MID-NOVEMBER 2021
Markfield, Field Head, Stanton-under-Bardon, Thornton & Bagworth
Sad News from Thornton churchyard AS MANY of you know, there is a beautiful avenue of magnificent beech trees along Thornton church path.
These elderly trees, all with Tree Preservation Orders, are around 115 years old, and their wonderful canopies are greatly admired and loved by us all, indeed, are a feature of our beautiful churchyard. Well, the very sad news is that the beautiful fruiting fungus growing around the base of the beech tree tagged T1 and nearest the lychgate, has caused the demise of this tree. The fungus has been identified as Meripilus Giganteus, a giant polypore which attacks the tree’s root system. Advice from three separate tree surgeons, and an ecologist was that, as the tree now had very little root support, it was in danger of toppling over. This confirmed my daughter’s warning in early October of the danger this poorly tree posed after she had identified the fungus as a giant polypore. As the tree is very close to housing and two footpaths the felling of this tree, needed to be dealt with as soon as possible. However, once felled, the shelter it provided for the beech tree on the opposite side of the path, tagged T2, would have been removed making it vulnerable to wind and rain. To avoid the loss of branches this tree will need to be pruned to reduce its height and spread. This tree is even closer to housing. As the tree was unsafe to climb a cherry picker would need to be used. There are headstones and memorials in the vicinity of the poorly tree, which needed to be temporarily removed to allow the work to take place. Permission was given by HBBC and the diocese to fell the tree, T1, and temporarily remove the headstones and memorials. Permission for the pruning work to be carried out at a later date is underway. The estimated cost for these works is currently over £7000 (other quotes produce an estimate of over £21000!) made up as follows: to fell T1 £4860, for the works to T2 £1320, and to temporarily remove, store and then reinstate the headstones and memorials £1135. There is not enough money in the churchyard account to pay for these works. Any help towards this work would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to donate, cheques should be made payable to Thornton, Bagworth and Stanton PCC. Any cash donations could be sent to the address below. If you would like to use BACs transfer please let me know, and I will provide the details. We do try to fund most church building repairs and maintenance ourselves, through fund raising by the Friends of St Peter’s, grants and Legacies, for example the Death Watch Beatle treatment earlier this year, and recent urgent stonework repairs to stop the ingress of water. We should not be using the money that people have given for the repair and maintenance of the church building and for the installation of a vertical lift for work in the churchyard. I am truly sorry to convey this news. We will replant whenever and wherever a tree is felled, taking advice regarding appropriate species. We need to keep a sharp lookout for any fruiting fungus around the roots of the other beech trees. There is the possibility that this amazing but deadly fugus will spread to the other beech trees! If you spot any, please do let us know. For now, the only suggestion I can make is that we enjoy these beech trees while we can and take a lot of photos.
Shirley Garlick Email: churchwarden.
thornton@gmail.com
The Luke Jackson Fund - deferred THE TRUSTEES of the Luke Jackson Fund have decided, in the interests of safety of both the distributors and recipients during the current covid crisis, to defer the payment of the monies usually given out to the parishes of Bagworth and Thornton , and Stanton under Bardon until the New Year. The trustees have agreed to fulfil their obligation of payments to the eligible villagers during the spring of 2022. We will announce the date for the distribution in the spring of the New Year on the parish notice boards and via the Herald. We hope to see you all then when things become clearer in these uncertain times. In the meantime may we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.
Bradgate Rotary
Christmas is Coming Christmas Trail- 12 days of Christmas AN EXCITING Christmas Trail around the village of Groby with a theme of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” has been created by members of Bradgate Rotary. Visit Groby Library to collect a map and find the letters on the trail. Maps are only £1. Answer sheets need to be returned to the library to be entered into the prize draw. Santa is also likely to make a visit.
Santa to visit Groby, Markfield and Anstey! WEDNESDAY 15th December – with the help of Bradgate Rotary. Santa will be visiting the Laundon Road Co-op Store, for a couple of hours during the afternoon. Santa, on his sleigh, will be available for photos and a quick chat, as well as handing out goodie bags to youngsters. • Monday 20th December – Santa will be visiting pupils at Mercenfield School, Markfield. Further visits are still to be planned for The Nook in Anstey, Glenfield, and several others. Come and join us and make a difference to your community Anyone interested in joining their local Rotary and helping the community please email your contact details to Adrian Walker – walk77a@yahoo.com
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