Ramsbury Village Diary - February 2010

Ramsbury & Axford Community

Village Diary - February 2010

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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 March Diary by 17 February. They can be left at the Post Office; or sent by email to diary@ramsbury.org
	Nature Notes Mid January, and I expect we are all glad the snow has melted after over a week of icy pavements and difficult travelling conditions. We now have the pleasure of seeing green grass and being able to walk out in shoes again. When you read this, the snowdrops will hopefully be appearing and perhaps sunny days will occur more often. At least today (Jan 16th), the ground has thawed, so I was able to dig up some parsnips and my brussel-sprouts have survived beneath the snow quite well. I wonder how much damage has been done to the more tender garden plants? I expect my cistus will have given up the struggle to survive as much of it was killed last winter during the cold snap. It is not just the plants that suffer but the supports for some as well, an example being my fruit cage, as the weight of the snow on the netting has caused the supporting bars to bend. So, as last winter, I will have some repair work to do when conditions become suitable for work outdoors. Will slugs, snails and other pests have been destroyed by the low temperatures I wonder, or did they bury themselves deep enough to survive? It is surprising how resilient wildlife can be, as when washing some garden cabbage, there was a small green caterpillar of the small cabbage white butterfly, suggesting it can over winter in that state, although my book states that, like most butterflies, the late brood overwinters as a pupa. The farmers must be very relieved by the return to milder conditions, especially with early lambing being quite common. Getting water to their stock has been difficult. This is also a wildlife problem. I expect deer can drink from streams but that would not be so easy for the smaller mammals and there must be a limit to the number of days they can sleep the time away as we do not have many true hibernators. I wonder if the stoats have developed more white fur this winter as they do in the North? It is not just the countryside that suffers with a harder winter than for some years, but shops as well, as few people want to stay out for too long in sub-zero temperatures. May February bring brighter and milder conditions. Rosie Pauline Bird Notes The early days of the New Year were often bright and clear. On Springs Hill the flock of golden plover had grown from 25 to 180, and were joined by a small group of lapwing. On a walk to Littlecote we saw a little egret sitting in a tree, staring down at the stream, while a nuthatch worked the branches above. Then came the snow. The golden plover and the lapwing disappeared, and I hope that the little egret found some shelter. Overnight, the garden became like an aviary. All the usual suspects have been at the feeding station every day, but we now have temporary residents including a pair of fieldfare, a single redwing and a pair of bramblings. Other gardens in the village are hosting bullfinches and a water rail. The close up, and leisurely, views of the fieldfare have shown what a beautifully marked bird it is. The fieldfare love apples and large flocks often settle in orchards. Our visitors were able to find the apples even under inches of snow. Further afield, the raptors are doing very well, as small animals and birds succumb to the cold. The red kites and the buzzards have been looking stunning as they wheel in the bright sunshine over the snow covered fields. Paul Swan Rainfall Rainfall for the month to 18 January was 3.9 inches, average 3.43 inches.
	Swine ’Flu update from Dr Owen-Jones & Partners All Children over 6 months and under 5 years old are now entitled to the Swine ’Flu Vaccination. We are currently unable to vaccinate those who have already celebrated their fifth birthday. All Children MUST be registered at either Ramsbury or Wanborough Surgery. If you would like your child to be vaccinated, please contact the surgery on 520366 to book an appointment. Waste Green wheelie-bins and black boxes collection will be on Tuesdays 2 & 16 February. Black wheelie-bins and orange sacks collection will be on Tuesdays 9 & 23 February. Skips will be at the Square in Aldbourne on Tuesday 2 February and at Ramsbury Surgery on Tuesday 16 February from 8 to 10.30 am. Recreation Centre 200 Club Come and join the Recreation Centre's 200 Club! It costs only £60 a year - payable by cheque or annual / monthly standing order and we draw prizes every month. Each year we give back half the amount we have taken and the rest goes towards our fund for the maintenance of our fantastic facility. If you already have a form, please complete it and return it to Ian Smith, or email me on oldtiff@hotmail.co.uk for more details. Ramsbury Short Mat Bowls Club Club bowling sessions are on Thursday mornings from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and on Thursday evenings from 8 to 10 pm. For details contact Phil Allin 520306, George Hawes 520693 or Robert Osmond 520568. LINK Good Neighbour Volunteers We don't just drive. Now the snow has gone, LINK wishes to remind the village that we can continue to lend a hand, even if a car is not needed, for small jobs, shopping, getting the logs in etc. Call 520111 for advice. Charity Shop Hopefully February will not be as inclement as January was and everyone will be out and about as usual. Drop into the shop and see what's new - no snow shoes, but lots of other useful items and lots of books and CDs to help pass the time if snow does return.
	The Ramsbury Horticultural Society The rescheduled AGM will take place at 7.45 pm on Monday 1 February in the Memorial Hall. The Schedules and Fixture List will be available at the AGM. Subscriptions are now due: Family £8, Single £5, Retired Persons £4. Send with names to Michael Handford, ‘Millstream’, High Street, Ramsbury, SN8 2PA. Ramsbury Painting Group The Painting Group will meet at 10 am on Tuesdays 2 & 16 February, in the Church Room, Back Lane. Ramsbury WI On Thursday 4 February in the Methodist Schoolroom, Sue Arnold will give an illustrated talk on the second stage of her journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway. This may be of interest to non-members and all are welcome to come as visitors for a small fee. Doors open at 7.15 pm and the meeting will start at 7.45 pm. Busy Bees will meet at 7.30 pm on Thursday 18 February in the Lychgate Room. Holy Cross & St. Michael’s The Rev. Simon Weeden, married with two sons, has been appointed as the new Rector from 19 April. Canon David Winter will preach at Baydon at 10 am on 31 January and Rev. Douglas Dales at 9.30 am at Holy Cross on Sunday 7 February. Evensong every month at 6 pm in Ramsbury on 1st Sundays & in Axford on 2nd Sundays. Holy Communion with Ashing service at Froxfield 7 pm on Ash Wednesday 17 February. Methodist Church All Sunday Services in February are in Ramsbury and will start at 10.30 am. Church & Hall available to hire for meetings and parties etc.; please call Sue Barnes 520558 to book. Thursday Coffee mornings at 9.30 am 4 February Cake stall, 11 February Craft stall, 18 February Fair-Trade stall and 25 February Card stall. Talk by Conservative Candidate Claire Perry, the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Devizes, is coming to speak in Ramsbury at 8 pm on Monday 8 February at a public meeting in the Memorial Hall. Ramsbury Flyer The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 11 February, 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. Ramsbury Roxy “The Boat that Rocked” on Friday 12 February, starring Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Cert 15. The story of band of rogue DJs who broadcast from a pirate radio ship in the 1960s. “In the Loop” on Friday 26 February, starring James Gandolfini and Steve Coogan in a spin off from the BBC series “The Thick of It”. Cert 15 contains very strong language. Tickets from Ramsbury Post Office £3.50, £4 on the door. Memorial Hall Bar opens 7.30 pm. Film at 8 pm. Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks Sunday 14 February to Membury Fort (walk no.5), and on Sunday 28 February to Great Coppice (walk no.2) followed by tea at the Crown and Anchor. 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 from Sheila Morgan on 520501. Parish Council Meeting The Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council will meet on Monday 15 February at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall. All Parish Council meetings are open to the public, who are welcome to attend. Pilates classes The next six-week course starts on Thursdays from 18 February at 1.30 to 2.30 pm and on Mondays from 22 February at 9.15 to 10.15 am in the Memorial Hall. All levels welcome. £45 for six-week course. Please contact Caroline McCord on 07817 503546, or caroline@backinbalancepilates.com for more information and to book a course. Ramsbury and Aldbourne Bowls Club The AGM will take place on Tuesday 23 February at 7.30 pm in The Church Rooms, Back Lane, Ramsbury. All welcome. Ramsbury Scouts’ Quiz Night Book a table for a Quiz Night on Saturday 27 February at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall. Teams of 4 – 6 contestants at £10 per person to include hot supper. Licensed bar. Contact Adrian Compton on 520917 or email quiznight@comptons.me.uk
	THANKS Thanks to all those who helped in many ways with the Holy Cross Christmas services, the beautiful decorations and lighting in the church. Carol Singing round the village raised a grand total of £192.85 towards Methodist Church fund. Well done to the Ramsbury Silver Band and all who joined us around the village. The Methodist Church Lucky Prize Draw raised £185 for local charities and the Coffee Centre raised £1,001.84 over the year for local Charities.Thank you for all prizes and donations. Thank you to Wendy and Richard at the Crown & Anchor for supporting the Bowls Club. £63 was raised in the collection box over the Christmas period. Ramsbury Surgery would like to thank Bob Talmage, Chris Martin & Chris Marren for their help with clearing of the surgery car park during the recent bad weather.
	ADVANCE NOTICES Holy Cross churchyard spring clear-up will be on 20 March from 10 am to 12 noon. Refreshments provided but please bring tools. On Saturday 1 May there will be an Introduction to Bowling Day at the new bowling green. All welcome to come along and have ago from 2 pm onwards. The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group.