Category: New Items for September 2025

Latest post for the current month

The Gang Master Pockets The Money

VILLAGE ENVIRONMENT GROUP

The Gang Master Pockets The Money

Hallelujah! The team have been struck a couple of blows by Age Concern. Firstly, we have been questioned over the viability of using people past their sell by date. Secondly for taking defenceless folk away from their loved ones to complete arduous tasks whilst the gang master pockets the money.

None of this was found to be true when the team was infiltrated by two undercover local government officers. As you can see from the photograph, they stood out like sore thumbs. Steve and Tony, they called themselves. The investigation concluded that the oldies were better off working and keeping well, rather than using up valuable space in care homes around the area.

This month the boys tidied up around the fringes of the Walston Castle, plus tidying up the roundabout in Greave Close. A kind lady supplied cold drinks and Gareth’s wife Sue gave us tea and biscuits when the work was done. Tony and Steve were so impressed by the comradeship, that they decided to join us in the future. We appreciate all the goodwill that comes our way. Being able to remember who was at the last meeting, has become a bit of a challenge, but when we meet up it’s like making new friends.

Our next gathering on September 8th will be at the entrance to Clos Llanfair. Big John will bring his favourite tool.

A Fierce Asian Carnivore

A Fierce Asian Carnivore

They are all over the media and all over Wenvoe! Think of a Channel Island and a fierce Asian carnivore. If you haven’t guessed it, it is the Jersey Tiger – a type of day-flying moth.

They have been seen recently on Walston Road, in Clos Lanfair, Twyn-yr-Odyn, Walston Close and Church Rise. We are being urged on TV and in many of the newspapers to look out for it as part of the annual butterfly count. It is reported that it has increased by 78% in the last year – reversing the trend of most other species which are in decline. In Victorian times it was considered a rarity but in the last 10 years has been spreading from the South and throughout Britain. Originally mainly known from the Channel Islands – hence its name. The prominent stripes are reminiscent of a tiger.

If you see one with the wings open it reveals a bright red or yellow underwing. Most moths are nocturnal, but this one is diurnal as it is out and about during the day – another reason why it is seen more often.

Summer Is Now Done

THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Summer Is Now Done

Well, that seemed to go quickly. Summer is now done, and we must nurse what’s left of the summer bedding for every last bit of colour we can before clearing the beds to plant bulbs, wallflowers, primula and pansies. Monica in Rectory Close just digs her annuals straight back into the soil and plants the Autumn/Winter plants on top. Leave the tulips until late Autumn, as they tend to rot if put in early.

The lawns have had a hard time this year. It’s a pointless task trying to water them; we just have to wait for some rain and give them an autumn feed. If you can aerate them and rake off the thatch, they will be a lot better for it.

Keep camellias well-watered so they can produce buds for next Spring. There’s no need to feed roses now; you don’t want them trying to put on new growth when they should be slowing down. Give hedges a good trim now and that should see them through until next year. If you grew a wildflower garden this year and didn’t cut it back before the seed heads formed, then good luck next year as it will be covering most of your plot and the immediate neighbours. Putting water out for wildlife is one of the best things you can do, especially with the extreme weather we’ve had this year. Once you start doing this you must keep it up as birds and insects get to know where it is and depend on it.

The late Betty James would wash all the pots she used for seeds and cuttings. Over the years she never had a problem, always using clean pots and buying new bags of compost. Then compost went peat free, it didn’t seem to matter how much you paid or whose name was on the bag, it caused a big failure rate on what could be produced in her greenhouse. The compost may be better for the planet, but you can’t put it in lovely printed colourful bags and charge the earth, when it’s absolutely rubbish. There is a process it should go through to get this material right for the consumer but they’re cutting corners by rushing it through. Yes of course we must recycle, just do it properly. A lot of gardeners are using coir to bring on seedlings and cuttings, it works well. It is also sustainable.

The allotments seem to have a lot of bare soil showing at present after a lot of harvesting. This means compost bins will be filling up. A lot of folk leave the runner bean roots to rot in the soil as they’re full of nitrogen. Collecting seaweed for use in the soil seems to have gone out of fashion, maybe because of the effort involved. This material is brilliant for the garden, just wash it off and dig it in. It’s full of nitrogen, potassium and phosphates. Jersey nurserymen use it to good effect.

Don’t forget, we need as many entries for the Wenvoe Village Show as possible to help keep it going – use it or lose as they say. For all the details, please see page 5.

Take care and happy gardening

September 2025 Church News

September Church News

Greetings to you all from the congregation at St. Mary’s Church.

Traditionally September is known as the season of mists and mellowness. This year, autumn seems to have arrived earlier with the trees already shedding their leaves. September is also a time of change for our young people as they change schools or move up to another school year. It can be a very unsettling time for them, leaving old pals behind and making new friends, very often far from where they are living. It is all called “part of growing up” and we as a church wish them and their teachers well, knowing that they will come to enjoy the new school year.

The month of August has been a busy one for those of us connected to St. Mary’s. We are so often complimented on how well looked after your church and grounds are kept. Mike keeps the grass cut, the paths swept and bushes removed. Before you enter the church, you know that great care is taken of this jewel in the community. Inside our visitors are again amazed at how well presented the interior is. Our lighting scheme plays a part in this, highlighting certain parts – the wall monuments to the Thomas family of Wenvoe Castle, the Rood Screen, the reredos at the altar. We opened the church on Saturday afternoons in August for visitors to explore our church. Numbers varied, but the volunteers who were present, reported the appreciation shown by those who came. There will be more opportunities for OPEN CURCH during September.

Church Hall with a New Look

The report in last month’s “What’s On” of the refusal of the local authority to support our application to extend the church, has spurred us on to look afresh at the Church Hall, known locally as the Reading Room. Money that had been kept in reserve for the church extension has now been released to refurbish the Church Hall to “make it fit for purpose” for today’s use. So far, the lighting has been renewed in the lobby, the toilets and main hall. The reveals of the windows have been repaired and painted. The damp in the Gent’s toilet will be eradicated and the fittings etc. refitted when the building work is complete. Hot air hand dryers have been fitted in all three toilets.

This current work has also been possible due to some generous donations received. The most generous response is the offer to decorate the hall and exterior woodwork. The kitchen area will have a revamp to bring it in line with today’s food preparation regulations. Finally, it was time to tackle the store cupboard/room which had over the years become a dumping ground for all sorts of things. Many black bags later, the space is now usable for the things that are needed. So, thank you everyone – you did a great job. Thank you also to those who donated towards this phase of the refurbishment, knowing that there are other works that are planned, which will need local authority agreement.

The Church Hall is sited, in a most prominent part, of the centre of the village and has been greatly enhanced by the development of the garden around the bench seat by Mike Tucker and will be the setting for the Village Show on September 6th. The hall has been valued in the community ever since it was given to the church by the Randolph family for use in the then parish, having been provided by Mrs Laura Jenner of Wenvoe Castle for her tenants to read the newspapers, warm themselves by the fire, chat to each other and generally as a place to meet and relax. Our long-term plan is for this to continue to be a place for hire for family occasions, parties and other meetings.

VJ80 A Day of Solemn Reflection

This took place on August 15th. HM the King paid tribute to all who suffered greatly under their captors and moving ceremonies were held around the UK. The main ceremonies took place at the National Arboretum away from London, though a lone piper played a lament at the Cenotaph in the early morning in Whitehall. The war ended by the dropping of two atom bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a tremendous loss of life and injury to the Japanese people. Their suffering is still present in the population to this day and many retold how their current ailments are related to those terrible events of 80 years ago.

There have been two funerals at St. Mary’s during August. On the 14th Barbara O’Grady was laid to rest in the community cemetery. The church was full to support her grieving family, and our condolences go to Mike and his children. The congregation was saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Moody after a short illness. Ian’s funeral was held on the 26th August and he was buried with his late wife Carole in the community cemetery. Ian was a well-respected and active member of the community and our condolences are sent to Kim and her family.

Dates for your Diary

Ministry Area Barbeque will be held in Rhoose on September 6th

Harvest Thanksgiving is on September 28th

An afternoon concert by Sian’s Singers will be at 3.00 pm on October 19th.

For those of you who may be unable to attend church in person, all services at St Mary’s are live streamed at http://www.ipcamlive.com/stmarys church

Thank you for reading,

Parry

Making the most of September’s best ingredients, what about aubergines for a lasagne and apples for a lovely apple cake

Aubergine Parmigiana Lasagne

Ingredients

  • 3 large aubergines – thinly sliced
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 250g mozzarella (vegetarian optional), drained and grated
  • 50g vegetarian Italian-style hard cheese grated
  • 1 bunch basil, roughly chopped
  • 8 dried lasagne sheets

For the tomato sauce

  • 2tbsp olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves, finely sliced
  • ¼ tsp caster sugar
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 3 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes

Method

For the sauce

  • Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat and fry the garlic for 1 min until golden.
  • Add the sugar and vinegar, simmer for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes. Season with salt and return to a simmer. Bubble for 10 mins, then remove from the heat and set aside.
  • Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat.
  • Brush the aubergine slices on both sides with the olive oil and season with a little salt, then griddle in batches until the slices are softened and slightly charred (ensure the heat isn’t too high or the aubergine will char before it softens).
  • Transfer the cooked slices to a plate as you go

 

To assemble

  • Lay a third of the aubergine slices over the base of a large rectangular or square baking dish, then pour over a third of the sauce.
  • Scatter with a small handful of both cheeses (you’ll want to keep most of the cheese for the top) and half the basil, then top with half the lasagne sheets. Repeat once more, then finish with a final layer of aubergines topped with the rest of the sauce. Scatter over the remaining cheese.
  • Heat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas 6.
  • Put the dish on a baking tray and bake for 30 mins until the cheese is golden and the sauce is bubbling at the edges. Leave to cool for at least 10 mins, then scatter with the reserved basil and serve

Dorset Apple Cake

Ingredients

    • Heat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. Butter and line a deep 20cm cake tin with baking parchment.
    • Mix the flour and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Add the butter and rub into the flour using your fingers, until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
    • Stir in the light brown sugar.
    • Beat in the egg followed by 6-8 tbsp of milk – add it gradually until you have a smooth, thick batter.
    • Add the apples and sultanas and mix to combine.
    • Scrape the batter into the prepared tin and gently level out.
    • Sprinkle over the demerara sugar, if using, and bake for 30-40 mins or until golden and a skewer, inserted into the middle, comes out clean.
    • Allow to cool in the tin for 15 mins and then carefully turn out onto a wire rack to cool further.
    • Great served still warm with a little custard.

Report from the Hub September 2025

WENVOE COMMUNITY HUB

Tel: 02920 594176 – during opening hours or wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Like and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/WenvoeCommunityLibrary

For general enquiries you can email us at wenvoelibrary@outlook.com

Report from the Hub

September 2025

JULY 2025 IN OUR COMMUNITY LIBRARY / HUB

NEW OPENING HOURS

We are now open Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-day 10 am – 4 pm and Saturday 9 am – 1 pm.

New Books

Romance: Medanie Matisse by Sophie Haydock.

“An intoxicating and evocative read.”

Crime: Murder Below Deck by Orlando Murrin.

One superyacht, One dead guest, Who will be next?

Non-Fiction: A Calorie is a Calorie by Keith Frayn.

The Inescapable Science that controls our body weight.

Children’s: Pinocchio by Michael Morpurgo.

“I’m more than just bits of wood and string.”

Why “A Cuppa with a Coppa” Matters: Keeping Wenvoe Informed and Safe

Each month at the Wenvoe Library Hub, our local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) hosts A Cuppa with a Coppa – a friendly drop-in session offering updates on local crime, safety tips, and practical advice. While it may seem like a casual chat, these sessions are proving to be a quiet but powerful tool in keeping our community connected, informed, and protected.

A Friendly Face – And a Vital Service

Wenvoe is fortunate to be a relatively crime-free village, with low levels of reported incidents compared to urban areas. The close-knit nature of the community, combined with active local groups and vigilant residents, plays a big part in maintaining this safe environment. However, staying informed is key to keeping it that way.

For many in Wenvoe, especially our older residents, the ever-changing world of scams, online fraud, and rogue traders can feel overwhelming. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated, targeting people through phone calls, doorstep visits, and increasingly through digital means. It’s no longer just a matter of “don’t answer the door” – it’s about recognising the signs of financial fraud, identity theft, scam emails and more recently scam letters.

That’s where A Cuppa with a Coppa comes in. These relaxed, informal sessions are designed to make important safety information accessible.

More Than Just Crime Prevention

It’s not just about staying safe – it’s about staying connected. For some, these sessions offer a valuable social opportunity: a chance to share concerns, get to know our village PCSOs by name, and feel more confident navigating local services. For others, it’s reassurance – knowing someone’s looking out for the community.

The sessions also help bridge the gap between older residents and a changing world. With scams moving increasingly online, having trusted officers who can

explain things clearly, answer questions, and point people toward further help is invaluable.

Why You Should Come Along

Whether you have a specific concern or just want to stay informed, A Cuppa with a Coppa is a simple but effective way to protect yourself and your neighbours. Next Session: tbc

Look out for future talk dates from September onwards at the Hub.

 

 

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