Our swifts spend their lives almost entirely in the air - sleeping, eating and bathing on the wing. They stay …
Our swifts spend their lives almost entirely in the air – sleeping, eating and bathing on the wing. They stay in Africa during our winter but at the end of April they return to the UK with just one thing on their minds – to mate and raise their young. They pair for life and return to the same site each year to lay and incubate their eggs. They like to live in houses and churches, squeezing through tiny gaps to nest inside roofs. But as more old buildings are renovated and gaps in soffits are closed up, swift nest sites are fast disappearing.
This, in part, has resulted in swifts being added to the Red List, the UK’s highest conservation priority, needing urgent action. By installing a swift brick in a wall, or putting up a nestbox, you could give a pair a place to rest and raise a family, as several folk in Sibford have already done.
For more information, please watch this short video about swifts and what you can do to help them. Please also consider signing this government petition for making swift bricks compulsory in new housing.
Cardiac Arrest or a heart attack can happen to anyone. When it does, having someone on hand who knows how …
Cardiac Arrest or a heart attack can happen to anyone. When it does, having someone on hand who knows how to perform CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) and use a defibrillator is critical and can save a life.
We have had defibrillators in place for some time on both sides of the valley, but many people have told us in the past they would not be confident in using resuscitation techniques and have asked for training to be laid on. Accordingly, a training session will be run in the Village Hall on Thursday 11 May at 6pm.
We would especially encourage you to join up if you run or take part in any social or sporting events in the villages.
Pip's Pawsome Treats is a new business based in Banbury created by Kirsty Buttle (Parish Clerk to the Sibfords Parish …
Pip’s Pawsome Treats is a new business based in Banbury created by Kirsty Buttle (Parish Clerk to the Sibfords Parish Councils) selling 100% natural dried dog treats. The treats can be ordered and collected from Banbury or delivery can be arranged for a small fee.
To see full details of prices and how to order please view the business page on facebook or to ensure you see details of any updates/offers please join the facebook group.
Revd Neil writes: Everyone, wherever you might live, is invited to come and be together at this year’s Charity …
Revd Neil writes: Everyone, wherever you might live, is invited to come and be together at this year’s Charity Lent lunches. Why not take this opportunity to visit the different villages in our Benefice? See the poster attached below for dates.
Please do invite friends, neighbours and family along, to share with you in this season of Lent, a home cooked bowl of soup, raising money for local, national and international charities.
Oxfordshire County Council writes:
Free service supports thousands of residents in Oxfordshire with their home energy.
Residents in Oxfordshire …
Oxfordshire County Council writes:
Free service supports thousands of residents in Oxfordshire with their home energy.
Residents in Oxfordshire can benefit from the advice and support of Better Housing Better Health, a service that helps those worrying about their home energy to create warmer, healthier and happier homes. Last year, through the service’s free helpline and their free home visit service (BHBH+) – their team of trained advisors helped over 2500 residents with the aim this year to help even more.
The service can help:
Residents who are finding it hard to understand energy bills, pay for fuel or read meters
Access funding to replace old and broken heating systems
Access funding for insulation measures
Reduce damp, condensation and mould by better ways of managing a home
Understand and programme heating controls
Making onward referrals to additional support services, such as Benefits advice and debt support
Some residents may be eligible for additional heating support depending on their situation.
To speak to the friendly team, call 0800 107 0044 or visit www.bhbh.org.uk and complete the online referral form or find our e-mail address.
Case Studies
David, from Cherwell, contacted BHBH who offered him a free home energy visit and helped him apply for funding via a grant scheme to insulate his loft and walls. David was fully eligible for loft and cavity wall insulation. David’s friend, Andy gave the following feedback: “We just wanted to express our gratitude to you and your team at the National Energy Foundation (NEF) for the work that you have done to enable the completion of the Loft Insulation and the Cavity Wall Insulation at David’s home. Our gratitude goes right back to the initial meeting with Beata, who represented NEF. I have to say that Beata was particularly knowledgeable, very professional and very efficient, as well as being very easy to deal with”.
Ms W, from West Oxfordshire, contacted BHBH for help with her broken boiler which she couldn’t afford to replace. Ms W suffers from various health conditions including cancer so it was important she stayed warm at home. BHBH helped her apply for a council grant and she was awarded almost £4,000 for a fully funded replacement. “I am writing to thank you so much for organising my new boiler which has now been fitted. I can’t thank you enough. I am so grateful to you.”
Diana Thompson writes: please contact me if you have not already done so and would like some really good …
Diana Thompson writes: please contact me if you have not already done so and would like some really good quality peat free compost, as described by Harriet Ryecroft in her October Horti talk.
Price £6.48 per 50l bag, £3.36 per 15l bag, including VAT.