Milton Malsor & Collingtree WI

18/10/2026

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🍁As autumn takes hold, hedgehogs can do with a helping hand. Gardeners can look after hedgehogs this October by making their gardens more inviting.

👉There are numerous benefits to having hedgehogs in your garden. As natural predators of insects, caterpillars and beetles, they serve as an effective form of natural pest control.

Hedgehog numbers in rural areas have fallen by between a third and three-quarters nationally over the past two decades, and creating wildlife-friendly gardens is one of the key ways to support their conservation.

Gardens can offer hedgehogs vital sources of food, water and shelter, and leaving small gaps in fences and gates enables them to move safely and freely between different areas, reports the Express.

With just a handful of minor adjustments suggested by Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress, gardeners can make their outdoor space far more welcoming and provide hedgehogs with the resources they require during the autumn months.

Provide food
Hedgehogs will be seeking to build up their fat reserves ahead of hibernation, so putting out food is one of the easiest ways to draw them into your garden.

They are particularly fond of insects such as beetles, earthworms and snails. You can also put out meat-based cat food, specialist hedgehog food or plain dry cat biscuits.

As hedgehogs are predominantly active after dark, place the food outside during the evening.

Leave out fresh water
Put out a shallow dish of clean water somewhere quiet and sheltered, and make sure to refresh the water every day.

Provide shelter
Hedgehogs require a calm, sheltered spot to rest throughout the day before eventually going into hibernation. Think about leaving one corner of your garden unkempt, with heaps of leaves, logs and branches where hedgehogs can shelter and recuperate.

You can also purchase or construct a hedgehog house to provide a dedicated retreat for them.

Create gaps in fences and gates
These prickly creatures can cover a surprisingly considerable distance overnight while foraging for food and water.

Leaving a small opening at the base of gates and fences enables hedgehogs to roam freely between gardens without venturing near busy roads or hazardous areas. A gap measuring 13cm by 13cm is generally the ideal size.

Steer clear of harmful chemicals
If you're actively looking to encourage hedgehogs into your garden, cut back on the use of pesticides and other chemicals. These can directly harm hedgehogs and also eliminate the insects they depend upon for sustenance.

✍Mia O'Hare, Chris Bonnett

01/10/2026

Our next WI Meeting for Milton Malsor & Collingtree is on Thursday 8th October 2026 at 7.30pm, in the Milton Malsor Village Hall.

This month we are hosting a Soundbath hosted by Amber from Elev8tion to explore wellbeing and meditation.

Visitors are most welcome.

There will be health disclaimer to sign at the start of the session before taking part, see the Do's and Don't guide to help you prepare.

30/09/2026

The WI is delighted to be taking part in 's Women & Girls Match Fund: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000GLdgHYAT

For one week only, every pound donated to our No More Violence Against Women campaign will be matched.

This funding will help us to:

· Train WI members to become No More Violence Ambassadors.

· Develop new educational resources and campaign materials.

· Increase understanding of domestic abuse, including coercive control and other non-physical forms of abuse.

· Equip members with the confidence to speak about violence against women in their communities.

· Support members to organise awareness events, talks and local activities.

· Encourage community action during the UN's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.

Donate today and share the campaign with someone you know. Together, we can help end violence against women.
Link: https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000GLdgHYAT

We're working to equip women and communities with the knowledge and confidence to recognise domestic abuse, challenge stigma and speak up. Together, we can help end violence against women.

Thank you for helping this campaign reach more people.

Our No More Violence campaign, launched in 2019, seeks to end the scourge of male violence against women, by empowering …

11/09/2026

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Let's Stand Together - WI Day on September 16th 2026
NFWI has invited us all to celebrate 111 years of the WI and is encouraging us to wear our favourite shades of purple and bring lilac, violet into any decorations, crafts, food and drink.

We also invite members to take a photo of any three of you (to represent the 1+1+1 =111) with your names and WI (permissions please), and email to: [email protected]
and tagging NFWI using the hashtag: and share what the WI means to you.

Please also send your photos to [email protected] and we will create a collage of your photos

10/09/2026

Three remarkable Queen Consorts — Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother — each left a lasting mark on the Royal Collection.

This Thursday is our next WI meeting, and we’re thrilled to welcome a special guest, Nicola Turner Inman, who will be sharing her expert insight in her talk “Kind Hearts and Consorts”. Visitors are warmly invited to come along and see what we’re all about.

06/06/2026

🌼 WI Summer Craft Evening: Make Your Own Gorgeous Coasters

Join us for a relaxed, sociable craft night where we’ll be turning simple cork coasters into beautiful summer designs using pretty napkins and a touch of creativity. It’s an easy, no‑stress project — perfect for chatting, laughing, and making something lovely to take home.

You’ll be able to choose from a range of cheerful summer patterns, and we’ll show you how to decorate and seal your coasters so they’re ready for garden drinks, gifts, or brightening up your table.

All materials are provided — just bring yourself and enjoy a fun evening with friends.

📍Milton Malsor Village Hall
📅 Thursday, 11th June at 7.30pm

25/05/2026

🌿 Overview of Our May WI Meeting

As May draws to a close, I wanted to share an overview of our recent meeting, where we were delighted to welcome Sarah from the RAIN Northamptonshire (Resilience and Innovation Northants) Project. She joined us to talk about the vital work taking place across Northamptonshire to strengthen flood resilience and support local communities.

Sarah gave a fascinating and eye‑opening talk, explaining how the RAIN team is working with local communities, landowners, and environmental partners to reduce flood risk through a mix of natural flood‑management techniques, innovative engineering, and community‑focused initiatives. Members particularly enjoyed hearing about real examples from nearby villages, including how small‑scale interventions—such as leaky dams, improved water pathways, and habitat restoration—can make a meaningful difference during heavy rainfall.

Her passion for helping residents become more aware, better prepared, and more resilient to future flood events really shone through, and the group appreciated the chance to ask questions and learn more about how these projects support our wider county.

We rounded off the evening with refreshments, plenty of conversation, and a lovely sense of connection—exactly what our WI is all about.

20/05/2026

Celebrating World Bee Day

Celebrated each year on 20th May.

14/05/2026

Come join the Milton Malsor and Collingtree WI this evening at 7.30pm at Milton Malsor village hall to hear our guest speaker from RAIN Resilience and Innovation in Northamptonshire)

Sharing ideas for how they and you can make a difference to our counties flood defences.

RAIN - Resilience and Innovation Northants CreateYour HouseholdFlood Plan Creating flood resilient communities in Northamptonshire Flood risk is complex.