Stephen Prest continues his farming column with some reflections on the floods.

In spite of huge changes in the last few decades, farming remains central to our community here. If you farm near Slingsby and wish to share your experience, email us at  [email protected]

Looking down on the Vale of Pickering from the Howardian Hills there is an awful lot of water lying around which is hardly surprising considering the huge amount of rainfall we have had. I am very grateful to Robert Wainwright for providing rainfall figures covering the last 19 years.

Our annual average rainfall over that period is 27.75inches.  In 2015 we have had 29inches, not far above average, but 6inches of that fell in December!  Houses in Fryton, The Lawns and Railway Street were flooded or damaged by flood water and we really feel for those affected.  Two boys (including Alfie) were seen canoeing in the floods at the bottom of Railway Street which provided great amusement for local onlookers!    Flooding damages our crops and can result in areas of crop dying off and having to be re-drilled in the spring as well as restricting root growth.

Wild duck and other waterfowl may enjoy all the water but swollen and muddy streams and rivers makes life difficult for many small animals and birds.  On one of her early morning runs Kate saw a Kingfisher on the dyke alongside the old railway.  I got some interesting pictures of a sparrow hawk eating a wood pigeon in our back garden recently, thankfully it doesn’t seem to have frightened off the small birds coming to our bird feeders.

On the farm we have been busy grading potatoes out of store, apparently people eat a lot of potato crisps at Christmas time.  My neighbours The Cliffords are busy getting ready for lambing time which commences in early January.  It involves a lot of hard work and long hours especially if it is cold and wet.

DON’T FORGET TO DO THE BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH  SATURDAY 30^TH AND SUNDAY 31^ST JANUARY.

 

All the latest news from Kate Giles at Slingsby’s All Saints Church:

Thank you to everyone who helped to make our Christmas services so succesful, especially Cynthia, Maurag, Ann and Norma for deocrating the church so beautifully, and Margaret and the ‘Village Green Team’ for the wonderful Crib service.

January is a quieter month for All Saints church but with Easter falling early, we will soon be preparing for Lent! Details of our services will be posted on the Churh noticeboard and can also be accessed at the Street parishes website:

http://www.thestreetparishes.org.uk/worship.html

However, you might like to put the following special services in yout diary:

10^th February  – Ash Wednesday  – Eucharist at 7.30 p.m., All Saints.

Sunday 6^th March  – Mothering Sunday Service – a united service at Slingsby chapel 10.30 a.m.

Sunday 20^th March  – Palm Sunday Procession around the village at 10.30 a.m. and Service at All Saints.

Annual PCC meeting and Electoral Roll

We will soon be compiling the church electoral roll. Do let Kate Giles know if you would like to be added to it.

Our annual PCC AGM will take place on Wednesday 16^th March 7.30pm, Village Hall Committee Room. This is an opportunity to elect our churchwardens and members of the PCC. The PCC plays a really important role in overseeing decisions about the church and worship in the Benefice. We would really welcome some new members! Please let Kate Giles know if you would like further any further information.

Fund raising for a new heating system and audio system: The church has to do some serious fund raising this year for a new heating and audio system. The existing heating pipe work is leaking, and being nearly 150 years old, is no longer repairable. Its replacement with a more modern system is necessary to keep the building dry, as well as to improve the comfort of its users and visitors. A new system and boiler is likely to cost in the region of £40,000.  A modern audio system is also essential now as many people find it difficult to hear what is being said in such a large building, and it would also be very helpful to the schoolchildren when it uses the building. Help and support from the Village at fund raising events is much appreciated, and indeed is vital to keep this historic building in good condition. Please keep an eye on the noticeboard for updates and do let Kate know if you are willing to help!

Free parish passes to York Minster.  There are free passes available for visiting the Minster for use by Parish members. These can be found in a plastic wallet on the notice board at the back of the church. Everyone is welcome to make use of these but please return them afterwards to the notice board so that others can use them.

2016 Mystery Plays in York Minster. These take place in June but bookings open in February. If you are interested in joining a group to go please email Kate Giles on

[email protected] by 6^th February.

Kate Giles

 

Stephen Prest reports…

Our Christmas events went very well this year.  The weather was kind for our carol singing evening and we managed to sing in Porch Farm Close, Sycamore Close and Green Crescent before singing in The Grapes to a large gathering.  Sincere thanks to The Grapes for the hot punch and mince pies which helped to keep us in good voice. We raised over £60 for Action for Children.

The United Carol Service in the Methodist Church also went very well with a good congregation enjoying the re telling of the Christmas story once again.

The Wednesday Fellowship Group has restarted after the Christmas break and we are going to do a series based on a book by Rob Parsons called The Wisdom House.  It looks at the opportunities and problems we face as we go through life and encouraging us to have hopes and dreams for the future and how we can help them to be realised.  Contact Geoff and Karen Bishop if you want to know more.

We are continuing with the fish & Chip delivery service on the second Tuesday of the month which is going well.  Fish, chips and peas for £2-50 is excellent value.

Soupa lunch is going very well and for our Christmas special in December the Methodist Schoolroom was almost full and we all enjoyed an excellent lunch.

There is no Soupa lunch in February so the next one will be on Wednesday March 16th.  Contacts are Stephen & Rachel Prest 628277 and Trudy Carr 628302.

On Palm Sunday the 20th March we are having a united service with the Anglican Church including a procession from the Chapel to the Parish Church commencing at the Chapel at 1030am.

On Easter Sunday the 27th March at The Methodist Church we are having an Easter Breakfast at 9am and that will be followed by a Family Communion service at 10-30am which will be led by Rev Dr Penny Worth.  All are welcome.

EVENTS LISTING

Sunday 7^th Feb.  Methodist service 10-30am – All Age led by Karen Pattison

Tuesday 9^th Feb  Fish & chips courtesy Malton Lions.  Contact  Trudy Carr.

Wednesday 10^th Feb.  Wednesday Fellowship Group at 7-30pm

At Geoff & Karen Bishops – Church Lane

Sunday 14^th Feb Methodist service 10-30am – Songs of Praise

Sunday 21^st Feb Methodist service 10-30am SMS led by Margot Taylor (Sunday morning special)

Wednesday 24^th Feb  Wednesday Fellowship Group at 7-30pm at the home of Geoff & Karen Bishop – Church Lane

Sunday 28^th Feb Methodist service 10-30am led by Rev Jacky Hale (HC)

Sunday 6^th March Methodist service 10-30am Mothering Sunday led by Mrs Judy Brown

Tuesday 8^th March  Fish & Chips courtesy of The Lions Club – Stephen Prest.

Wednesday 9^th March  Wednesday Fellowship Group at 7-30pm

Sunday 13^th March  Methodist service 10-30am

Wednesday 16^th March  Soupa lunch at Chapel 12 noon Contacts are Stephen Prest 628277 or Trudy Carr 628302

Sunday 20^th March  Palm Sunday. United service & procession at 10-30am

Sunday 27^th March  Easter Sunday Easter breakfast at 9am followed by worship at 10-30am led by Rev Penny Worth

 

Slingsby Local History Group writes:

We are collecting details of birds seen at the moment in and around Slingsby, South Holme and Fryton. We are doing this to record and keep an up to date list for comparison with the lists made at various times since the late 19^th Century. We can then see if wildlife populations have changed and by how much.

If you do the Big RSPB Birdwatch each January we should be grateful to have a copy of your list. The RSPB watch takes place this year on 30^th  / 31^st January .

If you do not take part in the RSPB record, which is done on-line, but would like to take part in the Slingsby one, please can you set aside an hour in the week beginning 24^th January and ending 31^st January to do this. Forms to fill in are at the Village Shop, or please make your own list if you wish.

Please let the Group have your results by 6th February. These can be delivered to the Village Shop, or to Wyville House, The Lawns.

To send results by email please use [email protected]

Thank you!