Falmer

WINTER: A couple of weeks ago I was bemoaning the lack of seasonal weather over Christmas. I think the last time I remember a nearly white Christmas was in the 60's when the snow started on Boxing Day and just went on and on, the weather being so cold that seawater froze on Bognor Beach. Well I am not hoping for a repeat of that, but the weather forecasters were certainly getting very excited about the cold snap last week which did not turn out to be very dramatic at all, thankfully. The cold weather did have some benefits as it had driven a flock of redwings into our garden, where they sat in a tree and made forays to a neighbouring cotoneaster to eat the berries.

WILDLIFE: We have also been hearing a lot of foxes barking at night, and even seeing them pottering around the garden in broad daylight. The area underneath our birdfeeders has become a quagmire since something has been digging up the ground to get at the fallen seed. I am pretty sure this is a badger as whatever it is has shifted a lot of earth. I have been watching the squirrels making off with the fallen seed and burying it for later. I think our garden is going to be full of wheat next year.

EASTER: I was disappointed not to be able to hear (and see) a talk given by Rev Dr Jeffrey Lake last Sunday. The Easter exhibition, (that has now become a mainstay of our artistic life here in Falmer) was Jeff’s brainwave, and he is kind enough to give an illustrated talk every year on the chosen subject to kick start us artists into action. This year the exhibition is titled Sacred Space and I am looking forward to getting the notes on Jeff’s talk that I have been promised.

WEBSITE: Keep a look out on St Laurence Church’s new website www.stanmerwithfalmer.com to keep up with upcoming concerts, lectures and exhibitions taking place in this special year.

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