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Please
may we have items for the March Diary by 18 February. They can be left
with Sylvia Judge, 55 High Street; Ben Tottenham, Vicarage Cottage, Back
Lane; at the Post Office; or by email to Diary@Ramsbury.com.
We have been publishing the Village Diary at www.ramsbury.com/diary
since July 1998 and have regular readers around the world. If anyone in
Ramsbury would like to find out more about the Internet, please contact
Peter Raper by email
or phone 521092.
Webmaster's note: Contributions sent by e-mail
to Diary@Ramsbury.com will be
automatically forwarded to Sylvia Judge without my seeing them.
Nature Notes
At this time of year most of the plants are dormant so it is the variable
weather that is uppermost in our minds. As there was so much rain before
Christmas, the Kennet rose even higher than last year, betwen 6 and 7
on the marker board by the bridge. Perhaps the cold week causing the flood
water to freeze was good as it allowed the river levels to fall a bit
before the flood water drained back to the river.
At the end of December I was told of a fungus on a tree stump along the
promenade, this was velvet shank (Flammulina Velutipes). It is a quite
attractive tan colour, this fungus is a winter one which can survive hard
frost and apparently produces new spores when it thaws out. I have not
walked that way since the cold snap to see how healthy it is looking.
Many plants seem to be more robust than one would expect. My leeks looked
in a poor way during the frosty weather but quickly recovered with the
thaw. This is also true of the winter gnats and some insects that are
soon on the wing again as soon as the temperature rises.
I hope that you all remained on your feet when the black ice gave rise
to some slippery surfaces, unlike a horse with its rider that went down
one morning but regained its feet after several attempts. Fortunately
neither horse nor rider appeared to suffer serious injury - a few bruises
perhaps?
As I write this it is damp again, may it not bring back any more flooding,
as to snow only time will tell if any appreciable falls are in store for
us. One sign of spring was the sight of a cluster of snowdrops showing
fat white buds in Hungerford church yard in mid January.
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
Travelling along the A4 in mid January between Hopgrass Farm and Highclose
I noticed that there were no Lapwing nor Golden Plover: usually these
fields play host to hundreds of these birds. However, further down the
A4 at Kintbury Crossroads, I did see a flock of about 600 Golden Plover
and 200 Lapwing in December.
A recent survey as to why these birds flock together came up with this
answer. If a Curlew is on its own it has to spend up to 20% of its time
"on watch" but when it is in a group this time is reduced to
5%. The knock on effect of this is that if it is in a group it will have
longer to feed and in the winter months this could be the difference between
life and death.
Notables at the moment are Cetti's Warbler which I have heard singing
behind the Fire Station for at least a month. A Blackcap was seen in a
garden in Knowledge Hill and up to 100 Crossbills in Hens Wood.
John Marshall
Rainfall
Rainfall for the month to 18 January was 4.77 inches, average 3.47 inches.
The Axford Shield
The Axford Shield, which has been added to the "Masthead" of
the Diary was designed by the Amenity Group and drawn by Simon Orton.
Heraldically correct, it is intended to signify the close connection between
Ramsbury and Axford.
Speeding
Just a reminder that speeding in and around the village could cost lives.
Local police are checking speed and there will be mobile cameras on the
A4 and the B4192 from time to time. The aim of this initiative is to slow
traffic, not to catch speeding motorists. However, it is noteworthy that
70% of motorists caught in recent local speed checks came from Ramsbury.
Mile for mile rural roads are more dangerous than motorways. Please drive
more slowly. Parish Council
Village Design Statement (VDS)
The VDS was launched at an exhibition in the Memorial Hall on Saturday
18 January. Copies of the VDS were on sale at £5. A selection of
attractive aerial photographs of the village taken from various angles
for the illustrations in the VDS were also on display at £10 each.
If you were not free to visit the exhibition you will be able to buy a
copy of the VDS from the Post Office, or from the White Horse Bookshop
in Marlborough. The photographs will be on display in the Post Office
Coffee Shop until 7 February. Place your order on the sheet provided in
the shop. Copies should be received about two weeks after 7 February.
Ramsbury Chess Club
Three Chess players need a fourth - or more. Would anyone like to join
the small Ramsbury Chess Club that plays once a fortnight. At the moment
they meet on Thursday afternoons. Contact Edward Judge 520748.
What's on in Ramsbury and Axford
The current Village Diary, and the Parish Council minutes can always
be seen on the Ramsbury web site www.ramsbury.com
The list of village organisations is also available, immediately updated
when the Web Master is notified of changes of contacts. The next printed
organisation contact list will be published and distributed in the April
diary. Changes following on from AGMs should be notified to the editors
by 18 March. There will be copies in the Post Office, Library and Midway
Stores. The main delivery will be made by the Newsagent in mid-week newspapers.
Theft of a Christmas Wreath
A Christmas wreath was stolen from the front door of 12 Crowood Lane
early in January. It was special to the owners, having been brought back
from Rome some years ago. It is very upsetting that such a petty theft
should happen in our village. If the culprits would kindly return the
wreath then we would be very grateful.
Ramsbury WI
The first monthly meeting of the New Year will be on Thursday 6 February
at 7.45 pm in the Methodist School Room. Mr Clarke will speak on "The
World of the Honey Bee"
Amenity Group Guided Walks
There will be a walk to Great Coppice on Sunday 9 February, and
to Pentico (4 miles), taking cars to Manor Hill on Sunday 23 February.
Meet at the Tree at 2 pm. Dogs under control.
Axford Bingo
There will be Bingo in the Village Hall on Wednesdays 12 & 26
February at 7.30 pm.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer).
The Flyer will visit Newbury on Thursday 13 February leaving the
Tree at 11.30 am
and returning at 2.30 pm.
There will be a Valentine Disco on Friday 14 February from 8 pm
till late in the Memorial Hall, Ramsbury. Tickets £7.50 from Committee
members, or Linda 520947 or Bev 515547.
Skip
There will be a Skip at Whittonditch on Friday 14 February.
Ramsbury Parish Charities
Please note that the next meeting of the Trustees has been fixed for
Wednesday 26 February. Anyone in Ramsbury or Axford wishing to
submit an application for financial assistance for local organisations
or students embarking on further education, who could apply to the Lanfear
Trust, please either do so by letter for general purposes or request an
application form. Both should be addressed to the Clerk to the Lanfear
Trust, Miss M. Dixon, 32 Knowledge Crescent, Ramsbury.
Evolution Appeal
The Evolution Appeal is offering a way to support the new Great Western
Hospital and recycle used fax, copier, laser, inkjet cartridges and mobile
phones at the same time. Office Green, a Chippenham company, offers a
free collection service to companies in the Swindon area to collect these
items and convert them into cash for the Evolution Appeal. Telephone 0800
833480 and quote Reference 07 to arrange collection (Minimum 10 items).
THANKS
The family of Mrs Mabel Hobbs, late of "Oaksey", Ramsbury
would like to express their sincere thanks for all
the messages of sympathy and support in their recent bereavement.
Anne and Geoffrey Rissone would like to thank all those who helped
so much since Geoff's accident - neigh-
bours, family, all at the Surgery, LINK, everyone! It is good to live
in Ramsbury.
The total of money raised by The Coffee Centre over the year was
£430.26 and the Christmas Raffle at the Red Cross Centre also raised
£153.52: so the total of the money that will be given to local charities
is £583.78. We would like to say thank you to everyone who kindly
donated prizes for the raffle and to everyone who helped out on the morning.
The Coffee Centre. Julie Coe 521085
The grand total of money collected for the Evolution Appeal (Christmas
Light Show) came to a super £518.70. We would like to say thank
you to all our neighbours who took part in putting up their Christmas
lights and collecting the money for the appeal. We would also like to
say thank you to everyone who came to look at the lights and kindly donated
money for the appeal at Whitehill Close. We all look forward to a great
December 2003.
ADVANCE NOTICES
Reservation forms for the next Ramsbury Charity Ball
to be held on Saturday 6 September are now available at the Ball HQ, the
Crown and Anchor.
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