March 2025
RIPPINGALE NEWSLETTER March 2025
rippingale.parish.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Editorial: Iain Middleton rippingalenewsletter@outlook.com
Greetings
Articles received from residents, clubs and groups help to promote a variety of interests and encourage a sense of community. If you would like to contribute to the Newsletter, please send your article to rippingalenewsletter@outlook.com by 18th of each month so that it may be considered for inclusion in the next edition (space permitting).
For regular contributors, please note the shiny new email address - the old one has been retired to a cloud and won’t be accessed anymore.
I’m still trying to make good my New Year resolutions so I rang the Bourne Leisure Centre to ask if they could teach me some yoga. The lady on the phone said it depended on how flexible I was - I said OK, but I can’t do Tuesdays.
VE 80 Celebration
It will be 80 Years since the end of the Second World War on 8th May 1945 and the Parish Council are co-ordinating a few days of celebrations for this important date.
Initial ideas are:
Bank Holiday Monday – May 5th
Marques will be erected on Jubilee Playing Field for a Street party
• All invited
• Bring your own food and drink
• Possible games on the field such as egg & spoon races, sack races, etc.
Thursday May 8th
• VE80 flag hoisted
• Church Service 7pm (approx. 45 minutes)
• Tea/coffee and cakes in church afterwards
• Lighting of the beacon and Peace lamps on Jubilee playing Field
Friday May 9th
• VE80 Fish and chips at the Bull
Saturday May 10th
• Church Quiz (time tba)
Volunteers Needed. We are appealing for help as below:
• Volunteers to help organise the Street Party on Monday May 5th
• Cake Donations to the Church for 6pm on Thursday 8th May.
• Volunteers to help serve the teas/coffees in the Church on Thursday 9th May
If you are willing to help with any of the above, please contact Chris Ross: 07806327362 or email chrismross54@yahoo.com.
Parish Council News March 2025
Community Groups –
Once again, your Parish Council can report successes in its aim to bring Rippingale’s community closer together by starting some common initiatives. Details of our progress in this endeavour can be found within this Newsletter, but, in summary:
• Feast – strong team fully engaged in setting up this traditional event in 2025
• VE80 day – small team working on celebrating this historic event
• Youth Initiative Team
• Street Representatives – we need more volunteers
Dykes & Drainage
Finally, Parish Councillors have managed to get LCC and SKDC to help them establish the ownership & responsibilities for dykes and drainage in and around the village. A walkabout meeting was held on 20th February attended by both Councils, the results of which will be included in next month’s edition of the Newsletter and reported at the next Parish Council meeting on 10th March 2025.
Additionally, we have arranged a similar walkabout with Anglian Water on 25th February to discuss our concerns over the condition and capacity of the drainage system in Rippingale and will report any outcome as set out above.
Many thanks go to local landowners and farmers who have cleared dykes of vegetation and debris over the past few weeks, thereby helping minimise the risks of flooding in the coming weeks.
Emergency Reaction Team
The Emergency Plan review is nearing completion, but it still requires more volunteers to step forward to help when flooding (or other emergency) happens. We had many people interested in commenting about how flooding may affect planning applications, but have had minimal response to requests for Emergency Responders. If you feel that you could help when a situation arises, then please contact Cllr Creek (tonycreekrpc@gmail.com).
Area discussion group –
The Parish Council remains interested in setting up a WhatsApp group with the other villages in our immediate area so that common issues can be discussed and experiences shared.
The Parish Council wishes to thank our District Councillor, Mr Richard Dixon-Warren who has been of great assistance in resolving many of the issues within Rippingale
Planning - Outstanding applications:
Ref Date What Where Status
24/1278 Oct-24 Siting of a Static Caravan for a Gypsy/Traveller family 155 Station Street Awaiting Decision
24/1862 Nov-24 Two detached dwellings 83 East Street - Little Farm Awaiting Decision
Please remember that the Parish Council only has one “vote” when it comes to commenting on planning applications. It is really important that each resident submit their own comments on the SKDC Planning portal if they have an issue with any planning application.
Parking
There have been more instances of car owners parking on footpaths, forcing people in wheelchairs or with pushchairs onto the road. The Parish Council has contacted the Police, SKDC and LCC for their assistance in dealing with this problem. We ask car drivers to please consider others when parking their cars. Vulnerable people are being put in danger by this selfish practice.
Your Village Needs You!
The Rippingale Parish Council are looking to develop better communication between the residents so that important information can be relayed to each other quickly. They are keen to find a number of ‘STREET REPRESENTATIVES’ who would be responsible for being the link between a section of the village and the village council.
This role was first used to identify how many villagers would be attending the Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebrations. It proved to be very effective in discovering how many residents wanted to attend the celebrations outside the church. The council hopes that a number of people would come forward to take on the role of Street Representative.
Please contact us if you are prepared to be a Street Representative by emailing 'rshuttlewood@outlook.com'
The council are also interested in forming a group from the youth of the village to gather their views on improving this community. Anyone wishing to belong to this new group please email us at 'rippingaleys@gmail.com'
Richard Shuttleworth
Wild Side of Life
Even before the end of January and despite some very cold weather there were plenty of signs of spring to look out for. Snowdrops were in full bloom and wild primroses flowered in the woods and under hedgerows. By early March Coltsfoot will be in flower. If you walk down the main tracks in Callan’s Lane or Temple Wood, this yellow composite flower said to resemble the foot of a colt, is quite abundant. The much maligned Dandelion will also be in flower and this is an important source of nectar for early emerging butterflies such as the Brimstone.
On the 28th of January a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in the higher branches of a chestnut tree in our garden – the first of the year. The drumming is instead of a song; in order to establish a breeding territory and attract a mate. Nearby a Song Thrush was in full song. Our resident birds seem to disappear at the end of their nesting season in late summer but return in late December or January to take up their territories. Great Tits gave their “teacher teacher” refrain; not much of a song but Dunnocks, Wrens and Robins are more melodic. The Robins in our garden have now paired up after having spent the winter in separate territories defined by their songs. In most bird species only the cock birds sing but the robin is one of the few exceptions.
The Blackcap, a type of warbler that has been visiting our fat balls is not one of the summer visitors that nest here, but part of a population from Germany and central Europe that winters here. Only a few weeks separates this wintering population and the arrival of birds from as far south as sub Saharan Africa.
Have you noticed all the hares in the arable fields? I counted 13 in the cereal field by Rippingale’s eastern crossroads
You can read more nature notes in my column in the Stamford Mercury published every 4 weeks or on LincsOnline, or on my quarterly website: www.countryeye.org.uk Ian Misselbrook
St Andrews Church News
Not a lot to report just hoping that this cold gloomy weather will lift. It’s a saving grace that the snowdrops and aconites are in full flower with the daffodils not far behind.
All the moles in the Churchyard have been sorted, as well as in the Cemetery, so many thanks to our Mole Catcher. There will be a service on Sunday 30th March but at this moment in time I do not know what type of service it will be, nor start time!
¬Community Coffee Morning
Although it was rather a cold damp day you all did us proud and so consequently had a lovely turn out. As usual, a good selection of fresh vegetables and of course, of home cooked cakes. It was really pleasing to see some younger members in pushchairs so it’s not just for the more senior members of the village!! This is open to all members of the community both near and far and you will be made most welcome. If you have just moved into the village it’s a great way of making new friends.
NEXT COMMUNITY COFFEE MORNING TUESDAY 4TH MARCH 2025 10.15AM – we’re hoping to serve pancakes especially for Shrove Tuesday.
200 Club
We had 2 draws, with February being the big one:
JANUARY
£30 Mr E Jessop (164)
£20 Mrs J Brennan (101)
£15 Mr J Warman(167) Wilbur Guest(161) Mr P Johnson(135)
FEBRUARY
£200 Mr P Palmer(151)
£100 Mr & Mrs Mears(82)
£70 Mr W Ball(100)
£50 Mrs R Robinson(200)
£30 Mr M Baylis(127)
Jonathan Newell (Churchwarden) ripps.standrew@gmail.com Mb 07771 825422
Rippingale WI
This month was the 87th birthday of our WI so naturally we all enjoyed birthday cake with our tea or coffee. We welcomed Janice, who helped us craft a little bird house complete with feathered bird in residence. There was a lot to do but we all helped each other with the fiddly bits and eventually we all managed to succeed.
Unfortunately, we had to say good bye to Beryl who is moving house. Beryl is one of our long standing members and has been the backbone of our organisation for many years. We presented her with a card and money to buy a gift to remember her days at RADWI.
There were also contributions to our charity and books exchanged at the sale table, plus donated items for Bourne Food Bank.
Our next meeting is on March 6th at 2pm in Rippingale Village Hall when we welcome a representative of Bakkavor Salads. If you would like to join us, please call Janet on 07552699848 or email radwi@btinternet.com. You will be most welcome
Row Gardens Allotment Group
It’s hard to believe that 20 years have slipped by since the re-introduction of plots at the Row Gardens field off Station Street. The Parish Council of the day was not impressed with the request for plots to be made available again and were keen to impress on the original plot holders that they would receive no support in setting them up and that the whole thing would go to pot in a year or so anyway! Well, here we are after 20 years, despite the Great British weather, sweet corn robbing badgers, moles with cross channel tunnelling aspirations, still sowing, planting and harvesting vegetables, fruit and flowers. Fortunately, the Parish Council now views the Row Garden Allotments as a community asset to the Village and this has led to improvements in the management of the plots and communal areas.
The Row Garden Allotment Group has increased its membership as more plots have been taken up. It’s particularly pleasing to see younger members of the village taking up plots and enjoying the benefits this activity provides.
The group will be celebrating the 20th anniversary on Sunday 17th August 2025 at the annual Open Day. We invite you all to drop in and see what can be achieved, have some fun and purchase some locally grown produce. There are a few plots still available - contact the Parish Clerk for more information.
Plot holders are welcome to join the Row Gardens Allotment Group
Contact : Iain (Secretary) 07784 783235
South Lincs Strollers – Programme of walks for 2025
Our walks are on Fridays and approximately 4 miles (2 hours), we meet at 10.15am for a 10.30am start – everyone welcome.
If you’d like to join us, feel free to contact: Julie or Peter on 01529 305626
2025 Dates Location Directions / parking Walk lead by
7 March Edenham Park at Village Hall Wendy & Dave
21 March Thurlby Dole Wood Park in Chapel Lane, Thurlby Judith & John
4 April Rutland Water TBC but possibly the White Horse Empingham Wendy & Steve
18 April Sempringham Abbey Park at Sempringham Abbey Judy & Phil
2 May Silk Willoughby Park in Horseshoes Pub car park Julie & Peter
16 May Irnham Park at The Griffin Pub car park Wendy & Dave
30 May Rippingale Park at the Church Judith & John
13 June Market Deeping Park in Godsey Lane car park Wendy & Steve
27 June Corby Glen TBC, but prob Woodhouse Arms pub Judy & Phil
11 July Greylees,
South Rauceby Park on the road near the Chapel Cafe, NG34 8ZW Julie & Peter
25 July Burton Coggles The Cholmeley Arms pub car park Wendy & Dave
8 August Essendine Park at the Village Hall or nearby if a problem Judy & Phil
22 August Ufford Park in White Hart pub car park or nearby Wendy & Steve
5 September Belmont Tower Grantham 5 Gate Lane car park off Londonthorpe Lane Judith & John
19 September Ancaster Park at Woody’s lake car park Julie & Peter
3 October Swinstead Park in Village Centre Wendy & Dave
17 October Folkingham Folkingham Village Square Judy & Phil
31 October Little Bytham Park on Station Rd. (near Willoughby Arms) Wendy & Steve
14 November Uffington Park in lay-by by Bertie Arms Judith & John
28 November Osbournby Park in the square Julie & Peter
12 December Belmesthorpe The Blue Bell pub car park Wendy & Dave