Archived News February 2003 Village place names come to life Apr 28th A new dictionary tracing Britain’s historical, geographical and social past and present through its place names is published this week. Spadgers – just how many are there? Apr 27th Get counting house sparrows between May 3-11 and help a UK-wide survey looking at the species’ dramatic decline. Raids could close village store Apr 25th After being robbed repeatedly a village postmaster is considering leaving his job. Legal threat holds up inquiry Apr 25th The threat of legal action could hold up an independent inquiry into whether church land should be turned into a village green. Classic movie village for £30m Apr 24th Hambleden, set in the Buckinghamshire countryside, a picturesque English village immortalised in a series of classic movies including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has gone up for sale at £30m. Independent panel to review badger culling Apr 22nd An independent panel of veterinary and wildlife experts has been established to examine the progress of the randomised badger culling trial and research into bovine TB. Fallen stock collection scheme now possible Apr 21st DEFRA has written to all livestock farmers in England to canvas support for a UK subscription scheme for the collection and disposal of fallen stock. TV village expects Easter boom Apr 20th Portmeirion looks forward to a busy Easter weekend following the filming of the television series Cold Feet. 'Ghost village' remembered 60 years on Apr 19th A new altar cross is dedicated at an historic church in the middle of a Wiltshire village abandoned in World War II Stop massive expansion in aviation and help rural economies says CPRE Apr 17th CPRE are questioning whether Britain needs a huge expansion of runways and airports over the next 30 years - as the annual Easter airport holiday rush gets underway Couple win jet noise claim of £900,000 Apr 16th Noise created by RAF Harrier jets above their 17th Century listed house Walcot Hall, near Stamford, Lincolnshire, is "unbearable". Illnesses blamed on crop spraying Apr 16th A series of mystery illnesses in Lamberhurst, a Kent village, is being blamed on chemicals sprayed on fields Strict liability for escaping stock Apr 15th A judgement of the House of Lords has far-reaching consequences for equestrian businesses and private owners with escaping stock – even when they have taken all reasonable measures to ensure that paddocks are adequately fenced. The future for wild deer Apr 15th Wild deer are on the increase, and they can cause damage to crops, woodland and gardens. A recent conference looked at how best the management of deer could be targeted.. Ancient tradition saved by village Apr 15th Local people make sure a centuries-old Easter tradition involving bottle-kicking and hare pie will go ahead at Hallaton, Leicestershire Reconnecting with rural life Apr 14th Farmers across the north of England attempt to reconnect with people who they say have lost touch with the countryside. Rural bus service boost Apr 14th Funding from the council and Countryside Agency is helping to pay for more frequent bus services into Shrewsbury from Minsterley and Bishop's Castle. Waiting for eisteddfod invasion Apr 13th The sleepy mid Wales village of Meifod is preparing for the week-long invasion of 170,000 people to the National Eisteddfod this August. Solar power lights up village Apr 10th A Northumberland village is the first in the north-east of England to benefit from solar powered street lights. THINK BEFORE YOU BUY Apr 9th Nearly twice as many people are finding out how and where their food is produced compared to a year ago. Greenways – every council should have one Apr 8th More councils should be developing Greenways as part of their solution to local transport problems, according to the Countryside Agency Councils receive recognition for rural work Apr 8th Seven English councils have been awarded Beacon status for their work in support of rural economies. Hedgehog cull due to begin Apr 7th A cull of 5,000 hedgehogs is due to begin on North Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland . The State of the Countryside 2020 Apr 6th The English countryside is undergoing some fundamental changes. The state of the countryside 2020 examines the future of the English countryside. Villagers switch on to wind power Apr 5th Villagers near Machynlleth, Wales, club together to set up the first community-developed wind turbine in the UK. Students get rural transport boost Apr 4th Hundreds of teenagers living in rural areas are to get financial assistance towards the costs of travelling to and from college. 'My escape to the country' Apr 3rd Many urbanites dream of moving to the countryside. But the reality is very different from the fantasy of a pastoral idyll, and some find it more of a shift than they can handle. First rural one-stop shop Apr 1st England’s first centre to put a wide range of rural services under one roof has been opened in the village of Waters Upton, Shropshire. Starling is top of the bird chart Apr 1st The starling has come out as the UK’s garden bird champion, taking top spot in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch. Help save the wild bluebell Apr 1st Volunteers are wanted to take part in a survey of the UK’s bluebells this Spring, to find out to what extent the new national flower has been irreparably damaged by its Spanish counterpart.