The Buttercross Club

On Wednesday, 7th September, the club had its first full gathering in Bainton Reading Room for some considerable time. Members were invited to bring along guests. Our speaker was Sue Jakeman, or the Bee Lady as she is known. She came kitted out in bee keeping gear – all in one suit, helmet, gloves and sandals(!) She had actually brought along one sturdy Wellington boot to show us what she would have normally worn for bee keeping, as she felt it was a bit too hot to wear rubber boots all evening!
We learnt a great deal about the art of keeping bees to make honey, and also many facts about the behaviour of bees in general. For example, the common bumble bee always travel upwards, which is why it is often difficult to set it free if it gets trapped in a conservatory. If you keep bee hives you wear boots as bees will not travel down into the boots.
There are 50,000 bees in a hive but only one queen bee and she is pampered. The worker bees, some 49,800 of them, are all female! If they sting just once they die. There are also 200 drones – bigger in size than the worker bees. They are male and have no sting. The queen can sting without dying afterwards. The worker bees get honey for the drones who go on to mate with the queen from another hive.
One of the boxes which form part of the hive is called the brood box. There is a lure in one of the frames to attract a queen. Wax forms the hexagon shaped holes in which eggs are laid. The egg that is to be a new queen is bigger. When a queen emerges she will fight to the death all the other queens as only one is allowed. After a while the worker bees start to encourage the queen to lay eggs. This is where the drones come in. They emit a scent which identifies them. A drone launches himself on the queen, fertilization takes place and the drone dies! This process is repeated four or five times. After a short time the queen lays eggs in each hole of the frame. Queens can live for up to five years but they gradually become less fertile and cannot produce so much honey. Beekeepers therefore prefer keeping them for three years.
A swarm of bees has as its centre the queen and the other bees circle her whilst they search for a new home. In winter bees form a football shape and rub against each other to keep warm. It is 38 degrees centigrade at the centre – even in cold countries. The queen needs care in the winter for if she dies the bees will all die before the spring.
Sue’s talk was dotted with anecdotes and she was very amusing. We all enjoyed the evening.
Diary date
October’s Buttercross is our harvest gathering. It is on Tuesday, 4th October and is for members only. We are lunching at the Birch Tree Café at Easton on the Hill. Members will have received emails about choices and payment.

Barnack Church Coffee Stop

Barnack Church Coffee Stop is now kindly hosted by The Millstone. We meet every Wednesday 10.30-12.00. All Welcome

BARNACK YOUTH CLUB

Barnack Youth Club is up and running again on alternative Friday nights between 7.30pm-9.00pm during term time at Barnack Village Hall.
Please see dates until Christmas below:
07th October
21st October
11th November
25th November
9th December

The entrance cost for each session is £2.00. We have a tuck shop open during the sessions if members want to bring a little extra money to spend on a snack or drink. Alongside the activities we already have in place we are planning some extra fun things to do including: Nail Art/ Woodwork skills/ Cake decorating/ Graffiti Art/ Archery/ Tennis/ Games at the new Barnack Sports Court. If your child is not yet a member but is interested in joining or coming along for a taster, please contact the membership secretary by email for more information:

membership@barnackyouthclub.com Further updates and information will also be posted on the Barnack Youth Club Facebook page.

Save the date for Ufford Bonfire Night

Kindly hosted by The White Hart Saturday 5th November

BARBARA HOLMES THANKS

Barbara and family sincerely thank everyone for the thoughtful cards, flowers and support received after the very sad loss of Alan. Heartfelt thanks to all who attended Alan’s funeral, and to Reverend Gary for the wonderful service. Thanks also to Will who kindly played the organ. Thank you for the donations received in Alan’s memory. A total of £250 was shared between the St. Barnabas Hospice at Home and The Donkey Sanctuary.

Barnack Fun Run

Saturday 8th October 2022 Barnack Fun Run – Please be aware of the following road closures: School Road, Main Street, Jack Haws Lane and Millstone Lane will be closed from 1.30pm-3pm.

Halloween Party

Ufford Village Hall invites you to a village Halloween Party… Sunday 30th October, 4 – 5.30pm No need to book. Prizes for best costumes. Games. Music. Cash Bar. Bring a plate of food!

Barnack School Fun Run returns this autumn

Preparations are underway for the return of the Barnack Primary School Fun Run on Saturday 8 October 2022 at 2pm. For more information or to volunteer contact barnackschoolassociation@gmail.com.
The fun run hasn’t taken place since April 2019 as the 2020 event was cancelled because of Covid restrictions.
Organisers are hoping to attract lots of runners to the popular 2.5km family event around Barnack to raise much-needed funds for Barnack CofE Primary School.
There will also be a Schools’ Challenge and schools in Peterborough and surrounding areas are being invited to enter their teams.
The popular event has always been one of the highlights of the Barnack village calendar and organisers are appealing for volunteers to help marshal the course.
Emma Thorp, treasurer of Barnack School Association which is organising the event, said:“The fun run is a real community event and it’s a great opportunity to bring people together to showcase our wonderful village. In the past up to 50 local people have kindly volunteered to marshal the course and we really hope lots of people will support us again this year. The event has been going for over 17 years now and continues to prove what a great tradition of cross country we have at the school and what a wonderful community we are part of.
Entries are now open via https://www.pta-events.co.uk/barnack.
Details of the route will be available on the school website and in the Barnack Fun Run Facebook page.
There will be road closures and limited movement on some roads in Barnack between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on the day but all affected residents will receive a letter through their door with specific details.

Choral Evensong at St John’s, Barnack

After their successful performance at St John the Baptist’s last Christmas, the Stamford Singers will be leading us at Barnack on 9th October for a Choral Evensong. This traditional act of worship will start at 4.30 pm. Being an act of worship, it will of course be free. But there may be a glass of sherry afterwards, as is appropriate for a “proper” Choral Evensong.
The order of service is as follows:
• Introit – A Prayer of King Henry VI – Henry Ley
• Hymn – Be Still and Know that I am God
• Responses – Ayleward
• Psalm 143
• Setting – Harwood in A flat
• Anthem – The Lord Bless You and Keep You – John Rutter
• Hymn – The Day Thou Gavest

Weekday Services – every Week

Monday evenings at 8 on Zoom – Compline – please ask Revd Gary for details
St John Barnack Tuesdays at 4 pm – Book of Common Prayer Communion
St John Barnack Fridays at 9.30 am – Morning Prayer
St Botolph Helpston Fridays at 12.15 – Prayer During the Day

RIP

Stephen McCafferty (Helpston)
Joyce Stanton (Helpston)
Madge Broughton (late of Bainton)
John Desborough (Wittering)
Ian Burrows (Barnack)

2022 “Ride and Stride”

Thanks to everyone who has sponsored me on the “Ride and Stride” this year. I “officially” visited 20 churches (I wandered past a few more without stopping) and was repeatedly drenched in downpours!
Highlights included the bellringers at the Cathedral “ringing up” ready for the acclamation for King Charles III, bumping into my old friend Michael Moore (the Rural Dean) as he was preparing for a baptism at St Mary’s Peterborough, and meeting a whole bunch of people at the lovely little church of St Pega, Peakirk who gave me a cup of tea.
As ever, it was an awe-inspiring experience to see the beautiful stained glass at Thorney Abbey, while the Priory Church, Deeping St James, is a fascinating visit – as are so many churches in this area. Next year, why not join in? – Reverend Gary

The Passion Play at Oberammergau

Just imagine a small, remote village in the Bavarian Alps, 400 years ago, facing the spread of the Black Death in all of the other villages nearby. Just imagine the horror of the residents when the first case of the epidemic appears in their village, knowing that most infected people will die a horrible death. Just imagine the villagers there all coming together and praying to God for His protection, and vowing to honour Him through performing a play of Christ’s Passion once every 10 years for ever, if their village were to be spared.
There is no need to imagine the possibility. That is exactly what happened in Oberammergau on the border of Germany and Austria.
The village was spared the ravages of the Black Death; and since 1634, the play, depicting the final week of Christ’s life prior to his crucifixion and resurrection, has been performed by residents of the village almost exactly every 10 years. (Ironically, this year’s performance was postponed for 2 years due to covid!).
Everyone taking part in the Passion Play must have lived in the village for at least 20 years; and altogether about 2,000 villagers (or nearly half of the entire village) now participate in the performance.
The Play is world-famous, and nearly 500,000 people see it each year when it is performed: the theatre hall seats about 5,000 and there are around 100 performances from May to October. But it’s not just the community involvement, the fulfilment of the vow, and the history of the event which are so special; the standards of the acting, the music and the production generally are truly superb. More than that, as the Play revolves around the mystery of the events of Passion Week, it is both dramatic and meditative; and many of the audience, Christians and non-Christians alike, are moved to tears by the atmosphere and emotions generated.
Pam and I went to see the Play being performed at the beginning of September. We were completely overwhelmed by it. If you want to share the experience, you’ll need to wait until 2030 for the next year of performance; and remember to book early, preferably a couple of years or so before then. You may need to do some advance planning, but it’s well worth it! Mike Mills.

I remember when

Most of us can remember where we were or what we were doing when looking back on a significant event in our lives
So have many stories been told about events surrounding our dear Queen’s death.
When our neighbour, Carol, called this morning she was keen to tell us this story involving her late husband, Alistair.
‘Alistair was at school on 6 February 1952, when one of his fellow pupils ran into the room declaring -“King’s dead!” – King was one of Alistair’s school chums, and the young boys reacted in the belief it was he who had died! They were aghast that such a thing had happened to one of their school mates
Only when the school was gathered together by the Headmaster was the situation clarified. In fact, it was King George who had died that day!’
Dear reader, imagine my reaction to this story when I told Carol “The same thing happened at my school, when a fellow pupil, King, and King George were confused likewise!
The scenario was virtually identical – we were playing in the school field during mid-morning break when we heard the call- “King’s dead.” Like Alistair and his chums, we were shocked and not a little frightened in case any of us might also die! The situation was clarified by the Headmaster at lunch time. Fellow pupil, King, was hale and hearty. We bowed our heads in memory of The King and stepped into the Second Elizabethan Age.
I always remember that fateful day. Alistair and I shared the same experience, yet were miles apart in our respective boarding schools, oblivious of each other.’
No doubt, we, and our family and friends, will remember where we were and what we were doing on the day that Queen Elizabeth 11 died
God Bless our King. Mike Baumber

MOVE WITH BEN – OCTOBER 2022

Do you find yourself increasingly aware of discomfort in your hips? Are they causing you real pain? Do you sometimes have difficulty walking? Hip health in later life can be exacerbated by arthritis or osteoporosis, but there are plenty of small changes you can be doing now to reduce your future risk of hip pain.
Now, if I said the world ‘exercise’, you might roll your eyes – after all you’re probably pretty active anyway. However, we have all learnt to move in certain habitual ways, and it is this way of moving that may be exacerbating the problem. Possibly you have had an injury or operation in the past, and your body has learnt to accommodate this since. It may not be causing you pain (yet), but it may be causing you to move about in a way that is damaging other parts of your body.
Looking after your hips may be as simple as doing a couple of movements that can strengthen the joints in a way that is more aligned to your body, bringing you back into balance. The exercise below is a great one for stretching out and strengthening your hips.
Standing on the spot, stretch your right leg across the left. Reach your right arm across your chest. Lift your arm up and over your head to create an ‘S’ shape. Repeat on the other side.
The further you can step the better, and the bigger ‘S’ shape you can reach for the better.
Combined with a heathy diet rich in calcium, omega fatty acids and Vitamin D, you are setting yourself back on the road to healthier hips. So make sure you are eating plenty of fatty fish, spinach, olive oil, cheeses and yoghurts.
Ben Cuthbert is a movement coach at the Be You Health Studios in Peterborough. He helps people who have rarely exercised, are suffering from certain health issues, or simply hate the idea of going to the gym.

Barnack Sports Court (At Barnack Primary School)

As well as being enjoyed by the children during the school day, the all-weather, multi-use court is now up and running for community use out of school hours. From October – March, the winter opening hours are in operation:
During term time: Monday- Friday: 4:30pm – 6:00pm (or dusk, whichever is earlier)
Weekends and Bank Holidays: 9:00am – 6:00pm (or dusk, whichever is earlier)
During school holidays – All week: 9:00am – 6:00pm (or dusk, whichever is earlier)
To use the court, you must first become a member. Please register by visiting https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BarnackSportsCourt. Residents of Barnack and Pilsgate can join free of charge if they register before the end of September. Thereafter (and for residents of Ashton, Bainton Southorpe and Ufford), it will be £25 per household for a rolling annual membership. This covers all use for the year. Equipment, such as tennis rackets and balls, basketballs and a football are also available in the shed to be borrowed. Bookings can be made online or on the app, but please note that the app is currently giving an incorrect PIN code, so please ignore this and use the 4 digit code on your booking confirmation email to unlock the padlocks on the court and the shed.
We are already beginning to welcome regular bookings for groups, such as five a side football. Basketball, netball and tennis can also be played on the court or it could be used for general fitness training. If you’d like to enquire about setting up a regular group with other members, please get in touch: sophievbrown@yahoo.co.uk

Hills & Holes Village Forum

Terms of Reference of the Forum
To bring the Village Community, Natural England and Burghley Estate together to help promote the management of the Barnack Hills and Holes National Nature Reserve, for the benefit of the internationally important grassland habitat, the village, local community and interest groups.
Chair: Ruth Angrave, Natural England
News from first meeting: 30th June, 2022
1.One of the biggest threats facing Barnack Hills and Holes is pressure from people. In August, the automatic counter on one gate alone recorded 30,000 people entering. The only way to reduce damage to the grassland flora is to close some of the paths.
2.A volunteer winter work party will be removing scrub. Anybody interested in participating please contact Ross Edgar (Ross.Edgar@naturalengland.org.uk). Cuttings will be chipped and the chippings left in the car park for people to help themselves. No burning will be carried out
3.The last of the large Turkey Oaks are to be removed from the woodland area over the next few years. The timber will be made accessible for local people to collect.
4.Repairs will be carried out to the car park. Voluntary contributions for parking will be requested.
5.Natural England is seeking old photographs of the Hills and Holes. Please contact Ross Edgar.
News from meeting: 14th September, 2022
1.The count of Pasque Flowers doubled in 2022, compared with 2021.
2. The use of herbicide to kill the stumps of felled Turkey Oak (a non-native species posing a threat to our native flora and fauna) was debated. There is no effective alternative in this case.
3. The sheep have returned and are likely to be on site until March.
4. The remaining barbed wire on one fence in the reserve will be removed.
5. An additional gate has been proposed, opposite the back of the Millstone. This will not be permitted without a traffic speed survey and a safety audit, for which funds are not yet available.
6.Part of the path network on the Reserve will be closed. Users will be consulted on new routes.
7.The‘hill’damaged when the fencing was installed will be repaired by the work party.
8.The possibility of soil testing will be investigated to find out whether soil at the bottom of holes surrounded by scrub becomes enriched.

The Facts about DRONES

Have you ever been to an event, meeting or important family gathering where photographs are taken to record the event? Then someone announces that they will be recording the event with some aerial photography to add a new and dynamic record for everyone to enjoy.
You may have been to some beauty spot and briefly been aware of some small flying contraption.
While you were out shopping you may have caught a glimpse of a large mechanical wasp busily buzzing around a building.
Welcome to the world of drones. The above examples show how drones are impacting photography and surveying. Not to mention land surveying and measuring; or the use of thermal cameras for surveying buildings and structures and their use in search and rescue.
Recently it has been announced that the UK the worlds largest automated drone superhighway. A 164 mile ‘Skyway’ connecting the airspace above Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Coventry and Rugby by mid 2024.
It also proposed to use drones to deliver mail and medicine to the Isles of Scilly. Also medicine deliveries across Scotland, delivered too isolated rural communities.
You can see the extensive reach that these drones are having in may fields of activity. Including those too dangerous for manned aircraft or too small to gain access by manned aircraft.
They are also very cost effective alternative to the traditional manned aircraft and is therefore very popular with the Police, Fire Authority and Search and Rescue Teams. They can cover a large area and locate people in distress very quickly.
So on the whole drones are having a very positive impact on our lives. Where there has been conflict it is usually with the hobbyist. This article is to give some general guidance for anyone who has concerns about privacy, nuisance, livestock and where the law stands.
It may come as a surprise to everyone that no one owns the airspace. It is classed as a National Resource. Of course that doesn’t mean it’s the ‘wild west’ and anybody can do what they like. The airspace has to be managed to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment.
The Body responsible for the UK airspace is the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). For all remote drone pilots they must comply with the requirements in the CAA’s – The Drone and Model Aircraft Code. This can be found on the CAA’s website: caa.co.uk
For further information and guidance concerning drones I recommend the following YouTube channels: Geeksvana, see his episode entitled: “Uk Drone Rules in 8 Minutes”. Ian in London. The Drone Mentor. Black Belt Barrister.
For a deeper dive I recommend the ‘UAVHUB’ Podcast.
This is just a brief overview concerning drones. I have tried to keep the article short but hopefully the material, channels and podcast I have referenced will help to fill any gaps.
Sean McManus