CLYST ST GEORGE & EBFORD SECTION OF THE MAY 2016 CLYST VALLEY NEWS

CLYST ST GEORGE AND EBFORD

Wednesday Morning Prayers at Clyst St GeorgeMorning Prayers is a short said service every other week on a Wednesday. Why not take 20 minutes and join us – we also have tea or coffee afterwards if you have the time? We start at 9.30 am and you would be very welcome on 4th and 18th May.

Clyst St George Church Change of Service Time!On Sunday 1st May and 5th June the 8 am BCP Said Communion will be held at 9.30 am.

Easter Lilies and FlowersThank you to everyone who donated lilies and to the flower arrangers, who decorated Clyst St George Church in such profusion for Easter; they looked wonderful and were still giving pleasure two weeks later. Many thanks. Paul Bragg and Jacquie Manser (Churchwardens)

Open Tower and Teas: Clyst St.George Church, Saturday 14th May, 2 to 5 pmClyst St George Church needs a new north aisle roof, which is going to cost £35,000 so as part of our fundraising, for a small fee, we are offering a trip up the church tower for a unique view over the surrounding countryside. Scones or a selection of homemade cakes will be available to enjoy. The church registers and documents will also be on display so do come and take the opportunity to see the parish from a different perspective.

Clyst St George Parish Council Chairman’s Notes: May 2016I wish there were more hours in each day as I never seem to achieve as much as I plan to do! Time is amazing - the older you get it seems to go faster. I imagine that rings true with many people. I am starting to prepare for our annual meeting and cannot quite believe that our elections were a year ago. I hope when I have done my annual report it will reflect where all those hours have gone.Talking about time, I am sure that Her Majesty the Queen wonders where her 90 years have gone and next month will see numerous celebrations in honour of her official birthday. As you know there will be a celebration party in our parish on 12th June which will be held at the Clyst St George and Ebford Village Hall and this should be a splendid opportunity for a great community get together from all three areas in our parish. The Parish Council have agreed to fund the hog roast as part of the celebrations. We hope that everyone has a splendid time.I have always loved animals and been a dog owner for most of my life so I realise that along with the joys of owning a dog there are responsibilities as well. One of these responsibilities is to keep our dogs under control and to also clear up any mess that they quite naturally deposit. Most of us always remember the inevitable ‘poo’ bags and keep our dogs under control at all times especially when we are sometimes privileged to use private land. I was sad the other day to realise that an unofficial path through a farmer’s field had to be closed because his food crops had been contaminated by dogs running free and the owners not removing their excrement. Most of us are really responsible but there are a few who need to take more care please. We as a parish council are looking for possible ways to increase pedestrian access in this area which includes on occasion private land and it will be most helpful if we all remember to take care of our dogs both on the public pathways and on private land.Lastly I note that the Traffic Enforcement Officers continue to attend the Sandygate area on match days and I would be glad to hear any comments from the residents about their traffic and pedestrian worries. A considerable number of illegally parked vehicles have been ticketed and hopefully the safety situation will continue to improve. Many thanks for the comments and ideas that increasingly come to us.Maureen Ackland-Smith acklandsmith@outlook.com 01392 874065

Card Making GroupThe next meeting of the group will take place at the home of Daphne Burdick (Riverbank, Retreat Drive, Topsham) on Monday 9th May at 2.30 pm. Daphne has invited us to join her in her garden, weather permitting, to enjoy the view over the river; and to see her wisteria.

Lady Seaward’s C of E Primary School Lady Seward’s Primary have said a huge thank you to the school’s PTA for their brand new water tray. The children have really enjoyed pumping the water and re-filling it all up. The school also had a visit from Spacelab where a blow-up planetarium appeared in the hall. The children had great fun crawling through a dark tunnel to arrive in a starlit dome; they learnt lots about the earth’s day and

night and also about the stars.Rockies. The children had a wonderful time learning about ancient Egypt. They went on a trip to Exeter's Royal Albert Museum and had the opportunity to explore the museum where they encountered a real mummy! They were also able to mummify an object and play Egyptian games. Himalayas and Pyrenees. Himalayas and Pyrenees Classes have

been learning all about rivers and coasts. The children have learned about how rivers and coastlines are formed and change over time, as well as the way these may differ across the world. The children also researched different bridge structures, analysing local bridges and created their own bridge structures from spaghetti and playdough!Sporty Students! The spring term was jam packed with sport. Pupils have attended sporting events in and around the learning community and within

the federation. Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils took part in a successful football tournament. The schools colts team finished in bronze place! Pupils also competed in netball and cross-country competitions.

Richard Ridout’s Ebford FlockRichard has been a shepherd in Ebford for five years, having had cattle before that. The 'Ebford Flock' as it is known comprises a rare breed called Blue Faced Leicester. (Those of you following the fortunes of Leicester City Football Club may no doubt approve! The colour in the name of the breed just happens to be the colour used for the team's kit!) Richard breeds them not for table, but for their soft wool, so talk of mint sauce is really not appropriate! The ewe and lamb in the picture have been separated from the flock to

help the lamb suckle and survive. The mother has been christened 'Mary' (Mary had a little lamb!) and her lamb is a baby ram called appropriately 'Jesus'! Mary is a very young mother to breed, being only a year old, and hence her lamb is so small. Richard doesn't like to breed at that tender age, but these things cannot always be planned! The flock has so far produced 30 lambs this year, with one more expected. Two ewes had triplets, and Richard is pleased as he has only lost one lamb so far. Dogs are a concern off the lead, as they sometimes chase the sheep, and that is why he puts the flock away at night. Rearing the flock is a lot of hard work, with early mornings and long days, but it is good to see the fields around Ebford being used for their original intention. May sheep safely graze! [Picture and text courtesy of Stuart Bird]

Nature GardenClyst St George has a delightful nature garden by the side of the parish church. The aim of the garden is to grow local Devon indigenous plants and trees and to encourage a Devon meadow with local wild flowers. Should you wish to help develop this ‘green’ facility, you can come along on the first Saturday of every month from 9.30 to 11 am.

Little Dragons Pre-SchoolBack into a new school year and our lovely manager, Mrs Elly Stevens, has returned from maternity leave and Deb Barker is having a slight rest as deputy again. Following our successful OFSTED inspection in April 2015 'good with outstanding features', we do still have a few spaces for children. So do come and visit and meet our highly experienced staff team.

We are based in Lady Seaward’s School and open four days a week, from Monday to Thursday 8.45 am - 3.15 pm during school term times. For more information, please contact Elly on 01392 877793 in school hours or visit our website www.littledragons@clyststgeorge.com.