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Please may we have items for the August Diary by 18 July. 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
Apart from the few hot days at the end of May, it seems that we have
either had showers most days or dark clouds that have skirted the valley
and shed their rain on the surrounding area, as the other day when we
had a few spots while Gloucestershire had a torrential downpour. What
a pity that we had a storm on the day of the band concert, thus preventing
them from performing in the open air, where I always think it sounds more
delightful.
Mid June and both the gardens and the wayside verges are in full bloom.
The little mauve flowers of the ivy leaved toadflax look so pretty on
the old school wall, while on another old wall in Aldbourne there are
the white flowers of the wild candytuft which is smaller than the garden
one. The various types of comfrey are now flowering, including the Russian
one, no doubt a garden escapee. Comfrey leaves, I understand not only
have healing properties but steeped in water give liquid food for the
garden.
When on a village walk in the Chisbury area on a damp woodland track I
saw silverweed with many buttercup like flowers, far more than when it
is found growing by the roadside. Close by in damp shade grew creeping
jenny with its yellow flowers, these are smaller than the garden variety.
Have you seen many butterflies this year? I have not as yet, but to my
great surprise on 3 June a healthy looking painted lady was by my rose
arch. This was unusual so early in the year as they migrate here from
southern Europe and do not usually arrive until late summer. I doubt that
they have started to over winter in England.
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
My best sighting this last month was a Montagues Harrier circling low
over the B4192 new Aldbourne Warren Farm. The bird I saw was a male which
looks predominantly grey in colour with black primary feathers. They are
usually seen quartering low over heathland or farmland looking for their
quarry which can be mammals or birds but they also have a particular fondness
for adders! Staying with birds of prey, June has been a good month for
Red Kite with birds seen in Ashley Piece, Springs Hill and over the A4.
Also on Springs Hill were 3 Hobbies which are a very welcome sight unless
you are a Dragonfly! Last but not least on 16th June one Lone Osprey was
seen over Ramsbury heading towards Chilton Foliat.
Occasionally you get a report of a bird which is so rare that it would
be almost impossible to believe it! But who am I to judge; in this case
I had a report of a Penduline Tit seen in the nature reserve, These birds
are usually found elsewhere in Europe but they have spread from Poland
towards the Channel in the last 50 years, so who knows. Look out for it,
it is 1/4 inch longer than a wren.
John Marshall
Rainfall
The rainfall for the month to 18 June was 2.18 inches, average 2.44 inches.
Patient Representative Group
The Group met early in June: the next meeting will be in September. The
new GP contract with the NHS was discussed. Some 35,000 GPs will be voting
on this later this month. It is hoped that general practice services will
be improved overall and out of hours arrangements will be changed. Plans
for the new Surgery and existing site will shortly be discussed by KDC
planners. When telephoning for appointments with a Practice Nurse, patients
will be asked "Could you give an idea as to what your appointment
is for?" This is so that the appointment is made with the appropriate
nurse, some of whom do specific jobs.
BT Broadband
If you use the Internet, you will probably be aware that Broadband provides
faster Internet access. Unfortunately, as Broadband becomes more popular
and web sites become more complex, it is inevitable that browsing the
Internet without Broadband will become slower and more frustrating.
According to BT, there is insufficient demand to provide Broadband in
Ramsbury. The only way to change their view is to register your interest
in Broadband with BT. If you would like help with this, please call Tim
Beckwith (520622) or Edward Judge (520748), or use the feedback
form.
Buses to the New Hospital & Swindon
Timetables for routes 46 & 48 are now available at the Post Office.
Home Composting
A new initiative is being launched to encourage home composting. Compost
bins and collectors for kitchen waste are available for collection from
garden centres in Trowbridge and Chippenham, or from SCATS Country Stores
in Salisbury and Devizes. The 200 litre black compost bin with the accompanying
10 litre collector costs £6 and the offer is limited to two bins
per household. Home delivery can be arranged for an extra cost of £3.95.
For more information or advice contact Rebecca Midgley, the Home Composting
Officer, on 01380 725670 or email compost@wiltshirewildlife.org
Ramsbury WI
The next meeting will be on Thursday 3 July at 7.45 pm in the Methodist
School Room when members will learn how to make sugar paste flowers and
other icing hints. The competition will be for a specimen rose. Guests
and new members are always welcome. The speaker at the June Meeting was
Leonie Clark who gave a demonstration of Reiki Healing and several members
benefited from her treatment. Arrangements were finalised for the outing
on 5 July to Malmesbury Abbey Gardens.
Coffee Morning and Jumble Sale
There will be a Coffee Morning and Jumble sale at the Methodist Church
on Saturday 5 July from 10 am with a Cake Stall, Nearly New and Traidcraft.
Proceeds from the Coffee Morning to NCH. If you have any jumble items
for collection please contact Sue Barnes 520588 or Rose Nicholls 520906.
Amenity Group Guided Walks
There will be guided walks to Balak (4 miles) on Sunday 6 July (a week
earlier than usual) and to Chilton Foliat (4 miles) on Sunday 27 July.
Meet at 2 pm at the Tree to share cars, with dogs under control.
Memorial Hall AGM
The Annual General Meeting will be held in the Hall at 8 pm on Monday
7 July. The Agenda may be seen on the Hall Notice Board. Please come and
give the Trustees your ideas for the future.
Ramsbury Parish Charities
The next meeting of the Trustees has been fixed for 9 July. Anyone in
Ramsbury or Axford wishing to apply for financial assistance for local
organisations, or students embarking on further education who could apply
to the Lanfear Trust, please do so by letter, or to request an application
form for the Trust, addressed to The Clerk, Miss M. Dixon, 32 Knowledge
Crescent, Ramsbury.
Axford Bingo
There will be Bingo in the Village Hall on Wednesdays 9 and 30 July.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer).
The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 10 July leaving the tree
at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Please book with Muriel
Lye on 520555.
The Annual Summer Luncheon will be held on Sunday 13 July from 12.30
- 2.0 pm at The Old Mill, Ramsbury or, if wet, in the Church Rooms. The
Guest of Honour will be Rt. Hon. Michael Ancram QC MP. Tickets at £10
(£5 children) available from Post Office or Committee members.
Ramsbury Gardens Open
This popular event will take place between 2 and 5.30 pm on Sunday 13
July. The gardens open will include Ramsbury Hill and Parliament Piece
in Back lane, Garden Cottage in Burdett Street, Faith Cottage and Fridays
in Crowood Lane, Knapp House, the Old Mill and 15 Union Street. We also
suggest that visitors take the opportunity to visit the Ramsbury Meadow
Nature Reserve behind the Fire Station.
A general stall in the Square will sell tickets complete with local map.
Teas and light refreshments will be available at Parliament Piece. The
net proceeds of this event will be donated entirely to local causes and
we hope that everyone will try to encourage their neighbours, friends
and family to come along.
Marlborough Open Studios Scheme 2003
The Open Studios Scheme takes place during the weekends 12/13, 19/20
and 26/27 July. Brochures are available in the Post Office, or ring 520429.
Witcha Cottage studio and garden will be open.
Ramsbury Meadow Nature Reserve
Following the annual cut in the first week of July there will be a raking
off exercise on Monday 14 July. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
are sending a working party to help but village volunteers are also needed
in order to complete the work in one day.
If you can spare an hour or two please ring Roy Alexander 520304, or just
turn up ( bring an iron rake if you have one) any time from 10 am.
Arthritis Research Coffee Morning and Sale
The Annual Coffee Morning and Sale to raise funds for Arthritis Research
will be held on Saturday 19 July in the Memorial Hall from 10 am to 12
noon. Donations and goods for sale may be left with Juma Lance at Fridays,
Crowood Lane or Anne Tiplady at Evelyn House, High Street.
"Activate"
As part of Kennet District Council's successful summer programme the
village is again being visited with the Council's roadshow. The Memorial
Hall and playing fields have been booked for Thursday afternoons between
12 noon and 2 pm on 31 July, and 7, 14, 21 & 28 August.
"An extension of our Active Zone Camps, these roadshows will bring
all the fun to your doorstep. Every week of the summer holidays our van,
loaded with the very latest in summer fun equipment, will visit Ramsbury
for games, sports and arts activities. We will be there come rain or shine.
It will be active and could be messy so wear suitable clothing"
Age: 5 - 12 years. What to bring: Sunscreen, cap or hat.
Cost: £2.50 Booking: No pre-booking needed, just turn up and pay
on the day.
THANKS
Sylvia Judge thanks everyone who supported the Scarf Exchange
and Coffee Morning in May.
Azafady (Charity No 1079121) have received £243.23 including
donations.
The sum of £2,028.55 was raised in the area during British Red
Cross Week. Many thanks are due to all who contributed and especially
to the collectors who raised this sum, an increase on last year's total.
The fine weather just held out for the Axford & Stitchcombe 'Gardens
Open' event which was attended by over 300 people and raised over
£1400 for the Church and Village Hall. The organisers wish to thank
all who came and especially all the volunteers and garden owners who helped
make this such an enjoyable day.
ADVANCE NOTICES
The Ramsbury Horticultural Society Summer Show takes
place on Saturday 16 August in the Memorial Hall. Please make a note in
your diary of this long standing village event. If you have not entered
a show before, just look around your garden and if you see anything that
gives you pleasure, why not see if you can enter it in the show? Brian
Twigger 520353 will be glad to help you to enter.
'Sixteen Types of Happiness' is the title of the
show coming to Ramsbury on Friday 12 September. It will be performed by
Big State Theatre, a professional touring group. The visit has been arranged
by Rural Arts Wiltshire in conjunction with the Memorial Hall Trustees.
This is a highly energetic and inventive show packed with delightfully
recognisable characters. Tickets will be available in August.
The Flyer will be going to Newbury Show on 21 September.
This is a good day out and an easy way to get there.
There are booking forms at the Crown & Anchor for the
Ramsbury Charity Ball on 6 September. Tables are still available.
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