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Wild Winter Swans<br />
The familiar swans seen around<br />
<strong>Otley</strong>, with graceful curved necks<br />
and orange bills with a black<br />
knob at the base, are mute<br />
swans. Herds of up to 20<br />
regularly congregate below the<br />
bridge in Wharfemeadows Park.<br />
However, in October and<br />
November, it is worth keeping an<br />
eye on more open stretches of water<br />
for wild swans from much further afield.<br />
In our area they are passing through, splashing<br />
down on the waters of the Washburn Valley reservoirs, Knotford Nook or<br />
<strong>Otley</strong> Wetland for perhaps just a few hours or a day or two before moving on.<br />
There are two species, both of which hold their necks up straight when<br />
swimming, making them easy to distinguish from mute swans even at a<br />
distance when their straighter black and yellow bills are not obvious. The<br />
larger and by far the more common is the whooper swan. These are en route<br />
from their breeding grounds in Iceland to their main winter quarters around<br />
the Ouse Washes where numbers reach about 4000. On the other side of the<br />
Pennines, Martin Mere and the Ribble Estuary can hold up to 2000.<br />
Smaller with less yellow in the bill, is the Bewick’s swan, now much less<br />
common in our area than in years gone by. These breed in Siberia and in<br />
winter migrate southwest to Denmark, Holland and Britain. Large numbers,<br />
usually over 5000, still winter around the Wash but birds passing through<br />
Yorkshire would be more likely to be heading for northwest England where<br />
numbers in recent years have only been measured in dozens. Britain is on the<br />
western edge of its range and it seems probable that, with warmer winters,<br />
birds which might previously have reached us as a result of freezing<br />
conditions on the continent, are now staying further east.<br />
Denis O’Connor<br />
Whooper Swans at Lindley<br />
Wood Reservoir<br />
Prince Henry’s Grammar School<br />
SPECIALIST LANGUAGE COLLEGE<br />
<strong>Otley</strong> Action For Older People<br />
Gardening Services<br />
<strong>Otley</strong> Action for Older People provide<br />
gardening services for the over 60s in<br />
<strong>Otley</strong>, Pool and Arthington. In the winter<br />
months we are able to offer this service to<br />
residents of all ages within the locality.<br />
Craig the local <strong>Otley</strong> Action for Older People Gardener is now<br />
available for one-off jobs in the autumn and winter and into the<br />
early spring. If you would like a quote for gardening work that<br />
needs doing such as, hard landscaping and clearance please<br />
contact <strong>Otley</strong> Action for Older People on 01943 463965 and we<br />
can arrange a visit with Craig to provide you with a personal<br />
quote.<br />
Volunteering and Minibus Drivers<br />
<strong>Otley</strong> Action for Older People is looking for volunteers to join its<br />
team of friendly and caring staff to help with its many projects,<br />
which involve tea dances, film clubs, lunch cubs, outings, trips<br />
and much more. We are also looking for volunteers to drive the<br />
minibuses, to do this you would need to hold a full driving<br />
licence and be over the age of 25. The job involves picking<br />
people up from their homes and driving them to a variety of<br />
different locations. Opportunities are available for flexible<br />
working and you will be trained to Midas standard.<br />
Training and support is always given for more information please<br />
telephone on 01943 463965.<br />
Royal British Legion<br />
It is now almost 95 years since the beginning of the 1st world<br />
war. We then had a 2nd World War and many young men were<br />
killed or maimed in both these conflicts.<br />
Since 1945 I think I am correct in saying that only 1 year has<br />
been conflict free.<br />
Headteacher:<br />
Ms Janet Sheriff BA (Hons) NPQH<br />
TEL: (01943) 463524 FAX: (01943) 850978<br />
E-MAIL: info@princehenrys.leeds.sch.uk<br />
The school has worked in collaboration with Leeds City <strong>Council</strong> and Cllr Ryk<br />
Downes (also a governor at the school) to improve safety and work is about<br />
to commence on the long awaited Farnley Lane road crossing near the<br />
school’s main entrance.<br />
News from PE Department<br />
Euan Hockey a Year 10 pupil at Prince Henry’s Grammar School Specialist<br />
Language College represented Yorkshire and Humberside in the English<br />
Triathlon championships at the weekend.<br />
25 athletes, country wide are selected and Euan came 9th overall and his<br />
team won! He now has his first gold medal in his trophy cabinet!<br />
Euan did the swim in a lake - his first open water competition ever and for<br />
those in the know, athletes get quite a beating in such swims! As a<br />
consequence, his swim time was quite a bit slower than normal but a great<br />
bike and decent run saw him climb through the positions as the race went by.<br />
He is pleased with his performance in general as he feels like there's plenty<br />
to work on but he showed strength in the race.<br />
This is a wonderful achievement,<br />
please celebrate his success - thanks!<br />
Sarah Grant - Head of PE<br />
This year we will not only remember the last century men and<br />
women,but those who died in the Falklands ,Iraq and now even<br />
as you read these words soldiers will be dying in Afghanistan.<br />
Whatever your opinion on the war itself these men and their<br />
families need our support. The RBL are presently assisting more<br />
service and ex service personnel than ever before.<br />
Your help is urgently required. Please give generously for your<br />
poppy.<br />
Doris Gagen - Royal British Legion Poppy appeal.
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