PC Updates Shapwick, the name that means Sheep farm!! So, what better way to start the farming piece than with a bit about lambing? It all starts around September when the tups From the Horse's Mouth TRACEY LOCKYER A Bag Full of Hugs is an initiative set up by Shapwick Starlets WI. The initiative supports women fleeing violence, exploitation and Dora's Poetry Corner ' APRI L GARDEN, SPRING OR WINTER' BY DORA WATKINS April garden awash with colour Freshly painted by nature's own pallet Vibrant tulips red and yellow Vie with other plants for pride of place Pale primroses peep from bright green leaves Shrubs adorned like brides in pink and white Yellow daffodils in many shades Birds are popping everywhere In the bright April sunshine Sun turns to rain, rain into sleet, sleet into snow Sneaky winter's back to have another go But not for long, the April sun has heat Spring has sprung, it will not be beat. LOCAL ELECTIONS: The result of the Election of Parish Councillors for Shapwick has been declared as UNCONTESTED. This means Shapwick’s Parish Councillors will be Lesley Gaskell, Paul Rogers, Moray McGowan, Frank Barnard, Steve Campion and Graham Croucher once the new term starts. After 12 years' service as a Parish Councillor, Laura Anderson decided not to stand this time, we all want to thank Laura for her dedicated service to the community over so many years. This means that we have one remaining vacancy on the Parish Council. If you would like to put yourself forward, please visit the PC website shapwickparishcouncil.org.uk Fans of Channel 4’s Time Team will recognise the late Professor Mick Aston of Bristol University who led a project of exceptional archaeological & historical research into Shapwick in the ‘70s & ‘80s. Remarkable discoveries were made including the Neolithic Sweet Track that made Shapwick the most thoroughly studied parish in Somerset. Many of the findings are to be found in ‘ Drawing Somerset’s Past’ by illustrator Victor Ambrus & Steve Minnitt, copies of which were recently presented to Catcott, Ashcott & Dovecote schools by Shapwick Parish Council. 2 S PR I NG I S SUE | APR I L 2 0 2 2 A Bag Full of Hugs bags were donated to women they were supporting. Covid suspended our activities during lockdown. However, we launched the initiative again this year, on February 14th. Quite quickly after the launch we became aware of the Ukrainian refugee crisis and how our initiative could in a very small way support it. We were amazed at the generosity of the local community and were able to donate 60 bags to the appeal. We continue to run the initiative supporting local charities. Anyone who wishes to support the initiative can find us on Facebook. those in financial hardship. We collect donations of good condition secondhand handbags and unused toiletries. We then pack each handbag with the essentials, some nice to haves and a small gift (scarf etc). A tag is added to each bag; “To an Amazing Woman, we hope in some way this bag makes your day a little easier. Know that this bag is sent with Love and the belief that you can and will Succeed. Remember you are Lovely, Awesome, Brave and Strong. YOU CAN DO THIS! With Love, A Bag Full of Hugs". In 2019, when we first ran this initiative, we packed approx 150 handbags. These were donated to women’s refuges, a hostel and a police led initiative where the (boys) are put in to the ewes for mating. The ewes have a 17 day cycle and rams are normally kept in for 34 days. The rams will wear a harness and mark the ewes to show they have been served. Then 152 days later lambing begins. This year I lambed 132 ewes. Within that there were 23 lots of triplets, 1 set of quads and numerous doubles with only around 10 singles. Thankfully the weather was on my side and they were able to be turned outside quickly. Hopefully you have all enjoyed at some point seeing the lambs gambol in the fields! So as the weather gets hotter it will soon be shearing time and the dairy farmers will be getting ready to forage their crops ready for the winter again! AMANDA ALLDRIDGE
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