Early Bloomers

As well as Daffodils flourishing in Cardiff and red Roses in Paris, Blackthorn is in full bloom in St Margaret's.
Most of the books say that the flowers are out in early March, but this year it has been in mid February. The leaves follow, normally in April, but this year they may be earlier.

It is an important tree as the food plant for several species of moths and butterflies, including Emperor Moth, Common Emerald, November Moth, Pale November Moth, Mottled Pug, Green Pug, Brimstone Moth, Feathered Thorn, Brown-tail, Yellow-tail, Short-cloaked Moth, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot and the Black and Brown Hairstreaks.

Today the Parish News arrived and it has pictures of the four churches in the parish on the cover. One of them is the interesting little Norman Church in East Langdon. East Langdon was mentioned in the Domesday book. The word Langdon goes back to Old English, meaning long hill. In the first reference in 861, there was one Langandune, but in 1291 there was a reference to Estlangedoun and Westlangedone (West Langdon, about one mile to the north west).

The church is dedicated to St Augustine. In the Middle Ages the area around Langdon was run by the St Augustine’s Brotherhood. This lasted until 1538 when Henry VIII dissolved the Abbey and sold the lands. East Langdon was acquired by the Masters family who built on the site of the abbey.

In addition the Parish News is a very useful publication for learning what going on in the village. One of the items that struck me as particularly interesting was the "Launch of Low carbon Village and Sustainability Project" on Wed 12th March in the village Hall between 6pm to 9pm.