Friday 26 April 2019

Hedge in Church Lane

Ingrid Thorstad, who lives in Church Lane, has written the following about the work carried out recently to the hedge in Church Lane -

Hedges, hedges, what’s the fuss
To my mind the hedge in Church Lane had been a magnificent example despite the trees not being integrated. It used to look lovely with its grassy margin that was regularly cut alongside the rather wild hedge (see the photos on Google maps taken 2008). It looked good and yet would have provided shelter for a wide range of wildlife and most importantly it didn’t even occupy space that might otherwise be useful being, as it was, on a bank.
Hedgerows increase the opportunities for many forms of wildlife. More flowers and forage mean more bugs, which then mean more birds and other animals and better pollination of plants.

What happened to the hedge in Church Lane?
Unfortunately, it had been abandoned for many years as the AVDC stopped cutting the verges regularly and the PC hadn’t taken over. It was in a dreadful mess, so I was happy when I read in the September minutes of the PC that: The whole of Church Lane needs tidying up. The priority is clearing scrub and pruning hedges this autumn before the nesting season. But please note there was no suggestion that the whole hedge would be removed. Nor did anyone else I have spoken to seem to realise that the intention was to destroy it. However, the PC talked themselves into believing it was all low quality ‘scrub’ and went ahead. They had no intention of letting it grow back either and hoped the Heybrooks wouldn’t be planting a hedge because they preferred the open view to the church.

I was assured that I had been the only person to complain but I talked to a few people who lived nearby, and some dog walkers and I don’t think that is a fair assessment of what people actually thought. Rather it was too late to do anything, and most people want a quiet life. Some thought it would be growing back again, some realised it hadn’t been such a good idea once they thought about the birds. One person even mentioned the disadvantage of the lane now being open to the prevailing winds. One person remembered it as a place where children used to play and told how a group of conservationists had cut it back in the past

Aren’t there enough hedges around already?
I am sure there are lots of people in Chearsley who are aware of the importance of hedges to wildlife and have heard about the concern at the miles of hedgerowslost to the UK since the 1950s (estimated at 120,000 miles). So concerned were people that legislation was brought in 1997 requiring planning permission before removing hedges over 20 m. long between roads and fields. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countryside-hedgerows-regulation-and-management and many hedges have been reinstated.

The pluses and minuses of the Best Kept Village competition
One of the reasons for eliminating the hedge might be connected to the wish to enter for the Best Kept Village competition and of course we all like a place that looks good. However, I found an interesting article from the Telegraph (2014) which decries the Best Kept Village competition because of its emphasis on being ‘neat and tidy’ which conservationists say unwittingly contributes to the decline of bees, butterflies, birds and other necessary wildlife. Ironically, the Best Kept Village sign illustrated in the article is actually the one used by Buckinghamshire! https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/countryside/11023876/Best-kept-village-contests-blamed-for-decline-in-wildlife.html

I would like to thank everyone I have spoken to about the hedge as it made me feel less isolated though I still feel very sad.

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : margmorb@mail.com : 01844-208913

Opera Pops Concert
Aylesbury Opera are returning to perform at St Mary’s Church Long Crendon after a very successful evening last year when they present Opera Pops Concert this Saturday April 27th at 7.30pm. An evening of popular operatic choruses, solos and ensembles led from the piano by Kelvin Lin. It will also feature items by Aylesbury Youth Opera. Tickets cost £15 each which includes canapés and drinks available from Rowly Willis (FSM) on 01844 201597 or email Friends@FSMLongCrendon.org.

St Georges Celebration at The Bell
There may be still space for you to enjoy a traditional English 2 course or 3 course meal at The Bell this Saturday, April 27 at 7.00 for 7.30pm. Roast beef is on the menu or a choice of other starters, mains and sweets. Prices are £17.95 for 2 courses and £21.95 for 3. Please call in at The Bell or phone 01844 208077 to book.

Chearsley Cricket Club
Junior Coaching on Tuesday evenings at the ground has now started and continues every Tuesday evening. Any youngster, girl or boy, who is interested in joining should contact Angela Gray on 07944 290264. Coaching on Thursday evenings for the Seniors starts this Thursday, April 25. Please contact Adam Lazaruk on 07865 093154 if you would like to join the Club. New players are always very welcome. A friendly game against Kimble will be played at the Club this Saturday April 27 with another one on May 4 away to Long Marston. League fixtures begin on May 11. New players, support and spectators are always welcome. Come and enjoy a drink at the bar and cheer on the Chearsley team.

Chearsley W.I. Visit to Highgate Cemetery
There are 2 spare places on this trip on Friday May 31st. The guided tour and coach cost £30 per person. Just to reassure any man who may be interested in accompanying the W.I. ladies, there are 3 men already booked to go. Please contact Anne Lewis on 01844 201011 for more information and to book your place.

Services at St Nicholas Church:
  • Sunday April 28 at 6pm Evensong
  • Sunday May 5 at 10am Family Communion
  • Sunday May 12 at 9am Holy Communion
  •  At 4pm Messy Church in the Village Hall
Diary Dates:
  • Saturday April 27 St George’s Meal celebration at The Bell 7 for 7.30pm
  • Saturday April 27 Opera Pops Concert at St Mary’s Long Crendon 7.30pm
  • Saturday April 27 Sunshine Club Spring Bazaar 2pm in the Bernard Hall
  • Sunday June 2 Launch of Historic Chearsley at the Village Hall . More details to come
  • Saturday September 7 Chearsley Show
  • Sunday September 15 Chearsley Classic and Vintage Fun Day starting at 11am

Saturday 20 April 2019

Tuesday 16 April 2019

Good Friday Walk

The weather is looking perfect to get out for some fresh air this Friday, so why not come along to any part of this walk across the fields between our 3 villages – a Family service and hot cross buns at 10.00am in Nether Winchendon, then a walk to Chearsley for Good Friday hymns and readings – or just join us for ploughman’s lunch in Chearsley’s churchyard at 12.15 and decide if you’re up for walking to Long Crendon.

Everyone is welcome to join in at any stage, including dogs and children.

Saturday 13 April 2019

Palm Sunday - April 14th



Road Closures

Transport for Bucks will be carrying out work in School Lane and Bernard's Close, when they will plane and patch various locations. This means there will be a daytime closure between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Monday April 15 and Tuesday April 16.
In addition, we are informed that they will be doing similar work of planing and patching at various locations along Winchendon Road in Chearsley which will mean daytime closures between 9.30am and 3.30pm from Thursday April 18 until Tuesday May 7.

Sunday 7 April 2019

Messy Easter - Next Sunday


Make a cross necklace, paper mache an Easter Garden, construct a giant jigsaw, and crawl inside the tomb, then watch a video and tuck into a hot dog.

Thursday 4 April 2019

Village News

with Margaret Morbey : margmorb@mail.com : 01844-208913

Thefts from the Cricket Pavilion
Probably most of the village has heard that thieves broke into the Cricket Club pavilion over Friday night and Saturday morning 22nd and 23rd March. Among the items stolen were the entire contents of the club trophy cabinet and the recently acquired television. The Club appealed in the local press and radio for the trophies to be returned. An anonymous phone call to the Club Chairman offered to return them in exchange for money, which was refused and then reported to the police. Later, the club received a further call from a farmer’s wife near Banbury to report that what remained of the trophies had been deposited in a field on her farm. The Club is devastated by these events, and is now considering a review of their security measures. The cups are a major part of the Club’s proud heritage.

SPSO report at the Parish Council Annual Village Meeting
Danny, one of the Special Constables who cover Chearsley from his base at Waddesdon, warned that there had been several shed break-ins in the area recently and advised that valuable machinery should be kept secure. He also spoke about scrap metal dealers on the look out for scrap metal. Now, it seems they have already been in Chearsley, but it serves as a warning to be ever vigilant for strangers and to keep all valuables locked up.

War Memorial
The latest project in the Parish Council’s drive to improve the look of our village is now complete with the restoration of the War Memorial. The work, undertaken by restoration company, Antique Bronze, included a steam clean to remove the grime and lichens growth and repainting the lettering.

Chearsley Cricket Club
The Club is asking for volunteers to help at their Pre-Season Work Parties which are taking place on Saturday April 6, 13, and 20 starting at 10am until 1pm. Just turn up at the pavilion. All help would be much appreciated. Pre-season practice nets for Seniors will take place during the coming weekends, with dates and times to be confirmed.
Coaching sessions start on Thursday April 25 and then every Thursday evening following from 6.30pm to 8pm. All Juniors aged 13+ are welcome to join in. A friendly match against Kimble at home will take place on Saturday April 27 at 1pm and an away match at Long Marston on May 4. The Cherwell League fixtures for 1st and 2nd XI start on Saturday May ll. Please contact Adam Lazaruk on 07865 093154 or email adam@rglsurveys.co.uk for more information.
The first coaching session for the Juniors takes place on Tuesday April 23 and then every Tuesday evening from 6.30pm to 8pm. Followed by a BBQ. Contact Angela Gray on 07944 290264 or email angela@grayemail.co.uk for more information.

Chearsley Show 2019 will be held in the village hall on Saturday September 7. More details and show brochures will be available nearer the time. Please make a note of this date and start thinking about what you hopefully will have growing so you can take part in this annual village friendly competition. Any help to set up the Show on the Friday and on the day itself would be most welcome.

The Bell will now be open all day Saturdays and Sundays carrying on throughout what is hopefully going to be a lovely sunny Summer.

Cuddington Youth Drama
To clear up confusion over their production in The Bernard Hall, Cuddington Youth Drama will be putting on their Jets and Sharks jackets to perform “West CYD Story” a wonderful musical based on the story of Romeo and Juliet. A non-profit drama club for 7 to 27 year olds, C.Y.D. has been performing for 15 years. Matinee shows on 9th, 11th and 13th April start at 3pm and evening shows on 10th, 12th and 13th, at 7pm. Please call Annie Bradley on 07769 6393505 to reserve a seat or tickets are available on the door. Suggested donation are Family Ticket £20, adults £12 and Children £6. Please come and support C.Y.D.

Spring Bazaar Cuddington
The Sunshine Club are holding their popular Spring Bazaar on Saturday April 27 at 2pm in the Bernard Hall, Cuddington. There will be stalls offering home-made cakes and produce, white elephant and bric-a-brac, good second hand clothes, books etc. There will also be a raffle and refreshments. Admission costs just 20p. Children free. If anyone has any contributions, they will be gratefully received and can be brought to the hall on the morning of the 27th

Services at St Nicholas Church:
  • Sunday April 7 10am Family Communion
  • Sunday April 7 Rock Solid Easter Experience
  • Sunday April 14 Messy Church 4pm at The Village Hall
Diary Dates:
  • Tuesday 9th April to Saturday 13 Performances of West CYD Story at the Bernard Hall Cuddington
  • Saturday April 20 St George’s Meal celebration at The Bell
  • Saturday April 27 Sunshine Club Spring Bazaar 2pm in the Bernard Hall
  • Sunday June 2 Launch of Historic Chearsley at the Village Hall . More details to come
  • Saturday September 7 Chearsley Show
  • Sunday September 15 Chearsley Classic and Vintage Fun Day starting at 11am