I usually start each month with a comment about the weather, and for the first time this year can report that it was cloudy and wet in general, still some sunny days, but also warmer than average. There was below average rainfall of 61mm (2 1/2inches”) so you will notice that the Pit needs a great deal of rainwater to fill it. Some of the pictures I have included show the exposed middle and edges, and lots of the sandstone used to create the banks have been thrown into the centre, as acts of vandalism.

The Church Development plan has started and as I write the target sum is close to the £600,000 needed. It will bring much needed extra facilities to the church and make the building more flexible for future use. Congratulations also to the Rector for gaining the Scientists in Congregation Award for use at Church and with local schools. More information in future articles.

I feature again this year, work done by the Canal and Rivers Trust along the canal to remove huge quantities of floating pennywort. This invasive species is gaining hold everywhere and is a real problem for boaters and the Trust, as is happening with the spread of Himalayan Balsam on our rivers. You can see this from the state of the River Gowy at Hockenhull Platts, where vegetation, much of it the invasive balsam, is choking up the river. The powers that be, have also rebuilt the pathway from the Christleton side of the bridges to the first bridge, along the corridor between the Poplar Plantation and the wet meadow. This makes it much more accessible for older people like me, but we have now lost any hope of the former cobbled passageway being restored. Many newcomers to the Village will not be aware that Quary Lane, Plough Lane, Hockenhull Lane and the Bridges were part of the ancient highway from Chester to London and maintained by the Black Prince for 20 shillings in the 1300’s, to signify its importance. Chester was always loyal to the Crown, and an important source of money and men, (particularly archers) for wars in Europe.

Hockenhull Lane is still a delightful place to be on a warm sunny day, with beautiful lighting coming through the trees. Sad to say that birdlife has virtually disappeared from the fields and hedgerows, and it’s only the joy of hearing the Icelandic Pink feet flying over that makes me feel great.

As I mentioned earlier, Christleton Pit is in desperate need of some really long down pours to fill it, but the Pit Group are working hard to conserve what we can, and the Parish Council has paid for turfing to restore the worn bank near the Alms Houses. More next month about the refurbishment of the silt trap along the Littleheath Road side of the Pit.