RYDA Newsletter            09/2023

Traditionally 24th September was the day on which harvesting began in medieval England.

Calling the Mare

As the last of the crops are gathered in, there used to be a ceremony called 'Calling the Mare'. The farmers all wanted to prove that they had the best reapers, so they tried to gather in the last of their crops before the neighbouring farmer did.

The last sheaf of the harvest was used to make a rough mare shape and it was quickly sent round to any farmers who had not finished gathering his crops. It was a way of saying to the farmer that wild horses would be after his crops, if he didn't gather them in quickly.

The men would run round to the neighbouring farm, throw the mare over the hedge into the field where the other farmer was working, and they would shout 'Mare, Mare' and then run away. The farmer, who received the mare, would then have to work quickly to see if he could finish before another farm did, then he would throw the mare to them. The farmer who was last to finish had to keep the mare all year and have it on display so that everyone knew he had been the slowest farmer of that year.

Michaelmas Day is also one of the “quarter days”.  There are traditionally four “quarter days” in a year (Lady Day (25th March), Midsummer (24th June), Michaelmas (29th September) and Christmas (25th December)). They are spaced three months apart, on religious festivals, usually close to the solstices or equinoxes.

They were the four dates on which servants were hired, rents due or leases begun. It used to be said that harvest had to be completed by Michaelmas, almost like the marking of the end of the productive season and the beginning of the new cycle of farming. It was the time at which new servants were hired or land was exchanged and debts were paid. This is how it came to be for Michaelmas to be the time for electing magistrates and also the beginning of legal and university terms.

As Michaelmas is the time that the darker nights and colder days begin – the edge into winter – the celebration of Michaelmas is associated with encouraging protection during these dark months. It was believed that negative forces were stronger in darkness and so families would require stronger defences during the later months of the year.

Traditionally, in the British Isles, a well fattened goose, fed on the stubble from the fields after the harvest, is eaten to protect against financial need in the family for the next year; and as the saying goes:

“Eat a goose on Michaelmas Day,
Want not for money all the year”.

Curfew

Michaelmas used to be a popular day for the winter night curfew to begin - the first hint that winter was on the way. Curfew took the form of a tolling of the church bell, usually one strike for each of the days of the month that had passed in the current year and generally rung at 9pm.

The word curfew may derive from the French word couvre feu, meaning 'cover fire'. Curfew was the time when household fires were supposed to be doused. The bell was tolled every night, apart from Sunday, until Shrove Tuesday.

Chertsey is one of the last places to still ring a Curfew bell at 8pm from Michaelmas Day to Lady Day (29th September to 25th March). Their oldest Curfew bell dates from 1380!

Along with our Autumn fruits comes one of the most hated pests – Wasps

Many wasp species are generalists - meaning they’ll pollinate a wide variety of plants and not just one species like a specialist pollinator would.

They’re also some of the top predators of other insects. They keep “pest” populations in check. So if you’re killing wasps and then other insects like aphids destroy your garden, the problem is probably a lack of wasps.

Due to staffing shortages the Electric Water Taxi service is unfortunately unavailable.

The recruitment process is progressing well. We are looking forward to resuming the service and seeing you back on the water as soon as possible! We will keep you updated.

Joint Neighbourhood Plan Review and Collaton Housing Event

Hard to believe it but it is 5 years since you all took part in preparing our very successful Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted as law in July 2018.

Used by the Planning Department in South Hams in conjunction with the South Devon Joint Local Plan and National Planning legislation, our Neighbourhood Plan has been instrumental in guiding Planning Policy in the Parish; protecting the Waterfront and our Heritage, encouraging the right sort of Development and discouraging poor planning proposals and overdevelopment.

During the Autumn, we will be conducting the next round of Consultation events to narrow down what now needs to be added or updated.

They will be joint events with the Collaton and Community Land Trust teams, who will be advertising the criteria for the Affordable housing and helping people to work out who will be eligible, how to apply etc.

• 15th September: 12pm - 6pm
• 16th September: 9.30 - 12.30pm
• 13th October: 12pm - 6pm
• 14th October: 9.30 - 12.30pm
• 17th November: 12pm - 6pm
• 18th November: 9.30 - 12.30pm

At the moment, all of the events will be in Newton and Noss Village Hall.

Do your young people go into the city at night? Are they at Uni & out and about? Do you worry about them? There is an app for that!

immediate help from a Personal Safety Specialist. Using the optional GPS service, the team were able to guide Kate to a nearby supermarket and call her a taxi, while the two men decided to walk away. The next day, “help me Angela” contacted Kate to check in and offer her follow up support. Visit help me Angela's website to learn more about how they can help you stay safe. *Name changed to protect identity

Neighbour Hood Watch  Scam phone calls - caller pretending to be a police officer

We have received reports of scam telephone calls from residents in the South Devon area, the caller pretends to be a police officer and gives a storyline of having someone in custody or of a cloned bank card etc.
Please hang up on any similar calls. 

The police will never contact people to ask that they transfer money from an account to aid an investigation or request banking information - if anyone does get this type of request, it is a scam.

Any Police, Bank, Financial Conduct Authority or Fraud departments: -

• will never ask an individual to move their money to a new bank account.
• will never ask an individual to become involved in an investigation or assist them by transferring their own money or using their own money.
• will never ask for someone’s card pin number or full card details.
• will never ask you to withdraw your money and send a courier to collect it.

Our advice to anyone who receives a call of this nature or any unexpected call from a company is to: -

• Do Not engage with the caller, hang up and wait for 5 minutes, or phone a friend or relative to clear the line.
• Contact your Bank only on a number you know is genuine, such as those found on the rear of your bank card or on a statement or visit your local branch to discuss and seek advice.
• If you need to check a police officer calling is a genuine officer contact your local police force by dialling 101 or via the contact page on the website Contact us | Devon & Cornwall Police (devon-cornwall.police.uk)
• Talk to your friends and family about any call you receive and ask for their help and advice. 

·  If you have been a victim of this type or any type of fraud please contact your bank/building society immediately and then report to your local police on 101 and report to Action Fraud.

Planning

94A Court Road Newton Ferrers Devon PL8 1DD Ref: 2432/23/HHO

Householder application for alteration to window configuration on the rear elevation

14 Butts Park Newton Ferrers PL8 1HY Ref: 2463/23/HHO

Householder application for new 2 storey front extension, attic conversion, single storey rear extension & garage to existing 3- bedroom mid-terraced house (resubmission of 0824/23/HHO)

83 Court Road Newton Ferrers PL8 1DE  Ref: 2152/23/HHO

Householder application for replacement single storey outbuildings including shed, enlarged garden room & enlarged store within rebuilt garden retaining wall (at the same height as the existing wall) (part retrospective)

Corston, Stoke Road Noss Mayo PL8 1DY Ref: 2404/23/HHO

Householder application for extensions & alterations to existing dwelling

Point View  reference 1986/23/FUL Proposed sailing store & works to stabilise riverbank.

Two applications which could have had negative effects on the Yealm waterside have been refused by South Hams Council.

The proposal for two new houses at 101 Yealm Road Ref: 3953/21/FUL (the Old Paint Laboratory) complete with quays and boat houses, and a proposal for a new boathouse and reinstatement of a quay at 71 Yealm Road.  Ref: 2928/22/FUL

Both refusals accord with the strong level of protection afforded to the waterside within the Newton and Noss Neighbourhood Plan.

46 The Fairway ref 1205/23/FUL The application for a change of use of the block built garage from incidental use to multi-purpose ancillary use, including as overspill family & self contained guest accommodation including for short term holiday letting, remains undecided

First Tuesday Lunch Club 5^th September

Newton Ferrers Community Hall. @ 12.00noon £6 for two courses plus tea/coffee.

Allergies can be catered for. Please contact either Jeanne (872442) or Jane (872627)  New members welcome

12^th September  Wi Craft Group Newton Ferrers Community Hall @ 2pm Bring your current project and chat. £1.50 Tea, coffee & biscuits included (including decaf, lactose and gluten free) New members welcome

Not along the Yealm, but this may be of interest as its a rare event.

A full size replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon will visit Plymouth from 13 to 17 September and be open to the people of Plymouth and visitors to the city to step onboard. El Galeón will be moored at Barbican Landing Stage with visitors being able to explore this ‘living museum’ during her stay.

The impressive tall ship is nearly 50m in length and will be impossible to miss when she arrives in Plymouth at the start of August.

As a floating museum, members of the public will be able to go onboard and explore the ship’s six decks which offer a fascinating range of features, exhibits and displays.

Fancy doing something different with your apples? Try Baked Apples Filled with Sausage

Ingredients

1 pound sausage meat

6 large tart baking apples

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/4 cup chopped figs

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. (190C) Brown the sausage in a large skillet. Wash the apples and cut a slice from the tops. Scoop out the flesh, leaving shells 1/2 inch thick. Cut the flesh from the cores and chop it. Add the chopped apple, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon rind, and figs to the sausage and mix well. Fill the apple shells with the mixture. Sprinkle the tops with extra brown sugar, cinnamon, grated lemon rind, or chopped figs. Place in a baking dish, cover, and bake until tender, about 40 minutes. Serve with hot rolls and a green salad.

24^th September St Peters Pet Service, Noss Nayo 3pm All welcome furry & non furry

28^th September Thursday Lunch Club Noss Village hall 12.15. £6

Please contact mrandmrsbarnett@gmail.com Allergies can be catered for. Vegetarian option available.  New members welcome. The tide will be low

30 September 10:00-12:30  £30.00

Snorkel Safari  Event by Wembury Marine Centre

Save the Date

1 OCTOBER 2023 FROM 13:00-15:00   £8.61

Extreme Rockpool Safari  Event by Wembury Marine Centre

Mon 2nd Oct 1pm – 3pm Shoresearch volunteer survey – The Wildlife Trust’s national citizen science survey of the intertidal shore – where the sea meets the land! Project.  See website for more details and to book - www. wemburymarinecentre.org. Free. Meet at Wembury Marine Centre, PL9 0HP