Messy Church
Please come and join us on Sunday 11th February from 3;30-5pm in Barnack Church for our next Messy Church session.
As always there will be a Bible story, songs, prayers, crafts, drinks and snacks and a toddler play corner for the very little ones.
Our story will be about the man who didn’t have any friends – come and find out how he met Jesus.
Everyone is welcome, whatever age you are.
More details from:
Mike Mills 07523312387
or Carol Summers 07715460177.
The Arts Society Peterborough
8th February 2024, The Arts Society Peterborough’s monthly talk is at The Fleet, PE2 4 DL.
‘Secret Art in The Passport’, by Martin Lloyd.
From the wax seal to the microchip, man has exploited the skill of an artist in his attempt to manufacture a forgery-proof document. By Martin Lloyd.
Doors open at 10-15am for coffee and a chat, the talk starts at 10-45 and lasts an hour, all are welcome, so why not come and join us?
For more information and details of how to join the society, visit: www.the-arts-society-peterborough.org.uk
To Bainton & Ashton Residents
By the time you read this, the Christmas and New Year festivities will be over for another year and you may be thinking about starting a new venture?
Just to sow the seed of an idea, were you aware that the Bainton and Ashton Parish Council provide allotments for residents?
It is a thriving little community of experienced and inexperienced gardeners alike, all of whom have the same focus …… to grow healthy crops, either for the pleasure of growing their own, to save money at the supermarket or for the social and physical well-being of belonging to a group of like-minded people.
Currently there are two vacant ‘ready to go’ plots patiently waiting to be chosen. They are of a modest and manageable size and are affordable at approx£25 per year rental.
Of course, the idea of having an allotment may not appeal, maybe you already have a large garden or maybe the thought of growing vegetables just sounds like hard work..
But think of the alternatives which an allotment could offer you.
A cutting garden which could supply you with cut flowers for most of the year. No air miles and much cheaper than florists or supermarkets (and no blue carnations!) You could even concentrate on just one variety to make it easier; roses or dahlias for example.
Other options include:
Flowers for wildlife, perennials, annuals or seed beds to propagate garden plants.
A herb garden
Or what about fruit? Summer or autumn raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, strawberries, apples, the list is endless.
To have a dedicated space to grow something different is an opportunity worth taking. You needn’t remove any of your existing lawn in your garden (which will please any budding footballers in the family) or disturb that beautifully planted border.
It will be your space to grow your ideas.
So have a think……. but not for too long as the plots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The allotment group has a wide range of experienced gardeners available to give help and advice if required. Don’t be put off thinking your efforts may not be as successful as you wish at first, even the most experienced gardeners have bits of their plots every year that they prefer no-one notices.
If you would like to visit the allotment site and see the plots in waiting then you will be very welcome. Just email the secretary Jane Mason baaallotments@gmail.com to arrange a convenient time. Or Graham Fletcher on 01780 740034.
It could be just the venture you were looking for!
We look forward to hearing from you.
From The Bainton and Ashton Allotment Committee
Candlemas Evensong and Recital
The St Peter’s Singers will be leading us in a candlelit Choral Evensong at St John’s Barnack, on Saturday 3rd February at 4 pm to celebrate the feast of Candlemas. This will be followed by a Recital of other choral music. There will be a retiring collection, to be divided between St John’s and the Singers. Refreshments will be available.
Barnack Neighbourhood Plan questionnaire
Background
Barnack’s Neighbourhood Plan was adopted in 2021, giving the parish increased influence over development. Because Peterborough City Council is producing a new Local Plan we need to review Barnack’s Neighbourhood Plan, taking into account changes of policy in Peterborough as a whole, while attempting to influence the policy makers. This is especially relevant because three areas of agricultural land adjacent to Barnack and Pilsgate have been put forward for consideration as housing development sites. No planning approval has yet been granted.
Two questionnaires
The policies in Barnack’s Neighbourhood Plan are supported by local opinion, obtained through a questionnaire issued in February 2019. People were asked what they thought were the advantages and the disadvantages of living in Barnack and whether they supported 22 possible objectives.
To find out whether local opinion has changed since then, in late December 2023 the Parish Council produced anew questionnaire. This included the original 22 objectives and added six possible new ones.
A copy of the questionnaire was delivered to all 508 households in the area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan, which excludes Burghley Park.
Response
By the deadline of January 7th,162 completed questionnaires had been returned from 148 households, 16 of them in Sissons Close. This represents a response from 29% of all households. Participation was better than in 2019, when 98 submissions were received from the 450 households that then existed, giving a 22% response rate.
Preliminary results
People were keen to record the many advantages of life in Barnack and Pilsgate. Those most often mentioned were our caring community (59%), the countryside (48%),ease of access to Stamford and major transport routes (41%),peace and quiet(31%), country walks(23%), the bus service (21%),the Millstone pub (20%), the Hills and Holes (14%),attractive old buildings (14%) and Barnack School (13%).The main disadvantages were thought to be the lack of a shop and Post Office(55%) and heavy, speeding traffic (25%). 18%of respondents expressed a fear that village life might be spoiled by over-development.
A preliminary examination of the data indicates firm support for most of the original 22 objectives. Large-scale development remains unpopular whereas the preservation of historic buildings, green space,valued views,Public Rights of Way and wildlife is still regarded as important. As for the new suggestions, there appears to be moderates up port for lowering speed limits and for installing a pedestrian crossing behind the school, but little enthusiasm for small-scale solar farms or for increasing the proportion of affordable homes.
Next steps
The data gathered in 2023 /24 have been collated and passed to our volunteer statistician. We await his detailed comparison of the results from 2019 and 2024, which we will publish in the Parish News and on our websitewww.barnackparishcouncil.org.Thisinformation will form a valuable contribution to our review of Barnack’s Neighbourhood Plan.
Our thanks to everyone who responded to the questionnaire.
Margaret Palmer. On behalf of Barnack Parish Council
Barnack Community Association
New Year – New Team – New Events!
So January is nearly over and time to look forward to some BCA Events in 2024, brought to you by the new BCA Team. These events all help raise funds to manage and maintain Barnack Village Hall. A reminder of the team members:-
Sally Hullock – Chair/Health & Safety
Andy Cavaciuti – Treasurer
Mark Beaver – Secretary
Naomi James – Committee Member
Ruth Beaver – Committee member
Ann Garrett – Committee member
We plan to bring you “Barnack’s Barmy Bingo” in March (not just Bingo – it’s Barmy Bingo!); An “Oompah-pah” Evening in May; hopefully Party in the Paddock in July and due to popular demand the Big Barnack Disco will return in the Autumn, celebrating the much loved 80s era this time.
Apologies we cannot confirm all event dates yet, but look out for March’s edition or contact the team if you’re keen to be on the guest list or help with any of the events.
Our facebook page:BCABarnack will advertise the dates as soon as confirmed, and shared with all Community pages.
For more info/queries: bookings.barnackca@gmail.com or contact Sally: 07795 565658
Barnack Cricket Club – New Community Storage Building
If you’re a regular dog walker ora daily strider across Barnack cricket pitch, you have probably noticed that the old, green groundsman’s shed is no more! Following a successful application by the Cricket Club, to the Augean Community Fund,they have been awarded a significant contribution to a new build project starting in mid January.
The new community storage building is significantly bigger than the old, wooden shed to allow for additional partitioned storage for both Barnack Parish Council and Barnack Community Association event equipment. The new building will be 17m long by 5m wide, with additional 3m x 5m concrete hard standing to allow the groundsman to drive his machinery in and out.
The build contract, which is due to take 16 weeks, has been awarded to Martin Humphries of Glendale Building Services who some of you may remember also built the Sports Pavilion, with his father Bill, back in 2010. The new storage building will be principally used by Malcolm Holmes – the current groundsman – but ultimately owned by Barnack Community Association (BCA), under the same ownership structure as the Sports Pavilion, as a community asset. For clarity, the BCA own the cricket ground, along with all the assets on it, hence the Cricket Club pay an annual peppercorn rent for usage. The cricket club will be organising various fund-raising projects, over the coming months, in order to raise their £6,000 contribution to the build costs.
For any questions regarding the project, please email the Cricket Club Chair: will.armitage@aol.co.uk
COULD YOU BE THE ANSWER TO A PRAYER ?
The Evergreen Care Trust is a local charity serving Stamford, Bourne and the surrounding area. It seeks to improve the circumstances of older, sometimes vulnerable, adults in the community through friendship, advocacy and practical support, and are urgently seeking additional Volunteers.
The Advocacy Service, through a team of trained, CRB checked and unpaid volunteers, provides non-judgmental support and guidance in order to help people manage their personal affairs. This can involve accessing information and advice, such as that needed when completing complicated forms for such things as benefits, and general assistance in dealing with financial affairs, all with complete confidentiality. Our aim is to work with, and help Clients to help themselves. We hope to relieve the stress and anxiety which many people experience when their circumstances change, or perhaps just find it difficult to manage this increasingly confusing life with confidence. If we find that there are needs with which we cannot help, we can provide pointers to the appropriate organisation.
Here are a couple of examples as to how the service has worked in practice.
A lady in her “mature” years was widowed, and had no close relatives to provide support. As a result of observations by a member of the Evergreen Befriending service, it became clear that she was finding it difficult to manage her affairs, and often left post unopened. With her consent, an Evergreen Advocate went through the mail, and found that she was being pursued for arrears on the account for her late husband’s mobile phone. After some lengthy phone calls, and a letter to the provider enclosing a copy of the Death Certificate, the arrears were cancelled. The Volunteer also noticed a number of unidentified debits on her Bank statements. These proved to be from companies all claiming to provide breakdown cover on her domestic appliances. The lady was not I.T “savvy”, so had no way of checking whether these were genuine. A quick online search showed that the companies all had very poor reviews when it came to dealing with claims, so the direct debits were cancelled, saving her around £200 a year.
In another case, a replacement kitchen had been installed in a couple’s home at significant cost, but with very poor workmanship. When they complained, the contractor demanded more money for rectifying the defects. The Evergreen Advocate involved contacted Trading Standards on their behalf, and the Contractor was forced to carry out the necessary work at no cost.
So if you have some time available, a kindly manner, and a sound approach to dealing with day to day matters,YOU might be the answer to a prayer. If so, please contact Evergreen on 01780 765900, or email advocacy@evergreencare.org.uk.
Horticultural Happenings at Ufford Hall
We missed the January deadline to submit our prose so here we arrive in February. Its new territory to describe natures happenings with a three-week time delay. As I write this we are in a reaffirming cold spell of up to -5’C. The crisp blue skies and low level light, casting long shadows through the naked trees amongst the spinney.
Lets journey around the hall to see what early inspiration is occurring in this months horticultural happenings…
The first signs of growth appear all over the landscape, green spears of coiled potential appear from the frozen leaf litter. We deliberately leave leaves (ha) as shelter for mini beasties, especially on the entrance to the spinney. Leaves act as a great canopy for the early arrivals to the spring party. The dark mornings and short days result in a slower pace, one of enjoyment and awe at the little daily changes that surround us.
The frozen ground and crisp frosts do not hold back the baby iris (reticulate). Vivid purple stars will pop from the ground; flecks of orange catch your attention like a glimmering flame. These winter colours are most welcome, they are the first to appear & are our favourite.
Restless moles, also pop up to say hello. We have huge mounds of soil appearing, luckily in the paddock and not on the formal lawn, prevented by the Ha-ha. We have learnt recently that some of the mole tunnels are over a hundred years old, traversing the fallow land. The wondrous souls scouting for water and warmth at this time of year. Free to roam the dormant quiet landscape.
The Alliums, you may have seen these in front of the house. We all have our favourite alliums. Only just last year Laura (size eight) and I were blown away by the vast selection at the Chelsea flower show. Our first choice is Mont blanc, standing proud at an average of a meter. Their dominate heads waving in the breeze. A worthy first act, almost decoys to any incoming birds hoping to snaffle a worm or grub in the commence of spring. Our feathered friends prefer to swoop upon the ponds and leave their mark on the stone edges, much to Tony’s amusement.
Snow drops (galanthus nivalis). Green tips beginning to create a carpet and pushing their way through the soil. These beauties have waited patiently, unsung heroes, if you ask us. We think they look a little shorter than previous years, could this be the heat of last year?
The magical white carpet leads from the edges of the woodland up to the ice house, looking stunning under Nelly the White elephant.
Hamamelis intermedia aphrodite in the collinade, we planted four years ago, snuggles behind a large yew hedge, protected from the wind. Its golden crimp like petals hold on for their last hurrah. Glimmering in the winter sun, dying back to make way for new delights.
Each time we sit to write this piece, as we often forget the submission date. A slower pace, a sedentary sense of marvel occurs. We hope it may inspire you too.
Until next time. Alwyn & Edward