dermot vegetable
McCalmout in Ireland and is buried at the famous patch,
Ballylinch Stud. numerous
Jane Lambert beautiful
Give a man a fish; he will eat for a day . . .
20After this it was time to try out my camera once
more, concluding the afternoon by seeing what I can
come up with fitting my long range lens. I really hope
I did the gardens the justice they deserve.
flower borders, a woodland walk and much much
more.
The garden was built on one of the sites allocated to
assemble Spitfires when the Supermarine factory at
Woolston was bombed during World War 2. There
are even a number of anchor points still visible in the
garden, to which Spitfires were fastened whilst Thanks to Tessa, Clive, all the Lambert family and
starting and testing the aircraft’s Merlin engines everyone involved in such a lovely afternoon.
during the war. Colin Stokes
On top of all that I had the privilege of walking the
entire length of the former Chattis Hill Gallops and
airfield. Former local racehorse trainer Vernon Cross Well Done Fred (and partner)
was based at the Chattis Hill Stables and he and his National Bridge Champion
staff used these Gallops to get the horses fit for
racing. The stables have since been converted to a Fred Hotchen
small housing estate. Vernon had former National from
Hunt Jockeys Gordon Hicks and Frank Morby riding Broughton
for him. Gordon Hicks accumulated 24 British and his
Winners during his time with Vernon (according to partner Steve
Wikipedia). Preston from
Southampton
have won this
year’s
prestigious
Corwen
Trophy, a National English Bridge Union event
played over two days in June. The best players from
every English county are invited to play. This year a
total of 106 pairs entered the event and, in over 40
years, this is only the second time a Hampshire pair
has won.
Fred and Steve took an early lead then maintained
top position throughout the rest of the
competition. Their ultimate winning score of 60%
On my return
was an amazing achievement and 2% ahead of the
from the Gallops,
next.
I had a lovely cup
of tea and a slice Fred has run Badger Farm Bridge Club in
of cake prepared Winchester for nearly 40 years and is well known
beautifully by the locally for running bridge improvers workshops and
Lambert family beginners’ classes at various venues including The
and other Grosvenor here in Stockbridge.
volunteers.
. . . teach a man to fish and you will always find bait in the fridge.
21“Your local
Solicitors”
32 High St, Andover
SP10 1NT
�
www.bsandi.co.uk
Email:
If people concentrated on the really important things in life . . .
22Potting Shed Cuttings for July
Our weather in July:
Average temperatures: 12-22°C
Average rainfall: 2.0"/52mm
Sunshine: 215 hours
General Maintenance Vegetable Garden
Greenhouse shading, ventilation and spraying is vital Look out for the eggs of the cabbage white on
this month, to keep the temperature down to an brassicas and, if it has been warm and humid, blight on
acceptable level. If a dry spell leaves compost in potatoes and tomatoes. Keep clearing spaces as crops
containers baked dry, try adding a drop of washing-up are harvested and sow late peas, French beans, salad
liquid to the watering can. This will break the surface crops, early variety carrots, turnips and swedes, which
tension and allow water to penetrate. Alternatively, a will grow quickly, as well as beetroot, spinach, spring
few ice cubes left to melt on the surface will also cabbages and winter radishes. Clear and store onions
help. Peat-free composts seem to dry out more and shallots now, allowing them to dry out on racks or
quickly, so aim to water regularly. Don’t forget a simple drying tray made from chicken wire and
compost heaps; this is a good time to aerate heaps by offcuts of lengths of wood. With so many crops to
turning them, to break up clumps and allow more air harvest, it can seem daunting to keep up with things.
in. If they are dry, spray with a little water and add It’s important to do so, as crops such as courgettes and
compost activator to get things moving. How often beans will spoil if left too long. Root crops can be left
you need to top up ponds will depend on how hot it a little longer, as they will just increase in size.
is and the amount of evaporation. If you have fish and Micki Nadal
can’t top up from a water butt, use mains water
sparingly and only add a little at a time; alternatively
for those new to
TI P S
keep a few filled buckets in a warm and sunny spot to
allow the chlorine to evaporate. Keep the surface vegetable gardening
clear of dead leaves, duck and blanket weed and pull
out handfuls of any plants which are becoming too Looking after tomatoes is fairly
rampant. Leave them on the side of the pond for a straightforward: feed and water on a regular
few days, to allow any insect life to crawl out. basis to ensure succulent crops. For single
stemmed 'cordon' varieties, remove side
Flower Borders shoots and, by the end of the month, take out
Feed and water containers and baskets regularly now, the growing tip. Support the plants well:
as nutrients in the potting compost will have been make sure supports to the main stem are
depleted and the root systems will have filled secure, as tomato plants become very heavy
containers. Small containers may need watering once fruits start to grow, especially beef
morning and evening. Boost mixed borders with a varieties, where each fruit can weigh 1lb, so
general feed; late flowering perennials such as tying in the stem and, if possible, supporting
Japanese anemones, rudbeckias, gaillardia, phlox and any large trusses, will help protect the
asters will appreciate the extra care. Divide irises growing fruits. Cover any white roots
and trim leaves back by ½ before you replant them in appearing near the base of plants with soil or
rejuvenated beds. If you are looking for something to compost. Although greenhouse grown
fill gaps in the autumn, now is the time to plant out tomatoes have some protection from blight,
autumn crocuses, colchicums, nerines and sternbergia keep a good watch on outdoor plants as they
for a superb late flowering display. You may also find will be more susceptible to the disease.
container grown dahlias in the garden centre which,
provided you dead head them regularly, will carry on
flowering until the frosts. Stock-U Solution
(from page 7)
Fruit Garden
Prune summer fruiting currants and berries bushes if
the fruits have been picked. Clear centre growth
from red and white currants and cut back shoots you
want to keep by about one third. Blackcurrants can
be pruned back hard; some find it easier to pick and
prune at the same time, cutting off branches and
stripping them of fruit. Tidy strawberry plants and
pot up runners.
. . . There would be a serious shortage of fishing rods.
23A bad day of fishing . . . 24
And Next We Have a Plague of Mice
In Australia we are ruled and the house and farm outhouses’ electrical circuits.
by our environment. Dur-
Some farmers have been bitten in their beds and try to
ing the last 3 years we
protect their families by placing the bed legs in buckets
have endured a terrible
of water, in three towns mice have invaded local hos-
drought, then the worst
pitals and bitten patients. The mice have invaded su-
bush fires ever recorded.
permarkets polluting everything except the tinned
A flood came next and the
food. Even the toilet rolls were stripped for nesting
farmers rejoiced as they enjoyed the best crop yield in
material. Café owners lose trade when customers see
years just as the global pandemic took hold on all our
the mice. One has placed a notice in the window stat-
lives. Australia is now facing its latest challenge: a mon-
ing that they do have mice and are doing everything
umental plague of mice. Millions of rodents are running
possible to keep the place clean. Sanitising for Covid is
amok in parts of Australia’s eastern states, with resi-
a distant memory for us now.
dents sharing horror encounters daily. In rural New
South Wales, farmers have uploaded videos on social Mice plagues can
media of mice blanketing their land, damaging crops come around every
and machinery and taking up residence in their homes. 10 years or so. This
The plague of the non-native house mouse is having photographs was
severe economic and social effects on our lives. taken in May 1917 on
a farm in New South
Guy Roth farms in New South Wales. He explained:
Wales and South
“I know we had two mice per square metre in our
Australia.
cropping paddocks; that is twenty million mice. More
mice than the population of most big cities just on our When there has been
land. We are catching and disposing of up to 400 mice a long run of dry years and then downpours of rain the
each day from our house. They are in the drawers, mice start to breed. Farmers benefiting from the rain
food cupboards and run across us when we are in bed. sow two crops in the year. As with this year, the high
People are becoming exhausted, there are mice in the yields have resulted in excess grain and cotton placed
linen press, in the pantry and eating our food. The mice in storage waiting for improved prices. So favourable
are most active at night. All seems quiet outside during climatic conditions, plenty of food in the system, good
the day until we notice that our hay bales are just shelter and moisture, the mice start to breed. Mice are
collapsing in the barns. Lifting sheets of tin can reveal prolific breeders, they start when they are six weeks
thousands of mice. The mice are eating cotton crops as old and can have a litter of six pups every 19 to 21
well as the grain in silos. Our crop was so large that days after that.
we were storing extra grain in temporary plastic
bladder silos but the mice In 2012 we visited a friend in northern New South
soon gnawed their way Wales who owned a barn full of classic cars and buses.
into the grain. Farmers He had been suffering from a mouse plague and the
are giving up on summer barn contained wheel barrows full of poisoned mice,
crops because the mice the mice had eaten through the electric circuits in the
have caused so much vehicles and all the stuffing from the upholstery was
damage, so that is a total spread across the floor of the barn. In just a few weeks
crop loss.” the mice had completely destroyed the value of his
collection.
Some farmers have managed to nurture their crops
We hope that the cooler weather of the winter will
through to harvest only to have it rejected at the point
reduce the numbers. In the meantime, baited grain is
of sale because it is full of mouse droppings. The smell
being used but the mice are suspicious of the coloured
is all pervading. When they are alive mice leave a scent
grain that smells so different. Growers are baiting in
trail from their urine which is very strong, but it is
amongst rows as farmers urgently sow their winter
much worse when the mice are dead. A scientific offic-
crop as the mice are digging up the seeds. Baiting can
er who held an information night for farmers in a local
cause damage to our native wildlife and is very contro-
community hall reported that the smell from under-
versial, but the numbers of mice need to be drastically
neath the building was incredible. One farmer captured
reduced. Traps soon become full. Scientists observe
more than 500 mice in one night and shared details on
that a mice plague typically ends abruptly with a popu-
social media of how to build a bucket trap in which he
lation crash, but it is difficult to predict when this will
had caught them. The mice are chewing through the
occur. Perhaps we need a Pied Piper?
electrics in all the farm machinery and other vehicles
Jill Goodwin
. . . Is still better than a good day at the office.
25You can also read
