Ramsbury Village Diary

Ramsbury & Axford Community

Village Diary - July 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 August Diary by 17 July. They can be left at the Post Office; or sent by email to diary@ramsbury.org
	Nature Notes Is it to be looked back on as a good summer or rather a mediocre one? Only time will tell, but so far June is proving to be rather a chilly one, especially in the mornings, but as usual nature is giving us some surprises. Only a few days ago a rather small, speckled, wood butterfly was in the greenhouse. The size suggested it was a male, and, while weeding, I saw my first tiger moth of the season. It is one of the more attractive ones, whereas the very small moth on the kitchen window had a black pattern on off-white wings, which my book suggested was the least carpet moth. While walking on a minor road in the Oare area, a slow worm was sunning itself. Such cold-blooded creatures need to warm up before they can become active. Progressing in to a wooded area with sandy soil, there was a badger’s sett with a good example of the way they throw out their bracken bedding. Turning to life of a different kind, on lifting the lid of my water butt there was another netted slug. Fortunately, I have not found any on the vegetable patch and many of the snail shells I have found were empty, so the resident thrush must be doing a good job. June is perhaps the time of year when the greatest variety of plants are in flower, including the grasses, some of which are quite attractive when looked at closely. At present, the water meadow near the Manor has some beautiful patches of yellow iris. Damp areas also favour the growth of ragged robin, with its deeply cut rich pink petals. I recently had a report of a twayblade appearing in a local lawn. It is of the orchid family and its seeds are so fine they can be carried on the wind. Mid-June and I have started to pick my strawberries, which set me wondering how much of the asparagus and peas sold in the shops will have been produced in Britain and which are the more expensive imports. By July I hope the new allotment holders will be enjoying the first rewards of their labours. Rosie Pauline Bird Notes Having noted the complete lack of kingfisher sightings this year in the last diary, I was delighted to see one to the west of the Manor in early June. The same walk provided an excellent view of a cuckoo and a leisurely observation of a spotted flycatcher hard at work. Further on towards Axford, a group of mandarin duck seem to have taken up residence. The Kennet Triangle has been a great place to spend a leisurely half-hour recently, with a wren family chasing through the trees, while both nuthatch and treecreeper seem to be residents. A few days ago we were treated to a lovely view of a nuthatch chick being taught to dig into the bark to find food. A pair of mallard with twelve chicks was sharing the water with young coot and moorhen chicks, while the dabchicks were diving and disappearing, as they do. Highlight of the month was an evening visit to a privately fished part of the Kennet to see the mayfly rising. It was fascinating to see the mayfly nymphs rising, changing into a dun before the final change to a ‘spinner’ adult mayfly and then, just 24 hours for mating and laying eggs, before dying. On the banks we saw sedge, reed and Cetti’s warblers, all apparently feeding young. Paul Swan Rainfall Rainfall for the month to 18 June was 1.10 inches, average 2.09 inches.
	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. Waste Green wheelie-bins and black boxes collection will be on Tuesdays 6 & 20 July. Black wheelie-bins and orange sacks collection will be on Tuesdays 13 & 27 July. The plastics and cardboard recycling rubbish lorry will be at Aldbourne Square on Tuesday 20 July from 8.30 to 10.30 am. The recycling rubbish lorry will not be available at Ramsbury Surgery this month, but will come twice in August. Memorial Hall Caretaker The Memorial Hall is seeking to appoint a Caretaker/Cleaner. Contact Robert Osmond on 520568 for details Recreation Centre 200 Club Recreation Centre 200 Club Draw result for June was; £100 to Lois Smith, £50 each to Paul Swan, Chris Inward and John Steadman, £25 each to Chris Roberts, Ali Tuttle, Kate Staples and Phillip Allin. The club costs £60 a year to join. Funds are split 50/50 between prizes and the Recreation Centre. To join, contact Ian Smith on 07977 473975 or email oldtiff@hotmail.co.uk Weightwatchers Weightwatchers weekly meeting at Ramsbury Surgery has been closed due to lack of numbers. The decision to close this meeting has been made by Weightwatchers and not the Surgery. Weightwatchers still provide meetings in Marlborough at 1pm & 7pm on a Tuesday. Marlborough Open Studios Marlborough Open Studios is taking place at weekends throughout July. In Ramsbury, see Paul Swan’s woodturning, including the new ‘Two Oaks’ series. At Witcha Cottage and garden, see Susan Kirkman and Arran Miles paintings and prints. In Axford, see Bridget Treherne’s paintings. Brochures will be available in the Post Office, or go to www.marlboroughopenstudios.co.uk for full details, opening times and addresses.
	Ramsbury WI Ramsbury WI meets on Thursday 1 July in the Methodist Schoolroom, Oxford Street. The speaker will be Demi Ladwa who will talk about Indian Dancing. Doors open 7.15pm and meeting starts at 7.45 pm. The Walking Group will meet on Monday 12 July at 2 pm to walk round the Manor walk. New members and visitors are welcome. Please ring Mary Holdsworth 520908 or email wi@ramsbury.org for details. Busy Bees needlework group meets on Thursday 15 July at 7.30 pm in the Lychgate Room. The Ramsbury WI 90th birthday party will be held on Saturday 7 August at 3 pm in the Memorial Hall. All members past and present are invited, please give names to Mary Holdsworth before 1 August. Holy Cross and St. Michael’s There were lots of pets at the outdoor Pet Service last month which was a great success. St Michael's Axford Family Communion on 4 July. Holy Cross Church will hold its usual Family Service on 11 July at 9.30 am. All ages welcome. Methodist Church Methodist Church services at 10.30 am on 4 July Joint service at Ramsbury (no Aldbourne service) and on 11, 18 & 29 July at Ramsbury. Coffee Centre open every Thursday at 9.30 am. The Fair-Trade stall has finished and there is now a vacant stall on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Please contact Julie Coe on 521085 if you would like to open a stall. 10% of takings go to the Coffee Centre charities. Church and Church Hall available to hire call 520558. Ramsbury Flyer The next visit to Newbury will be on Thursday 8 July, leaving the tree at 11.30 am and returning from Newbury at 2.30 pm. Fare £3. Book with Muriel Lye on 520555. The Community Bus also has its own page - just follow the link. Arthritis Research UK Coffee Morning Saturday 10 July from 10 am to 12 noon in the Memorial Hall. Please bring contributions to the Hall on Friday 9 July from 4 pm onwards or call Marion Young on 521126 to arrange collection. Ramsbury Horticultural Society “Gardens Open in Ramsbury”, Sunday 11 July from 2 to 5.30 pm. Tickets with garden location maps will be on sale in the Square during the afternoon. £4 for adults, £3 for retired persons, £3 for students and free for children. Teas will be available at Westfield House. The RHS is sorry for the previously printed date errors for this event. Please contact Di on 521363 if you can spare an hour to help with stewarding on the day. Peter Page talk on his Austin 101 trip to Istanbul Peter Page will be giving an illustrated talk in the Croft Hall, Hungerford on Tuesday 13 July at 7.30 pm, on his recent fundraising trip. The entertaining account of a 50 year old Austin 101 van’s epic journey across Europe to Istanbul, with a stopover in Venice. Free tickets from Newbury Building Society and a retiring collection for Prospect Hospice. Bedwyn Music Society Summer Concert Friday 16 July at 7.30 pm in St. Mary’s Church, Great Bedwyn with the Onyx Brass Quintet. Enquiries to Andrew Hutchison tel 870970. Tickets – members £8 or £10 on the door and children free. Ramsbury & Axford Golf Society The President’s Trophy will be held at Carswell on Monday 19 July. Contact Bob Osmond on 520568. Parish Council The Ramsbury and Axford Parish Council will meet on Monday 19 July at 7.45 pm in the Memorial Hall. All Parish Council meetings are open to the public, who are welcome to attend. Ramsbury Amenity Group Guided Walks There will be no Amenity Group walk on Sunday 11 July because of the Ramsbury Gardens Open. Sunday 25 July Fyfield (s/c). Meet at the tree at 2 pm. 4 mile walks, shared cars (s/c) and dogs on leads. Everyone is welcome. Further details Sheila Morgan – tel 520501. New Thamesdown Bus Timetable Revised bus times will be introduced on 26 July with full details available on 5 July.
	THANKS Thanks to the school for starting the Village Cleanup on 25 May and to the following who helped on 4 June: David Farnsworth, Angus & Scarlett Rissone, Alan & Roger Smith, John & Betty Herbertson, Olwynne Goodrich, Keith Mantle, Clive Glass, Judith & Simon Weedon, Erica, Matt, Tom & Anya Hodgson, Julia Ellis, Sue & Geoff Findlay, Ian Ritchie and Helen Lloyd. The village looks much better as a result of their efforts. There are over 2,000 people living in Ramsbury and I am sure that the rest are cleaning up the area around where they live. If so, thank you. Some flowers outside of houses add to the appearance of the village. Sheila Glass Ramsbury & Axford Parish Council
	ADVANCE NOTICES There will be no Evensong services in August in Holy Cross or St Michael's Axford. Ramsbury and Axford Golf Society Crown & Anchor Team Golf Trophy on Friday 6 August at West Berks, Chaddleworth. Teams of four representing village organisations, clubs or just friends and colleagues. Followed by an evening hog roast and bar at the Rec. Contact Bob Osmond on 520568. Ramsbury Horticultural Society Summer Show & Fête on Saturday 14 August from 1 to 4.15 pm in the Memorial Hall. Schedules available in the Post Office, from Diann on 521363 or Allan Davison on 520591. Note new single specimen class for Dahlias. For children of 5 and under, class 109 requires that Runner Beans in a Jam Jar must be planted on the 1 August. For the Young Person’s Press Article classes 124 and 125, entries must be submitted to the Literature Steward, Omorica, Union Street, Ramsbury by 7 August. Axford Fête will be on Saturday 21 August. Planning meeting in Axford Village Hall on Wednesday 7 July at 7 pm. Please ring B & G Treherne on 512406 with any ideas, queries, suggestions, offers of help etc. The Ramsbury Street Fair will be on Saturday 11 September between 11 am and 3 pm in the High Street. All Village organisations are invited to run a stall and any member of the public wanting a pitch should please contact Ian Smith on 07977 473975. The Diary is published in paper form, and is incorporated here by kind permission of the Ramsbury Amenity Group.