What's On

 Welcome to our What's On page.  Everything happening during the coming month is listed here, but but please check the Village Hall and News pages for information about events that are planned for later on.

See, also, Neighbour's Events at Occold,  Debenham, Pettaugh, Redlingfield, Thornham and Thorndon.

  

  

 

                                                     

                                                                   Sunset Shadow

 

 

                                              

                                                                           Moon Shadow

 

And then Northern Lights

Dates for your diary 

 

  

Village Hall News 

  

Toad Patrol – Volunteers Needed

The Patrol started in a spell of milder weather on Saturday 22^nd February with only two toads lifted. No further toads have yet been collected but the Patrol is now out and about from dusk for an hour or two depending on traffic. If the weather is above 5-6 degrees and damp then toads may start to move again. Please take care on the roads round the Grimmer and look out for our patrollers carrying buckets and torches!

Toads are very particular about where they breed and often migrate back to their ancestral breeding ponds. They follow the same route, regardless of what gets in their way, which in Wickham Skeith leads to them crossing roads around the Grimmer. We get a toad vs traffic scenario and the toads inevitably come off worse.

With spring arriving and the weather turning milder, volunteers from Wickham Skeith are gearing up to visit the site during February and March, depending on weather. We will carry toads over the busy road to help them reach the pond.

The toad is experiencing declines in the UK of nearly 70% in the last 30 years. Our village population has declined from an annual count of over 1400 helped, to a couple of hundred. Toad migrations can start anytime between late January and March so we will check the local weather forecast for the first run of consistently mild (>5°C), wet nights.

There is a Toad Patrol rota. Each night one or two volunteers go out during the migration period. With enough volunteers, that is only one evening each. We have gaps in our rota for 2025 so if you are interested in helping, please contact Melinda  (details on back of newsletter) for further information and to be added to the rota. 

 

 

Village Litter Pick

Help keep our village clean by joining the March Litter Pick starting at 9.30am from the Village Hall. Check for the date nearer the time but 22^nd March has been pencilled in.  All equipment and litter bags provided. Volunteers are usually directed in twos and threes along different routes. Meet back at the village hall where our County Councillor will collect all litter together and remove for safe disposal.

 

The Suffolk Mobile Library - 6th March

The van stops in the lay-by outside the chalet bungalows, from 9.50 to 10.05am. Then outside Haymead House in The Street from 10.10 to 10.25.  

 

Next visits:    6^th March and 3rd April, 2025.

 

 

THE WICKHAM SKEITH COUNTRY DANCE CLUB

January seemed a very long month and then February flies by! But the Dance Club met on the 12^th February and we had a very jolly evening. We had a couple of new people come along and we hope to see them again in March. We went over a few dances we have done before which went very well. A couple of new dances were tried and a call to do it again was made. On the second try they went exceedingly well. I have to tip my hat to all who attended as they danced all evening and hardly seemed out of breath! I joined in a couple and was reminded how exhausting calling and dancing was!

From March we will be meeting on the 3rd Wednesday of the month so all of you who don’t come along due to the Village Lunch now have no excuse! So come on, get you dancing shoes out (actually trainers are perfect!) and come along. Wickham Skeith Village Hall 7pm to 10pm £5 entry refreshments included.

Next meetings
March 19th
April 16th
May 21st

 

 

 

 

 

                   

  

     

‘Crafternoon’ Saturdays

 

 

Whatever your art or craft bring along your current project. Share skills, ideas, tips, and techniques. Inspire and be inspired in the company of other creative people.

 

 If you have an ‘arty’ or ‘crafty’ friend then bring them too.

 

Next Crafternoon on Saturday 8^th March,  2025 2-4pm

Entry: £2.50 per person (inc. tea/coffee/biscuits).

 

 

 

Fuel Support

HELP TO HEAT YOUR HOME

Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk Free energy advice and support to help you pay

your bills, top up your prepayment meter and apply for charitable support. Visit

www.midsuffolkcab.org.uk or call 01449 676 060

Local Welfare Assistance A grant for people struggling with the cost of

essentials. Visit www.suffolk.gov.uk/LWAS for more information and to apply.

Surviving Winter Financial support for people over pension age to help with

fuel costs. Eligibility criteria apply, visit www.suffolkcf.org.uk/surviving-winter-

appeal or contact Sudbury Citizens Advice on 01787 321 400.

 

Oil loans - Eastern Savings and Loan Credit Union offer interest-free loans of £500 to help spread the upfront cost of oil and LPG. To become a member and apply visit www.eslcu.co.uk or call 03336 000690. Subject to a manual decision process, affordability, and a credit check.

 

Visit www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/energy-fuel-and-utilities for more resources to help you keep fuel and utility costs down. If you would prefer to speak to someone, you can contact our Customer Services team on 0300 123 4 000, option 7 to discuss your situation and find local organisations available to support you.    

 

 

Wickham Skeith Environment Group

Wildlife Friendly Village  

 

A WhatsApp group has been set up to share wildlife sightings.

 

 

Nature Spot

The caterpillar is that of the Grey Dagger Moth – a common moth in England -named from its dagger like markings. The caterpillar has red markings and a black ‘hump’ on its back close to the head. It feeds on blackthorn, hawthorn, apple and birch.  

We look forward to seeing you there.              

 

 

 

Food Bank

As we do our Christmas shopping this year, spare a thought for those less fortunate than us.

Your donations will be very welcome, and the boxes are in the Village Hall, the Church or in Sue Merriam's porch.     

 

 

 

  

 

PHYSIO-LED PILATES CLASSES

 

Every Wednesday from 5-6pm, Francesca offers physiotherapist-led Pilates at the village hall.

Pilates is an excellent form of low-impact exercise, that helps to strengthen not only the core, but the whole body and mind, too.

Suitable for mixed abilities; the only necessity is that you can comfortably get on/off the floor.

For queries or booking details, please contact Francesca: francescadavey@outlook.com

 

 

Speed Indicator Device

Bus Service to Stowmarket

A bus service, VC001, runs 3 x week to Stowmarket and villages on the way [Mon, Weds & Fri  @ 9.52am]. It is operated by Stowmarket Minibus & Coach Hire [01449 614271]. The minibus (white and labelled on windscreen 'VC001') comes to the village green by the post box. People wishing to travel should hail it. Apparently, no-one usually gets on in Wickham Skeith so the driver is not expecting to pick up!  The driver is not supposed to arrive too early in case people miss it, so be patient if he is very slightly later!  Timings were pretty accurate overall. It is a sixteen-seater bus and will arrive from the direction of Finningham, heading in the direction of Mendlesham.

To Stowmarket the cost is £3.70 return or £2.00 single and paid by 'cashless' card transaction or cash.  To catch the bus back from Stowmarket, you need to wait at the bus stop opposite Stowmarket railway station, on the bend near the level crossing. There are other pick-up points and the driver was quite accommodating to the needs of individual passengers.

There is enough time to have a good potter around the town and perhaps a cafe stop too, before the return journey.  The bus also stops at Mendlesham, Mendlesham Green and The Crown, so could be useful for someone who wants to meet up with a friend but not able to drive.

Since the bus starts at Gislingham and goes to Finningham, then to us, you could do the journey in the other direction. This could be useful for anyone wishing to bus out and walk back. No dogs allowed on board due to limited space, however.

Passengers were a friendly crowd; there was one conversation between all - and you get to find out all the local news!  Worth supporting.  

 

 

A bus service, VC1, runs 3 x week from the village to Stowmarket and villages on the way. It is operated by Stowmarket Minibus & Coach Hire. It departs from the post-box on the Green at 9.52am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, arriving Stowmarket Crown 10.12 & railway station at 10.22. Return journey leaves from near Stowmarket Railway Station at 13.04 arriving in the village at 13.34.

If wishing to travel please check details as your Editor has found it difficult to get hold of information. Company Phone No. 01449 711 117. Best link here:

https://www.suffolkonboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-09-02-Stowmarket-MCH-VC001.pdf