FOUR consecutive Saint Days in mid-May remember St Mamertus, St Pancras, St Servatius and St Boniface of Tarsus.

The Ice Saints came to light during an evening of lively conversation at the second meeting of Climate Cafe Wellington on Thursday, May 14.

Collectively called the Ice Saints or Chilly Saint, their Saint days, which run from May 11 to 14, often coincide with the last cold snap of spring.

St Mamertus on May 11 refers to the Archbishop of Vienne in south-east France, St Pancras, meaning 'all powerful', is celebrated on May 12, St Servatius on May 13 remembers the Bishop of Tongeren, who lived in what is modern Belgium in the 4th Century CE.

St Boniface of Tarsus, celebrated on May 14 is the patron saint of alcoholics not to be confused with English Benedictine monk St Boniface (675-754 CE), the patron saint of brewers, tailors, Germany and Devon.

The Ice Saints reminded farmers and allotment growers to wait before planting out tender plants, or risk losing their crop to frost.

Meteorologists through the ages have noted this phenomenon ever since students of Galileo first recorded it in the 17th Century CE.

Along with swapping favourite weather lore, other subjects discussed at the latest meeting of the cafe included how the Met Office predicts the weather.

Cllr Matt Geen from Curry Rivel Parish Council recommended the best places to seek advice to make your home more energy efficient for people on all budgets.

Participants also learned more about the UK Government's Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credit scheme introduced in February 2024 that requires development under the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) to deliver a minimum 10 per cent net gain for biodiversity.

The next meeting of Climate Cafe Wellington will be held at Wellington Meeting House, High Street, TA21 8RA, on Friday, June 12, from 7pm.