Ramsbury & Axford Community

Village Diary - July 2009

Welcome Community Organisations News & Events Contact Us Village Map
Please may we have items for the August Diary before 17 July.
They can be left at the Post Office; or sent by email to diary@ramsbury.org


Nature Notes

As I write in the middle of June, we are still waiting for the promised hot summer to arrive. It is more
likely to be a variable one I fancy, which will suit some crops and not others. For me it looks like being
a good year for plums, loganberries and strawberries, which are now ripening. I will have to pick them
quickly before the slugs find them.

This is the time of year when a variety of grasses are in flower. Bad for hay fever sufferers, but for
others, a close look with a hand lens reveals the detail of the tiny flowers which make up the flowering
heads of meadow grass, cocksfoot and false oat grass, which grows quite tall. One of the most attractive
is the quaking grass which is only found on chalk downland and is never very abundant. Recently I saw
on Morgan’s hill, near Devizes, masses of common spotted orchid flowering. I was surprised how
varied the sizes of the flowering heads were. Fragrant orchids, which are a darker purple, were just
starting to flower and in one area there were many white butterfly orchids.

When outdoors, there can often be unexpected sightings. When I was cutting the lawn I disturbed a
brown moth with dark spots on its forewings. My book suggests it may have been a heart and dart. On
several occasions there has been a painted lady in the garden, but few of the more common ones. Both
in the garden and out in the countryside there is a lot of cuckoo spit about. This is the sap of the host
plant drawn by the froghopper which lives within. Although most moths fly in the evening, there are
day flying ones such as the pair of scarlet tigers which were mating on my campanula a few days ago.
The next day one was lying dead. Another day flyer is the six spot burnet which is often found on open
grassland. Have you seen any ladybirds? I have not and they are needed to eat up the green and black
flies that are on my roses and broad beans.

Rosie Pauline

Bird Notes

It is ‘focus on the family’ time out there. An early evening walk to Axford and back, along the Kennet,
was rewarded by numerous sightings. There were two families of swans, one with six cygnets and one
with eight, while not far away two coots were trying to keep four, punk-haired chicks in order. The little
grebes were nesting, while a kingfisher was busy feeding a youngster on the branch above. In the reeds,
a pair of reed warblers was ferrying food to an unseen nest. On the way back we saw a sparrow-hawk
coasting through the edge of the woods.

The Kennet Triangle, at the end of Mill Lane, is a very busy area at the moment. A family of five young
wrens, accompanied by a scolding parent, were hurtling through the trees and clinging to the trunks,
seeming to copy the young tree-creepers that live there. Two grey wagtails were working hard to catch
enough flies above the water to keep their brood well fed.

In the nature reserve there is another family of wrens, a nesting coot family, a well hidden Cetti’s
warbler has been heard and a brilliant bullfinch seen. Elsewhere, there have been reports of a yellow
wagtail near Rudge and turtledoves at Loves Farm.

Paul Swan

Rainfall

Rainfall for the month to 18 June was 1.20 inches, average 2.09 inches.

Ramsbury Painting Group

The group are looking for new members. Beginners welcome. Meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each
month in the Church Room, Back Lane from 10 am to 1 pm. If you are interested please come along.

Aldbourne & Ramsbury Theatre Club

The club would like new members to join them on their theatre visits to Newbury, Oxford, Bath, Salisbury,
Windsor etc. Transport by Barnes coaches. Please contact Eric Jennings 521042.

Waste

Green wheelie-bins and black boxes will be emptied on Tuesdays 7 & 21 July. Black wheelie-bins and orange sacks will be taken on Tuesdays 14 & 28 June. Skips will be at the Square in Aldbourne on Tuesday 7 July from 8 am to 10.30 am and at Ramsbury Surgery on Tuesday 21 July from 8 am to 10.30 am.

Honey Bees

If you see a “lost” swarm of honey bees locally then please contact Eddie on 07766 223505,
Mark on 07970 379425 or Ken on 07771 978082 to arrange for collection

Newcomers Welcome Pack

The Ramsbury Amenity Group, the publishers of this Diary, also produce a Newcomers Welcome Pack. Please contact Rolf Mitson on 521366 if you are new to the village and have not received a copy.
 

Ramsbury WI

Ramsbury WI will meet on Thursday 2 July in the Methodist Schoolroom when Demi Ladwa will teach us some Indian dances. Doors open at 7.15 pm for a prompt start at 7.45 pm. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

We shall be going for a short walk at 2.30 pm on Tuesday 14 July - details given on 2 July.

Busy Bees meets on Thursday 16 July at 7.30 pm in the Lychgate Room.

Ramsbury Village Summer BBQ

Thursday 2 July 6.30 pm to 9 pm Scout Hall, Hilldrop Lane. Hosted by 1st Ramsbury Scout Group.
Guest of Honour: The Scout Association's Chief Scout, adventurer & local man - Bear Grylls.
BBQ £3 a plate (free to children and adults in scout uniform). Licensed bar.

Marlborough Open Studios

Weekends between 4 and 26 July. Fifty-nine local artists. An opportunity to meet and talk with the artists, to commission, to purchase or simply to enjoy their work. Local artists include John Burrows, Bridget Treherne, Paul Swan, Kevin Dennis, Susan Kirkman and Arran Miles.

Brochures available from the White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough, local shops and libraries or on the website.

Methodist Church

Sunday Services at 10.30 am on 5 July in Aldbourne with Walter Palmer; then in Ramsbury on 12 July with Len Wheeler; 19 July H/C with Susan Holden; and at 4 pm on 26 July, Teas service with Susan Holden.

Bring and Buy after Sunday services.  Thursday Coffee Mornings at 9.30 am on 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 July.  Methodist Church, hall and kitchen available for hire - contact Sue Barnes on 520558 for details.

Ravensbury Players

The Ravensbury Players are staging a community production of “The Wizard of Oz” in November and require people to get involved in many capacities, large and small, no experience required.  To find out more and register your interest, come to a meeting on Monday 6 July at 7.30 pm in the Church Room, Back Lane. For more information please contact Matthew Haynes 520563 or Jessica Perkins 520893.

Axford Bingo

There will be Bingo in Axford Village Hall on Wednesdays 8 & 22 July at 7.30 pm.

Ramsbury Flyer

The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 9 July, leaving the Tree at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555.

The Community Bus also has its own page - just follow the link.

Crown & Anchor Farmers’ Market

Saturday 11 July 9 am to 12 noon. Coffee, cakes & bacon butties from the BBQ will be on sale until 11.30 am.

Arthritis Research Campaign Coffee Morning

Saturday 11 July between 10 am and 12 noon in the Memorial Hall. Please bring any contributions to the Hall on Friday 10 July between 2 pm and 4 pm or call Marion Young on 521126 to arrange collection. 

Conservative Party lunch

Conservative Lunch at 12.30 pm on Sunday 12 July in the garden of Westfield House, courtesy of Mr & Mrs Roddy Petley with Michael & Jane Ancram as guests. Tickets from the Committee or Post Office.

Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks

Sunday 12 July to Barbury Castle with tea (4 miles) and Sunday 26 July to Martinsell (4 miles).
We meet at the Tree in the Square at 2 pm on the 2nd and 4th Sundays and everyone is welcome. Shared cars and dogs on leads. Further details from Sheila Morgan on 520501.

Bedwyn Music Society Summer Concert

Friday 17 July at 7.30 pm, Peter Moore (trombone) and Jadram Duncumb (guitar), winners in the BBC Young Musician of the year 2008, in St. Mary's Church, Great Bedwyn.
Friday 31 July at 7.30 pm, Members concert in St. Mary's Church.
Enquiries to Andrew Hutchison on 870970. Tickets - members £8 or £10 on the door with children free.

Rectory garden clean up

There will be a clear-up session in the Rectory garden, Back Lane on Saturday 18 July from 10 am to 12 noon. All welcome, with or without equipment, for weeding, trimming or cutting back.

Ramsbury & Axford Link Scheme

Come and enjoy a cream tea on Sunday 19 July between 3 pm and 5 pm in the beautiful garden of Mr & Mrs Simon Blunt at Ramsbury Hill, Back Lane. Music will be provided by the Ramsbury Silver Band and proceeds are in aid of the Link Scheme.

Parish Council Meeting

The Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council will meet on Monday 20 July at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall. All Parish Council meetings are open to the public, who are welcome to attend.

For more information, past meeting minutes, how to contact Councillors, and more, see the Council pages.

Ramsbury & Axford Golf Society

President's Trophy at North Wilts on Monday 20 July.

THANKS

The Wiltshire Air Ambulance thanks all who have contributed to their appeal fund. For more information visit the Wiltshire Air Ambulance website or call the appeal office on 0845 122 1234.

Axford & Stitchcombe Gardens Open on Sunday 14 June raised a total of over £1100 in aid of Axford Church & Village Hall. Over 300 visitors enjoyed a great mixture of beautiful gardens and church flowers, music, art and delicious teas. Many thanks to everyone who created, worked on and supported the event.

ADVANCE NOTICES

The Ramsbury Horticultural Society Summer Show and Fête will be on Saturday 1 August from 1 pm to 4.30 pm at the Recreation Field in Hilldrop Lane.
The show schedule is available from the Post Office, from Di Barnett on 521363 or may be downloaded here.. Entries will need to be made at our desk in The Bell on Friday 31 July from 6 pm to 9 pm or by email to hortsoc@ramsbury.org. But, please note that the “Writing” sections (including the “Young Person’s Press Article”) have a submission date of Friday 24 July.

Ramsbury Silver Band will be starting a new training group on Wednesday evenings. If you are aged 8 to 80 and would like to learn a new instrument contact silverband@ramsbury.org or call Lesley Groves on 520816. No previous musical experience necessary. Instruments and tuition provided absolutely free. For more information, see the silver band page.

Holy Cross will be celebrating the 1,100th anniversary of the appointment of the first Bishop of Ramsbury with a concert by the English Chamber Choir on Saturday 12 September and a service led by the current Bishop, Stephen Conway, on Sunday 13 September.
The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group.
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