NEWS ROUND

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Distraction by definition, “the thing that distracts the attention or impairs concentration”: we all suffer from it at times young and old, the reasons being diverse and numerous but it is when it affects our safety that we have to give it a little more thought. Distraction burglaries are in the news again. The criminals, a harsh word but I am afraid that is what they are, will try no end of tricks to get into our houses and steal our precious goods, or worse still the substantial amount of money some people still keep around. So be prepared, and when that friendly stranger, yes they do make the effort to look the part, unfortunately they don't arrive wearing a hoody or blagging hat, the disguise as a respectable 'reader of meters' or 'checker of water pressure' is well thought out. ID badges are easily made in this computer age. So what can we do? If you are alone in the house, use a front door chain: it gives you more time to weigh up your caller and you have to shut the door before you can consider your next action. Keep handy the telephone numbers of your gas and electricity suppliers: genuine staff will be only too happy to wait whilst you check; impostors will be off like a shot. To be honest, it is very unlikely that utilities need to do unplanned checks these days, so you can just say no! ALWAYS keep your back door and gate locked; with the better weather and longer lighter days coming up and a chance to spend more time in the garden it is easy to forget. If you are on your guard you could well join the large number of folk who did not allow the trickster into their homes. Finally if you think that there are bogus callers around the village who might prey on the more vulnerable, please let us know. Contact your local coordinator, (do ask me if you are not sure who it is): this is what your Neighbourhood Watch is for, and together we can stop our neighbours becoming victims.

Frankie Stuart, Chairman, Neighbourhood Watch 841819

frankiestuart@virginmedia.com

Wellesbourne & District Lions

Spring has finally arrived and we can say cheerio to what seems to have been a very long cold winter. There is not a lot to report this month so I will keep it short and sharp.

The new Lions Club minibus is now up and running and is a pleasure to ride in. It really is ideal for small community groups. If you are a local group and can make use of the minibus then contact Lion Paul Gibson on 01789 841730 for further information.

Preparations are well under way for this year's raft race. Behind the scenes a lot of activity is taking place to ensure that the event runs smoothly. The race will be taking place on Sunday 20^th June. This year's charity is the Air Ambulance. I would urge anybody who hasn't been along to watch the raft race to pencil the date in your diaries and come along to see the rafts arriving at the finish in Stratford. It is quite a spectacle.

Finally I would like to invite anybody who may be interested in joining us and becoming a Lion to come along to one of our fortnightly Monday meetings. If you enjoy helping others, putting something back into our community and you enjoy social events then the Lions could be just the thing for you. If you would like to know more then give me a call on 01789 841939.

Lion Andy Stokes

Wellesbourne in Bloom

Wellesbourne in Bloom have had a busy month with the Spring sunshine eventually warming up the daffodil bulbs which were previously hiding from the cold weather we have been having, frightened to poke their heads out.

We attended the Orbit Heart of England Housing Association Residents' Easter Open Day which was awash with very excited little people running around in their colourful home-made Easter bonnets. The grasses have arrived for the planting of the Hastings Road project which has been a joint effort by the Parish Council, Orbit Heart of England Housing Association and Wellesbourne in Bloom.

We have started our weeding campaign in the village flowerbeds and the bulbs are putting on a late but good showing this year. If anyone has any ideas where to put bulbs next Autumn please let me know. Wellesbourne Primary School Annex has one large flower bed, several borders and a vegetable garden that they needed help with. They have started a “Gardening Club” and it was so popular it has had to be split in two, such was their enthusiasm.

If anyone doubts the community spirit in Wellesbourne perhaps they will change their minds after reading this: I contacted two local farmers Janet Jennings of Home Farm Compton Verney and Des Wells of Lodge Farm Kineton and they provided large tractor tyres for raised beds and took farm compost down to the school. This took a whole morning back and forth.

Des then contacted Matthew Hutsby, another local farmer, who provided some soil for the school. Michael Twite Landscapes once again kindly provided the shrubs, the Herb Centre at Warmington have promised herbs for the two herb gardens, Duncan's Pet and Garden Centre provided Sunflower seed kits, seeds and assorted onion sets, Charlecote Garden Store donated a bird feeding station, Tony Copeland Secretary of the Horticultural Society provided peas, potatoes and pots, Citadel Polytunnels on the airfield industrial estate were also very kind and have donated a polytunnel which is due to be delivered in the next few weeks and Andy Cox of EFG Expo Flora at Charlecote is helping with a very generous donation of hard landscaping products for the project.

Des, Danny and a giant tyre

In a time when there is a lot of doom and gloom about, it is lovely that so many people when asked if they could help have really pulled together to make it possible for the children to have a lovely garden at the school annex and have an extended vegetable garden and new polytunnel to grow all their seedlings. Christine Anderson the teacher in charge of the “Gardening Club” is thrilled and she has planned a working party of parents to do the heavy work. Thank you to all those involved.

Our “St Peter's Church Wildlife Project” application has gone in and we hear in about 10 weeks if we have been successful in obtaining a grant of nearly £50,000 so fingers crossed.

Heather Sims, Chairman Wellesbourne in Bloom