Ramsbury and Axford
Village Diary May 2002 published by Ramsbury and
Axford Amenity Group.
You can read this page from top to bottom, or click on these links to jump straight to the bit you want.
And on other pages.
Ramsbury & Axford Village Diary - May 2002
Please may we have items for the June Diary by 18 May. 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
Although there is still plenty of water flowing under the Kennet bridge and the soil beneath vegetation is still quite moist, exposed areas are becoming rather dry. This is not surprising since the last very wet day was 18 March, even Easter remained drier than expected, with Good Friday being especially sunny. A result of this was a swarm of flies emerging from the bank above the Crown and Anchor - most unpleasant. They were not ants and they were flying too fast to be seen in detail. Other nasties now around, in addition to ants, include a queen wasp and a lone house fly. More attractive are four varieties of butterflies, which included a peacock with tatty wlngs and a black ladybird with pale yellow spots. Ladybirds are classed according to the number of spots they have - most types are red.
More than one variety of bumble bee are now busy pollinating the spring flowers. Have you noticed that many of the early ones are yellow? - aconites, kingcups, cowslips etc. These slowly give way to the blues - forget-me-nots, bluebells - the latter always seem to be a darker colour when growing wild in the woods. In contrast, the slender speedwell forms a pale blue cloud over the grass at Swans Close. In the High street, I noticed some bright blue flowers on the green alkanet: it may be a garden escapee, as it is realIy a native of SW Europe.
My garden seems to have a healthy population of earthworms. Unfortunately,
the same cannot be said for the rabbits. Some little bunnies seem
fit and active but others I have seen in the Hungerford area appear
to be suffering from myxomatosis. I wonder if it affects hares as
I have not seen any recently?
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
As I write this on 18 April I’ve just heard my first Cuckoo of the year coming from the Lamplands!
I’ve had various reports this month of an Osprey which has been sighted over Hens Wood, Wilton Water and Hungerford. Alas, I was too late to see it on all three occasions! Sticking with Birds of Prey I have seen two Red Kite in the last month one at Leverton and the other struggling down the valley against a head wind!
Others of interest seen this month include Mealy Redpoll and Willow
Tit in Hens Wood and Cetti’s Warbler at Seven Bridges.
John Marshall
Rainfall
Rainfall for the month to 18 April was 0.60 inches, average 2.14 inches.
Winter months October - March 20.05 inches, average 19.16 inches,
on which Summer river flow depends.
Ramsbury Horticultural Society
SPRING PLANT SALE
The Spring Plant Sale & Coffee Morning will
be held on Saturday 4 May in the gardens of “Millstream”,
High
Street, by kind permission of Dr & Mrs Handford. The plant sale
begins at 10 am. The Society would be glad
to receive plant donations after 9.15 am and preferably before 10
am.
WISLEY VISIT
The visit to RHS Gardens Wisley is planned for Saturday 18
May. The Barnes coach will leave the Square at
9.30 am and arrive back at approx. 5.30 pm. To ensure your seat, please
send immediately your cash or cheque
for £10 to Roy Alexander at 55A High Street.
Ramsbury WI
The next meeting is on Thursday 2 May at 7.45 pm in the Methodist
Schoolroom. We will discuss and vote on
the resolutions going to the IGM in June. This will be followed by
a “tasting supper” when we hope to sample
dishes brought by members. Visitors are welcome.
Parish Council
SKIPS
There will be a skip at Whittonditch on Friday 3 May.
BOUNDARY WALK
Do not forget that the Boundary Walk is on Monday 6 May starting from
the Tree at 7.30 am. Is there a better way to see the beautiful countryside
around Axford & Ramsbury? Bring lunch and wear sensible shoes.
Transport will be available all day to ferry walkers to and from the
Tree to join the walk which will finish at about 7 pm in front of
Littlecote House Hotel.
(Parish Council contacts
and minutes of meetings can be viewed at www.ramsbury.com/council)
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also
has its own page at www.ramsbury.com/flyer)
Please come along and support your Community Bus at the AGM on Tuesday 7 May at 7.30 pm in the Crown & Anchor. The Committee are looking for new people to help organise and run The Ramsbury Flyer which depends entirely on voluntary effort. If you can help, please contact The Chairman, Peter Raper on 521092, by e-mail, or come to the meeting.
The next trip to Newbury will be on Thursday 9 May. The Flyer will
leave from the Tree at 11.30 am and return from Newbury at 2.30 pm.
Please ring 520555 to book.
Ramsbury Amenity Group
GUIDED WALKS
There will be a Spring Guided Walk led by local naturalist, Peter
Marren. This follows the illustrated talk he
gave to the Amenity Group in March. Meet at 2.30 pm on Sunday 12 May
at the Tree.
There will be another walk on Sunday 26 May meeting at the Tree at
2 pm. Dogs under control are allowed.
Contact Ronny Price on 520652.
Golden Jubilee Weekend
A
full programme of events planned by the Parish Council to celebrate
the Queen’s Jubilee will be dropping through every door in Ramsbury
& Axford in mid May. Do remember the Fancy Dress and Decorated
Bicycle competitions and parade - also the Soap Box Derby.
Sunday 2 June in Holy Cross Church
At 10 am there will be a special Jubilee Celebration Church Service
for all the village. (Please note that the 8 am Communion Service
at Axford will not take place).
At 7.30 pm there will be a recital of music by Chopin given by the
international pianist Felipe Browne - tickets obtainable in advance
from Julia Blunt, Ramsbury Hill on 520358.
Coffee Centre Clearance Sale
There will be a clearance sale on Saturday 18 May from 10 am until
12 noon. Nearly-new clothes, bric-a-brac,
cakes at the Red Cross Centre. Please make a cake and bring it along
on Saturday before 10 am, or ring 521085
and I will collect it. Proceeds from the sale will go to help many
local charities.
Royal British Legion Club
The Club’s next entertainment session is on Saturday 25 May from 8.30 pm until 11 pm.
Derek Jon will be singing from his large and varied repertory, including
60s music, rock & roll, and music by Neil
Diamond and Eddie Cochrane. Entrance is free and families are welcome.
Hope to see you.
In honour of Her Majesty the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, the Club
will be open at lunchtime on Saturday 1 June and
non-members are welcome.
Variety Show
“This, That and More of the Other” will be performed
on 23/24/25 May. This year the net proceeds will be divided
between the Prospect Hospice, Wroughton and Ramsbury Pre-School. Tickets
are available from the Post Office
or from Rosemary Derrick on 520334.
Post Office News
Congratulations to Jessica & Ben Whitehouse and Georgia Howie,
the winners of our Easter competition. A small
prize is waiting at the Post Office for everyone for entered.
Queen Mother stamps and Jubilee coins should be available in May.
If anyone would like to order a cover for first
day stamps, please let me know as soon as possible.
THANKS
LONDON MARATHON
Joy Wilson thanks everyone who supported her in the London Marathon.
She completed in five hours, eleven minutes and six seconds. The Motor
Neurone Disease Association will benefit by ~ £3,500. Any outstanding
sponsorship or donations may be handed to Joy at 23 Oxford Street.
ADVANCE NOTICES
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Rose Evening will be held in the Memorial Hall on Saturday 22
June at 7.30 pm. It will be followed by
light refreshments. Tickets and entry forms will be available shortly.
RAMSBURY BALL
Saturday 7 September. Book now at the Crown & Anchor: 70% of tables
already reserved.
 |
 What's New @ Ramsbury.com |
 Table of Contents |
 Easy Feedback |
|
