Ramsbury Village Diary

Ramsbury & Axford Community

Village Diary - August 2006

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Nature Notes Bird Notes Rainfall Editorial Items Diary Items Thanks Advance Notices Calendar (current) Past Issues	Please may we have items for the September Diary by 18 August. 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@pccare.ltd.uk
	Nature Notes The weather is always a talking point since it is so variable with near tropical conditions one day, and the chill of autumn a few days later. The plants and animal life however are very adaptable, the flowers appearing at their appointed season each year, such as the musk mallow with its attractive pink flowers and deeply cut leaves; this is a plant of chalk areas whereas the common mallow is more widespread. A more unusual plant is the alpine sowthistle, which flowers each year in Tankard Lane, it is a bigger patch than usual this year showing off its many light blue daisy like flowers. My book says that it flowers in the north of Scotland, so is it a garden escapee? The small plant Spring Beauty has appeared in my garden near the bird table, it has clusters of tiny white flowers above oval pointed leaves; it is a native of North America but is sometimes found growing wild in this country. A less attractive plant is black horehound which is growing at the bottom of Loves Lane, and belongs to the same family as catmint but has darker green leaves. To pollinate the flowers come not only the bees, but hoverflies, moths and butterflies. It seems to be a good year for the latter with quite a variety around, red admirals, peacocks and commas; the caterpillars of the latter feed on gooseberry leaves, while the butterfly will feed on plums. Ringlets, gatekeepers and small skippers are also quite numerous. Garden tiger moms are more numerous than usual, they are a little smaller than the tiger moths that they closely resemble. They have red under wings and the fore wings have cream as well as white markings on black, and can be seen during daylight hours. Conditions also seem to be favouring the dragon and damsel flies, which are not always seen near water. One day, a very thin-bodied blue one was seen near my grape vine, the azure variety I believe. On another occasion, it was the banded demoiselle with dark patches on its wings. When by a pond near Marlborough I saw a broad-bodied chaser (libellula depressa). The body was shorter and fatter than most dragon flies and pale blue indicating that it was a male: the females are often a duller brown. May the children have some interesting finds during their holidays, remembering that dragonflies do not sting. Rosie Pauline Bird Notes In the water meadows between the village and Lamplands, I have heard a male Reed Bunting and a Grasshopper Warbler. The Grasshopper Warbler's song sounds like a fishing reel being played out. The most visual bird at the moment around the village is the Green Woodpecker which can often be seen feeding on ants on lawns: it has also got a distinctive call or 'yaffle'. Birds of Prey seem to be numerous with good numbers of Red Kites, Hobby and Buzzards seen all over the parish. I was standing near the Fox & Hounds recently listening to an adult and juvenile buzzard calling to each other from Loves Copse. The highlight last month for me was coming across 25 Marbled White Butterflies at the top end of Bolstridge Bottom. Staying briefly with insects, we have also seen two Hummingbird Hawk moths in the middle part of July. John Marshall Rainfall The rainfall for the month to 18 July was 1.83 inches, average 1.97 inches.
	Recycling news from Cllr Brian Twigger Our new Alternate Weekly Collection (AWC) service is now firmly established. Early indications are that the amount of recyclables going through kerbside collections, neighbourhood bring sites and household recycling centres has once again surged. Well done everyone. The rules for rubbish in your black wheelie bin are - lid down, no side waste, no black sacks unless inside the bin, bins must be next to the kerb. If you have excess waste it can be taken to a Household Recycling Centre, e.g. at Everleigh or Devizes (extended opening hours), Swindon or Newbury. The rules for recyclables in your black boxes are - paper, bottles, jars, cans, aerosols, textiles, aluminium foil, as many black boxes as you can fill. If you have more than a black boxful, place excess recyclables neatly by the side of your black box. Kennet have been issuing a lot of additional black boxes, both directly and through outlets like Midway Stores in Ramsbury. If you can fill a second black box, please ask for another one, through Midway or direct to Kennet - extra staff have been taken on to reduce the time waiting to be connected by telephone. Dates for Recycling Collections Black Boxes & Green Wheelie Bins - Tuesdays 8 & 22 August. Skips for plastic and cardboard at the Surgery - 8 August from 8-10.30 am. Waste Collection (black wheelie bins & orange sacks) - Tuesdays 1, 15 & 29 August. Any family that is struggling should give it a fair try for two full cycles and if they really believe they cannot cope, then email Kennet or call on 01380 724911 and Officers will visit their homes to provide advice and deliver workable solutions. The Kennet staff are managing a big change and are to be commended for the way they have responded to the challenge. Kennet needs properties to let Kennet District Council is urgently looking to take on more properties to let. They will take the hassle out of renting property for owners. To find out more, contact Isobel Panton on 01380 734692 or Natalie Jefferies on 01380 734658. A three bedroom property could yield up to £6,000 per year. Ramsbury Red Cross It is with sadness that the members of Ramsbury Red Cross centre announce its closure at the end of July. The centre has been in the village for over 50 years. A medical loan service will still be available from Wootton Bassett on weekdays 9.30 am - 1 pm, tel 01793 853723. Items can also be borrowed from Thames Valley Community Response Unit in Hungerford High St. on Tuesdays 10.30 am - noon and from Lambourn Health Centre on Thursdays 10.45 - 11.45 am. It is wise to book these on 0845 05740. To Hospital by Bus? There are thirteen buses to the Great Western Hospital from Ramsbury on weekdays. They drop you off right by the hospital entrance. No need to worry how many hours of parking to pay for, in advance, at 90p per hour, nor whether your parking ticket is about to run out. And for pensioners with a Kennet Bus Pass, the bus is free. Try it, and do your bit to limit global warming.
	Ramsbury WI Ramsbury WI will visit the Merchant’s House in Marlborough on Thursday 3 August. Members should be in the Square by 6.30 pm, where transport will be available. We will be returning to the Crown & Anchor for light refreshments. Ramsbury Amenity Group Ramsbury Amenity Group will be making another of their summer visits on Wednesday 9 August when they visit Buscot Park, a neo-classical mansion with fine art and furniture collection set in landscaped grounds. National Trust members should bring their membership cards. Meet at the Tree at 1 pm. Axford Bingo There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall on Wednesdays 9 & 23 August at 7.30 pm. Ramsbury Flyer The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 10 August, leaving the Tree at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555. The Flyer will not be going to the Newbury Show this year, as it has already been booked by another organisation. The Community Bus also has its own page - just follow the link. Horticultural Society Summer Show Our event this year will be on 12 August at the Recreation Field in Hilldrop Lane. The fête opens at noon and the horticultural show marquee from 2 pm. The show schedule is available in PDF form, from the Post Office or from Sue Arnold on 520322. Despite the hot weather during the growing season we are hoping for a fine number of entries so that our marquee will be nearly full. Entries will need to be made by email, at our desk in ‘The Bell’ on Friday 11 August, 6 - 9 pm, or by post to the Entry Steward, Brian Twigger, ‘Ridgeland’s’, Whittonditch Road, Ramsbury, Wiltshire SN8 2PX. The fête will include a wide range of attractions with games for children in the new sports cage, egg and spoon and sack races, bouncy castle, target bowls, side shows and stalls (featuring wide ranging crafts) and the popular cake and plant stalls. On view will be Shetland ponies, goats, Ramsbury Silver Band and Morris dancing. To keep you going during the afternoon, there will be a beer tent, a sweet and savoury crêpe stall, hot sausages etc., barbecue, as well as teas & refreshments and ice cream. Raffle tickets will be on sale throughout the afternoon and there are some great prizes to be won. It is our hope that the successful reintroduction of this show and fête will enable us to stage it as a regular annual outdoor event, so we look forward to seeing you there on the day! Please encourage your friends and neighbours to come along too! Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks There will be guided walks on Sunday 13 August to Crooked Soley (No. 4) 4 miles, and on Sunday 27 August to Martinsel Hill 3¼ miles. There are outstanding views of the Vale of Pewsey from the hill. Meet at 2 pm at the Tree on 27 August to share cars. New walkers are most welcome, with dogs under control. Parish Council The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Monday 21 August at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall. All members of the public are welcome. There will be no police surgery in August.
	THANKS The Annual Arthritis Campaign Coffee Morning, held on 24 June, was very well attended and raised £1517.56. Marion Young and Anne Tiplady would like to thank all those who so generously supported the event in any and every way. This year, the Conservative Lunch was held at Harbrook, by courtesy of Mr & Mrs Mark Evans. The 75 guests enjoyed a delicious meal in a delightful setting. Michael Ancram QC, MP and his wife Jane were guests of honour. Olivia Price, granddaughter of Ronny and Priscilla Price, has completed the coast to coast run of 192 miles with her class mates within 24 hours, on behalf of the Liver Foundation Unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and thanks everyone in Ramsbury who so generously sponsored her. I would just like to say a big thank you to all the visitors supporting the Coffee Centre now at the Methodist Church. The Coffee Centre made a great start with a cake stall on the first week of the month & Fair Trade on the 3rd Week. Please come along and join us, meet new people for a chat at the Centre, we would love to see you, and support local charities, every Thursday 9.30 - 11.30 am. Julie Coe 521085. At the AGM of the Lunch Club on 19 July a warm tribute was paid to Margaret McKay for her many years as Chairman. Mair Reed was unanimously confirmed as her successor. The organisers of the Sunsplash weekend regret that the letters which were written to adjacent householders were not distributed, and thank them and the village for their tolerance and support.
	ADVANCE NOTICES Bella Voce Choir practice will restart in the autumn at 8 pm on Tuesday 5 September. Their July programme included one concert + “four weddings and a funeral”. Every member is thanked for their commitment. New singers are welcome to join on 5 September. The Ravensbury Players are pleased to announce their autumn programme. They will be holding a Table Top Sale in the Memorial Hall on Saturday 28 October. Please book a table early at only £7 from Alison McFee on 520619 or Gaye Adolph on 520068. The proceeds of the sale will go towards their November production, ‘Tons of Money’. This is a hilariously funny comedy and will run from Wednesday 15 to Saturday 18 November. The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group.