Walk the Dawn Chorus 2024

Dawn Chorus 2024 with Friends of Hillhouse Wood

The Dawn Chorus 2024 walk , which is taking place on Saturday 18th May, will be led by Steve Hallam. Organised by the Friends of Hillhouse Wood, this walk affords the opportunity to see Nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers. Steve says:

If you haven’t tried this you’ll find it a rewarding and delightful experience at a very special time for the wood’s varied birdlife.

Read last years report here to see what you might hear and/or see.

It will mean an early start, meeting at the Old Church at 3:45 am (weather permitting). You are should bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch.

This walk follows on from the recent Spring Flowers Walk.

Report of the 2024 Spring flowers walk

Wouldn’t life be boring without some variation and unpredictability? You can rely on the Hillhouse Wood guided walks to provide this – even the ones that are supposed to be the same, such as the Spring flowers walk. This year’s walk was no exception, both positively and less so.

April 30, 2024May 31, 2024

St Mary’s News – The Walking Edition

St Mary’s News – Walking Rogation & Prayer

This Walking edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Anne’s message considering her recent hospital experience and relating it to how Jesus looked after his disciples on the first Easter. It then continues with:

The usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Rev Anne Mason

Peace be with you

A few weeks ago, Easter was joyfully celebrated in Christian churches around the world with a message of hope, and life in abundance in this world and in the next. And Jesus’ appearing to his disciples, and to many hundreds of others, after his death and resurrection, gave me extra cause for reflection this year.

April 29, 2024April 29, 2024

Sing to Save Lives

Vocal Zones Choir are going to Sing to Save Lives at their RNLI 200th Anniversary Concert. The concert will have a distinctly watery theme comprising Shanties and songs of Rivers and Oceans (some samples below). There will be some songs for all to sing along with.

To support this event, which is taking place in the Orpen Hall on Friday 10th May from 7:30 pm, you can buy your tickets at the door for just £10 (Under 18s £5). This includes a free glass of wine or juice in the interval.. All proceeds, including any donations, will go directly to the RNLI.

Mingulay Boat Song

[Chorus] Heave a ho, boys! Let her go, boys!
Swing her head round, and all together.
Heave a ho, boys! Let her go, boys,
Sailing homeward to Mingulay.

April 22, 2024May 14, 2024

Planning & Development Committee – 15th April 2024

Planning imagined by AI in style of Van Gogh to use on 15th April 2024 minutes

Meeting on 15th April 2024, the Planning & Development Committee reviewed some actions from the March minutes before considering planning applications.

The committee supported 2 (Cooks Hall Road & Colchester Road), objected to 1 (in Wormingford but impacting West Bergholt) & commented on 2 (Armoury Road & Nayland Road).

Read the official minutes below:

Planning and Development Committee Meeting

Meeting held on Monday 15th April 2024 at 7.30pm in the John Lampon Hall

April 21, 2024April 21, 2024

Annual Parish Meeting – 24th April 2024

AI generated image illustrating an Annual Parish Meeting taking place on 24th April 2024

The Annual Parish Meeting takes place on Wednesday 24th April 2024 starting from 7:15pm. The venue, of course, is the Orpen Hall. Free light refreshments are available

Members of the public and press are welcome to attend. The agenda is set out below and will be chaired by Councillor Brian Butcher, Chair of West Bergholt Parish Council.

Copies of the Charitable Trust Accounts for the Orpen Memorial Hall, New Allotments, Lorkin Daniell Field, Poor’s Land and Village Green (Heath), of which the Parish Council is Sole Trustee, will be available to all attending.

Agenda Items

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024

Environment & Highways – 11th April 2024

Flags for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day were discussed at the 11th April 2024 Environment meeting.

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 11th April 2024 with topics including:

D-Day Flags,
Handyman update including:
- litter-picking,
- grass cutting,
- work on new shed.
- purchasing replacement tools,
Staffing update,
Refurbishment of Practice Goal,
Noting that the Pylons consultation is underway and needs contributions, and
Possible engagement with Village Fete organisers regarding traffic, health & safety..

Environment Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 11th April 2024 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

April 20, 2024April 20, 2024

Planning & Development Committee – 4th April 2024

An AI generated image to represent a Planning Committee in the Modern Style

Holding an Extraordinary Meeting on 4th April 2024, the Planning & Development Committee agreed previous minutes before considering a single planning application concerning Barns at Hall Road.

Read the official minutes below:

Planning and Development Committee Extraordinary Meeting

Meeting held on Monday 4th April 2024 at 7.30pm in the John Lampon Hall

April 19, 2024April 19, 2024

Candidates for May 2024 Elections

Statements of Persons Nominated for 2024 Elections

Elections 2024 City & Police Commissioner

The Returning Officer has advised of the following nominations for these elections:

Lexden & Braiswick Ward – Colchester City Council

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)	Reason why no longer nominated*
ARMITAGE Sandy	(address in Colchester)	Labour Party
BAMFORTH Roger Edwin	1 Granville Close, Colchester, CO6 3LQ	Green Party
STEVENSON Thomas Alun	(address in Colchester)	Liberal Democrats
WILLETTS Dennis	The Retreat, Wood Lane, Fordham Heath, Colchester, CO3 9TR	Conservative Party Candidate

*Decision of the Returning Officer that the nomination is invalid or other reason why a person nominated no longer stands nominated.

Dated Thursday 5 April 2024
Pam Donnelly
Returning Officer

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for the Essex Area

Name of Candidate	Home Address	Description (if any)	Reason why no longer nominated *
FOX Adam Daniel	(address in Essex Police Area)	Labour and Co-operative Party
FRANKS Kieron Anthony	(address in Essex Police Area)	Liberal Democrat
HIRST Roger Charles	(address in Essex Police Area)	The Conservative Party Candidate
TILBROOK Robin Charles William	Quires Green, Willingale, Essex, CM5 0QP	English Democrats – “More Police – catching criminals!”

*Decision of the Police Area Returning Officer that the nomination is invalid or other reason why a person nominated no longer stands nominated.

Dated Friday 5 April 2024
Pam Donnelly
Police Area Returning Officer

Photo ID Required to Vote

Don’t forget you will need approved photo ID to vote! Check what is acceptable at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id.

April 7, 2024February 20, 2025

Spring Flower & Winter Bird Walks

The Next Guided Walk at Hillhouse Wood is the Spring Flower Walk

Bluebells likely to be seen on Spring Flower Walk

Following the successful Winter Bird Walk in March (see report below), the next Guided Walk is the annual Spring Flower Walk on Saturday 27th April. Steve Hallam will lead the walk in and near Hillhouse Wood. Previously called the Bluebell Walk, it has become difficult to pick the optimum ‘bluebell’ date for the walk although there will always be plenty of Spring Flowers to see. The walk will start at the Old Church at 2pm.

Other upcoming Friends of Hillhouse Wood activities are:

Dawn Chorus Guided Walk on Saturday 18th May, and
Stall at the Village Fete on Saturday 6th July.

Winter Birds – Steve Hallam Reports

Of all the guided walks that I lead, the winter bird walk is the most unpredictable. The weather can be variable and off-putting, whilst at this time of year the birds move around looking for food. So, you can be never sure which species you will encounter and whether you will be able see or hear them through the driving rain or howling gale.

April 2, 2024April 2, 2024

Volunteer of the Year Award 2024

Do you know an outstanding volunteer?

The West Bergholt Volunteer of the Year 2023/24 is a new Community Award. It will be presented to an individual volunteer who has made an outstanding contribution to the village of West Bergholt, its residents, or just one resident. That person will have demonstrated exceptional commitment to an unpaid activity.

What could it include?

Examples may include;