FIRST it was called New Osbaldwick. Then the Joseph Rowntree Foundation rechristened it Derwenthorpe.

Now the Diary learns it has a new name: Dead Newt Thorpe.

The nickname was dreamt up by opponents of Jo Ro's plan to build a model village on open land near Osbaldwick. This project was put in jeopardy by the discovery of a pair of great crested newts, a protected species.

Meanwhile, protesters were interested to read about a project in Joseph Rowntree's original model village, New Earswick.

The New Earswick Bulletin, June edition, carries a report on the new frog pond in the village. "It is to be hoped that the new frog pond will become home to newts as well as frogs and toads, especially the great crested newt which is an endangered species," writes Elisabeth Alley.

How odd. The Jo Ro Foundation is busily discouraging rare newts in Derwenthorpe, but it is positively inviting them to move to New Earswick.

A LETTER from the foundation in last night's Evening Press poured amphibian-free cold water on the notion that a newt colony could exist on the site earmarked for new housing.

But not so long ago the place was teeming with the fellows.

John Rawcliffe has already told the Diary how children used to grab handfuls of newts and stuff them in jam jars 40 years ago.

Those memories prompted George Appleby of Clifton to look back.

He was 11 years old when war broke out in 1939, living at the Tang Hall Lane end of Fifth Avenue - "across the road from Farmer Herbert's fields, which we were always in.

"Our back garden went down to the Derwent Valley Railway line with its embankments, which we also explored at great length and knew well, way past Osbaldwick and the electricity power station.

"One of the best places to find lizards, newts, frogs, toads and things related was inside the pits, spaced alongside the line at intervals, with sleeper logs on top. We knew all the many birds' eggs by sight and the Allied and enemy aircraft too.

"Recently, my wife of 54 years (a Burnholme lass) and I parked near the

Derwent Arms and walked through Metcalf Lane to Bad Bargain Lane, to see where the trust development is going to happen.

"Metcalf's nursery is long

gone and farmer Herberts place is now a riding school. The gun field, where

we gathered mushrooms in the early hours, is beyond approach and the

electricity station is derelict.

"I made a point of going along the road to Murton from Osbaldwick and saw that my favourite Hazel pear tree, just past the farmhouse on the right, is

still standing proud. We left our bikes at the side of the road one day

until we helped the farmer by picking a few.

"We watched helplessly from up the tree while he wheeled them into the farmyard. Good strategy. I do hope that the development outcome can accommodate the widest views and the newts. Oh, and the Hazel pears."

IT'S a teatime showdown today for England as they try to conquer the Swiss and get their Euro 2004 campaign back on track.

John Terry is fit again, which delights the Diary's official football pundit, John Terry.

Despite the nightmare injury-time reverse against France, Mr Terry, from Almsford Road, York, is "quietly confident" of England's chances of a win. The score? John Terry predicts 2-1 to our plucky boys.

TALKING of teatime and football, here's something to put you off your newt burger: "Footie fans witnessing England's painful defeat at the hands of France on Sunday produced enough emotional sweat to shower one and a half million people for a full five minutes," reveals a delightful press release from a deoderant manufacturer.

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN

Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 09:17 Thursday, June 17, 2004