St Mary's Church Cubbington

I have taken great delight recently in viewing the weekly ‘Autumnwatch’ series on TV, during which we receive updates of the arrival of migrant birds, among other items. The dates when our winter visitors touch down on our shores seems to depend largely on weather and prevailing winds at any one time, so can be difficult to forecast.

Yet again, there has been a bumper crop of berries to keep our birds going through the winter. I am rather annoyed with our local blackbirds, which devoured most of my grapes before I had time to pick them for jelly. I suppose their need is greater than mine! This week I saw my first large flock of fieldfares, quite large grey and brown thrushes, which come to us from Scandinavia. They are often to be seen feeding in fields with a flock of redwings, yet another type of thrush – quite a sight if they all take off together. However, what I am really looking forward to, as winter draws on, are the aerial displays put on towards sunset by the local flocks of starlings.

Another sighting this week was of a sparrow hawk flying very close to the ground. When hunting, they usually ‘hedge-hop’ in search of smaller birds as prey, so a change of tactics on the part of this one.

Another hard winter has been forecast by some, perhaps borne out by the berry crop. We shall have to wait and see. I hope for plenty of clear, crisp days and the opportunity to go out walking. Whatever the weather, I wish you all a safe winter season and a happy and peaceful Christmas.

With the decision on HS2 yet to be announced, Cubbington Action Group against HS2 is still raising funds by selling its packs of notelets showing the area which would be ruined if it went ahead. These are ideal small gifts and have been especially well received by ex-Cubbingtonians. You can buy them at Cubbington General Store and also direct from us at our stalls at the Cubbington School and St Mary’s Church Christmas Fairs.

Countryside Notes November 2011

This month I’m looking back, rather than forward, to recall the unexpected sights and sightings of the past few months. As far as the weather is concerned, it has been a strange year. A cold winter was followed by a glorious spring. Cubbington Wood was smothered with anemones at the time we had planned to lead walks to alert local people to what we have and what we stand to lose to HS2. We had also planned bluebell walks a couple of weeks later, but the first bluebells were already out on the last anemone walk. The warmth and lack of rain brought trees and flowers on early, and dried up the woodland pool where we had found so much frogspawn on our first walks. Our champion wild pear tree was a wonderful sight in bloom, yet again, and has now produced a bumper crop, as have many of the hedgerow trees.

Autumn seemed to start early. I saw my first fieldfare, a winter visitor, on 10^th September. But then I noticed swallows in September and early October, when they should have been well on their way south. I found meadow cranesbill (geranium pratense) and greater stitchwort, both early summer flowers, in flower near the Leam at the end of September. Yet in my garden, the winter jasmine, mahonia and japonica are starting to bloom, a month or two early. On a recent fungi foray, we found hardly any growing on the ground, due to lack of rain, our accompanying expert explained.

This month I shan’t be telling you what to look out for, as I have no idea what to expect. I’ll just say ‘Keep your eyes open’ and enjoy our beautiful countryside while you can.

NB: on November 5^th: in addition to the obvious festivities, there will be an Autumn Craft Fair at Our Lady and St Teresa’s School from 10 am to 4 pm, in aid of Cubbington Action Group against HS2. The consultation may be over, but the battle isn’t.

Countryside Notes October 2011
As the autumn advances, we are losing the flowers from our countryside, but for a while we will still be able to enjoy the glorious autumn colours. When I was a pupil at Cubbington School, I remember collecting leaves, berries, acorns and conkers for the class nature table, to be brought in and displayed with pride, hoping no one else had the same (or a better) exhibit. In Autumn the table was especially colourful for a few short weeks.

I’ve mentioned the rare trees that we are privileged to have close to Cubbington. For the first time this year I saw (or perhaps ‘noticed’ would be more accurate) the blossom of the Wild Service Trees, and more recently found some unripe berries. These berries were once used in to flavour beer, as a sweet when ‘bletted’ and as a herbal remedy, and have a connection with the pub name ‘The Chequers’, though there are different theories on how this came about. The wild pear tree, having put on a splendid display in May, has fruited well, and I am hoping to be able to gather enough of its small fruit to make some jelly from its small fruit.

Cubbington Action Group against HS2 continues its fundraising this month with its third Quiz Night, on Thursday October 20th , 7.30 for 8.00 at the King’s Head, £2.50 per person, maximum 6 to a team. Teams are advised to book in advance, as the previous quizzes were extremely popular: please phone me to reserve a table on 425283. Our main November event will be a Craft Fayre on November 5th at Our Lady and St Teresa’s school.
Rosemary Guiot
Countryside Notes, September 2011
Hedgerow fruit pickers have had an early start this year, as warm temperatures have ripened the fruit. I picked my first blackberries in early July, and am getting a good crop now from brambles planted probably by the birds, definitely not by me. You’ll hear no complaints, though. The plentiful haws, hips and rowanberries are also turning red very quickly, ensuring the birds don’t go hungry as winter sets in.
We should by now have seen the departure of our summer birds, like swallows and swifts, and will have to wait awhile for winter visitors.
There are still plenty of wildflowers to attract butterflies and bees on sunny days. This summer I have been lucky enough to visit a couple of Warwickshire nature reserves consisting of old wild flower meadows, both on sunny days, and both sites positively buzzing with insect life. I’d never taken much notice of insects before, except the biting or stinging kind, and butterflies, of course, but the variety of species I’ve seen has amazed me.
Although the Public Consultation on HS2 has now ended, Cubbington Action Group will continue the fight to preserve our countryside for future generations, and will still be holding fundraising events. Our next event will be a Beetle Drive with cream tea on the afternoon of Saturday September 17th in the Methodist Church Hall, starting at 2 pm. Several people have commented “I haven’t been to a Beetle Drive for years.” Now’s your chance! Watch out for further details.
Rosemary Guiot
Extract from Contact (July - August 2011)
Countryside Notes
It’s hard to believe that our longest day and Midsummer’s Day are already past. We don’t seem to have seen much hot summer weather, but the lack of rainfall is causing deep cracks in the fields and a fear of low crop yields. It should be a good year for jam makers, however, with an early harvest of soft fruit and plenty of blossom in the hedgerows.

One of my favourite sights is that of swallows and swifts swooping and wheeling overhead on summer evenings. I’ve been lucky enough this year to catch sight of several birds locally that were once common but are now on the ‘red list’ as threatened species: linnet, skylark and yellowhammer. House sparrows are also on the red list, which came as a surprise to me as I have a colony of well over a dozen roosting in a large shrub in my front garden.
Driving through the local lanes and walking across the fields, you will see the flowers of high summer: the spikes of rosebay willowherb, the fragrant meadow sweet and many more, especially along field margins which remain uncultivated to encourage wildlife.

Cubbington Action Group against HS2 hopes to organise further walks in the summer and autumn. Our spring walks through the woods were a great success and attracted people from all over the district, as well as a visitor from Australia and two from Greece. Watch out for announcements on the parish notice boards and in the local papers.
Rosemary Guiot

Extract from 'Contact' June 2011
Countryside Notes
Looking back at my notes from last year, I see that I mentioned that elder and wild rose would be in bloom in June. I have both in my garden, no doubt thanks to birds, and can already see the first flowers, as everything is about a fortnight early. Hawthorn, or May blossom, was out in April.

I hope you managed to get to the woods to see the bluebells, which were beautiful, as always, though not for very long this year, due to the lack of rain. Stephen Trotter, CEO of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, led one of the bluebell walks for Cubbington Action Group against HS2, and had plenty of information to impart.

He told us that the land around our village is quintessential Warwickshire countryside. The wood itself is a wonderful habitat for wildlife. Its ecology is determined by the canopy of large trees: oak, maple, small-leaved lime to name a few. Once in full leaf, these trees take all the best light, so flowers need to bloom before then, while the sunlight can still reach them, and this is why we have anemones, bluebells, yellow archangel (a deadnettle), stitchwort and red campion in spring, but few flowers later on in the year. These flowers attract insects early on, and the insects provide an early source of food for birds and bats.

This month I’m not venturing any predictions of what you might see, but will just ask you, if you can, to find a quiet place to listen to the birds singing their hearts out. The woods and fields are ideal, of course – and there has been a cuckoo in the woods in recent weeks.
Rosemary Guiot

Extract from 'Contact' (May)
Countryside Notes

Nature awakened very quickly in late March and April, after the cold winter, with a wonderful show of spring blossom on our garden and hedgerow trees and shrubs. At this time of year we can really appreciate how many different shades of green there are when we see the young leaves on the different trees. The grass verges and hedgerows will soon be a mass of colour, as cow parsley, buttercup and red campion come into bloom, not to mention dandelions, which I'm sure gardeners would rather forget! .

The woods have been a picture over the last few weeks, with their beautiful carpet of anemones. The five anemone walks led by Karen, of Cubbington Action Group against HS2, attracted well over 150 people, some of whom, though fairly local, were amazed that such beautiful countryside existed on their doorstep. The last group of walkers were able to enjoy our wild pear tree in full bloom. Our summer birds are returning: in the woods, you are likely to hear a chiffchaff, whose call sounds just like its name. A permanent resident that you may hear is the woodpecker, drumming away on a tree, a spectacular bird if you can catch a glimpse. If you walk down through the fields to the river, you might be rewarded by the song of the skylark high above you. .

Our Action Group against HS2 will be leading bluebell walks in late April and early May. Dates confirmed for May are Monday 9th and 16th, but watch out for earlier ones, as the bluebells are likely to bloom early this spring.

Our notelets showing views of the area are proving very popular, and are now available from Cubbington General Stores (Lifestyle) for £3 a pack, as well as from Anne Lancaster (tel. 832252), Gill Wyatt (772558) and myself (tel 425283).

Something else to watch out for will be ‘Stop HS2’car stickers, which Cubbington Action Group are selling at £1.50 each to help raise funds for their fight. They are available from me (tel. 425283) or Anne Lancaster (tel. 832252). Have you got yours yet?

Watch out for news of forthcoming events organised by
Cubbington Action Group Against HS2, who want to save our countryside for future generations
Rosemary Guiot