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Please may we have items for the October Diary by 18 September. 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 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
This is the month of mixed feelings, a relief that the unpleasantly hot
humid days of August are past, but also sadness that the joys of summer
and holidays are giving way to autumn. Each part of the year, however
has its delights and September is no exception, since there will be some
warm sunny days. The rank growth of August may be dying back but the autumn
leaves will be gaining colour as the month progresses. It is not just
the trees that will give colour, as underfoot the fungus shows a variety
of hues and textures. In fact now in mid August some fungi are to be found
due to the showers and humidity. When cutting the grass I noticed a few
white buttons. As I did not leave them to develop I don't know whether
they were a type of mushroom or the highly poisonous destroying angel
that is all white including its gills. The yellowish honey fungus has
also appeared. The clustered caps on wood stumps are not unattractive
but it kills hedges, trees and many garden shrubs including roses.
Have you noticed that many water plants flower later in the year than
many other wild flowers? An attractive one is the flowering rush with
its cluster of pink flowers at the top of a thick stem. When the gardens
were open in mid July one pond had yellow fringed water lilies, a dainty
flower that I had not seen before. Many of the later flowering wayside
plants seem to have yellow flowers such as the corn sow-thistle with several
blooms to a stem and only little and small blooms, but very like a dandelion.
Very tiny flowers of the same type are those of the wall lettuce, a plant
that varies greatly in size depending upon its location.
Most of you no doubt have been plagued by wasps, it is a pity that they
give such a painful sting and cause so much damage to tree fruits, as
earlier in the year they feed on some insect pests. The many hover flies
are much more welcome. Recently some interesting small moths have been
on the wing, one was grey with distinct black markings. It may have been
one of the carpet moths. There is a greater variety of moths than butterflies,
but flying at dusk and often living hidden in thick foliage they remain
unfamiliar to most of us. This is the season when the large hawk moths
and their caterpillars descend to ground level to find places to hibernate,
may you have the pleasure of seeing one.
Rosie Pauline
Bird Notes
Well, the talk of the village this month has been the slurry pit at Park
Farm where between 1 and 20 Green Sandpiper have been seen. This wader
is usually seen flying away from the observer, and it is in this position
that you can see its very white tail. A mysterious bird of prey has taken
up residence between Preston and Aldbourne. It is almost totally white
but it has light brown upper wings. At first I stuck my neck out and said
it was a light phase buzzard, but at the moment I wouldn't like to say
what it is! I found a moth recently perched on an algae covered tile,
the camouflage was just about perfect on this background, but when it
took off it was a flourish of red, black and white - it was a Red Underwing.
I also saw another hornet this month in Stitchcombe.
I've had reports of a Grass Snake with young down by the river in Ramsbury.
Also Adders have been seen in one of the local woods. Other birds of note
seen in the last month have been Red Kite and Hobby
John Marshall
Rainfall
Rainfall for the month to 18 August was 1.59 inches, average 2.46 inches.
Best Kept Village Competition
Ramsbury won the district round of the Best Kept Village competition
and came third in the county competition. Thanks to all who helped in
the clean up operation. We have been chosen to represent Wiltshire in
the Calor Village of the Year competition and a group from the Parish
Council is coordinating this. The competition is about what goes on in
the village rather than what it looks like, community, business, old and
young people and the environment. We hope to present a good vibrant picture
of the village and will be contacting village organisations for information
to use in our presentation, so we would appreciate your co-operation in
presenting the best picture we can of life in Ramsbury. RamsburyParish
Council
Flicks in the Sticks
This idea brings cinema to rural communities and there are proposals
to start it in Ramsbury Memorial Hall. Initially a small launch committee
will be appointed and anyone interested in helping in any way is asked
to telephone Peter Kearns on 520986.
Ramsbury Royal British Legion
The Arnold Copp Challenge Shield is open for teams to enter at the Ramsbury
Royal British Legion Club on Tuesday evenings. Teams of five are needed
with a team leader. The games are contested in darts, pool, shove ha'penny,
skittles and bagatelle. Entries from teams should be made to the club
steward, Greg Winters, at the Legion Club 520579. Teams do not have to
be Legion Members, but membership is available at £12.50 per year.
Public Transport Bus Service
Thamesdown Transport have been required by Wiltshire County Council to
make cuts in some services. There has been a complete reorganisation of
the Ramsbury service Buses 48 and 46. Please pick up a copy of the new
Pink Timetable which comes into service on August 31. Available at The
Library, Midway Stores, The Post Office, Isles Court Office, the Thursday
Coffee Centre in the Red Cross room, and from Sylvia Judge 55 High Street.
Ramsbury Wl
The next meeting will be on Thursday 2 September at 7.45 pm in the Methodist
School Room when Mr R Guy will speak on 'Weather Lore'. This is an open
meeting and we hope to welcome friends from Aldbourne, Baydon, Chilton
Foliat and Lambourn. The competition is for a weather picture, either
painting or photograph. There will be a trading stall selling garden products
& plants.
Ramsbury Flyer
(The Community Bus also has
its own page).
The next visit to Newbury will be on 2 September, the first Thursday
of the month for this month only, leaving the Tree at 11.30 am and returning
from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555 or Janet Webster
on 520033.
The new Community Bus will arrive this month. This time a Peugeot has
been chosen. It will carry 14 passengers. All drivers, including those
who drive for Private Hirings, will need to have a short familiarisation
session with the Driver Co-ordinator as some controls are slightly different
from the Ford.
Ramsbury Memorial Hall
The Trustees are delighted to announce the completion by builders of the
French Windows into the courtyard behind the Memorial Hall. The doors
will be able to be opened for any hall function where people may wish
to sit out of doors, or spread outside during the interval of a concert
or play.
Bella Voce Choir
The Bella Voce Choir will have met for the first
time in the autumn season on 31 August. During September they will meet
initially at 8pm on Friday 3 September at the School. Potential singers
are asked to telephone Joan Rogerson on 520578 or Audrey Thompson on520882
for further information.
The Ramsbury Ball
The Ramsbury Ball will be held on Saturday 4 September,
and the proceeds will be shared between Project 2005 and Ramsbury Schools.
Information and any remaining tickets are available at the Crown and Anchor.
Amenity Group Guided Walks
There will be guided walks to Loves (Walk 9) 4.5 miles on Sunday 12 September.
And to Eastbury 4 miles on Sunday 26 September: meet at the Tree at 2
pm to share cars, with dogs under control. All welcome.
Axford Bingo
There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall on Wednesdays 8 and 22 September
at 7.30 pm.
Axford Harvest Festival 'Songs of Praise'
Axford Harvest Festival 'Songs of Praise' will be held at St. Michael's
at 5pm on Sunday 12 September, followed by the Harvest Supper at approximately
6pm at the Red Lion. Please book for the supper not later than 8 September
with Ann Naughton on 521084 or Rose Russ on 520499. Everyone and all ages
welcome. The cost is £5 each, children £2.50, pay on the day.
If anyone would like to give flowers, fruit or vegetables to decorate
the church, please contact Ann or Rose beforehand. The produce will be
donated afterwards to Coome End House as usual.
The Amber Foundation
A team from Devizes Youth Centre/the Amber Foundation will be visiting
Ramsbury and Axford in September to give advice, help, information or
just to chat to young people and interested parents about drugs (legal
and illegal their use and abuse) and how to recognise the signs of abuse
etc. There will be young people from the Amber Foundation which runs a
treatment centre in Savernake, who can discuss how drug abuse has affected
their lives, and those of their families and how they have dealt with
addiction.
Everyone is welcome to drop in to the bus, which will be in the Square
in Ramsbury on Thursday 16 September, and on Axford Car Park on Thursday
23 September, both at 7.30pm
The Newbury Show
The Flyer will be visiting Newbury Show on Sunday Sept 19, leaving the
Tree at 9.30am. Tickets for the show may be obtained at Peter Rapson's.
Ramsbury and Axford Link Scheme
The Scheme has been well used since it was launched and the committee
have decided to hold a tea party on Sunday 19 September. Invitations will
be distributed soon to Volunteers and Clients. The party will be held
in the Memorial Hall commencing at 3pm. Transport will be made available
for those clients who might need it, possibly using the new Ramsbury Flyer.
The Autumn Lectures
Moya Abel will be giving Ten Lectures on "Understanding Victorian
Taste 1837-1901". Commencing on Thursday September 30 in the Memorial
Hall from 10.30am - 12.00 noon. The cost for the course will depend on
the numbers attending but will be about £30. Call Rosie Pauline
for further information on 520324.
ADVANCE NOTICES
Please join Action for the River Kennet (ARK) on
Sunday 3 October from 2 - 5 pm at the Marlborough College Science
Department. This is an opportunity to discover more about what lurks beneath
the surface of the River Kennet. An amazing variety of invertebrates,
fish and plants will be on show. Many displayed under microscopes allowing
you to marvel at their beauty and complexity. ARK was founded in 1991
to protect and enhance the unique environment of the River Kennet.
The Ravensbury Players will be holding a Tabletop Sale in the
Memorial Hall on Saturday 30 October. Buy a table for £7
. Contact Gaye Adolph on 520068 or Alison McPhee on 520619. Proceeds towards
their next production.
They will be performing "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier on Wednesday
November 17 - Saturday November 20.
Note- tickets will not be numbered this year.
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