Southwold Library Christmas Tree Festival

Throughout December during opening hours

Guess the Christmas Film!

Free! Donations welcome.

Big thanks to all the local groups, clubs and businesses who have decorated our trees.

Friends of Southwold Library Coffee Afternoon

Saturday, 7th December 2–4pm @ Southwold Library

Hot drinks, mince pies or biscuits.

Cake stall, craft stall, game stalls, and raffle.

All funds towards supporting Southwold Library.

Visit Santa @ Southwold Library

Sunday, 8th and 15th December, 11am–2pm

Robin crafts, meet and photo with Santa plus gift.

£4.50 per child.

Face-to-Face Legal Matters Advice and Information: Powers of Attorney – Acting as an Attorney under a Power of Attorney

Monday, 9th December, 10.30am @ Southwold Library

Local solicitor Stuart Johnson, fully accredited with Solicitors for the Elderly, will advise on what a Power of Attorney is, what it may involve if you are made one.

Free talk, no need to book.

Snow Globes and Other Christmas Science Experiments With Kinetics Science Adventures – ‘Lab in a Library’

Saturday, 21st December, 11am and 1.30pm @ Stella Peskett Millennium Hall

Find out about the science behind the festive favourite snow globes and make your own to take home. Plus other Christmas-themed science experiments.

£2 per child. Open to children 5+. Limited spaces. Book your place today!

Tel: 01502 722519: e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk; web: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries.

Gingerbread Men Crafts

Sunday, 22nd December, 11am and 2pm @ Southwold Library

Free crafts – no need to book. Make a wide variety of gingerbread-themed Christmas crafts.

Southwold Library Reading Groups Christmas Do

Thursday, 12th December, 6.30pm

Are you in a reading group? All reading group members welcome to this annual Christmas get-together.

A chance to compare notes, discuss group favourites (and the ones you hated) and get recommendations for the New Year.

Tea, coffee and squash provided, but please bring nibbles and any other drinks to add to the evening’s offerings

Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

Swede Caroline 2024 (15) – Wednesday, 11th December, 3pm

As Caroline readies herself for the championship, the competitive giant vegetable-growing world is rocked by scandal. Her prized marrow plants are stolen and her life turns upside down, so she hires two private detectives.

Tickets are £5 including refreshments. Book a ticket at www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk; or visit the Box Office – tel: 01502 722572, or Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP.

Kids, Come and Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Thursdays, 3.30pm @ Southwold Library

The Read2Dogs scheme provided by PAT helps to improve literacy skills and wellbeing in young people by developing their confidence, interest, and enjoyment in reading.

Dogs are non-judgemental and great listeners – they don’t interrupt or correct – so they aid confidence and concentration levels. PAT Dogs are also known to encourage positive social behaviours, enhance self-esteem and inspire young people to relax and have fun.

Come and read to Ash and enjoy his calm company.

Blyth Poets ‘The Isle is Full of Voices’

Friday, 6th December, 2.15–3.30pm

First Friday of every month.

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library.

All welcome to read or just listen.

We invite contributions of original work or well-loved poems.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Mah-jong Group

Friday, 13th December, 2.15–4.15pm

Second and fourth Friday of the month

Can you play Mah-jong?

Do you want to learn?

Come along and join the group at Southwold Library. £1 per person.

Scrabble Club

Thursday, 12th December, 2.15pm

Second Thursday of every month.

All equipment supplied.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Crochet Club

Every Wednesday, 2.15–4pm

£2 each.

A friendly group for all abilities of crocheter. Barbara will be on hand to teach beginners, add to your crochet skills or troubleshoot problems. Or just bring along your latest project and crochet together.

Bring your own equipment or Barbara can supply at a price.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Lego Club!

Sundays, 12.15–1pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages.

This winter, we’re building: Humongous Houses.

All donations of Lego welcome.

Free event, no booking required.

Adults: Would you like to help with Lego Club? Just ask staff.

Southwold Library Reading Group

Thursday, 9th January, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney.

Pick up a book at Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Free event, no booking required.

Baby Bounce and Tot Rock

Every Sunday and Tuesday, 10.30–11am @ Southwold Library

Instruments, clapping, jogging and action rhymes.

For babies and toddlers of all ages.

Free event, no booking required.

Realise Futures Walk-in Advice and Guidance

Every Thursday, 10am–12noon @ Southwold Library

Do you have a learning disability/autism?

Do you need some support, advice or information?

Come along to one of our walk-in advice and guidance sessions. There is no need to book an appointment. Our advisors will talk to you about the support you need.

We can provide advice, guidance and information on housing, employment, benefits, training, money, travel, safety, health, bills/letters and social.

Please contact: Anita Fiddy, Service Locality Co-ordinator (East) – tel: 07598 582955; e-mail: anita.fiddy@realisefutures.org.

The River Blyth Project and Wilder Wenhaston

Dr Wil Harvey of the Blyth River Project opened the SWT Blyth Valley and Southwold Wildlife Group talk by detailing efforts made by a group of volunteers to monitor the Blyth’s water quality. He explained that Earthwatch ranks East Anglia as having the most polluted river basin in Britain. The Blyth is contaminated by a wide range of pollutants, including natural decay, agricultural runoff, road drainage, and industrial and domestic waste. Surprisingly perhaps, flea treatments for pets are a serious addition. Volunteers regularly test water at multiple sites, both upstream and downstream of the Halesworth sewage works. E coli levels render the river unsafe for swimming, with much higher pollution downstream, where ageing and insufficient infrastructure worsens the problem, and sewage outflow from Halesworth and Southwold adds significantly to the river’s flow. While there are efforts to reduce phosphate levels, reliance on storm overflows raises concerns about further degradation. The Project continues to monitor the river, hold Anglian Water accountable, and highlight these critical issues.

In the second part of the evening, Alan Miller, who retired from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust just as the Covid lockdowns struck, came up with a plan. He invited Wenhaston villagers to record their garden birds and send him their details. This was so enthusiastically supported that he broadened the scope to include all forms of wildlife. Eighteen months later, the audit that resulted gave invaluable information, and the various local wildlife groups worked together to improve the local biodiversity. They have recorded over 80 ‘significant’ trees, which are now on the database in Ipswich. They have planted over 13,000 trees so far; worked with local landowners to restore hedgerows and ponds; created wildflower corridors and hedgehog highways; and last year started the Wilder Garden Trail, which will be open again next year. It was exciting to see how much can be achieved when a village works together, and good to know that volunteers can provide such important local knowledge.

Our next talk will be at a different venue due to maintenance work at the Arts Centre. We will be at the Reydon Sports and Community Centre, Wangford Road, Reydon IP18 6PA , on Thursday, 9th January, at 7.30pm. Simon Thompson will give an illustrated talk on the Birds of North Carolina. Entrance is £4 to include refreshments, under 25s are free, and everyone is welcome.

Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com.

Penny Mansfield

Please note that information about the Southwold Christmas Lights as given in the Dates For Your Diary section on page 2 of the latest, Autumn edition of The Reydon Robin is not fully correct.

Southwold Christmas Lights will be switched on at 5pm on Saturday, 30th November, not 6pm as printed.

It is also organised by Light Up Southwold, not Light up Southwold with Blyth Valley Rotary as it appears in The Robin.

Our apologies.

Help the East Suffolk Community Safety Partnership understand your views of safety in East Suffolk, with our new community safety survey!

We’d like to know how safe you feel, whether you know how to report community safety concerns and what could be done to help address any concerns you may have.

Let us know your views by completing our online Community Safety Survey. Click here to access it.

The Reydon Community Quiz 2024/25 season commenced on 18th October, and it was lovely to see many of our regular quizzers back.

Amanda Humphry took the role of quiz leader for the evening and presented six rounds of varied questions, which provoked plenty of discussion and much deliberation along the way!

Winners were ‘What the Ecc?’ with 106 points, ‘Who are we?‘ in second place with 104 points, and in third place, ‘Threes Company’ with 98 points.

Together with proceeds from the raffle, the evening raised £222. The local good cause selected to receive this month’s donation is ‘New Leaf for Reydon and Southwold’. This volunteer group has continued to maintain and tidy the area along Mights Bridge as well as other local areas, and the money donated from this month’s quiz will help to fund more bulbs and plants. The local community are very appreciative of those who generously give their time like this, and we will all look forward to seeing lots of daffodils in the spring!

A huge thanks as always to our loyal quizzers, for their generosity, participation and support, to hosts Sole Bay Bowls Club and raffle helpers. Thanks also to Southwold Press for providing paper for the quizzes.

The next quiz will be on Friday, 15th November, and the Christmas quiz will be on Friday, 13th December 13.

Dates for the new year are to follow. There is sometimes space for another team, so do contact me if you are interested in joining us at ahumphry@talktalk.net.

Southwold Literary Festival

Friday, 8th–Sunday, 10th November @ Southwold Arts Centre

Inspired by the success of ‘Slaughter in Southwold’, Southwold Library, Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Books launched ‘Southwold Literary Festival’ in November 2023. The 2024 Festival features an amazing mix of fiction and non-fiction authors speaking about a fascinating range of subjects.

Tickets are £6 a talk, £10 for a Friday Day Ticket, £25 for a Saturday or Sunday Day Ticket, or £60 for the whole weekend

Tickets can be booked at Southwold Library, either in person, by phone (01502 722519) or by visiting: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries; or at Southwold Arts Centre, either in person, by phone (01502 722572) or by visiting www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk.

Friday, 8th November

• 2pm: Carol Woolton, who is a jewellery historian, editor, author and stylist, and was Jewellery Editor at British Vogue for 20 years.
• 3.30pm: Professor Richard Fortey talks about his new book, Close Encounters of the Fungal Kind: In Pursuit of Remarkable Mushrooms.

Saturday, 9th November

• 10am: Lisa Wollett talks about her experiences and researches creating Lost to The Sea: A Journey Round the Edges of Britain and Ireland.
• 11.30am: Jane Cholmeley co-founder of the Silver Moon Women’s Bookshop, details her experiences in A Bookshop of One’s Own.
• 2pm: D J Taylor, George Orwell expert, in conversation with the author of Orwell in Southwold Ronald Binns
• 3.30pm: Samuel Burr, TV executive, talks about his hot debut novel, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers.
• 5pm: Ian Collins and Richard Mabey: local biographer Collins is in conversation with nature writer Mabey.

Sunday, 10th November

• 10am: Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily, speaks about her new historical novel, The King’s Mother, about the War of the Roses.
• 11.30am: Lucy Hughes-Hallett speaks about her latest historical biography, The Scapegoat: The Brilliant Brief Life of the Duke of Buckingham.
• 2pm: Simon Loftus, local phenomenon, in conversation with Lucy Hughes-Hallett about his latest book, Who’s There.
• 3.30pm: Rachel Hore bestselling author, on her new novel set on the Cornish coast, The Hidden Years.
• 5pm: Kate Sawyer author of The Stranding, talks about her new book, This Family.

Orwell in Southwold: A Guided Walk With Local Author Ronald Binns

Saturday, 16th November, 11am, from Southwold Library

Join Ronald Binns on a tour of George Orwell’s Southwold and see the houses where he lived and wrote.

Learn about his long association with the town and how Southwold and its people entered into his writing.

Ronald Binns is the author of Orwell in Southwold.

£5 per person. Approx. 75 minutes. Limited number.

Book your tickets at Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

What on earth is Cacao? Talk with Mili Mendez, Local Cake Maker and Cacao Enthusiast

Sunday, 24th November, 2pm @ Southwold Library

Can you tell your Ocumare from your Porcelana? How about your Güasare from your Sur del Lago Hybrid? Cacao seems to be everywhere now, but how do you know what you are getting?

Learn about Venezuelan cacao and why the Sur del Lago region in Venezuela is a genetic hub for Criollo cacao varieties, not just in Venezuela but possibly worldwide.

Join Mili Mendez for a talk on all things Venezuelan cacao.

Free talk, no booking required.

Hop to it Quiz Night!

Friday, 29th November, 7pm @ Cardinal Newman Hall (Old Sorting Office)

Southwold Library is pledged to raise £650 for St Elizabeth Hospice in exchange for a Little Hare statue to decorate and keep.

Teams of 4, £3 per person.

Bring your own drinks and snacks. Raffle!

Book early to avoid disappointment, limited places. Contact Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; online: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Southwold Arts Centre and Southwold Library Present: Southwold Community Cinema

Vindication Swim 2024 (PG) – Wednesday, 20th November, 3pm

The inspirational story of Mercedes Gleitze, who in 1927 became the first British woman to swim the English Channel. Discover Mercedes’ struggle in overcoming both the cold waters of the English Channel and the oppressive society of 1920s England.

Swede Caroline 2024 (15) – Wednesday, 11th December, 3pm

As Caroline readies herself for the championship, the competitive giant vegetable-growing world is rocked by scandal. Her prized marrow plants are stolen and her life turns upside down, so she hires two private detectives.

Tickets are £5 including refreshments. Book a ticket at www.southwoldartscentre.co.uk; or visit the Box Office – tel: 01502 722572; or Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP.

Kids, Come and Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Thursdays, 3.30pm @ Southwold Library

The Read2Dogs scheme provided by PAT helps to improve literacy skills and wellbeing in young people by developing their confidence, interest, and enjoyment in reading.

Dogs are non-judgemental and great listeners – they don’t interrupt or correct – so they aid confidence and concentration levels. PAT Dogs are also known to encourage positive social behaviours, enhance self-esteem and inspire young people to relax and have fun.

Come and read to Ash and enjoy his calm company.

Blyth Poets ‘The Isle is Full of Voices’

Friday, 1st November, 2.15–3.30pm

First Friday of every month.

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library.

All welcome to read or just listen.

We invite contributions of original work or well-loved poems.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Mah-jong Group

Friday, 8th and 22nd November, 2.15–4.15pm

Second and fourth Friday of the month

Can you play Mah-jong?

Do you want to learn?

Come along and join the group at Southwold Library. £1 per person.

Scrabble Club

Thursday, 14th November, 2.15pm

Second Thursday of every month.

All equipment supplied.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Free event, no booking required.

Crochet Club

Every Wednesday, 2.15–4pm

£2 each.

A friendly group for all abilities of crocheter. Barbara will be on hand to teach beginners, add to your crochet skills or troubleshoot problems. Or just bring along your latest project and crochet together.

Bring your own equipment or Barbara can supply at a price.

Refreshment break in the Canteen.

Lego Club!

Sundays, 12.15–1pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages.

This autumn, we’re building: Vast Vehicles.

All donations of Lego welcome.

Free event, no booking required.

Adults: Would you like to help with Lego Club? Just ask staff.

Southwold Library Reading Group

Thursday, 28th October, 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

This month, we are reading: Normal Rules Don’t Apply by Kate Atkinson.

Pick up a book at Southwold Library – tel: 01502 722519; e-mail: southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

Free event, no booking required.

Baby Bounce and Tot Rock

Every Sunday and Tuesday, 10.30–11am @ Southwold Library

Instruments, clapping, jogging and action rhymes.

For babies and toddlers of all ages.

Free event, no booking required.

Realise Futures Walk-in Advice and Guidance

Every Thursday, 10am–12noon @ Southwold Library

Do you have a learning disability/autism?

Do you need some support, advice or information?

Come along to one of our walk-in advice and guidance sessions. There is no need to book an appointment. Our advisors will talk to you about the support you need.

We can provide advice, guidance and information on housing, employment, benefits, training, money, travel, safety, health, bills/letters and social.

Please contact: Anita Fiddy, Service Locality Co-ordinator (East) – tel: 07598 582955; e-mail: anita.fiddy@realisefutures.org.

Climate Change – Why Do I Need to Do Anything?

The October meeting of the Blyth Valley and Southwold Suffolk Wildlife group had a talk with a difference. The conservationist Simon Hooton gave a presentation in two halves. The first outlined the science of climate change, with many graphs and diagrams to explain the negative effects of the burning of fossil fuels over the last couple of hundred years – it made for grim reading. The global situation continues to worsen, with rising sea levels, huge changes in habitat, both man-made and natural, and extremes in temperature and weather as the Earth continues to warm.

After a welcome cup of tea, the second half brought hope. Simon suggests that we can all act individually to consume less and think carefully about how our purchases reflect the wider conservation picture. We can raise awareness in our communities through discussion with family, friends, community groups and county representatives. Novels, art, poetry, and storytelling help to raise awareness in a different way, and Simon uses these tools too. These acts may be small in themselves, but together they can make a difference. On a global scale, there are many agencies, such as the United Nations, working to find alternative ways to mitigate harmful effects, and avoid over-exploitation in all its many forms. New technologies able to capture carbon is one positive example; sustainable forms of energy another. There is an increasing awareness of the urgency required to save and improve natural habitats, and find new solutions for our needs. We were left with the reflection that although there is a great deal to do, a better more sustainable future for our planet is still possible.

It was a lively, informative, and thoughtful presentation that was also entertaining and enjoyable. It gave us all much food for thought.

Our next meeting is on Thursday, 14th November, 7.30 pm, in the Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP 18 6JP. Will Harvey and Alan Miller will talk about the work of the Wilder Wenhaston group, and the River Blyth Project. Admission £4, to include refreshments; under 25s free. Everyone is welcome.

Contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com.

Penny Mansfield

A popular local event raising money for charity returns this weekend, offering visitors an enjoyable day out packed with displays, exhibits and fun for all ages.

The Henham Steam and Country Show (formerly the Grand Henham Steam Rally) takes place on Saturday, 21st and Sunday, 22nd September 2024 at Henham Park, near Southwold. As well as offering a fantastic family day out with exciting displays, parades and attractions, visitors will once again be able to steer one of the show’s steam engines and find out what it takes to manoeuvre one of these incredible machines.

Public steering is always a popular part of the event, with a large number of visitors taking part in exchange for a donation to charity. Public steering will take place on both days in the Len Murray Arena, which will also feature displays from the Bolddog FMX Team, Spectrum Kites, Ben Long Falconry and steamroller barrel rolling.

Meanwhile, in the Parade Ring sponsored by Farnham Leisure, there will be displays from Will’s Working Spaniels and the Lowestoft Dog Agility Display Team. Around the show, there will also be hundreds of vintage, classic and custom vehicles, working steam engines, live music on the band stand, a vintage fairground, children’s entertainment including Storm in a Teacup stilt walkers, a stamp trail and avenues of trade stalls and rural crafts.

Chair Helen Walker said: ‘This year, we celebrate our 48th event and have also changed the event name to better reflect everything that the show has to offer. We have a great timetable of displays and parades planned, including our popular public steering which is one of my favourite parts.

 ‘As well as raising money for local good causes, we also give back to the community through our education day, now in its third year. On the Friday before the show, we invite over one hundred children from local schools to come to the site and learn about farming, steam and engineering.

‘As always, our committee and volunteers have been working hard throughout the year to make this event possible and I would like to thank them for all their hard work once again.’

As a charity, the show raises thousands of pounds each year for local organisations, including Wangford Community Council, Blyth Valley Rotary and the Parochial Church Councils of Sotherton, Uggeshall and Wangford-cum-Henham.

Each year, the organisers also donate to additional beneficiaries, and this year have chosen SERV Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Accident and Rescue Service (SARS) and Norfolk and Waveney Mind.

Entry is £17 on the gate for adults and over 14s, £3 for children aged 8-14 years and children under 8 go free. There is also ample free parking.

For the latest show news, please visit www.henhamsteam.com and follow on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Two years ago, the Society’s Golden Anniversary was marked by the launch of its 50th Anniversary Project. For several years, we have had a growing list of improvements needed to protect and enhance our Reydon complex, but had not been in the financial position to take them forward. The timing of our celebration year was used to bundle several of these improvements together and promote them as our 50th Anniversary Project, giving us more focus and drive to obtain the necessary funding.

Phase 1 was to replace fencing around Reydon Pit 4 (Denny Lake), widen bank access, investigate and improve water quality and to add stock. Most of this work is complete.

Phase 2 is to reinstate Reydon Pit 3 (Paisleys Pond, behind St Felix School at the end of Shepherds Lane) by removing silt and embedded reeds, replace the surrounding fence and replant/ restock with native plant and fish species.

Farm ponds, the traditional home to Crucian Carp, have been in decline for many years, with many being filled in. It is proposed to stock the pond exclusively with Tench and genuine Crucian Carp. Both species have the advantage of being ‘drought resistant’, so are an ideal choice for the water and our changing climate.

Consultation has been undertaken with adjacent landowners, the Inland Drainage Board and the Environment Agency. The latter is particularly supportive and, as well as making a grant available, has promised stock from their fish farm.

Given the pond is effectively surrounded on three sides by public footpaths, this work will undoubtedly raise a lot of interest; we have already had several enquires whilst carrying out preparatory works.

The last phase (3) of the project will follow on after the Reydon Pit 3 work is completed and will be to enhance our disabled parking area and facilities. Its timing will be dependent on future fundraising, but is probably a couple of years away.

Contact Barry Reid, Society Chairman (tel: 07484 136385) for more information.

Suffolk through the Seasons

The winter season of talks for the local Blyth and Southwold Suffolk Wildlife Trust group started with a visual treat. Kevin Sawford, an award-winning wildlife photographer, took us through the year with a wonderful variety of images of a full range of Suffolk wildlife, from bluebells and bees to damselflies and deer (an example, a photo of a knot, can be seen at the top of this post). The subjects were often the species you might find in your garden, shot with precision and clarity. Kevin talked about the beauty of different light, from the brightness of summer, the mists of autumn, to the subtlety of winter. He favours coming quietly as near as possible to a creature without disturbing it, and often lies on the ground to get the right shot. Kevin is not afraid of getting wet! Much patience is needed too. Background colours are important, and careful selection gives contrast to the creature, such as the gold of a butterfly against a blue flower, or a deer in a field of poppies. Weather in all its forms adds to the image; hares lying low in the rain, or a knot hunkered down in a driving sandstorm. Water can add movement and drama, such as a seal in the surf, or tranquillity and peace – a swan reflected in a calm pool. Kevin talked about researching the subjects, and learning to anticipate their behaviour, and we saw many amazing photos that captured a brief moment in time. The range and beauty of the photographs was stunning, and reminded us all to observe carefully and enjoy the wildness that Suffolk has to offer.

Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on Thursday, 10th October at the Southwold Arts Centre, Cumberland Road, Southwold IP18 6JP. Simon Hooton will present: ‘A Changing Climate – Why Do I Need to Do Anything.’

Entry is £4, to include refreshments. Under 25s free. All are welcome.

Penny Mansfield – contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com.