6 WI NTER I S SUE | J ANUARY 2 0 2 6 As well as amazing pennants, the Shapwick Starlets’ 100 birthday celebrations included a whole set of knitted figures telling some of the WI’s many stories! Here’s a few! th From the Horse’s Mouth TRACEY LOCKYER Farmers have struggled this year with the ever challenging weather: so hot and dry through the summer with crops not growing and ever rising feed costs, and then the autumn and start of winter with excessive rainfall yet with mild temperatures, which in itself causes problems with disease. Bird flu first struck in this area at Ham Wall nature reserve with swans found dead and diagnosed with the disease. A further outbreak was identified at Ashcott with over 35000 chickens having to be humanely culled. This placed us in Shapwick in a 3km protection zone, which will last for 4 weeks if no further outbreak is identified. No poultry Bird flu is thought to be caused by wild bird droppings, and local chicken owners have been instructed by DEFRA to enclose chickens. Ideally where possible with netting over their pens; if that is not possible to lock them in a large shed. Bird flu is a zoonosis, a disease which humans can catch from animals and sometimes (reverse zoonosis) pass back to animals. You can catch it just by going for a walk, or having contact with wild birds at your bird feeders in the garden. Droppings are the main cause, so be careful if filling feeders and ensure you thoroughly wash your hands. Like human flu this disease is likely to be ongoing until the spring. So best advice: keep away from poultry and wild birds to stay safe and protect our animals. If you see dead birds e.g. swans please report the whereabouts to DEFRA; do not touch or move them. Stay safe everyone! can be moved to new premises in this period. DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) have contacted and visited chicken owners in the area as everyone keeping poultry must now register with them.
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