I AM compiling these notes after a long dry, warm and very sunny spell of spring weather, although I am aware that by the time these words appear in print, the summer-like conditions might have been replaced by cold, rain, wind or even snow. Such is the uncertainty of the English spring climate.

One of my local indicators of dry conditions or a worrying shortage of water is an old horse trough fashioned from stone.

A double-header, it stands on the roadside near my house and is fed by springs which emerge from the neighbouring hillside. If those springs dry up, then a drought can be expected.

It is just one of several troughs along the hillside in question, some of which are on private property but this one is a reminder of bygone times when these filling stations of the past were a feature of every village.

Indeed, one would expect to find them between villages or near places where horses congregated, such as the farrier's premises or farmyards.

The early troughs were made from stone although modern ones, which continue to provide water for livestock on remote areas of farmland, tend to be made of other materials such as metal or even plastic, and some are replenished by mains water instead of springs. It is a sad fact, however, that so many of those old stone troughs have disappeared. I know of one which has been built into a wall and others which have been allowed to vanish among the undergrowth.

Yet more were removed during road-widening schemes or simply because they were considered to be of no further use. I think it is fair to say that a considerable number have found refuge in gardens as containers for flowers or even fish, or perhaps as modern water features, but in spite of that, many have survived along our lanes and roads, or in villages who continue to show a pride in maintaining them.

Some are merely stone containers for the water while others are rather more ornate, often with a carved head of some kind - say an animal like a lion or perhaps a fish, or even a god from some past religion - from whose mouth the water pours into the trough. Many are single troughs but some are double or even triple water containers which were carefully positioned so that a team of horses could drink their fill at the same time. It was a feature of most troughs that the supply of fresh spring water never ceased to flow, whether it was from a spring or even a diverted beck but nowadays, this is a luxury in some cases.

In thinking about the removal of thousands of troughs, one must next consider who put them there. Quite clearly, landowners and farmers obtained their own troughs and some time ago, I was speaking to a man whose family made them. They were created from stone quarried locally; the block was drawn upon a sledge to my correspondent's workshop and each trough was excavated with a pick-axe. It took seven or eight days to make one trough, and my correspondent's family made them in all sizes. Circular ones were created especially for pigs, so that they could stand around them in a circle and enjoy a communal feast - food, rather than water, was placed in these.

Many of the troughs made by his family were bought by landowners and farmers although parish councils also purchased them for use in villages.

On occasions, a benevolent landowner would provide a trough for his local community and quite often this would be somewhat ornate with an inscription to record his generosity.

Such troughs might have a tall backpiece which, like the more plain types, might also bear suitable carvings or coats of arms, the face of an ancient god or animal or fish, or even some other meaningful design.

They might also be supplied with a metal cup on a chain which could be used by humans requiring a drink of fresh water

I recall one which bore an incription "Take this cup with thanks and silent think, so that thy horse may also drink", and at Cropton near Pickering there was a metal cup with an inscription saying, "On Cropton Cross there is a cup and in that cup there is a sup". One which was erected at Thirkleby, near Thirsk, by Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey said: "Weary traveller, bless Sir Ralph, who set for thee this welcome trough."

Yet another between Burnsall and Appletreewick in the Yorkshire Dales bears a Latin inscription which, when translated, means: "Let the horse drink at the spring, and thereafter lift his head with joy."

I understand that in London and some other major cities, very ornate civic horse troughs were established and many are now maintained by various societies, but unless a parish council or perhaps a willing individual from a village takes it upon himself or herself to look after our remaining troughs, it seems many of these relics from a bygone age will eventually disappear from our landscape.

I have received a note from the RSPB's North of England office at Newcastle to say that the Society is extremely concerned about the declining number of house sparrows and is therefore attempting to find a reason for their reduction in so many parts of our region.

Studies over the last 25 years have shown that the house sparrow population has more than halved in that time; numbers fell by a staggering 64pc between 1972 and 1996. This amounts to a massive 9.6 million birds, a figure which is equivalent to the human population of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The house sparrow used to be one of the most familiar birds in both town and country, so where have all they all gone? And why? Those are the questions which are being asked and, of course, there is also a need to halt this catastrophic and puzzling decline in numbers.

In this, the RSPB is seeking the help of people in this region. The society's spokesman, David Hirst, told me: "We need to know where house sparrows are doing well and where they are in trouble. It is also important to know about areas where there are no sparrows at all." Mr Hirst adds that helpers do not have to be experts in order to take part.

He asks that on any day of the week after tomorrow until Sunday, May 11, as many people as possible should tell the RSPB about their local house sparrows and this can be done by answering a few simple questions on a form which can be supplied by the society. The higher the number of people taking part, the better will be the resulting information.

The necessary forms can be obtained by ringing RSPB House at 0870 601 0215 (calls at national rate) but please do so before May 6. Alternatively you can write to RSPB Sparrowatch 2003, Freepost, ANG10850, 17 Birkheads Road, Reigate, RH2 9SP. Those with access to the internet can visit the RSPB web site at www.rspb. org.uk/sparrowatch where the necessary form will be available until June 8.

Not many people know that today is Rowan Tree Day. Years ago in this region, houses, cattle and horses were decorated with springs of new leaves from rowan trees, otherwise known as the mountain ash. In some areas, this custom was delayed until tomorrow which is Holy Rood Day.

The reason for this custom was to protect one's home and belongings from the unwelcome attention of witches and evil spirits.

Farmers, in particular, wanted to protect their milking parlours and so parts of the milk churns were made from the wood of the rowan, as were the handles of many tools such as rakes, brooms and trowels or even horse whips. For this reason, the mountain ash or rowan was also known as the witchwood or witch hazel; the name rowan may come from the Norse word runa which means a charm.

The rowan is one of our most popular trees, one which grows wild in the higher regions of our landscape but which is also attractive enough to be planted in parks and gardens. In the autumn it produces masses of luscious red berries which were once widely used in the making of a jelly which was eaten with game.