Everything changes

It’s September, summers over (!) and the children are back to school, some just returning to the same school, others moving up to secondary school and the toddlers attending primary or a playgroup for the first time.

Some kids feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and maybe even a new school. Happily, these ‘new’ worries only remain for a little while.

Most teachers now kick off the school year by introducing themselves and talking about all the stuff that the pupils may expect be doing in the year ahead.

Some kids might already know a lot of others in their classes, or even brothers and sisters attending, but these are great days for making new friends.

So different from years gone by when you remember that there were no such things as pre- school playgroups or suchlike..

In the countryside many kids from isolated homes would have to walk, in all weathers, as much as three miles to attend school (no buses then) and they wouldn’t even have a bike until they were much older.

The experience of going to school for the first time was somewhat fearful as many will not have had any contact whatsoever with other kids outside of the family circle. There were no school uniforms as we know them today and all the boys wore short trousers until they were almost teenagers.

In school, they would have their own desks fitted with inkwells - no Biros or the like then - and teacher would write with chalk on a blackboard - now it’s a whiteboard with coloured markers. Also some lessons would come over on the school’s wireless set.

Kids from farms would have to bring their own lunches, whilst others living nearby would be allowed to return home for their meals.

Regular visitors to the school would be the local bobby whose duty it was to check the brakes and mudguards on the kids bikes to make sure they were roadworthy; the district nurse to ensure that everyone was free from lice and that they were well washed behind the ears; someone to carry out an eyesight check and the much feared attendance officer who would be down on you like a ton of bricks if you were frequently absent

Then, as now, it was the very beginning of life’s great, huge adventure - to eventually be, hopefully, looked back upon with many happy and joyous memories.

Changing times

As the years go by, it has always been the wish of parents and grandparents (especially) to give the youngsters a treat now and then - spoil them a bit if you like!

A social occasion such as a summer trip to the seaside, a seasonal pleasure fair or one of the local country shows afforded the ideal opportunity.

For the pensioner it did not always demand a very deep dip into the purse - or the trouser pocket - to bring a joyful smile onto the face of the recipient.

But, seemingly, not any more?

So many of the ice cream retailers or burger vans now have to tender for the most lucrative pitches and the highest bidder is the one that is usually accepted.

Then comes the crunch: the rental money has to come from somewhere and it’s most likely the kids pocket money or granddad’s wallet that feels the pinch.

I feel that when tendering the purveyors should give an account of what they intend charging so that the event organisers know just who is going to feel the pinch most.

At one time you could get a large cone for two bob (10p) and perhaps have a chocolate flake included. I don’t think voting to come out of the Common Market has caused the huge hike this year as some have, at various summer shows, been charged up to £4.50 for a cone and a fiver for a burger (with free onions?).

It should be worthy of note that McDonalds still charge less than £1 for an ice-cream and they are obviously making a handsome profit otherwise they would not remain in business.

Council vandalism

Hedgelaying is a country craft which has been practiced for hundreds of years, but it is just as relevant today as it always has been.

Under the invaluable patronage of the Prince of Wales, the National Hedgelaying Society is today only conservation organisation dedicated to maintaining the traditional skills of hedgerow management.

Although agriculture has seen vast technological advances it is generally held that there is still no machine which can replicate the skilled work of the hedgelayer.

Hedgerow maintenance and restoration involves ‘laying’ the hedgerow shrubs, utilising the best expertise in cutting and laying down the upright stems - bending them in effect, but leaving enough of the stem uncut to keep the stem alive.

The knowledgeable craftsman (or woman) will carefully judge the angle to which the stem is laid down in-order to maintain healthy growth but also thicken the base of the hedge.

Hedgelaying declined after the 1939-1945 war due to many factors such as the availability of labour, the introduction of machines to cut hedges, wire fences and changes in agriculture that placed emphasis on production.

By the 1960s, some hedges were declining at an alarming rate and lack of maintenance meant that hedges became tall and gappy with sparse growth at the base; in effect a line of trees. Many hedges that had declined too far were grubbed out to make larger fields that could be more efficiently managed by larger machinery.

There are very many different styles, such as the Pembrokeshire, Gower or Montgomeryshire, but although the principles of hedge laying are simple, it does involve considerable skill to get right. West Wales has very few remaining skilled hedgelayers who fully realise that soon this valuable art that had been acquired over hundreds of years could be lost forever.

Around Pembrokeshire this year, there could have been seen some superb examples of how hedge laying should be done, that is until the county council came along with their powerful hedge cutters and willfully undid all their good work.

Little wonder that the Farming, Forestry and Wildlife Advisory Group are up in arms over such wanton vandalism.

Uncared for

As occupiers of land farmers have a legal obligation to ensure that seeds of injurious weeds, particularly thistle and ragwort, do not spread to neighbouring land.

Horses and cattle are more susceptible to ragwort poisoning than other livestock; with young animals being more prone than older ones. Poisoning can occur at any time of the year, generally having a cumulative effect - a very small intake over a long period of time can be just as damaging as a large intake over a short period.

A Government Law insists that primary responsibility for weeds control rests with the occupier of the land on which the harmful weeds are growing. These specified weeds, and a range of others, may be controlled using a number of chemical or cultural means.

However, great care should be taken to choose the most appropriate method for the specific circumstances of each area mindful that sites of special conservation interest where control of the injurious weeds may risk damaging rare or valuable flora and fauna - in these situations expert advice should be sought before any action is taken.

Fully aware of the forgoing, and that so many country folk toe the line with regards to weed control, it is so sad to see so many public offices and urban business with weeds growing along the approach steps and exterior walls, seemingly unnoticed and uncared for.

What others may think

“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job, because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it!”

“The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.”

“Ideas are easy - implementation is hard.”

“The person that you will spend the most time with in your life is yourself, so better try to make yourself as interesting as possible.”

“Comfort is the enemy of achievement.”

“If you accept your limitations you go beyond them.”