Coffee Morning Sat 11th 11am Village Hall Pebbles Sun 12th 10.15am Village Hall BIG Lunch Sun 19th 12noon Village Hall Friendship Club Tues 21st 2.30pm Wellesbourne Pebbles Sun 26th 10.15am Village Hall Pilates Tuesdays 8pm Village Hall Toddler Group Thursdays 10-11.30am Village Hall Mobile Library Thursday 11th
Parish Council News
Flood Defence Plan
Another meeting has taken place between the District Council and some of the residents of the Banbury Road in which issues raised by residents were discussed. An update will be given at our next Parish Council meeting. Following reports of water seen bubbling on the Claylands bank at the bottom of the Warwick Road during heavy downpours, Highways have checked the pipe. They have confirmed that the pipe is not broken.
Lights/Litter/Street Furniture
The litter bin by the bus shelter should have been replaced. If not, we have been assured by the District Council that it will be replaced within the next couple of weeks.
Banbury Road: The railings along the Banbury Road are being repaired.
Village Green
Balfour Beatty have removed some of the large stones and have promised to apply topsoil to the area that leads to Manor Farm driveway. They will also be reseeding this area and erecting temporary netting to stop drivers from driving on the reseeded area.
Blocking of footways (pavements)
After recent bouts of rain and shine, many plants are growing rapidly across the footways. If these are outside your house can you please cut them back to allow access for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
Bonfires
Please think carefully about when you light a bonfire, depending on time of day and wind direction. We have had a number of complaints about bonfires, and while there is nothing to stop people lighting them, please consider your neighbours when doing so.
Car Parking
Once again, we would ask that people do not park illegally on grass verges or footways. This is inconvenient for people walking, especially with pushchairs or wheelchairs, and it damages the green spaces in the village.
More seriousy, it can dangerously limit visibility for people turning at junctions. We have had a number of complaints about this, and while we are reluctant to call in official enforcement, we will do so if the problem persists.
Best Kept Village Competition
We have entered the 'Environment Section' entering the churchyard and cemetery.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, 1st September 2009 at 8pm in the Village Hall.
The Village Hall Committee meeting will be held at 8pm on Monday 13 July.
The Mobile Library will visit Gaydon on Thursdays 2nd and 23rd July.
Our coffee morning will be on Saturday 11th at 11am in the Village Hall. Please bring home-made cakes and other produce to sell. There will be a small raffle; and coffee and biscuits, of course. Any money we make goes to the Fabric Fund for repairs to St Giles'.
We meet this month on Tuesday 21st at 2.30pm at the home of Mrs Josie Liddington, 2 Anson Close, Wellesbourne.
Gaydon Village Hall will be hosting a BIG Lunch on Sunday 19 July at noon. www.thebiglunch.com
If you would like to join the Big Lunchers on the 19th, please come along to the Hall at midday, bringing food and drink to share. Plates, glasses and cutlery will be provided, as will tea and coffee. Contact Julie Rickman at the Old Bakehouse or Debbie Price at the Village Cottage if you have any questions or suggestions!
Gaydon Mini Festival 4-5 July
The Popular Gaydon Mini Festival returns bigger and better to celebrate Mini's 50th Birthday. Incorporating, a Mini trade village, Mini Heritage Run, Mini stunt driving displays plus all sorts of activities for the kids including an invasion of Daleks! www.minifestival.co.uk
Old Ford Rally 26 July
Step back in time to see what Ford produced between 1903 and 1982 www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk
We serve good fresh food to the highest standard!
4th & 5th July: Wimbledon Final - Watch the final with a glass of Pimms
10th July: Mixed Grill Night - 6.30pm - 9pm Lots of Meat for a feast
22nd July: Seafood Platter Evening - Book now to guarantee you a table!
New Summer Menu now available - Plus new opening hours:
5pm Wednesday - Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday 11am - Late
The Gaydon Inn, Banbury Road, Gaydon 01926 640388 or E-Mail: thegaydoninn@btconnect.com
Services for July AD MMIX
5 8.00 Eucharist Burton Dassett
10.00 Eucharist Fenny Compton
11.15 Morning Service Gaydon
11.30 Eucharist Farnborough
12 9.00 Eucharist Fenny Compton
10.00 Morning Service Farnborough
10.00 Eucharist Northend
11.15 Growing Together Gaydon
6.00pm Evening Service Burton Dassett
19 8.00 Eucharist Farnborough
9.00 Eucharist Gaydon
10.30 Morning Service Fenny Compton
10.30 Service of the Word Northend
26 9.30 Eucharist Northend
10.30 Family Service Fenny Compton
11.30 Family Eucharist Gaydon
6.00pm Evensong Farnborough
will be held on the school field on Saturday 4th July from 12 noon - 4pm
Motor Cycle display team, Local bands, Dog and duck, Tug o' war, Raffle - tickets from school before the event and on the day.
Thanks to all those who came to our cream tea event on 30th May. It was well supported and we raised £204. We also had two further names to add to our volunteers' list. We have almost 70 shareholders now. If you would like to buy a share and have not yet done so, telephone 07794 187352 or visit www.gaydonvillagestore.co.uk
We are planning a further fundraising event in late August or early September. Claire Hamm
Alien Invaders
The gardens of Gaydon are again having some early insect migrants.
Reports of a migration of approximately four million Painted Lady Butterflies from Morocco four weeks ago and its continuation from the French coast a few weeks ago, has resulted in these exotic butterflies being seen all over Warwickshire. I have had several in my garden on Lavender flowers and seen others in the hedgerows near the village. They appear as large bright orange insects that have a very fast flight; in fact, it's only when they settle that you can appreciate this beautiful species.
They will lay their eggs on thistles and nettles and with luck there will be a second brood in the autumn. Fresh insects, unlike these which have flown hundreds of miles, are a superb pink with elaborate markings resembling the Red Admiral, a close relative.
The Hummingbird Hawk moth that also migrates from Africa can be seen on the flowers of the ubiquitous Valerian, that reddish flower which has invaded the village and grows in every chink and crevice. White and pink ones have also appeared near the church. This invasive species is loved by moths whilst the root (should you wish to try it!) is a cure for arthritis in old herbals.
Hornets, about four times bigger than a Wasp and with chocolate markings, are in my garden also around flowers. It's a magnificent insect and global warming has helped in its recovery. A Hornet's sting is more painful than our everyday Wasp and the nest is always high in a tree, so handle with care if they enter your house!
Another European wasp species, the Forest Wasp, has also arrived here in the past few years. They are beneficial insects which kill many flies and Mosquitoes but of course they nest in inconvenient places and can be aggressive defending them, so removing them has been a mainstay of Pest Controllers for many years! Last autumn, wasps were scarce but I think we may have a plague this autumn.
Our local meadows are filled with the song of Skylarks which seem to be holding on here. Bee orchids often appear in Gaydon after many years' absence; I'd be glad to hear of any sightings this year. Grass-snakes have again appeared in Church Road. They obviously like that area which has many wild corners and hedges! A fox has been seen on the Malt Shovel car park in broad daylight, so those with chickens and Rabbits should secure them. Foxes will sometimes take hens and free-range pets in the daytime if they feel secure from dogs or people.
My next-door neighbours tell me that Badgers have dug up a Red-tailed Bumble bees' nest in Watery Lane. This type of incident emphasizes that gardens, rather than rural areas, are often safer for them - if the gardeners are sympathetic to these valuable pollinators. Bernard Price
The flag on the village green was raised on the 10th of June to celebrate the Birthday of Prince Philip; and on the 17th for the Anniversary of Waterloo Day.