One of the highlights of Village life in April was the Annual Parish Council Open Morning. I’ve included some of the photographs taken in the Parish Hall, which was held on the morning of the late Pope Francis funeral. Many stalls were set out to interest the Parish including the proposed St James’ Church Development plan, as well as displays about the new Children’s Play area on the King George VI field. There were also displays from the Womens Institute, the Village Pit and Local History Groups, the Village Show and Fete, and the Boughton Allotment Group. Cllr.Pete Tonge had a display about village Rights of Way. and Cllr. Graham Ranger local planning issues. The neighbourhood Police team were present, and members of the Deva Bridge Club played a demonstration game in the Hall. The Open Morning was well attended and seemed to be a great success.

St James’ Church said farewell to Rev. Tina & Mike Lightfoot at the service on Palm Sunday, with a presentation to them by Betty Gilliatt Churchwarden, on behalf of the community. They have been involved in the parish in some capacity for over forty year,s and as Rev. Tina had completed her time at St James’ as our curate, she was moving on to develop her role at Chester Cathedral. Mike as Churchwarden, has overseen the work of the church, and the care of the churchyard over many years. The third annual Walk of Witness was held on Good Friday, starting from the Mercure Hotel on Whitchurch Road, who had offered generous hospitality to the walkers before they set off. The route took walkers west along Whitchurch Road, to the roundabout, and then returned via Toll Bar Road to Troopers Close. Prayers were said at this second stop before the party continued via the A41 to Quarry Bridge where another prayer stop was held. The walkers then walked along Quarry Lane and then via Hawthorn and Sandrock Roads to where the fourth station prayers were said. The last part of the route was along Village Road, before a final prayer stop at the Garnett Memorial on the Church Green.

During a walk in the village, on one of our delightful sunny spring afternoons, I watched groundsman Brian Wareing preparing the Cricket Square for the forthcoming season. This playing field is a great asset to the village thanks to the foresight of the cricketers and other sports teams in the late 1930’s. I also watched the Beluga preparing to land at Hawarden airport. It never fails to excite me, especially the newest version, with the Beluga details painted at the front. I called in at the Legion Meadow to see the ground all ready for the spring flowers to emerge, and listened to the blackbirds, dunnock, willow warbler, black cap, chiff chaff and whitethroats singing, a wonderful start to spring. The best for bird song for several years, The first swallow arrived on the 6th April, and gradually I’ve seen more arriving at the end of the month. I’ve also been delighted to see so many more butterflies than last year, which has to go down on record as the worst ever. The minute orange tip butterflies have been prolific, and latterly so have both holly and common blues. Speckled wood butterflies are always common at the Legion Meadow and several bright yellow brimstones, the male of the species have appeared along the canal. Last year I recorded only 95 sightings on my butterfly app. This year already I’m into the 50s which is the most welcome development.