For reasons that need no further spelling out, the VE Party to be held on May 8th and which was advertised in the current Pen Paper, has been cancelled.

A lively crowd turned out for the village litter pick on the 14th of March. Fortunately we had lovely weather and retrieved quite a large amount of rubbish from the hedgerows and lanes. The worst area by far was the approach road into the village from the old A303 leading up to Underhill but in general there…

Due to the latest Corona Virus advice the walk at Barford St Martin has been cancelled.

However, since exercise is still recommended it should be OK to walk, so long as we all keep 6 feet apart.

There will therefore be a group of us meeting outside the Village Hall at 10:30am on Monday for an impromptu unplanned walk.

In the light of the latest government recommendations I am sorry to say that the Black Bin Café is now closed until such official advice changes.

Jenny Steadman

The Parish Council has agreed that the village should have a way of supporting anyone who wants help and is either self-isolating or is ill with the Covid virus. 

It would be very helpful if anyone who is self-isolating or has been diagnosed with the virus could either contact us themselves…

Due to Corona virus I regret to inform you that April's Pen Pub is cancelled.

Thank you to all who saved the sycamore tree - it still looks magnificent.

Maybe another sapling could be planted in the triangle?  If the village thought the idea could work perhaps there could be a vote on what type of tree would be best. 

Why I have posted this is because several people we have chatted to, have thought the same, our Sycamore will surely in years to come will need to have it's fate decided once again.  So 2020 maybe a good year for a new young tree to start…

It is such a shame to lose the top growth of the sycamore tree, this does seem a drastic reduction, although, if this is the only way we can save this historic tree, then what can we do? We will still have the magnificent trunk, and over time, the leaf canopy will grow and this old tree will become more symmetrical in shape. There will still be nooks and crannies for the jackdaws, who hopefully, will stay.

Thank you Pen Parish Council for keeping us informed, and for protecting the…

Work on the tree will be carried out next Thursday 6th February.

Jenny Steadman

Parish Council.

sycamore%20reduction.pdf

After consultations with Somerset Highways it became clear that, for safety reasons, a significant reduction needed to be carried out as per the photo.  This is, at least, better than losing the tree completely and we can hope for some new growth in time.   We have asked for the work to be done as soon as possible, before the nesting…

An opportunity to win money for the village hall and yourselves. You have until March 15th to take photos of village events. What about the Black Bin Cafe or Pen Pub?

rules-photo-competition-v1.pdf…

Wessex Internet has now completed the installation of broadband to the village hall.

If you wish to use it the WiFi password is 13348533.

The Parish Council have removed the bench from under the Sycamore Tree for the time being.  Just in case you wondered where it was.

Jenny Steadman. Chair.>

Very many thanks to Debbie Jeffries and her sharp eyes for spotting on Facebook some kind stranger’s post about finding an iPhone at the end of Marsh Lane.  Sadly it is almost certainly beyond repair but confirmed that shopping for a new one is the right things to do today!  Our daughter and family had just set out.....

Many thanks to everyone who has responded and tried to help.  Stella and Geoff

Hi

my daughter dropped her iPhone along Marsh Lane today. If you have found one please call me on 841216

Thanks

Geoff

See changes here

A wonderful Christmas Carol Service was held in the village church on Sunday 15^th December.  A huge THANK YOU to all those who served in some way to help make the service a happy event. We were delighted so many villagers and friends were able to join us. 

The collection raised the grand sum of £102 and as part of our church charitable pledge, it is being donated to the Street Pastors in Yeovil.  They are a volunteer team from Christian congregations working to give “a…

The sycamore tree has been a very large part of my life.

No 1 Sycamore cottages was our family home for fifty five years until my mother died twelve years ago.  We moved there from Chapel Lane in 1952 when I was thirteen years old.

Our children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces  all played football, cricket and many other games under the tree. Picnics on the lawn beneath its shady boughs where all the family…