February 2023

Your official monthly newsletter for the Pendle villages of Barley, Newchurch, Roughlee, Sabden Fold & Spenbrook.

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Curate’s Musings

In search of Valentine(s)

I suspect many a postman and postwoman think that I’m a right Casanova, given the number of cards that they put through my letter box every February 14th. But then they probably don’t know that they are pretty well all birthday cards, being a Valentine’s baby. In fact, it’s probably a good job my parents had already decided that, if I turned out to be a boy, I was going to be a David Andrew; otherwise I might well have been christened Valentine. (Not of course, I hastily add, that there’s anything wrong with being called Valentine; it’s just that I’ve always felt much more …

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Barley Parish Council

Residents' only parking, playground upgrade...

I hope everyone is well and keeping warm during this cold period.

It is fantastic news that as part of the government’s levelling up agenda Lancashire County Council has been awarded £50m for an East Lancashire scheme; much of which will be spent in the Pendle area on public transport, walking and cycling. The funding will enable changes to local streets, paths and open spaces. Also, it’s great to see how well Burnley FC are doing, going 5pts clear at the top of the championship.

As many of you are aware the formal notices for the residents only parking scheme in the centre of the village have …

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Goldshaw Booth Parish Council

Can you dig it...?

As we shiver, slip and slide our way through Winter we look forward to the coming Spring and all the cheer it brings!

It will soon be time for the Together in Goldshaw gang to pick-up where we left off (and our spades), and start preparing for the planting of the fruit bushes, herbs and wild flowers in Newchurch park and the garden areas of Spenbrook and Sabden Fold. Just like the fruit trees of the park, the wild raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, bilberries and herbs of the hedgerows, the fruit bushes will bear fruit for the Community to forage and enjoy – just be sure you …

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Friends of Newchurch School

100 club draw

The Friends of Newchurch School 100 Club draw took place for January, the winners are:

  • The special Christmas prize of £50 – number 2, Margaret Hope
  • 1st prize of £25 – number 5, Michael Eardley
  • 2nd prize of £20 – number 10, Steph Grundy
  • 3rd prize of £15 – number 97, Hannah Garner

Thank you to all who take part in the monthly draw, it is very much appreciated.

Roughlee Parish Council

2023-24 budget and precept, bus stop verge, May elections...

Villagers will be saddened to hear of the recent death of Bill Manley, who lived in Old Hall Close for over 40 years. Bill was a friendly and popular character in the local area, who regularly offered to help others and welcomed many newcomers to the village over the years. Sending our deepest sympathies to Catherine and the rest of his family at this sad time.

At the Parish Council meeting in January we discussed our budget for the year ahead and set the precept (income from council tax). After managing to avoid any budget increases since April 2020, rising costs mean that we will need …

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Roughlee Village Centre

Race Night (4 Mar), Roughlee Panto, Beer & Gin Festival (2-4 June)...

  • Next event: Race Night – 4 March, 7.30pm – 8 races, tote betting, pie and pea supper, music ’til late, bring your own drinks – tickets £10, order by 1 March from Glen on 07849 774438.
  • Roughlee Panto needs your help! The Roughlee Village Centre Committee are asking for volunteers to take on crew and admin roles to ensure our first panto can run smoothly. Panto organisation and production usually runs for around 8 months prior to performance, and tends to involve many people behind the scenes, with quite a few also on stage. Proposed dates for the Panto are 15th/16th December, pending confirmation. Full details of the roles available and approximate commitment of time needed will be posted on the Roughlee Facebook page shortly, you can also volunteer or ask for more details by emailing rvcpanto@gmail.com or by contacting Jules on 07773369062.
  • Save the date – Roughlee Beer & Gin Festival, 2-4 June 2023 – 3 days of hand-pulled beer, craft gins, live music and hot food with iconic beers – award winners of the last 20 years. Open 2pm-11pm, £3 entry / CAMRA members and children free.

pendlefolk

There is something very special about the Pendle Hill area. Its breathtaking natural beauty has always been home to interesting individuals, past and present.

Created with support from the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership, between 2018 and 2021 Pendlefolk assembled a team of local volunteers to shine a light on some of them.

The Parish News website is now hosting the archives from this project, featuring 12 interviews from around Pendle Hill. From mavericks to volunteer rangers, Malkin Tower to the Old Parsonage, reservoirs and summit stones to sculpture trails… and more!

View the full Pendlefolk archive here →

The Great Pendle Witch Country Photo Hunt

The January competition has been and gone and one lucky winner will soon be receiving a voucher to spend at the Bay Horse Inn in Roughlee.

The February competition has got two opportunities to win the monthly prize, so visit the Facebook site using the link below, follow the instructions and make your selection. Good Luck.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/pendlephotohunt

Events in Barley: February 2023

  • Bowland Dark Skies Festival: Skies & Pies – Thu 16th Feb, 7pm-9pm at Barley Village Hall – Join us for an exciting talk by local astrophotographer, Lee Hunt, where he’ll take you on a virtual journey through the night skies of Pendle, from our planetary neighbours to distant galaxies. Find out what can be seen with the naked eye, basic equipment and more advanced photography of the wonders of our night sky. (The talk will be split into two halves, with a pie and peas supper served during the break.) £10 (including supper). Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential – please email or phone 07973 923142
  • Pendle Forest History Group – Wed 15th Feb, 7.30pm at Barley Village Hall – AGM followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Brian Jeffery, “The Calico Printers of Heyhouses” (image left: The former Calico Print Works at Sabden, courtesy of Brian Jeffery) – Members £2.00, Visitors £3.00. Email →
  • Pendle Patchers – Tues 14th & 28th Feb, from 1pm at Barley Village Hall – Once again the Pendle Patchers have been meeting and eating. This time it was our post Christmas Jacob’s Join which interrupted our sewing endeavours but enabled us to resume with even nimbler fingers. We enjoyed a delicious variety of food, proving that members have a number of different talents. The first Feb meeting will be another wet felting workshop, this time we’ll be making bowls. Some members will be continuing with their own sewing projects while being entertained by the rookie wet felters, so if anyone would like to join us, please contact Gil Beeke on 01282 602449 / Email →
  • Barley WI – 1st Wed of the month, 7.30pm at Barley Village Hall – a great age span from 20 somethings to 80 somethings so ladies please come along and spend an evening with us and try before you buy
  • Card making class – 1st and 3rd Mon of each month, 1-3pm at Barley Village Hall – for details contact Valerie on 01282 691850
  • Coffee and Chat – 2nd Wed of each month, 10am-12pm at Barley Village Hall – All welcome, not just the old folk – £2 gets coffee (or tea) and cake!
  • FOG Club – Thurs evenings, 6.30pm-7.45pm at Barley Chapel – Call Angela Hargreaves on 07967 121031 for more information

72 Seasons

30 January - 3 February: Morning Grass Glistens

Next time you are out and about one morning, try and get a bit closer to the ground and see if you can see any dew drops shining in the sunlight. Depending on how much of an early bird you are, you might even manage to time this to coincide with ‘golden hour’ which is really just the first 15 minutes or so after the sun rises when the world is bathed in a beautiful soft light which does feel a bit golden. Even if you don’t catch the light try and take a moment to appreciate the individual shapes of the grass stalks.

Pendle Hill is the home of 72 Seasons, first created as a year-long research project in 2020, designed by Kirsty Rose Parker (founder & director of The Evaluator), to measure how being more connected to nature makes us feel. We do that through working with a team of volunteer seasonal seekers. The seasons agreed now form a very special calendar where the seasons change every 4 or 5 days, originally inspired by the ancient natural calendar in Japan. Have fun looking for the subtle natural changes in the world around you, and at the same time you might just notice a boost in your wellbeing.

In addition to the seasons profiled each month in Parish News, you can find out more about the project in detail at www.72seasons.co.uk, or follow along on social media and explore the rest of the 72 Seasons: Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

St. Mary's Church

Our Parish Church exists to be the people of God, through faith in Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, worshipping Him, making disciples and serving others.

Services in February 2023

  • Sunday 5th Feb, 9.30am – BCP Holy Communion
  • Sunday 12th Feb, 9.30am – CW Holy Communion
  • Sunday 19th Feb, 9.30am – BCP Holy Communion
  • Sunday 26th Feb, 9.30am – All Age Service of the Word

Contact Revd. Julie Smith for more details on 01282 613206 or by email →