Open Gardens 2015

In previous years West Bergholt Gardeners have opened their gardens to the public in aid of charity, most recently in 2014 where well over £3,000 was raised for teenage cancer charities. This year the organizers are taking a break, hopefully to be back reinvigorated next year, but for those still hoping to visit local gardens and get some ideas, we have recently received details of another similar event:

Coggeshall Hidden Gardens 2015

Sunday, 7 June 2:00 PM To 6:00 PM

This year Coggeshall is opening its garden gates so that you can visit walled gardens, kitchen gardens, tiny gardens, gardens that will delight and inspire you. There’s lots to do and see for young and old alike. Follow the children’s trail, visit the plant stall, enjoy a delicious home-made tea – a perfect afternoon out for the whole family! For more information visit the website at www.coggeshallopengardens.org.uk.

If You Can’t Make Coggeshall

There are some 23 Villages/Parishes running Open Gardens in Essex this year, a small sample includes some relatively local:

Walton-on-the Naze – 27th & 28th June – Various gardens open in Walton-on-the-Naze for the benefit of Walton in Bloom. Come and spend a wonderful day by the sea. Refreshments, tombola, raffle, plant sales and crafts for sale. – http://www.waltoninbloom.org/.
Chappel & Wakes Colne – 7th June – About 12 beautiful gardens open in and around the Essex Colne Valley. Lovely garden location for refreshments.
Earls Colne – 21st June – A number of gardens will be open to visit, all within easy walking distance with garden trail for the young ones. St. Andrews church and tower will be open for views across the beautiful Colne valley. Refreshments on sale. http://www.colnevalley.com.
Tollesbury – 27th & 28th June – Over twenty gardens will be open, from small courtyard gardens to larger gardens, from community gardens to gardens as yet unseen by the public.
Pebmarsh – 7th June – This Trail includes a variety of gardens. Snipelands is a stunning two-acre garden in a peaceful setting, on the outskirts of Pebmarsh, at 10 Mill Lane are mature shrubs, herbaceous borders, and a fern garden under trees whilst Matson Lodge is a 1½ acre garden developed for wildlife. http://www.redcross.org.uk/opengardens.

There are more listed at the Open Gardens website.

May 6, 2015May 7, 2015

Treasure Hunt

West Bergholt Cricket Club are organizing a Treasure Hunt in support of the Tom Bowdidge Foundation on Sunday 28th June. Starting from their pavilion (Manor Road, West Bergholt, Colchester. C06 3JQ) at 2pm, the event promises an afternoon of fun and adventure for everyone.

The event costs £10 per car and registration is now open, closing at 5pm on 18th June. Registration is by email – [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]. All enquiries to 07702 344679 or by email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”]. 50% of proceeds will be donated to the Tom Bowdidge Foundation, a charity registered in England & Wales, 1156553, which has been established in Tom’s memory to support teenagers and young people with cancer.

May 6, 2015

What’s On In Colchester

This newsletter was issued by CBC recently, we will be trying to find a way to include this information into our news feed on a regular basis.

Welcome to What’s On, our new monthly newsletter where you can find out what’s going on in and around Colchester. For ‘at a glance’ information look at the ‘What’s On Guide’ below. For further details, click on the event which interests you.

Bandstand Concerts in Castle Park

The concerts take place on Sunday afternoons (and the occasional Saturday) through the summer from May to September. Highlights areThe Band of the Parachute Regiment, The Colchester Band and Sweeting Swing Band.
Find out more here

Half term activities at Colchester Museums & Leisure World

Colchester Museums: live animal encounters, Roman food, puppets, kites and more!
Fine out more here

Leisure World Colchester: badminton, short tennis, swimming, arts, crafts, dance and more!
Find out more here

Celebrate the Moot Hall Organ restoration

Celebrate the restoration of the Moot Hall Organ with a mix of great events at firstsite and Colchester Town Hall. Meet the Organist, make your own organ pipe, join the Big Pipe Busk, Organs in the Archives and Organs in the Movies. Don’t miss the inaugural recital on 24 May! Find out more here

There are lots of great events taking place in Colchester – why not take a look at the Visit Colchester website

April 22, 2015May 7, 2015

Orpen Players’ “Death By Fatal Murder”

Orpen Players are back with another production on 14th – 16th May. Written by Peter Gordon, this play is the third in the ‘Inspector Pratt’ trilogy of spoofs of the Agatha Christie ‘whodunnit’ genre.

Inspector Pratt’s record of crime detection at Bagshot House is not enviable. In his two previous visits the body count mounted disastrously as he looked on, helpless and hopeless. Now he’s back and, as usual, chaos reigns supreme!

During the course of his latest investigations, Pratt meets the new owner of the house, Nancy Allwright. Soon he is embroiled in more mystery, aided and abetted by Miss Maple and Constable Thomkins. Upper-crust Ginny and Italian gigolo, Enzo, help with enquiries but danger soon looms with an unexpected arrival and a frightening suggestion by Welsh busybody and clairvoyant, Blodwyn Morgan.

Dates & Ticket availability

Thursday 14th , Friday 15th, Saturday 16th May 8pm (Doors open at 7.30)

Tickets: Thursday £6 Friday & Saturday £7 Children £5 available NOW from:

Roger Milne 241048.
Online at www.orpenplayers.co.uk.
Ash’s Store from Saturday 2nd May.
On the door subjected to availability.
Supper & Show – Dine at the Treble Tile before the performance from selected menu + show ticket for £20 per head – must be booked in advance with the Treble Tile 01206 241712.

April 22, 2015

Flowers Contained by Helen Bird

helen-bird-arrangement — ‘It started with a twig’ by Helen Bird & Linda O’Neill

Flowers Contained by Helen Bird

The Colne Valley Flower Club met in the Orpen Memorial Hall on Wednesday 15th April. Demonstrator, Helen Bird, from Marks Tey was welcomed by the chairman, Jayne Lawson.

Together with a colleague, Helen was a Silver Gilt medal winner at the RHS Spring Show in 2014 with the ‘It started with a twig’ arrangement shown on the right here. Helen delighted her audience using a variety of containers with large and small arrangements of vibrant flowers and unusual foliage.

On 20th May there is the annual plant sale and members are encouraged to bring along goods to sell. Jenni Baker from Harleston will base her arrangements around the title ‘Half an Acre and the Rest’. The meeting begins at 7.30pm.

April 22, 2015May 7, 2015

Hillhouse Bluebells 2015

Friends of Hillhouse Wood (in conjunction with the Woodland Trust) once again invite you to attend their annual Bluebell Open Day, timed to catch the Bluebells at their best, on Saturday 25th April 2015. Having achieved major media credits in the past few years with The Times (April 2013) saying it was:

A superb springtime wood with a flood of bluebells enhanced by the light created by coppicing of hazels. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear blackbirds and nightingales.

… in an article featuring 30 of the best wild days out in Spring, The Telegraph this year saying:

One of the Top Ten spots to see bluebells in the UK

and then, the BBC featuring the bluebell woods in the BBC2’s show “Great British Garden Revival”, it is really worth a visit.

As ever, Steve Hallam will lead the guided walk, starting at 2pm (weather permitting) from the Old Church to see the bluebells and other spring flowers, butterflies and spring bird life, perhaps including early nightingales.

Maps, nature trail guides and flora and fauna guides can be collected from the Friends’ Information Point at St Mary’s Old Church. Refreshments will be available from the Friends of St Mary’s Old Church.

April 8, 2015

Neighbourhood Plan Exhibition & Consultation

How will West Bergholt change over the next 20 years?

Visit the Neighbourhood Plan exhibition at the Orpen Hall, on Saturdays 11th and 18th April 11am to 4pm, to find out how the Neighbourhood Plan Group would respond to this question; refreshments will be available. But the Neighbourhood Plan Group really need your views as well and are looking for a response from as many people as possible. It takes about 20 minutes to view the exhibition, if you want to discuss any of the proposals, members of the steering group will be available.

Do you like their suggestions? If not, tell them why? THIS IS YOUR CHANCE, TO HAVE YOUR SAY.

Find out more on our website at:

April 8, 2015April 8, 2015

Celebration of Words & Music

The Bevington Organ in St Mary’s Old Church

Celebration of Words & Music

The Friends of St Mary’s Old Church are presenting a Celebration of Words & Music in the historic building of St Mary’s Old Church. The Victorian hand pumped organ made by Bevington and Sons will be played by Tom Cogan (former Director of Music at Holmwood House School), and there will be readings by local actors. Tickets £7.50, under 16’s free. Refreshments will be available after the concert. All proceeds from this concert, which is on Saturday 9th May (6pm start), will go towards the upkeep of the Old Church and churchyard. We look forward to welcoming you to this community event.

For more information and to buy tickets please call Jane Lloyd 01206 240167, Teresa Morris 01206 241878, Gill and Mike Poole 01206 240512.

March 6, 2015March 6, 2015

Easter Coffee & Craft

West Bergholt Methodist Church are holding another of their popular Easter Coffee and Craft mornings for young families. This is taking place on Monday 30th March from 10.30 to 12.00 and promises fun activities for young families. The session will take place in the Methodist Church Hall, Chapel Lane and ALL ARE WELCOME but, sorry, we are unable to accept unaccompanied children. The cost is £2.50 per family.

Further details from Andrew Wilks on 01206 242511.

February 16, 2015August 17, 2023

Who will care? Swap Shop

This ‘Who will care?’ summit is for community and voluntary organisations, health organisations and the public sector to debate the power of social action, exchange information and generate great ideas for health and wellbeing. It takes place on 23rd March, 9:30am – 2:00pm, at the firstsite Gallery, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester CO1 1JH.

Who will Care? is an independent commission led by Sir Tom Hughes-Hallett that sets out a number of high impact solutions to prevent future crisis in health and social care in Essex. It called for a new approach to supporting communities and people where the Community and Voluntary Sector plays a greater role and works collaboratively with the public sector.

This Swap Shop is intended to bring different sectors together to spark new ideas that can bring better quality solutions for citizens.

Hear about successful projects using social action and volunteering,
Consider a new culture of collaboration,
Question what needs to change for better outcomes,
Think about how community based initiatives can best be supported,
Discuss the key issues for Essex communities.

There is more information at www.essexpartnershipportal.org, book a place through [email protected].

Agenda

09.30 Registration, Coffee and Networking

10.00 Welcome and Who Will Care Update and Future Direction

10.10 Who Will Care Schemes Update

Two test and learn programmes will share their progress

‘Maldon Sheds’ – Sarah Laskar, CEO Maldon CVS
‘My Social Prescription’ Louise Willsher, Engagement Officer, Colchester CVS

10.25 Keynote Speaker: The Future of the Voluntary Sector

Kevin Curley CBE, Voluntary Sector Adviser

The growing hardship in our society which the local voluntary sector must respond to
The tension between delivering services and campaigning on behalf of those in need
Our responsibility to exploit new opportunities for raising the funds we need to be sustainable
The unchanging values which underlie all our work

10.50 Swap Shop – Session 1

Round table discussions hosted by leaders that bring new and different solutions to health and
social care by using social action and volunteering. Hear about how they do it, the challenges
encountered and the benefits it can bring the people involved.

11.35 Key issues for Essex – A discussion

11:45 Swap Shop – Session 2

12:30 Networking Lunch

13:00 North East Clinical Commissioning Group: Supporting Voluntary Action, Shane Gordon, Chief Officer, North East CCG

13:10 Keynote Speaker: People Powered Public Services

Daniel Farag, Senior Programme Manager, Nesta Daniel will explore how Social Action and people helping people can make a difference. He will consider the role citizens can play in powering public services, and how Social Action can change the nature of public services to achieve better outcomes. Referencing models of innovative practice from across the UK he will provide insight in to the benefits of working closer with our communities across a number of care settings.

13:30 An Interactive Summary – Ask the audience with Paul Hill, ACFO, Essex Fire & Rescue Service

13:50 Closing Remarks – Cllr Anne Brown