Articles December 2021

Christmas Artwork

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS

This Christmas scene was created by 6 year old Angharad who is in year 2 at St Helen's C of E First School.
This artwork was selected from 71 created by the children - you can see them all on our Christmas Artwork webpage.
When you see them all you'll appreciate how difficult it was to choose one.
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Outgoing Editors

Well this is it. Our 100th, and final, edition of the newsletter as editors.

It's been an honour and a pleasure to provide a service with the added bonus of getting to know so many hard working people here who organise and run events and clubs, churches and businesses, the school, charity collections, the village hall committee, and the Parish Councillors and County Councillor who all do their best to maintain or improve village life and infrastructure. We are so lucky to live in this village with so many assets and have so many people who care about it.

Thanks to all who have supported us, especially St. Helen's Church and the Parish Council, and everyone who has contributed articles, supplied photos for the calendar or placed adverts over the years. Special thanks to Mary and her team who deliver the newsletter through your doors each month - even throughout the pandemic. You've all played your part.

Many thanks to you all.

Alan and Sue
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New Editors

We are delighted to announce the team that will be editing the newsletter from January 1st.

The team will be led by Jan and Sheena Haveman 07834 740649 Longhorsley.Tree@gmail.com

Norman Douglas will cover parish council and county council matters 07485 174529 norman.douglas@longhorsley-pc.gov.uk

Olive Light will manage advertising 07907 714455 longhorsley.adverts@gmail.com

To give the new team more time to prepare their first edition the last date for submissions for the February edition will be January 15th.
You can email, phone or leave short articles in the Village Shop.
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Neighbourhood Policing Team

There was an attempted ‘relay attack’ theft of a car in Whitegates. Nothing was stolen but the police advise residents to get a Faraday Pouch for their smart keys to block out telematics signals.

Our Neighbourhood Beat Manager, PC Andrea Teasdale, is on secondment at the moment. If you wish to report any incident please contact Northumbria Police on 101 or in an emergency 999.

You can also report an incident using the ‘Contacts’ page of www.police.uk

Alternatively you can pass information anonymously via Crime Stoppers at crimestoppers-uk.org or 0800 555 111.

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COVID-19 Update

(Was Breaking News)

Liz Morgan, Director of Public Health at Northumberland County Council, said: “Covid case rates in Northumberland remain high and have been increasing in some age groups other than school age children, which is a real cause of concern.

“Our NHS services are under significant pressure and have been for some weeks now. This is resulting in significant waiting times in Emergency Departments and limited bed availability in our local Trust, but is also reflected across our GP practices, ambulance services and NHS 111.

“What is most concerning is that this is occurring in early November, before we would normally expect winter pressures to have an impact.”

These are the six top things that everyone can do to protect themselves from COVID.

1 – Getting both vaccine doses gives the best protection against Covid-19

2 – Getting your booster gives you stronger immunity

3 – Hands, face, space and fresh air helps reduce the virus spreading

4 – Wearing a mask protects you and others as COVID-19 is airborne

5 – Meeting outside is best as Covid particles can be blown away

6 – Testing regularly helps identify positive cases to stop the virus spreading

Home testing kits are available at the Village Shop - no need to ask, just collect them from the front window ledge of the shop.

The vaccination programme has been widened so that everyone over 40 is eligible for their booster and 16- and 17-year-olds are being asked to come forward for their second vaccine.

More details here

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Remembrance

St Helen's C of E First School held their annual Remembrance Service on the Village Green which had been poppy bombed with over 800 poppies by the WI, Embroidery Group, Art Club and others.
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Your County Councillor

Like everyone else I am sure, I will miss Jan and Ian's super-friendly welcome that we have grown used to for a lot of years. So thank you very much to them, and best wishes to the new faces who are taking their place.

The County Council is now beginning to fix its budget for next year which is never a particularly Christmassy experience as we always seem to have to find savings, but I am very anxious not to cut our front line services the staff in which have done us proud over the last difficult eighteen months.

And we are looking at our roads programme for next year. I am hoping to get some traffic calming for the East and West roads and some refreshing of the A697 surfacing through some of the village and - although this won't be easy - an improved crossing on the North Road.

In the meantime please get in touch with me anytime and best wishes for a happy Christmas.

Glen Sanderson (County Councillor) 07730 979 737 glen.sanderson@northumberland.gov.uk

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Bird Flu

(Was Breaking News)
Following a number of cases of bird flu in wild birds across Great Britain, the Chief Veterinary Officers from England, Scotland and Wales have declared an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across the whole of Great Britain to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and captive birds.

Enhanced measures apply to keepers with more than 500 birds but all bird owners, including backyard owners with smaller numbers of birds and poultry such as chickens, ducks and geese, must follow minimum biosecurity measures to help control the disease.

If you find dead wild birds you should report them to the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77 - please select option 7).
Do not touch or pick up any dead or visibly sick birds that you find.

See the NCC news item New bird flu cases lead to tighter controls across England and the Gov.UK guidance Avian influenza (bird flu)
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Longhorsley Takeaway Food

The Shoulder of Mutton

The Shoulder of Mutton is open and offering takeaways every day.

Sunday lunches 12-6pm ~ Monday to Saturday 5pm-8pm

See their menu at shoulderofmuttonpub.com ~ phone 788236 to order

Pizzeria Padre

Pizzeria Padre at West Moor Farm (by Forget Me Not Country Park) is open for collection every Thursday & Saturday 5pm to 8pm.
Closed from December 30th to January 15th – reopens January 20th
Order by 5pm Tuesday for Thursday or 5pm Thursday for Saturday.

See the menu and place orders at pizzeriapadre.com

The Flying Fryer

The Flying Fryer will be here every Friday from 4pm to 7pm, depending on demand.
They won’t be here Fridays December 24th & 31st

Please remember to keep 2m apart when queuing.

Facebook The Flying Fryer 07984 426 725

Dou_h&Co

Dou_h&Co here alternate Thursdays 4:30pm to 7:30pm

Next visits are December 2nd & 16th and January 13th

Unfortunately Dou_h&Co cannot now be at Longhorsley on 16th December

Pre-ordering only 07507 834 628 from Tuesday 9am each week.

You will be allocated a collection time and be sent a payment link.

See their menu on the Dou_h & Co Facebook page and Dou-h.co.uk

Mivesi Naan Truck

Mivesi Naan Truck have not notified us of any future visits.

The Mivesi Naan Truck won't be here on Tuesday Dec 7th but will be here Tuesday Dec 14th

For updates see the Mivesi Facebook page.

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Post Office in Longhorsley Village Hall

Please note that this Outreach Service can not accept large parcels.
Please remember to keep 2m apart when queuing.
Not open on Bank Holidays - December 27th & 28th and January 3rd

Monday 9:15am to 12:15pm

Tuesday 9:15am to 10:45am

Friday 11:30am to 1:30pm except Christmas Eve when it's 11:30am to 12:30pm

A full list of Post Office services available at Longhorsley can be seen here

Only one customer is allowed to be served at a time.
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December Tweets along Old Church Wood

Small flocks of Goldfinches are around the perimeter path and can be encountered flitting to and from the sapling Alders and the boundary trees. Although frequently seen in gardens, you can hear their musical twittering contact calls more easily here than through your window. Reed Buntings are likely to hang on throughout the winter, again mostly around the edge. These are quite large finches, and the males often sit still on prominent perches.

A mixed flock of tits and finches is often amongst the mature trees in the Churchyard, and a Treecreeper or a Nuthatch are the bonus birds to be seen amongst them. Anything small and brown and always creeping up the bark of a tree is a Treecreeper, though it can also hang from the underside of a bough. It will move along at the pace of the flock, presumably benefiting from the group vigilance. A Nuthatch will be noisier and more noticeable even though high up. Like the Queen on the chessboard, these birds go in any direction on the tree. They are frequent visitors to peanut feeders now, so if you have a feeder it could afford you a closer view, and without a crick in your neck.

Another opportunity to record your garden birds is on 28-30 Jan 2022 with the Big Garden Birdwatch – see www.rspb.org.uk

Andrew Brunt 788352

For more information about birds in Northumberland, visit the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club website at www.ntbc.org.uk
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Stay Safe when Buying Online

NCC recommend buying locally wherever possible, but their the Trading Standards team has some simple tips if you are shopping online from businesses you don’t know.

These are the headings - full details in the NCC news item Christmas shopping tips: How to stay safe when buying online

1. Make sure the website is genuine.

2. Check their reputation.

3. Look for contact details.

4. Check the refund and returns policy - before you place an order.

5. Keep your antivirus and firewall software up to date.

6. Ensure the checkout is secure.

7. Shop securely - consider using a credit card.

8. Guard your privacy.

9. Keep a record of your transactions.

10. Think twice, click once.
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Ultrafast Broadband Project Update

Alncom have installed their communications cabinet in Longhorsley Village Hall and once the fibre source is available they will start building the infrastructure. They hope to start connecting properties in February. The hall should have free ultrafast internet access before then.
For more details of the project see the September article - Ultrafast Broadband Project Update
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Ian and Jan Millar

Well they've gone and done it again, the wonderful folk of Longhorsley! Just as we were leaving the shop on Sunday (14th Nov) to make our way home, we were met by an unexpected welcoming party of villagers lying in wait to give us a round of applause and many kind words, gifts and cards, thanking us for our almost 14 years of devotion and commitment to the village shop. [See a photo on the newsletter website]

We were not only utterly surprised by this wonderful heartfelt gesture but very humbled and grateful for your kindness.

We would also like it to be known to everyone who was present on Sunday, and to all our customers who have supported the shop for many years that we were privileged to run your village store. Every day was a pleasure for us, serving the nicest of people who respected us and showed us such gratitude and kindness.

We will always hold Longhorsley and it's many good people in our hearts. We will never forget you and we will always miss you, and Thank you for all those happy days we shared together.

Keep smiling, Ian & Jan and A Very Merry Christmas to You All
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New Owners of the Village Store

Allow us to introduce ourselves; we are Toby, Matty & Dave, three lads from Newcastle with a wealth of experience in hospitality, retail and a particular passion for speciality coffee! For us, this next exciting venture in Longhorsley is something we’ve been looking forward to for a while.

Throughout all the various lockdowns, come rain, shine or horizontal hailstones, we’ve been serving the people of Gosforth, Jesmond and the Quayside from our humble fleet of Coffee Vans. We’re passionate about what we do; getting to know our regular customers and providing stellar service always with a smile.

For the most part, we’ll be diligently running the shop in much the same way as Jan & Ian have been doing all these years, but with some gradual additions here and there to put our own fresh spin on things. We can’t wait to welcome you all in and get to know our new neighbourhood!

We’d like to thank Jan and Ian for all their wisdom, patience and guidance while showing us the ropes during this handover period. We wish them all the very best for a happy retirement.

Toby, Matty & Dave

P.S. If there’s anything specific you’d like to see on our shelves soon please be sure to pop in, say hello and let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate!

Village Store Holiday Closures
Normal hours apart from Christmas Eve open 7:30am-1pm
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day

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Longhorsley Parish Council

The next Parish Council meetings will be held on 8th December 2021 and 12th January 2022 in the Village Hall, starting at 7pm, with a parishioner slot at 8pm.

Meeting notices are displayed on village notice boards, with minutes and other information found on the Parish Council website

northumberlandparishes.uk/longhorsley

In the event that the meeting has to be moved to a ZOOM meeting, a notice will be placed on our website giving the joining instructions.

Contact details for the current members are detailed below:

Clerk: Gillian Turner - 4 Lowther Close, Seaton Manor, Ashington, NE630HY 01670 812704 or email parishclerk@longhorsley-pc.gov.uk

Chairman: Iain Elliott Iain.elliott@longhorsley-pc.gov.uk

Councillors: Kirsty Bell, Peter Boyle, Norman Douglas, Penny Ford, Andy Hedman and David Pringle.

New Grit Bins/Heaps

In response to requests from residents, we have been working with Northumberland County Council to identify areas to install 2 new grit bins in readiness for the winter season. A new bin will be installed next to the litter bin at the Wilding Place Play Area and as this location does not score enough points using NCC criteria, the Parish Council has agreed to pay for its installation and filling.

Regarding the second location, Paxton Dene Banks, the Highways Inspector has looked into this one, but unfortunately a bin would not be suitable. Therefore, NCC will be putting Grit Heaps at numerous locations down the bank, similar to other areas like this throughout the county.

Disposal of Dog-Poo Bags

Dog owners are reminded to dispose of dog-poo bags correctly and considerately. We have evidence that some owners are throwing bags into ditches and verges which is not acceptable. Please dispose of bags in a dog or litter bin, or take it home to dispose of in your household bin - remember, not disposing of a 'poo' bag correctly is also a dog fouling and littering offence.

Christmas Greetings

Members of the Parish Council would like to take this opportunity
to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful & Safe New Year

Outgoing Editors

Finally, we would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Alan & Sue Etchells, as they stand down as editors of the Tree. We have appreciated all of their hard work and commitment over the years and wish them every good fortune in the years to come.

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