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Parish Articles

Events and information about Crosthwaite and Lyth.

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Frances Tophill

Gardeners' World

Gardeners' World

A lovely damson blossom film made with Frances Tophill in the spring of 2019 was aired by Gardeners' World on Good Friday 10th April 2020 at 8.30pm on BBC Two, with a repeat on Easter Sunday (12th) at 6.30am.

The two contributors in the film were Hartley Trotter and Edward Sharp.

Click the links here to see still images of the interviews with Hartley and Edward.

Curlew

Curlew Country South Cumbria

Curlew Country South Cumbria

A group called Curlew Country has been set up in Shropshire to try and increase curlew numbers there, and a satellite group called Curlew Country South Cumbria has been set up to try to help birds in the Lyth Valley and Crook areas.

The curlew (Numenius arquata) is the epitome of the beginning of spring with its haunting calls being one of the most iconic and memorable bird calls; unfortunately, this is now a rare sound of the countryside. Although there are some good populations in a couple of European countries the curlew has been in serious decline almost everywhere.

Click here to download the Spring 2019 newsletter in pdf format.

Mill Fields

Mill Fields Wildlife Project and Conservation Orchard

Mill Fields Wildlife Project and Conservation Orchard

Children of Crosthwaite School to Benefit from Their Own Wildlife Reserve

Click here to download more information in pdf format.

RSPB logo

A bog's life

A bog's life

Local nature enthusiasts from the Lyth Valley joined the RSPB, Natural England and expert local naturalists on 18 August 2011 for an exploration of the amazing wildlife that thrives in local bogs. More than 20 people gathered at Savinhill bog where nature conservation experts introduced them to the range of flora and fauna that thrive in the wetland habitat.

Click here to read the press release.

Garden Ramble

Garden Ramble 2010

The Crosthwaite and Lyth Garden Ramble, 2010

A Gardeners Perspective

Planning began as usual last autumn, with a review of what grew well and what not so well in 2009: were there any areas in the garden we should change for next year? Had we picked up any ideas for layout or planting? Apart from a couple of new, short paths through the rose beds, a bit of work on the pond and replacing a few lupins and delphiniums (tend to be short-lived), no substantial changes were planned.

Click on the clematis picture for a gardener's perspective

Click on the picture below to read and see more of the garden at Orchard House, Crosthwaite.

Open Gardens

Garden Ramble

Garden Ramble 2010

The Crosthwaite and Lyth Garden Ramble, 2010

Penny Mutch has written about her experiences of the event.

Just before the May Bank Holiday weekend, all breaths were held as the weather forecasts on every radio and TV station, not to mention the internet, were scanned. The general feeling was that all would be well. Saturday saw torrential rain and all those whose gardens were due to open their gates on the Sunday, watched fearfully, but as the working party arrived at the Village Hall on the Sunday morning at 8 o'clock, the beautiful Lyth Valley was bathed in sunshine and we all heaved a sigh of relief…

Click on the picture to read more.

African Children's choir

Our boys

The African childrens choir.

Many of us in the parish were delighted to welcome the children and adults from the African Children's Choir into our homes. At their concert at St Thomas' Church in Kendal, on Monday 10th November 2008, they treated an audience of 450 people to a wonderful life-enhancing performance of song and dance. Those of us who hosted the choir will never forget the special time we were able to have with these delightful children. Each family had 3 children and one adult, apart from Val Harrison who hosted the driver! Steve Doherty provided the food they fed everybody with on the day of the concert. John and Caroline Holmes organised the whole event.

Penny Mutch wrote an article about the whole experience.

Click on the picture to read the article.

African Children's choir

Juliet putting a piece of
toast in a damson tree

Wassail Day

Morris Men held a Wassail Celebration in January at Row Barn (by kind permission of Mr and Mrs John Walker). Two teams took place one from Lancaster and the other from Crook. The performance started in the Orchard when they sang to the wren, the robin and the damson tree; all those attending were encouraged to put a piece of toast on the tree and drink from the Wassail Cup. They then progressed to a flat area where they danced to traditional music. It was gratifying to see some young dancers. They then travelled to the Hare and Hounds Bowland Bridge where they continued the revelries including a mummer play. The whole celebration aroused much interest.

Click on the picture to read the article.

Jean Denney, January 2009.
Article from Crook Morris.

Fire Officer

Callum Graham
Group Manager Service Delivery
Barrow Locality Office

Community Fire Safety

My name is Callum Graham and I am currently responsible for delivering community safety, from a fire service perspective, in and around the areas of Millom, Broughton, Coniston, Grange and Bootle.

I have been in the fire service for about 25 yrs and I've witnessed many changes in this time and none more so than the fact that we, as a service, will not meet our targets and expectations of our stakeholders working on our own. The reason for contacting the your Parish Magazine is that I am responsible for some of the Lyth ward, it is served directly from Grange and Kendal Fire Station, and I have experience of working with the groups around Kendal, South Eden and the areas mentioned above and I'm always looking for new ways of engaging with groups, especially those in our more rural areas, which pretty much covers the most of Cumbria.

Click on the picture to read the article