St Nicholas Church FleetwoodApril 2019 - 50p

Celebrations

St Nicholas’ Parish Prayer

O God make the door of this church wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, but narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife.

Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet, but strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power.

God, make the door of this church a gateway to your heaven.

Who’s who at St Nicholas’Churchwardens: Mrs Karen Hay 771379

Mrs Sandra Foulkes 777416Pastoral Assistant Emeritus: Mrs Vera Milner 878755PCC Secretary: Mrs Carole Pilling 07714214888 Treasurer: Mrs Ruth Aspinall 921585Mothers’ Union: Mrs Susan Burrell 874316Ladies’ Fellowship: Mrs Margaret Pook 380458Vision 2026 Champion: Mrs Helen Reynolds 770450Hall booking secretary: Mrs Angie Hesketh 878272Verger: Mrs Paula Meekins 07920143218Sacristan: Mr Harold Dadson 776934Flower arranger: Mrs Carole Pilling 07714214888

Organist & Choir: Mrs Ruth Aspinall 921585Website Editor: Mr David Ashworth 878008

(d.ashworth77@gmail.com)Magazine Editor: Mrs Ruth Aspinall 921585

(RMAspin@aol.com)Website: www.stnicholaschurchfleetwood.webeden.co.uk

Latest News from Bishop Julian, the Bishop of Blackburn

As many of you may know, an interview has held just recently for the post of Vicar of St Nicholas, Fleetwood. Thank you for your prayers. We are delighted to announce that the Revd Carolyn Leitch, currently curate at St Chad’s Poulton le Fylde, Carleton and Singleton and known to many of us, has been offered and has accepted the invitation to be our next Vicar. This is very good news and we are looking at July 4th as the date for her institution and licensing. Please pray for her as she prepares for this move to join us here and for us to be ready to receive her and her ministry.

From the editorAs we celebrate Easter: What difference can the resurrection make to my life?

My past is forgiven:Have you ever been half-way through a project and wanted to start again? In life we all have regrets about things we have done, said or thought. The good news is that Jesus died to forgive these things: ‘All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant cancelled and nailed to Christ’s cross.’ (Colossians 2:14). The resurrection is the guarantee that we can know Jesus’ pardon and forgiveness. Do we need to let go a load of guilt and unforgiveness that we are carrying?

My present is under control:How often do we say: ‘My life is out of control?’ We can’t control life, but God can! God promises us the power that we need to face any situation, as we trust Him: ‘I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.’ (Philippians 4:13).

My future is secure:Death is the great certainty. Yet Jesus overcame death by the resurrection, that we might experience the life of heaven, both now and for eternity. ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die’. (John 11:25,26). We don’t need to fear death; but if we are to really live, we have to be ready to die! How does the resurrection affect our view of death?

From a warden“When We Need a Friend.”

My dad, who died in his early 60’s, went around the house often singing this to himself when he was particularly happy. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” He wasn’t a particularly religious man and I think he just liked the tune. The words tell us that whatever tragedy strikes us we can always count on Jesus to be there for us, at our side or in our thoughts.

We are told to :-“Take it to the Lord in Prayer” and to “Carry everything to God in Prayer.” Which seems to me a bit like unburdening yourself and allowing someone else to carry your woes.

It came on the radio the other day and set me thinking, especially this time of Lent when we are encouraged to think about our Christian lives and what it means to us.

The story behind the words are quite thought provoking especially at this moment when so much is highlighted about people, especially young men, taking their own lives. Joseph Scrivener, who wrote the hymn, was born in Ireland in 1820. He was educated at Trinity College in Dublin and was engaged to be married. The evening before their wedding, Scrivener’s fiancé drowned. This trade guy, coupled with difficult family relationships, caused Joseph to begin following the practices and teaches of the Plymouth Brethren. Shortly after, moving to Canada to become a teacher, Scrivener became engaged to Eliza Roche. Tragedy struck again and Eliza passed away from illness shortly before marriage.Joseph used the tragedies and hardships in life to empathise with the elderly and poor. Scrivener used his time to saw wood for the stoves of the elderly or disabled.

Joseph wrote his famous hymn in 1855 to comfort his mother who still lived in Ireland. He did not seek to be noticed for it, and his authorship was only discovered by accident shortly before his death.

Scrivener himself began to experience poor health, financial worries and depression in his last years of life. To this day, no one knows whether Joseph Scrivener’s death was an accident or suicide. He was in serious depression at the time. A friend reported,” We left him about midnight. I withdrew to an adjoining room, not to sleep, but to watch and wait. You may imagine my surprise and dismay when on visiting I found it empty. All search failed to find a trace of the missing man, until a little after noon the body was discovered in the water nearby, lifeless and cold in death.”

This Lent means different things to different people. I have decided to do an act of kindness every day such as letting someone with a little shopping go in front of me in the supermarket, putting more than my usual £1 in the charity box in Asda, stopping and chatting to a lady in Cleveleys who stopped to talk to my baby grandchildren, and then poured out her story of her husband with dementia who had been admitted to a care home the day before.

In Fleetwood we have “The Men’s Shed” a community space for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy time and space together. They are helping to reduce loneliness and isolation. I think they meet at The Memorial Park.

For some people loneliness is around them every day and I wonder if these people had a friend in Jesus whether their lives would be a bit different?

Mothers’ Union NotesThe afternoon meeting was cancelled on March 7th due to members attending the funeral of Eileen Fisher who had been a member of Mothers Union for thirty years. Eileen will be sadly missed by all at St Nicholas.Members attended the Quiet Hour at St Chads Church on March 19th - grateful thanks to St Chads for their hospitalityOn April 4th we are organising a trip to Barton Grange, please note everyone is welcome to join the trip. Please see Susan if you are interested in the trip.Our next afternoon meeting will be held on May 2nd when we will be welcoming Kath Bill who will be giving us a taste of India with food samples.Just a note for your diaries regarding the Deanery Festival which is being held at Christ Church Thornton on May 22nd at 7.30pm.

A poem for Lent by David Ashworth

It starts with pancakes,Then on to Ash, The true meaning of Lent,Can be lost in a flash.

Some give up chocolate,Some give up wine,Some give up sweets,That too is fine!

They might give up cakes,Or other such treats,They might give up fish,Or maybe just meats.

But why do we do it, Give things up at all,If it's not so difficult,The sacrifice is small.

If we do it to diet,Is that not just vain.If it's not a real sacrifice, Then what do we gain?

If we don't do it with Jesus,If we don't do it with prayer,Is it really a Lent sacrifice,Will God really care?

Do we have to give something up?Is there something else we can do?Could we do someone a favour,To stop them feeling blue.

Why not show kindness each and every day,Helping your neighbour in any small way.Offering a smile, when it's easy to frown,Lifting someone up instead of putting them down.

There's so much we can do in Jesus' name,So many good things to play the Lent game.Yes, Jesus did fast but he also did pray,To avoid temptation and try not to stray.

Try to walk in his footsteps by sharing his love,To sister, to brother and God up above.To those we don't know, by day or by night,As Christians together, let's fight the good fight.

What’s on in AprilTuesday April 2nd

10.00 am Prayer Circle

10.30 am MU Committee meeting

2.00 pm Mass

2.30 pm Ladies’ Fellowship

3.00 pm Lent study group at Cleveleys Methodist Church

7.00 pm Stations of the Cross in church

Wednesday April 3rd

7.30 pm Lent study group at St Andrew’s

Thursday April 4th

11.00 am MU outing to Barton Grange Garden Centre

Friday April 5th

11.45 am Lent Lunch at St Peter’s

Sunday April 7th

9.00 am Said Mass

10.30 am Sung Mass

12.30 pm Holy Baptism

2.00 pm Holy Baptism

Monday April 8th

2.00 pm Deanery MU meeting

Tuesday April 9th

2.00 pm Mass

2.30 pm Ladies’ Fellowship

3.00 pm Lent study group at Cleveleys Methodist Church

7.00 pm Mass in church (as part of the Lent studies)

Wednesday April 10th

9,30 am Church cleaning

7.30 pm Lent study group at St Andrew’s

Friday April 12th

11.45 am Lent Lunch at rinity Baptist

Sunday April 14th

9.00 am Said Mass

10.30 am Sung Mass and Palm Sunday procession

Thursday April 18th

10.00 am Coffee morning

7.00 pm Maundy Thursday Mass & washing of feet

Friday April 19th

3.00 pm Good Friday Liturgy

Saturday April 20th

7.00 pm Easter Saturday mass

Sunday April 21st

9.00 am Said Mass

10.30 am Sung Mass

1.00 pm Holy Baptism

Sunday April 28th

9.00 am Said Mass

10.30 am Sung Mass

Annual meetings

Tuesday April 30th

2.00 pm Mass

2.30 pm Ladies’ Fellowship

Ron’s researchesThe Church Memorial Board Chapter 1

This is chapter one of my series on the memorial board.

The first name that I have information on alphabetically is

Herbert William ClementsService No: ------

Rank: Second Mate (Fisherman on records)

Regiment or Service: Merchant Navy

Ship: SS Europa (Also noted in record as a Fishing and Merchant Vessel)

Age: 42

Date of Death: 20th October 1941

Circumstances of Death: Unknown

Additional Information:

Herbert Clements lived at 114 Beach Road Fleetwood with his wife Clara. He was buried in Fleetwood Cemetery in Section G Grave number 384 on the 23rd October 1941. There are no records of any attacks on the Europa, and his death record card from the Merchant Navy records does not record a cause of death. He was born in Lowestoft. The SS Europa was registered in Middlesbrough number 71430

The second name on my list is

Norman William Dent

Service No: 2194129

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment or Service: Royal Engineers

Unit: 602nd Railway Construction Company

Age: 21

Date of Death: 14th July 1941

Circumstances of Death: Unknown

Additional Information:

Born in 1920 to Charles and Nellie of Fleetwood, Lance Corporal Dent died in Stratford upon Avon and was buried in Fleetwood cemetery on the 18th July in the Church of England Ground, Section L grave number 135. He formerly played for Fleetwood Old Boys Rugby Union Club in the XV team during the 1936 & 1937 seasons. The club’s WW2 memorial board includes his name.

21 April – EASTER: the most joyful day of the year

Easter is the most joyful day of the year for Christians. Christ has died for our sins. We are forgiven. Christ has risen! We are redeemed! We can look forward to an eternity in His joy! Hallelujah!

The Good News of Jesus Christ is a message so simple that you can explain it to someone in a few minutes. It is so profound that for the rest of their lives they will still be ‘growing’ in their Christian walk with God.

Why does the date move around so much? Because the date of Passover moves around, and according to the biblical account, Easter is tied to the Passover. Passover celebrates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and it lasts for seven days, from the middle of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which equates to late March or early April.

Sir Isaac Newton was one of the first to use the Hebrew lunar calendar to come up with firm dates for Good Friday: Friday 7 April 30 AD or Friday 3 April, 33 AD, with Easter Day falling two days later. Modern scholars continue to think these the most likely.

Most people will tell you that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, which is broadly true. But the precise calculations are complicated and involve something called an ‘ecclesiastical full moon’, which is not the same as the moon in the sky. The earliest possible date for Easter in the West is 22 March, which last fell in 1818. The latest is 25 April, which last happened in 1943.

Why the name, ‘Easter’? In almost every European language, the festival’s name comes from ‘Pesach’, the Hebrew word for Passover. The Germanic word ‘Easter’, however, seems to come from Eostre, a Saxon fertility goddess mentioned by the Venerable Bede. He thought that the Saxons worshipped her in ‘Eostur month’, but may have confused her with the classical dawn goddesses like Eos and Aurora, whose names mean ‘shining in the east’. So, Easter might have meant simply ‘beginning month’ – a good time for starting up again after a long winter.

Finally, why Easter eggs? On one hand, they are an ancient symbol of birth in most European cultures. On the other hand, hens start laying regularly again each Spring. Since

eggs were forbidden during Lent, it’s easy to see how decorating and eating them became a practical way to celebrate Easter.

Jesus’ appearances after His Resurrection

Mary Magdalene Mark 16:9-11; John 20:10-18Other women at the tomb Matthew 28:8-10Peter in Jerusalem Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5The two travellers on the road Mark 16:12,1310 disciples behind closed doors Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-2511 disciples WITH Thomas John 20:26-31; 1 Corinthians 15:57 disciples while fishing John 21:1-1411 disciples on the mountain Matthew 28:16-20A crowd of 500 1 Corinthians 15:6Jesus’ brother – James 1 Corinthians 15:7Those who saw the Ascension Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8EASTER JOY – FOR YOU

I remember vividly a simple poster I saw on the notice board of a small Methodist Chapel. It had a silhouette of three crosses on a hill, and underneath the words, ‘FOR YOU’. Nothing fancy or clever, but a clear presentation of the Easter message.

At Easter our thoughts are drawn to the death and resurrection of Jesus. These events are central to our faith, but sometimes we can over-complicate their meaning. The heart of it, though, remains very simple: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and on the third day was raised to life (1Corinthians 15:3).

He died to show his love for you. He gave his life as a demonstration or proof of the love He has for each one of us, no matter who we are or what we have done. He was motivated to lay down His life for us, not out of duty or obligation, but compassionate love. See Romans 5:8

He died to set you free. Sin has entangled every one of us. We are under its power and unable to ourselves to loosen its grip. At the cross Jesus dealt with sin once and for all by dying in our place. Now, when we turn to Him for help, we can be released from the hold it has on us and find complete forgiveness.

He died to bring you home. The Cross makes it possible for us to be reconciled to God. Like the prodigal son we were once far away from God, but now because we have been forgiven, we can return to our true home in God. A welcome awaits us, and a joy-filled reunion is possible.

This Easter, why not think about these two simple words: FOR YOU.

Easter trivia quiz

What was the largest ever Easter egg hunt?The most-ever entrants for an egg hunt competition was 12,773. It was The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt, as part of World Record London, in London, UK in April 2012.

What was the largest-ever decorated Easter egg?This was built in March 2008, by Freeport in Alcochete, Portugal. It measured 14.79 m (48 ft 6 in) long and 8.40 m (27 ft 6 in) in diameter.

What was the largest ever chocolate Easter egg?It was made in Tosca (Italy) and weighed 7,200 kg (15,873 lbs 4.48 oz). It had a circumference of 19.6 m (64 ft 3.65 in) at its widest point. It was exhibited in a shopping centre in Cortenuova, Italy, in April 2011.

What about the most expensive hot cross bun?This was baked in 1829 in Stepney, London, UK. It was bought by Bill Foster (UK) for £155 at the Antiques for Everyone show at the NEC in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK, in April 2000. Hot cross buns were originally made to hang in the kitchen to ward off evil spirits.

What was the biggest-ever (real) Easter bunny?So far, the longest rabbit was Darius, a Flemish giant rabbit owned by Annette Edwards (UK), who was found to be 4 ft 3 in (129 cm) long when measured for an article in the UK's Daily Mail newspaper in April 2010.

What was the largest ever Easter egg tree?This was set by Zoo Rostock GmbH, Rostock, Germany, who decorated a tree with 76,596 painted hens’ eggs in April 2007.

Recipe of the month -Easter nest cup cakes

Ingredients

175g butter 175g caster sugar 175g self-raising flour 50g cocoa powder 3 eggs

For the buttercream 75g Trex margarine 75g unsalted butter ½ tsp vanilla paste or essence 200g icing sugar, sifted 25g cocoa powder

For the chocolate drizzle icing

75g plain chocolate, broken into pieces 25g unsalted butter 3 tbsp double cream

For the nests 100g plain chocolate, broken into pieces 2 large Shredded Wheat, broken into shreds (taking care to try to keep some longer

strands) Chocolate micro eggs to decorate

Method

1. Preheat the oven to gas 5, 180°C, 160°C fan. Cream the butter and caster sugar together until almost a whipped and creamy mixture is formed. Add the flour, cocoa and eggs and fold together then whisk again until creamy.

2. Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin tin and divide the mixture between them. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 mins until well risen and firm on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 mins in the tin before using a small palette knife to ease each of the cakes out of the tin and onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

3. To make the buttercream, blend the butter and Trex in a bowl until creamy, then add the vanilla paste or essence, icing sugar and cocoa and mix carefully to avoid an icing sugar ‘cloud’, then beat until smooth and creamy.

4. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Cut the cakes in half horizontally and pipe a layer of the buttercream onto the base layer, then top with the second layer. Pipe a rosette of icing on the top of the cake, starting close to the edges and ending in a peak on the top.

5. Now make the chocolate drizzle icing. Place the chocolate, butter and cream into a small heatproof bowl placed over a pan of gently simmering water and stir until melted, smooth and glossy. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 mins. Place into a small piping bag and snip the end to form a thin point. Drizzle over the buttercream. Set aside to set while making the nests.

6. To make the nests, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Remove from the heat and add the broken Shredded Wheat and very gently stir into the chocolate to allow it to coat the wheat strands. Using small tea cups, place a tablespoonful of the mixture into each of the cups and shape into a nest shape, with a hollow centre, to resemble a nest. Chill for 10 mins, or freeze for 2-3 mins until set firm, then remove from the cups using a small palette knife. Place on top of each of the cakes, squishing down the icing peak to ‘glue’ the nest in place. Fill each of the nests with a few micro eggs and serve.

Ron’s researchesThe Church Memorial Board Chapter 1

This is chapter one of my series on the memorial board.

The first name that I have information on alphabetically is

Herbert William ClementsService No: ------

Rank: Second Mate (Fisherman on records)

Regiment or Service: Merchant Navy

Ship: SS Europa (Also noted in record as a Fishing and Merchant Vessel)

Age: 42

Date of Death: 20th October 1941

Circumstances of Death: Unknown

Additional Information:

Herbert Clements lived at 114 Beach Road Fleetwood with his wife Clara. He was buried in Fleetwood Cemetery in Section G Grave number 384 on the 23rd October 1941. There are no records of any attacks on the Europa, and his death record card from the Merchant Navy records does not record a cause of death. He was born in Lowestoft. The SS Europa was registered in Middlesbrough number 71430

The second name on my list is

Norman William Dent

Service No: 2194129

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment or Service: Royal Engineers

Unit: 602nd Railway Construction Company

Age: 21

Date of Death: 14th July 1941

Circumstances of Death: Unknown

Additional Information:

Born in 1920 to Charles and Nellie of Fleetwood, Lance Corporal Dent died in Stratford upon Avon and was buried in Fleetwood cemetery on the 18th July in the Church of England Ground, Section L grave number 135. He formerly played for Fleetwood Old Boys Rugby Union Club in the XV team during the 1936 & 1937 seasons. The club’s WW2 memorial board includes his name.

21 April – EASTER: the most joyful day of the year

Easter is the most joyful day of the year for Christians. Christ has died for our sins. We are forgiven. Christ has risen! We are redeemed! We can look forward to an eternity in His joy! Hallelujah!

The Good News of Jesus Christ is a message so simple that you can explain it to someone in a few minutes. It is so profound that for the rest of their lives they will still be ‘growing’ in their Christian walk with God.

Why does the date move around so much? Because the date of Passover moves around, and according to the biblical account, Easter is tied to the Passover. Passover celebrates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and it lasts for seven days, from the middle of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which equates to late March or early April.

Sir Isaac Newton was one of the first to use the Hebrew lunar calendar to come up with firm dates for Good Friday: Friday 7 April 30 AD or Friday 3 April, 33 AD, with Easter Day falling two days later. Modern scholars continue to think these the most likely.

Most people will tell you that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, which is broadly true. But the precise calculations are complicated and involve something called an ‘ecclesiastical full moon’, which is not the same as the moon in the sky. The earliest possible date for Easter in the West is 22 March, which last fell in 1818. The latest is 25 April, which last happened in 1943.

Why the name, ‘Easter’? In almost every European language, the festival’s name comes from ‘Pesach’, the Hebrew word for Passover. The Germanic word ‘Easter’, however, seems to come from Eostre, a Saxon fertility goddess mentioned by the Venerable Bede. He thought that the Saxons worshipped her in ‘Eostur month’, but may have confused her with the classical dawn goddesses like Eos and Aurora, whose names mean ‘shining in the east’.

So, Easter might have meant simply ‘beginning month’ – a good time for starting up again after a long winter.

Finally, why Easter eggs? On one hand, they are an ancient symbol of birth in most European cultures. On the other hand, hens start laying regularly again each Spring. Since eggs were forbidden during Lent, it’s easy to see how decorating and eating them became a practical way to celebrate Easter.

Jesus’ appearances after His Resurrection

Mary Magdalene Mark 16:9-11; John 20:10-18Other women at the tomb Matthew 28:8-10Peter in Jerusalem Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5The two travellers on the road Mark 16:12,1310 disciples behind closed doors Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-2511 disciples WITH Thomas John 20:26-31; 1 Corinthians 15:57 disciples while fishing John 21:1-1411 disciples on the mountain Matthew 28:16-20A crowd of 500 1 Corinthians 15:6Jesus’ brother – James 1 Corinthians 15:7Those who saw the Ascension Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:3-8EASTER JOY – FOR YOU

I remember vividly a simple poster I saw on the notice board of a small Methodist Chapel. It had a silhouette of three crosses on a hill, and underneath the words, ‘FOR YOU’. Nothing fancy or clever, but a clear presentation of the Easter message.

At Easter our thoughts are drawn to the death and resurrection of Jesus. These events are central to our faith, but sometimes we can over-complicate their meaning. The heart of it, though, remains very simple: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and on the third day was raised to life (1Corinthians 15:3).

He died to show his love for you. He gave his life as a demonstration or proof of the love He has for each one of us, no matter who we are or what we have done. He was motivated to lay down His life for us, not out of duty or obligation, but compassionate love. See Romans 5:8

He died to set you free. Sin has entangled every one of us. We are under its power and unable to ourselves to loosen its grip. At the cross Jesus dealt with sin once and for all by dying in our place. Now, when we turn to Him for help, we can be released from the hold it has on us and find complete forgiveness.

He died to bring you home. The Cross makes it possible for us to be reconciled to God. Like the prodigal son we were once far away from God, but now because we have been forgiven, we can return to our true home in God. A welcome awaits us, and a joy-filled reunion is possible.

This Easter, why not think about these two simple words: FOR YOU.

Easter trivia quiz

What was the largest ever Easter egg hunt?The most-ever entrants for an egg hunt competition was 12,773. It was The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt, as part of World Record London, in London, UK in April 2012.

What was the largest-ever decorated Easter egg?This was built in March 2008, by Freeport in Alcochete, Portugal. It measured 14.79 m (48 ft 6 in) long and 8.40 m (27 ft 6 in) in diameter.

What was the largest ever chocolate Easter egg?It was made in Tosca (Italy) and weighed 7,200 kg (15,873 lbs 4.48 oz). It had a circumference of 19.6 m (64 ft 3.65 in) at its widest point. It was exhibited in a shopping centre in Cortenuova, Italy, in April 2011.

What about the most expensive hot cross bun?This was baked in 1829 in Stepney, London, UK. It was bought by Bill Foster (UK) for £155 at the Antiques for Everyone show at the NEC in Birmingham, West Midlands, UK, in April 2000. Hot cross buns were originally made to hang in the kitchen to ward off evil spirits.

What was the biggest-ever (real) Easter bunny?So far, the longest rabbit was Darius, a Flemish giant rabbit owned by Annette Edwards (UK), who was found to be 4 ft 3 in (129 cm) long when measured for an article in the UK's Daily Mail newspaper in April 2010.

What was the largest ever Easter egg tree?This was set by Zoo Rostock GmbH, Rostock, Germany, who decorated a tree with 76,596 painted hens’ eggs in April 2007.

Recipe of the month -Easter nest cup cakes

Ingredients

175g butter 175g caster sugar 175g self-raising flour 50g cocoa powder 3 eggs

For the buttercream

75g Trex margarine 75g unsalted butter ½ tsp vanilla paste or essence 200g icing sugar, sifted 25g cocoa powder

For the chocolate drizzle icing 75g plain chocolate, broken into pieces 25g unsalted butter 3 tbsp double cream

For the nests 100g plain chocolate, broken into pieces 2 large Shredded Wheat, broken into shreds (taking care to try to keep some longer

strands) Chocolate micro eggs to decorate

Method

7. Preheat the oven to gas 5, 180°C, 160°C fan. Cream the butter and caster sugar together until almost a whipped and creamy mixture is formed. Add the flour, cocoa and eggs and fold together then whisk again until creamy.

8. Lightly grease a 12-hole muffin tin and divide the mixture between them. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 mins until well risen and firm on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 mins in the tin before using a small palette knife to ease each of the cakes out of the tin and onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

9. To make the buttercream, blend the butter and Trex in a bowl until creamy, then add the vanilla paste or essence, icing sugar and cocoa and mix carefully to avoid an icing sugar ‘cloud’, then beat until smooth and creamy.

10. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle. Cut the cakes in half horizontally and pipe a layer of the buttercream onto the base layer, then top with the second layer. Pipe a rosette of icing on the top of the cake, starting close to the edges and ending in a peak on the top.

11. Now make the chocolate drizzle icing. Place the chocolate, butter and cream into a small heatproof bowl placed over a pan of gently simmering water and stir until melted, smooth and glossy. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 mins. Place into a small piping bag and snip the end to form a thin point. Drizzle over the buttercream. Set aside to set while making the nests.

12. To make the nests, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water. Remove from the heat and add the broken Shredded Wheat and very gently stir into the chocolate to allow it to coat the wheat strands. Using small tea cups, place a tablespoonful of the mixture into each of the cups and shape into a nest shape, with a hollow centre, to resemble a nest. Chill for 10 mins, or freeze for 2-3 mins until set firm, then remove from the cups using a small palette knife. Place on top of each of the cakes, squishing down the icing peak to ‘glue’ the nest in place. Fill each of the nests with a few micro eggs and serve.