What an amazing month again. Wonderful warm sunny weather, with less than average rainfall. This has been the driest six month period in Christleton for many years. No wonder the vegetation everywhere you look has just exploded. This is true in gardens as well as the countryside, and the Willow trees growing along the canal are thickening out much earlier than usual and narrowboats are having difficulty navigating past them especially the 72ft boats. If vegetation is causing problems everywhere, so is the traffic through the village. This was particularly so when the traffic authorities closed Tarvin Road for three days and diverted traffic through the village. This was exacerbated when there were also traffic lights and hold ups on Whitchurch Road. Chaos isn’t even the best description. To see large cars, caravans and white vans having to navigate the alternative route through Birch Heath Lane, where there are always parked cars connected with visitors to Birch Heath Lodge was incredible. There were lots of swear words exchanged as traffic tried to get through. It was an extraordinary few days.

I was interested to spot a narrow boat selling pizza moored along the canal one weekend, with ample opportunities for people to purchase, and many people are excited that a pair of mute swans are spending their time surveying possible nest sites. They are immature birds and won’t breed this year, but watch this space next year. Even more excitement has seen two sightings of a brown hare, one at Cotton Edmunds which is a regular occurrence, but seeing one, possibly a young Leverette, near the High School was quite special. Then as I write a report has come in that a female Roe deer has been seen in the middle of the village, possibly the same one that was captured on camera at Hockenhull Platts a few weeks ago. (Pictures next month) Another exciting spot was a tiny firecrest in Haslin Crescent. Gold crests are quite common in the village, with their orange crests down the middle of their heads, but a bright red firecrest is rare. A pair of greylag geese with four goslings have provided many watchable occasions at the Pit in June. This is the first time to my knowledge that they have bred in the area. The orchids on Legion Meadow are spreading even more this year, and I estimate that there are now over 200 specimens for people to enjoy. They are growing taller each season, which has been the best growing season for wild flowers on the meadow. It has taken about twenty years to mature, from its original state to now. It’s often said that wild flowers grow best on poor soil, the original meadow being too rich a soil for them initially. The developments on the Playing Fields are coming on a pace and should be open to use very soon. The new pathway around the site is very exciting, as are seeing the newly planted trees which will eventually create a grove around the field. One or two groups of house martins and swallows can be seen around the village, but sadly there are just the occasional sightings of swifts. I saw five on one occasion and four on another. This is so sad, as they are really remarkable birds, which have probably flourished at sites in the village for hundreds of years.

Finally this month, congratulations to the Fete Committee for a wonderful Village occasion in June. This celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the Village Fete. 1875-2025. I have printed the programmes below for your interest as well as displaying a number of photographs taken on the day. Fuller report next month.