Community, Parish Council & Village
Sunday 21st sees a special Family Service at St Mary’s Church welcoming children from Heathlands School. The service starts at 9:30am if you would like to join them.
… seemingly alive and well on the River Colne!
West Bergholt Gardeners’ Association members shared the passion of Darren Tansley, Essex Wildlife Trust, in ‘The Search for Ratty’ when they learnt about his project on water vole restoration to the stretch of the River Colne between West Bergholt and Chappel. Darren’s presentation was followed by the Annual General Meeting when eight committee members were elected. This was the first meeting of the 2010-2011 programme of speakers and activities.
A day outing to East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden, Norfolk has been planned for 15 June 2011, stopping off on route at Taverham Garden Centre. Members and non-members were urged to book early so as not to be disappointed. Further information obtainable from the Treasurer at [email protected]
Mike Logan-Wood, Leader of the RSPB Chelmsford and Central Essex Group, will be addressing members at the next meeting on 18 October at 7.30 in the Orpen Hall. He will present on ‘Secret Lives of Garden Birds’. Visitors are also very welcome to attend.
Joining our organisation is easy and inexpensive. Membership subscription is value for money at only £8 per year. The Chair, Valerie Lofthouse, can be reached on 01206 855450 or [email protected] for details on the Gardeners’ Association.
No relation to Chelmsford 1 2 3, the September edition of the Village Bulletin is now available online to read at http://www.westbergholt.net/village_bulletin.htm. Check it out to find out more about events, activities, people and everything else that makes our village tick.
The RNLI has benefited to the tune of £1,149.37 following the recent house-to-house collection undertaken in the village. This is the largest sum ever collected from the village and thanks are given to all those who donated so generously.
Deborah Taylor, a level 2 qualified British Sign Language instructor, has started classes in the Scout Hut in Lexden Road on Friday mornings. TinyTalk helps parents communicate with their babies months earlier than is achievable with spoken language. To find out more visit the West Bergholt website’s education page.
Spanish Lessons for adults are now available in West Bergholt. Classes are informal and friendly and aim to get you communicating in spanish.
You will learn the basics required to speak and understand in every day situations, such as key words and phrases, greeting people, shopping, ordering drinks and snacks, numbers, prices and simple directions.
Come and join us to get a flavour of the language from Monday 2nd August to Monday 6th September at St Mary’s the Virgin (Church hall), West Bergholt, at 7:30. Only £3.99p per person.
Call now to book your place on 01206 247196, 07726280882 or e-mail: [email protected]
Book before 26th July and get your first lesson for just £1.99
HASTA LA VISTA!
Lawn care and garden maintenance company, nicenstripy stepped in to make sure the local scouting group could live up to their ‘Be prepared’ motto, when the West Bergholt Monday night Badger Pack were on the search for a suitable vehicle to provide transport for a trip to the Thorrington Scout Camp.
Andrew Ross, owner of nicenstripy says “we were delighted to be able to help out the local scout group to make sure they could get all their kit safely to their camp. We have always been keen to support the local community and indeed some of the boys involved in the camp are related to nicenstripy’s clients. As an outdoor based business we think it is important for the younger generation to appreciate the benefits of an active outdoor lifestyle. Perhaps we should talk to the Scouts about creating a Lawn Care and Garden Maintenance Badge next year!!”
The Parish Council was invited to recognise the volunteers and their organisations that make such a difference to our village. The Colchester Community Volunteer Service held a thank you lunch for those volunteers nominated by the various communities in the Borough. Those attending were greeted by the Deputy Mayor in the Moot Hall and treated to lunch and presented with certificates as a thank you for their community spirit and involvement.
The Parish Council were faced with the difficult task of selecting the volunteers and organisations that make West Bergholt such a special place to live in. We had a maximum of 4 nominee invitations and with more than 20 volunteer organisations in the village this was not an easy task. I am always amazed and proud of the number of people who happily give up their free time to help and assist others. I view our volunteers as the heartbeat of the village whether they have just began to operate a new organisation or are part of one that has operated for many years. Our nominates were David Bowden, Murray Harlow, Bob Gooden and Susan Walby representing the BYG, Youth Football, Luncheon Club, the Church, Allotment Holders and First Responders to name just a few (they are pictured above).
Thank you to all our volunteers.
John Gili-Ross
Consultation Opportunity
The Parish Council are to consider two sites submitted for consideration by the Agents in preparation of the Colchester Borough Council Local Development Framework Site allocations.
The Sites being considered are:
The Parish Council’s comments to these proposals will be agreed at the Parish Council Meeting on:
A “Have Your Say” session is held prior to the meeting for the public to comment on the above or any other matter. This session will not normally exceed 15 minutes.
West Bergholt businessman Andrew Ross was a guest on the Dave Monk show on BBC Essex on 13th May, 9am – noon.