What is going on?
Our natural world appears to be in turmoil. Let me illustrate this. Butterflies we are told are very scarce this year. Certainly, I have noticed, now that buddleia, knap weed and other butterfly favourites are out, there are not many butterflies to see even on the occasional warm sunny day. Bees give a similar story with a visible loss in numbers on their more popular flowers. 

But it is not all gloom, at least I and others I know have more slugs than would normally be expected. No one seems to appreciate this glut! We are also being sent Asian hornets from Europe which, we are told, seem hell bent on consuming our honeybees. Also from the continent come midges carrying the blue tongue disease which they pass on to our sheep and cattle. Our ash trees are dying from the die back disease, again this comes from across the Channel. Global warming is blamed for it all. What can be done about it? What else is to come?

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LOCAL HISTORY ARTICLE
For the next chapter of the Ashbourne Family Saga historical novel go to http://www.thechimes.org.uk and select: ‘Info, Extras & Blogs’;  then ‘Historical Blog’. The story begins in the May 2023 edition of The Chimes, being chapter 1.  In the latest chapter, the year is now 1888  and Annabell visits Gayton Hall in Phocle Green.  Find out why by reading the story in The Chimes Online. There are numerous illustrations.                Dorian Osborne​

 

The Friends of Ross Community Hospital will be holding a Coffee Morning at the Larruperz Centre on Saturday 14th September from 10am to Noon - Coffee, Tea and Cakes, Raffle, Book Stall and many others - Entry £2.00 and Free Parking.   Also The Friends of Ross Community Hospital will be holding a Bingo Evening at the Larruperz Centre on Friday 20th September starting at 7.30pm, refreshments available - Free Parking.

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In April the Herefordshire Historic Churches Trust awarded £72,500 in grants to PCCs for works from mundane, but essential repairs to church walls, to adding features to churches In to make them more community friendly. We are very keen to support those churches that are working hard to maintain the church for future generations. This could not happen without hard working PCC members (have you thought about joining?) and the generosity of donations to the churches, the Trust and supporters of our events.
Dates for your diary are;
Wednesday 2nd October - HCS Concert at Dore Abbey
Thursday 10th October - Coffee Morning at Lyde Arundel 10 to midday
Saturday 19th October - Hannah Roper In concert ‘Folk to Film’ Lyonshall Church 7pm.
Wednesday 20th November - Minims Musical Theatre Bishops Frome Church 7pm.
Monday 25th November - HCS Christmas instrumental concert St. Francis Xavier Church, Hereford.
Saturday December 7th - Octavo, Much Marcle Church, 7pm.
 
See our website for more details:  www.hhct.co.uk

LINTON AND DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY - PROGRAMME
4th September: Heather Hurley: Green Lanes
2nd October: Ray Wilson: The Industrial Heritage of the Forest of Dean
6th November: Founders’ Lecture - Philip Bowen: The Decline of the Aristocracy and the Country House
4th December: Gillian White: The Hugely Huggable History of the Teddy Bear
5th February: Andy Moir: Dendrochronology and dating of timber-framed buildings in Herefordshire
5th March: Chairman’s Lecture: Ernst Zillekens: Bess of Hardwick
For further information please contact Ernst Zillekens: Detail on PDF copy on home page

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