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Ramsbury & Axford Community
Village Diary - October 2009 |
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for the November Diary by 17 October. They can be left at the Post Office; or sent by email to diary@ramsbury.org |
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Mid-September, and although the nights are getting cooler, we seem to be experiencing better weather than during many of the summer months. I was very fortunate when in the Baltic during the second half of August, as, although north of us, it was warmer and drier than the cloudy England I had left behind. For the most part, the vegetation was the same as here although I did notice the rose bay willow herb was not as tall as in England and tansy was growing wild. I don’t think it was a garden escapee. Near the coast in Estonia we came upon sickle medick, a rare plant of East Anglia. There are several types of medick in England. They are distinguished by their varied seed pods but all have tiny clusters of yellow pea-like flowers. The painted lady butterflies come to us from the Mediterranean and it has been a good year for them but I did not expect to see them on buddleia in the Helsinki Botanic Garden. Recently, at home, I have seen several red admirals, yellow brimstones and commas but few small tortoiseshells. At this time of year it is the second brood that is on the wing. At last the cabbage whites are less numerous but their caterpillars, of various sizes, are still busy feeding, although some are now looking for places, such as under the eaves, to pupate. It is surprising how far they can travel. A sure sign of autumn is the ripening of berries such as the red of the gelder rose and the deep orange of the rowan. I understand these can be used to make a jelly to go with pheasant. I notice these birds are appearing in the countryside ready for the shooting season. Another autumn sign is the movement of small skeins of geese but not the barnacles which are more common in the north. Hopefully, this fine spell of weather has been good for the grain harvest thus reducing the need for drying machines. Rosie Pauline Last month I wrote about the swallows heading south for the winter. Modern technology is giving us an ever better insight into some of the journeys made at this time of year. In mid September an osprey flew over the village, almost certainly unseen. It had a satellite tracking tag and passed overhead in the early afternoon. It had left Keilder Water in the morning and the next day was over southern Portugal. It had travelled 1067 miles in 37 hours! Extraordinary. Staying closer to home, many people have been enjoying green woodpeckers visiting their gardens, searching for ants in the lawn. One family had the pleasure of regular visits as the parent taught the youngsters how to harvest the ants. On the river many of the ducks are in bright plumage and many will pair up now and stay together during the winter. The raptors have been very much in evidence with buzzard, kestrel and hobby seen regularly, while the red kite has been a daily visitor. We should soon be seeing the return of redwing and fieldfare, and on the day of writing we have seen a single golden plover on Springs Hill, presumably scouting ahead for the much larger flock that regularly winters here. Paul Swan Rainfall for the month to 18 September was 1.7 inches, average 2.43 inches. Rainfall over the last 12 months has been average despite the seasonal highs and lows. |
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Recently, there has been
vandalism in the village. The police need help in dealing with
it. If you see such behaviour, please contact PCSO Jonathan Mills
immediately on mobile 07969 501963, at Marlborough on 08454 087000
ext. 739-818, or email jonathan.mills@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk
Hill’s Stores Charity Shop Hill's Stores Charity Shop is now open and donations AND customers are very welcome. Tea or coffee with biscuits for 50p is available on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and on Wednesday & Saturday mornings. Bargains galore in books, bric-a-brac, toys and small electricals. Local Rights of Way - Footpath 39 (“20 Acres”) Despite the new fencing and seasonal nettles, Footpath 39 is easily passable where it runs alongside 20 Acre Field. There are no public rights of way from the Field to either Crowood Lane or Love’s Lane and the landowner is not obliged to keep clear any other routes around or across the 20 Acre Field. Waste Black wheelie-bins & orange sacks will be taken on Tuesdays 6 & 20 October. Green wheelie-bins & black boxes will be emptied on Tuesdays 13 & 27 October. Skips will be at the Square in Aldbourne on Tuesday 13 October from 8 to 10.30 am & at Ramsbury Surgery on Tuesday 27 October from 8 to 10.30 am. |
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Ramsbury WI will meet on Thursday 1 October in the Methodist Schoolroom, Oxford Street, when David Endacott will speak on "British Bats". New members and visitors welcome. Doors open at 7.15 pm and the meeting will start promptly at 7.45 pm. Our sewing group, "Busy Bees", will meet on Thursday 15 October at 7.30 pm in the Lychgate Room. ARK River Walk Sunday 4 October - ARK Autumn River Kennet Walk from the Old Mill, Ramsbury towards Chilton Foliat. Start any time between 2 & 3 pm, 3 miles each way. Walk there and back, or have a lift one way. The walk is made possible by the generous co-operation of local river-bank owners. It includes some of the most beautiful reaches of the upper Kennet. The walk will be sign-posted with marshals. No dogs allowed. St. Michael's, Axford Axford Harvest Festival Service at 6 pm on Sunday 4 October. The Service will be followed by Harvest Supper in the Village Hall. Methodist Church Sunday Services – 4 October 10.30 am joint service at Aldbourne with Gill Morton (no Ramsbury service). 11 October 4 pm short Church Anniversary service with Godfrey Room (gift day) followed by tea and cake. 18 October 10.30 am Holy Communion Rev Susan Holden. 25 October 10.30 am Rev Pat or Brian Hunter. Coffee morning every Thursday
at 9.30 am. Ramsbury Painting Group The Painting Group will meet on Tuesdays 6 & 20 October at 10 am in the Church Room, Back Lane. Ramsbury Horticultural Society Wednesday 7 October at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall talk by Bunny Guinness on “Transforming your Garden”. Please email hortsoc@ramsbury.org for tickets (£7 each) as soon as possible. Saturday 10 October at 2 to 4 pm Autumn Show in the Memorial Hall with WI food stall and Pre-School providing tea and refreshments. Entries and the staging of exhibits must take place between 9 & 10 am on 10 October. Classes in this show have been extended. Schedule available from Allan Davison on 520591. Ramsbury Flyer The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 8 October, leaving the tree at 11.30 am and returning at 2.30 pm. Fare £3. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555, or text 07769 570239. The Community Bus also has its own page - just follow the link. Ramsbury Roxy Friday 9 October - Hot Fuzz Cert 15 starring Simon
Pegg. Friday 23 October - Frost/Nixon
Cert 15 starring Michael Sheen and Frank Langella. Memorial Hall Bar opens 7.30 pm, film starts at 8 pm. Tickets £3.50 in advance from Post Office, £4 on the door. View/download the full Roxy programme to December. Concert in aid of Prospect Hospice Bella Voce & The Songmen will present a concert of light, bright songs in the Aldbourne Memorial Hall at 7.30 pm on Saturday 10 October. Tickets £5 at Ramsbury and Aldbourne Post Offices, and Midway Stores. Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks Sunday 11 October to Park Farm (walk 13) 4 miles. Sunday 25 October to Harrow Farm 4 miles. Walk numbers are from the Ramsbury Amenity Group Short Walks pack available from the Post Office. Shared cars and dogs on leads. Everyone is welcome. Further details Sheila Morgan on 520501. Marlborough College Concert Series The Marlborough College Concert Series continues at 7.30 pm on Sunday 11 October with Emma Johnson (clarinet) and John Lenehan (piano) in the Memorial Hall, Marlborough College. For tickets and full details of the concert series see leaflets in Ramsbury Post Office and Library, telephone Marlborough College on 892566 or email tickets@marlboroughconcertseries.org Ramsbury Short Mat Bowls Club The first AGM will be held on Thursday 15 October
at 7.30 pm in the Memorial Hall followed by bowling on the two
mats. All are welcome to come along and find out about the club
and have a try at bowling. Ramsbury and Axford Golf Society The Downs Duel will be held at Ogbourne Downs G.C. on Monday 12 October with tee off from 12 noon. ’Flu Vaccine ’Flu clinics for “at risk” groups are due to start on Monday 19 October. Appointments will be taken as soon as the vaccines are received. This is expected to be in the week commencing Monday 12 October. If you are not sure if you are in an “at risk” group, please call the surgery for advice on 520366. Further information on swine ’flu vaccines will be available in the November Diary. Parish Council Meeting The Ramsbury & Axford Parish Council will meet on Monday 19 October at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall. All Parish Council meetings are open to the public, who are welcome to attend. Poppy Appeal 2009 The British Legion Poppy Appeal will be held between Saturdays 24 October & 7 November. With the ever growing numbers of Service personnel and their dependants in need of support by the British Legion, your generosity is more important than ever. If you wish to make a private donation, please contact Paul Snook on 520970. Ravensbury Players present, for one night only, “Murder at the Grange”, a Murder Mystery evening on Saturday 31 October. Tickets £10 include a three course meal and are available from Chris Perkins 520515 or email chrissy@astrocruise.com. |
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The Bowls Club give a big thank-you to the Ramsbury Amenity Group for the generous £500 donation towards green equipment. The green will be ready for play by the beginning of the 2010 season. The Crown and Anchor fund-raising Music, Beer and BBQ Festival held on Saturday 5 September in aid of the Ravensbury Players production of The Wizard of Oz raised a total of £500. Thank you to Wendy & Richard, the bands and all those who helped to stage and support the event. |
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Ramsbury Horticultural Society’s final talk of the year will take place on Monday 9 November, when Jenny Whitham will talk on the "Gardens of Florence and the Italian Lakes". Ravensbury Players are presenting a community production of The Wizard of Oz from 18-21 November in the Memorial Hall. Tickets £9 available from the Box Office 520515, or email chrissy@astrocruise.com. Methodist Church Christmas Fair on Saturday 5 December from 10 to 12 noon. Contributions for this event will be collected on Sunday mornings, or call Senior Church Steward Julie Coe on 521085. The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by
kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group. |
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