This christmas tree at Gainsborough's House was kindly donated by one of the many volunteers without whom the House could not survive.
Despite some muddle over the date, place and time, the last Babergh West Safer Neighbourhood Team meeting of the year, which took place yesterday in Lavenham, was quite well attended. Representatives from both Acton and Great Waldingfield Parish Councils were there.
These monthly meetings are very much still ‘work in progress’, but I am happy to say that a workable format is now gradually taking shape. The object of the exercise is to prioritise areas of local concern through dialogue between the community, officers from Babergh, the police, and other agencies. All members of the public are welcome to attend and have their say if they wish. Some 36 parishes are included in the Babergh West scheme.
The meeting yesterday heard that in response to public concern, the officers and PCSO’s have been very active in the area with their speed guns and several fixed penalty notices have been issued. Most of the people involved came from outside the immediate area. One individual, who was travelling at 57 mph in a 30 mph area, has received a court summons.
Representatives from Long Melford expressed their satisfaction that anti social behaviour in the village has declined dramatically since officers and PCSO’s have been making regular patrols in the evenings. Problems in Glemsford continue however and the area remains a priority. Recently the army visited the village to engage with young people and give them something other than vandalism to think about!
Several members of the public and representatives of Lavenham Parish Council were present, and a further priority is to look into incidents of anti-social behaviour in the village.
An unusual issue has arisen in and around Leavenheath, where there has been some rather gruesome evidence of deer poaching. One of the PCSO priorities this month is to gather evidence from farmers and local residents in the area in order to combat this cruel and dangerous practice.
PCSO Siobhan Hemmett is continuing to patrol the roads around Great Waldingfield School at dropping off and picking up time to try to encourage responsible parking etc. The police are to contact the school to see if there is some way to reduce the congestion that takes place at these times of the day.
The next meeting will be at Lavenham Village Hall at 11 a.m. on January 21st.
The picture taken of our garden early this morning is to remind readers of the blog in far flung places like Australia, California and Mozambique of what snow looks like!
As far as Suffolk is concerned the press release states the following:
In Suffolk, the Committee has made two proposals: a unitary county of Suffolk (the Committee’s preferred alternative proposal for Suffolk); and a two-unitary pattern comprising an Ipswich & Felixstowe authority and a Rural Suffolk authority.
Preference for One Suffolk unitary represents a change of view from the Committee. However, having abandoned the idea of excluding Lowestoft from Suffolk, One Suffolk is really the only coherent solution.
The $64,000 Question is now: Can the Government implement this before the General Election? It will be very tight, but, they claim, not impossible.
There are lots of lovely Christmas cards, and art related items that would make good presents, in the Gainsborough's House shop in Weavers Lane this year.
The article below is written by George Millins from Great Waldingfield. It contains some excellent advice about what you can do to help wildlife living close to you:
At this gloomy, damp time in the year with so few daylight hours, most of us will hurry to the warmth and comfort of home - just pause for a moment, and spare a thought for all the wild creatures out there. As wild creatures they are certainly a lot tougher than our species and our chosen pets however, they not only need, but deserve some help and consideration from the species that has selfishly rendered most of their habitat inhospitable and incapable of sustaining much of our native wildlife through the coming months.
Amphibians, reptiles and the small hibernating mammals such as bats and hedgehogs are very vulnerable indeed, and will probably die if carelessly disturbed while in hibernation - it is worth mentioning again that as a result of declining numbers the hedgehog is now a 'Biodiversity Action Plan Species' (B.A.P. Species). So, as mentioned in previous articles, please be very watchful if you have a need to disturb compost heaps/bins, any hibernating amphibians or reptiles present will mostly be at the base close to the ground where the temperature is constantly low but normally frost free. Piles of branches and hedge cuttings will attract amphibians and hedgehogs, the latter may also occupy spaces under sheds and other outbuildings. Piles of rubble, slabs and even individual bricks and flat pieces of wood often provide a refuge for amphibians but they are likely to seek a better hibernaculum after the first frosts.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so if seen wandering during daylight hours it is probably a sick or wounded animal and will need care. Vets will usually treat wild creatures for free and most will have contacts experienced in the art of nursing hedgehogs back to health. Under weight hedgehogs will not survive hibernation and such animals may be seen at this time, any hedgehog found at this point in the year should be taken to a vet to be checked and weighed - it may well save their life. These animals have a rather fitful hibernation, so it is possible to find a healthy animal wandering after dark in mild conditions.
The following extracts illustrate the UK's failure to take adequate steps to reverse the decline in Great Crested Newt populations and habitats, which automatically indicates big problems for ALL our native amphibians - indeed wildlife in general.
- In 2005 European courts ruled against the UK for not adequately carrying out surveillance and monitoring of European Protected Species such as Great Crested Newt, this being a crucial aspect of G.C.N. conservation activity (Langton T. 2009).
- Up to an estimated third of UK GCN sites have disappeared since 1979. The 2010 UK GCN target to make replacement ponds has an estimated 95%+ shortfall. Less than 1% of UK breeding sites have designated protection (Langton T. 2009).
So, UK governments have an abysmal conservation record, pampering to the need and greed of the selfish, insensitive masses - how can the more caring among us help? In a practical way you can create wildlife habitats, even in small gardens - if two or three adjacent gardens allow a little space for wildlife it becomes a significant habitat. It is also very important politically to subscribe to a major conservation organisation such as the County Wildlife Trust, Froglife, British Trust for Ornithology or R.S.P.B. - contact details available on line or by request. The greater the membership of these organisation the greater their political clout.
A quick reminder to clean out bird boxes before the end of Jan 2010. As the keen observer will know, some birds will show an interest in a potential nest site well before egg laying.
George Millins 01787 374874 mob. 07534263629
