Throughout the autumn and winter, the Blyth Valley and Southwold wildlife group, organise monthly meetings where they invite guest speakers to present on various topics of interest. Here, Penny Mansfield reports on their September meeting.

When Birds Sing

At our September meeting of the Blyth Valley and Southwold Suffolk Wildlife group, we welcomed Saffron Summerfield to talk about the nature of bird song. Saffron is a musician, composer, and bird song recordist, who sometimes incorporate birdsong into her work. She started the evening with a folk song about the cuckoo to intrigue us, and followed this by exploring some of the reasons birds sing – to establish territories, or attract a mate, but also for fun, as some recent research shows.

The way birds produce sound, through their syrinx, a bellow-like structure, can create considerable volume, as we know from listening to the tiny wren. Tone and pitch vary widely, from the goldcrest at the high end, to the bittern’s boom at the low end, audible for up to three miles.

Whilst most birds learn to sing from their parents, possibly while still unhatched, there are exceptions, and others might learn from different adults. The extraordinary marsh warbler learns a variety of bird songs along its route from East Africa and can reproduce them in an unbroken rill that can last for half an hour, in its efforts to beat its rivals in the mating game.

Recorded birdsong can have a calming effect and has been used in public spaces for this reason, and many musicians have been fascinated and inspired to use bird songs in their work.

The evening ended with Saffron playing a beautiful recording of a robin singing, with her guitar and quiet verbal accompaniment. It was a stimulating evening, and very much enjoyed.

To find out more about our group and monthly meetings, contact us at swtblythvalley@gmail.com

Penny Mansfield

Compassionate Care: Planning for your Future

Monday 25th September 2-4pm @ Southwold Library.

This information event is about planning for YOUR future care needs, plans that are shared and recorded, so that if you cannot speak for yourselves those caring for you will know what you want.

Suffolk Libraries & St Elizabeth Hospice will take you through the Personal, Clinical, Legal and Financial components.  Live for today but plan for tomorrow.

A previous attendant said “We attended the talk on Compassionate Care Planning and thoroughly recommend it to others. We both found it informative, helpful and not at all depressing!  It was useful to be given the range of decisions we all to need to make and how to record them. The speaker was sensitive to the issues discussed and encouraged dialogue and questions.”

Part of the Compassionate Communities project and involves Suffolk Libraries working in partnership with St Elizabeth Hospice to provide specialist collections of books and support groups.

Free event, just turn up.

Southwold Library 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Tea & Mystery: Meet author Tom Mead

Saturday 30th September 3pm @ Southwold Library.

Meet author Tom Mead & hear all about his historical locked room mystery “Death & the Conjuror” followed by afternoon tea.

Tickets £3 (book in advance).

Southwold Library 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

Chess Club

Every Friday from 4.30pm @Southwold Library.

Free play every week for kids 7+ & adults.

Beginners’ teaching & assistance from Phil weeks 2 & 4.

Mah-jong Group

Friday 8^th & 22^nd September 2.15-4.15pm

2^nd & 4^th 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.

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.

Blyth Poets “The isle is full of voices”

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library.

Friday 1^st September 2.15-3.30pm

First Friday of every month.

All welcome to read or just listen.

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

Refreshment break in The Canteen.

Scrabble Club

Thursday 21^st September:  Third Thursday of Every Month 2.15pm

All Equipment Supplied.

Refreshment break in The Canteen.

Lego Club!

Sundays 12.15-1.00pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages.

This Summer we’re building: Crazy Creatures.

All donations of Lego welcome

Free event, no booking required.

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

Kids, Come & Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Wednesdays 4pm @ 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 for up to 15 minutes at a time plus enjoy a range of dog themed games, jigsaws, and crafts while you wait.

Free event, no booking required.

Southwold Library, Old Hospital Hub, Field Stile Road, Southwold IP18 6LD 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Southwold Library Reading Group

This month we are reading:

“So Much Love Left Over” by Louis De Bernieres.

Thursday 28^th September 6.30pm @ Southwold Library.

Pick up a book at Southwold Library.

Free event, no booking required.

01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Baby Bounce & Tot Rock Southwold Library

Every Sunday & Tuesday 10.30-11.00am. 

Instruments, clapping, jogging & action rhymes.

For babies & toddlers of all ages.

The Reydon Show 2023 was brilliantly attended this year with lots of people entering across the categories and large numbers coming to see all the lovely entries.

With last year’s heatwave well behind us we had a great number of entries across the fruit and vegetable classes, though the heavy rain made some of the cut flower classes tricky!

The categories that were less weather dependent proliferated and it was amazing to see all the baked goods, art, photography and handicrafts. 

The kids’ creativity was delightful and we would encourage even more children to enter the free kids’ categories next year – they can enter any arts and craft including 3D models and Lego!  There will also be new kids’ cookery and gardening categories next year. 

So, when you are planning you 2024 planting or embarking on some arts and crafts remember the first Saturday in August will be the Reydon Show next year. 

The trophy winners for 2023 were:

Ernest Moyse Memorial Trophy – most outstanding exhibit in flower classes – K Eagles

Challenge Cup (Open) – most points in vegetable & fruit section – C Akers

Garden News Shield (Reydon residents only) – most points in vegetable & fruit section – C Akers

Charlie Martin Cup – (Reydon residents only) – runner up in vegetable & fruit section – C Wigg

Fitzgerald Cup – most points in flower section – Kay Eagles

Frances Moyse Memorial Trophy – most outstanding exhibit in vegetable classes – Roger Webb

Silver Plate – most points in cookery classes – C Livermore

Reydon Show Trophy – best exhibit in adult handicraft – C Clark

Reg Belcher Trophy – most points in handicraft – C Clark

Copperwheat Trophy – best exhibit in pot plant classes – Y Eady

Reydon Parish Council Shield (Reydon residents only) – best exhibit in cookery classes – N Horton

Sam Adamson Cup – best exhibit in photography classes – C Horton

Dillon Gibbon Trophy – most points in photography classes – P Harrild

Forensics & Crime Solving Workshop with Kinetic Science Adventures

Thursday 10th August 11am & 1.30pm @ Stella Peskett Millennium Hall

Take fingerprints, exam a crime scene, dress as CSIs and work out who the criminal is and how the crime was committed.

£2 per child. Open to children 5+ . 1.5 hours. Limited spaces. Book your place today!

01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

 Free Crafts @ Southwold Library accompanying Southwold Open Air Family Theatre

Tuesday 15th August 11-12 Shakespeare crafts – Make your own ruff, quill and Italian masks!

Tuesday 22nd August 11-12 Robin Hood crafts – Make a Robin Hood hat, puppets and arrow bookmark!

Tuesday 29th August 11-12 Alice crafts – Make a Cheshire Cat grin, Mad Hatter hat and Alice from a loo roll!

Book now www.cambridgetouringproductions.co.uk 07771 593218.

Free Family Picnic & Parrot Crafts, Stories & Games @ Jubilee Green Reydon with Southwold Library

Wednesday 16th August from 12

Bring your own picnic & seating

Make balancing parrots, pompom parrots, parrot gliders & more!

No unaccompanied children

If wet collect crafts from Southwold Library

My Little Village – Under 5s Role Play Fun

Thursday 17th August 9.30am, 11am & 1pm @ Stella Peskett Millennium Hall

Come and join us at My Little Village and let your child’s imagination run wild in our pop-up role play village!

What will they choose to be today? A firefighter, a vet , a singer or maybe a chef. Or you could sit around the campfire and roast marshmallows playing the ukulele in our festival area!

Role play sessions for walkers to 5 years

£4 per child for 1 hour’s play! Event costs subsidised by the Friends of Southwold Library

Limited spaces. Book your place today! 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

Horse Stories & Crafts with Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Wednesday 23rd August 11am @Southwold Library

Meet Charlotte from Redwings Horse Sanctuary & hear about their work.

Followed by horse stories & crafts with Southwold Library.

Free event, no need to book.

Orwell in Southwold: a guided walk with local author Ronald Binns

Saturday 26^th August 11.00am 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 01502 722519 www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

Ready, Set, Read!: Summer Reading Challenge 2022

15th July – 3rd September 

Fun for children of all ages 

Join Ready, Set, Read! at Southwold Library 

Read or have 6 books read to you, collect prizes and when you finish get a bag, medal & certificate!
 

Friends of Southwold Library Book Stall!

Saturday 26th August 9.00am – 1.00pm Outside Lloyds Bank

Wide selection of books

For further details contact Southwold Library, 01502 722519

All funds towards supporting Southwold Library

Mind Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Drop in Support 

A mental health drop in service provided by a trained Norfolk and Waveney Mind Recovery Team Member. Talk to somebody about how you are feeling, hear what services we can offer and receive mental health support. 

Practical support available on signposting you to other services that we together feel may help. 

SOUTHWOLD LIBRARY

FRIDAY 4th Aug 10am-12pm 

Whether it’s you needing support, someone in your family, a friend or a work colleague, we are here for you.

Chess Club

Every Friday from 4.30pm @Southwold Library

Free play every week for kids 7+ & adults

Beginners’ teaching & assistance from Phil weeks 2 & 4

Mah-jong Group

Friday 11^th & 25^th August 2.15-4.15pm

2^nd & 4^th 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 

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 

Blyth Poets “The isle is full of voices”

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library

Friday 4^th August 2.15-3.30pm

First Friday of every month

All welcome to read or just listen.

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

Refreshment break in The Canteen
 

Scrabble Club 

Thursday 17^th August:  Third Thursday of Every Month 2.15pm 

All Equipment Supplied 

Refreshment break in The Canteen
 

Lego Club! 

Sundays 12.15-1.00pm 

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages 

This Summer we’re building: Crazy Creatures 

All donations of Lego welcome 

Free event, no booking required.

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

Kids, Come & Read to Ash the PAT Dog 

Wednesdays 4pm @ 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 for up to 15 minutes at a time plus enjoy a range of dog themed games, jigsaws, and crafts while you wait. 

Free event, no booking required. 

Southwold Library, Old Hospital Hub, Field Stile Road, Southwold IP18 6LD 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk 
 

Southwold Library Reading Group 

This month we are reading: 

“Instruction for a Heatwave” by Maggie O’Farrell 

Thursday 31^st August 6.30pm @ Southwold Library 

Pick up a book at Southwold Library 

Free event, no booking required. 

01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk 
 

Baby Bounce & Tot Rock Southwold Library 

Every Sunday & Tuesday 10.30-11.00am.  

Instruments, clapping, jogging & action rhymes. 

For babies & toddlers of all ages.

We are the Southwold and District Rotary Club, and we really need volunteers to help us with our Community Events in Southwold and District. We are already working on the Southwold Christmas Day Swim and will be supporting the Southwold Pitstop Cafe fete and Southwold Christmas Lights, as part of our busy schedule for 2023 to help our community! Events coming up in July include:

Brass on the Grass: 9 July

The Annual ‘Brass on the Grass’ Event on Jubilee Green Reydon with the Sole Bay Community Choir and Wrentham Band, 30 stalls booked, BBQ and Bar – Welcoming the Reydon Parish Council and all the latest news on the amazing the Reydon and Southwold Community Pantry
Sunday 9 July 2023, 12.00 until 4.30 pm

Rotary in The Community Evening- 20 July

Celebrating the work the group and volunteers achieve. We raised over £22,000 last year. We have a busy year ahead but we are always looking for new members or volunteers. We don’t want Rotary to be a mystery to anyone and would love to chat with folk about what we do in the community. Tickets are limited. For tickets, email info@southwoldrotary.co.uk Rotary is a non-political, non-religious organisation open to all persons regardless of race, colour, or personal beliefs. Rotarians are friendly, outgoing, and welcoming.

Tools with a Mission: charity tool collection: 23 July

On 23 July 2023, 10am until 1pm JULY 2023, we will be collecting for a wonderful charity called T.W.A.M (Tools with a Mission) at the Scout Hut, Mights Road, Southwold.
Time to clear out the shed. Bring your old tools for us to give to TWAM (Tools with a Mission- Charity). Your tools could help someone make a new start, take them out of poverty, help them feed their family, and educate their children. Your old tools are someone else’s new beginning.

Bring them to us on Sunday 23 July 2023 10 am until 1.00 pm at the Scout Hall Mights Road, Southwold. Or for further information contact us at www.southwoldrotary.co.uk

We hope to see you at our Summer events and if you are interested in volunteering, please contact info@southwoldrotary.co.uk – we would love to hear from you.

Ready, Set, Read!: Summer Reading Challenge 2022

 15th July – 3rd September

 Fun for children of all ages

 Join Ready, Set, Read! at Southwold Library

Read or have 6 books read to you, collect prizes and when you finish get a bag, medal & certificate!

Orwell in Southwold: a guided walk with local author Ronald Binns

Saturday 15th July 11.00am 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 01502 722519 www.ticketsource.co.uk/suffolklibraries

Pirate Crafts Games & Fun for all the Family @ Southwold Boating Lakes & Tearoom

Thursday 27th July 11am & 2pm

Make a pirate hat, eyepatch, sword, magnets, keyrings and much more!

Free stories, games & fun

Making Sessions for Kids Arts & Craft for the Reydon Show

Saturday 29th July 11am & 2pm

The Reydon Show takes place on Saturday 5th August 2023 – Come and find out about the free categories for kids.

Arts & crafts materials provided for kids from nursery-year 6 to make entries for the show – sessions last an hour.

Paws-itivity Quiz Night

Saturday 29^th July 7.00pm

Cardinal Newman Hall (Old Sorting Office)

Teams of 4 – £3 per person.

Bring your own drinks & snacks. Raffle!

Book early to avoid disappointment, limited places.

Contact Southwold Library, 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Mind Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health Drop in Support

A mental health drop in service provided by a trained Norfolk and Waveney Mind Recovery Team Member. Talk to somebody about how you are feeling, hear what services we can offer and receive mental health support.

Practical support available on signposting you to other services that we together feel may help.

SOUTHWOLD LIBRARY

 FRIDAY 7th July 10am-12pm

FRIDAY 4th Aug 10am-12pm

Whether it’s you needing support, someone in your family, a friend or a work colleague, we are here for you.

Chess Club

Every Friday from 4.30pm @Southwold Library

Free play every week for kids 7+ & adults

Beginners’ teaching & assistance from Phil weeks 2 & 4

Mah-jong Group

Friday 14^th & 28^th July 2.15-4.15pm

2^nd & 4^th 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

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

Blyth Poets “The isle is full of voices”

A poetry group meeting at Southwold Library

Friday 7^th July 2.15-3.30pm

First Friday of every month

All welcome to read or just listen.

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

Refreshment break in The Canteen

Scrabble Club

Thursday 20^th July:  Third Thursday of Every Month 2.15pm

All Equipment Supplied

Refreshment break in The Canteen

Lego Club!

Sundays 12.15-1.00pm

Open to kids (and adults) of all ages

This Summer we’re building: Crazy Creatures

All donations of Lego welcome

Free event, no booking required.

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

Kids, Come & Read to Ash the PAT Dog

Wednesdays 4pm @ 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 for up to 15 minutes at a time plus enjoy a range of dog themed games, jigsaws, and crafts while you wait.

Free event, no booking required.

Southwold Library, Old Hospital Hub, Field Stile Road, Southwold IP18 6LD 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Southwold Library Reading Group

This month we are reading:

“A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman

Thursday 27^th July 6.30pm @ Southwold Library

Pick up a book at Southwold Library

Free event, no booking required.

 01502 722519 southwold.library@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Baby Bounce & Tot Rock Southwold Library

Every Sunday & Tuesday 10.30-11.00am. 

Instruments, clapping, jogging & action rhymes.

For babies & toddlers of all ages.

The last Reydon Community Quiz of the 2022/23 season took place on 19 May, this month led by guest quizmaster Nick Humphry, with a range of intriguing questions!

Winners were ‘Three’s Company’ with 103 points, ‘Who are we?’ in second place with 98 points, followed by ‘Treacle Tarts’ in third place with 95 points.

The evening raised £340, and at the suggestion of quizzers, this will be donated to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, a charity who provide a vital service in our rural environment.

This season the Reydon Community Quiz has raised a total of £2,375, and has donated to the VHC Food Bank, Frostenden Parochial Charity, Reydon Christmas Lights, Sole Bay Juniors Football Club, Sole Bay Care Fund, Southwold & Dunwich Lifeboat, the Turkey/Syria Earthquake appeal, the Rural Coffee Caravan, Friends of Southwold Library, and the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

That is a huge amount of brilliant causes supported, and a huge amount of generosity from our lovely quiz community. Heartfelt thanks as always to everyone who attends and supports the Reydon Community Quiz. An extra thanks to those who have been quizmasters this season, to those who have run the raffle and donated prizes, and to Sole Bay Bowls Club.

The new season will begin again on Friday 19th October, followed by Friday 17th November and Friday 15th December (all the third Friday of the month)

There is sometimes space for another team so do contact me if you are interested in joining us for the new season, on ahumphry@talktalk.net.

Amanda Humphry, Quiz Coordinator

Seven artists living and working in Reydon will be opening their studios this June as part of Southwold Arts Festival.

The studios will be open on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June from 11am to 5pm and the event is free.  Leaflets are available from Barbrooks, Southwold Library and many businesses in the local area.