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Winter Bird Walk 2022 – will you see a Waxwing?

Waxwing
Waxwings migrate from the boreal forests of continental Europe to spend their winters with us in search of rowan and other berries.

Winter Bird Walk 2022

The first guided walk at Hillhouse Wood since 2020 takes place on Saturday 26th February when Steve Hallam leads the Winter Bird Walk 2022.  Walkers should meet at the Old Church at 10 am (weather permitting), wearing stout footwear and warm clothing & with a warm drink in a flask.  They can expect to see a range of resident woodland and meadow species as well as some winter visitors, the Woodland Trust lists the following as the top-15 winter potentials:

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Garden Design & Herbaceous Perennials

Herbaceous Perennials & Other Topics

West Bergholt Gardeners didn’t meet in January so the first meeting of 2022 on 21st February has speaker Neil Ludmon talking about the “History of the use of Herbaceous Perennials. On 21st March they will be learning of “Current Trends in Garden Design” from Steven Digby.

Their trips out have always been popular so this year they have provisionally booked a self drive visit to Utling Wick in September and coach trips to East Rushton in July and RHS Hyde Hall “Glow” in November. Guests are welcome to join them on these visits.

Further meetings to take place at 7.30 pm in the Orpen Hall will be:

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Could you be a TEC Mate?

TEC Mates Initiative Looks to Help Those Without IT Skills

TEC Mates - Are you passionate about helping others? If so they are looking for volunteers.

The TEC Mates programme supports the use and uptake of Digital Technology and Technology Enabled Care (TEC) products and services. It aims to inform vulnerable people, their friends, family and carers on TEC and its capabilities; also to consider its adoption for accessing social and health care services.

It will focus on the specific skills required to help residents and their family and friends become more digitally aware. Importantly, it will help them gain a greater understanding about new Technology Enabled Care solutions. These are being rolled out by the West Essex Community Action Network (WECAN) and supported by Essex County Council.

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Climate Emergency Declared

West Bergholt Parish Council declares A CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Climate Emergency Images

On Wednesday 26th January 2022 West Bergholt Parish Council agreed the following motion:

“THAT THIS COUNCIL BELIEVES THAT A CLIMATE EMERGENCY SHOULD BE DECLARED AND THAT THE PARISH COUNCIL WILL TAKE ACTION EITHER THROUGH ITS OWN WORK OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHERS IN THE PARISH TO CUT CARBON EMISSIONS, MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING AND IMPROVE NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS ALL IN THE WIDER INTERESTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS”

Climate emergencies are being declared internationally by governments and locally by public organisations. This is to draw attention to the effects of human activity, resulting in an ever-warming planet and its potentially catastrophic effects on natural environments, wildlife and human habitats. These can be manifested by a rise in temperatures, rising sea levels and deteriorating conditions for all life

Around 75% of UK councils have declared a Climate Emergency. Colchester Borough Council voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency back in July 2019. Internationally COP 26 has reaffirmed the need to:

  • keep global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees, and
  • reduce the amount of carbon released into our atmosphere to achieve this.

What does this mean for the residents of West Bergholt?

Environment
  • Are you concerned about the deterioration of our natural environments and diminishing wildlife levels and habitats?
  • Do you want to do more than simply re-cycle your plastic, paper and glass?
  • Do you have ideas about how we could individually or collectively reduce our carbon footprints or improve local wildlife environments?

If so, we are asking for volunteers, across all age groups to join, or maybe lead, a new Working Party forward. They will help produce a strategy and a plan and initiate workshops.

Communicate, generate ideas imagery
  • We need people with communications skills; they will help spread the word by writing articles for the web and other social media.
  • Your organisational skills will ensure we have regular meetings and workshops; also talks from external speakers etc..
  • Your ideas will help to produce a strategy for local action; also a plan for those initiatives we can achieve in our village. Funding for initiatives is available from the Government and ECC and many other organisations to help with green projects.

Email Laura, our Parish Clerk, at [email protected] to join us. Once she has your contact details, she will send you further information on the first meeting.

Please join us to help improve the future; to safeguard as far as is possible an environment that future generations can enjoy.

Some interesting web sites for further information:  

Press contact: Cllr Bob Tyrell, Chairman: Climate Emergency Working Party, West Bergholt Parish Council

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Free Meals & Transport

Age Concern Launch Free Lunch Initiative

Free Lunch of Fish & Chips and Companions

If you aren’t interested in Free Lunch, then skip on down to the COVID19 Transport article.

Age Concern are currently running a free Lunch Club to engage those in later years who may be lonely. Also to help encourage a resumption of socialising as we leave COVID19 restrictions. Six free lunches are available per person at either of the venues below:

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St Mary’s Valentine Wedding Edition

Wedding image

This edition starts with a wedding themed songs of praise service in celebration of Valentines Day. Other news includes Home Group, World Day of Prayer and 5Ts Fellowship Group. It also, of course, has the usual listings of services and contacts.

Special Wedding Themed Songs of Praise Service

February is the month when traditionally we celebrate Valentine’s Day on 14th February. So what better month in which to hold a special Songs of Praise service with a wedding theme! The service will take place on Sunday 27 February @ 6.30pm.

Cake & Prosecco

We will be inviting couples who have been married in our joint parishes over the last few years , and also couples planning to be married this year. But everyone from the village is very welcome to attend and enjoy cake and prosecco at the end of the service!

As part of the service, it would be lovely to display a selection of photos from people’s weddings, so if you have a wedding photo you would like to share, please contact Jo, our church administrator , or Rev Heather (contact details on page 2).

Do you have a special anniversary this year?

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Highway Code changes on 29th January!

Road priorities in the Highway Code change on 29th January

The Highway Code has eight new rules and major updates to 49 existing ones with effect from 29th January 2022.  The biggest single change, and one well worth getting on top of now, is who has priority.  Others to revise include Overtaking, Roundabouts & Dutch Reach.

Priorities

New junction rule in the Highway Code

The new rules include a ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’ which gives priority to the most vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists & equestrians.  The most significant new rules are:

Rule H1

Those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others.

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Do you want to be heard & other news

Do you want to be heard?

If you think that your views are not being heard then read on. Other news also about:

Attributes of a good Parish Councillor
What makes a good councillor?

So, do you have strong views on what’s wrong with the village or feel that you are not being heard?  Do you think the Parish Council could…

  • take more account of views like yours?  
  • do more about climate change?
  • address the needs of your ‘demographic’ (race, age, gender etc…)?
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JUMBO Update and the Impact of the Daniell Family

Daniell Family – Next Topic

Daniell & Sons Brewery beer label

The next Local History Group meeting will learn about the impact of the Daniell Family on West Bergholt’s development. Peter Noakes will lead this meeting which will take place on February 9th starting at 7:30 pm. As ever, all are welcome for a modest charge of £2 for members and £5 for visitors. The JUMBO meeting report is below.

January Cancellation

On January 12th, the Group were planning to invite members and visitors to investigate their village archive. Because of the current COVID-19 situation they have decided to CANCEL this meeting. Instead, they hope to be able to spend some time after their AGM in March discussing the archive.  In lieu of this meeting, they plan to add an extra outside visit in their Summer Schedule.

November JUMBO Update

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