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Hello Readers,
UPCOMING SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR ADVERTISERS & CONTRIBUTORS: APR ‘26 EDITION - 6TH MARCH 26 | MAY ‘26 EDITION - 8TH APRIL 26
Here we are, all present and correct in the year of the Fire Horse. I can’t help but feel that it should be the year of some amphibious creature based on the amount of water we have had – maybe the Soggy Frog?! You’d need a snorkel to get around the Brierley Forest Park Run, hence it’s cancellations for the past few weeks. But alas, it is not. This is supposed to be associated with impulsivity, bold action and new beginnings. Mr Emily can hardly wait for even more random shenanigans, which can be attributed to the Fire Horse legitimately now!
In other news, we have an answer to ‘who ate all the pies’, turns out it was us!!! To give you some context…. on birthdays, the birthday boy/girl gets to choose a location for lunch and we enjoy a takeaway from the nominated place, paid for by the other HQ peeps. This year, I really fancied a take-out from ‘The Pantry’ at Swanwick. Turns out that we took the remaining 4 pies for the day, with
Michelle opting for something else. Unbeknownst to us, our name was mud, as any poor soul who asked for a pie after 12:30 was met with the fact that unfortunately ‘Voice has taken them all’!!! When Sarah found this out on the grapevine, we all laughed so hard…. who knew that we were the answer to a lifelong (usually football) chant!!
I can’t promise it won’t happen again, but what I would say is, if you really want a pie from The Pantry, make sure you order before 12:30pm because no-one can ever know when we might strike again!!
Anyway, at the time of writing we’ve had a couple of days of the big yellow thing in the sky, woohoo… and the daffodils and snowdrops are pushing upwards, so roll on March 29th for those longer days.
Happy Reading, Emily x
There’s something about spring that feels like a collective sigh of relief. After months of dark mornings, soggy pavements and coats that never quite dry, the world begins to gently stretch, yawn, and come back to life. It doesn’t arrive with a fanfare, but in small, hopeful moments that quietly lift the spirits.
It starts with the light. One day you glance at the clock and realise it’s still bright at half past five. The next, you’re opening the curtains to sunshine instead of drizzle. The days don’t just get longer – they feel lighter too, as if winter has finally loosened its grip.
Spring is the season of small pleasures. Snowdrops and daffodils push their way through stubborn soil, reminding us that resilience can be beautiful. Gardens that looked tired and forgotten suddenly hint at colour and promise. Even the hedgerows seem to wake up, dotted with fresh green shoots that weren’t there the week before.
There’s a change in people as well. Walks feel less like a chore and more like a treat. Dogs linger a little longer at the park, and neighbours stop to chat rather than rushing back indoors. Coats are left unzipped, scarves abandoned, and there’s a quiet optimism in the air that’s hard to explain but easy to feel.
Spring also brings a sense of possibility. It’s the time of year when we talk about fresh starts, whether that’s tackling the garden, opening the windows wide for a long-overdue clear-out, or simply spending more time outside. There’s no pressure for grand resolutions – just a gentle nudge to try again, do a little more, or slow down and enjoy what’s around us.
Of course, spring in Britain likes to keep us on our toes. Sunshine one minute, showers the next – but even the rain feels different now. Softer somehow. Kinder. It no longer feels like winter refusing to leave, but spring doing things its own way.
As March unfolds, there’s a comforting sense that better days are ahead. Easter is on the horizon, weekends feel more inviting, and the simple joy of being outdoors returns. Spring reminds us that change doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic to be meaningful – sometimes it just arrives quietly, with a bit more light and a lot more hope.
So, here’s to spring: a season that encourages us to breathe deeply, look forward, and appreciate the little moments that make everyday life feel just that bit brighter.
The origins of the Welfare Ground down on Grange Street are deeply rooted in Alfreton’s coal mining history and, in particular, the Mining Industry Act of 1920.
The Act required the coal owners to constitute a fund to be applied for such purposes connected with the social well-being, recreation and conditions of living of workers in or about coal mines.
The fund was to be established via a levy of one penny per ton of coal produced and the fund administered locally by a Miner’ Welfare Committee.
In the summer of 1922 Alfreton Urban District Council were approached by the local Committee who offered to erect covered swimming baths and hand them over as a gift to the council. The Derby Daily Telegraph on 3rd August 1922, reported “a heated discussion” took place, it being said that the upkeep would be a “constant burden on the ratepayer.” Due to the size of the urban district a site, available to all would, it was thought, be hard to find. The proposal was rejected but the provision of a recreation ground in each of the four wards within the urban district was suggested as a possible alternative.
The Miners’ Welfare Committee, although disappointed with the rejection of the swimming baths proposal, worked on and in September, 1923 returned to the council to report they were negotiating to purchase the town’s football and cricket grounds and surrounding land to the extent of 20 acres on which it was proposed to lay out tennis courts, bowling greens etc., the estimated cost being £4,000. The scheme was, however, dependent on the Council taking over the ground as a free gift. On the committee of management,
the coal owners and the men would each have a representative. The proposal was warmly received by the majority of the Urban District Council although one or two were obstructive and attempted to delay matters.
It isn’t clear when the Welfare opened but we do know that in July of 1925 the position of Caretaker and Groundsman was advertised in local newspapers. Their place of work being “Alfreton Miners Welfare & Pleasure Grounds”.
On a visit to Chesterfield in May 1927 former Prime Minister, David Lloyd George mentioned the Welfare Ground. He said, “The Alfreton Urban Council, in conjunction with the Miners’ Welfare Committee have really succeeded in turning a refuse tip and its undesirable surroundings into pleasing landscape which bids fair blossom the rose”.
Since that time, the Welfare has hosted many sporting events, the Wakes, and even the Circus of Lord John Sanger who had performed before Queen Victoria and other European Heads of State.
Although today we would regard £4,000 as a relatively small sum, remember that to raise the £4,000 via the coal levy of 1d per ton, Alfreton miners had to produce a staggering 390,000 tons of coal!
The Welfare continues to be a well-loved feature of our town as well as a fitting memorial to our mining Heritage.
www.alfretonanddistrictheritagetrust.wordpress.com
The Voice Magazines team were privileged to review Yui’s Thai Pantry and were presented with a wonderful range of authentic flavours, including spicy Thai red curry, cooling Thai green curry, aromatic chicken satay skewers, and savoury handmade spring rolls served with sweet chilli sauce as the perfect accompaniment, alongside home cooked prawn crackers. Each dish was clearly prepared with expert attention to quality and freshness. The curries were particularly impressive, and the chicken throughout was tender and full of flavour. Delivery was prompt, well organised and arrived in excellent condition. A truly enjoyable experience that we would all happily recommend.
THANK YOU, YUI’S THAI PANTRY!
fan 160°C/gas 4.
3. Line a large baking tray with kitchen foil and
This simple recipe uses the increasingly popular gochujang to give the meal that distinctive sweet and savoury Korean flavour
arrange the chicken on the tray, spaced apart as much as possible. Scatter with the sesame seeds and roast for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.
Transfer the chicken to a plate and serve with rice and lots of Speed vegetables or a crisp, finely chopped salad.
• 2 level tbsp gochujang paste
• 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• ½ level tsp sugar
• 1cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 600g skinless and boneless chicken thighs, visible fat removed, each cut lengthways into 3 pieces
• 2 level tsp sesame seeds
For more information visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk Serves: 4 1½ Swips per serving
Ready in: 35 mins (plus 1hr marinating)
Some of you may have seen our recent social media posts announcing a “Fresh Start,” and we would like to explain what this means.
Over recent years the church has faced challenges, which we have now put behind us as we look forward with hope. We are currently seeking a new Vicar and invite you to join us on this journey. Although we are small in number, we want to grow. If you have attended in the past, would you consider returning? If you are new to the area, you would be very welcome to visit us.
We hold a Café Service every Sunday at 10:30am. On the first Sunday of the month this takes place in the Church Hall and is aimed at school-age children, with carers welcome to stay. On other Sundays, the Café Service is held in the Church, offering a relaxed setting with refreshments. At 4:30pm we hold a traditional service in the Church, alternating between Evening Prayer and Holy Communion. A Coffee Morning is held on the last Saturday of each month from 10:00am–12 noon
Our well-equipped Church Hall, located just below the Church, is available for hire. At present, there is no Café Service on the third Sunday of the month and no afternoon service on the fourth Sunday.
As a small congregation, there is much to do and volunteers are always welcome, particularly with grounds and maintenance. There are rotting leaves around the Church and Hall, ideal for allotments.
Christian worship has continued in South Normanton since 1137 AD, with Rectors listed from 1220 AD. Our Grade II listed church is much loved locally. However, the roof urgently needs repair at an estimated cost of £60,000, and fundraising ideas are very welcome. We are also open to suggestions on how the building could better serve the community.
† Mon 30th & Tues 31st March plus Wed 1st April 9am Morning Prayer in the Church
† Maundy Thursday 2nd April - 9am Morning Prayer in the Church 12:30pm Hand washing and lunch in the Church Hall
† Good Friday 3rd April - 9am Morning Prayer in the Church 10:30am - Noon Family Crafty Fun and fish finger sandwiches in the Church Hall
† Easter Sunday - 8am Sunrise Holy Communion in the Church 10:30am Churches Together service at J28 Church
•
March is that brilliant time of year when rugby really feels alive. The pitches might still be a little muddy, the air still a bit sharp, but there’s something special about this stage of the season. From our youngest minis taking off on unstoppable runs, to our youth squads growing in confidence every week, right through to our Tigers and Men’s senior teams battling it out with grit and determination - every corner of Amber Valley is buzzing.
Rugby isn’t just about the scoreline. It’s about early Sunday mornings with a flask in hand. It’s about teammates who become lifelong friends. It’s about learning resilience, celebrating progress, and cheering each other on - whether you’re six or sixty. Across the club we continue to see players developing skills, supporting one another, and representing Amber Valley with pride. Our coaches and volunteers work tirelessly behind the scenes, making sure everyone has the chance to play, belong and thrive.
As we head towards the final stretch of the season, there’s plenty to look forward to - more matches, more laughs, and more memories made in black and gold.
Interested in giving rugby a try? call Stuart 07966 867 946 for the men,
More than just a club, we are the #ValleyFamily. You can visit our website www.ambervalleyrfc.co.uk, Facebook &
pages to contact us or follow what we do. You can find us at Lower Somercotes, Somercotes, Alfreton
✽ 2 spacious en-suite bedrooms
✽ A fully enclosed garden
✽ Fast fibre Wi-Fi and smart TV’s
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✽ Fully equipped kitchen
Perfect for exploring the stunning Northumbrian Heritage Coastline
Plenty of dog friendly pubs, cafes & restaurants in stunning Warkworth
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This walk starts just outside Strelley Village on the road to All Saints Church. You head out on country lanes across open land, before joining a path alongside a gorgeous, disused section of the Nottinghamshire Canal. From here you pass Cossall Marsh Village before returning along a series of lanes to pass back under the M1 and, one of the highlights of the walk, ‘The Stones of Monks Way’ beside All Saints Church.
A mid-length walk which should take you and your dog around 2 ½ - 3 hours to complete. The walk is mostly on trails and paths but there are a few short stretches of road so please take care. It has been very wet of late so please wear appropriate footwear and, as always, please follow the countryside code.
START: Lay-by on Main Street between Strelley Village and All Saints Church, Nottingham. Near NG8 6PE
1. Beginning on the corner by the lay-by. Walk past a metal barrier along a signposted bridleway.
2. Follow the main path as it bends around to the left and past a lane on the right. After some distance ignore a footpath straight ahead and instead follow the main bridleway around to the right to continue ahead with trees on your right and open views to your left.
3. Continue for quite some distance, crossing straight over a crossroads of paths/lanes to keep ahead with a hedge on your left and open views on your right. Then, after some distance, pass through a small metal gate and immediately onto a crossroads of paths/lanes.
4. Turn right here, along a lane signposted for ‘Cossall’. Continue with a hedge on your right. Prior to reaching a motorway follow the lane around to the right then left to pass through a tunnel.
5. Follow the lane around to the left, then after a short distance follow the lane around to the right. The lane narrows to a path with trees on your right and open views to your left. Continue for some distance passing a marker post on your right-hand side and along a footpath lined by trees.
6. Continue ahead for some distance as the path kinks left then right, then continue until eventually the path widens to a lane and you reach a large metal gate directly in front of you. Pass through a gap beside the gate and onto a road. Cross the road diagonally to pick up a footpath next to a large wooden gate and alongside a canal.
Walk alongside the canal path until eventually it bends sharp right to cross over a wooden footbridge. Turn right after the bridge and continue with the canal on your right. Ignore a wooden footbridge on your right and cross over another footbridge directly in front of you.
Continue with the canal on your right until passing through a metal width restrictor next to a large metal gate. Cross over a lane to pass through a gap next to a large metal gate. Keep ahead ignoring any paths to the left or right until reaching a metal chicane. Pass through the chicane and follow the path downhill. Pass by some industrial buildings on your left and continue ahead to cross over a road bridge, through a metal width restrictor and along the footpath going uphill. At the top of the hill continue with the canal on your right.
Upon reaching a wooden footbridge on your right, cross the bridge and ignore a path on your left to continue straight ahead with a canal on your right. Shortly the canal on your right ends and is replaced by a fence on your right and trees on your left.
12. Cross the road and turn left. Immediately after passing No. 50 on your right, just prior to a bus stop, turn right to continue along a signposted ‘Bridleway’.
13. Continue along the bridleway for quite some distance and just prior to reaching a road, turn right along a lane and signposted bridleway to ‘Strelley’. Continue along the lane for a short distance and as the path splits turn sharp left to continue along the lane with a hedge on both sides.
14. Continue for some distance, then after passing a lane to your left, which leads to a farm, take a lane on your right, away from the farm, to continue with open fields on both sides.
15. Continue ahead for some distance, pass by a marked footpath on your right and through a gap next to a large metal gate. Immediately after, ignore a lane to your right and continue gently downhill. At the bottom of the hill pass by a large double metal gate on your left and a large wooden gate on your right. The lane narrows to a footpath and continues uphill with a fence on your right and trees on your left.
16. After some distance pass through a gap adjacent to a small metal gate. The footpath widens to a lane. walk the lane climbing gently uphill until crossing over a motorway bridge and then until reaching a road.
17. At the road turn right and keep ahead along the road, past Strelley Church and along ‘The Stones of Monk’s Way’. Continue along the road for some distance to return to the start.
Continue along the path, passing a marker post and a footpath on your left then follow the path to the right. Eventually you will pass by buildings on both sides of the path before you bear to the left and onto a road (Awsworth Lane in Cossall Marsh Village).
This walk is for illustrative purposes only. Voice Magazines Ltd takes no responsibility for anyone who chooses to follow this route and encourages all walkers to obey all byelaws and signs and to respect the area they are walking in, ensuring they pick up all dog mess and obey the countryside code at all times.
We didn’t have a telly in our house until the mid-sixties, but when we did, it was a big event. The set was rented from Wigfalls in Derby and every month mum had to go and pay the rental. It was always breaking down and no amount of banging the top or moving the aerial would improve the picture.
We had to turn a dial to find the channels. ITV had started as a rival to the BBC in 1955 (with adverts) and when BBC2 came along in 1964, there were three to choose from.
You needed a more expensive licence to have a colour TV from 1968 (£10 as opposed to £5 for a black and white license). My grandad was brilliant at telling the different colours on snooker balls on his black and white TV.
The test card was an image shown when no programmes were being transmitted. It featured a long-haired girl
NOT ADJUST YOUR SET Janet and Paul Barrass are All Around the Shire. Find us on or email: oldfield512@btinternet.com
playing noughts and crosses with a clown accompanied by music.
Does anyone remember standing to attention for “The Queen” and the National anthem at the end of the evening when the programmes had finished? And the little white dot disappearing in the middle of your screen when you switched it off?
There are so many memories about early TVs. A world away from what we have now.
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Am I the only one, or are others becoming increasingly fed up with American words, phrases and customs taking over our language/way of life?
The build up to last Christmas, or as the Americans would have us say, ‘holiday season’, was when I realised just how grumpy I was becoming about the number of Americanisms that have crossed the Atlantic Ocean in recent years and are now in common usage in this country. The country, lest you’ve forgotten, that created the English language.
I’ll give you a few examples this month, and based on past experience, know that readers will email me a few of their own favourites (?).
It was only a few years ago, that we Brits first became aware of the phrase Black Friday. I’m no retail expert, but I saw this as an effort to promote a specific day on which pre-Christmas bargains would be available to boost sales. In effect, it was a case of bringing forward, by approximately a month, this country’s traditional Boxing Day sales. OK, I could probably live with that, but it’s now morphed into pre-Black Friday, post-Black Friday and any number of Black Friday extensions. It’s ridiculous and……………… just not British!
Possibly linked to the American holiday season, which runs from Thanksgiving Day (last Thursday in November) through to early January, we now see British homes putting up their Christmas decorations earlier and earlier each year. You may wish to argue otherwise, but I just don’t think it’s fair on our children. They get excited enough as the ‘big day’ draws near, and I don’t think we’re doing them (or us) any favours by extending the pre-Christmas period.
Whilst I’m at it, whatever happened to our traditional Halloween practices. I’m not sure that ‘trick or treating’ as it appears to have evolved should be encouraged, and don’t get me started on the millions of perfectly good pumpkins that are wasted each year!
Yes, I accept that I may well be a good example of how levels of grumpiness increase with age, but I bet I’m not alone, and I’m sure that some of you will confirm that.
Right, just to lighten the mood a little, here’s something I became aware of the other week.
You may not have heard, as it wasn’t widely reported, but there was a very unusual incident in Nottingham city centre on a recent Saturday night. Locals woke up on the Sunday to find Slab Square covered in Sticky Toffee Pudding, Apple Crumble & Custard, Bread & Butter Pudding, Eton Mess & Roulade and Black Butter Frangipane with Apple Tart.
The Police were at a loss as to how to explain this phenomenon or, indeed, track down the culprits. They reckoned that it may have been a student prank, but after hours of exhaustive investigation, including detailed analysis of CCTV from buildings overlooking the scene of the crime, they sadly came to the conclusion that the Old Market Square had been totally desserted that night.
Mike
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Utopia Avenue is the name of a fictional street in London. It’s also the name of a 1960-70’s rock band and of this month’s book.
David Mitchell’s novel is probably marmite. You may love it or wonder why you’d bother.. It’s maybe for you if you lived through, or are fascinated by, the 60’s summer of love hippie era. Or you love rock music. Or you enjoy books about how prosaic lives can become monumental and how human beings cope with the best and worst of experiences.
It has to be said, the book is brilliantly more-ish. This David Mitchell is not the comedian; he’s a novelist renowned for mind-blowing stories which cross centuries and worlds and lots of people love his stuff.
Utopia Avenue brings people like David Bowie, John Lennon and Leonard Cohen into the story as cameos. It dives deep into life on the road, has a strong male and female cast and some pretty dark thoughts about mental health. It’s also very funny at times and you can almost smell and taste the excitement of making brilliant music.
It’s also 570 pages long and like the period itself is a tale of drugs and sex and youthful idealism colliding with grim reality. It’s about the spirit of an age.
You’ll know if it sounds like “your bag” as the hippies would have said…
So, the two burgeoning guitarists, Ron Smart and his close school friend John Brown, like minded young hopefuls for the future, honed their musical skills as often as time would allow. Tuning into the Top 20 on Radio Luxembourg (when reception permitted) and visiting musical venues to listen to the local bands only served to increase their determination to develop and form their very own band.
Jake Evans was a friend and neighbour of Ron’s, and he was encouraged to join them on drums to make up the threesome. Jake didn’t own a drum-set at the time, but eventually they came across a small drumset called a “TOP CAT” kit which consisted of a snare drum, bass drum, high hat and a single cymbal.
“We couldn’t play much at this time,” Ron said. “But hey, we had a band and all we needed was a name. Ron thinks it was Jake who came up with the name ‘Alley Cats’.” They practised in the Old Church Hall on Downing Street opposite the Miners’ Arms which served as a youth club two nights a week.
“There was a bit of a skit performed one time at the youth club,” continued Ron, “and I do remember we played a musical intermission for them including the hit number Apache by the Shadows.”
As the months passed the they continued to visit local clubs, often as not taking the bus to the many Miners’ Welfares’ at the time, anywhere a band was playing they would make every effort to be there, listening, watching and learning from these regular experienced bands while still practising as often as possible back home.
Cyril Martin bottom centre, Ron Smart mid left, Dave Wright top left, Tony Brookes top right and John Brown bottom right.
It was during this time they realised they wouldn’t fare well or go anywhere without a lead singer/frontman. So, they coaxed Ron’s cousin Cyril Martin to sing for them.
Ron takes up the story. “Cyril was a few years older than us, he looked the part, had a smooth voice, he could sing in tune, on top of all that, he had an A35 van. Great for hauling guitars, amps and drum-kit around.”
“I remember our first gig with Cyril,” recalled John. “It was at the Great Northern pub in Shirebrook, sometime in mid 1962. Ron and myself would have been around 15 years of age.”
It was suggested to the lads that they needed a bass guitar to fill out their sound, and, a better drummer, or at least one with a full drum set. They had heard of another group of South Normanton lads also trying to form a band who had both bass guitar and drummer. So Ron arranged for their bass guitarist, Tony Brookes and drummer David Wright to meet up for a chat and they were both suitably impressed to line up with Ron, Cyril and John.
Ron continues, “Oddly enough I can’t remember how we handled the elimination of John (Jake) Evans.”
Back then in 1962, most successful bands had adopted the format of lead vocals backed with a lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drummer.
With Tony and Dave now well on board, this was the time when the moniker of Cyril and The Alleycats was dropped and replaced with Martin Vee and the Pacifics.
Words by Roger West with the help from Ron Smart & John Brown.
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From
Pitcherwits® are crossword puzzles where some of the clues are in pictures.
Sound easy? It’s not called “Pit-your-wits” for nothing! The mixture of cryptic and picture clues, combined with Professor Rebus’ unique sense of humour, will keep you entertained for hours.
Across
5 Item of worth, like a TV, say? (5)
7 Spider crab, biting some religious leader (5)
11 Tree to sing about when very wet! (3)
12 Way back when, it could be a swerve (3)
16 Frequently derived from decimal (5)
17 Glue? It’s said to have walked! (5) Down
2 Way beyond any useful training (5)
3 French composer was a golden boy? (5)
10 Some ammunition for little tertiary education (3)
14 Cooker, donated by veteran gentleman (5)
15 Buying up pyjamas, partly for the fish (5)
Down
With a bit of luck we’ll be able to get properly started in the garden this month, although some tasks can be achieved without relying on decent outdoor growing weather.
It’s a good time to make use of last year’s left over compost – both whatever you have left in compost bags and the remains from last year’s containers. It’s reckoned to be a good idea to replace the top third of any compost in containers. This will be depleted of nutrients and so no good for growing this year’s plants but can be used as a mulch for shrubs and also to aerate heavy or very wet soil. If you dig it into borders it won’t add nourishment but it will make it easier to grow different plants – i.e. where some existing soil types such as clay may not be compatible with certain kinds of plants. You can also spread it over the surface of soil – about 3 inches deep - to suppress weeds and it will help keep in the moisture later in the year.
If you’re looking for things to grow there are hundreds of packets of seeds to go at if you’ve a warm greenhouse or window shelf. But one group of plants you can quite happily put out in the garden now is herbs such as sage and rosemary and thyme. Thyme is particularly versatile and comes in several flavour varieties.
Lift and divide your snowdrops and aconites before they fade for more flowers next year. Small clumps will expand into bigger clumps over a year. Replant at the same depth in the soil.
It’s rose feeding time – there are any number of brands on the market – although roses are hungry feeders so it’s as well to buy specialised high potassium feed rather than all-purpose plant fertiliser.
Tomato feed also works well.
Early bees, from spring solitary bees to queen bees from hives are likely to be on the wing now. If you’ve got wallflowers, forget-me-nots bluebells and primroses, or you’re thinking about buying them for the spring garden, the bees will be happy as these are great for pollen. Going forward it’s worth including some open single flower plants in your summer garden – cosmos, single flower dahlias, hardy geraniums – they’re easy for the bees to collect pollen from. Plants such as rosemary and foxgloves are also good, for example, for those bees that probe into flowers for their pollen.
Once recognised, the Nuthatch’s calls and song are distinctive. Indeed, this is one of the nosiest and distinctive woodland species, giving loud, high-pitched cries of ‘chwit-chwit-chwit’ and ‘kee-kee-kee’. These ring out across the Peak District from late winter into spring. Historically they had folk names like ‘Nut Hacker’, from the bird’s habit of breaking open nuts forced into crevices in tree-bark which they then hammer with their sharply-pointed beaks. Other, older country names included ‘Mud Dabbler’ or ‘Mud Stopper’, from the way they plaster mud around the entrance-hole of a chosen nest-site to close it to the correct size. Their favoured nesting sites include former woodpecker nest-holes, under loose bark, and in rot-holes. However, they also use nest-boxes and even if entrance holes provided are the right size, the Nuthatch will still plaster on mud just to be sure! From autumn onwards these very pretty but quite small birds are busy establishing, advertising, and defending territories. This activity extends into spring but reduces once the actual breeding season kicks in, when they become relatively silent.
Decades ago, these birds were much more restricted in their distribution and occurrence, and I recall in the 1970s heading to Chatsworth in the hope of hearing and seeing them. Indeed, the great parkland trees of places like Haddon Hall and Chatworth House, but also, Lyme Park, and sites like Elvaston, are all good places for them. However, they have now spread to the region’s many ancient woods and can be expected wherever there are suitably large, mature trees, preferably of Oak or Beech. Since about the 1970s and early 1980s, they have increased as breeding populations by around 300% and are now regularly seen and heard in woods, parks, and gardens across the Peak. Indeed, large gardens with Oak trees are prime habitat for these birds, and clearly the increased provision of bird-feeders and bird-tables is a key factor. In preparation for periods of food-shortage, they carry away excess food (e.g., peanuts and sunflower seeds) to be hidden or cached for future feeding. Despite their small stature, Nuthatches are bold and aggressive and capable of seeing off other, larger birds at the feeders. As demonstrated by their songs and calls given from the high branches of great trees, they are highly territorial for much of the year. Indeed, food storage within the territory makes its defence particularly important.
The Nuthatch was formerly restricted to south-eastern England but spread northwards during the twentieth
century, reaching Scotland to breed for the first time in 1989. Almost all Nuthatches are very sedentary, rarely moving far from where they hatched, often travelling is less than one kilometre. Consequently, they are still absent from Ireland, and from studies where birds are caught by netting and carefully recorded and ‘ringed’, no British-ringed Nuthatches have ever been recovered abroad. Similarly, no Continental-ringed birds have been found in England. Populations vary from yearto-year, which probably reflects food availability during the winter. Of course, this is why garden feeders are so significant, so keep up the good work as the Nut Hacker depends on your efforts!
Professor Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on ianonthewildside@ukeconet.org. Follow his website www.ukeconet.org, blog www.ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter @IanThewildside Bluesky @ianthewildside.bsky.social
