No dramatically new updates on Coronavirus this week which must be good news, but a few other things to mnetion.
Stratton Audley Barn update
As you know Stratton Audley Barn is now open at weekends from Friday through to Sunday. They are serving takeaway coffee, cake and ice cream from 10am to 4pm. It is going well and they are offering villagers and OAPs a half price take-away coffee or Ice cream on a Friday morning between 10-11am.
From Friday 26th June they will be reopening the shop area in compliance with the government guidelines, in conjunction with their online shop, www.shop.strattonaudleybarn.co.uk which offers a click and collect or delivery options. On the 4th July, they plan to offer bench seating in the enclosed paddock area under parasols and a few Bell tents. Let’s all hope for a warm summer!
Monday is Nepalese Curry Night once again
George and Bikash will be back in Church Street again this Monday serving a vegetarian/vegan curry and a chicken Karahi (similar to Indian Korma) with momos as normal. As usual they will be taking pre-orders from 3pm-5pm and will be open from 4pm until 8pm. Pop by during the afternoon or telephone 07976 455654.
Re-opening of the church. Volunteers wanted.
The PCC are really pleased to announce that the Church will be reopening as from this Sunday, for people who would like to engage in Private Prayers or simply sit peacefully in the Church. The plan is to open the Church from first thing in the morning to 5 pm every day.
When the Church opens it would be good to be able to decorate it with flowers – floral arrangements, pot plants or small troughs on a regular basis. If you have a floral contribution just put it in the porch and it will be put inside the Church by others. The PCC is also open to the idea of displaying photos taken by residents of their gardens or more generally the village or activities in and around the village. If you would like to have a photo displayed please leave it in the porch (ideally in a simple frame with your name on the back).
Daily opening is also contingent on the PCC finding a number of volunteers to help for 15 minutes at the end of the day around 5pm. With enough volunteers each person would only be on duty once every week or fortnight. You would be helping to make the church space as safe as possible by completing a short list of checks and by using a light anti-microbial mist spray on some specific area of likely contact. If you are able to help, please email jacquelinefox@aol.com
The Red Lion
The renovations continue at the pub and the works being carried out by volunteers seem to have grown with time. The rear garden area has been opened up to create an even larger space which will be at the heart of the pub when it is allowed to open most likely on 4th July. Thanks go to all those who have been helping.
Do pop in and see for yourself the transformation and anyone still wishing to get involved should speak to Jonesy on 07836 776973.
People go wild for the flowers in the Pound
Lots of people have commented on the beautiful wild flower displays and quite a few have asked how it was created. Perhaps we got lucky but this is how it was done. In September, we rotivated the ground, added some mulch and fertiliser before simply sewing 800 grams of mixed wild flower seed. A few weeks later we carefully hand planted an additional 250 pot-grown plants know as plugs. This may be the reason why we got the result we did.
To help maintain the area when the flowers die back, we have been advised to strim to about 5/6 inches high in July or August when the bulk of the seed heads will have ripened. This is known as the ‘hay cut’ and the cuttings are left to dry on the meadow for a few days to allow the seeds to drop back into the soil. The cuttings should then be removed as this will increase the fertility of the soil and encourages grass and weeds to grow. In the autumn/early winter we will take the strimmer to the meadow again cutting it back to about 5″ high and picking up any cut material so it looks neat over winter. After it has been cut some spot weeding is usually necessary to remove any nasty weeds such as thistles, docks or nettles.
The guy who did it is:
Connor Freeman
www.greenmantrees.co.uk
07583 323799
Launton Road Patching
Patching works to fill pot holes in the Launton Road was put on hold earlier this year as the County Council could not get quotes for the works due to Covid 19 and without a firm cost, no road closure notice could be issued. Regrettably this has meant more delay as consultation over a road closure takes 12 weeks. The PC has been pushing hard for the work to happen whilst the roads were less busy but this is now unlikely. So the planned start date is now 8th September for 10 working days. Additionally, surface repairs in Church Street will take place from 22nd September for 4 days and again this road will also be closed for those days. For those familiar with the potholes on the Launton Road, we have persuaded the Highways Department to extend the repairs beyond the village boundary up to where the stream passes under the road. Additionally we have continually pressed for works to be extended to the Launton/Poundon crossroad but have so far failed to get them to agree to this though it is still a possibility.
Sounds of Music in the Air
For those of you in the village who heard the sound of music late on Sunday afternoon, it wasn’t your imagination playing tricks on you. It was the magic of Mike Gore holding an impromptu music session in his front garden with a few people joining in to sing songs from the 60’s. Immediate neighbours were informed earlier in the day and eagerly congregated in their own gardens with others wandering around to Cherry Street to see what was occurring. Social distancing measures were observed and it was a fun time for those present. Apologies to anyone who wondered what was going on and who may not have appreciated it in the same way.
Hungry for Action!
Hounds from The Bicester with Whaddon Chase Hunt are taken out for their daily walk by Huntsman Gareth Bow. The hounds have not been put to work for several months after all hunting events were cancelled in line with Government guidance due to Coronavirus. This picture appeared in the Wednesday’s edition of The Telegraph.
And don’t forget that this Sunday is Father’s Day!
PLEASE NOTE
If you have anything you think would be of service to locals in these difficult times please use the contact form on this site.
All the best and continue to stay alert.
John Honsinger
Chairman, Stratton Audley Parish Council