As mentioned last month, from time to time during the year we intend featuring the work of Toby Moakes, a young photographer from Gestingthorpe, who documents the natural world with considerable flair –his delightful picture of a local Buzzard graces this month’s cover.
Rural roads in general are some of the most dangerous in the country. Many of ours are narrow, poorly surfaced and host vehicles travelling at a wide variety of speeds: from cars to slow-moving farm vehicles, horses, cyclists and, where there are no pavements, walkers/joggers and runners.
All road users, but especially those on foot, need to be aware of how to keep safe at this time of year, particularly as it is likely to be dark, cold and/or wet – find out more about Safety on Rural Roads on Page 5. Elsewhere we have a reminder of a meeting on the future of the Round Church on Page 7; details of the 2025/26 Garden Waste Charges due this month on Page 8; evidence on Page 11 as to why, last month, St Giles’ Church needed a Good Shepherd; and, on Page 15, news about Priority One, a programme funding additional resources and crews to target and rectify the worst areas of road deterioration in Essex.
As well as local advertising, your contributions – for example: news from your village and village hall, information about forthcoming events and activities, reports on Parish Council business, gardening and nature notes, past memories and so on – are all essential to keeping Parish News a vital community amenity, informing, entertaining and being a mutually beneficial resource for all those living and working in the four Parishes.
So please – send your contributions in!
Cover Picture: Buzzard by Toby Moakes
Letter from the Reverend Beverley Vincent
As I write this, we are about to enter into the next season of the Church’s year, the season of Lent.
Lent, a time that, for Christians, is often used as a period of reflection and self- examination, a time often associated with the 40 days that Jesus spent in the Wilderness, as well as a time of self-sacrifice and a time of being alone with God.
Lent is also a time of preparation: for Jesus that was a time of preparation for his ministry, for us it is a time of preparation for the experience of Easter and for all that will bring, re-living again Jesus’ journey to the cross and his resurrection.
I am sure we have all had ‘wilderness’ experiences, when we have felt a bit lost or alone. Hopefully we emerged from that feeling to give thanks for the ‘small’ things, the everyday joys, such as the daffodils and snowdrops peeking through the grass, or a smile that brightens someone’s day or an act of kindness shown to us by someone.
Christians mark the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, when we will hold a special service at the Round Church at which worshippers are marked with a cross on their forehead with ash, which is where the day gets its name from. The ash is obtained from burning the palm crosses which were used in church services on the previous year's Palm Sunday. It is mixed with special oil. This act signifies the start of a period of reflection as we journey through Lent.
As we move through the 40 days of Lent perhaps you would like to join me on our Lent course this year. The theme is ‘Growing in Wholeness’ and we will explore how we can grow in spiritual and emotional wholeness and wellbeing. We begin on 7th March and will meet five weekly sessions from 7.00-8.30pm at Great Maplestead Village Hall. Please let me know if you would like to come.
And as we journey through Lent my prayer is that we may each take time to reflect on those wilderness times and give thanks for those who help us to emerge into a new season of hope.
Safety on Our Country Roads
One of the advantages of living in our Four Parishes is the plethora of local footpaths and bridleways that are available for walking, running, jogging and riding in a safe, off-road environment.
However, instances often arise where there is no choice but to use a road and, if there are no adjacent pathways for pedestrians, walking or running in the road becomes unavoidable – a particular concern given that many local rural roads are outside the few 30/40mph limit areas.
Changes to the Highway Code in January 2022 put walkers and joggers at the top of a hierarchy of road users and gave drivers, horse riders and cyclists more responsibility for reducing any danger they themselves may pose to other users.
Of course, everybody has to take sensible steps to ensure their own personal safety, so it is incumbent upon all road users to not only make themselves conspicuous to others but also to ensure that they are constantly aware of their surroundings and any potential hazards.
For walkers/joggers this means keeping to the right-hand side of the road, facing any oncoming traffic, so that they have plenty of time to see and react to other road users and walking in single file when necessary. This gives themselves and the driver/cyclist/horse rider coming towards them a better chance to take avoiding action and allow ample room to pass safely.
It also means wearing or carrying something bright or fluorescent to help others see them, wearing reflective materials at night such as armbands, sashes or jackets and taking special care when walking with young children, pushchairs and wheelchairs
In particular, walkers on the road with dogs should ensure their animals are always on a short lead – not ambling all over the road on an extending one – and kept on their right-hand side, between them and the verge and well away from any oncoming traffic.
Horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians also need to keep their focus on the road and not make themselves vulnerable by wearing and listening to music or podcasts on headphones or being so glued to their mobile phones that they aren’t aware of what’s around them – especially when hybrid and electric vehicles can approach almost soundlessly…
Drivers on country lanes, seeing pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders, should also slow right down to pass them and even be prepared to have to stop suddenly, particularly if there is oncoming traffic.
Safety on local country roads could be immeasurably improved if all users adopted and regularly followed these common sense practices.
Little Maplestead – Important Notices
Parish Meeting about the Church
Everyone who lives in Little Maplestead is invited to attend a Parish Meeting to discuss the future of Little Maplestead Parish Church.
We have a fine example of a round church in our village, one of only four of these churches still to be in regular use today, and it would be tragic if over 900 years of regular worship was not able to continue. Our regular congregation is getting smaller, volunteers fewer and our financial income has shrunk whilst costs have increased.
To survive as a Parish Church, we need more parishioners willing to attend services, to contribute financially and to give of their time and skills. We have vacancies on the Church Council and roles such as Churchwarden and Treasurer that need filling and are essential to the running of the church.
Please come along and share your views in order that we can find the best way forward for the future of our beautiful Church. The meeting will be held at the Church on Wednesday 26th March at 7.00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Jane Piper
Packages Stolen from Doorsteps
I have had a report of a package left on a doorstep in Little Maplestead being stolen. The person responsible ‘left his face’ clearly on CCTV and was pictured walking away with two other people.
This is becoming a common crime, as more and more people order items on-line. It has also been noted that delivery van drivers sometimes place a parcel on the ground outside a front door, take a photo of it, then pick it up and take it away. It could be that that is what occurred in the above case but, if so, the driver had two accomplices.
Whatever happened, it does indicate the need to be vigilant and to perhaps try to arrange with a neighbour to accept a parcel on your behalf if you know you will be out when you are expecting a delivery.
Another idea would be to purchase a lockable container which can be fixed to the ground, a wall or another solid object and request suppliers to specify that parcels should be placed in the box. Also please make sure your garages, sheds and any outbuildings are properly secured, with windows and doors locked to guard against any unauthorised access.
Bill Piper – LM Neighbourhood Watch
Garden Waste – Subscription Renewals 2025/26
What period does the subscription cover?
The subscription runs from 1st April to 31st March each year.
How much will the service cost in 2025/26?
The full-year subscription fee for the first bin is £55.
Subscriptions for second and subsequent bins are £30 per bin.
New and replacement bins are £35.50 per bin
Biodegradable sacks are £8 per roll of 20 sacks.
How do I get my subscription?
You can sign up on-line on Braintree District Council’s website or by phoning its Customer Services Centre on 01376 552 525
The customer portal opened on 27th January 2025 for you to either purchase a new subscription for 2025/26 or renew your existing one.
Can I pay by instalments?
No, payment must be made in full when you take out the subscription.
Is there a discount for pensioners or those in receipt of benefits?
No, it is not possible to subsidise the cost of the service; if you wish to use it, you will need to pay the full subscription.
Do Churches/Charities have to pay?
Yes, churches/charities are no longer eligible to receive a free service.
If I move or stop using the service will I get a refund?
No, the charge is not refundable; if you move to another address in the District the subscription can be transferred to your new address.
Do I need to tell you if I don’t wish to renew my subscription?
No. If you don't renew, your subscription expires on 31st March 2025.
When will I receive my subscription sticker?
It should be received, by post, within 14 days of subscribing.
How long will a new/replacement/additional bin take to arrive?
BDC aim to deliver bins within 10 working days.
If I don’t wish to subscribe, how can I dispose of garden waste?
The best environmental option is home composting. Information about discounted compost bins, the benefits of home composting and how to get started are at Love Essex Home Composting – go to: https://www.loveessex.org/ideas/get-started-home-composting. Material that cannot be composted must be taken to a Household Waste & Recycling Centre. Note: you will need to book an appointment.
Love at St Giles’ – and Remembering Paul
We hope that you all had a very Happy New Year and we are looking forward to welcoming you at St Giles’ in 2025.
Café Church this month was based on “Love”. Because of the cold weather we moved our service into the Tower Room, where it was very cosy!
We all enjoyed coffee and cakes as usual and enthusiastically joined in with a rendition of “All You Need is Love”, accompanied by Graham Mills on the keyboard.
If you get the chance, do have a walk through the churchyard – the snowdrops are looking beautiful, the daffodils are now poking their heads up and a quiet rest on one of the benches in the sun, when it shows up, is just joyful.
We have had a second visit from the Community Payback Team, who completed their work on the path through the churchyard – it now seems much wider than it was! They also tidied the Garden of Remembrance and cleared the wild flower “meadow” of grass cuttings and twigs. They will be returning in a few weeks’ time and we have a list of jobs we would like them to do, which is great help to our regular team.
We were also assisted with grass cutting by a few woolly helpers a couple of weeks ago. When Denise came out of the church she was met by the flock of sheep from a neighbouring field happily munching their way through the churchyard. Help soon arrived however when Reverend Beverley came to guide the wanderers and they were all returned safely to their pastures. Never a dull moment!
Denise and Paula: Churchwardens
Remembering Paul Sanderson
Paul Sanderson died peacefully on 3rd February 2025.
A long-time resident of Great Maplestead, Paul spent many happy years living in the village with his wife Gill and their family. Being part of the school, the church and the many groups that are all part of the village community – the friendship of the people there made Great Maplestead very special to them. Although Paul and Gill had latterly moved to Sudbury, the village always remained close to their hearts.
Paul’s funeral will take place at the Three Counties Crematorium on 6th March at 12.30pm, with the wake in Great Maplestead Village Hall from 1.30pm.
Taking Care of Mothers – and Horses
Resurfacing is a Priority…
Since last October Essex County Council’s £25 million Priority One programme, introduced to fund additional crews and resources to target the worst areas of road deterioration in the county, has resulted in over 18 miles of roads being fully resurfaced.
Priority One funding is in addition to existing maintenance budgets and is the single largest investment the Council has made into highways improvements; more than 50 repairs have been completed to date.
Councillor Mark Platt, Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport at ECC and Priority One programme lead, confirmed that the programme provides additional resources, the extra funding allowing more crews to fully resurface the worst roads, not just patch them. This means closing roads, removing old surfaces, repairing defects and laying new surfaces. During the coming months crews will be undertaking 10 to 15 schemes a week.
Alongside resurfacing, Priority One is also funding drainage clearance, new signage, road lining and hundreds of areas of vegetation clearance. Overgrown vegetation is a particular annoyance, especially for walkers, so not only are the teams working to clear areas the Council has responsibility for but they are also asking landowners to clear vegetation that impedes footpaths on their land.
Gardening Corner
It makes such a difference to have the lighter mornings as well as evenings – and our gardens respond accordingly.
For my plant of the month, I would recommend a Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Mollis). A small shrub-like plant with woody stems, it displays yellow to red flowers on bare branches at this time of year; flower colour is according to the variety.
If your lawn needs cutting, ensure the mower blades are on a high setting thereby taking just the top of the grass off; this will help to avoid moss. Talking of which, if your lawn looks sponge like with a carpet of moss, a treatment with lawn sand should help control this unwelcome addition. You will notice the moss turns black and is then ready to rake out with a spring tine rake.
In the vegetable garden, if the ground is dry enough, try warming the soil with a layer of horticultural fleece for a few days. On a dry day remove the fleece and rake the ground to obtain a seed bed and sow radish, lettuce, broad beans and onion sets. Plant the sets just below the soil otherwise some garden birds just love to pull them out.
Finish any winter pruning, particularly top fruit, for example apples and pears but NOT plums, peaches or any other stone fruit – stone fruit should not be pruned until June, to help avoid ‘silver leaf’.
Prune gooseberry bushes, taking out the three ‘d’s: dead, diseased and damaged stems and prune to create a cup shaped bush with an open centre. When pruning blackcurrant bushes take out any old or damaged stems at ground level.
Tools need sharpening periodically and it is a good idea to oil them to help preserve them. Petrol driven lawn mowers also benefit from a service: clean engine oil helps extend the life of a machine.
Now is a good time to purchase Dahlia tubers and large flowering Begonia corms. Place both in a shallow mixture of compost to promote the shoots prior to planting out later in the year. The ideal position is a cold bedroom, porch or cold frame.
If you are thinking of entering your Village Show later in the year, now is the time to think about what to grow for each class, be it vegetable, fruit or flower arrangements.
Take care!
The Arborist
Nature Notes
Following a week of hard frost there was a sudden warm spell starting on the 14th of January. The response to this from our local birds was astonishing. Great Tits and Wrens were singing gaily, and the Collared Doves were embarking on their distinctive display flights – a steep ascent followed by a spiralling descent with the tail fanned, while calling throughout. Spring, you might have thought, had arrived, although it will be two months before the Doves start laying. To add to the sense of the changing season the first snowdrops were appearing on verges and even a few daffodil spears were emerging.
I had only ever seen Meadow Pipits, those small relatives of the Pied Wagtail, a few times ever on the patch – the last time was in February 2023, yet they again appeared in exactly the same spot, on the footpath from Great Maplestead over to Toldishall cottages in late January. Maybe 8 or 10 birds, and within a couple of weeks of the sighting two years ago. I find that extraordinary. A few days later there was a mixed flock of Siskins and Redpolls feeding on alder seeds on the path from New England through Alderford Farm. These charming small finches are not common on the patch but can be expected occasionally during the winter. The Siskin is streaked green and yellow while the Redpoll is like a tiny Sparrow with a bright red crown and black chin.
It's not always easy to identify deer, they are wary and avoid humans for very good reasons. I have encountered small group of fallow deer in fields and woodland near Hulls Mill on several occasions and had the opportunity to view them through binoculars without startling them. They are very dark with a white rump bordered with black. The tail is long and also has a dark stripe. When you see pictures of fallow deer they are invariably spotted and orange-brown in colour and the bucks have flattened antlers. The dark ones I have seen have ‘normal’ antlers. Reading up on this, it becomes clear; colour is variable, and spotting occurs only in summer. Only mature bucks sport the flattened (palmate to use the zoological term) antlers. So, our local fallow deer are the dark variety and the ones I have seen with antlers are immature males. I look forward to seeing a mature spotted buck one day!
I am writing these notes on February 6th, and this morning, for the first time this year, I heard the song of the Greenfinch, a drawn out ‘zhweee’. It is unmistakeable and will become more frequent as spring approaches.
Mind Exercises and Education
Gestingthorpe Celebrations
Gestingthorpe Village Hall Open Day
Celebrating Village Halls Week
Saturday 22nd March 10.00am to 1.00pm
This annual celebration, organised by ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England), is all about recognising, encouraging, and supporting the people who volunteer their time to make village halls and community buildings such special places.
Gestingthorpe Village Hall is participating in Village Halls Week by holding an Open Day & Sausage Sizzle on Saturday 22nd March. Tea, coffee & cake will also be available.
In the Hall we will have a Children’s Craft Table, Book Sale and a Seed Swap. Bring along and exchange your unused seed packets and leftover seeds. We also hope to have a few local crafts for sale.
VE80 – VE Day 80th Anniversary, Thursday 8th May 2025
The 80th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War will be commemorated nationally on Victory in Europe Day, 8th May 2025.
To celebrate the occasion, Gestingthorpe Parish Council are organising a series of events to be held in & around the Village Hall from 8th to 11th May.
Please note these dates in your diaries:
Thursday 8th May – Fish & Chip supper and drinks in the Village Hall from 6.00pm. Beacon lighting at 9.30pm
Friday 9th May – VE Day Coffee Morning in the Village Hall 10.00am to 12 noon
Sunday 11th May – Gestingthorpe Treasure Hunt at 12 noon, finishing up with a BBQ in the Village Hall.
During this period Gestingthorpe History Group will have a display on Gestingthorpe at War in the Village Hall.
More information will be provided on the Village’s Facebook group and in the April issue of Parish News.
Gestingthorpe Village Hall Coffee Morning & Book Exchange
Fortnightly on Fridays from 10.00am to 12 noon
Please join your friends and neighbours in the Village Hall for tea, coffee, cake and a chat. Bring a book to swap with one from our library or buy a book for £1. Our bookcase is located next to the big window in the small hall.
The next Coffee Mornings and Book Exchange will be on 14th & 28th March and 11th & 25th April
All funds raised go towards the running & maintenance of the Village Hall.
Staying Safe This Winter
In the colder weather that is common at this time of year, it is crucial to prioritise your personal safety and preparedness for the conditions. Here are some key messages to help you keep safe during this season:
1. Stay Informed
Stay updated on the latest weather warnings by checking in with the Met Office regularly. Their timely alerts can help you prepare for any change in the weather conditions.
2. Stay Safe on the Roads
If driving isn't necessary it’s best to stay off the roads. However, if you must make an essential journey, please follow these safety tips:
Adjust your driving according to the road conditions. Reduce your speed to improve control.
Maintain more space to the vehicle in front of you to allow for the greater braking distances needed in poor conditions.
3. Be Prepared
Download the what3words app to help responders find your exact location in case of an emergency. If you do need to drive, ensure your phone is charged and carry essentials such as water and blankets in your vehicle. Prior preparation can make a significant difference to the outcome of any unforeseen situation.
4. Stay Warm and Safe at Home
Keeping warm in your home is vital during winter, but safety must come first:
If using electric heaters, always turn them off when leaving the room, keep them away from flammable materials, and never cover them.
When using electric blankets ensure they are in good condition; adhere strictly to the manufacturer's guidelines. For those with open fires:
o ensure the fireplace and chimney have been recently cleaned
o use a fire guard
o avoid over-piling wood
o keep flammable items away
o allow the fire to burn down completely before going to bed.
There is more seasonal safety advice on Essex County Fire & Rescue Service’s Winter Safety Page.
Forthcoming Local Activities
Hedingham Heritage Society
Our next two meetings are illuminating talks on our native birds and reptiles:
Thursday 6th March
‘What’s Happening to our Birds?’ Drew Lyness, from the British Trust for Ornithology, will be telling us about some of the trends and research regarding our local bird populations; highlighting standout studies of birds and their habitats in our local area.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
Thursday 3rd April
‘Snake Encounters’. Sue Coleman, who has run a snake sanctuary for over 30 years, will be bringing some of her snakes with her and talking about these and some of our other native snake species.
7.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall
>> Our full 2025 programme will be available at these meetings << Do join our local and natural history society. Annual Membership for 2025 remains at £15.
Members come free to all walks and talks : Non-Members - £5. Everybody is Welcome. Contacts: Rob: 01787 460 664 : Trudi: 01787 462 889 : Mark: 07906 472 636 E-mail: hedinghamheritage@gmail.com or visit www.hedinghamheritage.org.uk
A Celebration Date to Note
Parish News Information
Advertising/Announcements/Articles
The 2025 Parish News Business Advertising Rates for the year (10 issues, pro-rated as applicable) and for monthly single issue advertisements and fundraising event announcements are shown below, along with the Copy/Artwork Deadline dates for the next eight issues of Parish News:
Contacts:
Articles
Please submit these by e-mail, preferably as a Word document attachment with separate images:
½ page: 150-160 words + images
Full page: 400-420 words + images
The Parish Representatives, to whom articles and event announcement submissions should be sent, are listed on the Inside Front Cover.
