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Please may we have items for the April Diary by 18 March. 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
Mid February already, and despite little sun quite a variety of flowers
in addition to the snowdrops are to be seen. The snowdrops seem to increase
year by year on the land by the stream as the bridge near the Knap is
approached. With the rise in the river water the fool's cress has died
back. It is said that spring has been arriving earlier in recent years,
which may be true for some plants such as the daffodils (a few of which
are flowering in Tankard Lane), and celandines that are starting to flower
in my garden. I do not think that it has made much difference to the snowdrops.
The larger 'snowflakes' seem to be flowering earlier and the dwarf comfrey
(a garden escapee) has been in flower for some time. The sudden blizzard
at dusk on 28 January did not seem to check growth.
This is the time of year when life returns to the hedgerows with the hazel
and aspen catkins putting on quite a show; also in some gardens Garrya
elliptica is displaying its very long catkins. As yet I have not seen
any pussy willow in full flower, but it usually comes a little later when
all the daffodils are flowering. There is a mauve Primula flowering in
my garden, so has anyone seen any wild yellow primroses flowering I wonder?
[Editor- Yes; on 18 February on a warm sunny hillside South of Salisbury,]
A few days ago I was surprised to see a field vole at my bird feeder,
the fur on its back was almost a russet brown, a robin also came to feed
but the tits have shown little interest. On two occasions recently there
have been deer left on the verge when going to Chilton Foliat. One was
small, a young fawn or muntjak I could not be sure as I did not stop to
take a closer look. The second one was much larger - a fallow deer, both
hit by cars no doubt. Will someone have venison for supper I wonder?
With a few sunny days bumble bees and early butterflies such as yellow
brimstone, small tortoiseshell and peacocks might be seen. These three
all hibernate as adults so can appear early in the year. Will March bring
wind, frost, sun or a snow shower?- only time will tell.
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
Due to the mild weather Britain has had a number of very early summer
migrants and Ramsbury has had its fair share with a very early Chiff Chaff
in song and a Blackcap seen in a garden in Ashley Piece. Both these birds
are now being classified as residents throughout southern England. At
the beginning of February I was given a treat when I saw between 300 and
400 Golden Plover doing an aerial display; this went on for about 1½
hours, but displays of a shorter duration can be seen in the sky above
Springs Hill. I have also had a report of a pair of Snipe on Springs Hill,
seen near the slurry pit. Further to last month's note about the Bat found
near Ambrose Farm, I have been told that when the house in Newtown Road
was demolished a group of ten bats were seen flying round the site, so
this could be where it came from. Just occasionally you get an absolute
gem! This year's gem was a Peregrine Falcon which flew overhead in Hens
Wood; talk about being in the right place at the right time, I saw the
bird but another bird watcher standing about 100 yards away saw nothing!
Such is life.
John Marshall
Rainfall
The rainfall for the month to 18 February was 3.06 inches, average 2.42
inches.
Recycling
While the building works are being carried out at the Whittonditch Road
site, the recycling bins will not be available for use. Please take all
your recycling material to the bins behind the garages in the car park
at Axford until further notice. Every house now has a black box for paper
recycling. The first fortnightly kerbside collection will be Thursday
11 March. Ramsbury cum Axford Parish Council
Motorcycles and Bicycles on Footpaths
The Diary has been asked to remind riders who ride their bikes on footpaths
that this practice is illegal and inconsiderate in a village where the
footpaths are regularly used by walkers. Would they please stop doing
so, and keep to bridle paths and roads or they risk being reported to
the police and being prosecuted.
Royal British Legion
Les Hawkins was elected Chairman of the Ramsbury Royal British Legion
Club at the AGM on 31 January.
Lt.Col H S L Tottenham presiding, drew attention to the way the Legion
was intent on modernising the Charity in the document 'The Way Forward'
enclosed with the Legion Journal. He said that younger members should
be prepared to rise to the challenge if the Legion is to move forward.
John Lye reminded members that the 21 year old lease of the Club premises
expired in November. The Branch and Club have to agree a new lease this
year, and negotiations have started.
John Lye, Hon. Secretary
BT Broadband
BT has announced that both the Aldbourne and Ramsbury exchanges will
be Broadband-ready by 25 August 2004. A 13 km fibre optic cable has to
be connected to the local telephone exchange.
Wind Turbines
The question whether or not to permit wind turbines within the Ramsbury
parish area will become critical in March when a Planning Application
is entered at Kennet District Council for four turbines on the high ground
above Ramsbury. Councillor Brian Twigger has put some information pages
on his website
- just click on 'Wind Turbines for Ramsbury'. There are links to other
sites for more points of view, and there are cases both FOR and AGAINST.
There is a wind turbine at Faccombe south of Inkpen and it would be possible
to arrange a viewing visit. The concerns for the public will include
- Will low frequency noise lead to an increase in headaches, sleeping
disorders and anxiety in Ramsbury?
- Should a wind turbine be sited in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty?
Horticultural Society
Our first talk in 2004 will be on "Heavenly Hebes", given by
Derek Leary on Monday 1 March at 7.45 pm in the Methodist Schoolroom.
Should anyone be interested in joining the society they will be very welcome
to come along on this evening.
SPRING SHOW AND FETE
On Saturday 13 March at 2 pm in the Memorial Hall, the Ramsbury &
Aldbourne Bowls club will be joining with the Horticultural Society in
a repeat of this event. We hope that the success of last year's revival
of the event will be repeated and urge everyone to come along on this
day AND to enter something in the show. Schedules will be available in
the Post Office; or contact Brian Twigger, Show Secretary, on 520353 or
email brian.twigger@ntlworld.com
Ramsbury WI
The next meeting will be the Annual General Meeting which will be held
at 7.45 pm on Thursday 4 March in the Methodist School Room. After the
business is concluded, members will be able to join in a Quiz. The monthly
competition will be for a pot plant. All new members and visitors are
welcome.
Amenity Group Guided Walks
There will be guided walks to Park Farm (Walk no. 13) on Sunday 14 March,
and to Savernake on Sunday 28 March, cars to St. Katherines. Meet at the
Tree at 2 pm with dogs under control.
Axford Bingo
There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall on Wednesdays 10 and 24 March
at 7.30 pm.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page).
The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 11 March, leaving the Tree
at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Book with Muriel Lye
on 520555.
The Friends of the Ridgeway
The AGM of The Friends of the Ridgeway will be held in Goring Village
Hall at 2 pm on Sunday 21 March. The Diary congratulates the Friends on
their success in having vehicles banned from the Smeathe's Ridge section
of the Trail in Wiltshire. Two Ramsbury residents, Ian Ritchie (Chairman)
and Janet Hierons (Membership Secretary), have been closely involved in
achieving this good news. If any walkers on the Ridgeway see motor vehicles
driving without due care and consideration they should take full details
of the incident. Include registration numbers of any towing or attending
vehicle if there are none on the offending vehicles and report to PC Pete
Hale, Thames Valley Police, on 01235 556820
ARK Map and Guide to the River Kennet
ARK (Action for the River Kennet) will be launching a new two-sided map
and illustrated guide to the River Kennet on 23 March at 7.for 7.30 pm
in Marlborough Town Hall on 23 March, in partnership with the Marlborough
Area Development Trust. If you are interested in the publication and would
like an invitation to the launch, please contact the ARK Secretary Charlotte
Hitchmough on 513672. The map will sell at £5 through Ramsbury Post
Office and other outlets, and will be free to ARK members.
With support from English Nature, the Environment Agency, Thames Water,
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, CPRE and the AONB, the map has been designed
by Ramsbury graphic designer Simon Orton and shows roads and footpaths,
pubs and car-parks. It shows all the places where the River can be seen,
from Silbury Hill to Hungerford (pointing out that most of the bank is
not accessible). Local naturalist Peter Marren has contributed illustrated
notes on the wildlife. There are notes on fishing, abstractions and the
Thames Water rehabilitation scheme, and Eric Kilner and Simon Orton have
provided original artwork of riverside scenes.
Ramsbury Amenity Group AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Amenity group will be held at 7.30
pm on Thursday 25 March in the Church Room. Our guest speaker will be
Mike Allman, one of several airline pilots living in the village. His
subject will be "Ramsbury and life as an Airline Pilot". All
the present members of the Amenity Group will be very welcome, and a special
invitation is now extended to all newcomers to the villages, many of whom
came to the Churches Together welcome party in the Memorial Hall on 24
January. This is an opportunity to suggest to the management of the Group,
activities that you would like undertaken. We also very much hope that
some people will be prepared to join the Committee.
THANKS
The Churches Together in Ramsbury and Axford are grateful to the
many village organisations and societies that set up 'pitches' at the
Memorial Hall party to welcome newcomers to the two villages on 24 January.
The views of all who took part are being collected and will be published
in due course.
ADVANCE NOTICES
The Ravensbury Players present 'The Visitors', three one-act plays,
and a supper on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 April in the Memorial Hall. Tickets
£5 at the Post Office and Midway Stores. Watch out for further details
on posters and in next month's diary. Gaye Adolphe 520068
The Watermill Theatre's touring production of 'Mr & Mrs Schulz',
a thriller set in post 1945 South America will be at the Memorial Hall
on Wednesday 21 April at 8 pm. Tickets are already selling well and are
available from the Post Office and Midway Stores, or by telephone on 520986.
Ticket prices are £6, £3 concessions or £15 for a family
of two adults and two children.
The Annual Coffee Morning in aid of Treloar will be held in the
Memorial Hall on Saturday 24 April. Further details will be published
in the April diary.
The Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the Memorial Hall at
7.45 pm on Monday 10 May. All village residents and organisations will
be welcome at that meeting.
To Heathrow by Public Transport. Direct trains from Hungerford
to London stop at Hayes & Harlington after just over an hour. Outside
that station, there is a Metroline bus no. 140 direct to Heathrow every
ten minutes. Fare £1. Bus details 020 7222 1234. Train details 0845
48 49 50. From Simon Blunt
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