White Horse Garden Club
TALK: DIGGING DEEPER - a gentle look at garden science as it relates to soil and plant growth.
BY : Paul Williams, Head Gardener at Whichford Pottery.
DATE: Thursday 2nd November 2017, at 7.30 pm
VENUE: Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall, Uffington, SN7 7RA
Members - Free. Visitors - £2.50. Raffle - £1.
Further information from Pamela 01367 820251 or parrottspreene@aol.com
Two 'thank you's'
Firstly to the 16 people who worked very hard on the Jubilee Field tidy up on Saturday; the Upper Common side of the Field is now looking much better.
Secondly, to Karen Pilcher, Ray Avenell, Geoff Keene, Graham Banks and Douglas Dalrymple who planted 2,000 'PURPLE4POLIO' crocus corms this morning on the grass between the children's playground and the car park. Like those planted last year, these were kindly donated by Faringdon Rotary (via Douglas) to commemorate Rotary International's worldwide efforts towards eradicating this fatal infectious disease. We look forward to a good show next Spring.
From the Police – Home Security
"Many people only think about home security after they have been burgled. We want to encourage people to review this before they fall victim to crime. Similarly, valuables left on view on car seats provide an ideal opportunity for a smash and grab." Top tips to reduce the chance of your house being targeted: - Invest in a timer light switch and vary the time it comes on each day to make it look more natural. It can also be used with a radio or TV to give the impression that someone's home
- Consider installing a fake/simulated TV device which lights up a room like a real TV
- Keep valuables out of sight and mark them with your house number and postcode using a UV pen, or consider buying a forensic property marking system
- Register your valuables via immobilise and keep an inventory list. It's free and takes just a few minutes
- If you have jewellery at home, photograph it for insurance purpose and consider storing it in a suitable safe
- Lock your doors and windows, if you have a UPVC door make sure you have double locked it by lifting the handle and locking it with the key. Make sure the key is removed from the lock and out of reach
- If you're going away, remember not to post details of your holiday on social networking sites, cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries and if you have a burglar alarm, make sure it is set before you leave
- Look out for your neighbours' houses, especially when they're not at home and call the police if you see anything suspicious on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Give Blood – Friday 3 November
96% of us rely on the other 4% to give blood - don't leave it to someone else. If you're generally healthy and aged between 17 and 65, you can probably donate. The next donation session at The Beacon, Wantage is on Friday, 3rd November between 13.15-15.30 & 16.15-19.15.
More information here: https://www.blood.co.uk/
Don't miss out – Working parents of 3 and 4 year olds – 30 hours free childcare a week?
Working parents of 3 & 4 year old children may be entitled to 30 hours free childcare per week. This includes those who are self-employed and some parents on zero hours contracts. To find out if you are eligible visit:- https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
To join those already benefiting apply by the beginning of December for a January start. The Family Information Service has information about childcare providers in your area. Visit:- https://fisd.oxfordshire.gov.uk/kb5/oxfordshire/directory/home.page
Village news 27 October 2017 Repairs to Tom Brown's School Museum
A 'justgiving' page has been set up to help the Parish Council raise funds for the repairs to the Museum building. See: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/tombrownsschoolmuseum?utm_id=2&utm_term=nmrdVJVV5
The new Village trail and play equipment
There is some good publicity for the village following the opening of the new village trail and playground equipment on 18 October; see the Oxford Mail: http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/15608022.A___15k_new_playground_and___12k_art_trail_have_brightened_this_village_up/#gallery1
Please note that brass rubbing kits for the village trail are now on sale in the shop - price £1.00.
Reminders. - The Jubilee Field autumn tidy is scheduled for Saturday / Sunday 28 / 29 October. Please report to the THMH with gardening gear at 10.00 am.
- Unsung Heroes in Dung. Sally Ann Spence will be giving an amusing and informative talk on dung beetles, at 7.00 pm on Monday 6 November in the THMH. Tickets (£7) from Jo Coad on 01367 820428 or email jpcoad@b%nternet.com or Verity Cavanagh on 01367 820683 or email verity@cavanagh1000.plus.com More information here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/67969087-6886-455b-b64e-b570cabbe686/Beetle_Poster_pdf.01.pdf
Dog Poo
The Parish Council has received a number of complaints that dog owners are not always clearing up after their dogs, especially on the Jubilee Field. The field is used by a lot of people, including children, so please always make sure that you clean up after your dog. Reminder notices have been put up. If you see someone failing to clear up after their dog, please try to identify the culprit and notify a member of the Parish Council.
The Teapot Tearoom - Last chance ......
This weekend we will be open from 12 noon till 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday and It will be our last weekend of the season so it is:
Your last Chance to come and taste my mums deliciously fruity homemade raspberry jam; see: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/4b6bc294-57f1-4de4-bc58-91de2c3a5aba.jpg
Your last chance to sit in our pretty garden and enjoy an 'alfresco meal'.
Your last chance to snuggle up and treat your loved ones to a candlelit tea in our cosy tea room. ...
Your last chance to toast marshmallows in our tea garden. We had such a lot of fun toasting marshmallow last weekend we are doing it again this Saturday October 28th between 2 and 4 pm. So bring your own marshmallows and we will provide the outdoor fire and toasting forks. See: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/5f7012f6-9672-4fd8-a107-107fd010c97a.jpg
So ....blow out the cobwebs with a walk on White Horse Hill then come on down and join us for the finale.
Ruth
From the Vale
Halloween
Put your pumpkins to good use this Halloween. Residents in southern Oxfordshire are being encouraged to make the most of their pumpkins this Halloween.
If they cannot be used for cooking or composting, South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council is asking people to recycle their pumpkins as food waste. You can either cut them up and put them in the food waste bins or simply leave them out whole next to your bins on the usual weekly collection day. More information here (including some recipes): http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2017/2017-10/put-your-pumpkins-good-use-halloween
'Don't bin your batteries' call following waste and recycling truck fires. Residents are urged not to put batteries or other items which could cause a fire in their waste or recycling wheelie bin. Batteries should be put in a clear plastic bag and left on top of the green recycling bin, while small electrical items (that may also contain batteries), can be put out in a carrier bag alongside the grey refuse bin for separate collection.
More information at: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2017/2017-10/dont-bin-your-batteries-call-following-waste-and-recycling-truck-fires
November 1st Walk, Bishopstone and lunch option
Hi Everyone,
It was good to see so many of you for our October walk to Compton Beauchamp, 17 in total! Photo attached: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/5a12c557-3a68-4bc4-803f-fbeca4e5138f.jpg
Our next walk on Wed 1st November will be a circular walk commencing in Bishopstone, taking us through a lovely coombe, heading up to and along the Ridgeway then back downhill via Idstone. The walk is about 4.5 miles long, no stiles, just gates. A little muddy in places, some moderate uphill to the Ridgeway. As always dogs are welcome but do please keep them on a lead near livestock, there will be some sheep on this walk.
We will meet as always at 9.30 in the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall car park. There we will arrange car shares for the journey to Bishopstone, where we will park in the Royal Oak pub car park. At the end of the walk we hope many of you will join us for a lunch at the Royal Oak pub. Could those of you who are staying please let me know so we can contact the pub with anticipated numbers. We will check when arranging car shares that those of you who are unable to stay for lunch are able to travel back.
Hope to see lots of you on the 1st. - Verity, Pam and Lilly.
Uffington benefice
The weekly sheet for this Sunday 29 October is here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/e85d68fc-fdd9-4233-a259-e3d7d641c7cb/wsh_2017_10_29.pdf
Village news 20 October 2017 Household Waste Recycling
I have been asked about the advice in the Courier NOT to use bio-degradable bags in food caddies. The reason is that food waste goes direct to a digester to make methane for electricity and it was found that degradable bags don't degrade fast enough and have to be pulled out of the waste in same way as ordinary plastic bags – BUT they become slimy and are more difficult to extract. So please do not use bio-degradable bags in food caddies.
From the Police
The Faringdon Neighbourhood Team newsletter for October is attached here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/c18e0e44-defa-484a-a52b-7ae48c721898/Faringdon_NH_newsletter_October2017.pdf
Land Rover thefts
Although there has been a reduction compared to recent months Land Rover thefts & thefts from Land Rovers are still a concern. They continue to be targeted by thieves using key coding or similar devices to more basic methods. The 'theft from' items include wallets, expensive clothing, tools & equipment often left in full view, an easy target. As well as parts such as the spare wheel (a common target), rear windows bonnet & doors have been stolen. The loss of a vehicle, its contents or the damage caused by an attempted theft can of course be a huge inconvenience to the victims as well as the financial loss. A back-to-basics approach may be advisable, please consider investing in a category 3 Thatcham approved mechanical immobilizer such as Disklok, Pedalbox or Stoplock, which will be a visual deterrent. Please be vigilant, protect your property & report any suspicious activity.
Reporting of shooting and lamping
Thames Valley Police would like to remind farmers and landowners of the importance of making us aware of any shooting and lamping that you are going to carry out on your land. We have received reports in the past from concerned members of the public because lights have been seen in fields late at night and they have heard the sound of gunfire. TVP need to take reports seriously and we can send multiple units including the Armed Response Unit, Police Helicopter and Police Dogs. This uses a huge amount of our resources that could be directed somewhere else. Please call 101 and notify us that you will be carrying out these activities on your land. It would also be appreciated if you could also let your neighbours know to minimise reports.
Reporting of rural crime
We would also ask you to please report any incidents of rural crime, however small. It helps us build a picture of what crime is happening in our area and the more intelligence we gather the more likely we are to be able to deter and stop offenders. Please also continue to be vigilant and report any unusual activity on or near your land including vehicles and people that may look out of place. Please call our contact centre on 101 or 999 if a crime is occurring at that time. You can also report a non-emergency crime online using the following link: https://reportonline.thamesvalley.police.uk/
From the Vale
Local Plan Update Bulletin 8
Further to our email of 11 October regarding the Publication Version of the Local Plan 2031 Part 2, we have published our next Local Plan Update Bulletin. This includes details on how you can comment on the Publication Version of the Plan and provides details of our public events. This is available by clicking here and can also be viewed on our website at www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/LPP2
We hope you find this information helpful. If you have any questions, please contact the planning policy team on 01235 422600 or email planning.policy@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Plans submitted for a new 3G football pitch in Faringdon
The District Council has submitted a planning application for a new 3G artificial turf pitch to be located next to Faringdon Leisure Centre – more information here: http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/news/2017/2017-10/plans-submitted-new-3g-football-pitch-faringdon
Teapot Tearoom
The tearoom will be open this weekend from 12 noon till 5pm and will be serving freshly baked pizzas, bacon butties, soup, Cream teas, cakes, filled mini baguettes and Winstons ice cream. On Sunday between 2pm and 3.30 we will light the outdoor fire and provide toasting sticks for you to toast marshmallows. Children must be accompanied by an adult for this activity. See the poster: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/0f559815-fc8e-4c0e-92e7-bec50bfebc62.jpg
On Thursday October 26th Mrs Krista Soper will be leading a 'How to look after the wildlife in your own garden' this autumn & winter. Participants will make and take home a fat ball and a bug hotel. £10 over 8's only and must be accompanied by an adult. Places limited so please see attached poster for booking details; see the poster: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/_compresseds/57d0cb2d-fcf1-4b13-b981-eb997920add5.jpg
rdewilton@yahoo.com
Repairs to Tom Brown's School Museum URGENT!!
Tom Brown's School Museum
A letter from Uffington Parish Council with an appeal for funds for repairs to the Tom Brown's School Museum has been distributed with the Courier. Unfortunately, the bank account details for the Parish Council contain a small error; the correct sort code and account number are:
Sort Code: 30-99-11; account number: 00278320 (please add your name as a reference).
I am greatly embarrassed by this stupid mistake and apologise for the confusion; if in doubt, please leave a cheque in the Shop!
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