Sorry the February Country Diary is late. I'm afraid life sometimes intervenes to delay. Follow this link to get the update.

Lyonshall NDP has been approved by Herefordshire Council to progress to examination. Full details on the NDP evidence pages

A choice of three examiners will be offered to the Parish Council to choose from to independently review the plan for compliance with national and local planning policy as well as confirming its development through consultation.

Lyonshall Parish Council Elections

This year parish council elections will be held on May 2^nd

All Parish Councillors stand down and a new council are elected.

Some Parish Councillors may wish to stand again for the four year term, but they like other interested parishioners will need to complete a nomination form which can be requested from Herefordshire elections department on 01432 260107 or email elections@herefordshire.gov.uk. This must be returned to the elections team by hand no later than 4pm on Wednesday April 3^rd.

Lyonshall Parish Council is made up of 10 voluntary members who strive to make Lyonshall a better place to live, local people committed to their community.

The Parish Council meet around 11 times a year in Lyonshall Memorial Parish Hall, an open Parish meeting is held once a year where reports of the years activities are received. The Annual Parish Council meeting is held annually in May.

The Parish Council are consulted upon for a wide range of matters from planning applications to roads and the environment. It is funded through the parish precept (Currently £20,000), part of the council tax and it can also raise funds through events and grant applications.

Lyonshall is an active council supporting the parish offering voluntary opportunities to join in with litter picks, pop up pub social events and footpath maintenance walks.

Who can stand?

To be eligible to stand for election you must be over 18 years of age and a citizen of the European Union and satisfy one of the following criteria.

• Be on the electoral role in the parish.
• In the last 12 months occupy as owner or tenant land or property in the parish.
• Principal place of work during the last 12 months in the parish.
• Lived in last 12 months within 4.8km of the boundary of the parish.

Register to Vote

The closing date for receipt by Herefordshire Council for registration to add you name to the electoral register is Friday 12^th April. Contact the electoral service department on 01432 260107

Who Can Vote?

To be eligible to vote you must be on the electoral register for the parish. You can check with the parish clerk Rebecca Bissell 01544340747 or lyonshllparishclerk@gmail.com or the electoral service department at Herefordshire Council.

If you are interested in standing on the Parish Council you could attend the next parish Council meeting on Thursday 14^th March to see what is involved in being a Parish Councillor.

Waste Collection changes from 18th March.

Please leave your bin out before 6.30am on the day of collection.

The more hands the quicker it's done!

Look forward to seeing you.

The Lyonshall Memorial Hall Committee will be fundraising in Kington Community Shop for one week commencing Wednesday 6th March. The committee would be very grateful for any donations of items for sale.  Good quality clothing, bric-a-brac, small items of furniture, toys, plants, and raffle prizes would be appreciated.

Please drop items off at the shop from 2pm on Wednesday 6th March or contact Angie on (01544) 340543 or Kathy on 340386 for further details.

If you are interested in becoming a Councillor here are some briefing sessions key dates:

For full information visit Herefordshire Council website

Here is the first Lyonshall Country Diary of 2019. You will see that Julia has been making some interesting comparisons with previous years. Contributions and sightings come in from lots of local watchers. Many thanks to them all and please keep information flowing in. You will find January news and information about Isobel's Oak on this link.

Several parishioners have reported a man with a with van visiting houses in the area offering to tarmac driveways.

You should not accept the services or pay any cash.
If in doubt report to the Police on 101.

Pop up Pub Saturday 2nd February 7.00pm in the Memorial Hall.

Due to circumstances there won't be a BBQ on this occasion, but there will be nibbles on the tables for you to enjoy!

We are already well into 2019 and I hope our many wildlife spotters will continue to send in sightings to Julia. Check out the news for December last year on this link.

Nominations for the Herefordshire Community Champion Awards 2019 are now OPEN!! You are encouraged you to nominate your champion(s) for the following awards;

• Community
• Volunteer
• Caring
• Environment
• Youth

 Each winner will receive a trophy plus £500, with an extra bonus £500 to the overall Champion!  See below for further information.

Please Note: Lyonshall Church Services for Christmas

Thursday December 20th 6.00 pm Carols with mulled wine and mince pies 

Sunday December 23rd Evening Prayer 6.00 pm

Monday December 24th Crib and Christingle Service 4.00 pm for all the family

Monday December 24th 9.30 pm Communion Service and Carols

Christmas Day Family Morning Prayer 9.30 am

Sunday December 30th Arrowvale Group Service 11.00 am

If you were wondering what was happening in the great outdoors in Lyonshall, wonder no more. Thanks to our wildlife watchers overseen by Julia Evans there is a month by month update of sightings on our Country Diary page, click here.

Many thanks to all contributors and a good 2019 to all our readers.

There have been a number of reports of cold callers or doorstep sellers in the area recently. The activity has occurred in Leominster, Eardisley and, most recently Kington. There have also been reports on social media that they have been operating in Lyonshall although this has not been verified. On more than one occasion recently a doorstep seller has become abusive when challenged or when a householder has declined to purchase goods.

Any person who is selling goods on the doorstep must be in possession of a pedlars certificate issued by the police in the area where the seller lives. They may also be in possession of their own identity documentation which may or may not contain a photograph. It is important to note that neither document is definitive proof of identity or any indication of the quality of the goods on offer.

The advice of the West Mercia Police is that if any sales person comes to your door selling any products you are urged NOT to purchase items at the door and NOT to give personal details out. Residents are also advised to use precautionary measures such as a door chain.

Further information is available on the West Mercia Police website.

Message received from Andrew Burgoyne:

Does anyone have any idea who owns this magnificent gentleman.  Someone must have turned him into a field with sheep in off the A44.  

Please ring 07710908833 with any information.

The short video 'Lyonshall Remembers' has been amended to include the voices of a number of Lyonshall residents.  A link to the video and further information about Remembrance Day events have been added to the 'Lyonshall Remembers' page.

What avid nature watchers we have! Take a look at all the latest wildlife activity in the parish. Click here.

A new page 'Lyonshall Remembers' has been added to the 'About Lyonshall' section of this website.  This page will contain photos and other material relating to the village activities commemorating the centenary of the end of World War 1.  Any contributions in the form of photos, written material, comments etc will be welcome and may be included in the page.  Contributions should be sent by email to chris.auger@outlook.com.

As yet the page just contains a link to a short video 'Lyonshall Remembers' that we have produced to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War 1.

This year Remembrance Day, 11th November 2018, falls on a Sunday, uniquely, it is both Armistice Day and the 100th Anniversary of the end of hostilities in the First World War.

In Lyonshall Church: Remembrance service is at 11.00am.

In Hereford Cathedral: Daily from 5th to 10th November at 4.30pm the names of the county’s First World War dead will be read in the Cathedral followed by Evensong at 5.30pm. A County Service of Remembrance for the end of the First World War will be held in the Cathedral at 3.30pm on Sunday 11th November.

In Lyonshall Memorial Hall: the hall will be decorated in tribute to the fallen and there will be coffee mornings, lunches and afternoon tea on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th November. There will be afternoon tea on Sunday 11th November.

Lyonshall Parish NDP Steering group with the help of consultant Kirkwells has produced the next draft of the Neighbourhood Development Plan document.

The document has been approved by Parish Council for the legal and more formal Regulation 14 consultation.

The six-week consultation period starts on Thursday 25th October to 5.00pm on Friday 7th December 2018.

The Draft Plan will be available for you to view and make comment using the printed response sheet on the NDP pages of website  and at the following locations during open times.

Lyonshall Garden Centre,

Penrhos Cattle Shed Cafe,

Burgoynes Reception

St Michaels and all Angels Porch.

All responses should be forwarded to the Clerk lyonshallclerk@gmail.com or post to Firbanks, Lyonshall, HR5 3LN by 5.00pm Friday 7th December 22^nd 2018.

Apologies for the late arrival of the August edition of the Lyonshall Country Diary. I thought I had dealt with it last month but technology had other ideas. I have added the September newsletter as well. You will see from these documents that a lot is happening in our patch. The material is collected by a group of dedicated nature-watchers then co-ordinated by Julia Evans. Many thanks to all contributors. Julia is always glad to receive information especially with photographs. Her details are on the Country Diary page.

The TV production company Boundless Productions are making a second series of the BBC Two show Love in the Countryside and are looking for rural singles who are looking for love.  Potential participants should email: LoveInTheCountryside@boundlessproductions.tv.

Herefordshire Council is currently looking to recruit volunteers to serve in a range of vital roles.  They are interested to recruit volunteers drawn from different walks of life and in whose impartiality and integrity the public can have confidence.  Specifically, they looking to recruit independent people to assist the council by becoming:

• An independent person reviewing standards issues -  to assist the council in promoting high standards of conduct by elected and co-opted members of Herefordshire Council and town and parish councils. The independent person is consulted on complaints against councillors and other standards issues. 
• An independent remuneration review panellist.  The Independent remuneration Panel members are appointed for 4 years.   The panel comprises of 3 to 5 members.  They currently have 3 panel members and are looking to increase this to 5.   The independent review panel make recommendations to the council as to the amount of allowances and expenses payable to elected members. 
• A school appeals panellist. Admission appeals panels consider appeals by parents or carers whose children have been refused admission to their preferred school, or whose children have been permanently excluded from a school. 

The roles are currently posted on to the jobs section of the council’s web-site.

If you would like further information on these important roles please contact Caroline Marshall, Democratic Services Officer, (Caroline.Marshall3@herefordshire.gov.uk ); Telephone: 01432 260249.

The A480 between Woonton and Batch End Farm will be closed for resurfacing from Monday 1st October 2018 and Friday 5th October 2018 inclusive.  The closure will be between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm daily.  There will be no weekend working.

Get Online Week

15 to 21 October 2018

Fantastic FREE events are taking place across Herefordshire during Get Online Week

To help you or someone you know get started with computers and the internet or learn more about what you can do online

How to use your Smartphone - at Hereford Library

Introduction to the Internet - at Kington Library

Introduction to Emails - at Ledbury Library

How to use your Tablet Computer - at Leominster Library

Introduction to Emails - at Ross-on-Wye Library

Train to become an interpreter

September 2018

Herefordshire Council’s language service, the Herefordshire Language Network, is offering more training for interpreters in November, and the application process is now open.

On Saturday 24-Sunday 25 November 2018, a two-day unaccredited “foundation training” course will take place in Hereford city.

The training event is an excellent starting point for anyone who has ever considered trying out interpreting, and could lead to paid work.  A very high level of fluency in English and one other language is required.  While all languages are welcome, the Network is looking particularly for languages such as Kurdish, Arabic, Lithuanian, and African and Indian languages.  BSL is also welcome.  Since 2009, the council has trained over 200 people in interpreting and translation skills, which allows them to work for the Herefordshire Language Network.  The Network currently manages around 350 assignments every month for public services and voluntary organisations.

The deadline for applications is 12 November.  To find out more about the criteria for applying, and to download an application form, please visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/language, or call 01432 260216.

The A44 in Pembridge will be closed for resurfacing from Monday, 17 September 2018 to Friday, 28 September 2018.  The road will be closed between 9.00 am until 5.00 pm daily and there will be no weekend work.  The closures will be in sections and local businesses will be open as usual.  The signed diversion will be via the A480 through Lyonshall to Sarnesfield so increased traffic through the village can be expected.

The B4362 through the centre of Shobdon village will be closed between The Bateman Arms and Moor Meadow from 9.00 am until 5.00pm from Tuesday 28th August until Friday 31st August 2018.  HGVs should use the signed diversion routes and not local unclassified roads.  The Bateman Arms will still be open with access from the east and the village shop will also be open with limited access from the west.

Friday's total lunar eclipse will be the longest blood moon visible this century, well worth seeing. Let's hope for good weather.

The full moon will turn blood red on July 27th as the longest total lunar eclipse of the century takes place in the skies.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s innermost shadow. When this happens, the moon turns rusty orange or deep red in color and is how it earned the nickname of a blood moon eclipse.

It will last for about one hour and 40 minutes starting at about 8:50pm with climax at 9:21pm to 10:13 pm in the south-eastern sky, towards Pembridge.

All responses for the Lyonshall Neighbourhood development plan informal consultation to be returned by 22nd July.

The consultation can be viewed online by clicking here or at:

Lyonshall Garden Centre

Penrhos Cattle Shed

Burgoynes Reception

The Church Porch entrance.

All responses forms can be downloaded by clicking here

please return:

in one of the boxes at the above locations

email Lyonshall clerk: lyonshallparishclerk@gmail.com. 

post to Lyonshall clerk, Firbanks, Lyonshall, HR5 3LN.

Thank you.

Everyone invited - please spread the word!

The elections office of Herefordshire Council carries out a canvass of every property in Herefordshire once every year. This year’s Household Enquiry Forms will be sent starting 16^th July.  A household enquiry response must be returned by every property in the county, even if there are no changes. People can respond to the canvass online, by text, by phone, or by returning the paper form sent out to them.  For more information go to our General Information pages in Useful Links.

The lane between the A480 and the A44 (designated C1031) will be closed for resurfacing on Thursday 19th July 2018 and Friday 20th July 2018.  The closure will be between 09.00 and 17.00 daily.  See map below for more detailed location and recommended diversion.

Free BBQ with Pop up Pub & NDP review from 6pm tomorrow!

Come along and enjoy some free BBQ food whilst you review the informal NDP first draft. Pop up pub provided by Behind Barz.

Saturday 14th July from 6pm at the Memorial Hall, Lyonshall - All Welcome.

Have your Say!

Herefordshire Council have published details for their 2019/2020 Budget consultation.

If you would like more information or make comment please visit the Herefordshire Council website.

Lyonshall Parish NDP Steering group with the help of consultant Kirkwells has produced the first draft Neighbourhood Development Plan document.

The document has been approved by Parish Council and the steering group would like to consult the parish on the plan informally before starting the legal and more formal Regulation 14 consultations later in the summer.

The three-week consultation period starts on Monday 2nd July to Sunday 22nd July 2018.

The First Draft Plan will be available for you to view and make comment using the printed response sheet on this website and at the following locations.

Lyonshall Garden Centre,

Penrhos Cattle Shed Cafe,

Burgoynes Reception

St Michaels and all Angels Porch.

All responses should be forwarded to the Clerk lyonshallclerk@gmail.com or post to Firbanks, Lyonshall, HR5 3LN by 22^nd July 2018.

Users who have registered on this website and indicated that they wish to receive email notifications of news items and events should now receive them.  The problems we experienced were purely procedural so we believe all registrations were successful.  If anyone has problems signing in please contact the administrators using the 'contact us' facility at the top of each page.

Unfortunately we are experiencing some problems registering users on the site.  If you have registered, your details have been logged by the system but at the moment you will not receive notifications of new events or news items. The problem is receiving attention and hopefully will be rectified without undue delay.

Work has started on the renovation and extension of The Royal George public house with heavy plant excavating and levelling the new parking area.

The only downside has been that recent rain has caused mud to be deposited on the road between the site and the field in Spond Lane where the excess topsoil is being stored.  A road sweeper is being used to reduce danger and inconvenience caused by the mud.

Look out for local news here