Cropwell Bishop Village Parish Plan

Gardeners demonstrate imagination and resolve (18-1-10)

Anyone arriving late at tonight’s Meeting of the Gardening Club, unaware of the programme for the evening, would have enjoyed a fascinating talk about wildlife in Cropwell Bishop and gone home blissfully unaware of the fast-thinking and extra effort of the organisers and members. Without it, there would have been no show!

Just 45mins before the start of the meeting, Judy Thomas was informed that the planned speaker would not be able attend because of an emergency health problem within his family. We all hope that that has now been overcome, but with over 30 people due to arrive at the Old School in less than an hour, Judy had to move fast.

Janice Bradley kindly agreed to give her talk about wildlife in Cropwell Bishop and grabbed a memory stick containing the presentation slides. It was a talk she gave last year, but not at the Gardening Club and so few members had seen it. Debbie Brooks brought her laptop. After some trial and error with leads and switches, the workings of the DVD player and the projector were mastered.

At the planned start time of 7.30pm, Judy was ready to go and played a previously unseen DVD of ‘planting in Cropwell Bishop over the last 12 months’. As the plants bloomed, the pace of the background music quickened and we were all entranced.

Then it was Janice’s turn to tell us about the animals that are living alongside us in our village and surrounding fields – and high above them. The days of wolves and bears plodding between Cropwell Bishop and Cropwell Butler are long gone but some fascination animals are still here -and some are increasing their numbers. Have you seen ‘our’ buzzards, sparrow hawks, deer, barn owls, badgers and foxes?

Fascinating! And all put together at 45 mins notice: now that is amazing!

Tony Jarrow