Greta's Tale of her experiences as a wartime evacuee

This recollection has been available for a while via the Features tab, above, but it might be of interest to people now living near Natland Mill Beck Lane. Greta remembers a time when the canal was still in use, and shire horses pulled the plough. Click here for the full story, it's a heart-warming account.

New Roof on the Village Hall is coming along nicely

John Fisher writes: The new roof is a fibreglass system which is guaranteed for 20 years but should last well in excess of this. The work has been held up by the inclement weather but should be complete next week.

Harvest bug mites about

The little blighters are back. Don't go into the garden without a liberal application of insect repellent.  You won't see them and you won't feel them until too late. Then the itchy little red lumps will stay with you for weeks. For anyone new to Natland, this is the mark of the true Natlander.

Parish Council Activities

The Minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting held on the 10th May are now available. They include annual reports from many village groups and provide a useful update on their activities. If you would like to find out how to contact any of these groups use the link above to the Parish Directory.

Click here for the Minutes of the Natland Parish Council Meeting of the 30th July, where a development in the middle of the village was considered.

Age UK Activities

The weather in Natland in July

July	2018	2017
Temperature at 8 a.m.	16.5 C	14.1° C
Minimum Temperature (Ave)	13.6° C	12.7° C
Maximum Temperature (Ave)	22.5° C	21.0° C
Rainfall	62.5 mm 2.5"	136 mm 5.4"

We had a run on 21 days without rain up to 13 July. Most of the rain was in the final days of the month. The  average for July is 110 mm and we have had 5 of the 7 onths this year below average. The highest temperature was 26c and many days were above 20c.  John Dobson.

Next Parish Council Meeting

Natland Parish Council will meet next on the 30th July in the Village Hall at 7pm where they will discuss the following, amongst other matters. "Motions from the Annual Parish Meeting in respect of 40mph speed limit, and downgrading requested footway/cycleway to footway only, on Natland Road  - to consider the responses from Peter Hosking (CCC Highways)." Click here for the full agenda.

Doorstep Cold Caller Warning

Cumbria Trading Standards and United Utilities are warning residents in Cumbria to be on their guard from cold callers claiming to want to talk about poor water pressure. Bogus callers take advantage of others due to the increased communication there’s been around saving water during this hot dry weather. 

United Utilities staff members always carry photo identification cards. Customers can also check anyone claiming to be from United Utilities by calling 0345 6723 723. 

Cumbria Trading Standards advise consumers to be extremely cautious when approached by any doorstep callers offering services or conduct work on their property. These types of callers often use persuasive or aggressive tactics to get people to agree to have work carried out and then charge far more than was quoted for poor quality work or goods. 

They often fail to provide a legally required cancellation notice which enables the householder to cancel the work in certain circumstances. 

Trading Standards advice is to always say ‘NO’ to any cold callers and we ask that you look out for elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours. 

If you have been cold called or wish to report an incident please contact us via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk or alternatively contact Cumbria Police on 101. 

St. Mark's Church Parish News for July and August and more church news

The Parish News for July/August can be downloaded by clicking here. 

The Open Gardens Day is on Sunday 22nd July, 11.30-5pm. If you were quick off the mark and bought one of the first edition entrance programmes for the garden open day (showing only nine gardens open) please exchange it with whoever you bought it from for the new improved second edition featuring thirteen gardens.

There is a Silent Auction on until the 22nd July for a voucher for two tickets to travel anywhere on the west coast main line,  kindly donated by Virgin Trains. You must travel before March 2019
There is a box at the back of church where you can read the rules of the auction (on the back of the big pillar as you enter) and post your bid and your 50 pence entry fee.

June's Weather

                   

June	2018	2017
Temperature at 8 a.m.	15.1 C	13.5° C
Minimum Temperature (Ave)	12.5° C	12.0° C
Maximum Temperature (Ave)	20.7° C	19.6° C
Rainfall	51 mm 2.0"	153 mm 6.1"

Despite the heat wave at the end of the month, June overall was not much different to average. The maximum temperatures were several days at 26 c which is about at hot as we get here but we had some cooler days in the middle of the month. Average rainfall in June is 77mm. It last rained on 21 June. John Dobson