Barnack Hills & Holes National Nature Reserve (NNR)
With spring and early summer weather being so dry & hot, the orchid counts on site have been very low, any orchids that have flowered seem to have gone over very quickly too. Pasqueflowers & Knapweed broomrape have had another good year.
Butterflies seem to be having a good year as well, Chalk hill blue butterflies are currently on the wing.
The Hills & Holes is one of their most northerly strong holds with good numbers being recorded. 18 on our latest survey. They attract visitors from far & wide.
Winter work planning has started.
If you have a walk around the wooded area to the south of the NNR you’ll see non-native Turkey oaks marked with an orange cross.
They are to be felled over the winter, this is to allow native trees to regenerate in the area.
We spent a lot of time with our volunteer team removing Turkey oak saplings across the NNR, keeping the grassland in good condition as a limestone grassland habitat.
Could You Help Shape the Future of Barnack? By an ordinary villager, husband, and father.
I don’t have a parish “superpower.” I am not a lawyer, an architect, or a local business owner, and until recently, I had absolutely no insight into the inner workings of local politics. I am simply a neighbour who loves where he lives.
So, what on earth made me apply to become a Parish Councillor?
The Wake-Up Call: The last year was a massive wake-up call for me and my family. We sadly lost two much-loved, influential family members. Then, while I was stuck at home recovering from surgery for a ruptured appendix, I found myself watching a documentary on BBC iPlayer that completely shifted my perspective.
The programme was about rewilding and healing the planet. It focused on an indigenous tribe in Northern California who, generations ago, were forced into a heartbreaking choice: work for the logging industry that was destroying their homeland, or face ruin.
The story moved to the present day, showing the current generation leading the charge to restore their landscape to exactly how their forefathers knew it. At the end of the episode, the presenter spoke straight from the heart. She said that while the global scale feels huge, everyone can make a difference in their own garden and their own community.
My Lightbulb Moment: That line hit home. My community is Barnack. I’ve lived here for years; my children grew up here and went to Barnack primary school. As a family we enjoy being part of the village and over the years have supported where we could. In a small way I already try to bring nature into my own garden, but I started wondering: could I do more?
Shortly after, I visited the Barnack Parish Council website and saw a stark notice. The parish council urgently needed new councillors or it was at risk of being dissolved.
That was my lightbulb moment. I realised I didn’t need to be an expert to step up. I might not be the most knowledgeable councillor on day one, but I care deeply about Barnack. I have a strong sense of community, I’m a great listener, and I want to bring fresh ideas to the table as our village grows and evolves.
Your Village Needs You!
This is my journey as an ordinary resident. Could your journey, your skills, or your passion be part of Barnack’s future too?
The Parish Council still urgently needs more people to step forward either as councillors or as part of our local working groups. We need to build a full, motivated team that can truly make a difference for everyone living here.
If you care about our village, you are already qualified.
Find out how you can get involved
Visit barnack-pc.gov.uk or come along to our next meeting to say hello!
Date for your diaries: BAINTON & ASHTON FETE
13th September-1pm kick off – Bar & BBQ – Children’s Games – Barrow of Booze etc.
and a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, so we’ll either have the Spitfire, Hurricane or Dakota or all three for our fly past. We had the Lancaster last year which was so wonderful.
Entertainment for the afternoon will be the Gretton Silver Band.
Come along and have fun, come along and support our village and some of our local charities.
If anyone can contribute with donations that would be great.
Bottles
Teddies of all shapes and sizes
Tombola items
Bric A Brac
Books, CDs, DVDs
Plants
Cakes (on the day please)
If you can help set up also on the Friday or Saturday and tear down on the Monday that also would be great.
Or volunteer to run a stall…
Donations to:
Westlands
Ufford Road
Bainton
Su&Graham Mobile : 07398 133789
Email : Su.fletcher@outlook.com
Thank you – really looking forwards to another fab day
BARNACK FUN RUN 2026
Saturday 3rd October 2026, Races start at 2pm.
Barnack School Association is delighted to invite you to join us for the 2026 race!
The race will be a 2.5k run for all ages and abilities around Barnack Village starting and finishing at Barnack Primary School.
All entries £7.50.
Enter NOW at www.pta-events.com/barnack
There is also a Schools Challenge – schools may enter teams of children in years 3-6.
We are also looking for local business sponsorship to help cover the costs of the event.
Please contact Emma Thorp (barnackschoolassociation@gmail.com) for more information.
This event is only possible thanks to an army of VOLUNTEERS on the day. If you would like to get involved but do not want to run then please contact Sally Hullock (sally@sallyhullocktraining.co.uk / 07795 565658)
Buttercross Club July Report
Much to her dismay, Sandra Jones was forced to cancel her talk on growing and cooking with herbs because, despite her best efforts, all her precious and out of the ordinary herbs perished in the heatwave. Luckily, though, Judy Robinson was able to step in at short notice and entertain us with some quirky anecdotes.
The main one was a remarkable family history event involving Judy’s paternal grandparents who, at the turn of the last century, were living in a remote corner of Canada. In April 1910, her grandmother was six months pregnant with her third child when she went into labour and delivered a baby boy weighing in at 1lb 8oz. Judy’s father survived against all the odds thanks to his mother’s determination to feed him every two hours with a teaspoon of milk and brandy! His 5 year-old big sister was very reluctantly made to undress her dolls so that the baby had something to wear. Judy then showed us the tiny cotton and lace dresses that have been carefully preserved.
Judy then recited from memory a long and fascinating poem about a character called Marjorie May. When asked about its origins, it turns out that it was written by Judy herself as was the final story about Concomity, the hapless pheasant.
One day, Judy caught sight of a handsome, stuffed white hen in a charity shop window and thought it would make a distinctive show piece in their porch, as she and her husband kept chickens at this time. Horrified at the price tag of £98, she resolved to indulge in a spot of taxidermy. When, sometime later, a local farmer brought her a brace of pheasant, she decided to cook the hen but use the cock for her preliminary attempt at taxidermy before embarking on a white hen. There followed a hilarious and often nauseating description of eviscerating the unfortunate bird, with blood and guts all over the kitchen table and floor before she managed to stuff and sew up the animal and take photographs of her final achievement. Concomity is a sorry sight indeed with his head askew, his body at a peculiar angle and feathers just about recognisable as a pheasant. Needless to say, this was Judy’s first and last attempt at taxidermy.
What a delightful and entertaining evening it turned out to be after the disappointment of the ruined herbs!
There is no Buttercross meeting in August, but this year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Buttercross Club, there will be a wine, cheese and pâté party,also open to guests, in the Reading Room on Wednesday 12th August from 7pm -9pm.
The next Buttercross meeting on 2nd September will be a talk on Autumn Splendour by Jane Franks.
It Was a Hot One! Party at the Pavilion & Horticultural Show 2026
Thank you to everyone who came and supported Party at the Pavilion & Barnack Horticultural Show on Saturday 27th June at Barnack Cricket Ground. The heat was a huge challenge but we hope we made the right decision to go ahead, despite the fact some of our entertainment/activities couldn’t happen due to the heat.
Thanks to all the volunteers, over 50 of you, who stepped up for the marquee setup in 30+ heat; on the day rotas; and clear down on Sunday –we couldn’t do it without you all.
We are very appreciative of all the community support and especially our sponsors this year who – without them – we would have struggled to make things happen. Haynes Horticulture, our main sponsor, and all the local business sponsor adverts were displayed on event day,in front of the stage, and they have each featured on our Facebook page @BCA Barnack.
We are delighted to report that the event generated a healthy profit of £2,200 which will be put towards the refurbishment plans for the Village Hall. As a reminder, we plan to renew the village hall lease towards the end of the year,as discussed at our village meeting held in March.
What’s next? – SAVE THE DATE – Mexican Fiesta Night – Friday 9th October 2026 from 7pm
TEA TENT – bakers and helpers
A huge thank you to all those who helped and baked for the Tea Tent at the Party at the Pavilion. Considering the extreme heat many people still came in for tea and cake and many others (drinking something other than tea!) came in and appreciated the shade that the tent offered.
As usual the baking was of the highest calibre and a good variety was on offer. Thanks to all the folk who were willing to come throughout the day on a rota system. As usual, helpers just saw what needed doing and got on with it.
Carol and Marie
BARNACK FUN RUN 2026
Saturday 3rd October 2026, Races start at 2pm.
Barnack School Association is delighted to invite you to join us for the 2026 race!
The race will be a 2.5k run for all ages and abilities around Barnack Village starting and finishing at Barnack Primary School.
All entries £7.50.
Enter NOW at www.pta-events.com/barnack
There is also a Schools Challenge – schools may enter teams of children in years 3-6.
We are also looking for local business sponsorship to help cover the costs of the event.
Please contact Emma Thorp (barnackschoolassociation@gmail.com) for more information.
This event is only possible thanks to an army of VOLUNTEERS on the day. If you would like to get involved but do not want to run then please contact Sally Hullock (sally@sallyhullocktraining.co.uk / 07795 565658)