Thames Valley Police

Rural crime alert (Subaru Legacy estate)

Please be vigilant for a silver coloured Subaru Legacy estate with number plate ending PFE. The vehicle has a noticeably loud sports exhaust.

The vehicle is believed to have been seen at the scene of some rural crime near the Watlington area over the weekend.

If the vehicle is seen please call 101 with details of its location and direction of travel.

Many Thanks

PCSO C6795 Ryan Dollery

Pre-School News – September 2017

The summer term ended on a high with a successful sports day (thankfully done in the dry of the village hall), and the graduation ceremony for children leaving Pre-School mostly as they start at their ‘big schools’ in September. It was lovely to see another cohort leave the Pre-School as confident and happy children having blossomed under the care of Helen Morris and her team. We wish them well as they move onto the next stage of their education, for some just a few steps across the playground at the primary school. I’m sure they will be popping back regularly to keep Pre-School up to date with what they’re are doing.

As this edition goes out, the new school year will have begun and there will be new faces starting their Pre-School journey. There are still places available, and working parents with children turning 3 this term will be eligible for up to 30hrs funding from the government from January. Please contact Helen at Pre-School for further information.

Louisa Margison,
Pre-School Committee Secretary

Survey: Unlocking the digital potential of rural areas

Here is something we found which we felt would be of interest to all those that may have small businesses, work from home, or anything along those lines. ruralengland.org are running a survey to try to ascertain what those in rural communities are using as far as technology and broadband are concerned, and also what would be most useful to improve this area.

If you have time, please take a look at the online survey below to let everyone know how your business is using technology, and how it could be improved for the benefit of yourselves, and the community at large.

Unlocking the digital potential of rural areas – research

Rural England CIC and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have launched a research project, supported by Amazon, to explore the economic potential where businesses in rural areas take-up digital opportunities arising from broadband, mobile and other networks.

This project will take an independent look at businesses’ use of digital connectivity, including how they use it, what benefits arise, what barriers they face and what future potential they see, especially if barriers can be overcome.

This is an important topic for the future of the rural economy and its varied businesses. The e-economy is driving business efficiency, productivity and competitiveness, and is changing the way some go about their business.

Your views will be valuable to the project whether you run a farm, a retail outlet, a tech company or something else entirely. You could be a sole trader or a large employer, a PLC or a social enterprise, a recent start-up or a long established firm.

Hurst Water Meadow Trust News – August 2017

Summer on the meadows

We hope that you have enjoyed the meadows during the summer months.
The flowers and butterflies in the Hurst have been particularly good this year. Many of the wild flowers in the Hurst are ‘indicator species’ recognised by DEFRA as contributing to the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier status. An advisor from Natural England makes periodic inspections to ensure that the Hurst meets the qualifying requirements for an annual grant from the scheme, and the flora is of particular interest. The grant helps the Trust to pay for insurance cover, professional tree surgery, countryside skills training, tractor maintenance, and the purchase of hand tools and other equipment.

Our open morning to celebrate National Meadows Day was attended by more than fifty people, some of whom had never visited the Hurst before. A large ‘bug hotel’ was built, invertebrates were swept up with nets in the long grass and examined, drinks and cakes were enjoyed. Everyone was intrigued to watch Richard Tilley open his mammal traps and find small mammals which could be closely observed before being set free; and there was video footage from the trail camera which showed the larger mammals that frequent the Hurst.

Dog mess continues to be a problem

and has got worse in recent weeks. This may be because there are more visitors to the meadows during the holiday period but it may also be because other distractions take our attention away from our dogs. If residents see a dog owner fail to pick up after their dog please help by pointing this out to the owner and suggesting that they pick up. An effort by all walkers to combat this problem might be effective.

Autumn work ahead

Weekly work parties have met throughout the summer, mainly keeping nettles down and clearing vegetation from around recently planted trees. Eleven members of Sonning Common Green Gym joined us one Saturday to work on Overy Mead Piece near the confluence. We hope that they will be back helping us again soon. Autumn and winter work will include remedial tree work, cutting back scrub growth which is encroaching into grassland, and continuing to lay the hedge beside the car park at Old Bridge Meadow. If you would like to join the volunteer workers and perhaps learn to scythe or hedge-lay please let us know. It doesn’t have to be a regular commitment but you will be made very welcome and tools will be provided.

Gillian Johnson (Hon. Secretary) on behalf of the Trustees
01865 340925
Website: www.hurst-water-meadow.org.uk