Think of traditional Eastertide flowers, and amongst other things "Pussy Willow" probably comes to mind. There is something so charming about those rather scruffy looking bushes or small trees bursting into blooms which start out a silky silvery grey and then erupt into bright yellow balls of pollen filled stamens. They brighten up woodland and hedgerow when most other things are looking drab. Salix caprea - the Sallow or Goat Willow which bears these "Pussy willow" catkins is not commonly grown in gardens (and if it is found there it is often a mistake as it seeds itself freely) but there are a variety of other species and cultivars which have neater growth habits and /or more interesting stem and leaf shape and colour.
  Perhaps the most interesting for its unusual jet black catkins is S. gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' which, in spite of the fact that it has an awful lot of name is quite a small, neat shrub with spreading arching shoots bearing silky grey green leaves. This cultivar is a male plant and has bright red stamens. All willow species have separate male and female plants and it is the male ones which bear the most showy catkins.
  First into flower, in late winter is Salix daphnoides which bears silver grey catkins on smooth purple brown stems. This plant will make a small tree but is often coppiced to encourage the growth of new ornamental shoots which show their best colour in their first and second years. S. d. 'Aglaia' is similar in flower form and colour but has red stems.
  Salix lanata the Woolly Willow is a particular favourite of mine. Another small, neat shrub it bears grey, felty oval leaves and, in spring prominent (2 ins long) catkins which are silver grey on female, and yellow on male plants.
  Lastly, Salix fargesii is grown primarily for its thick, shiny red/brown winter stems and large red winter buds which open to long (5-6 ins) green catkins born with the big bold leaves. It makes a neat spreading bush growing to 3ft high and spread in 8-10 years.                                     Elaine Horne

  It is starting to become a regular event for me that I travel the length of the constituency in a sponsored triathlon, running the first bit from Grisedale Tarn up above Dunmail Raise (the most Northerly point in the constituency) to Waterhead at Ambleside, then sailing the length of Windermere down to Fell Foot Park. There I pick up my bike and cycle down to Humphrey Head (the most Southerly point in the constituency). Actually, at Humphrey Head we have to leave our bikes and again run the last few metres around to the Head itself.
  This year we had lovely weather for the trip, although there was quite deep (and rather slippery) snow up at the Tarn and the wind on Windermere was rather cold but the sun shone as we cycled down through Cartmel and Alithwaite to our final destination. Of course the main purpose of the event is to raise money for Cancer Research and Holehird (if you haven't been able to sponsor me yet it is not too late, simply send your pledge to the address at the end of the article). However, being able to travel through the constituency in one day in this fashion reminds me of how lucky we are to live around here.
  Up until now the triathlon has always run from North to South, with the result that we have not managed to visit Sedbergh in our journey. We were discussing how that state of affairs may be rectified in future years whilst cycling through the lanes around Cartmel. It seems a unfair that we do not get to explore the Dales during our athletic endeavour. It is not so easy to see how we could manage to do this as the journey from East to West must be a good 60 miles, there are no lakes to sail along and there is not a prevailing downhill direction to the journey. These factors all point to the prospect of me having to work quite a bit more on my fitness if we do change anything next time. If anyone has any good ideas then please let me know.
  Back in the world of politics, the issue of parking in Sedbergh continues to rumble along. Clearly, this is not a simple issue and everyone from the Parish Council to the District Council is trying to do their best with the resources they
have available and the constraints that they face. However, things are not working ideally and the issue needs to be addressed. The most recent correspondence I have received concerns home carers and the problems that they have with parking in Sedbergh.
  I will continue to put all the pressure I can on the parties involved until some solutions can be found.
  If you would like to contact me about this or any other these issues or to offer sponsorship then you can reach me either by post at Tim Farron MP, Yard 2, Stricklandgate, Kendal LA9 4ND or by email at tim@timfarron.co.uk.
  Thanks for your support                                                                                                                                                                             Tim Farron MP

  The vicar, the Rev. Canon Alan Fell, welcomed over 70 church members and friends to the Annual Parish Supper of the United Parish of Sedbergh, Cautley and Garsdale which was held in the People's Hall on Friday 17^th March. The enjoyment of the now legendary meat and potato pie and socialising over delicious desserts definitely took away any of the tedium which might accompany the ensuing AGM.
  The formal business started with the appointment of the Churchwardens to the 3 churches.
  No change at St Mark's, Cautley; Judith Bush and Linda Hopkins, or at St John the Baptist, Garsdale; Rosemary Lord and Bill Mawdsley, but at St Andrew's, Sedbergh, Lavinia Mahon was elected to join John Beck.
  The vicar in his comments focussed on the difficulties arising throughout the Bradford Diocese in relation to clergy staffing levels. With cuts of almost a third in stipendiary staffing levels looming the Church is no different from many other sectors of employment.
  This should be seen as an opportunity for the development of differing patterns of ministry with more and more lay people coming forward to assist with such things as hospital and bereavement visiting and even for ordination. These are all very positive initiatives and he added that in this respect levels in our parish were very high. "In the body of Christ there is room for a large body of people offering what they can." He added that a particularly important priority must be to establish an open dialogue between Church and community.
  From the reports which followed:

• St Mark's church; building in good order.
  
• St John the Baptist church; work on roof and walls pending.
  
• St Andrew's; major restoration now completed with the overhaul of the heating system and clock: that is except for the organ which will soon need an overhaul.
  
• The Friends of St Andrew's were thanked for their significant financial aid to this work.
  
• The church buildings are now available to the community for appropriate events.
  
• Big thanks to those involved in youth work, particularly Chameleons and the follow-on group for older children.
  
• Diocesan quota now in excess of £50,000p/a and due to rise by 13.5%; an extra £6,000 to find this year; bad news indeed!
  
• Another big Music Festival in June after which Deryck Cox, St Andrew's long serving organist and choirmaster is stepping down; a hard act to follow!
  

Tony Hannam, PCC secretary

  Settlebeck's latest HMI (Ofsted) inspection of provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities: the impact on achievement and enjoyment.
  In late December we had a bit of a shock.  Only one and a half years after our very successful full Ofsted inspection we had six days notice of another brief inspection of our provision for children with learning difficulties and disabilities as part of Ofsted's regular national surveys.
  HMI Michael McDowell spent two days in the school rigorously evaluating the full range of our support for students and interviewing students, parents, teachers, governors, managers, external services and perusing students work and our records and documentation in detail.
  At the end of his visit he gave us some very favourable verbal feedback and he had clearly been very impressed by what he had seen.  It was especially notable that he found no areas for development in our provision which is very rare and a great accolade for the work of our special needs support staff.
  In mid-January we received his report and here are some of his findings:-

• The overall effectiveness of provision for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities was judged to be outstanding. 
  
• The progress of all students is carefully tracked and measured.
  
• The personal development of each pupil is a principle concern of all staff and students are carefully watched over to ensure that their spiritual, moral social and cultural development is as it should be.
  
• The progress made by learners, overall, is exceptionally good.  There are no significant differences in achievement between groups.
  
• Progress of students with statements of special educational need or who are on School Action+ is, also, exceptionally good.  The social and personal development of students, their relationships with adults and with one another and their behaviour are all outstanding.
  
• Teachers and support staff understand the needs of their students very well and are successful in stimulating their interest and helping them to learn as well as they can.
  
• The curriculum is carefully matched to the individual needs of the learner with difficulties and / or disabilities.  It meets their requirements very well.  The school makes the presumption that every student is entitled to have access to all the learning experiences that it offers.
  
• The small size of the school is helpful in enabling staff members to get to know their students very well and to be realistic and accurate in what they expect of them.  Students are committed to learning and show this in their behaviour and attitudes in lessons as well as in the views they expressed in discussion.
  
• The chief reason for the highly effective provision made by the school is the strong personal commitment of the headteacher to inclusion.  He expresses the view that the student intake should be truly comprehensive.  He has, together with senior managers, developed an ethos in which all learners are equally valued and each is given, to the greatest possible extent, the support that they need in order to succeed.
  
• Parents express a very positive view of the school and its work with their children and they are fully involved in the on-going process of review.  The school maintains links with them through direct face to face meetings, telephone contacts and by reports and newsletters.
  
• The school has taken full advantage of local initiatives and national guidance to become as inclusive as it can.
  
• The school makes very good use of the facilities that its status as a strategically resourced school provides.   The needs of students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and those with other learning difficulties and / disabilities are met exceptionally well.  By its outreach work the school has extended the benefit of its experience and resources to other schools in its area.
  
• The multi-agency network that supports the school has a positive impact on the achievement of students and contributes to their enjoyment of education.
  
• The school is held in high esteem by the agencies contacted.  It is generally thought to be doing a good job and to be very good at collating and sharing relevant information.
  
• Students with learning difficulties and disabilities are included to the greatest possible extent in the life of the school.  They are helped to gain access to as much of the curriculum as possible.  The school expects that, with the right support, all its students will be successful learners.  All students, whatever their level of difficulty, are given appropriate vocational education and the opportunity to experience life in a work place.  The elected school council includes those with learning difficulties and / or disabilities and steps are taken to ensure that the voice of all students is heard.  A strong feature of the school's pastoral programme is the annual round of residential journeys that gives students across the age range the chance to visit destinations in Britain and abroad.  Every effort is made to ensure that those with difficulties or disabilities take part in these so that they are included in the spirit of fellowship that they are chiefly designed to engender.
  
• The school makes exceptionally good provision for learners with LDDs, especially those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.  Those with statements or who are on School Action Plus achieve far more than expected.