Edition 200 - October 2022

ST PETER'S CHURCH

We were pleased to welcome our new vicar to Berrynarbor for church services following his installation in June this year and he is settling in very well indeed. Mark also attended our PCC meeting in July with many new ideas for our Church and School.

As mentioned in the August Newsletter, Mark suggested changing the timings for our Church services and following consultation with our parishioners, it was agreed that all services will now start at 9.30 a.m. Whilst the new timing may present some difficulty for some older churchgoers, we must try and make this work - bearing in mind that Mark has to fit his busy schedule in with both Combe Martin and Pip & Jim's Churches together with us here in Berrynarbor. The new timings will, of course, give more free time to parishioners in Berrynarbor following church services on a Sunday. Rev. Mark's contact details are now available on the notice board adjacent to the Lych Gate.

James Electrics have now completed the work on our faulty internal spotlights, now replaced with new efficient LED lighting units. We are in the process of applying Smart Water anti-theft chemical to many parts of the church [exterior and interior] as requested by our Church Insurance Company. Our Gardener, Simon, continues to maintain the two churchyards to a very high standard, and during the recent heat wave it is so relaxing to sit on the bench near the Church porch donated by Jill McCrae in memory of her husband Iain and admire the beautiful view over the village.

We have enjoyed having church weddings in June and July and look forward to another happy couple to 'tie the knot' in September.

Harvest time will soon be upon us and we look forward to having our Harvest Festival Service on October 2nd followed by our Harvest Supper on October 5th, held in the Manor Hall. As usual, there will be a superb Buffet on offer together with wine, beer, cider, soft drinks, tea and coffee. The popular team quiz will once again provide lots of laughter. Tickets for this popular event are available, if any are left, from the Village Shop and PCC committee members.

Rev Mark is determined to regenerate the Christmas season involving Berrynarbor School by introducing a special Carol Service in our beautiful church prior to Christmas.

We shall be changing the time of the Christmas Eve Service to work alongside the Village Carols in the Square.

We pray for all those who are sick in our village - and especially at this time for all the refugees fleeing the war zone throughout the Ukraine and the people of Pakistan who are enduring dreadful flooding following exceptional monsoon rain. An inspiring footnote to this is that we recently welcomed a young Ukrainian lady by the name of Lillia to our Church Village Service. Lillia had expressed a wish to visit Berrynarbor Church with her Carer at this difficult time for all Ukrainian people.

Finally, on behalf of St. Peter's, I should like to thank Judie for printing our church notices in the wonderful newsletter - it will be sadly missed. Enjoy your retirement, Judie!

Sue Neale

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THE BAD POETS' SOCIETY

Do you love poetry? Do you write poetry? Do you write poetry in secret? Would you love to share your poetry with others but are scared because you are convinced you are a bad poet? The good news is, you are not alone. There are loads of us out there like you scribbling away in attics and at kitchen tables sticking all that wonderful talent in a box under the bed or in a computer file, so, I should like to bring us all together to share our writing, to talk about the stuff we love, to encourage each other, to meet other writers, and to relax and enjoy each other's company. That is why I have created The Bad Poets' Society.

You don't have to be bad, you don't have to be good, you don't even have to write poetry if prose or story telling is your thing, you just have to have a good time in the company of other people who love to write but don't take it too seriously. You will be happy to learn it will cost you nothing. No fees or putting money 'in the pot'. You don't have to bring anything [except any of your work you would like to share] but if you happen to rock up with a packet of hobnobs or a bottle of vino plonko that's fine by me!

There are no rules - this is a new group so I am hoping it will be led by its members and evolve naturally. All suggestions/ideas will be welcome.

If I can get enough people interested it will probably be once a month at my home in Combe Martin on a Thursday or Friday night.

If you think you like the sound of the Bad Poets' Society and fancy joining in, I should love you to email me so I know if we can get it up and running. janeysavin@gmail.com

Jane Savin
[07498501275]

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FROM OUR VILLAGE SHOP

Christmas is Coming

With this summer's stunning temperatures and long sunny days still warm in the memory, it seems strange to turn one's attention to the end of the year and the Christmas festivities. But now we are already into October and our Shop is gearing up for the celebrations.

We have a fabulous [and we think unrivalled] selection of Christmas cards, many with a local theme. You won't get better anywhere else [promise]. Also make sure you fill in your food and drink order forms so that you can avoid those awful last minute supermarket stampedes and relax knowing that all is in hand at your fabulous Village Community Shop. Order forms are available in the shop now.

We will again be running our very popular December raffle with two wonderful prizes. The first prize is a fabulous Christmas hamper packed full of goodies and the second is a drinks combo - something to wash down those festive treats!

The Shop's future is up to you!

Why not come and join the volunteers? Just pop into the shop and have a word with Karen, Susan or Jackie.

It's really sad to know that this is the last edition of the Berrynarbor Newsletter. It will be missed, as will Judie's unique way of 'encouraging' contributors to send her items for inclusion! We should like to add our heartfelt thanks to her for her hard work and dedication over the years.

But as we lose the Newsletter, we need to sound a warning to everyone about the viability of our village's Community Shop. Throughout the pandemic, the shop has remained open and the staff have worked tirelessly to serve our community. But now it's your turn, we've been there for you and now we need you! So, will you be there for us?

We know these are tough times for everyone and with the rise in the cost of food and energy prices, there is tremendous pressure on household budgets. The Shop too, like so many other community shops and amenities, has seen costs rise quickly. And while we're rolling our sleeves up and working hard to try to mitigate these increases, constantly reviewing where we are price-wise to ensure we remain competitive, we can't do it without you.

Of course, we can't compete with the major supermarkets' loss leaders or their buying power. We have never been able to. So, what can we give you that they can't?

• We add value to your house! According to the National Association of Estate Agents having an amenity like our wonderful community shop adds at least 5% to the value of your house. So what's it worth to you?
• The highest quality local produce - 30% of all our food is produced within 30 miles of Berrynarbor, thereby reducing our [and your] carbon footprint and supporting the South-West economy.
• You can also save fuel (and stress) by taking a lovely walk each day to the shop - never take the views for granted. This not only keeps you fit but you get to chat to someone rather than a computer beeping and telling you off for putting something unexpected in the bagging area [thank you for that one Fenella]!
• We can make up orders for you. Just phone through what you require (to 883215) and we will let you know when it's ready to collect
• A place to come and meet other villagers and chat together about what's going on in Berrynarbor, buy tickets for local events and find out more about the village's clubs and activities.

But did you know?

• If you come in just to use the Post Office it doesn't benefit the Shop in any way. It is separate. While we are delighted to be able to offer this excellent facility to our community, we should ask that you also consider spending a few pounds within the Shop while you're here. The irony of course is that if the Shop were to close, the Post Office would close with it.
• If you just come into the Shop to buy a daily paper, that makes the Shop around 20p a week. That's not enough for us to survive!
• Without more villagers using the Shop more regularly there is a distinct possibility in the not-too-distant future we'll struggle to remain open. It really could be a case of 'Use Us or Lose Us'.
• If you are a regular user of the Shop - thank you! If so, please be our ambassador and chat to your neighbours, village friends and perhaps fellow club members to see if they do. And if they don't, tell them why you do and encourage them to do the same.

And finally, is IT you?

With this being the final edition of the newsletter, the Shop will be looking to spread its latest news and offerings via social media and email. But we don't have the skills to do it ourselves. Could you help? Could you build us an attractive home page, manage updates and use all the channels available to help us keep in touch with our villagers, customers and visitors? If so, please get in touch with Paul Weston via the Shop at Berrynarborshop@onebillinternet.co.uk.

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FOR ALL ASPECTS OF GARDEN
MAINTENANCE - NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL

CALL JAKE ON

07849 763281 or 07584 075197
 
Local Lad Local Rates

 

• I Mow Down The Competition
• You Make The Call - I Do The Rest
• Keep Calm - And Let Me Carry on Gardening!
• Strimming, Grass Cutting, Hedge Trimming, Planting, Clearance

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MANOR HALL TRUST

August is usually a quiet month in the hall due to summer holidays, however we still kept busy with the Pub Night, Pam and Co's Coffee Afternoon and Karen's Quiz Night.

With the future of The Globe still up in the air we had another Pub Night on 9th September and raised a glass to Queen Elizabeth. We should like to thank all those who came and supported the nights, and special thanks to Shaun and Sam, Ray and Tom for being in charge of the BBQ's. We shall of course keep an eye on what happens with The Globe and organise more pub nights if the situation remains the same.

In addition to the Trustee-led activities, we are always thankful when others host their own events and donate their profits to the Hall. The Quiz evenings organised by Karen, Phil and Lyn fall into this category and are now providing a regular financial support for which we are very grateful. Other people have also organised their own one-off events and are kindly donating their profits to the Hall, for which we are very grateful.

Please keep supporting all the activities that you can and don't forget if you want to hire the Hall, please contact Yvonne at yvonnefrancis10@gmail.com or 07961692411.

Finally, but importantly, the Manor Hall Trustees would like to express their sincere thanks to Judie for her generous support over the years.

Sharon Gleeson
[07823881455]

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FROM THE PRIMARY SCHOOL

We returned to school on the 1st September and were so impressed by the children. They made the return to school look effortless. Very well done to all those children making that very big first step into school. We were so proud of you all. We were also very pleased to welcome a new family to the school who also have recently moved to the village - do say hello to the Barnett family if you see them.

At the time of writing, we were reflecting as a school on the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II. We spent some time in class reflecting on her extraordinary time as the UK's longest reigning monarch; as well as her role as mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and of course extending respect and condolences to the Royal Family.

Some of you may know our wonderful Kitchen Manager, Diane, left our school at the end of the summer term. We shall certainly miss her and the way she looked after us all with her delicious dinners. Good luck for all you do in the future, Diane. We are pleased to have appointed Sue Hayes as our Kitchen Manager. Sue brings with her a vast amount of experience and will lead on menu development across our Federation.

Welcome to Reverend Mark, our new Vicar. We are really looking forward to working with Mark, coming back to assemblies in the church and further strengthening that link between our School and

St. Peters. Thank you to Stuart Neale and St. Peter's for organising the gift of a Good News Bible for each of our Year 6 leavers in July. It is very much appreciated. Both Stuart and Reverend Mark attended the Leavers' Assembly and were very impressed by our confident children.

We are super excited about the year ahead, with lots of lovely activities and events planned for the children. We shall be supporting "Hello Yellow" the children's mental health charity by wearing something yellow and raising funds for this cause. We shall be holding our first celebration of learning of the year and parents will be coming along to this - a chance for our younger members of the school to show parents what they have been doing and to perform to an audience. The PTFA are holding a Quiz on the evening on the 7th October to raise funds for our lovely school. Look out for posters in the village - all welcome.

As we head into winter, we are very conscious of the problems this will pose for many people. As a school, we employ a Pastoral Co-ordinator to work with families in many areas, including assessing

grants and extra financial help. If you know someone who may need further help either due to the cost-of-living crisis or otherwise please have a look at these links from Devon County Council. Applying for the Pupil Premium grant successfully can also mean that families are eligible for further funding.

• https://www.devon.gov.uk/cost-of-living/
• https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/coronavirus/financial-support-for-individuals-and-families/household-support-fund
• https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/families

With this being our final submission for the Newsletter - we should like to thank Judie for all her tireless work and commitment as editor. It has been an invaluable source of information on village life and a great way for us to communicate with the village. We shall continue to update our website so that you can continue to keep up with our news. Enjoy a well-earned break, Judie!

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NEWS FROM BERRYNARBOR PRE-SCHOOL

At Berrynarbor Pre-school, we provide care and education for young children between the ages of 2

and 5. We still have sessions available for new children to join us. If your child is between 2 and 5 years, please get in touch and book a viewing to see our setting and what we can offer your child in their 'first taste of education'. Call on 07932 851052 or email preschoolberrynarbor@gmail.com for information.

Our Opening Times are 8.30am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday.

We are flexible and have a range of session times to meet your needs.

We are Ofsted registered and in receipt of the 2-year-old funding and Early Years Entitlement. We offer 30 hours free childcare to eligible families. Further information in regards to this funding can be found at 30 hours free childcare - GOV.UK

Autumn Term 22

A warm welcome back to Pre-school after a lovely sunny summer. We welcome all our new children and look forward to getting to know them as they start their learning journey with us.

Our Topics this Half Term

Me, My Family and Friends, Pre-school rules, keeping safe, Autumn and Halloween.

We started the term with All about Me, getting to know our children, their families, pets and interests. We moved on to explore Our Senses; touch, see, hear, smell and taste. This topic encouraged, kind hands, sharing, good listening and eating well. We talked about good oral health and how to clean our teeth which is very important even at this young age.

As part of the children's settling in, we helped the children recognise their written names such as those on their peg and tray. We encouraged them to explore the setting both inside and outside. We offered support and encouragement in independence with self-care and engaged in conversations about Pre-school rules, keeping safe, our feelings and discussed new learning ideas and interests. We have guided role play and to develop an enjoyment for books through storytelling and songs.

A message from the Pre-school Committee

We are always looking for parents to join on our Pre-school Committee. The Pre-school cannot operate without their support and positions such as a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are vital other positions, such as fundraising, are also important as we run as a charity.

Initially, a DBS [Police check] needs to be completed and then an Ofsted/EY2 application. We meet around 4-5 times a year in the evening. You could also be involved in proof-reading policies and help make decisions about the Pre-school. Our AGM is held every October [date to be set] with all parents welcome. If you are interested in becoming a committee member, please speak with either a committee member or a member of staff.

A Message from our Community Nurse - Immunisation

It's really important that children continue to receive their booster vaccines and MMR vaccine. They are also entitled to the Flu Nasal spray.

For more details see the links below:

Best wishes from the Committee and Pre-school Staff

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FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL

On behalf of the Parish Council, I should like to reiterate my sincere condolences to the Royal Family on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, our longest reigning monarch.

The nation has come together to mourn the loss and acknowledge the lifelong service given by the Queen.

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we welcome King Charles III. The Accession Council met at St James's Palace on Saturday 10th September 2022 to proclaim our new Sovereign. The Accession Council also made an order requiring High Sheriffs to cause the Proclamation to be read in the areas of their jurisdiction, following which many local Proclamations have been read in North Devon.

"God Save the King."

Following the passing of the Queen, the Parish Council's September meeting had to be cancelled as periods of national mourning cannot be included within the legal notice.

Unfortunately, this issue of the Newsletter will be the last as the long serving Editor, Judie Weedon, has decided to retire and a replacement has not been forthcoming. As Chairman of the Parish Council, I should like to offer my wholehearted thanks to Judie for all her work in producing so many Village Newsletters.

Cllr Adam Stanbury - Chairman

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CROSSWORD CORNER
David Beagley

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BERRYNARBOR NEWSLETTER

Following an initiative of the Community Department of Ilfracombe College [as it was then] for villages in the area to produce their own newsletter/magazine, and with the blessing of the Parish Council, the Berrynarbor Newsletter, with a short-term committee of

Tom Bartlett, Josef Belka, Vi Davies, Elaine Fanner, Margaret King and Judie Weedon, was launched in August 1989.

The first issues of the bi-monthly A5 booklet publication contained 20 pages were produced with stencils and an erratic and inky duplicator, the 300 copies, printed by courtesy of Ilfracombe College, being collated and stapled by hand. Since 2002 It has been printed professionally, first by Len Goddard of Combe Martin and then for the last 11 years by David Beagley - the Mover and Shaker of Edition 199.

Over the years it has contained news of local interest, forthcoming events and reports of events past, articles on the village history and topics of general interest, together with a crossword to keep puzzlers happy! Many of these articles have been illustrated by four willing local artists - Debbie Rigler Cook, Nigel Mason, the late Peter Rothwell and Paul Swailes, latterly it's Artist in Residence. Only by the wonderful support of the contributors, especially the regular ones and the many readers, has it been able to continue for 33 years.

Established as a 'freebie' publication, it has been financed by a continued grant from the Parish Council and by donations from the Parochial Church Council and readers themselves, some 100 of whom have received it by post for which they have paid an annual subscription. Advertising, the policy for which has been to keep it to a minimum and for local businesses only, and fund-raising events have helped to boost the coffers.

Since 2004, the Newsletter has had its own website - www.berrynarbor-news.co.uk which is now being updated with all editions, from 1 to 199 included, just this, the 200th to be added. The early editions published on the website were cut down versions of the hardcopy, but latterly the website has featured the entire newsletter. Since space is not a premium online, it has been possible to add high resolution versions of the artwork and images that make the newsletter so special. The website has also allowed the categorising of the articles, allowing series to be viewed as a whole rather than edition by edition. Galleries have also been included for the aforementioned artists and also for Tom's Postcards, which really come to life online allowing the finer details of each to be appreciated.

The plan is to keep the website running once the Newsletter [in its current form] stops being published. There is however a cost associated with this, both in terms of the domain name of Berrynarbor-news.co.uk and also for the web hosting. How this will be funded remains to be resolved, but the website is a valuable asset for the village, containing 33 years of social history spread over 6500 articles and with 5500 images. Over time the content will become ever more precious - it is hoped it will become a reference for future generations to enjoy.

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LOCAL HANDYMAN

Painting
Decorating
Decking
Planters Built
Patios
General Repairs

JOHN WILLIAMS
007950 925004

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THE SOUND COLLECTOR

Organist and Choirmaster at St. Peter's since 2000, and for many years Organist at St. Peter's, Combe Martin, I had a surprise communication in July from Hillary Richards, Churchwarden at Combe Martin, inviting me to play the organ for a film company called Eagle Vs Bat, which I gratefully accepted.

Combe Martin residents, Tom and Erica Angell, are creators of a children's television show for which they were asking for permission to film inside Combe Martin Church for a series called 'The Sound Collector', about a little deaf individual who collects sounds. The locations of the series are live action and two small puppets are the stars. These will be added in animation after filming of each episode is complete. The filming required specific sounds to be recorded and it was decided to start by using the sound of the church bells at Combe Martin, and later the sound of the pipe organ.

So, the day cometh and I was asked to play some music, some soft, some louder, but having to avoid infringing composers' copyright. In the final analysis, I decided to play something that was literally in my head, a sort of jazz technique/improvisation but not actually playing jazz music. The morning session went very well indeed and was duly recorded for the series.

The little puppet was a masterpiece of design, about 20cms in height, and its anatomy was fully mobile using internal armature to enable it to be placed in any location within the live action, but adjacent to the sound it was collecting. The series will be shown on ITV next year, so watch this space!

Finally, I wish to thank Tom, Erica and all the film crew for their kindness and appreciation on the day.

Stuart Neale

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Greetings and good wishes to Jill McCrae on gaining another 'O' Level, 90 years young on the 24th August.

Congratulations to Tom and Inge who reached their Diamond Wedding Anniversary, 60 years since their wedding in the UK on the 1st September and on the 7th in Germany. And belated good wishes to Alan and Nora Rowlands who recently celebrated their Diamond Wedding.

Congratulations to Harry Weedon, who having excelled at 'A' Level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry, has won a place to study Engineering at Peterhouse Cambridge. Peterhouse is the oldest college at Cambridge, being attended by such notables as Lord Kelvin, Charles Babbage and David Mitchell. It was chosen by Harry as it is where the Cambridge Cycling Club meet each week!

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FOR YOUR LAST 'JUDIE NEWSLETTER'

I am sure I write on behalf of all your readers when I say a HUGE thank-you to you for all the amazing Berrynarbor Newsletters you have produced for the village over the years. We shall miss receiving them anymore, and I sincerely hope someone will come along and take-up the challenge to continue your commitment to keep everyone informed of Berry's goings-on. Thank you, Judie - enjoy a bit more time for yourself and your family! You should feel incredibly proud of your amazing, much appreciated job - well done!

Marian Delve - former resident of Bessemer Thatch

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BERRYNARBOR WINE CIRCLE

Ten-Acre Vineyard is tucked away down a track off the Old Torrington Road, Winkleigh. If you can form a group, the owner-founder, Toby McKinnel will give you an informative and amusing insight into his artisan wine-making business, overlooking soft Devonian hills and Dartmoor. His career, spanning 22 years, began in Hungary, having purchased a property, he discovered at a later date that it came with a vineyard!

He grows three types of grapes: Rondo, Madeleine Angevin and Pearl of Zala. He is the only grower in the UK to grow the latter: a Hungarian vine. His white wines are vintage in style, meaning that they, usually, taste different from year to year; he doesn't play with them to try and ensure that this year's are the same as last. Thirteen Wine Circle members had a tour and tasting of his produce: still and sparkling. It was a delightful visit and even the sun managed to shine, at times, on what had been mainly a very wet September week. We followed this with lunch at The Kings Arms, Winkleigh. Winkleigh village has been fortunate; Faye and Rich became new owners in March 2018. Their attention, service and food were excellent and the pub, generally, had a buzz to it. It's a shame it's an hour away!

"Wine - the intellectual part of the meal". Alexandre Dumas

The Circle's new season, 2022-23, begins on Wednesday, 19th October, with a Tour of Italy. 16th November is The Wine Society; 14th December is our Christmas Do. 18th January will be a view of the Magnificent Rhone Valley. Our ever-popular and hilarious Call My Bluff will be the highlight of February, on the 15th, and Nigel Pound presents on 15th March. Confirmation of presenters for our final two months, April and May, will occur in 2023.

We always meet in the Manor Hall, at 8.00 p.m. There is plenty of space for new members - you will receive a warm welcome and a few glasses!

Judith Adam - Promotional Co-ordinator

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BAILEY'S BLOG

I have been thinking long and hard about what I should write in this final edition of our village magazine. I could regale you with my usual tales of mishaps and misadventures, experienced over the summer. [Yes, I admit there have been a few!] For example, the incident with the dam-building at Watermouth when a rock got lodged in my mouth or the day I escaped and sneaked into Jenny and Lee's house and stole Yogi's food right under Jenny's nose! However, this will be my last opportunity to really talk to you and I have decided I ought to take a more serious tone . . . or try anyway!

This newsletter has always been about reaching the community, talking about that community; sharing events and activities in the community and celebrating the community. When you look back over all the editions over the years, especially now that they are on-line, you realise this newsletter has provided a social history of the village. I hope in some small way I have highlighted the vital role us dogs play in that community too. We are an important part of Berrynarbor; a quirky crew who all play their part in making this village a special place. You could analyse the number and types of dogs that have lived here over the years and if you did, I can guarantee I am the first ever Clumberdoodle. [Always said I was unique!] We come in all shapes and sizes; each with our own personalities. Some big and boisterous, some small and playful. Our barks, temperaments, and abilities all vary. The little ones can be the most vocal, whilst the collies are incredibly smart. Some love ball games, whilst others favour sticks. Some walk to heal whilst others pull their long-suffering owners all around the village! [I hold my paw up to that one!]

We are all very special in our own way just like all you villagers. Some of you are quiet and keep yourselves to yourselves whilst others are lively and enjoy all the community events. Some stand out like Wendy, renowned baker, Ollie, Dan and Sal, great gardeners, the Bridles, quiz masters extraordinaire, Karen, Susan and Jackie great shop keepers, Seretse the great story teller and lover of nature, George the Vicar, Alan the floorer, Victoria the dog whisperer and Judie editor of this village newsletter. We all play our part in making this village a great place to live; a wonderful community. And whilst this might be the last newsletter and my last blog, we will go on playing together, supporting each other, and sometimes annoying each other. [Yes, Dora I will continue to annoy you!] It's what village life is all about.

Artwork: Debbie Rigler Cook

Thank you, Debbie, for the lovely picture of me and all my friends and thank you, Judie for giving me the chance over the last two years to put forward a doggy perspective of life in this village. I am going to miss your deadlines but please keep the treats coming! Sadly, it is time for me to hang up all my leads, and woof off!

See you around.

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A TOE OF WOE

That was all the sympathy I got from my good friend Jan in Norfolk, followed by six more clever verses, when I had to have my little toe amputated recently. There isn't room for all her verses, nor the reason for my loss, but it made me wonder about the origin of this beloved nursery rhyme. Google helped!

 
gailhampshire, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The rhyme has been told in different languages all round the world. It originated in a melody of 1728 called The Nurse's Song, but not until 1760 did the full version appear in the famous Tom Thumb's Little Story-Book, together with Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hickory, Dickory Dock, Pat-A-Cake and so on. The author of 'Piggy' is unknown.

As we all know, it is associated with wiggling a child's various toes, the last one being the 'pinky' when the bottom of the foot is tickled, resulting in many squeals and giggles. It's a good way to teach infants and toddlers to count to five and often causes as much fun for the ones doing the tickling!

But give a little thought to what it is saying - the darker interpretation of this little rhyme. The 'little piggy going to market' is not off to the supermarket! It probably means he's going to be slaughtered and become a juicy pork joint, or breakfast bacon. The 'little piggy staying at home' could mean that he's not yet mature enough to be eaten. The one eating roast beef needs to be fattened up and the poor little one with none is probably too small for anything other than to be eaten by the farmer's family. And what of the one crying wee, wee, wee? He's probably just terrified!

So try not to think about its meaning when next you wiggle a little one's toes - and remember that for them, "Innocence is Bliss!" Jan, however, wasn't going to let me get away with innocence. Her final verse read:

I didn't keep the toe, and she's still a very good friend!

Pam Parke

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YES, OR NO?

As I stood on the car park overlooking Newberry Beach, what should I see?

Lying there, apparently without a care were two mermaids. Did I say mermaids? Yes, there were two! I clambered down to the beach to make their acquaintance and say hello.

"Hello!" one replied, and I was glad I was able to talk to them. "We are not really mermaids," Jill said, "These are just pull-on tails, held on with Velcro. I must explain to you that we are both to appear next week at the Water Show in London, so we are just getting our hands in, so to speak." What a fool I felt!

Of course, there are not really mermaids - or are there?

 

Illustrated by: Paul Swailes

Tony Beauclerk - Stowmarket

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RURAL REFLECTIONS - 106

According to Google the meaning of the word aspire is to direct one's hopes or ambitions towards achieving something. This definition led me to question whether the word applies to everyone. After some consideration I came to the conclusion that it depends on the extent to which the word is interpreted. Personally, I know many people who do not regard themselves as ambitious, something that I feel is a direct consequence of us living in a culture where the word is linked to one's work status. Yet if, for example, a person has a disability [employed or otherwise] which impedes them from doing everyday activities, then aspiring to successfully carry out day-to-day tasks can be regarded as an achievement; and having lived with epilepsy all my life. I feel I have some background knowledge on the subject. But I digress . . .

Google's definition of the word aspire also led me to consider people in society who do good deeds for their fellow citizens - something that the pandemic has undoubtedly brought to the fore. The more I contemplated this, the more it seemed to me that such people fall into two groups; those who are somewhat conceited and boastful and those who are modest and humble. Although I feel the former group are a minority in our society, I have, unfortunately, come into contact with quite a number of people who aspire to seek the highest mountain top to tell their stories of great deeds to anyone who is willing [or not] to hear them. Such proclamations are, I feel, for two reasons. Firstly, they enable the person's alter ego to swell to an even larger size than what it already is, but more significantly, it allows them to receive as much gratitude as is possible from all those connected with the good deeds they undertake.

To me, this is the key difference between these people and those who are humble and modest; for this latter group do not carry out their good deeds with the intent of seeking praise. [It is important to remember, however, that it is acceptable to receive praise when it is given rather than bat it away.] There is one such 'person' who I know that is modest, giving pleasure to everyone all year round - or at least to those with whom they come into contact - and never expect gratitude: our natural world. However, that is not to say there are those of us who give thanks for the beauty of nature in our own way whether it be through prayer, meditation or whilst in direct contact with our natural surroundings; and whilst our countryside may not expect obligatory praise for the contentment and satisfaction it provides, it would do us no harm to at least give nature the respect it deserves, rather that inflict any further damage upon it. One can only live in hope that as a society we have culturally reached a turning point to recognise the past consequences of the damage already inflicted upon our natural surroundings.

But back to the subject of praise; and, more significantly, the fact that this will be my last Rural Reflections article and so time to say thank you to all those who have helped, contributed towards and encouraged me to write over 100 articles during the last twenty-two years. Firstly, you the readers, and not forgetting those who have passed away, without whom there would have been no articles; your positive comments have made me feel that my efforts to devise and compose my contributions have been worthwhile. Secondly, to Paul and Debbie who have produced wonderful illustrations [often at short notice!] to accompany my articles. Thirdly, my husband Dean for typing up 106 articles, the fingers of his two hands being somewhat quicker on the keyboard than the index finger of my left hand and thumb on my right hand [the latter only used if a capital letter would have been required!].

And finally to Judie, especially for her bi-monthly nagging [her word, not mine] for another submission. Judie, there were times in the past when I wondered if I should call it a day. But it was my loyalty to you and my admiration of your dedication to this newsletter that kept me going and ensured another article was forthcoming. So, from Dean and myself, a huge thanks for all the effort and unrelenting hard work you have given to the Berrynarbor Newsletter over the past years.

Illustrated by: Paul Swailes

Steve McCarthy

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30

CHANGE

Change can be challenging
Causing pain and confusion
But thinking things can always be the same
is sadly, pure delusion.
 
As nature shows,
our world is ever-changing.
Each new day starts afresh.
Our environment ever-rearranging.
 
Whilst life goes on,
death can impact too,
throwing turmoil into daily life.
Emotions over-taking you.
 
We have to bend and adapt to life's changes,
acknowledging when they're gone.
Some things just have to be accepted
it's no good holding on.
 
Change can be simple;
a chance to modify.
Or it can be traumatic;
a fact I can't deny.
 
Embracing change can be tough
but therapeutic sometimes as well.
Allowing time to revaluate.
Appreciating things that compel.
 
We have to accept life's rich tapestry
with its ups and its downs.
Absorbing it's changing patterns.
Creating smiles as well as frowns.
 
But feeling you have to make changes
just for changes sake.
Be careful, my dear friend
for that could be a big mistake!
 

Pam Robinson

Illustrations by: Paul Swailes

31

NATURE NOTES - SWAN-SONG
with Tim Davis

Swans don't sing, I hear you cry! But they do - after a fashion - though not quite with the operatic, pre-death aria ascribed to them by the Ancient Greeks.

With autumn in full swing and winter just around the corner, now is the time of year when Britain's full complement of wild swans will be present on our wetlands and surrounding fields, in particular those of conservation organisations such as the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts. The UK is host to three species: the very familiar mute swan which is a native resident with its famous Royal connection, the whooper swan and, the smallest of the three, Bewick's swan, which like the whooper is a winter visitor from far northern climes.

Mute swans are actually far from mute. Cygnets make loud whistling calls, but once they reach adulthood their main noises become grunts and snorts, especially during the breeding season. One of the best places locally to watch - and hear - mute swans is Wrafton Pond, easily reached along the Tarka Trail from its starting point at Velator in Braunton. One or two pairs nest here each year and the male's vocalisations, when defending its territory or seeing off a rival suitor, can be quite alarming!

Both whooper and Bewick's swans are vocal throughout the year, especially when on water and in flight. The calls of these two winter visitors are however quite different.

Bewick's swans make a soft, almost musical bugling call. They breed on tundra in Arctic Russia from where they make a 3,500-kilometre journey to the warmer winter climes of the UK, mainly in eastern England, Lancashire and around the WWT Slimbridge reserve on the Severn Estuary. Whilst numbers visiting Slimbridge have fallen in recent years, last winter's total of 128 birds included 33 juveniles, which made it the most successful breeding season since 1966. A winter visit to Slimbridge provides the opportunity to see the swans up close, especially during the late afternoon feeds on the Rushy Pen - which you can enjoy whilst seated in a heated observatory, hot chocolate in hand.

Whooper swans are highly vocal, their loud trumpeting calls like a 1920s car horn! They breed in Iceland and fly non-stop at very high altitudes to wintering grounds in Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and East Anglia. A few 'overshoot' their intended destination - especially if there is a strong tail wind - and turn up in Devon from time to time, like the six birds [pictured] which spent a short time on Lundy. Others have appeared on Braunton Marshes.

What further differences are there between the three species? Adult mute swans have red and black bills, while whooper and Bewick's have yellow and black bills, a key difference being the greater extent of yellow on the whooper's bill - which you might be able to pick out in the photo montage. Mutes and whoopers are roughly the same size in length and wingspan, while Bewick's are smaller (about four-fifths the size of the other two), with a distinctly shorter and straighter neck than a whooper's.

Altogether there are seven species of swan worldwide, the other four being trumpeter (the largest of all and found in North America), tundra (arctic North America), black-necked (Falkland Islands and southern South America) and black (Australia). All occur in wildfowl collections in the UK. Of these, black swans, which have long been a feature (and the emblem) of Dawlish in South Devon, were first imported into the UK in the late 18th century and first bred in the wild in 1851 in Surrey. They now occur widely as introductions or escapes. Black swans are also known to form hybrid pairs with mute swans and produce offspring - known as 'blute swans'!

Clockwise from top left:
Bewick's swans (photo: Jeff Hazell), mute swan (photo: Alick Simmons) and whooper swans on Lundy (photo: Nigel Dalby)

My Swansong

As a teenager growing up in Barnstaple in the late 1960's I was totally unaware of the riches of the wildlife around me until I met someone who introduced me to Lundy, and subsequently to the joys of 'birdwatching with a purpose' (e.g. carrying out monthly counts of wildfowl and wading birds on the Taw/Torridge Estuary) and to discovering the many wild places that took me to. Little did I know that this would open the door to a 40-year career working for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), The Wildfowl Trust and WWF International before returning to North Devon in 2001 to establish, with Tim Jones, our nature-focused consultancy.

Over the past 21 years living in the Sterridge Valley, once again involved in estuary counts, recording birds and other wildlife at home, on Lundy and around North Devon, and more recently doing bird surveys for the National Trust on some of their coastal land holdings, the enormity of habitat loss and wildlife declines through human activity has hit us with the force of a brick - whether here in North Devon, elsewhere in the UK, or further afield. A recent assessment by Tim J of more than 50 years of counts on the Taw/Torridge Estuary revealed a 68% decline in average peak numbers of wintering waterbirds. And where 20 years ago the skies above the valley in spring and summer would be filled with locally breeding Swallows and House Martins and a dozen or more Swifts, nowadays the Swallows and martins are many fewer in number and Swifts have all but gone.

Collectively in the valley and village, we live within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) but sometimes we risk confusing what we think of as 'beautiful', with what is good for nature. In these times of a rapidly changing climate and declining insect and bird populations, we can all do our bit. That might mean thinking about how to make a bit more space for wildlife in our gardens, farm fields, hedges and verges - letting rough corners stay rough, allowing a bit of gorse or furze here and there, or restoring ponds or wet flushes that can help resist drought. A lot has changed with agricultural policy and farming practices. Encounters with Yellowhammers for instance, once common across North Devon, are now rare as the seed-producing crops on which they used to depend in winter have largely disappeared.

There are of course plenty of good things happening. One example is the recent clear-felling of swathes of mature Sitka spruce and western hemlock from Woolscott Cleave. In spite of the dramatic change in appearance, this will allow natural regeneration of native broad-leaved trees such as silver birch, hazel, rowan and willow, along with sweet chestnut which may take the place of the stricken ash, supplemented by some additional planting of oak.

As awareness of our fast-diminishing wildlife grows, a question I am increasingly asked is, 'What can I do to help?' If you have a garden, no matter how small, create a pond and/or a wildflower meadow, even if it's only a small patch. You will be amazed at how quickly your pond will attract wildlife, from pondskaters and whirligig beetles to dragonflies and damselflies, toads, frogs and newts. If you don't have a garden, a window box planted with nectar-rich flowering plants will attract pollinating insects, especially bees. If neither of these opportunities work for you, you can support nature-recovery projects by donating or subscribing to organisations such as Devon Wildlife Trust, the Woodland Trust, Plantlife, Buglife and the RSPB.

Good luck.

Tim Davis

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33

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

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