Family Fun Comes To Uphill!

GLOBAL WARMING HITS UPHILL - Duck race postponed due to lack of water - now to be run as part of Scarecrow Festival weekend in September

Annual duck race cancelled due to shortage of water in village rhyne

AN annual duck race in Uphill had to be cancelled for the first time in its history because the dry weather has meant there is not enough water in the village rhyne. The duck race – which has been a highlight in the village for eight years – was due to take place this in early July as part of the Uphill fun day, but had to be postponed until the autumn. Each year organisers set off plastic 300 ducks from the bridge over the rhyne – a large agricultural drainage ditch which is normally full of water – at Old Church Road to float the 500 yards down to where it meets the estuary at Uphill Wharf. But this year the race has had to be cancelled because the recent dry spell has seen water levels plummet.

The lack of water meant parts of the rhyne have become clogged with duckweed, meaning it would be impossible for the yellow ducks to get through.

Uphill Village Society chairman, Stewart Castle, said: "Obviously we were very disappointed that the duck race had to be postponed as it was a very popular event and raises lots of money for the charity Children's Hospice South West.But we had no choice because the water level in the rhyne had dropped so dramatically.Unless we had tought the plastic ducks to walk the route, we had no other choice."Even the real ducks living on the rhyne were having a struggle.Our only choice was to postpone the race and hope it rains between now and September."

The duck race was one of a number of events being held as part of the Uphill Village Family Fun Weekend.

The 3rd Great Uphill Scarecrow Festival - A Weekend At the Movies: 25 & 26 September 2010

The third Great Uphill Scarecrow Festival takes place in the village over the weekend of 25th and 26 September on the theme of 'A Weekend At The Movies'. Entry is free, just build your scarecrow and display it. BE PART OF THE FUN!   Visit our special Scarecrow section for more details and photographs from the 2008 and 2009 festivals.

New School Hall for Uphill Primary School

Work on replacing the school hall at the village primary school has started and the new building should be in use by next Easter.

See the draft PLANS and ELEVATIONS

Donkey/Bluebell Field

It looks as if we may again have to resort to winter grazing. This is mildly frustrating as I would prefer to have summer grazing. I will firmly state that the environmental condition of the wildflowers will not be effected by this regime, as it will actually favour the spring flowers over the late summer flowers in the field. My preference for summer grazing is purely from the aesthetic considerations of the villagers.

Unfortunately where we have an 'urban' site and have so few really close farming neighbours it is a case of "beggars can't be choosers" and have to accept the conditions of the grazier.
 
One problem at the Donkey Field are the few individuals who feel that the best use for it is to exercise their dogs. Whilst this may seem like a reasonable idea, the mess that they leave can end up being eaten by the cattle who (at the time of writing) are due shortly, this can cause them nasty diseases and so should be avoided. I am happy for dog owners to use Plantation Wood, but would ask that people clean up after their pets so that the people behind can enjoy the site as well.

Jonathan Burgess - Woodland Trust

The Village Society is in discussion with the Trust as to possible solutions to these issues.

Uphillviews - Summer 2010 edition

The Summer edition of the Uphill Village Magazine, Uphillviews is published on 1st July 2010 and will be distributed free to all members of the Uphill Village Society or can be purchased for £2.00 from local outlets including Uphill News. The MUST HAVE magazine for Uphill     Copy for the Winter edition should be sent to the editor at 2 New Church Road, Uphill by 1st October 2010   JOIN TODAY - Just send a request via our contact page

Prefect Uphill Gifts -

Available from Uphill News, Weston Museum or by request via Contact page

Uphill Needs YOU!

Want to help YOUR village. Have just a few hours to spare each month. Happy to support YOUR community. Want to protect, promote and enhance YOUR village. Then join the committee of the Uphill Village Society or just make yourself available to support their work benefiting YOU and YOUR village. Contact 01934 415581 or society@uphillvillage.org.uk or use the response form on the Contact page

Healthy Walking in Uphill

Uphill Village Society has published a series of walks around and about Uphill in the Spring of 2009. Copies have been delivered FREE to members with the Spring edition of Uphillviews and are available at local outlets including the town museum and information centre. A new revised edition is in preparation for publication shortly. Request a copy via contact page