Category: News

If you live in a town or large village you are unlikely to find barn owls near your home. In urban areas, most owl contacts are with the tawny owl and its familiar hooting and “kee-wick” calls. Conversely if you live in a rural area with barns, outbuildings or man-made owl boxes, the ‘white owl’ may be a familiar sight.

Volunteers at the mill, ably assisted by staff from the SPAB who own the mill, had an enjoyable morning getting into the festive spirit whilst affixing colourful new Christmas lights to the sails. The bright lights were kindly donated by Steven Briggs of the Windmill Farm Park, and can be seen from as far afield as Gumley Top! 

The monthly parish council meeting was held on 5 November at 7pm in the Studio at the Kibworth Community Hub.

Last weekend we experienced Storm Darragh - it’s the fourth storm since 1 September when this new season began.

Hurray for Wimbledon (I mean the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, not the town or Football Club)! They are working to make their grass courts and flower beds as sustainable as possible in the way they garden. They’ve given up peat compost and are experimenting with alternatives. They are also using coffee grounds, naturally rich in nitrogen, that help bacteria and fungi to flourish. http://happyeconews.com/wimbledons-peat-free-gardens/

It’s over 3½ years since I wrote the first article for the Chronicle about climate change and the challenge it presents, after a powerful presentation by David Ramsden MBE, speaker at the February U3A meeting. David told us about the huge sums of money spent by the main oil companies on anti-climate lobbying policies and the harm yet more oil production was causing. He urged us to take action, if only for the sake of the younger generations.

We’re pleased to announce that the team has completed the flood management phase of the Smeeton Westerby nature project. We are now ready to plant 2000 small tree whips (30-50cm) at this inspiring and beautiful site in Smeeton Westerby. The Langton Brook hosts the site, off the footpath running from Debdale Lane. Location: What3Words ///airstrip.instance.rotations.

It is that time of the year when there is a need to check when the last green bin collection is to take place before the winter hiatus. For all those subscribers Harborough District Council will continue to collect your green bin garden waste up to and including the week ending Friday 22 November for those on the YELLOW chart schedule.

What is a Patient Participation Group?

Harborough District Council have received the following planning application.

Edward Kennard (above) was Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire and a justice of the peace, who lived at ‘The Barn’(below), which was a large property situated on the hill off Shrewsbury Avenue in Little Bowden, Market Harborough. He had travelled in America during the Civil War (1861 – 1865) and entered Richmond, Virginia with the Northern troops. He won the second prize in the 1,000 miles motor competition in 1900 and was an ardent motor cyclist. Edward Kennard’s paintings in watercolours and oils were regarded as treasures in leading art circles, especially those done on china. Of which he had a unique collection. He also won several prizes for photography and was a well- known sporting novelist.

Sundials were used to tell the time in the days before clocks and watches. Nowadays they make lovely garden decorations.

Several people have commented on the unusal smell arising from ‘muck spreading’ this autumn. The Enviromental Agency website says:

In June I shared concerns about the poor showing of common butterfly species in April and May. Since then, these anecdotal concerns have been formalised by the East Midlands Regional Butterfly Coordinator. Data collected through weekly transect counts across the region have been aggregated and show a decline of 40% plus in butterfly numbers. This is in comparison with 2023, which was itself a below-average year.

Did you know Leicester Museum & Art Gallery has been awarded the prestigious Museum of Sanctuary Award?