Bulletin 130 – February 2017

Squirrel Wars For more than forty years the grey squirrel has been woodland owners’ number one enemy. I have known foresters who have been driven to distraction over the pest.  On a tour of Forestry Commission woods in the north of England we were treated to Squirrel...

Bulletin 129 – January 2017

The Staunton Harold Estate is made up of the remnants of two ancient estates, with other pieces added at various times.  My parents bought Staunton Harold in 1955, and then the former Coleorton Estate in 1966.  They adjoin each other and were only separated by the...

Bulletin 128 – December 2016

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Our longstanding vicar, the Reverend John Dawson, retired earlier this year.  He had the care of four parishes, Breedon  on the Hill, Worthington, Isley Walton and Staunton Harold.  In recent years he has overseen changes at Breedon and Worthington,...

Bulletin 127 – November 2016

OAKS SIXTEEN  Great trees from little acorns grow.  In this case a whole wood.  Three years ago some of the grandchildren planted acorns in pots, which have grown into sizeable saplings.  Thinking about where to put them, and the number of children who might like to...

Bulletin 125 – September 2016

Keeping Up Appearances It’s been the year of painting the doors and windows at the Ferrers Centre, all one hundred and eighteen of them.  Mark has been on them all summer, and should finish before the weather breaks. Most have been replaced at some time during our...

Bulletin 124 – August 2016

‘Will Mr and Mrs Wilkins, currently believed to be touring in Scotland, please contact their daughter Charlotte in Bristol on a matter of urgency.”   This is the sort of message you would sometimes hear, tagged on the one o’clock BBC News, fifty or more years ago.  If...