The Mardler
A local parish magazine covering the villages of Thorpe Abbotts and Brockdish. Coming out every two months I will publish here the All Saints' contribution.
July edition of the Mardler
Church News
The 4 Churches Festival was without doubt the very best yet with the churches packed to see the performers that Rick had persuaded to visit us. All Saints was no exception. Starting the Festival on the Thursday we welcomed Roy Hudd for a truly hilarious evening which was enjoyed by a full house. The PCC unable to get tickets ran the bar and enjoyed a thoroughly convivial evening outside. Your Thorpe Abbotts correspondent spoke to a number of friends who had enjoyed the other evenings and without exception all thoroughly enjoyed themselves particularly yours truly at the Strawbs.
So what does he summer hold, well not a huge amount really we have our monthly service on the second Sunday of the month and just yesterday also had a Baptism where we welcomed the newest Baskerville into the fold. I am told he behaved himself immaculately only voicing displeasure when Trevor stopped applying water!!!
The Bank Holiday weekend 28-30 August will see us having a Flower Festival at All Saints. It will, as always, be a riot of colour and with refreshments (non alcoholic)of all types available so will not be one to miss, so something for your diaries.
Churchyard
The long hot summer means that the churchyard is remarkably brown. As a result the wildflower display has suffered a little. The Harebells have struggled a little and the orchids have unfortunately not made an appearance this year. Perhaps they have had a holiday and gone to our new Roadside Nature Reserve in Brockdish.
Whilst enjoying a post service cuppa on Sunday some one came to tell me that someone was wonder through the churchyard looking at our wildflowers. So out I popped to find Colin Jacobs and his wife from Beccles admiring our holly trees. Now we have two of these and it has for some time been a source of considerable disappointment that neither produce berries although both flower in profusion. Now is all explained. It would seem that these two trees are in fact Highclere Holly. This is a rare hybrid raised at the castle in 1835 by crossing our native species with that found in Madeira, and is infertile. Looking at the leaves it makes sense since they are almost totally without the characteristic spines and much more rounded than our native. One of the trees apparently is quite old and it is felt that it may originate from around the time of the church’s restoration.
Around the Lanes
As Wimbledon passes by and some dig out the old dusty tennis racquets I am wondering whether might it might be better to do the same for your trusty bicycles as tales from the Tour de France fill the back pages. I have, since the marathon, been out pounding the lanes on my trusty velocipede and what a joy it has been, not a little helped by the fantastic summer we have had /are enjoying.
Most of my routes involve the lanes between Thorpe Abbots/Brockdish together with the Pulhams and Wingfield. Fortunately these verges have not been sprayed or generally interfered with so as result sport a huge number of wild flowers coping easily with the efforts of Highways to keep all looking neat and tidy.
Of course you will all know of the Roadside Nature Reserve on bottom of Hall Lane up from the underpass. I popped up there today and counted 20 spikes of Bee Orchid as well as a lone Pyramid Orchid. Such a dry summer will mean that it will not be a classic year for these orchids which are mostly to be found in the shade of the trees on the western side of the lane. The other side is not bare though with nice little population of Common Centaury with its lovely clear pink flowers which is not often seen.
May I commend a visit to the areas around Needham on the north side of the bypass. Great swathes of Hedge Bedstraw sit side by side with vetches and field scabious with the yellow of the St John’s Wort contrasting nicely. I could go on and one with an endless list of what can be found on our doorstep, there is no need to travel miles to an “official” nature reserve just spend some time around the local lanes and you will be amazed what can be found, not only flora but hares, stoats and the soaring larks and birds a million are just such a joy.
Simon
