Thank You, Thank You, Thank you.

Thank you for all the generous donations that have come through from supporters so far this year. It appears that the online donation payment method was a big success. The donations will help enormously with covering production costs.
It was pointed out, by many groups, that the decline in donations in the last few years was, for some, purely because they had “forgotten” as there was no reminder sent.
This annual reminder will now be re-introduced, before the end of the financial year, to all groups who have donated in the previous year.
Donations from Clubs & Parish Councils so far are as follows:
1) £100 from Bainton PCC.
2) Barnack Parish Council have donated £500
3) the Monday Club £40
4) The Bowls Club £10
5) We also received £100 from a local business: Portfolio Luxe Ltd.

Thank you also to all those readers who have donated in cash or used link provided to donate online. https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QGL6A0AE

Parish News Questionnaire – Feedback

We just wanted to say a big thank you to all those who took the time to respond to the feedback form, or get in touch, regarding whether they read the printed magazine or not.
We received nearly 200 formal responses from either the online form, WhatsApp polls or direct emails/phone calls. 187 Yes votes and 13 No votes. This is a response rate of approximately 25% – pretty good for a public survey – and this rate is based on the assumption that there was only one response per household across approximately 800 houses, across the six villages.
Not pure statistical analysis but we achieved our goal of generating enough feedback and opinion to make a decision. We fully appreciate that those who didn’t respond are probably the majority who don’t read it, but the volunteer team feel there is still enough positivity for the magazine, that it is worth continuing its production for now.
Here’s a flavour of the key messages received from the feedback – positive and negative – which have all been taken on board:
“Keep it going…”; “Great for local news, would be very sorry to see it go…”; “Please don’t stop…”; “We read every month and it’s useful for Parish Council news….”: “I find the magazine helpful for finding tradesmen for jobs in the garden and around the house…..”; “It’s very useful way to keep up with what goes on in the village…”; “I love it”
“Love reading the news finding out what’s on…..Although suppose this could be done by monthly email. ??? Would save printing- I do make annual donation. Am much appreciative of all the contributors and work involved…”
“I rely on the magazine for seeing what is going on and for Parish Council news. It is also the most reliable delivery system for getting a message to every household using included flyers”
“Any useful info can just be posted on line, eliminating almost all costs”
“It has very local reports although I fully expect that one day it will be swallowed up by the Helpston Tribune. Whether or not they would want to publish some of the more local contributions (other than parish council meetings) remains to be seen….”
“My concern for online only is that some particularly older residents might miss out…”
“I think it is amazing and read it cover to cover. Relying on social media would exclude a significant number of residents at the moment (I snip photos from Heritage Barnack for a friend in the village who doesn’t access Facebook). There will be a time we can move it online but not just yet……”
“……the parish councils rely on the parish news to report meeting minutes, so it is an important communications conduit for many who don’t have Facebook or don’t or cannot visit the noticeboards. For the same reason, news and events notices are an important feature of community, especially for older people…..”
“I don’t read it all, but I usually flick through it at least.”
“When you don’t use Facebook it’s a really good way to find out village news”
“An excellent magazine with lots of helpful information..”

Buttercross Club

Elspeth introduced us to a fascinating history of lacemaking before demonstrating the intricacies of the craft.

It is thanks to Nicholas Hilliard’s portraits of Elizabeth the first and many courtiers that we can today appreciate the exquisite lace ruffs and decorations on their lavish costumes. Before the sixteenth century, the origins of lacemaking are largely unknown as it was an exclusively female occupation and therefore not recorded in the history books.However it is thought that needle lacemaking akin to embroidery predominated until Catherine of Aragon was thought to have introduced bobbin lacemaking to England. And here in England there are many lace patterns attributable to different regions, such as Bedfordshire lace, Buckinghamshire lace and the most famous Honiton lace from the South West. Nottingham lace came to the fore in the 1800s with the Industrial Revolution and machine manufactured lace, man made fibres often replacing traditional cotton thread.

Elspeth explained that the intricate motifs on Honiton lace require ten hours of work per square inch. It took forty women seven years to complete a lace dress for Queen Anne in the early eighteenth century. It is no wonder that historically lace was more precious than jewels and that smugglers took advantage of this lucrative trade, France being a major supplier. Lace was found inside a loaf of bread, for example, and just before the burial of a deceased clergyman the coffin lid was opened and revealed the body replaced by  bolts of lace. To this day, royal wedding dresses and christening robes have lace incorporated into them. In the twentieth century traditional hand made lace died out and although there was a renewed interest in the 60s and 70s, lacemaking remains on the red list of endangered crafts.

Bobbin lacemaking is based on the weaving process; the bobbins are worked in pairs  and follow a paper pattern. The bobbins themselves can be just plain and functional but many are decorative and have become collectors’ items, including hanging bobbins from the time when lacemakers gathered to watch public executions.

Elspeth brought in many samples of the different lace to show us and also the complicated paper patterns full of tightly packed holes that have to be “pricked out”. We then watched in amazement how Elspeth worked the pairs of bobbins around the pattern pins. What a labour of love and what patience and concentration needed!

The next Buttercross meeting of 3rd June is an outing to Easton Walled Garden.

Bainton & Ashton Fete 2026

Reminder to one and all of the day of our FETE this year.
13th September 1pm kick off with BBQ and Bar, tea tent, children’s races and the chance to win a Barrow Of Booze. What’s not to love. We look forward to seeing you there….
Anyone able to help set up and/or on the day please do get in touch – the more the merrier….
Su & Graham Fletcher Su.fletcher@outlook.come

IT TAKES A VILLAGE(S!) – WE NEED YOUR HELP – PARTY AT THE PAVILION & BARNACK HORTICULTURAL SHOW

Saturday 27th June – 12 Noon til 5 pm – Barnack Cricket Ground
VOLUNTEER TO HELP ON DAY/CLEAR DOWN – Saturday 27th June for a maximum of 1 hour on any “station” of your choice or just be flex where needed: Morning setup; BBQ serving; Parking; Bottle Tombola, Inflatables; Bar; Human Table Football; Tea/Cake Tent…
Marquees will be going up on Friday 26th June (weather permitting) following the kid’s cricket session from 18:30 –if you’ve done it before we definitely need you! Sunday 28th June for morning clear up
SPONSOR US through you own local business – £30 for A5 advert or £50 for A4 advert. Displayed on our large sponsors board all day by the bar! This helps cover our event costs.
DONATE A BIG RAFFLE PRIZE – donate a prize to our big draw. We’d rather have 10 x “biggies” than lots of “littlies” if possible thank you!
DONATE A CAKE/SWEET TREAT – for the tea/cake tent
DONATE A BOTTLE to the infamous “Baumber’s Bottle Tombola” in memory of our lovely Barnack resident Mike Baumber who always ran this stall: alcohol, soft drinks, toiletries, sauces… if it’s in a bottle, we’ll have it. We’ll come collect it, if you let us know!
ENTER HORT CLASSES – as many as you like for the Horticultural Show. Keep this lovely tradition alive. You can enter via the QR code on the back page advert of this edition and complete the entry form or ask for a form to be sent to you: bookings.barnackca@gmail.com/ call: 07795 565658
See the centre spread for the full schedule of classes and entry rules.
WALK TO THE EVENT IF YOU CAN! – for visitors from afar the field opposite Walcot Hall will be open again for parking. Disabled parking at the ground.
THANK YOU FROM THE TEAM
Contact Barnack Community Association: bookings.barnackca@gmail.com/ Sally Hullock 07795 565658

BENEFICE MEN’S BREAKFAST

Michael Permarker will be the speaker at the next Men’s Breakfast and will talk on ‘The United Nations, Prisons and Healthcare’. The Breakfast will be held on Saturday 13th June at the usual time of 8.30-10.00am in Barnack Village Hall. An invitation is extended to all men to come along to share in a full English breakfast, listen to a good speaker and enjoy the company of other guys. You can just come along on the day, but a quick call to Mike Mills (07523 312 387) beforehand is helpful.
Bee Swarm required for empty hive in Barnack.
Please contact Marc and Sarah on 07798835834 if you find a swarm.

Barnack Messy Church.

There will be Messy Church at Barnack on June 14th, at the usual time of 3.30pm. The title is “A Tale of Two Builders”.
Please do come along. On arrival, there’ll be snacks and drinks, followed by themed activities and fun crafts. Then songs, a thought on the Bible theme and a prayer. Looking forward to seeing you! Mike Mills on behalf of the team (07523 312 387).

Ufford Table Tennis

Congratulations to The Ufford Table Tennis Club which won the Stamford League in May .
New members welcome!
Ufford Village Hall@gmail.com for details

Fundraising Concert For local charities  – One A’chord Singing Troop

Our 30 piece singing group present our Summer Concert accompanied by our 4 piece band. Come along and sing along…raising vital funds for local charities. There will be refreshments available and bring some pennies for the obligatory raffle.
Saturday 20th June 7.30pm Stamford Methodist Church
Hope to welcome you there.

What if there wasn’t a Parish Council…….

Secular parish councils were established by law in 1894 and are an important part of our Democratic Process.
Democratic services are overseen at parish level by the Principal Authority, Peterborough City Council in the case of Barnack.
Generally speaking, residents of a parish can ask to have a parish council if there are at least 100 electors. Otherwise, a parish meeting would be held once a year to address concerns and make requests of the Principal Authority. Parishes of over 1000 electors are expected to have a council.
Once a council exists it is very unusual for it to be dissolved. If electors make representation to the Principal Authority, and if there has been no indication to the contrary over several years, the council may be dissolved and all responsibilities and assets passed to the Principal Authority.
The Principal Authority determines how many councillors a parish can have. A minimum of three elected councillors is needed for a council to be quorate. (If this is not met the parish council cannot co-opt further councillors). If a council is not quorate the Returning Officer of the Principal Authority must organise another election. If fewer names are put forward for election than places on the council those names are automatically elected. If a council cannot be quorate the Principal Authority appoints members to make the quorum, until such time as new parish councillors are found.
A parish council must have a clerk, a responsible financial officer (usually the clerk) and a chairman.
A functioning parish council represents its residents in many ways: the parish council is a statutory planning consultee;the council has fund-raising powers through the precept; and it controls how Community Infrastructure Levies (payable per square metre by the developer on new-build houses) are spent. A parish council can decide how significant amounts of money are invested on behalf of its residents.
In summary parish councils undertake a wide range of activities thereby ensuring the parish both looks and feels well-maintained. Through this local democratic organisation residents have a direct influence on the way their neighbourhood develops.
A fully manned and well-motivated parish council really does make a difference.
…..if there wasn’t a Parish Council we’d have to invent one.

THE JOY OF CARBOOTs

A great way to have a declutter, make some extra money and enjoy a fun morning out!
Locally, a carboot is held every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from March to October – weather permitting! As a seasoned “carbooter” there is no better way to have a good sort-out and declutter. Your home feels refreshed and you have some extra cash in your pocket! On our first time attending Tallington, a local carboot, we found it to be a very well organised and welcoming event, especially to newcomers. There are on-site loos and regular stall holders providing sustenance throughout the morning. For traders (professional buyers) the gates open at 8am and for the public at 10am.
It’s worth getting there at least 45 minutes early to set up ahead of the traders arriving. You don’t want to miss out on the best sales because you are wrestling with a clothes rail or wallpapering table! The morning rush is always when you get your best prices, and then they slowly drop as the morning progresses. Having pricing in mind is a good idea but it is not necessary to pre-price all your wares. Be ready to haggle and barter (and enjoy it!). Often, deals are to be done when someone is purchasing two or more items. We find that consistently clothing sells well, as well as children’s items and general household goods. Any items which remained unsold were still in excellent condition so we bagged those up and donated them to a local charity shop on our way home.
Top Tips for Carbooting:
Check the weather forecast!
Load your car the night before so you are ready to go in the morning
Try loading most things in bags to maximise space
A few “rummage” boxes are great at the front of your stall
Load tables and rails last – this way they are the first things out and you can start displaying your wares ready to go
Don’t forget coat hangers!
Take a picnic and a flask of tea (if you are busy it is difficult to leave the stand)
Take a couple of clear plastic sheets to throw over your stand in case that good old British weather gives you a surprise
Have a kitty – 50ps, £1s, fivers and a few ten pound notes
A bum bag is an essentially for keeping all your hard earned pennies (and pounds) safe
Suncream and a hat on a hot day / layers on a chilly one
Camping seat or collapsible chair
Most importantly HAVE FUN
There is a dedicated Facebook Page for the local “Tallington Farm Shop Carboot” which has full information, latest updates and contact details. It is always worth checking ahead of a visit. It is equally fun to attend as a buyer, there are bargains to be had from a variety of stallholders including those like me, regulars with new items, plant sellers and food stands, and at only £1 entry and under 14s for free, a great family fun day out!
Location: Tallington Farm Shop, Barholm Road, PE9 4RJ and follow the signs.
Elizabeth Grace

PATRONAL FESTIVALS

It’s the feast days of two of our patron saints this month. St John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus, is remembered at Barnack church on 21st June. And St Botolph, the founder of an Anglian monastery and pioneer of fen drainage, is remembered at Helpston on June 14th. It will be a special celebration with a baptism.

Barnack Hills & Holes National Nature Reserve (NNR) – May Update.

At this time of year staff & volunteers are on the NNR surveying, mainly wildflowers. There are 10 rarities that we record each year, including orchids & pasqueflower. Species such as pasqueflower are recorded in fixed plots, they can grow in dense clumps across the NNR. The plots are marked with yellow markers that are permanently fixed in the ground. You may have seen them around the NNR. Fragrant orchids (& a few other orchid species) are counted across the whole NNR, quite a task!
These surveys have taken place since the 1970’s. There are some much older survey records for the NNR. Various other species surveys take place through the year, including a weekly butterfly transect. The NNR has rare butterflies such as Adonis Blue & Chalk Hill Blue.
If you would like to help on wildflower surveys, please email Ross.Edgar@naturalengland.org.uk
There is also a volunteer session held every other Tuesday, we have a small friendly team of volunteers. The next 2 sessions are on 26th May, then 9th June. Meeting at 09:30 in the car park on Wittering Road. Training, gloves, tea & biscuits are provided. Please email the address above for more information if you are interested.