Chignal Parish


Author: Jon Lewis

Nature Notes for Sept

Nature Notes for Sept

Solitary Bee Hotel Study When we think of bees,  we think of either honeybees or bumblebees, but there many other species of bees.  In this country, there is only one species of honeybee, 24 different bumblebee species and over 200 species of solitary bees.  Wild honeybees and bumblebees build nests and form colonies working together to gather pollen.  We also …Read more

Emergency Contacts and Numbers

Police  Emergency - 999,    Non-emergency - 101 Essex police - 0800 555111 Electronically via website https://www.essex.police.com Fire Brigade Emergency - 999 Non-emergency Essex Fire and Rescue Service HQ - 0300 3035555 Electronically via website www.essex-fire.gov.uk Ambulance Emergency - 999 Non-emergency East of England Ambulance Services HQ - 0345 601 3733  Electronically via website www.eastamb.nhs.uk Medical Emergency - 999,   …Read more

Resilience Plans

Parish Emergency Plans It is a requirement of the County Council that each parish has a set of resilience plans that will be activated in the event of an emergency arising within the parish.  Fortunately the parish does not suffer many emergencies, but recently we have had flooded roads and a large field fire last year.  Major emergencies will be …Read more

What to do in an emergency

What to do in an Emergency Do not put yourself in a dangerous situation by trying to help. Call the appropriate service, numbers on previous page. If appropriate, and the emergency has the potential to affect other people in the parish, please call Jon Lewis on 0777 3433448 or Lynn Ballard on 07811 178966 who will pass on messages to …Read more

Defibrillators

Two new defibrillators have been installed in the parish, one in the red telephone box by The Green in Chignal St James, and the other under the parish noticeboard outside of St Nicolas Church in Chignal Smealey.  The original defibrillator can be found next to the front door of the Village Hall. All the defibrillators are inside locked cabinets.  You …Read more

Nature Notes for July 2025

July has been an amazing month for the number and variety of butterflies seen in the parish. Why there is a sudden increase in the insects is unknown, but the previous wet then hot weather may after triggered the change. Adult butterflies can live for weeks or months depending on the species. Identifying butterflies from moths can be difficult as …Read more

Nature Notes for May 2025

Recently the barn owl has been busy flying in daylight, although early morning and evening (7 AM or 8 PM), presumably to catch food to feed chicks.  Also seen a little owl on the telephone wires near Brickbarns.  Buzzards have been seen daily, and the number of kites seen at one time has increased to four on one occasion.  We …Read more