Grafham Gossip September 2021 1 Issue 195 Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk Issue 196 Deadline: by 9am on Wednesday 15th September Contents g0grafham 2 Editors’ note… Summer is coming to an end and the schools and colleges are due to start a new academic year. Hopefully, you’ve managed to get away on holiday, perhaps a staycation or some days out in the countryside or by the sea. You’ll find lots of photographs in this issue, of the Flower Festival - page 3 - and the Bioblitz pages 8 and 9. Don’ t forget to take a look! Gradually more activities and events are taking place in and around Grafham. Upcoming events in September include: • The annual Ride and Stride Day will be held throughout the Diocese on Saturday 11 th September. This day may see groups of walkers and cyclists visit our church. The event is organised by the Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust to raise money to support buildings across the county with essential repairs and improvements. Participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can and at the same time raise money to support the work of the Trust. Participants can nominate their local church to receive 50% of the money they raise. If you wish to take part cycling, walking or taking another mode of transport visit: https://camhct.uk/ride-and-stride/ for more details and see the poster on page 10. • The Wildlife Trust Zoom meeting on Wednesday 8th - The Great Fen - see details on page 6. • Art Exhibition in Grafham on 26th, see poster on the left and information about the group on page 5. • Buckden Towers Open Day also on Sunday 26th, should prove to be interesting and enjoyable - see page 10. If you get organised you’ll be able to visit Buckden Towers as well as the Art Exhibition. Please send in your news, views, letters, recipes, photos and gossip in good time for the next deadline, by 9am on Wednesday 15th September. Keep Gossiping! Editors, editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk Keep the date Sat 6th November Grafham Fireworks See the poster on page 16 Advance warning Sunday 3rd October Harvest Festival 9.30am Grafham Church See page 3 towards the end of View from the Pew
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Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail:
editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
Contents
g0grafham
2
Editors’ note… Summer is coming to an end and the schools and colleges are due to start a new academic year. Hopefully, you’ve managed to get away on holiday, perhaps a staycation or some days out in the countryside or by the sea.
You’ll find lots of photographs in this issue, of the Flower Festival - page 3 - and the Bioblitz pages 8 and 9. Don’t forget to take a look!
Gradually more activities and events are taking place in and around Grafham. Upcoming events in September include:
• The annual Ride and Stride Day will be held throughout the Diocese on Saturday 11
th September. This day may see
groups of walkers and cyclists visit our church. The event is organised by the Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust to raise money to support buildings across the county with essential repairs and improvements. Participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can and at the same time raise money to support the work of the Trust. Participants can nominate their local church to receive 50% of the money they raise. If you wish to take part cycling, walking or taking another mode of transport visit:
https://camhct.uk/ride-and-stride/ for more details and see the poster on page 10.
• The Wildlife Trust Zoom meeting on Wednesday 8th - The Great Fen - see details on page 6.
• Art Exhibition in Grafham on 26th, see poster on the left and information about the group on page 5.
• Buckden Towers Open Day also on Sunday 26th, should prove to be interesting and enjoyable - see page 10. If you get organised you’ll be able to visit Buckden Towers as well as the Art Exhibition.
Please send in your news, views, letters, recipes, photos and gossip in good time for the next deadline, by 9am on Wednesday 15th September.
Keep Gossiping! Editors, editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
Advance warning
9.30am Grafham Church
See page 3 towards the end of View from the Pew
September 2021 2 Issue 195
We now have singing in all three churches in our parish (Grafham, Ellington and Brampton) and masks are no longer mandatory - but please continue to wear one if that makes you feel more comfortable.
For those who do not feel able to come into the church buildings yet, the Brampton service is live-streamed weekly at 10.30 and can be accessed via the You Tube site All three churches are open for private worship daily.
Book sales continue in the porch. Please use the hand sanitiser provided. A payment box is attached to the table.
All Saints Church, Grafham
Church Services at Grafham unless indicated otherwise
Wednesdays 09.00 - 09.30 Morning Prayer - a short service open to all.
Download the Daily Prayer app from the Church of England website available for iOS and Android - join us in spirit from home if you wish, but preferably please come along, help read some bible passages and pray for any concerns, local or personal.
Please note change of service times
Find more details about the services in View from the Pew below
Sunday 5th September 9.30 All Age Worship - Duncan available from 9am for chat
Wednesday 15th Sept 10.00 Holy Communion
Wednesday 22nd Sept 10.00 All Age Worship
Sunday 26th September 9.30 Holy Communion - Duncan available from 9am
Sunday 3rd October 9.30 All Age Worship - Harvest Festival - Duncan available from 9am
For more information on events and services for Grafham, Ellington and Brampton visit:
https://eastleightonstone.com and click on Calendar. To join the mailing list to receive
upcoming church services and Parish news, visit: http://www.eastleightonstone.com and click News
Contacting the clergy
Keith Wood Churchwarden, Brampton 07802 368 659 clergy@eastleightonstone.com
Sue Roberts Churchwarden, Brampton 07980 889904
As promised in our August issue we can now report on our Flower Festival and Bioblitz. The theme of
‘Buildings’ for the Flower Festival sounded quite daunting, but true to Grafham’s tradition our flower
arrangers came up with some amazing displays. There were depictions of St Paul’s and Canterbury
Cathedrals, the Taj Mahal and a castle in the air. A garden shed, greenhouse and beach huts plus a
mediterranean villa and apartment block, showed the array of ideas to admire. A milking parlour, oast
house, stable, insect house and millennium wheel, not forgetting the Eiffel Tower and an ivory tower
completed the entries. The porch was a stunning array of flowers with a Disney Castle at its centrepiece. Our thanks go
to Jill for inspiring us all as ever, helping with advice at every turn. Our visitors were so impressed that we have four
more volunteers to take part next year!
Photos of the displays are opposite, they can be seen in colour in the September Grafham Gossip on the village website
www.grafham.org.uk Richard’s are presented beautifully online: https://tinyurl.com/rabpictures/72157719613496671
In view of the doubtful weather forecast teas were served indoors.
Many thanks to all the cake makers and the ladies who served.
Fortunately the weather held for the Bioblitz and much interest
was provided by the examination and identification of flora and
fauna. A report of the Bioblitz is on pages 8 and 9. Our thanks go
to Debbie for planning, organising and leading this event which
will has been an inspiration to many people, young and older who
were present. Thank you to Gregory Belcher for being on hand to
answer questions and identify species, also our thanks go to
Richard for taking so many brilliant photographs of the Flower
Festival and Bioblitz.
Musical interludes each afternoon were provided by Sally and her group of saxophonists on Saturday and John’s happy
band on Sunday. This music really made the weekend go with a swing. Thank you to all the musicians.
Our Songs of Praise were a wonderful end to the weekend as we were able to sing at last!
View from the Pew
The Cam Saxophone Quartet
September 2021 3 Issue 195
Our thoughts now turn to the future of our three churches. Duncan has been instrumental in bringing new ideas to us all. We will now benefit from a service every week in each church, some of these being on weekdays. More work for Duncan who is prepared to minister two services each Sunday, one in Grafham or Ellington and the other in Brampton. This of course involves changes to service times to enable Duncan to travel between churches. The dates and times are set out on page 2. Duncan will be available from 9am on Sundays at Grafham for conversations with parishioners before the service at 9.30am. Refreshments will still be available for the service. Wednesday services will start at 10am. Morning Prayer will continue on Wednesdays at 9am unless there is a 10am service that day.
Duncan is also instituting the boards in each church for everyone to have their say on what they would like to see for the future of our churches. Feel free to come in and add your comments to the boards. All comments and suggestions are welcome.
A word about Harvest Festival. In view of the earlier time of this service on the first Sunday in October a ‘brunch’ has been suggested instead of a ‘ lunch.’ Further news of that in the October issue.
Don’t forget the ‘Big Conversation’ board!
Photographs taken by Ed.
Grafham Flower Festival 2021
September 2021 4 Issue 195
Send your news, views, photos, recipes, ‘Letters to Ed’ and gossip
to editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk by 9am on 15th of every month
The Plan is ‘made’ (has statutory powers)
We are here now
Independent examiners check it complies with local and national policy
Meetings with team and HDC to agree amendments
Plan now has influence on planning decisions
Referendum now probably late January / early February
Grafham and Ellington Neighbourhood Plan
Our Neighbourhood plan is … with the examiner in September
We understand that the referendum is more likely to be held in the last week of
January or the first week in February. This is earlier than expected.
The Neighbourhood Plan and associated documents are on the village website:
https://grafham.org.uk/index.php/neighbourhood-plan-2/
Grafham’s District Councillor
Darren Tysoe 01480 388310
Follow me on Twitter @darrentysoe
Receive my updates on Facebook www.facebook.com/cllrdmtysoe
Grafham’s County Councillor
14 Cranfield Way Brampton, Huntingdon PE28 4QZ
Grafham Parish Council
David Russell d.russell@grafhampc.org Jo Dunn j.dunn@grafhampc.org Patrick Curran p.curran@grafhampc.org
Carole Baber c.baber@grafhampc.org Sunil Gogna s.gogna@grafhampc.org
Contact details for Grafham’s Parish, District and County Councillors
PARISH NEWS There is no news to report this month. The date of the next Grafham Parish Council meeting is
7th September. This will be reported in the October issue.
For more information about your Parish Council’s activities, please see the village website:
https://grafham.org.uk/index.php/parish-council/ or contact a member of the Parish Council, details below.
September 2021 5 Issue 195
Talking Shop Hello everyone, we hope you all had a wonderful summer!
Autumn is approaching and the nights will be drawing in
soon. We will shortly be selling logs and kindling again
for when the weather turns cooler.
We have lots of seasonal cakes supplied by Bramble
Foods still in stock. We sell a selection of fruit cakes,
sponges, flapjacks and biscuits in a wide variety of flavours,
along with sweet treats like fudge and sesame snaps.
Got a loved ones birthday or special occasion upcoming?
In the shop we supply Handmade Cards produced by our
Local Art Club at £2.00 each. Also, we supply each artists
handmade paintings with frames, these make lovely dec-
orations to your home or as a gift to friends. Please help
us support our local artists and keep their club going. All
artwork is cash only.
malades and chutneys coming in September! We have
been supplying Saints & Sinners products for a number
of years now and they have become more and more
popular with our customers. All products are homemade
in Lincolnshire and all ingredients are locally sourced.
Would you like to be involved with the running of the
shop? We are currently very much in need of more
volunteers and committee members. It is always good to
have new people with fresh ideas and extra hands to
help our managers. If you would be interested or would
like any more information pop into the shop to speak to
one of the managers.
We appreciate all of your feedback and suggestions, we
are continuing to try to offer as many products as can.
Hope to see you in the shop soon!
Lynn and Chloe
Grafham Community Shop
Mon-Fri 8.00 - 6.30
Sat 8.00 - 5.00
Sun 9.00 - 2.00
The NHS Covid App can be down loaded from: https://covid19.nhs.uk/
Free rapid lateral flow tests for people with no symptoms The Government is encouraging more testing. You can get regular rapid tests if you do not have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/
Rapid Covid Testing Twice-weekly rapid testing is a tool in identifying cases of
Covid-19 that would otherwise be missed.
With 1 in 3 people with coronavirus showing no symptoms and potentially spreading it without knowing, rapid testing helps to identify positive cases quickly, preventing the spread of infection.
There are several ways you can access rapid testing. You can take a test at one of the rapid testing sites locally. Your employer may be offering testing in the workplace.
You can also collect tests to complete at home or order tests to be delivered to your home. Secondary school pupils are also being asked to take a twice-weekly test.
You can find out more about all of these options at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/rapidtesting
Dr Liz Robin, director of public health for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: ‘Getting into the habit of twice-weekly testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to keep each other safe.’
Well done to Val Boswell
on achieving 2-1
for her degree
in English Literature
Congratulations!
Local Artists Survive Lockdown One of the positive things to come out of the Covid pandemic was the
idea of a group of artist friends to form a ‘Plein Air’ group, in order for
them to continue to meet up and paint together safely… at a distance
and outside. We bought fishing tents and fingerless gloves to use
when the weather was poor and call ourselves the ‘POD PAINTERS.’
The chance to meet, talk and share ideas and thoughts has helped
us all personally and professionally get through the last difficult months.
We have been able to produce many different styles and mediums of
paintings of multiple subjects including local scenes, portraits and
townscapes. We now need to top up the paint fund and make more
storage space to continue, so we have an exhibition planned at
Grafham Village Hall on Sunday 26th September. We would love to
welcome you to our Exhibition.
Also see the notice on the front page
Useful Phone Numbers All emergencies 999
Non-emergencies 101
Minicom for hard of hearing 01480 422493
Action Fraud 0300 123 2040
Crimestoppers 0800 555111 (anonymous)
To report anti-social behaviour in Grafham 01480 388379 or 387097 or e-mail: Barbara.gowling@huntsdc.gov.uk or tracey.guinea@huntsdc.gov.uk
To stop unwanted phone calls 08450 700707
To stop unwanted mail 08457 034599
Power cut Call 105 or 0800 31 63 105 or text POWER and your postcode to 80876 http://www.powercut105.com/
For a recycling update and a reminder of the
right recycling to put in your blue bin, go to
www.recap.co.uk
For a detailed list of everything that can go in your
visit https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/bins-waste/
Mon to Thurs and 8.45am and 4.30pm on Fridays
or email mail@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
an hour to help clean the church,
now and then.
Ticket price £62.50 p/p
Please contact Tina Theodorou 07711 012957
or email tina.theodorou1@gmail.com if you are interested.
Further details to follow closer to the event.
Wed 8th Sept
via Zoom
The Great Fen: Progress on the Peat Our speaker will be Henry Stanier, who is The Great Fen
Ecology and Recording Officer for the Wildlife Trust for
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire with
responsibility for managing the monitoring of the Great
Fen, including training volunteers in ecology monitoring.
Henry has a wide knowledge of natural history, with particular
expertise in birds, dragonflies, reptiles, amphibians and
mammals, as well as botany.
Tonight Henry will bring us up to date with progress on the
management of the Fen and its wildlife and the plans for
the future of this wonderful wetland.
This talk is free. To book, please email Pat on:
jp.doody@ntlworld.com in advance and he will send you a
zoom link before the meeting is due to start. Donations are
gratefully accepted via the Wildlife Trust BCN website.
For more information please contact Alistair on 07775
365507 or alistairrgrant@hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Registered Charity No: 1000412
Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Northamptonshire
The Wildlife Trust Huntingdonshire Local Group
“Has the bin man bin Mam?”
For more advice or information about waste and recy- cling services, visit www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/bins
or call 01480 388640 between 8.45am and 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am and 4.30pm on Fridays or email
Wednesdays Blue bin (recycling) and
Black bin (refuse) - alternate weeks
Every other Thursday - Green bin (garden waste)
September 2021 7 Issue 195
I expect many of you will heard of, if not seen the film
Gunfight at the OK Corral. That had nothing on the fun
and drama of the Bunfight at Bluebell Hill!
Mr Brookes the sales manger contacted me and asked me
to go a large mental institution at Bluebell Hill to make
arrangements for a seminar/product presentation to nearby
NHS personnel. I also had to book lunch for approximately
50 attendees.
I managed to find the building okay, but had trouble find-
ing the Porters Lodge. I was feeling a bit flustered by then
and when I asked to speak to the domestic supervisor
I received some very strange looks and questions. It tran-
spired that the domestic supervisor had the same name
as me! Eventually, I managed to make all the arrange-
ments.
On the day of the presentation everything was going very
well. Lunchtime came and the food looked very inviting!
My friend Clive Tredgett was seated next to me. Lunch
had just begun when a hand reached over his shoulder
and grabbed his Yorkshire pud. Stunned silence ensued
for a few seconds, then another patient on the opposite
side yelled at him which resulted in a flying Yorker!
Pandemonium broke loose! Food and plates were flying
everywhere! There were fifty plus people trying to make a
dignified exit through two doors. I never laughed so much
before or since, that episode is embellished on my
memory. It took the best part of half hour to get on my
way home. I managed to find a Wimpy Burger Bar on the
way back.
I’ve often wondered how long it took to resume good or-
der after I’d left. I don’t know if it was by way of apology,
but we had some good orders after that.
Grafham Villager
2. Pick autumn raspberries
3. Collect and sow seed from perennials and hardy annuals
4. Dig up remaining potatoes before slug damage spoils them
5. Net ponds before leaf fall gets underway
6. Keep up with watering of new plants, using rain or grey water if
possible
7. Start to reduce the frequency of houseplant watering
8. Clean out cold frames and greenhouses so that they are ready for
use in the autumn
10. Plant Spring flowering bulbs
There’s more advice from the Royal Horticultural Society
More details: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/september
Recipe of the month Apple and Blackberry Crumble
September sees blackberries in the hedge- rows, what could be better than a blackberry and apple crumble. Serves 4
Ingredients
Peel the apples and cut into quarters, remove
the cores and slice each piece in two. Put
them into a pan and add a pinch of sugar, to
taste. Add a tablespoon of water and cook
over a medium heat for about five minutes,
until the apples start to soften.
Transfer the apple mixture to a shallow
ovenproof pie dish and sprinkle the washed
blackberries over the top.
fingers (or use a food processor for a few
seconds) until the mixture looks like bread-
crumbs.
sprinkle over the apples and blackberries in
the pie dish. Transfer to the oven to bake for
30 minutes or until crisp and golden-brown
on top.
editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
That’s Life! My memories in Sales
Letter to the Editors Dear Editor … Grafham Churchyard My parents are buried in the Churchyard and over the years I have seen a great improvement in the maintenance of the grass. It is good to see the wild areas being left to nature.
I have been impressed by the effort made by so many to keep the graves tidy and refresh the flowers.
Congratulations to all concerned.
Let us know your news, views, and comments. Email: editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk Thanks, Ed
The Grafham Gossip aims to remain impartial and the editor publishes letters, contributions and views received, provided that the
name and address or email address of the writer are provided.
September 2021 8 Issue 195
Thank you for all your help and enthusiasm. Here’s what we found
plant species
litres of water each bee colony carries in a year
Helpers aged from to
Pippistrelle Bat ‘In care’
Many of these photographs were taken by Richard Brown. For more of Richard’s photos see: Grafham Bioblitz 2021 Wildlife https://tinyurl.com/rabpictures/72157719660550130 and Grafham Bioblitz 2021 Overview https://tinyurl.com/rabpictures/72157719614315256
Community Notices in the Grafham Gossip
No charge for notices if no profit is made:
Community Info - Free to good home -
Help wanted
Items For Sale - a donation towards printing costs please, to reflect the size of the advert / money made, if / when the item is sold
Profit making events - a donation towards printing
costs please, to reflect the size of the advert
For more details, email: editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
Brampton Wood Logs For Sale
All hardwood, seasoned 12 months
£90 per cubic yard processed ready to go on your fire
£45 per cubic yard unprocessed you will need a chain saw and a log
splitter
Email: georgecottam@virginmedia.com
Please support your local wood
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the red brick Tudor walls of Buckden Towers?
Would you like to learn more about the history or take a guided tour of the grounds or famous Knot Garden?
Are you interested in recent gatehouse repairs and the time capsule that‘s been placed in the gatehouse roof?
On Sunday 26th September
Entry and parking free No dogs please
• Take a short guided tour of the famous and historic buildings.
• Have a guided walk around the grounds.
• Visit the Knot Garden for a guided tour, including an exhibition of dyeing using plants from the garden.
• Take a look at the photographic record of the gate- house project.
• Enjoy light refreshments.
• Make a purchase from the local food drink and craft market.
All the revenue raised by Friends of Buckden Towers goes to support the owners in maintaining these wonderful, and unique, buildings and gardens.
Open Day at Buckden Towers
Sunday 26 th September
September 2021 11 Issue 195
Chewing the Cud with Rev. Duncan Goldthorpe, Priest-in-Charge of The Parish of East Leightonstone
‘We plough the fields and scatter, the good seed on the land.’ Important
words if farming is your livelihood. Having spent the early years of my life
living in a village where some of my school friend’s parents were farmers, I
have a good understanding of the importance of the harvest and also the
community celebrations that I would look forward to at this time of year. So
what has that got to do with me? I hear you say. Well, it seems to me that
although the United Kingdom has become less of an agrarian culture, harvest
festival still seems to be a part of the life of the church, our villages and certainly comes
around every year in primary schools. So why should harvest be important to us?
In our world of 24-hour supermarkets – with their
shelves bursting with countless pre-packaged forms
of wheat, barley and their gluten-free equivalents,
with multiple varieties of honey and olive oils – it can
be easy for us all to take food for granted. Harvest
Festival is a great opportunity for us to recall and
celebrate together the origins of these good gifts. This
passage from Deuteronomy reminds us that harvest
is a time to express our gratitude for the land and
people who produce them, and to thank God from
whom they all spring.
Are we really aware of the people around us? We are so often blind to the people who we see every day. This might be
at work, the supermarket, the bus-stop, wherever we find ourselves. This blindness can be both to people’s spiritual
needs as well as to their readiness and openness to Jesus. Judgements relating to lifestyle and sometimes hard atti-
tudes can prevent us from seeing the ripe fruit before our very eyes. How easy it is to forget that God is able to work
powerfully in them when the time is right. This is a lesson about taking the blinkers off regarding the people around us.
Jesus tells his disciples to become alert to the readiness of the harvest.
Yes, at this time of year we are truly thankful for all that God has provided
for us. Our challenge is to pray for the harvest of souls. Harvest is about
taking the opportunity to be thankful for God’s provision. This includes
being alert and ready to talk with others about our faith. You never know,
someone might respond with a ‘yes’ to an invitation to come to church on
‘Back to Church Sunday,’ 19 th
September this year where we will be having some food together after the service at
St Mary’s Brampton, or a harvest meal in Ellington or Grafham, even your own harvest meal that you might want to host.
Happy Harvest everyone! Duncan
but the labourers are few; therefore ask
the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers
into his harvest.’ Luke 10:2
7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land - a
land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into
the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines
and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey… ...You may
say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands
have produced this wealth for me.’ 18 But remember the
LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce
wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your
ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Photograph taken by Ed. of goldenrod at Wimpole in August, also with flowers unopened.
'Any height you can grow I can grow taller'
Has anyone noticed the way certain plants have enjoyed this year's weather -
my cowslip and ox-eye daisies have already featured in the Grafham Gossip.
(July 2021 page 11)
Looking at a clump of Solidago (goldenrod) behind those ox-eye daisies a few
weeks ago, I though of the phrase 'Any height you can grow I can grow taller'
- and how true that has turned out to be. The flowers have yet to open but
some plants have already reached a height of 2.35 metres!
Edward Biffin
September 2021 12 Issue 195
Cinnamon Bar and Indian Restaurant Open 7 days a week 5pm to 10.30pm Also lunch time if pre-booked for 5 or more people
Call 01480 812211/811316 Thursday Night is 'Banquet Night'
1 starter, 1 main, 1 side.
Any rice or any nan £13.50 King prawn or duck £1.50 extra
http://cinnamonhuntingdon.co.uk/
editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
payable in advance.
newsletter and any profit is donated to
All Saints, Grafham and its Restoration Fund.
Donations towards printing costs are always welcome!
September 2021 13 Issue 195
The map above is a summary of the hedgehog data that I have collected so far this summer, using the footprint tunnels.
There are still some sites to go but the picture is positive. This year I have found hedgehogs at Lake view camping and
Westwood Lodges, both sites had no hedgehog signs last year. An even bigger surprise was finding them down at one
of the Orchard Row Cottages. The question is, are they part of the core village population or a separate enclave? Some
of the work I will be doing next might help to answer this. I would like to say a big thank you to all who have participated
and allowed me to place tunnels, without your help I could not do this.
Another part of the project is to find out as much as I can about badger activity and sett locations to model their influence
on the hedgehog distribution pattern. Badger presence has been shown to have an influence on hedgehog activity and
distribution; as many people know, badgers are the main predators of hedgehogs, and hedgehogs will avoid badgers if
they can. If anyone has information about our local badger residents, I would love to hear from you.
Carole
strengthening rural communities across the County for
nearly 100 years now. We work alongside local people
and groups to help improve the places, services and as-
sets that are important to them.
We have a new look that we feel better reflects who we
are and all we have to offer you and your community.
Key to our new look is a logo that now includes the
words ‘Community Action’ because this is at the heart of
everything we do.
We’ve also launched a brand-new website, that clearly
sets out the wide range of services we offer and features
examples of how our work has made a real difference to
people and communities. https://www.cambsacre.org.uk/
(If you see the old version of our website for any reason,
you may need to clear your cache or search for
'Cambridgeshire ACRE' via your preferred search en-
gine.)
Do get in touch if you have any questions by calling 01353 860850 or emailing enquiries@cambsacre.org.uk
Welcome to the new Cambridgeshire ACRE
The same Cambridgeshire ACRE but even better
JEZ ASHCROFT LTD All your decorating needs including:
Coving, Internal Decorating
www.gaphomeimprovements.co.uk
please contact your local representative
Jon Goodchild on 07825 238240 or email:
jon@gaphomeimprovements.co.uk
Based in Grafham
Call John for
details
If you’d like to write a ‘one-off’ article or a regular feature
for the Grafham Gossip,
Replacing your boiler soon? The Race to Renewable, March 2022
There’s a UK-wide race on for households to access a grant that has made renewable energy affordable for 90,000 homes over the last decade. This fund, the Renewable Heat Incentive will end in March 2022.
National headlines last month announced rising energy prices and questioned how we pay for a renewable, carbon zero society. After Grafham, Great Staughton and Perry decided that a renewable energy heat network was not an affordable option for the local villages involved, we are seizing local momentum to support individual households in the village and beyond, to change to renewable energy heating. We have put together some practical information to help those who may be considering replacing their heating in the next year or so to make a positive move to future-proofing your heating and to make a change that the next generation can be proud of.
Put simply, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) pays a tariff to you, based on your home’s Energy Performance Certifi- cate (EPC), a measure of your homes insulation, and the energy saved by your new renewable heating installation. Overall, the funding has been very successful, almost 90,000 homes have had renewable heating installed. The tariff, paid over 7 years, can cover up to 70% of the costs involved in installing an air source heat pump. This has been the most popular form of renewable heating installed in homes using RHI. After March 2022, it is expected that RHI will be replaced by a single £4,000 payment towards the cost of an Air Source Heat Pump, which would cover less that 50% of the upfront costs.
What are your future heating options?
1. Replace an oil boiler, with an oil boiler. There is a plan to phase out oil in the UK, and some manufacturers are winding down oil boilers, parts and maintenance may become increasingly difficult.
2. Replace your boiler before March 2022 with an Air Source Heat Pump, cover around 70% of the costs, potentially 100% using Renewable Heat Incentive. This option will only be able until 31
st
March 2022, when RHI ends.
3. Replace your boiler before March 2022 with an Air Source Heat Pump, and low or no upfront costs using an installer offering Assignment of Rights. This process allows the installer to claim your Renewable Heat Incentive payment, to cover installation costs. You would pay for the ongoing electrical and servicing costs of the heat pump. This option will only be able until 31
st March 2022, when
RHI ends.
4. Replace your boiler after March 2022 with an Air Source Heat Pump, with a voucher for £4,000 via the Clean Heat Grant, which will cover up to 50% of the costs, maybe.
Through the tri-village heating project we have met several households that have taken advantage of RHI and installed an air source heat pump within their own home. An air source heat pumps uses electricity to upgrade heat extracted from air, through a process that is the opposite of a fridge. This means that your electricity costs will go up due to use by the Air Source Heat Pump, but that your overall heating costs could go down in the long term
After installing an approved Air Source Heat Pump, you register your heating system, to then receive a quarterly pay- ment from the government. The payment amount is based on the estimate energy use of your home, stated on its EPC.
We would like to help facilitate a heat network of a different kind in the village, by creating a support network between those who are interested in installing renewable heating and those who have already installed it! If you would like to speak to someone in your village about their personal experience of installing an air source heat pump, please email info@g0grafham.co.uk or contact us if you would be happy to speak with your neighbours about your experience.
We are also in the process of speaking to Cambridgeshire County Council to see if they would be willing to support group buying of air source heat pumps. This might help reduce the cost of installations.
Useful Links: How much could you earn from RHI? https://renewable-heat-calculator.service.gov.uk/StartCalculation.aspx
Where can I find an Air Source Heat Pump installer? www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk (Trading Standards Approved)
www.tradingstandards.uk/commercial-services/consumer-codes-approval-scheme/i-am-a-consumer (Search for Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme, or Renewable Energy Consumer Code)
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk Opinions expressed in the Grafham Gossip, including past issues, are those of the writer and not the editors.
Details of planned road closures, diversions and latest news can be found on the Highways England website
by clicking here or type www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A14C2H
into your search engine
or stay updated by following: https://twitter.com/a14c2h and https://en-gb.facebook.com/A14C2H
There’s also a dedicated A14 Public Helpline 0800 270 0114
Details of planned road closures and diversions are on Grafham village web site also: www.grafham.org.uk Ed
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme
Grafham Community Shop Tel: 01480 810119
Opening Times
East Leightonstone Parish - Brampton, Ellington, Grafham
Little Fishes Stay + Play for 0- 4 years
Grafham Village Hall
Term time only
Free play time followed by a short bible story, action songs and simple craft.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Jane in in advance of the session.
Contact Jane Rowley 01480 890986
littlefishes@eastleightonstone.com
Highway Community Car Scheme Provides transport for people unable to make essential journeys by
public transport or any other means.
Passengers pay the driver on the day of travel
to contribute towards fuel expenses at a rate of 30p per mile with a minimum charge of £3.00.
To arrange a journey or for more information please call 07786 520540
We are also looking out for volunteer drivers so if you want to help your community, give us a call. We would love to hear from you.
The scheme is supported and advised by Cambridgeshire County Council and Care Network Cambridgeshire
Quiz night Last Thursday of every month
Starting at 8pm
Opening Times
Bank Holidays - 13.00 - 18.00
for the October issue Thanks, Ed editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
Hunts Community Cancer Network (HCCN)
Ellington Group
Tuesdays 10am - 1pm
We offer a drop-in space where people can come together to talk freely and gain mutual support.
There is always a warm welcome and lots of laughter. We also hold two yoga classes with Jill Wiles.
To register your interest please visit www.hccn.org.uk/ouroffer
email info@hccnthecharity.org or call Amanda Burridge 01480 416410
Contents
g0grafham
2
Editors’ note… Summer is coming to an end and the schools and colleges are due to start a new academic year. Hopefully, you’ve managed to get away on holiday, perhaps a staycation or some days out in the countryside or by the sea.
You’ll find lots of photographs in this issue, of the Flower Festival - page 3 - and the Bioblitz pages 8 and 9. Don’t forget to take a look!
Gradually more activities and events are taking place in and around Grafham. Upcoming events in September include:
• The annual Ride and Stride Day will be held throughout the Diocese on Saturday 11
th September. This day may see
groups of walkers and cyclists visit our church. The event is organised by the Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust to raise money to support buildings across the county with essential repairs and improvements. Participants challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can and at the same time raise money to support the work of the Trust. Participants can nominate their local church to receive 50% of the money they raise. If you wish to take part cycling, walking or taking another mode of transport visit:
https://camhct.uk/ride-and-stride/ for more details and see the poster on page 10.
• The Wildlife Trust Zoom meeting on Wednesday 8th - The Great Fen - see details on page 6.
• Art Exhibition in Grafham on 26th, see poster on the left and information about the group on page 5.
• Buckden Towers Open Day also on Sunday 26th, should prove to be interesting and enjoyable - see page 10. If you get organised you’ll be able to visit Buckden Towers as well as the Art Exhibition.
Please send in your news, views, letters, recipes, photos and gossip in good time for the next deadline, by 9am on Wednesday 15th September.
Keep Gossiping! Editors, editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
Advance warning
9.30am Grafham Church
See page 3 towards the end of View from the Pew
September 2021 2 Issue 195
We now have singing in all three churches in our parish (Grafham, Ellington and Brampton) and masks are no longer mandatory - but please continue to wear one if that makes you feel more comfortable.
For those who do not feel able to come into the church buildings yet, the Brampton service is live-streamed weekly at 10.30 and can be accessed via the You Tube site All three churches are open for private worship daily.
Book sales continue in the porch. Please use the hand sanitiser provided. A payment box is attached to the table.
All Saints Church, Grafham
Church Services at Grafham unless indicated otherwise
Wednesdays 09.00 - 09.30 Morning Prayer - a short service open to all.
Download the Daily Prayer app from the Church of England website available for iOS and Android - join us in spirit from home if you wish, but preferably please come along, help read some bible passages and pray for any concerns, local or personal.
Please note change of service times
Find more details about the services in View from the Pew below
Sunday 5th September 9.30 All Age Worship - Duncan available from 9am for chat
Wednesday 15th Sept 10.00 Holy Communion
Wednesday 22nd Sept 10.00 All Age Worship
Sunday 26th September 9.30 Holy Communion - Duncan available from 9am
Sunday 3rd October 9.30 All Age Worship - Harvest Festival - Duncan available from 9am
For more information on events and services for Grafham, Ellington and Brampton visit:
https://eastleightonstone.com and click on Calendar. To join the mailing list to receive
upcoming church services and Parish news, visit: http://www.eastleightonstone.com and click News
Contacting the clergy
Keith Wood Churchwarden, Brampton 07802 368 659 clergy@eastleightonstone.com
Sue Roberts Churchwarden, Brampton 07980 889904
As promised in our August issue we can now report on our Flower Festival and Bioblitz. The theme of
‘Buildings’ for the Flower Festival sounded quite daunting, but true to Grafham’s tradition our flower
arrangers came up with some amazing displays. There were depictions of St Paul’s and Canterbury
Cathedrals, the Taj Mahal and a castle in the air. A garden shed, greenhouse and beach huts plus a
mediterranean villa and apartment block, showed the array of ideas to admire. A milking parlour, oast
house, stable, insect house and millennium wheel, not forgetting the Eiffel Tower and an ivory tower
completed the entries. The porch was a stunning array of flowers with a Disney Castle at its centrepiece. Our thanks go
to Jill for inspiring us all as ever, helping with advice at every turn. Our visitors were so impressed that we have four
more volunteers to take part next year!
Photos of the displays are opposite, they can be seen in colour in the September Grafham Gossip on the village website
www.grafham.org.uk Richard’s are presented beautifully online: https://tinyurl.com/rabpictures/72157719613496671
In view of the doubtful weather forecast teas were served indoors.
Many thanks to all the cake makers and the ladies who served.
Fortunately the weather held for the Bioblitz and much interest
was provided by the examination and identification of flora and
fauna. A report of the Bioblitz is on pages 8 and 9. Our thanks go
to Debbie for planning, organising and leading this event which
will has been an inspiration to many people, young and older who
were present. Thank you to Gregory Belcher for being on hand to
answer questions and identify species, also our thanks go to
Richard for taking so many brilliant photographs of the Flower
Festival and Bioblitz.
Musical interludes each afternoon were provided by Sally and her group of saxophonists on Saturday and John’s happy
band on Sunday. This music really made the weekend go with a swing. Thank you to all the musicians.
Our Songs of Praise were a wonderful end to the weekend as we were able to sing at last!
View from the Pew
The Cam Saxophone Quartet
September 2021 3 Issue 195
Our thoughts now turn to the future of our three churches. Duncan has been instrumental in bringing new ideas to us all. We will now benefit from a service every week in each church, some of these being on weekdays. More work for Duncan who is prepared to minister two services each Sunday, one in Grafham or Ellington and the other in Brampton. This of course involves changes to service times to enable Duncan to travel between churches. The dates and times are set out on page 2. Duncan will be available from 9am on Sundays at Grafham for conversations with parishioners before the service at 9.30am. Refreshments will still be available for the service. Wednesday services will start at 10am. Morning Prayer will continue on Wednesdays at 9am unless there is a 10am service that day.
Duncan is also instituting the boards in each church for everyone to have their say on what they would like to see for the future of our churches. Feel free to come in and add your comments to the boards. All comments and suggestions are welcome.
A word about Harvest Festival. In view of the earlier time of this service on the first Sunday in October a ‘brunch’ has been suggested instead of a ‘ lunch.’ Further news of that in the October issue.
Don’t forget the ‘Big Conversation’ board!
Photographs taken by Ed.
Grafham Flower Festival 2021
September 2021 4 Issue 195
Send your news, views, photos, recipes, ‘Letters to Ed’ and gossip
to editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk by 9am on 15th of every month
The Plan is ‘made’ (has statutory powers)
We are here now
Independent examiners check it complies with local and national policy
Meetings with team and HDC to agree amendments
Plan now has influence on planning decisions
Referendum now probably late January / early February
Grafham and Ellington Neighbourhood Plan
Our Neighbourhood plan is … with the examiner in September
We understand that the referendum is more likely to be held in the last week of
January or the first week in February. This is earlier than expected.
The Neighbourhood Plan and associated documents are on the village website:
https://grafham.org.uk/index.php/neighbourhood-plan-2/
Grafham’s District Councillor
Darren Tysoe 01480 388310
Follow me on Twitter @darrentysoe
Receive my updates on Facebook www.facebook.com/cllrdmtysoe
Grafham’s County Councillor
14 Cranfield Way Brampton, Huntingdon PE28 4QZ
Grafham Parish Council
David Russell d.russell@grafhampc.org Jo Dunn j.dunn@grafhampc.org Patrick Curran p.curran@grafhampc.org
Carole Baber c.baber@grafhampc.org Sunil Gogna s.gogna@grafhampc.org
Contact details for Grafham’s Parish, District and County Councillors
PARISH NEWS There is no news to report this month. The date of the next Grafham Parish Council meeting is
7th September. This will be reported in the October issue.
For more information about your Parish Council’s activities, please see the village website:
https://grafham.org.uk/index.php/parish-council/ or contact a member of the Parish Council, details below.
September 2021 5 Issue 195
Talking Shop Hello everyone, we hope you all had a wonderful summer!
Autumn is approaching and the nights will be drawing in
soon. We will shortly be selling logs and kindling again
for when the weather turns cooler.
We have lots of seasonal cakes supplied by Bramble
Foods still in stock. We sell a selection of fruit cakes,
sponges, flapjacks and biscuits in a wide variety of flavours,
along with sweet treats like fudge and sesame snaps.
Got a loved ones birthday or special occasion upcoming?
In the shop we supply Handmade Cards produced by our
Local Art Club at £2.00 each. Also, we supply each artists
handmade paintings with frames, these make lovely dec-
orations to your home or as a gift to friends. Please help
us support our local artists and keep their club going. All
artwork is cash only.
malades and chutneys coming in September! We have
been supplying Saints & Sinners products for a number
of years now and they have become more and more
popular with our customers. All products are homemade
in Lincolnshire and all ingredients are locally sourced.
Would you like to be involved with the running of the
shop? We are currently very much in need of more
volunteers and committee members. It is always good to
have new people with fresh ideas and extra hands to
help our managers. If you would be interested or would
like any more information pop into the shop to speak to
one of the managers.
We appreciate all of your feedback and suggestions, we
are continuing to try to offer as many products as can.
Hope to see you in the shop soon!
Lynn and Chloe
Grafham Community Shop
Mon-Fri 8.00 - 6.30
Sat 8.00 - 5.00
Sun 9.00 - 2.00
The NHS Covid App can be down loaded from: https://covid19.nhs.uk/
Free rapid lateral flow tests for people with no symptoms The Government is encouraging more testing. You can get regular rapid tests if you do not have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19).
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/
Rapid Covid Testing Twice-weekly rapid testing is a tool in identifying cases of
Covid-19 that would otherwise be missed.
With 1 in 3 people with coronavirus showing no symptoms and potentially spreading it without knowing, rapid testing helps to identify positive cases quickly, preventing the spread of infection.
There are several ways you can access rapid testing. You can take a test at one of the rapid testing sites locally. Your employer may be offering testing in the workplace.
You can also collect tests to complete at home or order tests to be delivered to your home. Secondary school pupils are also being asked to take a twice-weekly test.
You can find out more about all of these options at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/rapidtesting
Dr Liz Robin, director of public health for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: ‘Getting into the habit of twice-weekly testing as part of our everyday lives will help us all to keep each other safe.’
Well done to Val Boswell
on achieving 2-1
for her degree
in English Literature
Congratulations!
Local Artists Survive Lockdown One of the positive things to come out of the Covid pandemic was the
idea of a group of artist friends to form a ‘Plein Air’ group, in order for
them to continue to meet up and paint together safely… at a distance
and outside. We bought fishing tents and fingerless gloves to use
when the weather was poor and call ourselves the ‘POD PAINTERS.’
The chance to meet, talk and share ideas and thoughts has helped
us all personally and professionally get through the last difficult months.
We have been able to produce many different styles and mediums of
paintings of multiple subjects including local scenes, portraits and
townscapes. We now need to top up the paint fund and make more
storage space to continue, so we have an exhibition planned at
Grafham Village Hall on Sunday 26th September. We would love to
welcome you to our Exhibition.
Also see the notice on the front page
Useful Phone Numbers All emergencies 999
Non-emergencies 101
Minicom for hard of hearing 01480 422493
Action Fraud 0300 123 2040
Crimestoppers 0800 555111 (anonymous)
To report anti-social behaviour in Grafham 01480 388379 or 387097 or e-mail: Barbara.gowling@huntsdc.gov.uk or tracey.guinea@huntsdc.gov.uk
To stop unwanted phone calls 08450 700707
To stop unwanted mail 08457 034599
Power cut Call 105 or 0800 31 63 105 or text POWER and your postcode to 80876 http://www.powercut105.com/
For a recycling update and a reminder of the
right recycling to put in your blue bin, go to
www.recap.co.uk
For a detailed list of everything that can go in your
visit https://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/bins-waste/
Mon to Thurs and 8.45am and 4.30pm on Fridays
or email mail@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
an hour to help clean the church,
now and then.
Ticket price £62.50 p/p
Please contact Tina Theodorou 07711 012957
or email tina.theodorou1@gmail.com if you are interested.
Further details to follow closer to the event.
Wed 8th Sept
via Zoom
The Great Fen: Progress on the Peat Our speaker will be Henry Stanier, who is The Great Fen
Ecology and Recording Officer for the Wildlife Trust for
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire with
responsibility for managing the monitoring of the Great
Fen, including training volunteers in ecology monitoring.
Henry has a wide knowledge of natural history, with particular
expertise in birds, dragonflies, reptiles, amphibians and
mammals, as well as botany.
Tonight Henry will bring us up to date with progress on the
management of the Fen and its wildlife and the plans for
the future of this wonderful wetland.
This talk is free. To book, please email Pat on:
jp.doody@ntlworld.com in advance and he will send you a
zoom link before the meeting is due to start. Donations are
gratefully accepted via the Wildlife Trust BCN website.
For more information please contact Alistair on 07775
365507 or alistairrgrant@hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Registered Charity No: 1000412
Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Northamptonshire
The Wildlife Trust Huntingdonshire Local Group
“Has the bin man bin Mam?”
For more advice or information about waste and recy- cling services, visit www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/bins
or call 01480 388640 between 8.45am and 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am and 4.30pm on Fridays or email
Wednesdays Blue bin (recycling) and
Black bin (refuse) - alternate weeks
Every other Thursday - Green bin (garden waste)
September 2021 7 Issue 195
I expect many of you will heard of, if not seen the film
Gunfight at the OK Corral. That had nothing on the fun
and drama of the Bunfight at Bluebell Hill!
Mr Brookes the sales manger contacted me and asked me
to go a large mental institution at Bluebell Hill to make
arrangements for a seminar/product presentation to nearby
NHS personnel. I also had to book lunch for approximately
50 attendees.
I managed to find the building okay, but had trouble find-
ing the Porters Lodge. I was feeling a bit flustered by then
and when I asked to speak to the domestic supervisor
I received some very strange looks and questions. It tran-
spired that the domestic supervisor had the same name
as me! Eventually, I managed to make all the arrange-
ments.
On the day of the presentation everything was going very
well. Lunchtime came and the food looked very inviting!
My friend Clive Tredgett was seated next to me. Lunch
had just begun when a hand reached over his shoulder
and grabbed his Yorkshire pud. Stunned silence ensued
for a few seconds, then another patient on the opposite
side yelled at him which resulted in a flying Yorker!
Pandemonium broke loose! Food and plates were flying
everywhere! There were fifty plus people trying to make a
dignified exit through two doors. I never laughed so much
before or since, that episode is embellished on my
memory. It took the best part of half hour to get on my
way home. I managed to find a Wimpy Burger Bar on the
way back.
I’ve often wondered how long it took to resume good or-
der after I’d left. I don’t know if it was by way of apology,
but we had some good orders after that.
Grafham Villager
2. Pick autumn raspberries
3. Collect and sow seed from perennials and hardy annuals
4. Dig up remaining potatoes before slug damage spoils them
5. Net ponds before leaf fall gets underway
6. Keep up with watering of new plants, using rain or grey water if
possible
7. Start to reduce the frequency of houseplant watering
8. Clean out cold frames and greenhouses so that they are ready for
use in the autumn
10. Plant Spring flowering bulbs
There’s more advice from the Royal Horticultural Society
More details: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/september
Recipe of the month Apple and Blackberry Crumble
September sees blackberries in the hedge- rows, what could be better than a blackberry and apple crumble. Serves 4
Ingredients
Peel the apples and cut into quarters, remove
the cores and slice each piece in two. Put
them into a pan and add a pinch of sugar, to
taste. Add a tablespoon of water and cook
over a medium heat for about five minutes,
until the apples start to soften.
Transfer the apple mixture to a shallow
ovenproof pie dish and sprinkle the washed
blackberries over the top.
fingers (or use a food processor for a few
seconds) until the mixture looks like bread-
crumbs.
sprinkle over the apples and blackberries in
the pie dish. Transfer to the oven to bake for
30 minutes or until crisp and golden-brown
on top.
editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
That’s Life! My memories in Sales
Letter to the Editors Dear Editor … Grafham Churchyard My parents are buried in the Churchyard and over the years I have seen a great improvement in the maintenance of the grass. It is good to see the wild areas being left to nature.
I have been impressed by the effort made by so many to keep the graves tidy and refresh the flowers.
Congratulations to all concerned.
Let us know your news, views, and comments. Email: editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk Thanks, Ed
The Grafham Gossip aims to remain impartial and the editor publishes letters, contributions and views received, provided that the
name and address or email address of the writer are provided.
September 2021 8 Issue 195
Thank you for all your help and enthusiasm. Here’s what we found
plant species
litres of water each bee colony carries in a year
Helpers aged from to
Pippistrelle Bat ‘In care’
Many of these photographs were taken by Richard Brown. For more of Richard’s photos see: Grafham Bioblitz 2021 Wildlife https://tinyurl.com/rabpictures/72157719660550130 and Grafham Bioblitz 2021 Overview https://tinyurl.com/rabpictures/72157719614315256
Community Notices in the Grafham Gossip
No charge for notices if no profit is made:
Community Info - Free to good home -
Help wanted
Items For Sale - a donation towards printing costs please, to reflect the size of the advert / money made, if / when the item is sold
Profit making events - a donation towards printing
costs please, to reflect the size of the advert
For more details, email: editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
Brampton Wood Logs For Sale
All hardwood, seasoned 12 months
£90 per cubic yard processed ready to go on your fire
£45 per cubic yard unprocessed you will need a chain saw and a log
splitter
Email: georgecottam@virginmedia.com
Please support your local wood
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the red brick Tudor walls of Buckden Towers?
Would you like to learn more about the history or take a guided tour of the grounds or famous Knot Garden?
Are you interested in recent gatehouse repairs and the time capsule that‘s been placed in the gatehouse roof?
On Sunday 26th September
Entry and parking free No dogs please
• Take a short guided tour of the famous and historic buildings.
• Have a guided walk around the grounds.
• Visit the Knot Garden for a guided tour, including an exhibition of dyeing using plants from the garden.
• Take a look at the photographic record of the gate- house project.
• Enjoy light refreshments.
• Make a purchase from the local food drink and craft market.
All the revenue raised by Friends of Buckden Towers goes to support the owners in maintaining these wonderful, and unique, buildings and gardens.
Open Day at Buckden Towers
Sunday 26 th September
September 2021 11 Issue 195
Chewing the Cud with Rev. Duncan Goldthorpe, Priest-in-Charge of The Parish of East Leightonstone
‘We plough the fields and scatter, the good seed on the land.’ Important
words if farming is your livelihood. Having spent the early years of my life
living in a village where some of my school friend’s parents were farmers, I
have a good understanding of the importance of the harvest and also the
community celebrations that I would look forward to at this time of year. So
what has that got to do with me? I hear you say. Well, it seems to me that
although the United Kingdom has become less of an agrarian culture, harvest
festival still seems to be a part of the life of the church, our villages and certainly comes
around every year in primary schools. So why should harvest be important to us?
In our world of 24-hour supermarkets – with their
shelves bursting with countless pre-packaged forms
of wheat, barley and their gluten-free equivalents,
with multiple varieties of honey and olive oils – it can
be easy for us all to take food for granted. Harvest
Festival is a great opportunity for us to recall and
celebrate together the origins of these good gifts. This
passage from Deuteronomy reminds us that harvest
is a time to express our gratitude for the land and
people who produce them, and to thank God from
whom they all spring.
Are we really aware of the people around us? We are so often blind to the people who we see every day. This might be
at work, the supermarket, the bus-stop, wherever we find ourselves. This blindness can be both to people’s spiritual
needs as well as to their readiness and openness to Jesus. Judgements relating to lifestyle and sometimes hard atti-
tudes can prevent us from seeing the ripe fruit before our very eyes. How easy it is to forget that God is able to work
powerfully in them when the time is right. This is a lesson about taking the blinkers off regarding the people around us.
Jesus tells his disciples to become alert to the readiness of the harvest.
Yes, at this time of year we are truly thankful for all that God has provided
for us. Our challenge is to pray for the harvest of souls. Harvest is about
taking the opportunity to be thankful for God’s provision. This includes
being alert and ready to talk with others about our faith. You never know,
someone might respond with a ‘yes’ to an invitation to come to church on
‘Back to Church Sunday,’ 19 th
September this year where we will be having some food together after the service at
St Mary’s Brampton, or a harvest meal in Ellington or Grafham, even your own harvest meal that you might want to host.
Happy Harvest everyone! Duncan
but the labourers are few; therefore ask
the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers
into his harvest.’ Luke 10:2
7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land - a
land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into
the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines
and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey… ...You may
say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands
have produced this wealth for me.’ 18 But remember the
LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce
wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your
ancestors, as it is today. Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Photograph taken by Ed. of goldenrod at Wimpole in August, also with flowers unopened.
'Any height you can grow I can grow taller'
Has anyone noticed the way certain plants have enjoyed this year's weather -
my cowslip and ox-eye daisies have already featured in the Grafham Gossip.
(July 2021 page 11)
Looking at a clump of Solidago (goldenrod) behind those ox-eye daisies a few
weeks ago, I though of the phrase 'Any height you can grow I can grow taller'
- and how true that has turned out to be. The flowers have yet to open but
some plants have already reached a height of 2.35 metres!
Edward Biffin
September 2021 12 Issue 195
Cinnamon Bar and Indian Restaurant Open 7 days a week 5pm to 10.30pm Also lunch time if pre-booked for 5 or more people
Call 01480 812211/811316 Thursday Night is 'Banquet Night'
1 starter, 1 main, 1 side.
Any rice or any nan £13.50 King prawn or duck £1.50 extra
http://cinnamonhuntingdon.co.uk/
editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
payable in advance.
newsletter and any profit is donated to
All Saints, Grafham and its Restoration Fund.
Donations towards printing costs are always welcome!
September 2021 13 Issue 195
The map above is a summary of the hedgehog data that I have collected so far this summer, using the footprint tunnels.
There are still some sites to go but the picture is positive. This year I have found hedgehogs at Lake view camping and
Westwood Lodges, both sites had no hedgehog signs last year. An even bigger surprise was finding them down at one
of the Orchard Row Cottages. The question is, are they part of the core village population or a separate enclave? Some
of the work I will be doing next might help to answer this. I would like to say a big thank you to all who have participated
and allowed me to place tunnels, without your help I could not do this.
Another part of the project is to find out as much as I can about badger activity and sett locations to model their influence
on the hedgehog distribution pattern. Badger presence has been shown to have an influence on hedgehog activity and
distribution; as many people know, badgers are the main predators of hedgehogs, and hedgehogs will avoid badgers if
they can. If anyone has information about our local badger residents, I would love to hear from you.
Carole
strengthening rural communities across the County for
nearly 100 years now. We work alongside local people
and groups to help improve the places, services and as-
sets that are important to them.
We have a new look that we feel better reflects who we
are and all we have to offer you and your community.
Key to our new look is a logo that now includes the
words ‘Community Action’ because this is at the heart of
everything we do.
We’ve also launched a brand-new website, that clearly
sets out the wide range of services we offer and features
examples of how our work has made a real difference to
people and communities. https://www.cambsacre.org.uk/
(If you see the old version of our website for any reason,
you may need to clear your cache or search for
'Cambridgeshire ACRE' via your preferred search en-
gine.)
Do get in touch if you have any questions by calling 01353 860850 or emailing enquiries@cambsacre.org.uk
Welcome to the new Cambridgeshire ACRE
The same Cambridgeshire ACRE but even better
JEZ ASHCROFT LTD All your decorating needs including:
Coving, Internal Decorating
www.gaphomeimprovements.co.uk
please contact your local representative
Jon Goodchild on 07825 238240 or email:
jon@gaphomeimprovements.co.uk
Based in Grafham
Call John for
details
If you’d like to write a ‘one-off’ article or a regular feature
for the Grafham Gossip,
Replacing your boiler soon? The Race to Renewable, March 2022
There’s a UK-wide race on for households to access a grant that has made renewable energy affordable for 90,000 homes over the last decade. This fund, the Renewable Heat Incentive will end in March 2022.
National headlines last month announced rising energy prices and questioned how we pay for a renewable, carbon zero society. After Grafham, Great Staughton and Perry decided that a renewable energy heat network was not an affordable option for the local villages involved, we are seizing local momentum to support individual households in the village and beyond, to change to renewable energy heating. We have put together some practical information to help those who may be considering replacing their heating in the next year or so to make a positive move to future-proofing your heating and to make a change that the next generation can be proud of.
Put simply, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) pays a tariff to you, based on your home’s Energy Performance Certifi- cate (EPC), a measure of your homes insulation, and the energy saved by your new renewable heating installation. Overall, the funding has been very successful, almost 90,000 homes have had renewable heating installed. The tariff, paid over 7 years, can cover up to 70% of the costs involved in installing an air source heat pump. This has been the most popular form of renewable heating installed in homes using RHI. After March 2022, it is expected that RHI will be replaced by a single £4,000 payment towards the cost of an Air Source Heat Pump, which would cover less that 50% of the upfront costs.
What are your future heating options?
1. Replace an oil boiler, with an oil boiler. There is a plan to phase out oil in the UK, and some manufacturers are winding down oil boilers, parts and maintenance may become increasingly difficult.
2. Replace your boiler before March 2022 with an Air Source Heat Pump, cover around 70% of the costs, potentially 100% using Renewable Heat Incentive. This option will only be able until 31
st
March 2022, when RHI ends.
3. Replace your boiler before March 2022 with an Air Source Heat Pump, and low or no upfront costs using an installer offering Assignment of Rights. This process allows the installer to claim your Renewable Heat Incentive payment, to cover installation costs. You would pay for the ongoing electrical and servicing costs of the heat pump. This option will only be able until 31
st March 2022, when
RHI ends.
4. Replace your boiler after March 2022 with an Air Source Heat Pump, with a voucher for £4,000 via the Clean Heat Grant, which will cover up to 50% of the costs, maybe.
Through the tri-village heating project we have met several households that have taken advantage of RHI and installed an air source heat pump within their own home. An air source heat pumps uses electricity to upgrade heat extracted from air, through a process that is the opposite of a fridge. This means that your electricity costs will go up due to use by the Air Source Heat Pump, but that your overall heating costs could go down in the long term
After installing an approved Air Source Heat Pump, you register your heating system, to then receive a quarterly pay- ment from the government. The payment amount is based on the estimate energy use of your home, stated on its EPC.
We would like to help facilitate a heat network of a different kind in the village, by creating a support network between those who are interested in installing renewable heating and those who have already installed it! If you would like to speak to someone in your village about their personal experience of installing an air source heat pump, please email info@g0grafham.co.uk or contact us if you would be happy to speak with your neighbours about your experience.
We are also in the process of speaking to Cambridgeshire County Council to see if they would be willing to support group buying of air source heat pumps. This might help reduce the cost of installations.
Useful Links: How much could you earn from RHI? https://renewable-heat-calculator.service.gov.uk/StartCalculation.aspx
Where can I find an Air Source Heat Pump installer? www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk (Trading Standards Approved)
www.tradingstandards.uk/commercial-services/consumer-codes-approval-scheme/i-am-a-consumer (Search for Energy Systems Quality Assured Contractors Scheme, or Renewable Energy Consumer Code)
Website: www.grafham.org.uk E-mail: editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk Opinions expressed in the Grafham Gossip, including past issues, are those of the writer and not the editors.
Details of planned road closures, diversions and latest news can be found on the Highways England website
by clicking here or type www.highwaysengland.co.uk/A14C2H
into your search engine
or stay updated by following: https://twitter.com/a14c2h and https://en-gb.facebook.com/A14C2H
There’s also a dedicated A14 Public Helpline 0800 270 0114
Details of planned road closures and diversions are on Grafham village web site also: www.grafham.org.uk Ed
A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme
Grafham Community Shop Tel: 01480 810119
Opening Times
East Leightonstone Parish - Brampton, Ellington, Grafham
Little Fishes Stay + Play for 0- 4 years
Grafham Village Hall
Term time only
Free play time followed by a short bible story, action songs and simple craft.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Jane in in advance of the session.
Contact Jane Rowley 01480 890986
littlefishes@eastleightonstone.com
Highway Community Car Scheme Provides transport for people unable to make essential journeys by
public transport or any other means.
Passengers pay the driver on the day of travel
to contribute towards fuel expenses at a rate of 30p per mile with a minimum charge of £3.00.
To arrange a journey or for more information please call 07786 520540
We are also looking out for volunteer drivers so if you want to help your community, give us a call. We would love to hear from you.
The scheme is supported and advised by Cambridgeshire County Council and Care Network Cambridgeshire
Quiz night Last Thursday of every month
Starting at 8pm
Opening Times
Bank Holidays - 13.00 - 18.00
for the October issue Thanks, Ed editor@grafhamgossip.co.uk
Hunts Community Cancer Network (HCCN)
Ellington Group
Tuesdays 10am - 1pm
We offer a drop-in space where people can come together to talk freely and gain mutual support.
There is always a warm welcome and lots of laughter. We also hold two yoga classes with Jill Wiles.
To register your interest please visit www.hccn.org.uk/ouroffer
email info@hccnthecharity.org or call Amanda Burridge 01480 416410
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