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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St Mary’s News – The Posada & Shoebox Edition

St Mary’s News – Posada & Christmas Shoebox

Remembrance poppy

We start the Advent experience of Posada (a Mexican tradition). Following this we look at:

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

The Advent Experience of Posada

Mary & Jospeh Posada

Posada originates from Mexico where people dress as Mary and Joseph and re-enact the journey to Bethlehem, travelling from house to house asking for a place to stay (the word Posada means an inn). In recent years, this idea has been modified by churches in this country by sending the figures of Mary and Joseph and the donkey from house to house during Advent.

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Environment & Highways – 10th October 2024

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 10th October 2024 with topics including:

Caring for the environment
  • The need for more ‘robust’ equipment for the handymen,
  • Planning for Hedge Cutting during October half term,
  • Potential VE Day celebrations in 2025,
  • Preparation for potential 2025/26 budget needs.

Environment & Highways Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 10th Oct 2024 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

Members present:Cllrs Harry Stone (HS), David Short (DS) and Andrew Savage (AS)
Also present:1 member of the public

1.     Welcome & Apologies

Apologies – Cllr Katie Pulford, Manya Barrow and John Gili-Ross

2.     Declarations of Interests

None.

3.     Minutes & actions from previous meeting

The minutes of the 12th Sept 2024 were agreed by all and there were no actions carried forward.

4.     Public participation

The one member of the public present was there, as an interested observer of proceedings.

5.     Handymen’s report:

A full report was not available due to unforeseen circumstances, but it was reported that the Handyman had carried out their full range of routine duties.

6.     2025-26 Budget and/or Env. Committee projects

Cllr. Gili-Ross had provided a list of potential additional provision for future maintenance to equipment and in particular to the requirement for more robust equipment/tools/ machinery etc., this in light of the fact that it may be the case that CCC will further curtail their grass cutting programme in 2025.

7.     Ponds

It is understood that Cllr. Pulford is researching an appropriate window of time to undertake spraying of the ponds which will be carried out by the suitably qualified handymen as discussed at the September meeting. Next year’s budget for the pond maintenance was discussed but see Para. 11 below.

8.     Annual hedge cutting.

The contractor has confirmed that routine hedge cutting will take place during the October half-term, precise dates yet to be advised. Clerk has contacted CCC to arrange for a sweeper to attend following completion of the work. The handymen are to be present to drop the various barriers in order to allow access for the tractor flail. The residents of Henderson Close are to be advised of the relevant date as previously discussed.

9.     Flagpole

Completion of this project is in hand.

10.  VE Day celebrations

The Parish Council was invited by Bruno Peek the nation’s Pageantmaster to participate in the forthcoming celebration of VE Day on 8th May 2025. The celebrations will mainly consist of beacon lighting, church bell ringing, choral singing and band playing. Whether or not West Bergholt will participate is yet to be decided and placed before the full PC, but in the meantime Cllr. Stone and Short will sound out various organisations and individuals to ascertain the level of interest in participating and will report back to the Env.Com. in due course.

11.  Upcoming items

Consideration should be given to requirements for the upcoming Parish council budget to include such items as the purchase of new tools for the handymen (see Paras. 7 and 8 above). It was decided that the Env. Com. would undertake detailed discussions in order to present to Cllr. Savage and the PC, the committee’s recommendations (which are anticipated to be substantial), for the forthcoming budget.

12.  Date of next meeting

The next Environment Committee meeting will be on Thurs 14th November 2024, at 4.30pm in the SC Meeting Room.

Environment & Highways – 12th September 2024

Queens Road Pond was discussed on 12th September 2024

The Environment & Highways Committee of West Bergholt Parish Council met on 12th September 2024 with topics including:

  • Handymen’s update covering work such as:
    • Clearing the area behind the Football Club,
    • Removal of damaged trees & stump grinding,
    • Some light hedge trimming and grass cutting.
  • Report on the condition of ponds and the wildlife in them. 
  • Plans for contractors to do annual hedge cutting during the October half term, and
  • The upcoming replacement of “Unsuitable for HGVs” signs at both ends or Argents Lane.

Environment & Highways Committee Minutes

Meeting held on Thurs 12th September 2024 at 4.30pm in SC Mtg Rm

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St Mary’s News – The Season of Creation Edition

St Mary’s News –Creation, Ride & Stride & More

Season of Creation Logo

Lay Minister Liz Dixon starts off this Season of Creation edition of St Mary’s News by introducing the Season of Creation. This is followed by:

… the usual listings of services and contacts.

Season of Creation @ St Mary’s

St Mary’s is taking part in this year’s Season of Creation during the month of September, and details of our events can be found below.

The Season of Creation is a global and ecumenical Christian movement, established in 1989, to celebrate and care for God’s gift of Creation. Each year, from 1st September through to St Francis Day on  4th October, Christian Communities from all over the world come together to pray and act for our common home.

The First Fruits of Hope

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Environment & Highways – 11th July 2024

AI generated image to represent issues with HGVs using Argents Lane as discussed on 11th July 2024

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

  • Handyman updates:
    • Making safe hedges,
    • New storage hut,
    • Equipment, and
    • Selection of new handyman,
  • Condition of ponds and the need for a timetable for spraying;
  • Road signage, in particular in Argents Lane;
  • Actions to address Idling buses in Chapel Lane;
  • Footpath to St Mary’s Old Church; and
  • Flooding in Colchester Road.

Read the minutes in full below:

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St Mary’s News – The Cèilidh Edition

St Mary’s News – Thy Kingdom Come, Cèilidh & More

This Cèilidh edition of St Mary’s News starts with Revd. Heather looking at how ten years of Archbishop Welby’s call to prayer through his ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ message has fared.  It then continues with:

The usual listings of services and contacts.

Message from Rev Heather Wilcox

Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Kingdom Come - logo of Church of England annual event

As I write this, in the churches we are in the 10 days between Ascension, when we remember Jesus returning back to heaven after the resurrection and Pentecost, when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit.

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Walk the Dawn Chorus 2024

Dawn Chorus 2024 with Friends of Hillhouse Wood

Nightingale
Nightingale

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.

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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.

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