The following matters were dealt with at the meeting held on 16^th January 2002.

1 The grass cutting contract was awarded to Chris Horne, the price to be the same as 2001, because this is the last year of a 3-year contract. Applications to tender will be invited for the 2003 season.

2 We noted the shambles in the Country Park. We have been told that the cattle grid has been removed "on safety grounds". Likewise the gates have been removed and piled in a heap. We will object to this because the gate to the overflow car park must be replaced to prevent unauthorised parking, especially overnight.

3 The notice board by the bus stop is to be repaired or possibly replaced.

4 It was noted that the planning application for the development at Old Southend Farm had been refused by the Bedford Borough Council.

5 The Police had reported that speed checks in the village were made in October 2001, but no-one was actually speeding!

6 Bedfordshire County Council is part of consortium promoting a bridle way that passes through the Parish from north to south, and crosses the Great Ouse at Odell Bridge. This was noted and applauded, provided no cost falls on the Parish funds.

7 It was noted that the fences erected by the landowner beside the Great Ouse near Odell bridge had been reduced in height, and that shrubs had been planted.

8 The state of Church Lane is appalling, and the agents of the Bedfordshire County Council have been requested to repair it as a matter of urgency.

9 Bedfordshire County Council has made some attempt to improve the footway from Little Odell down to the Fire-station.

As the Festive Season approached we were treated to a period of crisp, frosty nights, and like most householders I took to putting out food for the garden birds - and then the temperature really began to drop. I set up my feeding station of seed hopper, nuts and a lump of fat in a little cage. I even bought in extra bread to put about the garden. I am sure I am not the only one to notice that no matter how hungry the birds become, they will only eat the black sunflower seeds, every other seed is totally ignored! Each morning as daylight appeared the little robin peeped in my kitchen window as if to demand morning rations and the first to present themselves would always be the blackbirds, who have now long-since polished off my windfall apples. For the first time this winter my robin and at least one hen blackbird have finally mastered the art of getting at the fat-ball hanging in its cage. This pleases me greatly because, quite unfairly I know, I quickly become frustrated at seeing the starlings tear the fat apart, unchallenged.

As the New Year arrived the temperature plummeted! The overnight hoar frost remained throughout the day so that the following night another frost was laid out upon those that had gone before until it began to look as though we had a light coating of snow on the ground. The branches of trees and bushes sparkled like diamonds in the sunshine and I found myself put forcibly in mind of the carol -

"earth was hard as iron "- as I walked out each morning with my dog. The lakes in the park began to freeze over and as the frosts intensified the ice began to thicken. On one day the river, as it ran through the water-meadow, froze from bank to bank -a sight I have only seen about four times in the period I have lived here. The countryside looked beautiful beneath this glittering coat of frost but for the waterfowl in the park it became a battle for survival. The smaller lakes seized up entirely and on the larger lake, just one small open space of clear water remained. Into this were crowded all the ducks, geese and swans, their combined body-temperature keeping open this precious space. Alas, it was not joined to the shore - they were isolated.

Those of us who feed the birds in our garden are as nothing compared to those few hardy souls who are determined to keep the park's birds alive throughout their time of crisis. My eyes were opened as, each morning, I watched the daily ritual. It did not take long for this hardy band to find the place where it was the shortest distance between the hole in the ice and the nearest bank. Then, day after day, the same scene was repeated. Bird seed was distributed about the car park together with quantities of bread - this was for the songbirds who, of course, were not forgotten. Not forgotten were the robins who seemed to hang from the ends of branches, flirting- their wings at passers-by, at various points around the lake. Beneath these stations little piles of bread would appear as if by magic each morning. But the major sight was to be seen at the edge of the lake.

Who could fail to be impressed as, day after day, this small band of friends, laden with food, struggled to the icy lakeshore and began to call to the birds. It was as if they were expected. First to respond would be the ducks, their little feet flapping up and down as they ran across the ice. A few geese would follow and then it would be the coots. Finally, as if in response to a familiar call, first one swan and then another, would heave itself up on to the ice and start that long ponderous trek to the lakeshore. Those beautiful birds, so graceful on water, become strangely awkward and ungainly. It is a long, slow walk interrupted by their feet skidding sideways, depositing them in an undignified heap on the ice. The minutes go by; 5, 10, but their efforts are rewarded. There is still plenty of bread. Suddenly, with a swoosh, grain pours out upon the ground and the ducks go crazy, as they fall upon the seed. The swans, meantime, gather around their benefactor, and are able to concentrate on the bread, sometimes pecking at a sleeve, as if to emphasise their urgent need.

There has to be a lot of trust between the swans and their feeder, to bring them all that way across the ice. And, indeed, the food is always there, to be hastily gobbled down before it is filched away by the ravenous ducks! I found it a heart-warming sight to see those noble birds, with complete trust, taking food from the hand of their feeder. I take my hat off to this noble band who feed the park's birds all the year round and then, when the weather is at its worst, they turn out twice a day, with at least 2 loaves of bread and a bag of grain. Now - that is what I call feeding the birds!             Barbara Corley

Drama Summer School 2002

February Diary

2^nd Aid for Romania Posh Supper, Watermead, Harrold. 7.30pm.

5^th Meeting Point 10.30am at Liz Dodwell’s, Watermead, Harrold.

8^th Ouse Valley Swing band, Village Hall.

9^th Celebration of Christian Healing in the Context of the Eucharist, St Alban’s Abbey, 10.30am.

12^th W.I. 7.30pm Village Hall.

13^th Fish and Chip Lunch, Village Hall. 12.30pm.

16^th Churchyard Spring clean. 10.00am onwards.

20^th Meeting Point 10.30am at Jill Cheadle’s, Rectory Farm, Odell.

23^rd Harrold Centre Quiz. 7.45pm.

March Diary

1^st Women’s World Day of Prayer. 10.00am Harrold URC. Chapel.

2^nd Introductory Course on the Healing Ministry, St. Mary’s, Rushden, 9.00am.

2^nd Primrose Appeal Coffee Morning.

5^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Jane Eshelby’s, Newton House, Rushden.

Please send all entries for the March magazine to Tricia Hudson (triciahudson@kbnet.co.uk), Anne Turner or Catherine Corkery by February 12th at the latest. May we remind you that the editorial team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted. Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.

Electronic mail address
triciahudson@kbnet.co.uk

FAX number
01234-721004

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Last revised: January 26, 2002.