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Vocal Zone Singers

Changes at Vocal Zone

Vocal Zone Singers

At the start of this year Vocal Zones Choir decided to start a review of the choir and have implemented some changes; both the committee and the membership have been engaged in this process. They are pleased to announce a new name as one of the changes; they will now be known as Vocal Zone Singers.  Members & the Committee feel that this name better represents the ethos of the group. They are not a formal choir; but simply a group of people who enjoy singing and like to meet together in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The singers are all excited by the new direction the committee and membership wants to take their singing group.

Vocal Zones Singers in ealry 2025

They hope that this new photo better reflects the upbeat, friendly and sunny disposition of the group.

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Elizabethan Witch, Romans & Concerts

Elizabethan Witches, Roman Colchester & Concerts

Elizabethan Woman in front of a crowd (AI generated)

The following free events are being hosted by the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church in 2025.

  • Sunday 11 May – Talk by local historian John Worland on ‘The First Elizabethan Witch Trial’. 2.30pm – free refreshments
  • Sunday 8 June – Talk by Adam Wightman, Director of Colchester Archaeological Trust on ‘The Former Essex County Hospital Site’’. 2.30pm – free refreshments
  • Sunday 6 July – Resonate Choir Concert – 4pm-5pm – free refreshments
  • Sunday 20 July – Summer Songs of Praise Service – 2.30pm – free refreshments
  • Sunday 30 November – Mulled Wine & Mince Pies with the Octavia Singers – 11am-1pm.
    This event is also an opportunity to register or reregister as a Friend of St. Mary’s Old Church
  • Sunday 21 December – Candlelit Carol Service

As usual everyone is welcome, there’s free parking and free refreshments including a glass of prosecco.  Entry to all events is free but the Friends welcome any donations made on the day (cash or card). This will support the ongoing upkeep of the beautiful 1000-year-old church. We look forward to welcoming you there. For more information, or if you wish to tell us you’re coming, please email [email protected].

At both of the following events there will also be an opportunity for a Q&A session.

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Winter Bird, Spring Flowers & Dawn Chorus

Upcoming Guided Walks & Winter Bird Report

Nightingale not one for the Winter Bird walk but possibly for the Dawn Chorus
Nightingale

Following the Winter Bird walk, Steve Hallam will be leading two guided walks in the coming weeks:

  • Spring Flower Walk – starting from St Mary’s Old Church at 2 pm on 26th April, &
  • Dawn Chorus, also from St Mary’s Old Church at the somewhat earlier time of 3:45 am on 10th May. This walk affords the opportunity to see Nightingales and many other brilliant dawn choristers.  For this walk you should bring warm clothing, stout footwear, a flask of hot drink and a torch. 

The links above are to reports from previous walks. We recommend you wear strong boots or wellies since you may well need to walk through long wet grass!

The Friends of Hillhouse Wood is a group of local residents who work with The Woodland Trust to look after this beautiful remnant of ancient woodland. You will also be able to see them at the Village Fete on Saturday 14th June.

Winter Bird Walk 2025

One aspect of observing nature that makes it so compelling is that you never know what you will see and hear. Will it surpass expectations, or disappoint? As mentioned in previous years, this winter bird walk is the one that has the potential to provide ‘thin gruel’. Over the years there seems to be reduced numbers of over wintering birds in this area, especially earlier on in the season. This is why the date of the walk has moved back by a few weeks.

Unduly Pessimistic

This year, I had done some preparatory surveys in the days before the walk, and had seen relatively little.  Nevertheless, 14 people came along, which was very pleasing.  I thought that I should ‘manage expectations’ but, as it turned out, I was being unduly pessimistic.

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Volunteer of the Year Award 2025

The West Bergholt Volunteer of the Year 2024/25 Award!

Volunteer image for decoration

Do you know a volunteer who deserves to be celebrated for their outstanding contribution to West Bergholt?

Whether they’ve

  • spearheaded a local community project,
  • organised impactful events,
  • raised charitable funds, or
  • been a supportive mentor through their volunteer work,

… we want to hear about them.

Nominees must reside in West Bergholt or have carried out their volunteer work within the community.  Age is no barrier – we welcome nominations for volunteers of all ages! Form & details are below.

Last Years’ Winner

Announcing the result at the Annual Parish Meeting, Cllr Butcher noted that having had a number of nominations to be the recipients for this year’s award one person stood out:

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Candlelight Carol Service at the Old Church

Join the Friends of St Mary’s at their Candlelight Carol Service

Once again the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are holding a Candlelight Carol Service in the Old Church. The Friends look forward to welcoming you back on Sunday 15th December at 2:30 pm.

The service is free and open to all and there’s now dedicated car parking opposite the church.  One of St Mary’s ministers will lead the service.

The Friends are also looking for someone to pump the church organ during the service, so if anyone is interested please contact Nicole Long on 01206 240443.

Dress for the weather!

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Fungi Hunt 2024

A dry, still, November Saturday morning saw 15 enthusiastic people come together at St Mary’s Old Church.  They had come from as far away as Chelmsford to enjoy our now annual guided ‘fungi hunt’ walk.  This year they were led by one who set their level of expectations by confirming that as there are over 15,000 species of fungi in the UK, he had no intention of being dogmatic in any identifications.  He was working on the principal that anything found, if eaten, would cause severe illness or even death! (You’re not getting the writer into a Coroner’s Court.)

First Finds

So, on that basis we started in the Church graveyard where we found numerous Waxcaps (probably Golden Waxcaps).

Waxcup Fungus
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Autumn Flowers and Fungi

Join the Friends of Hillhouse Wood to Hunt for Fungi

Wrinkled Peach fungi
Wrinkled Peach Fungi seen last year

The Friends will be going on a “fungus hunt” to seek out elusive fungi next Saturday 16th. They will aim to find a variety of mushrooms and toadstools in and around the wood, and explain something of their fascinating life cycles and why fungi are essential for a healthy woodland. They will also keep an eye out for visiting winter birds.

Nearly 20 hunters scoured the woods, hedgerows and fields last year and were rewarded with some stunning finds. You can see the report, including a video slideshow of their finds, here.

The walk will start at the Old Church, leaving at 10am on Saturday 16th November.  The walk will take in Hillhouse Wood and surrounding hedgerows. You should wear strong boots or wellies, as you may encounter wet conditions underfoot !

Read on for a report from the last guided walk on 28th September.

Autumn Fruits Walk 2024 did better with flowers! – Steve Hallam Reports

Some Autumn Fruits sightings from 2023

Nearly 50 Species!

Eight of us scoured Hillhouse Wood and surrounding fields for evidence of nature’s bounty. We were rewarded by finding nearly fifty species of plants showing fruits or flowers. However, I believe that this walk is arguably mis-named, in that we usually see more flowers than fruits. This proved to be the case again this year.

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Autumn Fruits Walk 2024

When Walking Do You See All The Autumn Fruits?

Some Autumn Fruits sightings from 2023 - maybe to be seen again on the autumn fruits walk 2024.
Some sightings from 2023

If not, let Steve Hallam help you! Steve will lead the guided autumn fruits walk 2024 to seek out berries, soft fruit, nuts and seeds, that are now out in abundance. He will explain their folklore and advise you which ones should not be eaten (and what will happen to you if you do!) You should expect to see around 20 types of berries, fruits and nuts.

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Wellbeing Benefits of Gardening

Gardening Update with Autumn Programme 🌸🌼🌻

Some images from a visit the club made to Hever Castle where the gardening is spectacular.
Visit to Hever Castle

The Wellbeing Benefits of Gardening are just one of many topics West Bergholt Gardeners hope to cover. Last month Colchester Hospital opened their Wellbeing Garden designed by a top RHS designer. Are you passionate about gardening? If so, why not join them and dive into a world of horticultural wonders! They host a variety of engaging speakers who cover a wide range of fascinating topics.

Become a member for just £25 a year, or simply drop in for the talks that pique your interest at £5 per evening. Payments can be made by card or cash.

Meeting Schedule

We gather on the third Monday of each month from September to December and February to May. Doors open at 7:15 PM for a 7:30 PM start.

Upcoming Events

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