Oakham Foodbank have been delighted with the number of items that have been donated during lockdown and have asked if people can continue to be generous to help them support the 550 households already in receipt of assistance.  In addition, it is thought that the number of households to be supported will increase in the next few weeks as the furlough scheme comes to an end and sadly some businesses make redundancies.

We will have our next collection from the Church porch on 15th July and the next one after that will be on 29th July.

Items that are desperately needed are:

• Long-life sponge puddings;
• Smash-type potato; and
• Disposable razors.

We are told that the warehouse is well stocked with baked beans, pasta and cereal so, if you are able to give, please choose items off the list above.

Many thanks,

Debra Thatcher

As you will remember, last autumn a group of volunteers cut the grass on the north bank of the churchyard and a number of wildflower seeds were sown.  The seeds purchased were chosen for either their ability to reduce the strength of the grass or to prosper in the tricky conditions – heavy clay soil, shade in the winter.

We are pleased to say that many of the yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor) seeds have germinated.  This is vital in establishing a wildflower area because as their roots develop they seek out the roots of plants growing nearby, especially grasses.  Once contact is made the yellow rattle draws water and nutrients from them, suppressing the growth of grasses by as much as 60%.  In the resulting space, other wildflowers have room to grow.  We hope that this will not only look attractive but will increase the biodiversity in the churchyard which already supports a fantastic array of different species.  We know that yellow rattle flowers are pollinated by large bees, especially bumblebees, and are followed by large seed pods.

Traditionally, farmers used the sound of the seeds rattling in the seed pods to know when to cut their hay, so we will cut the bank again in the late summer.  If you would like to be involved in this project or other environmental projects at the church please contact Debra Thatcher.