Best Kept Village - congratulations to all those involved

I would just like to raise a glass to all those involved in Fulford's entry into the Best Kept Village competition this year (2009) - Fulford was highly commended in the end which is a great achievement, considering that the decision to enter this year for the first time in many years, was first mooted one evening at the village pub when a lot of people suffering from the effects of the wine and beer that was flowing, agreed to get involved, not really knowing what was entailed.

A great village clear-up was held in the Spring to get rid of some 20+ years of clutter, mainly around the hedgerows and forgotten corners, followed by planting of flowers and bulbs in October, ready for the Spring next year. Two new flower beds have been put in, along with raised beds at the entrances to the village.

Even the flower beds outside the local pub (The Shoulder of Mutton) have been cleared of weeds and planted up to give a veritable mass of colour next year.

Today has seen the first of a series of village walks - despite the inclement weather last night and early this morning, an intrepid band of people and dogs turned out for the walk, leading up behind the church to nearby Stallington and then cutting across the fields to take in the old quarry and the farms to the west of the village, finishing up at the village green. Not only did we get to look at the new bit of hedgelaying which has been started, but also learnt what to do when being chased by a herd of cattle across the field! The sun even managed to show its head and we all enjoyed this walk and hope it will be the start of many.

If Fulford is to remain a vibrant village, we need to work together to ensure that events like this continue to happen and be supported, and that the local pub can continue as a viable business so that it can remain the hub of village life.