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Management and productionRoundabout is managed on behalf of the community and published by the Editorial and Production Team comprising Richard Bowers, Evelyn Brown, Amanda Garland, Andrew Garland, Dawn Kirby, Tony Lenney, Rosemary May, Neil Robinson, Grahame Sibson and Andy Thomson.

Editor for this issue: Evelyn Brown

Cover: Neil Robinson

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2 Roundabout July/August 2013

Contents

Page

Editor’s note 5

Parish council news 5

News in brief 7

From ship’s cook to village newsagent 12

Maypole dancing, present and past 15

Tyre play on the park 16

Gardens on display in Woodhouse 18

The diary of a beekeeper: the summer months 20

Small is beautiful at Woodhouse Eaves Open Gardens 22

John Hives and the Woodhouse Eaves windmill 25

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust at The Brand 29

Get your greens every day: not just nice... 32

Eavesdropping on Roundabout: a newsletter is conceived

34

Using herbs in garden management 36

Garden matters 37

The last word 38

Contributions to Roundabout Inside back cover

What’s on in July and August Back cover

Deadline for submissions to the September 2013 issue:Saturday, 10th August

Email to [email protected] hand in at the post office

Editor for September 2013 issue: Dawn Kirby

Roundabout July/August 2013 3

Editor’s noteDespite a spring and early summer that failed to deliver either April showers or May flowers, this issue has a strong focus on things summery including coverage of the Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves Open Garden events (pp.18 and 22), an open day in the stunning grounds of The Brand in aid of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (p.29), and the third instalment of Kyle Veitch’s ‘Diary of a beekeeper’ (p.20). We should never forget that without bees, there would be far fewer plants around and so no gardens to open. If you have friends and neighbours, who invite the public into their gardens each year in order to benefit local causes, you will know just how much hard work is involved to ensure the gardens are in peak condition. Many thanks go to all the gardeners, and to the wonderful people involved in many other ways, from over-arching organization to passport sales and refreshments. Help is on hand for those of us who over-indulged in cream teas and sticky cakes, in Rochelle Foster’s article this month, which puts us back on track with her celebration of the benefits of greens in our diet (p.32).Local history is also evoked as we learn about the more recent past of maypole dancing in Woodhouse Eaves, the origin of our villages’ magazine, and then look further back in time to the lives and times of the last millers in Woodhouse Eaves (p.25). Finally we discover that village newsagent, Martin Clark had a maritime past before settling for life behind the counter (p.12).

Evelyn Brown

Parish council newsOpen spaces

Several items relevant to open spaces were raised at the June parish council meeting. Leicestershire County Council’s plans for creating more woodland and walks on Broombriggs were discussed briefly, and will be aired more fully at the July meeting when the heritage wardens will give a presentation. The Charnwood Forest Regional Park group have submitted a bid for £3 million to the National Lottery to help designate the area as a regional park. The parish council also received news of the Charnwood Local Plan which will influence planning decisions until 2028 (see ‘News in brief’, p.9). The BioBlitz, organized by the parish heritage and tree wardens, will add local wildlife information to the parish pages on the NatureSpot website www.naturespot.org.uk/parish/woodhouse Many thanks go to the trio for their tremendous efforts.


Would you like to meet the Mayor of Charnwood?

Every year we receive news of the new mayor and an invitation to visit the mayor’s parlour to learn more about what mayors do to develop citizenship and local democracy (see Roundabout, March 2010). Previous mayors have been invited to local events; this helps the borough to build up its knowledge of our communities. Last year’s mayor toured the Woodhouse Eaves scarecrows, and the year before the mayor presented prizes at the Woodhouse Eaves Horticultural and Craft Show. The new mayor, Councillor Sandie Forrest, is supported by her husband, Roger, as her consort, and her chosen charities are John Storer House and the Alzheimer’s Society. If you would like to invite this year’s mayor to an event you are organizing, please get in touch via [email protected] or telephone (01509) 634 602.

Repainting of the public toilets

If you find the public toilets closed one day soon it will be because the interiors are being repainted. Unfortunately, the contractors who painted them before the parish council took them over failed to prepare them adequately, so paint has been peeling off every since. When one of them is closed during this work, we will try to make others available.

The extension project

Progress with the Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall extension is being made all the time. The rough timescale from the project management team suggests that we might know about bids from builders in late July or early August; the team screens all applicants on our behalf. The parish council can then make further applications for funds from grant-making organizations, which insist on builders’ quotations before they will consider an application. It is a normal requirement for councils to obtain three quotations for a project of this size. Over the summer we will continue to update the parish council website with any news.

Council finance

The council’s year-end in May triggers a lot of extra work for parish councillors and our finance officer, culminating in the submission of accounts to the external auditor. It is a slightly tense time as we wait to hear the audit result, but meanwhile any member of the public may ask to see the detailed accounts. They are in good shape, but need careful management now that parish councils have been required by the Government to keep their precept demands down – a form of capping. There is little room for reducing costs as we have few staff, and most of the


works are done by small local contractors, e.g. annual utility inspections, tree works, repairs and maintenance of buildings, and so on. For this reason, everyone at the parish council appreciates the hard work that volunteers do on behalf of the whole parish. Please accept our thanks and enjoy the summer break.

Next meeting: See ‘What’s on’.Ann Irving, Clerk to the Council

For parish council information, including meeting dates and minutes, see http://woodhouseparishcouncil.org.uk/

News in briefJubilee spirit lives on

Do you still have fond memories of the Jubilee celebrations of June 2012? In the ‘Editor’s note’ of the July/August issue that followed, we asked: ‘Why wait for the next [jubilee]? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if...one day in June every year was “Have fun with your neighbours day”, when we roll out the street parties and barbecues?’ Amanda and Andrew Garland did just that, hosting a ‘bring-your-own barbecue’ for their friends and neighbours on Sunday, 27th May, complete with Union flags and patriotic music, and as close to Jubilee weekend and the sixtieth anniversary of the Queen’s coronation as possible. Not only did it reunite old friends, it was a

splendid opportunity to welcome two sets of the Garlands’ new neighbours to Woodhouse Eaves.

Evelyn Brown

News from Heygate Crafters

We are a small group who enjoy making various things, including lace, crochet, knitting, recycled greetings cards, patchwork, quilting, painting and many other skilled products. Each member pays £2 for refreshments and the surplus, in aid of good causes, adds up very quickly to be sent to charities. To date 20 charities or village activities, such as the scout group, the Young Farmers and Riding for the Disabled (Dean’s Lane), have received £20 while we have enjoyed good company and fun. If you would like to join us on a Friday afternoon, 2.30pm to 4.30pm, you are very welcome; please phone (01509) 890 735.

Sue Thorne


Amanda Garland resurrects the spirit of Jubilee.

The Local History Group takes a break

The Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves Local History Group has now been in operation for over 18 years, the main business being to hold meetings and talks at regular monthly intervals from January to May (nine in total). The present committee has been organizing everything for many years, and feels in need of a break. We have also lost our excellent treasurer, and need a new one. It is felt that a brief pause will, hopefully, give us time to sort out any problems and come back relaxed. To this end we have decided to cancel the September 2013 to September 2014 season. We will, of course, keep members informed as to progress and, naturally, members’ annual subscriptions will not be required. Meanwhile, is there anyone who would be willing to take on the role of treasurer? Also, if would you like to join our small committee please contact me on (01509) 890 788.

Brian Axon, Local History Group

Housing in the area – make your views known

If you missed the exhibition in Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall on 17th June about Charnwood Borough Council’s plans for housing up to 2028, you can still find out by going to either a library or the borough council offices until 22nd July. Charnwood Borough Council sends out invitations each year asking people to nominate suitable land. The sites are then assessed to see if they are suited to housing, and whether they could be developed within a few years. The housing numbers are estimates and are part of the Local Plan to 2028. Transport options are included. The planning inspectorate assesses the plan, followed by the Secretary of State. If all goes well, the plan will start to inform all planning decisions from late 2014.

Plans include regeneration of the Watermead corridor, further development of the Loughborough Science and Enterprise Park and a regeneration plan for Shepshed. The proposals are for 9,500 new homes: 3,000 homes and 16 hectares of employment to the west of Loughborough; 4,500 homes and 13 hectares of employment to the north of Hamilton/east of Thurmaston; around 1,500 homes and 15 hectares of employment on land to the north of the A46 at Birstall; 500 homes adjoining Shepshed.

The borough council wants comments on the legality of the plan and on its soundness, i.e. whether the proposals are positively prepared, justified, effective, and consistent with national policy. To see the plans and make comments, go to: http://localplan.charnwood.gov.uk/ and www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/evidencebase All ‘static’ libraries, e.g. Quorn, Loughborough, Mountsorrel, as well as borough and county council officers,


have copies. Send your comments to: [email protected] or telephone (01509) 634 570.

Ann Irving, Clerk to the Council

Bee and wasp stings

Only worker and queen honey bees have stingers, their last form of defence used only when significantly threatened, and rarely away from their hive. Wasps, on the other hand, seem a lot more blasé about using their stinger. A honey bee stinger is slightly barbed and usually the stinger is left behind when we get stung; wasps have a smooth stinger and can sting multiple times. If a honey bee stings us, its stinger detaches from the abdomen and the bee dies relatively quickly. It is important to remove a bee sting correctly and promptly by scraping it out from one side. Avoid tweezers as any remaining venom will be squirted into the victim! Further information can be obtained from NHS Direct. Most of us just have a local reaction to the sting, itching and the like, but in rare cases a severe allergic reaction can occur leading to life-threatening anaphylactic shock, airway swelling or an asthmatic attack. In such circumstances, immediate medical assistance should be sought. Wasp traps can help keep them from patio and BBQ areas, but remember only bait wasps with jam; never honey. It is very easy to say, but don’t swat and wave your arms around in a blind panic if a bee or wasp is near you. It will often lead to only one thing… So try to stay calm, and just move away from the area.

Kyle Veitch

Cottage surgery

The Cottage Surgery has a new Assistant Practice Manager. One of the early changes made is the addition of a news page to the website, of general interest on health matters; see: www.thecottagesurgery.co.uk/news.aspx?p=Y00252

Editor

Cricket club news

The club has had a patchy start to the season with the 1st XI having lost four games and won three. Two of these victories came in the last two matches, so let us hope that a corner has been turned. The 2nd XI matches did not start until the middle of May due to the weather, but the team then produced two wins by bowling their opponents out for 55 and 65 before suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of Braunstone Town 2; then followed an exciting tie with Barrow and Burton, with both sides scoring 171 runs.


On the individual batting front, Andy Stovell started the season for the 1st XI with 58 against Burbage; Nick Collins scored 51 not out versus Braunstone Town, but Callum Greasley recorded the highest score so far with 69, to see the team home against Bharat Sports. The top score for the 2nd XI so far is Yusef Patel’s 54 against Braunstone Town 2.

On the bowling front, Andy Stovell completed a good all-round performance against Burbage with four for 30; Mohammed Saeed Sadar recorded four for 22 against Braunstone, with young Nick Stovell producing his best league performance with four for 18 to lead the team home against Bharat Sports. For the 2nd XI, Safwan Patel with three for eight, and Naimesh Khetia with three for 19 were mainly responsible for the demolition of Sapcote.

The club is always looking for new members, and anyone interested should telephone John Gillingham on (01509) 890 193 or Don Bennett on (01509) 890 828. There is possibly an interesting signing in the pipeline – watch this space for further details.

Don Bennett

Welbeck bids farewell to its principal

Principal Tony Halliwell has retired after 15 years at the helm of Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College. He joined the college as principal in December 1998, and was instrumental in transforming the college from an army-only college into the Defence Sixth Form College providing engineering and technical specialists to all three armed forces, as well as the Ministry of Defence. Captain Michael Page, Head of the Defence Technical Officer and Engineer Entry Scheme said:

Tony Halliwell leaves Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College in excellent shape. He has been instrumental in securing its future by transforming it into a highly valued educational institution producing high-calibre students who will go on to careers in engineering and technology across defence. He leaves behind an impressive legacy for us to continue to build upon and we wish him all the best in his retirement.

Tony Halliwell will be succeeded by Peter Middleton as principal who will take up his post in September 2013.

Editor

Doggy danger

The Charnwood paths, woodlands and parks are wonderful places to walk your dog, but take care. Two dogs were recently infected by hookworm after


trips on Beacon Hill; foxes and sometimes cats can also be infected. Hookworm larvae can be present in the soil, ingested through scavenging and spread through dog faeces – a salutary reminder to dog owners to bag their dogs’ faeces and dispose of it responsibly. Any waste bin can be used on Charnwood Borough Council land, but special dog bins must be used on Beacon Hill and Broombriggs, which are owned by Leicestershire County Council. Untreated, the condition is potentially fatal. If your dog is lethargic, with poor appetite, diarrhoea or constipation, possibly a persistent cough, and paler gums, nostrils and eyelids, seek veterinary help immediately.

Editor

From ship’s cook to village newsagentI wonder how many regulars at our newsagent and tobacconist in Main Street realize that they are being served by someone who spent three or four years of his early working life in the merchant navy. A Leicester lad, Martin Clark left school aged 15 in the mid ’60s and after a short and not particularly fulfilling period as a painter, which largely entailed creosoting barns and other business premises, he enrolled at the National Sea Training School in Gravesend to work as a ship’s steward and caterer. Perhaps there is a perverse attraction for someone from landlocked Leicestershire to venture on the high seas; Martin swapped the rural hinterland of his boyhood initially for the Thames estuary, where he watched large ocean-going liners docking at Tilbury, and occasionally went on board to marvel at their luxury.

Hot foot on the Irish Sea

His first ship, MV Weybridge, was around 15,000 tons and certainly lacked the grandeur of the Oriana, which regularly docked in the Thames. It carried jute, which had arrived from India and was bound for Dundee and Dublin; a four to five-week haul with a dusty cargo, from which there was little escape for crew members. Subsequently, he carried even more unfriendly cargoes. He had few fond memories of hot bitumen, which had to be kept in a semi-liquefied state during its transit from the oil refineries on the Thames to Dublin and other exotic locations such as Preston in Lancashire. Martin recalls walking on deck and wondering whether the heat from the holds would melt his rubber soles.

After this he did a stint on a ship called the Pool Fisher, which provided a daily ferry running from Felixstowe to Rotterdam: 12 hours each way with no break before turning round. Later, this vessel was used for transporting nuclear waste from reactors in Japan to Barrow and thence to Sellafield in Cumbria for processing and storage. Unfortunately, Martin recalls, it sank


but mercifully it was not loaded with nuclear waste at the time.

Atlantic crossings

There were, however, more interesting and varied assignments, such as crossing the Atlantic, stopping in Newfoundland and entering the St Lawrence seaway having enjoyed the spectacle of icebergs and whales. In Quebec and other ports on the Great Lakes they picked up newsprint, dropped off at Deptford and destined for the Daily Mirror in Fleet Street. On such voyages they often took paying passengers who received a quality ‘silver service’ at a cost considerably less than that offered by Cunard. Martin had a particular affection for Quebec City and its spectacular location, though there were restrictions placed on young sailors. They could not travel beyond the port where they docked and, as young non-uniformed seamen, they were often moved on for ‘loitering’ – hardly a crime, but in French Canada an issue it was unwise to argue with.

When Martin went to sea, most of his fellow crew members were from the UK or from maritime European countries such as Malta. There have been considerable changes since the mid sixties and the development of roll-on/roll-off ferries and the use of containers on a vast scale have revolutionised the world of transporting goods by sea.

Coming back ashore

After three years or so he returned to his home county, and over the last 35 years has been involved with two shops: one in Woodhouse Eaves, which he still runs, and the post office and stores in Newtown Linford, which he ran concurrently for some time before reducing his workload.

I don’t detect too much nostalgia in Martin for a return to a maritime existence. He’s happy to forgo seasickness – a persistent accompaniment on his first voyage – fog around UK coastal waters, and the sickly smell of diesel fuel, but wouldn’t want to convey the impression that running a village shop is a doddle. He recalls his time in Newton Linford in a shop situated just a stone’s throw from Bradgate Park, when it was not uncommon at weekends to serve more than 2,000 scoops of ice-cream in 22 different flavours: an option not available currently in Woodhouse Eaves.

Tony Lenney


Young Martin in his merchant navy days.

Maypole dancing, present and pastIn an age when many people worry that the simple communal forms of entertainment are being superseded by the electronically complex and often solitary pleasures of the games console, it was a delight to see 18 little girls from the 1st Woodhouse Eaves Rainbows keeping an old custom alive earlier this summer: skipping round a maypole.

In what has become a recent tradition, the five to seven-year-old girls performed a dance for their parents in mid-May to welcome in summer. Although the children had only two practice runs on the day, and some had never seen a maypole before, they danced perfectly to music supplied by Eric Dryden, who was also on hand to offer the occasional prompt.

Revival of the maypole

Maypole dancing used to take place in Woodhouse Eaves but died out in the late 1950s, and would have become extinct but for Sue and Eric Dryden. Less than impressed by an event they had recently visited, and convinced that the children of Woodhouse Eaves could do better, they put together a maypole troupe from the children of St Paul’s Sunday school in time to make their début on Sunday, 24th June 1984, as part of a National Arts Day programme arranged by St Paul’s School.

Eric ingeniously constructed a robust maypole from a length of drain-pipe, secured in a circular base made from old wooden pallets. The red, green, blue and yellow ribbons were long lengths of the sort of ribbon used to make the ‘PE bands’ for children’s physical education classes, and cost £45. The girls wore checked gingham dresses in colours which matched the ribbons. Eric produced taped music, and he and Sue coached the children to proficiency in plaiting and weaving. As Sue pointed out, if just one child went wrong, chaos resulted for everyone.


Rainbows round the maypole.

The maypole dancers of 1984.

The Maypole Group of 1989.

Such was their success that the group was soon in demand for other village events, and by 1989 was well established as the Woodhouse Eaves Maypole Group, with a printed programme naming 12 girls and advertising their appearances at St Paul’s Church Village Fayre and the Roecliffe Manor Garden Fête in June 1989, and Woodhouse Eaves Scout Group Gala in the September.

A very special occasion

In 1994 Sue Dryden put out an appeal in the local press for new members to take part in a display for the centenary celebrations of the Woodhouse Parish Council in the July of the following year, the highlight of the group’s career. Nine young girls were joined by three small boys for the occasion, and with echoes of the late 1890s, the boys were attired in black bow ties and brightly coloured waistcoats while the girls wore white, Victorian, pinafore-style dresses over checked gingham skirts, black stockings and straw boaters (each sporting a red poppy). Making the most of the day, they marched through Woodhouse Eaves, and later rode around in a Redlands Aggregate lorry which had been loaned for the day.

All the children of the one-time Woodhouse Eaves Maypole Group are now grown up. The Dryden’s daughter, Angela, a founder member of the group, is now the Rainbow Guider for the 1st Woodhouse Eaves Rainbows, and most of the original dancers have children of their own. The world has moved on, however, and I wonder how many of these children would be willing to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Well done to the little rainbows for keeping up the tradition.

Evelyn BrownIf you were once a member of the Woodhouse Eaves Maypole Group, Roundabout would love to hear your memories of times when you took part. Ed.

Tyre play on the parkHave you seen it? Perhaps your children have played on it? I was invited to a meeting last September between the parish clerk and a councillor, and a tyre play company representative to discuss installing tyres in the children’s play area in Woodhouse Eaves. As I had seen the equipment installed elsewhere, and been impressed with its potential, I was happy to go along. The project was put on the back burner until shortly before Easter when the toddler groups which operate at the Methodist Church realized they could contribute a significant amount towards the cost of having tyre play installed on the park. The offer was made to the parish council and it was accepted.


Maypole dancers at the Woodhouse Parish Council centenary celebrations.

More offers of help

Since then we have had kind offers of donations towards the cost from the May Day Challenge, Dazzlers Cleaning Company, Police Proceeds of Crime Fund and the proceeds from a scrap-metal collection, put together by Ann Irving. Contributions of metal came from the cricket club, football club, Nomaz Computing and Mr Sykes of Rawlins Close. We also held a sponsored toddle around the football field for the toddler group and Little Owl Pre-School children. This occurred on a grey but dry morning with around 80 enthusiastic toddlers, babies, parents and grandparents taking part. All moved off from the ‘START’ point, worked their way around the football field, finding the smiley face markers on the way, and round to the ‘FINISH’ post. The children all received a medal to commemorate taking part, followed by an enjoyable time on the park, trying out the new Tyre Play. We thank everyone for their help; it has been a fantastic community effort.

Audrey Bowers


Enjoying Tyre Play in the park.

Gardens on display in WoodhouseThrough no fault of the organizing committee, the Woodhouse Open Gardens event on 18th and 19th May was too late to show off displays of spring bulbs but too early to capture the glory of

summer. The unseasonably cold weather left most gardeners struggling to produce much colour for visitors to enjoy. Even the garden of Pestilence Cottage, normally a riot of blooms by the second half of May, was mostly only in bud, although some unusual tulip varieties were still in flower, and the rockery had held onto late spring colour; however, the ducks obligingly

waddled round from the pond to decorate the lawn and amuse onlookers, and some charming water features delighted the eye.

One rare exception was the Slaters’ sheltered rear garden at Bishop’s Cottage, in full bloom with late-flowering yellow primulas mingling with golden, early-summer wallflowers, purple pansies and sky-blue forget-me-nots. A similar success was shared by Pauline and Andrew Fox’s herbaceous border in Beaumanor Gardens. The meticulous order of their flower beds and vegetable plot (boasting healthily growing broad beans, onions, peas and potatoes), with not a weed in sight, proved a fascinating contrast to Libby and Bob Evans’s garden at Spinney Cottage. Here walkways curved round to hidden areas while a long pergola-sheltered brick path stretched down the garden’s length, and the flower beds tumbled with perennials in charmingly harmonious disorder. Libby Evans was

philosophical about the paucity of summer flowers, pointing out the consolation to a prolonged winter: ‘The snake’s head fritillary and snowdrops were out for weeks.’

A warm welcome in Woodhouse

What was wanting on the floral front was made up for by hospitality, with a super- abundance of high quality home-made cakes (some with


cholesterol-enhancing lashings of cream) on sale at the community hall and at various gardens. St Mary’s Church was also open to view, stunningly adorned by Pat Clark’s flower arrangements, still fresh from a recent marriage blessing. Entering the church, visitors were greeted by organ music, a continuous programme provided

turn and turn about by Maureen Axon, Ruth Brooker, Cynthia Malone and John Sugden.

With fewer flowers on which to focus there was more time to appreciate other gems hiding behind the frontage of familiar houses; for example, the mediaeval oak-framed barns at the rear of The Hermitage in School Lane which, as Denis Shiels explained, date back to the 1500s. The Grade II-listed barns were renovated under the auspices of English Heritage.

Success for the community

The event raised around £3,000, of which £500 is earmarked to help with the renovation of the old washhouse behind the Herrick Homes in Woodhouse, while the remainder is to be shared between much-needed funds for the community hall and St Mary’s Church.

Thanks must go to all who played a part to make the weekend a pleasurable success, especially the Woodhouse residents who generously sacrificed their privacy so that the rest of us could share the fruits of their horticultural labours. Whatever the size – cottage garden or meadow acres, whatever the layout – formal beds or meandering borders, all the gardens bore witness to the truth of the inscription seen on a bird-bath:

‘Our England is a garden. Such gardens are not made by singing and resting in the shade.’ It’s clear from their beautiful gardens that the gardeners of Woodhouse don’t have much time for singing or resting in the shade.

Evelyn Brown


The diary of a beekeeper: the summer monthsI can see a distinct change in the colonies now. Last month when I took the roof off to inspect a colony, I would be greeted by a few hundred bees wondering if I was the grim reaper. At my last inspections I have been greeted by several thousand bees wondering why I’m not using the front door; the hives are literally bursting with bees! Any hostile behaviour can soon be sorted out, though; the centuries-old technique to calm bees down is plain old smoke – but why?

Many of you will see me wandering about suited and booted in bee gear, puffing away on a smoker (a key piece of kit for the beekeeper). The biggest challenge is keeping it lit while moving from one apiary to another. A beekeeper’s smoker delivers cool smoke to the bees, and their reaction is to eat. Literally one puff of smoke and they disappear into the hive and have a quick snack of honey. Once they have had their sugar fix, they are (usually) infinitely better tempered. The smoke also masks any pheromones, released by the bees to raise the alarm.

Why make regular inspections?

Keeping bees is not as simple as wandering down the garden and switching on the honey tap every time the toast is in. As the head of training at Leicestershire and Rutland Beekeeping Association once said to me, ‘We all like milk in our tea, but we don’t have a cow at the bottom of the garden!’ For me, however, it’s not about the honey – it’s therapy at the end of a busy day; just visiting my bees and having a look /see what is going on in their lives is intriguing to say the least, but why inspect weekly during the summer?

The time of year influences the frequency of visits and, more importantly, what the beekeeper is looking for during a hive inspection. The late Ted Hooper MBE1

suggested that during any inspection, the following questions should be answered: Has the colony sufficient room? Is the queen present and laying? Is the queen laying at the correct rate, and is there evidence of swarming? Are there signs of disease? Are there sufficient food stores?

So, in the summer months it’s critical to thoroughly inspect all bee colonies weekly, to prevent swarming (when half the hive absconds to set up a new

1 Author of what is considered by many as the beekeeping bible of modern times – Guide to Bees and Honey (ISBN 1904846513)


The queen bee (white spot on head) in the hive.

colony elsewhere). In a later article I will explain swarming in more detail. The bees need to make preparations to swarm, which take at least eight days, and there are tell-tale signs the beekeeper looks for so that swarming can be prevented and honey production kept at 100 per cent. The signs are queen cells – torpedo-shaped cells which hang vertically in the hive and are where the bees are raising a new queen so that should they swarm (and take the old queen with them) the remaining colony will have every chance of survival when the new queen has hatched. Day eight is when they are sure the new queen will be okay, although she won’t actually hatch until day 18, so by visiting every seven days, the beekeeper should be able to disrupt swarming by removing the queen cells before the eighth day. That’s the theory, but it’s quite easy to miss the signs.

Looking for healthy bees

Disease is another important to look out for. I find it easier to look for the signs of healthy bees (the norm) rather than for a specific condition the bees may have. So I’m looking for bees with well-formed wings, and larvae which look pearly white and are in the shape of a ‘C’, for example. By looking for what is right, it’s easier to spot what could be wrong, even if at the initial stage you might not have made a full diagnosis.

There are many ways to control disease but by far the best is simple cleanliness; not leaving stuff around and regular washing of bee-gloves (worn by me, not the bees!). It is also important to remove honey comb which is old and going dark brown. I’ve finished doing this for this year in all my hives. Spring is the best time, when the bees are all huddled in the middle of the hive and the outer combs are empty. By removing old comb and putting in fresh clean comb annually, all the comb can be changed in the hive every three years or so.

Nothing goes to waste

The ‘manky’ old comb has its uses and can be completely recycled. First, I cut the wax comb out of the wooden frame. If the frame is not damaged, I wash it in washing soda, give it a scrape, insert a new clean piece of foundation wax, and the frame is ready to go back in the hive. If the frame is damaged, I break it up into fire wood; it’s full of beeswax and makes great kindling. The old comb is broken up, thrown in a pan and melted down, and strained through a nappy liner! The clean beeswax(Continued on page 24)


Frames ready for wax recovery and recycling.

Small is

beautifulat

Woodhouse Eaves Open Gardens Full of joy and admiration at the treasures revealed behind the gates at Woodhouse Eaves Open Gardens, I was really inspired to find that although large gardens are impressive, the ingenuity of dedicated gardeners means you don’t need to have a

massive garden for it to be spectacular. Woodhouse Eaves Open Gardens 2013, which took place on 1st and 2nd June, does have its fair share of spacious gardens to lose yourself in, whether it is the 14 acres of ‘The Enchanted Wood’ near Michael and Diana Price’s home in Maplewell Road or Maureen Miller’s fabulous woodland garden, summer house and extensive flower beds. However, there are fantastic examples of how small space is used in the most effective ways to bring out the best in a garden. For example, Jean Mawby’s garden, next to the village hall in Main Street, is tiny but its borders are brimful of plants, flowers and shrubs, and a small wheelbarrow-planter is used to create a floral feature.

Small in size, big in heart

Another garden which may not be acres in size, but has a big heart, with all the hallmarks of years of work and tender care, is Eric and Diane Allsop’s mature cottage garden in Main Street. Its immaculate lawn is surrounded by tidy borders which were

just starting to bloom. The garden has come on a long way in the 58 years since the couple moved into the cottage. Then it had tall grass, no borders, and broken slabs all over it. Eric dug the borders out and, starting with some lupins, the garden developed over the years. The couple have opened the gardens every year since the open gardens event started. Diane said they have enjoyed every year and they have learned a lot from other gardeners who have visited over the years.

There is also Geoff Holland’s fascinating garden at the old school in Church Hill which makes the best use of the rock face. He described it as ‘quite secret’ and ‘not that small although there is not that much land with it’. It is landscaped to make the most of the natural features, even though the space is limited.


You walk past a waterfall feature, follow a path around the front of the rocks and then up steps to be rewarded with views of the village and the surrounding countryside.

Battling the elements

Gardeners successfully battled the cold, long winter and atrocious downpours of rain in the week leading up to the event to make sure their gardens were in top shape. While some flowers were late and not out yet, there were still plenty on show from cornflowers to forget-me-nots. Amanda Hubbard said that it had been ‘very hard’ to get her garden in Victoria Road ready in time because of the rain the week before.Vintage was the theme for this year’s event and as part of this, Ken and Liz Wilson, of Nanhill Drive displayed a collection of immaculate Lambretta scooters and vintage cars, including a Decauville Voiturelle from 1899 which was the first car to be registered in Rutland in 1903.

Warm welcome

While the gardens were a feast for the eyes, the stomach was not left out, with refreshments available along the route including delicious cream teas with home-made scones, oozing with jam and cream, at Amanda Hubbard’s and delightful cup cakes at Barry and Hilary Selby’s garden in Perry Close. There was also a warm welcome at St Paul’s Church which was open on Saturday afternoon selling tea, coffee and homemade cakes. The open gardens event is in aid of the church, which needs to raise money to repair the damage being caused by subsidence. This year’s event has raised a very welcome £4,500 for the work. Churchwarden Jill Hyde said the church is currently open every Saturday afternoon from 2.00pm to 4.00pm for everyone in the community.

As my husband and I wandered around the gardens, we did think of our own garden with its dandelion-carpeted lawn, indistinguishable borders and out-of-control bushes, and were

put to shame. Happily, though, the beauty of the gardens in the village has inspired us to pull on the gardening gloves ourselves.

Dawn Kirby

Photos::Mark Kirby

and Evelyn Brown


(Diary of a Bee-keeper – continued from P.21.)

is then used to make candles. The nappy liner, now soaked in wax, is left to dry and cut in half; it makes the world’s best fire lighters. I literally waste nothing.

Most of my colonies have now been ‘supered’, which means that I have added honey storage on the top of the hives for the bees to store their honey in. This makes it easy for the beekeeper to remove the honey and extract it into jars; not quite as simple as turning on the honey tap. The forage bees are now on duty from dawn till dusk bringing nectar back to the hive for processing into honey, weather permitting of course. On cold windy days you’ll still see bumble bees flying, but honey bees need fair weather.

Next time I’ll explain a bit more about how beehives work and how honey is processed – all very simple when you know how!

Kyle Veitch


John Hives and the Woodhouse Eaves windmillThe most famous landmark in Woodhouse Eaves is undoubtedly the windmill. I have recently been in contact with Bernard (Bernie) Hives who lives in Farmington Hills, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Bernie’s great-great-uncle, John Hives, was its last miller, and I am very grateful to Bernie for the following history.

Two centuries as millers

Bernard and his cousin Anne Long have been able to trace the Hives’s family tree back to 1670 when George Hives (1670–1747) was a miller at Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire. George’s many descendants carried on the family tradition, and at various times through to the late 1800s they were responsible for the mills at Brooksby, Hose, Thrussington, Syston, Asfordby, Shipley, Rearsby, Ilkeston, Sileby, Measham, Loughborough, Mountsorrel, Quorndon, Barrow-on-Soar, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake and, of course, Woodhouse Eaves.

It is said that Woodhouse Eaves windmill originated in Derbyshire. Mills were often cannibalized and the fact that the Hives had been millers at Shipley and Ilkeston in Derbyshire suggests that parts of these mills were brought south to Woodhouse Eaves and re-utilized.

Besides being a baker and miller at Rearsby, John Hives (1804–1879) appears to have been the first of the family to work the Woodhouse Eaves mill, then owned by his relative Richard (1805–1884). John and his second wife, Martha, lived at Breakback Cottages, an apt name perhaps for a miller’s home. This could possibly be the group of cottages in Beacon Road, later known as the Old Mill House.

The last miller

We now come to his son, also named John (1839–1909), Bernie’s great-great-uncle who eventually became the last miller at Woodhouse Eaves. John married Caroline Carr and they lived at Barrow-on-Soar for about five years, moving to Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake during the late 1860s. During these years he gained valuable experience as a journeyman miller. On his father’s death in 1879 he became master miller at Woodhouse Eaves.


Breakback Cottages, Beacon Road.

An attractive painting by J. Sturgess (1864–1903) of the Quorn Hunt meeting by the windmill shows the mill at work, and a horse and cart alongside. It is understood that in order to turn the mill so that it faced the wind, horses had to pull it round. In 1895, perhaps through bad management or just ill luck, the mill ran away in a gale, against the brake, and the wind shaft broke. The mill was never used commercially again, but became a ‘must see’ tourist attraction for all the visitors to the village. A postcard dated simply ‘Late 1800s’ shows a large family gathering visiting the windmill (a wedding perhaps?) but whether the mill is still working on this photo, or whether it was taken after the disaster, is not known.

The end of an era

The Hives family continued to live in Woodhouse Eaves in a typically English thatched cottage in Main Street, opposite the Methodist Church. The only known photo of John Hives, the last miller, was taken outside the cottage in 1909. On his left is Bernie’s uncle Will, and on his right, Bernie's father (also Bernard). In those days little boys wore a dress until they were ‘breeched’, and I have to admit that Bernard’s is quite smart!

Despite an excellent restoration of the cottage in about 1910, it was eventually demolished around 1952 to be replaced by a modern property on the same site.

On 15th April 1945 a disastrous fire completely destroyed the entire wooden structure of the windmill, leaving only the stone base surviving. This has been converted into a viewing platform, and still remains a popular tourist attraction.

Brian Axon


A family gathering by the windmill.

The last miller, John Hives, with Will and Bernard.

The final disaster.

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust at The BrandThere was an opportunity to visit another well known Woodhouse Eaves garden on Saturday, 11th May when Colonel and Mrs Robert Martin generously opened the extensive grounds of The Brand to visitors in aid of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (LRWT). Although it was the first time the LRWT had benefitted for around 20 years, the Martins usually open the grounds annually for a charity.

The trust and some 300 visitors who turned up, despite blustery, showery weather, had cause to be grateful to the Martins for their hard work to ensure everything was tip-top on the day, and also to all those who provided a mouth-watering selection of home-made cakes on sale in the refreshments tent.


LRWT member Paul by the trust’s stand.

Enjoying the gardens in the rain.

Thank you to everyone who has seen the advertising regarding our missing pussycat Lionel and for their time and efforts spent in trying to help us find him. Unfortunately we still have not located him, but we remain optimistic as Lionel is microchipped and we hope one day to have him safe back at home. If anyone does happen to spot him, please call 07963 705057 or 07941 360336. Thank you so much, we have been truly touched by the caring community spirit in Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves. Julia Meredith

Formal gardens and wooded crags

The formal rock garden to the rear of The Brand was a mass of colour: purple, lilac and pale-pink spring-flowering heathers, out of which rose dark-salmon-tipped pieris bushes. Beyond the garden are wooded crags with winding paths leading steeply up hill to open vistas across Charnwood, and equally steeply down hill to a stream and the deep ponds of the former slate quarries. Here LRWT members Cathy Schou and Maggie Morland ran pond-dipping sessions ‘mostly in the pouring rain’, as Maggie commented wryly. She added:

But everyone enjoyed discovering the weird and wonderful creatures, including a caddis-fly larva, which had made a case to protect its soft body using plant debris and silk from its mouthparts! The large numbers of mayfly larvae we found show that the ponds are clean and unpolluted.

The woodlands include a number of splendid old beeches, with multiple-stemmed trunks and branches twisted into fairy-tale shapes. Hidden among the trees and bushes are the site of the original house, relocated in the mid-19th century probably because the old site was believed to be haunted, the protective blast-shelter for the former quarry workers, and a turreted stone summer-house where the ladies of yesteryear came to sew on summer evenings.

An important Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

The event raised £913 for the LRWT, which will go towards a project at a local reserve; however, as Maggie pointed out:

It isn’t just about raising money; we also wanted to show people what we do at LRWT, interest them in the landscapes and wildlife around them, and maybe recruit a few new members. The Brand is a superb place for this, as it’s an SSSI with many interesting plants (ferns, lichens, etc.) in a beautiful setting. During the day there were some folk from the Botanical Society of the British Isles surveying plants, and they took a few interesting specimens with them.

If you missed the chance to see The Brand this year, there’s a possibility (not yet confirmed) of another LRWT event there in autumn 2014.

Evelyn Brown


Four-year-old Oliver tries pond-dipping, with the help of Cathy Schou.

Turreted summer-house.

Get your greens every day: not just nice... ...they are essential. Green leaves are the food most missing from a modern diet. We should not categorise them with other vegetables but see them as a separate section of our daily diet, and they should form a big portion of it. So why is this? It is important to remember that greens are highly alkaline. The more alkaline our bodies, the more likely we are to be able to fight chronic disease.

Nutritionally, greens are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc and vitamins A, C, E and K. They are loaded with fibre, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. All of these help strengthen our immune and respiratory systems, purify our blood, improve circulation, improve liver, kidney and gallbladder function...I could go on. Also, just as green leaves are what give life to the planet through the oxygen they release so, too, do they bring us life and increased energy when we consume them.

So how should I eat them?

Well, of course, there is always the option of a nice, big green salad, or steamed greens served as part your main meal; however, it is unlikely you would get anywhere near enough greens into your diet if you had to sit and physically eat all you need, although you can still ensure you have a green leaf component to almost all of your meals.

This is where green ‘smoothies’ and green juices come in; smoothies are fantastic as you can just throw all of your ingredients into a blender, switch it on, and you are done. Smoothies also ensure you keep all of the fibre with the food, which can be a pitfall for some people who choose to juice a lot of their vegetables because the fibre is lost. We all need fibre, after all. Juices do have some great benefits, though. Although your body has to do minimal amounts of work to digest smoothies, because most of the breaking down has been done for it in your blender, a juice is even easier to digest; it is an instant shot of vitamins to your blood. Juices also mean that you get far more nutrients into one glass because once all of the fibre is removed, you can fit a lot more in it (e.g. I will often drink half a cucumber, four celery sticks, two apples, a lemon, a bunch of parsley, an inch of ginger and a massive handful of greens – try getting all of that down you in one sitting at lunch on a plate!).

So can I just eat spinach all day long?

A lot of people naturally gravitate towards spinach because it is fairly tasteless and makes a good-textured smoothie; however, it is important to


get the full spectrum of nutrients that a variety of different leaves can give you. Some options are: lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, bok choy (aka pak choi), watercress, Swiss chard, beetroot leaves, sorrel and all the different herbs (e.g. mint, parsley, coriander, basil).

You can also eat dandelion leaves (yes, those out of your garden – very bitter but also very cleansing!) and nettles (the young leaves on the tops of the plant in the spring, not the old, tough ones in the summer – trust me!).

It is also important to know, however, that all green leaves are slightly toxic in order to protect the plants. Unlike roses, which have thorns, or nettles, which have needles, green leafy vegetables have toxins to keep little animals from eating up all of one species in one sitting. Spinach, for example, is very high in oxalic acid, and cruciferous vegetables (brassicas) like kale and cabbage are high in something called goitrogens. Rotating your greens ensures you don't get too much of any one toxin. I tend to mainly use different types of lettuce for my smoothies, with spinach once a week. Lettuce is very low in oxalic acid, and there are so many wonderful varieties to chose from; romaine (aka ‘cos’) is especially nutritious. Don’t worry that you should stop eating greens altogether (very much the opposite!). It is just important to get variety, as with all foods.

What if I have a medical condition?

It is especially important for those with thyroid disease to not eat cruciferous vegetables excessively, and especially not raw. Goitrogens effect the functioning of the thyroid, though cooking helps destroy some of them. People who are prone to blood clots or who have a history of blood clotting in their family need to be careful with the dark green leaves like kale, cabbage, and even dark lettuces. These are high in vitamin K, which promotes blood clotting; good for most of us, but not for those whose blood clots easily. (If you have any history of this, let me know and I can give you some tips.)

Whichever greens you use, please try to keep them organic. Green leaves are one of the foods which are most heavily sprayed with chemicals when grown conventionally. The farmers wear masks when they use these chemicals, so if they don’t want to breathe them in, why would we consciously eat them? You don’t have to buy everything organically, as I will explain in September; but for now, if you are going to start increasing your greens, as I hope you will, most supermarkets have organic options.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at [email protected]

Rochelle Foster


Eavesdropping on Roundabout: a newsletter is conceivedHow many parishes can boast their own independent magazine, full of news about local events and people, delivered free of charge to every household? Not many; most free magazines contain at least as much advertising as news, and often far more. Roundabout, however, was not always what it is today. It has a fascinating history which begins around 1972 with an eight-page newsletter.

According to Eric Allsop, the first parish newsletter was very much a ‘one man and his dog’ affair. The man who dreamed it up and coined the name was a newly-qualified science teacher at King Edward VII School in Coalville where Eric also worked, while the ‘dog’ was Eric, who typed the copy on wax stencils before running off the finished article on a hand-operated Gestetner duplicator; two A4-sized pages per copy.

Like Roundabout, the finished format was A5, so the A4 page had to be typed up ‘landscape’ (i.e. long edge at the top), in two columns. The printed A4 sheets were then folded in half to give eight A5 pages. Any mistakes during the typing stage were corrected using a fluid with the colour, consistency and smell of pink nail varnish. The cover was hand-crafted, the designs and wording scratched into the wax using a fine biro-point.

Improving the technology

Once the team had access to a photocopier, reproduction was easier, but copy-setting more complicated because Eric introduced another layer of sophistication. The copy was now typed onto paper but Eric and his wife, Diane, then spent hours cutting and pasting individual articles to produce a more artistic layout.

The magazine was primarily a vehicle for broadcasting news about local events, and services at churches in the parish. Around 100 copies of each issue were run off, and distributed by leaving batches in the local shops and post office for people to pick up. There was no funding; wax stencils, paper and ‘printing services’ were provided by an anonymous donor.

At some stage in the 1970s the newsletter was discontinued (sadly, there appear to be no surviving copies) and the parish lost its source of news, until in February 1978 the county-funded community centre (operating from St Paul’s School) stepped into the breach.


Eaves-Dropper is born

The new newsletter was the Eaves-Dropper, a pun on the name of the larger of our two villages and coined by Major Ovenden of the Royal Signals, Garat’s Hay. Major Ovenden was a member of the 1977 Silver Jubilee Committee, which proposed producing another news sheet. Once again production was largely a two-person job, with John Gillingham (chair of the community centre) and Anita Gillingham (active in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association - PTA) sharing the editing. They were helped by Margaret Milsom, community centre secretary, who typed up the copy until October 1979, whereupon Anita added the task to a portfolio already burdened with editing, printing, stapling and much of the distributing.

Anita recalls typing in A4 format onto wax stencils, as Eric Allsop had done before her, and running off the newsletter on the community centre’s duplicator. She then went home with a huge bundle of paper to be collated, stapled (two staples along the left-hand margin) before distributing. The aim was that every household should see a copy, but this didn’t mean that every household received a copy. Originally Eaves-Dropper was delivered to alternate houses, with a request that it should be passed on to a next-door neighbour. Depending on which side it was passed to, did some people receive a copy from both sides, while others never saw it? With all this work involved, it is small wonder that Anita retired in February 1981, handing over to Elspeth Jackman, a presenter for Radio Leicester and free-lance journalist who lived in Maplewell Road.

A production team to share the work

Elspeth gathered together a production team comprising herself as editor, Helen Jones (typing and duplicating), Ruth Bushnell (collating and stapling) and Jane McGaughy (distribution co-ordinator). Elspeth’s aims for Eaves-Dropper were that it should be ‘a platform for [readers] to air their views’, a ‘sharp communication tool’ and ‘of interest to the whole family’, welcoming contributions of jokes from children for the ‘Young un’s box’.

An archived set of the Eaves-Dropper, collected by the late Jill Honisett and now the property of the Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves Local History Group, shows that the mainstays of each issue were the monthly reports from church-based groups (St Paul’s Mothers Union, the Methodist Ladies Fellowship and the Baptist Church Ladies and Tea Set); other groups such as the Women’s Institute, Red Cross, St Paul’s School PTA and the


Anita and John Gillingham reminisce with a copy of Eaves-dropper.

Evergreens, and the sports clubs: tennis, cricket and football. Youth activities were also widely reported, telling what the scouts, brownies and young farmers were up to; however, the liveliest reports came from Martin Bujdoso, who directed the youth club.

Although well-received by parish residents, Eaves-Dropper ceased production with the October 1982 issue and, once again, Woodhouse Parish was bereft of its news medium until the community centre resurrected it as Roundabout. Look out for the early rise of Roundabout in the September issue.

Evelyn Brown

Using herbs in garden managementFor the May meeting Woodhouses Garden Club members were joined by Jenny Jones who has been a herbalist for 32 years. She was inspired to enter the profession after hearing Prince Charles speak on the subject, and firmly believes that it is the medicine of the future. She finds it hard to describe exactly which plants herbalists can use since a herb might be described as any useful plant. Well, as she says, that is all of them, so her remit is pretty wide ranging, from cooking through cleansing, beauty and, of course, onto the garden.

At the time of our talk, the EU ban on neonicotinoids was topical so Jenny spoke for a few moments about how these may be responsible for killing bees, or at least disorientating them. You may have come across the substance through seeds which have been coated in it, and so are bright blue. Of course, the amount which is still present once the plant has grown will be negligible; the question is whether or not this has an impact.

She spoke about the history of herbalism which goes back to the first and second centuries when the Doctrine of Signatures was developing matching how a plant looked to the way in which it could be used to heal. Lungwort, for instance, got its common name because the leaves are shaped like the lung with grey spots, and hence it was believed that it could be used to aid restoration of the lungs to better health.

Jenny also used to be a guide at Ryton Gardens, dedicated to the use of comfrey, which is also known as ‘knitbone’ and is often found on the site of blacksmiths because of its use in treating sprains and broken bones in horses. There is a rather outlandish story that is told by Culpeper, one of the great proponents of herbalism from the 17th century, who said that if a stew including bones had comfrey added to it, then the bones would knit together. This is clearly an exaggerated claim of its effectiveness, but it made people remember the part of the body where it could be used.


These days Jenny prefers to use comfrey as a fertilizer. She uses a downpipe with a tap at the bottom and a weight to squash the leaves. Over time this process results in a highly concentrated liquid which she dilutes with 10 parts water to one part comfrey, and finds to be extremely effective.

Finally, Jenny had a beautiful copy of one of Culpeper’s books (she believes from the 1800s) with wonderful colour plates and additional notes added by someone else over the years; a joy to browse after a diverse talk.

Amanda Garland

Garden matters1. Spend time on your sweet peas: give them a weekly feed and pick all the

flowers. Remove any pods or they will stop flowering. Remember that you may need some for the horticultural and craft show in September.

2. Cut back any lupins and delphiniums as soon as the flowers are over. This should make the plants produce another set of flowers. Give them a good feed and water.

3. It should be time to enjoy the garden. The lawns should be slowing down in growth, so cutting once every ten days should be enough. Cut lavender for drying. Leave stems as long as possible and hang them upside down in an airy place.

4. As you clear early crops of broad beans, think of setting a crop to follow on. Sow quick-growing crops of beetroot, French beans, kohlrabi, radish and a late row of peas.

5. Any land not being used? Think of setting green manures. These will help with making the soil more workable when dug in.2

6. Check your courgettes daily. If the weather is dry, water and feed them once a week. Shallots should be ready this month; spread them out to dry in the sun.

The Garden Club next meets in September.

Neil Roberts

2 The Royal Horticultural Society describes green manures as fast-growing plants sown to cover bare soil. Often used in the vegetable garden, their foliage smothers weeds and their roots prevent soil erosion. When dug into the ground while still green, they return valuable nutrients to the soil and improve soil structure.


Comfrey plant (www.urbangrowth.org).

The last wordExciting summer events

Are you looking for some excitement with the family across the summer holidays? Why not visit the World Snail-Racing Championship at Congham, Norfolk on the 20th July. Contestants will cover a 13-inch-long course marked on a damp tablecloth. Last year’s winner completed the course in three minutes 20 seconds to win a silver tankard full of lettuce. The world record holder is Archie who sped round in just two minutes.

Congratulating the winner.

Alternatively, on 25th August you could watch the World Bog-Snorkelling Championship at Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys. Entrants have to snorkel two lengths of a specially dug out, 60-yard-long trench in a peat bog. Conventional swimming strokes are not allowed so snorkellers have to rely on their flippers to get moving. The competition is thought to have begun in 1976 to promote the Llanwrtyd Wells area.– Yahoo! News, 3rd May 2013.

Ferreting out the truth

Dog lovers in Argentina paid hundreds of dollars for fashionable toy poodles – only to discover that they were fluffed up ferrets on steroids. The ferrets (known locally as ‘Brazilian rats’) had been given steroids to make them grow bigger, and then had their fur blow-dried and styled. – The Week, 13th April 2013.

Toy poodle or fluffed up ferret?

Safety at the cutting edge

The packet of razor-blade cartridges Matthew Carse bought had a security tag bearing the warning: ‘Remove this label before microwaving’. ‘I always wondered,’ he reports, ‘what a hot shave was, and now I know.’ – New Scientist, 20th April 2013.

Not what they meant

A Danish airline translated one of its customer-care aims to read in English: ‘We take your bags and send them in all directions.’ Meanwhile, a sign at Heathrow Airport reads: ‘No electric people carrying vehicles past this point’, demonstrating just how important the hyphen can be.


Contributions to RoundaboutWe publish items of interest to the communities of Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves, such as news of local events, groups and businesses in accordance with the editorial policy (see inside front cover). We can write up people’s stories for those who prefer to talk, rather than write. We do not publish notices of births, deaths or marriages. Most articles are under 800 words and we think they should be!

Format: electronic copy in ‘Word’, using ‘Arial’ font, is most useful, although we accept hand-written items that are legible.

Pictures are welcome; digital if you have them, otherwise prints.

What’s on: brief notification of events in the ‘What’s on’ schedule is free. Send event details to Roundabout at the addresses below. Note that we normally include only ‘in parish’ events, may abbreviate the details and are not obliged to include all items submitted.

Adverts: requests for further publicity, even for charities, incur a charge per issue of £8.50 for a quarter page or £17.00 for a half page. Full-page advertisements are not normally accepted. Contact the advertising managers, Amanda and Andrew Garland, on (01509) 890 839 or via the methods listed at the bottom of the page.

Copy deadline: please see the bottom of page 3.

Send any material for Roundabout by:

Email: [email protected]

Hand or post: Roundabout, Woodhouse Eaves Post Office, 45 Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves, LE12 8RG


What’s on in July and August

July

Mon 1st 7.00 Parish council meeting. All welcome. Village hall

Wed 10th 7.30 WI, a summer’s evening outing to a Wymeswold garden, hosted by Ann Waterfall.

Village hall

Sun 14th 10.00–3.00

Conservation Volunteer Day, Beacon Hill. *

Beacon Hill Country Park

Sun 21st 10.00–3.00

Conservation Volunteer Day, Beacon Hill.*

Beacon Hill Country Park

August

Wed 21st 10.00–2.00

‘Xpedition force’, fun day for primary-aged children, booking essential. See advert (p.28) for details.

Methodist Church, see p.28 for cost

Wed 21st 7.30 WI, ‘“The weakest link” experience’, June Davies. Comp: a chain – of any sort.

Village Hall

Mon 26th 9.00–6.00

National Forest Woodfair, celebration of trees, timber, woodcrafts. Children’s activities. Gallery and information, see www.nationalforest.org/visit/woodfair

Beacon Hill Country Park, £9/£6/£25; online discount

* For information about conservation volunteer days, tel. 0116 305 5000 or go to www.leics.gov.uk/countrypark and follow link to Beacon Hill Country Park. Scroll down page to ‘conservation volunteering’.

Check for more local event details on these web sites: www.woodhouse-eaves.co.uk www.leicestershirevillages.com/woodhouseeaves/local-events.html

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