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TO THE WONDERFUL RESIDENTS OF WICKHAM SKEITH, PLEASE CAN YOU HELP?

As most of you are aware, we currently have 3 Ukrainian families living in our village. Lack of public transport is proving to be a challenge to enable them to become self-sufficient, attend appointments, go shopping and get jobs.

I am currently Crowd Funding, with marginal success, to gather funds to assist Hanna, my guest, and her son Zachar to purchase a car and pay for Motor Insurance, Car tax and a warranty. So far, she has £1900 of her own capital and the monies I have raised of nearly £700 through crowd funding. I am trying to get to a target of £2500 to avoid an unreliable old banger! I will also be approaching local garages to see if we can exchange positive PR, a wonderful photo opportunity for a “cracking deal” on a reliable car. Should any of you have connections or advice please do not hesitate to contact me

The link to donate via crowdfunding is below, type it into your Google or Safari search bar and it will automatically take you to the page, it can be done anonymously should you wish….

https://gofund.me/00caf312

At the end of Hanna’s stay, if she decides to relocate back to her Mother country Ukraine, she will sell the car and buy a left-hand drive vehicle with the proceeds. She has never been in the position before to own a car. Any help will be very gratefully received.

Thank you in advance for your help and if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to ask me, Sam, at Knoll Farm, 077424 50908 or 01449 768620

Produce Show

The Produce Show this year will be held on Saturday 27^th August. Now is the time to get planting and crafting to have your entries ready on time. Our categories this year will be as follows.

Vegetables & Fruit	Flowers & Plants	Cookery & Preserves	Eggs	Hobbies and Craft
1. 5 Runner Beans	1. 5 Stems of Dahlias – to incl 3 varieties	1. Victoria Jam Sponge	1. white eggs	1. oil or acrylic
2. 3 Onions	2. 5 Stems of perennials (3 varieties)	2. fruit pie	2. 3 brown	2. Photo ‘ Wildlife’
3. 4 Shallots	3. 1 sunflower stem	3. 1 Loaf	3. 3 coloured	3. Embroidered piece
4. 4 Potatoes	4. 1 Single Rose	4. 6 Scones	4.3 bantam	4. Knitted/Crochet piece
5. 3 Beetroot	5. arrangement mixed perennials	5. 6 shortbread		5. Pencil Sketch
6. 3 Carrots	6. 1 Vase of Mixed Fragrant Flowers	6. 6 sausage rolls		6. Watercolour
7. 5 Tomatoes	7. Hedgerow and/or wildflower arrangement	7. Jar of Jam		7. Handsewn item
8. 3 Courgettes	8. small flower arrangement (6in <)	8. Jar of Marmalade		8. Felted piece
9. a marrow		9. Jar of Chutney		9. Model making
10. 1 lettuce		10. Bottle of Homemade Booze
11. 1 Cucumber
12. 1 cabbage
13. 3 Dessert Apples
14. 5 Plums
15. longest runner bean
16. squash
17. Mixed Veg Box 6>
18. bunch herbs 4>
19. Humorous Vegetable
20. 2 sweetcorn
21.4 red onions

Vegetables & Fruit	Flowers & Plants	Cookery & Preserves	Eggs	Hobbies and Craft
1. 5 Runner Beans	1. 5 Stems of Dahlias – to incl 3 varieties	1. Victoria Jam Sponge	1. white eggs	1. oil or acrylic
2. 3 Onions	2. 5 Stems of perennials (3 varieties)	2. fruit pie	2. 3 brown	2. Photo ‘ Wildlife’
3. 4 Shallots	3. 1 sunflower stem	3. 1 Loaf	3. 3 coloured	3. Embroidered piece
4. 4 Potatoes	4. 1 Single Rose	4. 6 Scones	4.3 bantam	4. Knitted/Crochet piece
5. 3 Beetroot	5. arrangement mixed perennials	5. 6 shortbread		5. Pencil Sketch
6. 3 Carrots	6. 1 Vase of Mixed Fragrant Flowers	6. 6 sausage rolls		6. Watercolour
7. 5 Tomatoes	7. Hedgerow and/or wildflower arrangement	7. Jar of Jam		7. Handsewn item
8. 3 Courgettes	8. small flower arrangement (6in <)	8. Jar of Marmalade		8. Felted piece
9. a marrow		9. Jar of Chutney		9. Model making
10. 1 lettuce		10. Bottle of Homemade Booze
11. 1 Cucumber
12. 1 cabbage
13. 3 Dessert Apples
14. 5 Plums
15. longest runner bean
16. squash
17. Mixed Veg Box 6>
18. bunch herbs 4>
19. Humorous Vegetable
20. 2 sweetcorn
21.4 red onions

Vegetables & Fruit	Flowers & Plants	Cookery & Preserves	Eggs	Hobbies and Craft
1. 5 Runner Beans	1. 5 Stems of Dahlias – to incl 3 varieties	1. Victoria Jam Sponge	1. white eggs	1. oil or acrylic
2. 3 Onions	2. 5 Stems of perennials (3 varieties)	2. fruit pie	2. 3 brown	2. Photo ‘ Wildlife’
3. 4 Shallots	3. 1 sunflower stem	3. 1 Loaf	3. 3 coloured	3. Embroidered piece
4. 4 Potatoes	4. 1 Single Rose	4. 6 Scones	4.3 bantam	4. Knitted/Crochet piece
5. 3 Beetroot	5. arrangement mixed perennials	5. 6 shortbread		5. Pencil Sketch
6. 3 Carrots	6. 1 Vase of Mixed Fragrant Flowers	6. 6 sausage rolls		6. Watercolour
7. 5 Tomatoes	7. Hedgerow and/or wildflower arrangement	7. Jar of Jam		7. Handsewn item
8. 3 Courgettes	8. small flower arrangement (6in <)	8. Jar of Marmalade		8. Felted piece
9. a marrow		9. Jar of Chutney		9. Model making
10. 1 lettuce		10. Bottle of Homemade Booze
11. 1 Cucumber
12. 1 cabbage
13. 3 Dessert Apples
14. 5 Plums
15. longest runner bean
16. squash
17. Mixed Veg Box 6>
18. bunch herbs 4>
19. Humorous Vegetable
20. 2 sweetcorn
21.4 red onions

Wickham Skeith Produce Show Saturday August 27th 2022

Entry Form

NAME:

ADDRESS:

Junior Entry Yes/No 10 or under Yes/No 11-16 Yes/No

Entry fee per class : 20p Adult. 10p Junior

Section	Class Number	Description	Entry for sale? Y/N

RULES

With the exception of the junior classes, which are bound by age, all classes are open to villagers and non-villagers, young and not so young, beginners and experienced
Exhibits that have won prizes in any other show are EXCLUDED
Produce and flowers must be home grown
All entries in the cookery classes must be homemade
All craft entries must be handmade and not previously entered in this show
Photographs should not be digitally enhanced

Please return completed entry forms with the correct entry fee to:

Carol Galsworthy, 2 Kitchen Close, 766964, by Thursday 20^nd Aug.

Late entries may be accepted at organiser’s discretion
Village Hall opens between 10.30 and 11.30am on Show day for exhibits.
Judging at 12 noon. Hall will be closed during judging.
Show open to public at 2.30pm.
Prize giving and sale at 3.15pm.
All remaining exhibits should be removed by 4.30 pm on the show day.

Please click HERE for a printable PDF version

Sandra Perks

It is with very great sadness that we write with news of the death, on 2 April, of Sandra Perks, who lived in the village with her husband Ben for over twenty years. Sandra was well known as an active member of the Village Hall Committee, organising events such as the popular pub nights. Sandra was always there to offer the hand of friendship, to help organise events, to bake and to provide all manner of goodies, including her marvellous eggs, chutneys and preserves.

Others will know Sandra from her dog walks with Luke, Rusty, Bertie and latterly Bob.

Some will know Sandra having called upon her to provide personal care for their loved ones. Care was her vocation, which she undertook with the greatest professionalism and compassion, ensuring the dignity of all those with whom she worked and forming close friendships along the way. One of her most dear was Geoff Homan, alongside whom she has been laid to rest at the church.

Ben, and the rest of Sandra's family, would like to extend sincerest thanks to everyone for their support and care throughout the course of her long illness and to those who helped organise and contributed to her extraordinary funeral and subsequent wake at the Village Hall. Over 200 people came; all were wonderfully fed and watered by the Village Love Army, something to which Sandra was a regular contributor. Thank you.

Blocked Drains

A recent visit by the good folk of Anglian Water relieved an overflowing main sewage pipe in Church Lane in March. The blockage was caused, it seems, by wet wipes and other items which really shouldn't be flushed away. They ask that householders take extra care with disposal of those sorts of items at all times. Thank you

Come and visit Street Forge Workshops

We are a small charity established in 1987 and based in the centre of Thornham Magna. All of our products are made by adults with a range of disabilities and we are an accredited day care service by both Suffolk and Norfolk County Councils. We offer woodwork, wood turning, arts and crafts and horticultural opportunities to our clients some of whom have been attending for many years. The social side of our service is also very important with a Summer BBQ, Christmas meal and some trips out, Covid permitting.

We make high quality bird boxes ranging from blue tits to barn owls, hedgehog houses, bat and bee boxes, wellie boot holders, garden planters, wood turning products and many more items.

We also make one off orders such as a seat for Thornham Parva to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

We have a shop on site and we would welcome visitors to buy, browse or generally have a look round. We are open between the hours of 09.00 – 16.00 Monday to Friday. If you would like details of our products or a price list, please ring 01379 678543 or email us on info@streetforge.org. We would love to hear from you.

Bridge

I have recently moved to Wickham Skeith, and being a keen Bridge player, I was wondering if there is anyone in the village that would like to play,

My phone no. is 07751485514, Barbara Wells.

The Churchyard

If you enjoy visiting the beautiful churchyard, have you thought about making a donation to help with the up-keep? A cheque for St Andrew’s Church Wickham Skeith will be very welcome.

We have bats and Barn Owls – do visit at dusk. Liz Davidson at Stow House and Margaret Jones-Evans at 1, Broadway will be very pleased to receive donations. We now have a card reader in the church, which is open from 10 to 4pm daily – it’s very easy – do try it.

To keep the churchyard looking this beautiful, costs more than £1,000 a year.

Thank you everyone for your support

With best wishes from Margaret Jones-Evans 01449 767121

Nature Notes

Since the query in the last newsletter hedgehogs have been reported in three locations in the village.

One rather gruesome report told of a stationary hedgehog seen on the front lawn. On investigation, thinking it was a sickly animal, it was found to be just the skin where the animal had been cleanly scooped out. Badgers & foxes are known to do this.

With autumn, any hedgehogs that have survived predation (whether by cars or foxes) will be seeking hibernation places. Please check bonfire piles before setting alight.

Hedgehog

Hedgehog photo from CPRE Hedgerow campaign report

Thefts from Outbuildings

We have received reports of some outbuildings being broken into in the village. Please make sure your outbuildings are secure. Suffolk Police provide some guidance on this here:

https://www.suffolk.police.uk/advice/home-safety/keeping-your-home-safe

Keeping your home safe | Suffolk Constabulary

Keeping your home safe. Most burglaries are committed by opportunist thieves who will search a neighbourhood for homes that look empty or dark, with access to back gardens.

www.suffolk.police.uk

Looking for something to do?

The brightly lit neonatal baby unit in Norwich are using quilts to cover the incubators and make them darker at night.

They also need blankets made with a close knit stitch to wrap the babies in.

Any donations of both these items would be very welcome. For measurements and further details ring Sue on 766222.

Fancy losing yourself in a regular creative activity? Find what connects people in your village? Connect with others?

From photography to drawing, creative writing and printmaking, Suffolk Artlink

invite you to explore and enjoy different aspects of your surroundings as part of their new free rural arts programme.

Delivered online or by post, visit: www.makedoandfriends.co.uk for more information.

Nexus fostering Generic PosterA5 v3 2

Welcome to our village

We would like to extend a warm welcome to all those who have recently moved into our village. We hope that you will soon settle in and be very happy here.

We hope to meet you all over the next couple of months at the various events so please take a look through our calendar and come along or contact the various people whose details are given.

Defibrillator

It is with great pleasure that the Parish Council announce that Wickham Skeith now has a Defibrillator.

You may well have seen the yellow defibrillator cabinet on the wall of the village hall. Should you need to call for an emergency ambulance for someone who has collapsed with a suspected heart attack, they will tell you the code to enter into the keypad to access the defibrillator.

The Parish Council is currently looking at training providers and, once organised, there will be a list of training sessions published that will be free for people to attend. There will also be an opening ceremony for our Wickham Skeith Defibrillator - more details to follow.

The Parish Council thanks Cllr Freeman and all those involved with fund raising events, enabling the launch of this project.

Dog Mess

Please can dog walkers pick up after their dog(s) or, if that is too difficult, please kick off the paths. There has been an increase in dog mess on several of our paths and clearing up after your dog would both reduce the unsightliness of it and also save other walkers from that horrible slipping feeling as your foot slides on a recent offering.

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For residents wishing to book a journey, please call 01449 614271

up to a week before you would like to travel.

Customer Services will be able to answer any questions that you may have

(but should you encounter any problems booking services,

please call Cllr Andrew Stringer direct on 07545 423842 or 01449 780349).

Orchards

The traditional orchards of the East of England are coming under scrutiny in a new Heritage Lottery funded landscape project. Orchards are an integral part of our historic landscape, but have been relatively poorly researched. They are important for landscape and biodiversity as well as being valuable to people and their local environment. The project team, based at the University of East Anglia, will survey and record traditional orchards, and research the history of fruit growing in the region. The project will also involve the restoration of important old orchards, and the creation of entirely new ones. It builds on the recent work of the Suffolk Traditional Orchards Group.

As part of the project, volunteers are asked to survey their parish for any remaining old orchards. What orchards still exist and what fruit varieties do they contain? Over the late summer and autumn I will be around the village recording any orchards that survive and asking to record which fruit varieties still grow there. If you would like further information, would like to help with the survey or talk to me about an old orchard that you own, please contact me on mappleby@tiscali.co.uk

After the survey, the Parish Council will give further consideration to the plan to create a new community orchard on the Little Green. Thank you – Melinda Appleby

Churchyard Rules

For the sake of safety please would all churchyard users remember that cut flowers on graves should be in a holder which is part of the headstone or in a metal (preferably aluminium) holder that is sunk into the ground with the top flush with ground level. Glass containers and jam jars are not allowed because they break easily and then become a hazard for people & animals.

Each grave should be kept tidy or be easy to mow.

Village Website

The village website has been migrated onto a new address and Stephen McKie is working hard to make it a helpful place for information about the village, parish council, clubs and events.

The new address is:

http://wickhamskeith.suffolk.cloud/

Thanks to Stephen McKie and Julie Sore who put the village content of this newsletter onto the website for us.

Oil Syndicate

The next oil order deadline is 31st March. If you need any please email jerrybassett@icloud.com or, if you don’t have access to email, ring 765908.

Severe Weather

8 February 2021

Met Office

The Met Office has issued a Yellow warning for the whole of Suffolk until 2359 Weds 10^th Feb. Strong winds and drifting are likely to continue to cause localised issues.