Local news and events
Uffington Wed Walk - 3rd May. We had a really enjoyable walk at the beginning of April led by Pamela from Letcombe onto the Ridgeway above Devil's Punchbowl. Many thanks to Geoff for the photograph: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/7be9358c-2eb3-4b48-13f5-168fec8a45ce.jpg
Our Next Walk - Wed 3rd May. The May walk will be a Circular Walk around Ashdown - 6 miles, with a break midway at the Coffee Shop in Ashbury, meeting at Uffington Village Hall at 9:20 for a 9:30 start and car sharing.
If you would like to meet us at the beginning of the walk, we will head to the National Trust car park near Ashdown House. (Approach Ashbury on the B4507 and turn left at the crossroads in Ashbury onto the B4000. Car park is about two miles - on the right.) Let us know if you would like to meet us in Ashdown car park - the walk will head off at 9:50. Hope to see lots of you there. Uffington Walks committee - Verity Pamela Joe and Hilary
Verity Cavanagh veritycavanagh@gmail.com 07975861790
White Horse Gardening Club – 4th May. The next meeting will be at 7.30 pm on Thursday 4 May, in the THMH. Peter Savage will be speaking about Hostas. See poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/7dff1886-5b3c-1ae8-5e07-fc204741d69c.jpg
The Big Lunch brings neighbours and communities together to share friendship, food and fun. Join millions of others across the UK, at Uffington's Big Picnic Lunch – Sunday 7 May from 12.30 pm. You are invited to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III at a Big Picnic Lunch on the Jubilee Field on Sunday 7th May, 12.30 - 5pm. Bring your own gazebo/tent or rug and picnic, or enjoy a BBQ burger provided by Uffington School PTA, drinks from the Sports Club cash bar as well as tea and cakes from St Mary's church. There will be live music, games for the children, a climbing wall and tug 'o war. The hall will be open and the Coronation Concert will be screened there in the evening from 8pm - bring your own drink and snacks.
Poster attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/67299698-602a-7e86-c65a-5fa4c4232545.jpg
Vale Community Impact Pop-up cafe - May 18th 2 - 4pm. The next VCI Pop-up Cafe has been booked at the Uffington Village Hall for May 18th, from 2 - 4pm.
It's a free cafe with hot drinks and free cake; an opportunity to get together and chat with lots of folk, of all ages, from around the local area. VCI will be on hand to explain the benefits the organisation can provide, this event being part of their Good Neighbour scheme. If folk need a lift to the hall, they can call 07458 130408 or email gns@vci.org.uk
WI for Uffington? Meeting on Wednesday 24th May at 7.30 pm. We are at last in a position to hold what I hope will be the first of Uffington's new WI meetings. I have met several ladies from the village informally, who think it could be worth starting - fingers crossed! I have booked the large hall at the THMH for Wednesday 24th May at 7.30 pm, and have set up a Facebook page and an email address for enquiries. We have also given the group the name of the 'White Horse WI' which distinguishes it from the previous WI, but if the group is a success, it can choose whatever name it wishes. More information attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/27f96cc1-2730-f804-99fe-1677e6eb9c77.png
Catherine Blaxhall
General information
Overnight parking in the hall/shop car park. Those of you who use the hall/shop car park will be aware of the sign that says NO UNAUTHORISED OVERNIGHT PARKING. Can I please explain this does not represent petty officialdom but is designed to deal with the problems we have had in the past of vehicles being abandoned, activity that has supported criminal attacks on the shop and the situation where a hall booking involving a large number of cars can be compromised by vehicles not removed after being parked on the previous day.
The key word on the sign is "UNAUTHORISED". There will be times when villagers may have a good reason to leave a car overnight in the car park and if they approach a member of the village hall management team or the shop, the likelihood is this would be authorised. However, if vehicles are left overnight without the courtesy of asking first, please do not be surprised if you find a note under your windscreen wiper, stating that action will be taken to identify the owner and to have the vehicle removed.
Geoff Rumble, THMH Management Committee
From the Vale
Are you ID ready for the local elections? If you intend to vote at a polling station on 4 May, remember that you will need valid photo ID. You can see details on our website, by clicking this link
(But it is now too late to apply for a free Voter ID document if you do not have something suitable already).
Waste collections. With a bank holiday on Monday 1 May, bins will be collected on Tuesday 2 May.
County news
Your Oxfordshire. Join our team, news on Oxford United ground and No Mow May; see: Join our team, news on Oxford United ground and No Mow May (mailchi.mp)
From the Police.
28/4. Police & Crime Bulletin Apr '23 - Crimefighters: More visible policing. See: Police & Crime Bulletin Apr '23 - Crimefighters: More visible policing (matthewbarber.co.uk)
Thames Valley Police supporting Their Majesties' Coronation celebrations. As the country gears up for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, we will be supporting our communities to safely celebrate this historic occasion.
You will see an increased police presence at events over the Coronation weekend, notably in Windsor, including some armed officers. This is part of the many visible and not so visible security measures we are putting in place to keep people safe. If you see any of our teams while celebrating do come and say hello. Read more about our plans on our website.
National Stalking Awareness Week. We have seen a 21% increase in the number of stalking offences resulting in a charge..." Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), court appearances, and formal actions have all increased in the past year, so how has Thames Valley Police achieved this increase in stalking outcomes and what does it all mean?
Victim safety and relentless perpetrator pursuit remains and will continue to be a top priority for Thames Valley Police. During National Stalking Awareness Week, we're highlighting some of the good work that is ongoing in our response to stalking. Find out more on the Thames Valley Police website: https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/thames-valley/news/2023/april/24-04-2023/national-stalking-awareness-week/
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 30 April is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/1b125d38-34c6-5d41-1600-a3e3351bf47d/wsh_2023_04_30.pdf
For all information, please see: https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
Timber! Timber!
Following the tree work earlier in the week beside the pond, the tree surgeons left some timber and a pile of chippings for planned Parish Council maintenance projects – such as improving the path beside the pond.
Any surplus timber will be advertised for personal use once this work is complete. In the meantime, please DO NOT REMOVE any timber or chippings, and if you have already done so, PLEASE RETURN IT.
Re the lost dog ..... I am glad to report that Spot has been found and is back at home!
Thanks to those who helped.
Lost dog Lost dog
'Spot' is an elderly Jack Russell terrier and was last seen earlier today at Uffington Sports Club – at the tennis courts. He has a collar with a telephone number.
If anybody knows of his whereabouts, please contact Rupert Lycett-Green on 07976 747427 or 01367 820313.
Village news 21 April 2023 Uffington Parish Council
Apology. The Parish Council would like to apologise to Michelle Southey and all those who missed their circuits session on Monday evening. The short-notice cancellation was due to a booking error by the Parish Council. We are very sorry to have done this at such short notice but we were only made aware of the clash on the morning of the day concerned.
Poplar Trees on the Jubilee Field. All residents will be aware of the three very large poplar trees on the Jubilee Field, between Upper Common and the pond. The contractor appointed by the Parish Council has now confirmed that he will be felling the middle one of the three next week, on Monday/Tuesday (24/25) April. As a result, it will be necessary to temporarily close Upper Common Lane intermittently on Tuesday. It is anticipated that there will be no need to interrupt the electricity supply. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused.
Latest Speed monitor Results – Baulking Road. The moveable speed indication device (SID) has been deployed on several occasions on the Baulking Road. The biggest number of speeding occurrences has occurred from incoming vehicles and the maximum speed recorded was 70mph on 2 March at 07:30 and almost 300 vehicles doing 55mph or more. The graph attached shows the distribution of speeds over the past year or so: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/a68986b6-709b-38c9-b191-954929430f7b/SID_data_1.pdf
On a more positive note, the most frequent speed past the SID was about 30mph. It will be interesting to see if this is reduced with the introduction of the 20mph limit. (See below).
Local news and events
Roadside Litter Pick – 22-23 April. The next roadside litter pick will take place over the coming weekend 22/23 October. It is hoped to complete the majority of the routes on Saturday morning – please meet at the Village Hall at 10.00am tomorrow so we can agree the routes. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear. We hope that litter pickers, hi-vis gilets and collection bags will be provided but please provide your own as much as possible (especially hi-vis gilets), as at the time of writing, they have not yet been delivered by the Vale. (Delaying this bi-annual task will mean that litter becomes more deeply concealed by the rapidly growing vegetation).
If there are any routes not completed, the equipment and a list of outstanding routes will be left by the Hall door and any other volunteers can complete these in their own time from midday on Saturday or any time on Sunday.
White Horse Gardening Club. The White Horse Gardening Club in Uffington is held on the 1st Thursday of every month excluding January and August. They are held at Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall in Uffington SN7 7RA from 7:30pm to approx. 9pm with plenty of parking available. The hall opens at 7pm and there is always a raffle. Annual subscription is £15, reduced to £10 until September 2023 and members receive a 10% discount off plants at Bampton Garden Centre. Non-members are very welcome at a charge of £3 although membership is more cost effective!
More information on membership and the programme for the next few months is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/a64026e1-33de-dcec-0cbe-32fef3afcd2b/WHGC_programme_2023_Spring.pdf
The King's Coronation. Souvenir Fine China Mugs Available now. See picture: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/images/ceffa26d-5d9f-b9a1-a815-2a5f45395ee2.jpg
Please contact Fay Forster Tel 898071 or collect from 3 Craven Common, Uffington. Numbers are limited. £7.50 each or 2 for £14.00. Cash or cheques, payable to St. Mary PCC Uffington, on collection please.
Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize Exhibition. No fewer than 97 works of art will be on display at the 7th Swire Ridgeway Arts Prize Exhibition in Uffington on Sat 22 and Sun 23 April, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, organised by the charity Friends of the Ridgeway. If you would like to share this opportunity, more information is attached: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/49c52192-a2d7-93af-94c2-4f08c68460f3/Swire_Ridgeway_Arts_Prize_Exhibition_April_2023_.01.pdf
General information
Drought Experiments - Whitehorse Hill. In 2021/22 as part of a Restoring Resilient Ecosystems project, undertaken by the National Trust and UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, a series of grassland and insect sampling experiments were carried out at various locations up on Whitehorse Hill.
Following on from that, further experimentation is being undertaken this year to simulate drought, to see how restored grasslands with different numbers of species respond and recover. To achieve this a number of rain shelter cages will be set up in two of the restored grassland fields.
Each shelter cage will be 3m x 3m and the total area taken up by the experiment is expected to be 8m x 13 m. Clearly livestock needs to be kept away from the rain shelters, so they will be protected by standard electric fences.
The shelter cages are being set up now and are planned to be left in place for approximately 3-4 months. Following this, there will be an immediate sampling of plants and insects, and then again the following year.
An information sheet will be attached to each shelter grouping should anyone wish to examine them more closely. More information on the Restoring Resilient Ecosystems (RestREco) project is available at: https://restreco.com/
From the Vale.
Vale news. See: Vale News - April 2023 - Residents (emailblaster.cloud)
County news
20 mph Limit in Uffington. Following the recent OCC consultation and legal approval, and the installation of very clear new signage in the last few days, most of the village of Uffington is now subject to a 20 mph speed limit. Please note: - A stretch of Fernham Road from the incoming 30 mph sign at The Wharf to just after the entrance to the sewage treatments works remains subject to the original 30 mph limit.
- The Speed Indication Devices (Fawler Road and the mobile one currently on Baulking Road) will be re-programmed.
- The 30mph roundels painted on the road will shortly be updated by OCC to match the new 20mph signs.
From the Police.
National Alert Test - 23 April. The UK government's new Emergency Alerts system is now live. The system will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone when lives are in danger. It will be used to warn you in the event of emergencies, such as severe flooding. Emergency Alerts are sent to all compatible mobile phones within an area of risk.
They don't track your location, need your phone number, or collect personal data. Only the government and the emergency services will be able to send them. If you don't have a mobile phone, you'll still be kept informed through other channels.
If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you'll hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond. You'll be able to check an alert is genuine at gov.uk/alerts
If you receive an alert, read the alert carefully and follow the instructions. You can opt out of receiving emergency alerts; for more information on how to opt out please go to gov.uk/alerts To find out more about Emergency Alerts, visit gov.uk/alerts
April update from the Police & Crime Commissioner. See: April update from the Police & Crime Commissioner (campaign-archive.com)
From the Churches of Uffington Benefice
The Weekly Sheet for Sunday 23 April is attached here: https://mcusercontent.com/c90a1a7b6d1f693a28c947f92/files/6b6f2ef0-863d-d89b-442e-cc38489ad1d8/wsh_2023_04_23.pdf
For all information, please see: https://www.uffingtonbenefice.com/
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