Audlem WI February Report

Our President, Elizabeth Green, welcomed everyone to the meeting on Thursday 6th February 2020

Sheila Joule was thanked for the lovely table flowers

Swans

Our speaker for this month was David Cummings, a retired school teacher who has spent a lifetime protecting and preserving the habitat of swans.

He gave us a very interesting and enlightening talk on these magnificent creatures.

He passed on his knowledge during his teaching career to pupils at school making them aware that nature is worth conserving.

It appears that the first indication of nature conservation as a whole was in the first Wild Bird Protection Act of 1872.

We were shown amazing photographs of the variety of swans we have in this country and the interactions within their family groups.

Apparently they come onto farmland in the winter to feed off the grass but return to their familiar habitat when breeding begins in the spring.

The Queen has the prerogative over most of the swans and appoints a "Master of the Swans". whose role is to organise the historical Swan Upping Ceremony annually on the Thames.

The sad news is that the swans which were resident on the river at Chester have not been seen for some time, however the good news for us is they are still evident in this area and in fact were seen in flight over Buerton just last week.

There are many myths, and legends relating to swans, not forgetting the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, the poetry of W.H.Auden, and the universal symbolism of romance.

The vote of thanks was given by Elizabeth Green our President

Our next meeting will be 5th March at 2pm at the Scout and Guide Hall when our speaker will be A. Patterson giving a talk on Baptists and Buttons.

We are a friendly group that welcomes Visitors and New Members. Why not come along and make new friends.

Jackie Creber and Elizabeth Green