Latest news from around the village and Web changes
This is where we'll announce the most recent additions to our web site. If you've visited us before and want to know what's changed, take a look here first. See item 8.
8: You are invited to a "Stroll Around Stanton"
Stanton on the Wolds Parish Council invite you to come and join us for a family afternoon walk around the Parish footpaths on at 2pm on Saturday August 9th.
The start and finish will be from the Parish Church of All Saints on Browns Lane
Parking spaces are available. Bring a picnic to eat on our return in the church grounds.
Test your local knowledge with our family quiz.
approximately 3 miles and ideal for all ages.
Ring Mike Sheriston on 937 5652 or Jim Goodman on 937 3076 to join in the fun !
7: Latest web site changes
The latest Annual Parish meeting took place on Wednesday 14th May and the full report is available from the Home page. A new page, the "Archives", has been created to hold material that has been superceded. Newsletters no 24 and 25 have been added under "Newsletters".
The price of the village local history book has been reduced to just £4.00 and is still available from Keyworth Post Office, Keyworth Library, The Clerk Mike Elliott in Keyworth and from councillors.
The Parish Council are keen to encourage hiking in the village. Two of our councillors, Jim Goodman and Mike Sheriston have volunteered to create a "Parish Walk and picnic en-route" for this summer, that will take in most of the available Public Rights of Way. More details and the date to follow.
6: The use of 'bangers' to deter crop damage by Wood Pigeons
The wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is now the most commonly seen British bird with an estimated 3m nesting pairs. Since the 1970s the population has increased rapidly, which is a result of the expansion of oilseed rape as a combinable break crop for cereals. They will feed off the young plants which germinate in September and will continue feeding until well into May when the yellow flower is formed. The pigeons will fly in large flocks and will land in low-growing or bare patches and decimate the crop if not checked.
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Breeding data for Wood Pigeons |
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Breeding Starts |
Number of Clutches |
Number of Eggs |
Incubation (days) |
Fledge (days) |
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April |
3 |
2 |
17 |
29-35 |
The most common deterrent is by using what is termed a ‘banger’. Many years ago a string of banger fireworks intertwined on a smouldering rope would have been used. The bangs would scare off the pigeons, but only for a short time. Later, the acetylene banger was invented, followed by one using a propane gas cylinder. Electronics now mean that instead of banging all day and night they can be programmed to operate after dawn and terminate at a pre-determined time before dusk. The intervals between bangs can be adjusted although random timing appears to be most effective. The number of bangs at each interval can be set but single bangs soon become ineffective. A single banger can protect about 7 acres.
Farmers are aware of the inconvenience of bangers but a lost acre of rape equates to around £420 of lost income, never mind the cost of establishment. While shooting helps and other ideas have been tried, the banger while not perfect is today the most effective method of crop preservation.
5: Open Farm Sunday at Foxcote, Hill Farm, Stanton
Did you go to the Open Farm Sunday at Foxcote? A lot of families from all over Rushcliffe did and they had a lovely time. There were stalls selling local farm produce; a display by a local bee-keeper and another on Barn Owls by the Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project. A display of farm machinery captured the interest of boys, young and old alike. Lots of children's activities were held in the 'new barn'. A nature trail and quiz led through the grounds and around "Stanton Water" with illustrated cards showing information on the various wild flowers and trees along the route. A display of pond life held the children's interest. A sign "to please dip the fingers in the pot, the leeches are VERY HUNGRY" did not deter the youngsters. The supervisor reported that not a drop of blood was lost.
The day was nice and warm with sunny intervals and several families enjoyed their picnics in the beautiful surroundings.
Please mouse click on the thumbnail images to see the larger pictures; there are captions below the large pictures. There are left and right scroll arrows alongside the thumbnails to see the 22 photos.
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About to set off on the "Nature Trail".
4: Open Farm Day June 10th 2007
Sally, daughter of Mr and Mrs Hinchley at Foxcote (Hill Farm) has organised a wonderful day of both outdoor and indoor events running from 11am to 4pm. Refreshments will be available all day and include local BBQed lamb burgers, ice creams and freshly made cakes. There will be competitions, quizzes and prizes.
The outdoor events include a lovely Nature Trail, a Treasure Hunt, Welly Wanging, Apple Picking, Plant a Seed and a Chicken Fun Run. In addition there will be free plants for children to take home.
Indoors in the new barn, activities will include Cheese Making, Rainbow Kebabs, Make Your Own Pizza, Cake Decorating, Sit on a Tractor, Dissect real Barn Owl droppings and discover the tiny skeletons and teeth, Visit the Live Chickens and the Bee Hives.
Admission is free but there will be a £5 parking fee.
3: An 18th Century Crotal Bell found in a Stanton garden
In April a broken bronze crotal bell was found during a spot
of gardening. The recently found bell was seen to have the letters "WG"
along the top and a 'Google search' on the internet soon revealed that this
pattern of crotal bell was made by William Gwynn at foundries in Aldbourne in
Wiltshire. William is known to have been making these bells between 1770 and
1813.
The picture shows a complete example of a William Gwynn crotal bell by kind permission of John Winter and Rod Blunt of the United Kingdom Detector Finds Database. The group have a very interesting web site that is well worth visiting at http://www.ukdfd.co.uk Rod has written an incredibly detailed article on the history, descriptions and manufacture of crotal bells which is published on the UKDFD web site as http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/pages/crotal-bells.html
The following short notes are taken from Rod's article. Crotal bells were small circular bells frequently used on animal harnesses. Various sizes were produced to fit sheep and goats, cattle and more usually horses. The first rather crude examples were made in the 13th century and by the 1700s they were being made in one piece by casting molten metal into sand moulds. At the peak of their production and use, when horses were still used for all farm operations such as ploughing, tilling, sowing, reaping and carting, there were sixty foundries known to be producing them, often as sidelines to their main business. Many crotal bells must have been purchased at country horse fairs and agricultural events and also from travelling salesmen. In the 21st century there are only two foundries still involved in their production.
2: A second stone age axe has been found in the village.
During the summer of 2006 a bulldozer was used to create a new farm access track off Browns Lane. To accommodate heavy farm machinery a substantial amount of soil was removed to a depth of about 18 inches for the hardcore foundations. Field walking along the mounds of mixed top-soil and sub-soil revealed the back end of a broken greenstone Neolithic stone axe. The fracture zone was quite sharp and not oxidised and this would indicate that the breakage was very recent and almost certainly due to the bulldozer. Despite an intensive search no other part of this axe was found. The mounds have now been levelled off and have been grassed over. The narrow strip of land that received the spoil is not likely to be ploughed again in the future, as we understand it is the intention of the owner to plant trees along the new access.
The axe was taken to Rachel Atherton, the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Finds Liaison Officer at Derby Museum, where it was confirmed as a Type 6 stone axe from Langdale in Cumbria.
1: Large bird of prey seen on Melton Road
On Wednesday morning the 28th February
a large bird of prey was seen perched in a Silver Birch tree in a garden along
the Melton Road. It was being mobbed by three Magpies and several Rooks, who must
have taken exception to its presence. On studying the raptor through binoculars
it became obvious that it was an escapee as there was a leather jesses dangling
from both ankles. The bird was identified as a Harris Hawk which is a breed
favoured by falconers.
The Hawk is still in the locality, late May 2007, and is seen regularly. His hunting ability does not seem to be inhabited by the presence of jesses dangling from its ankles, as it was seen perched on a farm gate stripping the fur from a rabbit. Half an hour later the backbone was left on top of the gate with the front and hind legs dangling down either side!
Recent Media Coverage of Stanton on the Wolds
- Stanton on the Wolds: A brief history of the village, Produced and published by Stanton on the Wolds Parish Council, July 2006