Please may we have items for the July Diary by 18 June. They can be left with Sylvia Judge, 55 High Street or Ben Tottenham, Vicarage Cottage, Back Lane, at the shop counter 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 visit www.ramsbury.com and 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

It seems that we have gone from winter floods to good weed growing weather after rain some hot days and now yet more rain in mid-May. Whatever the conditions the native plants appear in their due season, although the blackthorn was later this year and as yet I have not noticed any hawthorn in flower. In a few places I have noticed bluebells in local hedges this year, but with the boundary walk cancelled due to foot and mouth, some of us have not been able to enjoy the woodland carpets of them. The spring is always a time to delight in the variety of bulbs which flower in our gardens and this year, while in Crete, I saw their wild tulip, the flower was crocus size and not unlike it but the leaves were definitely those of a tulip.
At the beginning of May I was walking the dog along one of the village lanes when I noticed a pile of earth spilling on to the road. When I looked closer I realised that there was an active badger's sett in the hedge with its numerous entrances. It is no longer visible as the hedge parsley and grasses have grown up to hide it. If there are young hopefully they will not get killed on the road by the few cars that pass that way.
On the fine days butterflies and other insects are now on the wing, a red tailed bumble bee has been active in my garden recently and there are a few hive bees around, also sleepy wasps, have they over wintered somewhere? They did not look large enough to be queens

Rosie Pauline

Bird Notes

As I write this in mid-May it is all happening along the Kennet. At Seven Bridges Nightingale, Cettis Warbler and Reed Bunting can all be heard and if you are patient seen as well. I have also heard Cettis Warbler and Nightingale near the Old Mill.
Last month was good for Waders with a Curlew flying over Ramsbury in late April. Woodcock can be seen in the evening or at dawn at Seven Bridges. I was a tad worried about the lack of Lapwings in the valley, but I was pleased to see two pairs courting recently behind Rachel's Cottage.
After last month's sighting of an Osprey there was a subsequent sighting in the Eastridge area. A Red Kite perched on the roof of an aviary at Lamplands recently, needless to say the occupants of said aviary were none too chuffed.

John Marshall

Rainfall

The rainfall recorder is on holiday this month.

Ramsbury Horticultural Society

ROSE & IRIS EVENING
The Rose & Iris evening will be held at 7.30pm on Saturday 16 June in the Memorial Hall, followed by light refreshments. Entries can be made for seven classes of roses, one floral arrangement and four classes for irises.

AXFORD GARDENS
Axford Gardens will be open in the afternoon of Sunday 24 June, followed by a special evensong at 6pm.

Ramsbury Flyer

(The Community Bus also has its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer)

At the recent AGM of the Bus Committee, William Furbisher resigned due to ill health, and was replaced by John Lambley. Thanks were expressed to William for all his hard work, and thanks also to all the volunteer drivers without whom the bus would not operate.
Correction: The June trip to Newbury will take place on 14 June, and not on 7 June as previously advertised

Parish Council

WILTSHIRE'S FOOT PATHS AND FMD
The majority of Wiltshire's foot paths were opened for the May Bank Holiday. Sadly Ramsbury is still within the area at risk and the instruction on the board in the Square to walk on the rodas only is still in force.

SKIPS
There will be Skips at Whittonditch and Axford on Friday 15 June, and at Whittonditch in July .

(Parish Council contacts and minutes of meetings can be viewed at www.ramsbury.com/council)

Ramsbury & Axford Village Diary - June 2001

Nature Notes

Bird Notes

Rainfall

Ramsbury Horticultural Society

Ramsbury Flyer

Parish Council

Village Design Statement

Skateboarding

THANKS

ADVANCE NOTICE