It seems hard to imagine, given the weather over the last few months, but the cricket season is nearly upon us. Sunday 25th March saw lots of activity at the ground as preparations were made to get the facilities ready for cricket, but we could do without any more rain if pre-season practices and matches are to start as intended. Ladies cricket continues to expand at Shapwick. This year the team (eligibility from 13 years upwards) will play 10 matches of pairs softball cricket on Sundays. Training starts Tuesday 16th April at 6.30-8.00pm at the ground. On Sunday 5th May the Ladies will be hosting a softball cricket festival for 6 teams with “Tipsy tea” including a glass of Prosecco – come along and support the girls and have a smart afternoon tea. hot, now cold. Injections are the ony thing to help this, so catching them in the field is the only way. Just like humans, animals get stressed from the constant change in temperature. At the school farm we have already had our first hatch of chicks and ducklings, and are waiting for the guinea pigs and pygmy goats to give birth in April. Farmers in the village have also been busy with calving. These signs of new life are all around us and make us feel better. Just remember how much goes into the welfare and husbandry of these baby animals - and the long hours! But I must say that it is very rewarding and makes it all worthwhile. Fingers crossed for a warmer drier April and May… S PR I NG I S SUE | APR I L 2 0 2 4 7 From the Horse’s Mouth TRACEY LOCKYER Shapwick and Polden Cricket Club Junior cricket remains a major feature and provides lots of opportunities for 5-19 year olds. Junior training is on Friday evenings from 19th April – bar open and food available from 5pm and all welcome. A great way to spend Friday evening and relax with a drink while the kids practice or just burn off some energy on the field. Then just walk home! This year the first XI will be competing in the Somerset Division of the West of England Premier League while the 2nd and 3rd XIs compete in Divisions 1 and 6 west of the Somerset League respectively. Adults practice at the ground on Wednesday evenings so if you fancy joining in please come along on a Wednesday evening and say hello! The bar will be open on Saturday afternoons for matches from 27th April when there will be an “intra-club” friendly and league fixtures will start on the 4th May. JON BALL The students and staff at Dovecote School had so much fun on 15th March raising money for Red Nose Day. The theme, do something for money, was embraced by all. The students wore red, wrote jokes for our funny wall, and participated in various red nose themed activities throughout the day. Some of the staff dressed in tutu skirts or wore red. Even our two Therapy dogs showed up in style wearing their red nose day collars. Everyone passing the school on Friday morning had a laugh when Rick dressed up in a Victorian style bathing suit with a full-face mask and snorkel to direct the traffic into school. Even lunch was red nose themed with red nose rolls and red nose themed pudding. Dovecote School MEL MORGAN Well what a start to the year ...like me I'm guessing you are all fed up with the weather. Will it ever brighten up and dry up? Just as I think it's going to change it starts raining again. The poor animals don't know what to do either! After a very busy lambing period of six weeks - and yes, there are still a few holding on - I turned them out into the fields. The mothers need grass to produce milk: there is only so much hay and concentrate they can take, and it doesn't make milk like grass does. The lambs this year were turned out with little disposable jackets on, so if it rained the warmth would not be lost from their bodies. Two of my ewes have had pneumonia from the weather blowing now
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