WHAT'S ON: Tickhill

COUNTRYSIDE MATTERS: Members of Tickhill and District Countryside Group visited Clumber Park where they spotted nightjars and woodcock. A mushroom walk is the next event on their summer programme. The group has offered to replace one of the dead ash trees located outside the Methodist chapel. The chalara fraxinea fungus threatens the ash species and so a deciduous sequoia has been offered to the group and the secretary will enquire if this would make an acceptable replacement. A date will be arranged in November to clear out the tree nursery at Stoney Brigg Farm where farmer David Brookfield has offered to use his equipment to uproot the trees and it is hoped to find suitable sites for most of them. John Appleyard may have room for some at Vineyard Cottage but members are asked to investigate other suitable sites. Chairman Stuart Allen will present a slide show at the January meeting of the group mainly illustrating the bird life in the Pyrenees. Members are pleased that an overwhelming majority of townsfolk accepted the Neighbourhood Plan for Tickhill at the recent referendum. There will be a meeting in early October with Tickhill Town Council and the plan working party to agree the development of an action plan. The group has made contributions to some of the policies and expressed interest in further involvement on the Environment and Countryside sections if it is considered that this would be helpful. The water pump that belongs to the group has been loaned to Tickhill and District Lions Club for safety purposes during their bonfire night event for the last few years. However, the pump is in need of attention and it will be scrapped if it cannot be repaired, as the group has no immediate needs for watering large-scale replantings.

TALKING BOULES: Following a request to the local authority Tickhill Town Council has advised residents that DMBC has given the go-ahead for a boules pitch to be located on the playing fields at the Tithes Lane recreation ground. Clerk to Tickhill Town Council Mrs Margaret Cannings-Clough is to liase with DMBC with regard to the construction and siting of the boules or petanque pitch on which the french version of bowls can be played by townsfolk, particularly members of the Les Francophiles de Tickhill group.

HAZARDOUS PLANS: Planning permission has been submitted to DMBC by the DHL supply chain company that is based at the warehousing complex at High Common Lane off Stripe Road for hazardous substance consent for the storage and distribution of various hazardous substances in various quantities. DHL is a division of the Germany-based logistics company Deutsche Post DHL that provides international express services.

HISTORY IN PRINT: Member of Tickhill and District History Society group Hazel Moffat has compiled a new history paper on the subject on the life of Sarah Monk. The Tickhill centenarian lived from 1747 to 1848 and a stone memorial plaque is dedicated to her on the west wall of St Mary’s Parish Church. The history profile paper is available from the KSM/Card Gallery, Castlegate £1.

OH YES IT IS: Rehearsals for this year’s community pantomime organised by members of Tickhill Together are progressing. Hansel and Gretel will be presented at Tickhill Institute on December 2-5. Panto co-ordinator and cast member Lesley Lockett will be selling the tickets in the KSM/Card Gallery, Castlegate 9am-noon on October 24, October 31 and November 7. Tickets £5 adults and £2.50 under 16s.

BANG ON: Tickhill and District Lions Club has launched its plans for the community bonfire, firework display and barbecue on November 7 at Tickhill Cricket Club’s Alderson Drive ground.

REMEMBERING NORA: A funeral service to remember the life of well-known Tickhill resident Nora Briggs takes place at St Mary’s Parish Church. Nora was one of the founder members of the town’s Oxfam group of volunteers when a branch shop of the national charity was set up in the town over 30 years ago.