Newsletter

THORNTON LE FEN PARISH NEWLETTER SUMMER/AUTUMN 2025

‘SUMMERTIME, AND THE LIVING IS EASY…..’

Welcome to our summer newsletter.  It’s definitely summertime but I’m not so sure about it being ‘easy’!  We are seeing lots of hard work going on in and around the village.

Harvest has started early this year, due to the dry weather.  Our farmers are very active…working long hours, all for our benefit.

It reinforces the reasons behind our fight against National Grid proposals to take farmland for pylons and convertor stations.  The land we are surrounded by is so precious.  Far too precious to be destroyed, when there are other options that should be investigated. No-one disagrees that the Grid needs upgrading but we definitely disagree on the way it should be achieved!  Please stay up to date with the information around this subject and have your say when the opportunity arises!

The village is slowly seeing some lovely additions with the flower boxes and benches.  If you have any plants you could spare for the boxes they would be gratefully received.  Just send any of your Councillors a message and we will collect them and ask one of our volunteers to plant them.  Special thanks to Bell’s gardening outlet who have kindly donated plants for our planters and to Dobbies who have donated bulbs, we’re very grateful.

We have more things to come but would love your input!  Do you have an idea?  Something you would like to see? We are very limited with the resources in Thornton Le Fen but we can make the best of what we’ve got!

The ultimate dream is to buy or rent (peppercorn rent!) a piece of land on the edge of the village.  Perhaps 1 – 2 acres where we could have a community space. Somewhere safe for the village children. Somewhere to walk.  A community orchard.  A place for village get togethers….If you know of somewhere, please let us know!

GREETINGS FROM GIPSEY BRIDGE ACADEMY

We are so excited to be contributing once again to the Thornton Le Fen Parish Council Newsletter and can tell you about what we have been up to this term! This will be my last news article as I am retiring from school life, and Mrs Case will be taking on the role of Headteacher. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this special community and thank you all for your support and enthusiasm during my time here.

We have had a wonderful Summer Term with so many events taking place as always including sports fixtures, and the children have represented our school so well.  In fact we defended our title at the Wrangle Show this month and won! Our Year 6’s had an amazing time on their PGL Residential Trip to Caythorpe, where they had a go at climbing walls, abseiling, fencing and raft building.

On Saturday 22nd June we held our annual Summer Fair which once again was a huge success although it was extremely hot! Our PTFA raised a staggering £2180! It was wonderful to have so many people from the community taking part including the classic cars.

Our Gipsey Bridge Time Traveller Fair on Friday 4th July attracted so many people from the community to visit our school. We displayed artefacts from when the school opened in 1859 to the present day,and it was so lovely to see visitors spotting themselves in photographs even as far back as the 1930’s. We had a fantastic talk from our local Historic England Consultant, Kate Argyle, who has done lots of research into the history of the village and the area, and Kate also spoke to our children too. We also had the chance to open our time capsule which was put into the ceiling of our library in 2000. The children loved being able to see what life was like all those years ago including looking at an Argos catalogue! We have now filled the time capsule again ready to go back into the ceiling for another 25 years – I just hope someone remembers to invite me back!

Finally, I wanted to let you know that our school has been awarded a Poppy Appeal Award from the Royal British Legion which we are so honoured to receive in recognition of our support in selling poppies over the past two years.

I hope you have enjoyed reading our news and we look forward to sharing more with you in the next edition. Take care and bye bye for now.

Kirstyn Moffat  - Headteacher

GIPSEY BRIDGE PRESCHOOL

A reminder we are very lucky in our parish, to have an Ofsted rated ‘GOOD’ preschool facility in Gipsey Bridge, running from the chapel. As well as offering excellent pre school facilities, the team also offer all important ‘wrap around’ care for both primary school aged and preschool aged children in the form of breakfast and after school clubs. Don’t hesitiate to contact them if this is of interest, spaces are currently available. Email gipseybridge@btinternet.com or call 01205 280921

GAYNOR’S GARDEN TIPS

Gipsey Bridge gardener, Gaynor, has kindly offered us some simple tips for garden jobs right now

Plant spring bulbs such as daffodil, crocus and hyacinth for early spring colour.

Divide perennials such as crocosmia to invigorate them and improve next year’s flowering potential.

Continue to deadhead roses, dahlias and delphiniums to encourage those last blooms before autumn sets in.

Sow hardy annuals for early spring colour, not forgetting to collect seeds from this year’s for propagation next season.

Bring tender plants in (such as begonia, pelargonium) before the first frosts

Feed and dead head hanging baskets and planters as these will continue flowering until the first frosts.

Prune late flowering summer shrubs such as ‘rock rose’, as well as climbing roses once flowering has finished (unless they repeat flower, in which case later pruning is fine)

Keep camellia and rhododendrons well-watered to ensure next year’s flower bud development.

Sow over wintering crops such as spinach, winter lettuce and turnips.

Lastly, net your pond to limit autumn leaves clogging the water and filters.

That’s enough to be getting on with! Happy gardening

Many of you will have noticed the large, empty flower pot opposite the bus stop. This will be planted, in October with a fine fir tree, ready to become the village celebration tree.

DIARY DATES AT GIPSEY BRIDGE CHAPEL:

27th September coffee morning 10 – 12

28th September harvest festival service, followed by an auction 2pm, conducted by Andrew Holden

17th October coffee morning 10 - 12

15th November coffee morning 10 – 12

Monthly services are held on the Sunday after the coffee morning each month at 2.30pm, all are welcome to each event.