Week beginning April 1st 2002

Paull Allotments have several vacant plots available: whilst residents of Paull parish are obviously given priority, applications are welcomed from all interested gardeners. The land is top grade and very fertile, and suitable for growing both flowers and vegetables : its position adjacent to the river bank means that brassicas in particular tend to be unusually caterpillar-free! An allotment represents a good investment at a rent of only £10 per year plus an initial deposit of £20, refundable if all allotment rules are met. If you would like further details, Paull Parish Council can be contacted through me on 896712, or email ddavies@ourhouse.karoo.co.uk

Hedon : Dove House Hospice is seeking volunteers to help its newly-opened shop at the corner of Souttergate and Churchgate : if you can spare a little time to help, please contact the hospice on 785740. The shop is also in need of clean, good-quality stock to sell, as it is already proving very popular and is experiencing good sales and a rapid turnover. If you have anything you think could be sold to raise funds for the hospice, simply take it along to the shop during normal opening hours (9 - 5,.

Preston : The long-standing roadworks between the villages of Bilton and Preston have at last been completed, the final phase having been the construction of a cycle track and footpath along Wyton Road between Preston Village and the Sandhill Garden Centre. This cycle track and footpath is to be named Falconer's Way in honour of Councillor Arthur Falconer. Cllr. Falconer, who died last year, had long advocated the creation of a safe route for cyclists and pedestrians and the Parish Council plans to erect a stone dedicated to his memory along the route of the path.

Hedon : A six-hour sponsored Keep-Fit session has been held in Hedon's Alexandra Hall, where six teams, each of between 30 and 40 "keep-fitters," between them raised in excess of £6,000 for the Breast Care unit. The event was organised by Debbie Lamplough, who runs Keep Fit classes in virtually all the villages in the Hedon area, and is the second such event she has held to raise funds for Breast Care. The previous sponsored event also raised over £6,000. If anyone wishes to make a further donation to support their fundraising efforts, Debbie can be contacted on (01482) 898394.

Paull : Now that the spring has well and truly arrived, visitors to Paull will see a number of changes. Bird watchers will notice that the mud-flats are unusually empty at this time of year, as the winter migrants have departed and the summer birds have yet to arrive, although probably due to the unusually mild winter we have just had, a number of Blackcaps (normally summer visitors) have once again over-wintered in gardens in Paull. The resident birds are, however, in full song and together with the spring flowers, make for a pleasant walk through the woods and along the shoreline paths. Anyone who ventures further along the river bank will see the extent of the new shoreline defences and walkers are asked to take particular care; this footpath will soon be subject to a temporary closure order whilst the managed retreat progresses, and the path will eventually be re-routed along the new flood bank. Paull's unique tourist attraction, Fort Paull, has also some changes for visitors to see, and the Easter weekend's magnificent display of birds of prey and falconry will be repeated later in the year for those who missed the first show of the year.