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Halesworth & Southwold Community News October 2018 7 Otter Talk


oTTeR spraint (or poo, to you and me) - who would have thought it could be so interesting? nicky Rowbottom from the Blyth otter Group gave a fascinating talk at our September meeting. Smell is the dominant sense in otters and spraint is used to communicate the presence and condition of the otter to others of its kind, so they prefer to deposit it on raised surfaces such as tree stumps. Volunteers with the Blyth otter Group collect the spraint, wash it and then examine its contents using a microscope. They have become skilled at identifying bone fragments, fish scales and crustacean parts and so can tell exactly what the otter has been eating. nicky brought samples of spraint to the meeting; the unwashed spraint has a very distinctive musty smell while the bone fragments from washed spraint, when viewed through the microscope, are quite beautiful. The Group also have motion- sensitive cameras set up at several locations along the banks of the Blyth and have captured the behaviour of the otters there on video. nicky shared some of this footage with us and it was a privilege to


watch these rarely seen animals hunting, eating, playing together or just passing by. Local artist and film maker


Meg Amsden, whilst filming the Blyth estuary at dawn, was alerted by the presence of gulls above to something unusual in the shallow water – an adult otter out on the hunt for food. The showing of Meg’s short film about the otters brought the evening to a close. If you would like to find out more about otters in Suffolk, visit the website: www.suffolkotters. wordpress.com. The Southwold wildlife


Group of the Suffolk wildlife Trust (SwT) meet in the Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold, IP18 6JP, for a presentation on a wildlife topic. Meetings start at 7:30pm, admission costs £3 and all are welcome, you do not have to be a member of the SwT to join us. on Thursday 11 october,


Alan witherby will be talking about ‘A wisset wildlife Garden and Reserve, a Creation in the Making’. on Thursday 15 november, Duncan Sweeting will be telling us all about bats.


Holton & Blyford Village Hall


we are well into our Autumn season at the hall. wool Insulation has now


been injected into the walls to retain the heat and to lessen our big heating bills. we were fortunate to gain a grant from Suffolk Greenest County to cover half the cost of the work. now we just have to raise the other half from our activities! There is our annual Ladies Fashion Show on Thursday 4th october to kick off another month. Starting at 7.30pm, the range of garments on offer always leads to many ladies carrying great armfuls of booty out of the door at the end of the show. our Family Halloween Disco


is on Saturday 27th october, starting at 5.30pm, the bar opens at 6pm. entrance is by donation to the Hall and the evening will feature Chris and his “Spooky” disco – with mist rising - devilish effects – and many prizes for young participants. Best dressed children and Adults will win special prizes for the effect of their fancy dress. In the witches


cave – the kitchen – hot dogs, cup cakes and drinks will be available. Holton Big Breakfast has returned to the first Sunday of the month – october’s being on Sunday 7th from 9am. Pop up Pub is on october


19th from 7.30pm – we have added a sofa to the bar area. our Pub gatherings have become quite a social club with an increasing number enjoying a ‘good old chin wag’! Bingo continues every other Thursday, 11th and 25th in october starting at 7.30pm. Pots of £35 have been won in the past on just one game! we are going to have a gin


tasting evening on Friday 30th november. Just £10 for a special gin glass and two G & T’s and you can taste five or six other brands! A good evening should be had by all. Tickets are available from Committee members. Also, in november there will


be a Craft Fair on Saturday 17th. Stall holders please ring wendy on 01986 872590 as we still have spaces.


Eagle Veterinary Group


HeRe at eagle Veterinary Group we offer a friendly service for your furry companions. on entering the practice you’ll be welcomed by our receptionists, Angela and Sue, as well as our reception dogs Toby and Digby! There are separate waiting areas for cats and dogs, also available on reception is a selection of Royal Canin and MiPet food and Petface pet care items such as leads, collars, food bowls, toys and brushes. we offer 15-minute appointments with our two veterinary surgeons: Charlotte who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College and has a keen interest in surgery (and incidentally is the owner of reception dog Digby!) and Rebecca, a Glasgow University graduate who wishes to specialise in diagnostic imaging and has undergone further training to aid in treatment of your backyard chickens. There are also nurse clinics


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with our Registered Veterinary nurse Kate who’s happy to help slim down your overweight pets. other services provided include routine health checks, dental checks, anal gland emptying and nail clipping. on our premises we also have our own lab for in-


house diagnostics, digital x-ray, ultrasound and a dental machine. we perform routine neutering procedures as well as non-routine surgeries such as mass removals, limb amputations and aural haematomas. we’re also connected with


our sister practices Fromus Vets in Saxmundham and Castle Vets in Framlingham where we may refer your pet for acupuncture, cardiology work-ups or surgery for small furries such as rabbits and guinea pigs. we all look forward to meeting you and your furry (or feathered) companions. Please call 01986 873139 or visit www.eagleveterinarygroup. co.uk


Cow commuters and new species on the Green


MoST of this summer people using the Green have been meeting cows, and hopping around cow pats, underneath the bridge at Three ways. The big meadow (Blyth Meadow) on the side of the bridge away from the town has several ponds but they dry out fairly quickly. The smaller meadow on the town side of the bridge (Lester’s Piece) has a ditch which is spring-fed and never dries. That means that when Blyth’s ponds are dry the cows have to move freely between the two meadows to eat in both (the grass keeps growing all summer) and drink in one. we’re investigating getting a permanent source of water in Blyth Meadow, so that the gates between can be kept locked all summer during the time when everyone most wants to walk and cycle. Meanwhile, please do collect the cow poo for your gardens! And we’re delighted


to see that people do not need encouragement to collect the fruit from the orchard. There has been a good crop of apples and pears, not so many plums and the birds got the cherries. The specimen trees in the orchard extension – the almond, medlar and quince – are still getting their feet down. not one but two new (to the


Green) species of insects where recorded in September. The first was in The Folly and goes by the name of Antlion, however it’s neither an Ant nor a Lion but more a cross between a lacewing and a dragonfly. The flying adults are nocturnal and seldom seen so their presence is usually detected as larvae who dig distinctive conical pits in soft sand (usually under small overhangs) in order to trap their prey. The second recently discovered Millennium Green resident is the Ivy Bee. This does exactly what is says on the tin: it’s a Solitary Bee


that has only been in Suffolk for the last three or four years which exclusively feeds on the nectar of ivy flowers. It has a stripy wasp- like body with a furry ginger upper body. Ivy bees are not only new to the Green, they have only been found in Suffolk in the last three or four years so it’s exciting that they’ve reached Halesworth. They are on the wing until early november so keep an eye out for them this month on the ivy in your own gardens. older visitors, a treecreeper and a goldcrest, have also been spotted among a flock of tits in The Folly. Just type in Halesworth Millennium


Green or


millenniumgreen.halesworth.net or email thegreen@halesworth. net to keep up to date, and have a look at the notice board at white Bridge for information about Green goings-on.


News from Halesworth Community Church


My youngest daughter has moved to live and work in Barcelona. A friend of hers was sitting on the beach and a man ran towards her, grabbed her bag and made off. She gave chase and shouted for help. People stood around and watched. They heard but didn’t listen. yesterday someone shared a recurring dream in which she is screaming to be heard – and no-one hears her. we all want to be heard – not just heard but really listened to, so that we know we are understood. A while ago, I was talking to a lady and she started to cry. She explained that it wasn’t because of what we were talking about but because I ‘get it.’ we all have so many things


going round in our hearts and heads – but they need sharing. Church can be where this takes


THeRe are many varied and interesting activities happening in Halesworth Library over the next month. Come and join in! Do you want to exercise those


literary brain cells? Then pick up a copy of our Grand Autumn Quiz. A pot-pourri of literature-related questions. entry fee is £1. Closing date november 17th. Book token for the winning entry. The festive season gets under


way in Halesworth when the Cards for Good Causes pop-up charity Christmas card shop opens in the Library on october 8th. Buying your Christmas cards while supporting a range of national charities. on Fridays from 10am to


12pm during october, Sarah from Realise Futures will hold a drop providing information, advice and guidance for adults with Learning Disabilities and individuals on the Autistic Spectrum. Running from october 5th to


WHAT’S ON AT HALESWORTH LIBRARY Saturday 27th october - Kinetic


Adventure are returning to Halesworth Library for another scientific adventure. There will be three sessions - 9.30am-11am Fantastic Forensics – Age 7 plus. 11.30am – 1pm Kitchen Chemistry – 5 plus. 1.30pm –3.30pm Halloween extravaganza – Age 5 plus. Tickets are just £3 each per session. Please book your space at the library. The next session of Board


place. There is no substitute for face to face conversation and much of our time is spent on this. For those who live many miles away, we rely on phone calls, emails and visits. This weekend a man will come to Halesworth to stay who needs help if his marriage is going to survive. we trust that sitting together and talking will help him start to rebuild. we live in a world of enormous need. Beneath the surface of many people’s lives are deep anxieties and hurt. we will find peace when we know that God hears us, understands every thought and feeling and loves us just as we are. For more information, please visit the website, www. halesworthcommunitychurch. org


John Sparkes


october 31st - Susan Garrod talking about Crime prevention and promoting the police scheme – Suffolk Safekey. Also, our newly appoint Community engagement officer, Simon Green, will introduce himself. on Thursday mornings (when


Games Café is on Monday 29th october from 2pm to 4.30pm, refreshments provided. It costs £1.50, including a raffle ticket. Remember that we have a


display board in the library window, useful for when you want, for example, to sell an old bike or find a gardener, or offer yourself as a babysitter. It costs £1 per week or £1.50 for two weeks. our popular range of reading


november 9th, a new short course, “writing for fun”, will take place on Fridays from 2pm to 4pm. It costs £2 per session and is run by local author Jill Reece. on wednesday 17th october


from 10am to 12pm Great yarmouth and waveney MInD will be here for their monthly drop-in session. They offer mental health and wellbeing information. on wednesday 17th october


from 2.30pm to 4pm adults are invited to join us for a Christmas- card making session with Francesca. The cards will go on sale to raise funds for the Library. on Thursday 18th october


at 7pm we are delighted to host “Talking in the Library”. This, the flagship play of the Suffolk- based QuirkHouse Theatre Company is written by award- winning playwright and novelist, Jackie Carreira and is touring Suffolk Libraries this month. To find out more visit www. quirkhousetheatreco.com. Tickets now on sale at the Library desk for £8, £5 for concessions. Light refreshments in the interval. not suitable for young people under the age of 16. During the half term on


wednesday 24th october 2.30pm to 4pm there will be a children’s activity making poppies with Meraylah. This is a free activity, donations welcome. Under 8’s must have an adult with them. on wednesday 24th october


from 2pm to 4pm Andrew Riley from DIAL will be here for a drop- in session. If you, or someone for whom you care, is disabled or has long-term ill health, then DIAL is here to help. They can support you in accessing benefits, completing forms or providing advice on disability related issues.


glasses and accessories from ReadySpex is updated regularly. Please come and browse. Monday from 10am to 12pm,


local writer / publisher Tom Corbett runs a creative writing group at the Library. A parallel group is held on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 to 9pm at Bridge House, a minute from the Library. This eight-week rolling programme includes both poetry and prose writing. For more information, contact Tom on 07831 364021. on Tuesday, we have Baby


Bounce and Tot Rock from 9.30am to 10:30am. This is for babies and toddlers with their parents or carers. on Tuesday mornings we have a support session for using Laptops and iPads from 9.45am to 10.45am at £5 per session. There is also the possibility of one-to-one sessions at £15 per hour. Book up now – places fill quickly. Are you looking for something


sociable to do? on the first and third Tuesdays from 2pm to 4pm “Crafty Companions” meet. Bring along your craft project to get some support and inspiration! on the second and fourth Tuesday (9th and 23rd) from 2pm to 4pm we offer “Mindfulness Colouring”. Use our materials or bring your own. on wednesdays from 10.30am


to 12pm we host the popular and friendly “Time out” sessions. october 10th - Julie Gorton will be talking about the devastating explosion on the Piper Alphanorth Sea oil platform in 1988. october 17th – Researching your Family Tree, with Kate Angus, from the Suffolk Record office. Bring in any unusual or interesting family history to share! october 24th – It’s Time out’s Birthday! we started the group 11 years ago, with “Apple Day” and had three people - come and celebrate our success.


the Library is otherwise closed) we host two fitness classes suitable for all abilities (in both classes all activity is done while seated). From 9.30am to 10.15am there is an exercise class which includes cardio and strength movements. Then the popular “I Move Freely” class of gentle fitness exercises takes place between 10.30am and 11.30am. The price is £4 per session, but if you attend both, the second session will be half price! Any queries please email susan_ potter_57@hotmail.com or text 07780 707972. Are you a chess player? There is


month (13th october) between 10am and 11am, your local county councilor Tony Goldson holds a drop-in surgery. on Sundays between 12pm


a chess club at the library. Please call Andrew Lindqvist on 01986 785467 or email andrewlindqvist@ btinternet.com for more details. on the second Saturday of the


Halesworth and District U3A: Halesworth today but in October The Globe


21st october) from 10am to 11am the Library hosts Lego Club. All are welcome. £1 per builder. If you are not already a member


of the Library, then please come and join. we have lots going on for all ages! once you are a Library member, why not ask about becoming a member of the Friends of Halesworth Library? This charity raises essential funds to support improvements and activities in the Library. It organises many of our events and supports Library staff in many ways. If you think our library is special, please join the Friends. Donations (large of small) are always welcome, as is your help. It’s also a great way to meet people and make new friends. All ages welcome. Don’t forget that even when


we are closed you can visit www. suffolklibraries.co.uk. on that website, there are lots of totally free downloads: music; e-books; audio books; and magazines. you can also click on Halesworth Library’s own website. we look forward to seeing you!


email us at halesworth.library@ suffolklibraries.co.uk or phone us on 01986 875095 or follow us on Twitter, @HalesworthLib or Instagram, halesworthlibrary


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and 2.30pm we have free craft activities and stories for children. Drop in and join in the fun. All ages are welcome but under 8s must be accompanied. every other Sunday (7th and


oUR AGM in September held at Holton Village hall was attended by 45 members. The committee for the next year was elected and a new constitution adopted. AGMs are important but rarely one of those ‘must go to’ events in our busy lives. However, it heartening to see a good level of support and for some helpful formal and informal ideas come forward to help U3A better provide an ‘umbrella’ for so many regular activities in the Halesworth area. with 35 interest groups and a monthly open to all talk Halesworth and District U3A continues to be a vibrant and positive organisation with many opportunities for learning, fun, companionship and leisure for its 270 or so members. The formal AGM was followed this year by an interesting talk from Dave wolwebber one of our members, about the treasures now to be found in the Halesworth Museum. He also gave us a preview of his recent book about the influential Halesworth based medieval Argentein family along with the story behind the strange carvings to be found on the Ancient House. our AGM afternoon concluded with time for tea cake and chat. our monthly talk for october


is again this year in association with Halesworth Arts Festival (HAF) and sees a welcome return to The Cut on Tuesday 16th october at 2.30 by the ever- popular speaker Mark Michells. His illustrated talk this year will be about Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre as seen from an audience perspective and promises to be informative and entertaining in equal measure. There is no charge for U3A members,


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ALAN ROSS REMOVALS & STORAGE


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Units 1 & 2, Station Works, Main Rd, Darsham .


tickets for non-members are £ 8.50 available in advance from the HAF box office in person or online. Both the U3A new beginner’s


ukulele and social dance groups are still welcoming new members, so if you want more information about these, or to give either a try just follows the links on our website to make contact. Brief details of our programme


of forthcoming ‘open to all’ talks and planned events for the coming months are available on the U3A website, along with details of, and how to make contact regarding the many interest groups now meeting regularly. If you are online just go to ‘halesworthu3a.org.uk’ or simply search ‘Halesworth U3A’. Membership application forms can also be downloaded from the website. So, if you are no longer in


full time work or raising a family, Halesworth and District U3A may be for you. A good organisation we believe to pursue many current and new interests, keep active and make new friends. If you would like to meet with some of our long- standing members to discuss what might just appeal to you within your local U3A you are most welcome join them over a coffee at our next potential / new members coffee hour at The Cut Café on Friday 26th october from 11.00 until noon. As always, U3A members


strive to continue to ‘Live, Learn, and Laugh’ while enjoying each other’s company whilst sharing their common skills and interests.


Martin Stevens for Halesworth and District U3A


0814472


411344


710220


086594


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