Stratford sub Castle Village Website
Salisbury, Wiltshire UK

2026 Reported sighting in or near Stratford sub Castle 28 May Cuckoo calling from the area around the river Heard from Mill Lane 27 May Painted lady butterflies https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/newspost/painted-lady-sighting-in-stratford 8 May Two swifts Seen but not photographed. Identified by their calls by using the Merlin app (see bottom of this page). 2 May Swallows https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/newspost/stratford-wildlife-sightings-in-may 26 April Flower cr

Our meeting in June will be different! This year it will take the form of a Social and AGM and will be held at the home of Judy & Charles, 9 Castle Keep at 7.30 pm on Thursday 26 June. This will be an evening for you all to talk together - how does the Garden Club get more Committee Members? We will definitely need a new Programme Secretary - a Chairman, and Secretary would also make life easier for all. The programme for 2026-2027 is all booked. Could you join the Committe

Over the past few days there have been reports of the Painted Lady butterfly Vanessa cardui appearing in parts of Wiltshire. This morning several were seen on the sunny side of a hedge on Stratford Road. The species originates from North Africa and is unable to survive UK winters. It is probable that the ones we are seeing now have crossed the channel from France. The image below from https://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/species.php?species=cardui is a better indication of what

This event has now taken place. Photos taken over the weekend are on this page: www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/community-weekend-may-2026 Original newspost Bunting has appeared along the hedge bordering Stratford Road outside St Lawrence Church, with just a few days to go before the Community Weekend. Similar events were held in Stratford sub Castle in 2022 for the Jubilee celebrations and in 2023 for the Coronation of King Charles III. These are the planned activities for

The Pearly Kings and Queens – The other London Royal Family A presentation by Terry Ereira I had planned to write up Ian Budniak’s talk on the Spanish succession, but a last-minute health issue prevented Ian from attending. As always (and being a Londoner) Terry rose to the occasion and presented an interesting history of the Pearly Kings and Queens of London, and he didn’t need a microphone. Henry Croft, an orphan born and raised in St Pancras workhouse in 1861, left at 13

UPDATE: What a great start to our summer season with a fantastic turnout for our May café and record-breaking proceeds of £635 being donated to Wilton Riding for the Disabled. Thank you so much to everyone who came along to support us. Photos taken at the May Café are here: https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/cafe-photos-2026 Did you read that the May café inspired an 'Ode to Mary King'? It's in this newspost: https://www.stratfordsubcastle.org.uk/newspost/ode-to-mary

Salisbury Reds has advised that the drop off and pick up points serving several bus routes INCLUDING THE R12, will change on Saturday as the city centre will be closed for the Mayor Making Ceremony. See details below:

The April Newsletter is now available, isee screenshot images below. Note that the Newsletter includes a comment that the pedestrian/cyclists' bridge over the Avon near Five RIvers will need to be closed for short periods, with a marked diversion in operation. : Or you can download the document as a PDF here:

Reading Room at Stratford-sub-Castle If Mary King could pause from tatting lace, As in her photograph, and through the glass Her gaze extend, we’d see across her face Benevolence and joy and pride to pass, For glancing through that pond’s mutating skin Called time, she’d see and hear her Reading Room Replete with hum of chat and wagging chin, The warp and weft of conversation’s loom, A modern version of the Sunday Teas, Victoria Sponge and jam and scones and all, A scene of a

Ramblers Wellbeing Walks Salisbury is part of a national organisation run by the Ramblers. Walks are circular and organised and led by trained volunteers. Footsteps to Fitness are 30 minute walks suitable for new walkers, those recovering from illness or surgery, or anyone who lives alone and wants to get out and meet new people. Local walks start from the coffee kiosk at Victoria Park at 10 am on the following Friday dates: 1 & 15 May 5 & 19 June 3 & 17 July 7 & 21 August D

Jim Platt reports having seen four swallows near Parsonage Farm early evening on 2 May. One of them may be this one .... Image KMOC There are currently three pairs of swallows, one pair in each stable. Last autumn 12 of them assembled on a wire for their migration so there must have been six successful fledglings. Kerry O'Connor comments "We had at least TWO broods last year, some years it’s three. (I mean sequential broods per nest/ pair). All depends on how many flying ins

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 28 May at 7.30 pm in the Reading Room, Stratford Road, Stratford sub Castle SP1 3LL. The speaker will be Sally Morgan and her talk is entitled “Climate friendly gardening”. This promises to be both popular and topical. We have one more meeting in this season on Thursday 25 June which will be our AGM – please plan to attend this meeting. We are in need of Committee members to avoid the closure of the club. We look forward to seeing you

UPDATE - Unfortunately Ian Budniak could not attend the meeting. At short notice Terry Ereira gave a talk - The Pearly Kings & Queens - the other Royal Family. See a later Guild newspost to read the review. The next Guild meeting will be on Wednesday 13 May. It will begin with a short AGM which will be followed by a talk from the Chairman, Ian Budniak, about Britain’s involvement in the Spanish War of Succession during the 18th Century. The meeting will start at 7.30 pm in

I think this is a Flower Crab Spider. Misumena vatia... The Wildlife Trust gives the following information: Unlike many spiders, flower crab spiders don’t spin webs to trap insects. Instead they ambush their prey, often laying in wait on foliage for unsuspecting bees, moths and other insects that come to feed on flowers. The flower crab spider has a globular abdomen, sometimes with spots or lines. They can change their colour to match their surroundings but often appear white

Captain James Maclean lead the wreath-laying ceremony in St Lawrence churchyard 2026 Friday 24 April is the nearest schoolday to Anzac Day which is observed in Australia, New Zealand and other countries on 25 April. After a short service at 11 am in St Lawrence Church, Stratford Road, Stratford sub Castle SP1 3LL, pupils from Stratford school laid posies on the Anzac graves in the churchyard. There is more information about Anzac Day and the soldiers buried in the Commonweal

Cllr Martin Smith, Wiltshire Cabinet Member for Highways has said: "Parking charges in Wiltshire have not changed since 2022, despite significant inflationary pressures during that time, so we feel that these proposals are fair and that they remain in line with charges in nearby authorities. No decision has been made on this, and we really do want to hear people's views. Please do take the time to take part in the consultation”. https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/5784/TRO-

Salisbury City Council will celebrate St George’s Day with a day filled with community, tradition and entertainment in Salisbury Market Place and Guildhall Square on Sunday 26 April. The day will begin with a short procession featuring the Salisbury Giant at 9.55 am. Explore an array of stalls, indulge in delicious food and drink, and enjoy an exciting lineup of activities, including creative workshops, circus skills, children’s fair rides, medieval music, forge demos, childr

Salisbury Reds advise that due to a road closure, the 201 bus service will follow a temporary diversion on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 April and therefore will not be travelling through Stratford sub Castle.

Last time I reported my first hearing of the year, it was a St George's Day, but this year it is 4 days earlier. Lying in bed this morning - there it was, the other side of the river, but loud-and-clear and repeated several batches of 3-or-4 calls. Spring is here! Richard Death Ed: The Common Cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus) is famously heard but rarely seen. So we must be content to use a library image to illustrate this newspost - unless one of our readers is fortunate enough to

Now that the groundwater has drained away and the paths have dried out along the walking route from Stratford sub Castle to Five Rivers Leisure Centre through the eastern part of the Avon Valley Nature Reserve, the route is walkable without wellingtons! Some of the scrub-land has been cleared by volunteers from the Salisbury Wildlife Group who manage the Reserve, leaving open areas where swathes of bluebells and cowslips are in flower. Using the material from the clearance,

Some photos of the runners on their route through Stratford sub Castle are here : A reminder that the competitors will be running through Stratford sub Castle. Some local roads will be closed - details on the map below, provided by the race organisers. Original Newspost 22 February The letter below has been sent to the village website by the City of Salisbury Athletics and Running Club for public circulation. It concerns local road closures on Sunday 12 April 2026. Note tha