In the Stix

New Teddy Trail in Pavenham

Earwig Teddy Trail & Riverside Picnics has opened in Pavenham, o ering a fun outdoor experience for families.

Children are invited to follow the trail to fi nd all the cute teddies hidden in the trees, meeting big Billy Bear in his book corner along the way. Visitors can stop for a cuddle and read Billy a story before continuing to the sweet station to pick a treat. The route ends at a pretty, shaded spot by the river where a paddle and a picnic can be enjoyed, with lots of opportunities for spotting wildlife including kingfi shers, dragonfl ies and the resident otter.

Created by Jane Dippolito, who moved to Pavenham a year ago, Earwig Teddy Trail & Riverside Picnics is £5 per child and free for accompanying adults.

Jane has also opened Earwig Park & Ride, where horse owners can enjoy stress-free parking and ride around two miles of mown grass tracks bordering the river Great Ouse with optional jumps ranging from 40-80cm for £10 per rider.

Open daily, both activities can be booked through Facebook or by contacting Jane on 07815 908331.

The Sharnbrook Village Show

Hosted by Sharnbrook Gardening Club, the Sharnbrook Village Show has a long history with exhibitions held for more than 80 years.

Sharnbrook Gardening Club, the oldest club in the village, started life as the Sharnbrook and Souldrop Horticultural Society. The oldest actual record held by the club is the 1939 exhibition schedule, but it is almost certain that the society started long before this with the 1939 President being Mr Wells of the brewing family and Vice Presidents such as Lord Melchett.

The exhibitions were often held at Tofte Manor, home of Mrs Wells, and were clearly a major event in village life at that time. The 1939 exhibition schedule included a Bonny Baby contest in the fi eld by the Church Hall, now Townsend Road, along with skittles, coconut shies and an ‘electric ring’. And interestingly, one list of classes for professional gardeners who had to pay 3d per entry with prizes of 3/-, 2/- and 1/-, and another almost identical list for ‘cottagers’ who paid 2d per entry and could win 2/6d, 1/6d or 1/-.

The Society lapsed from 1940 to 1946 and from 1973 to 1977. In 2014 the name changed to the Sharnbrook Gardening Club, but many of the 1939 classes for vegetables, fl owers, fruit, baking, jam and handicrafts were similar to those today.

This year’s show is on Saturday 3rd September at Sharnbrook Village Hall opening at 2pm. Entrance is 50p and free for children.

Join our local Walking Festival

The Bedfordshire Walking Festival returns this year from 10-18th September with walks every day across the county. Routes vary from short heritage walks to half and full-day walks, right up to the 40mile Greensand Challenge.

The informative heritage walks include Marston Vale Forest Centre, Henlow and Stewartby. For those who prefer something a little different, there is a flexible walk and river cruise along the Great Ouse and there are longer routes for more seasoned walkers, including the North Bedfordshire Village meander. Most walks are free and do not require booking.

www.bedswalkfest.co.uk

Scarecrows are coming to Sharnbrook!

A Sharnbrook Scarecrow Festival will take place over the weekend of 7-8th October with a range of prizes up for grabs, including a 1st prize of £50. Organised by residents, the event is a first for Sharnbrook and villagers are asked to join in the fun by creating a scarecrow for passers-by to see.

A scarecrow trail map and voting form will be available for £1 from the Co-op, Pick-a-Lily, Sharnbrook Deli and Café, and Ready, Steady Roll. Everyone is invited for tea and cakes in the village hall from 10am to 4pm on the Saturday where the winners will be announced, and prizes presented at 3pm.

Entry is £2 and those wishing to take part should email sharnbrookscarecrowfestival@gmail.com or call/text Suzy on 07723 392304 by Friday 9th September. All proceeds will go to children’s charities.

Carlton’s car boot sale is back

The popular car boot sale at Emmaus Village in Carlton has returned, taking place on the first Sunday of the month.

Pitches, which are available to pre-book in the Bric a Brac shop at Emmaus, are priced at £8 for cars and £12 for vans (trailers are an additional £5). Sellers are also welcome to turn up on the day when cars will be £10 and vans £14.

The event, which is open from 10 until 2pm with free entry, raises vital funds for the homelessness charity.

Calling all knitters and crocheters!

Help is needed from keen knitters and crocheters who would like to join in with a project for Sharnbrook village.

Karyn Romeis, who is organising the project, is inviting willing hands to knit or crochet poppies for a Remembrance display to be showcased beside the memorial benches in Church Lane in November.

Patterns will be supplied, and yarn can also be provided, although donations of yarn will be gratefully received. If you would like to be involved, email karyn@romeisfamily.com

Do you have some village news to share?

Email jacqui@bedslifemagazine.co.uk Copy deadline for the September issue is 9 September.