Gershwin to Gaga

is the theme of the next West Bergholt Concert Band concert.  Featuring music from the likes of Gershwin, of course, Coldplay, John Williams, Stevie Wonder, Wicked & Gaga the concert will be held on Saturday July 16th, 7:30pm, in St Mary’s Church Hall to mark its re-opening.

As always, all of the band's concerts are raising money for local & national charities. This year's charities will include Myasthenia Research, Coggeshall Youth Work Trust, Clacton Family Support, Headway, Lepra and our local Church Charities.

To find out more check out the Band's website.

Ebullient & exuberant gardens

Ebullient and Exuberant – aptly described the Old Vicarage Gardens, East Ruston when 52 members and guests visited this week. As we left one beautiful ‘themed’ garden we were enticed into the next. We felt we had travelled many continents seeing Echium pininana from the Canary Islands; Eschonaria yuccoides from Mexico; agaves, aloes, puyas and cacti in the Arizona ‘Desert Wash’; native cordylines and phormiums in the New Zealand garden and a South African flavour in the Exotic section.

Aeoniums and succulents in
the North Garden

Feeling more at home, we ambled through areas of woodland; adored the fragrances in the rose garden; admired with envy, ʽmega’ sized lettuces in the highly productive vegetable patch. A walk into a meadow of cornflowers threw out a blue haze whilst in the wildflower meadow hardy geraniums and other herbaceous plants competed with the grass. And this is just a brief description of all we sampled and enjoyed.

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon – will be our next outing on the evening of Tuesday 5 July. The three acres of riverside gardens are set in a picturesque and historic setting dating from the 13th century.

For details on our meetings and outings contact Valerie Lofthouse, Chair: tel. 01206 855450 - valerielofthouse1@hotmail.co.uk or Terry Claydon, Treasurer: tel. 01206 242124 - terryclaydon@aol.com.

Blown away...

Garden sacks marked with address

... garden waste sacks are a real nuisance.  CBC has provided advice on reducing the problems experienced by local residents after their sacks are emptied on windy days and sometimes blow away.
Prevention is always better than cure so advice to prevent permanent loss of these sacks are:

• have a large stone, brick or similar weighty object nearby so the crew can weigh the sacks down once emptied, and 
• always write your address on the side of them, this way if they do blow away anybody finding them can return them to you.

If the worst happens and you need replacement garden sacks residents can purchase their sacks online for home delivery by clicking on the link below. This link can also be used by residents to order clear recycling sacks and green boxes which are not chargeable:

• https://iconnect.colchester.gov.uk/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=huMsL1omdUK

Garden sacks can also be purchased from a number of outlying collection points across the borough. The link below will take residents directly to a full list of locations:

• http://www.colchester.gov.uk/Info_page_two_pic_2_det.asp?art_id=11445&sec_id=3774

Residents may also use sacks similar in size and construction to those available from the Council, however they must have emptying handles on the side and the bottom.  Alternatively you could consider composting garden waste, details of this option can be found by residents by clicking the link below.

• http://www.colchester.gov.uk/menu_map_level_3.asp?sec_id=2742

Historic Vehicle Show 2011

At Nayland Road once again this annual event continues to offer a stunning range of activities and displays for all tastes. kicking off on Friday evening, 29th July, at 7:30pm with a FREE Country & Western Concert, starting at 10am on Saturday the show sees over 500 historic vehicles of all descriptions, a wide range of trade & charity stands, static exhibitions and funfair with a Massive Kite Display. Saturday evening entertainment is in the form of a Last Night of the Proms Concert (tickets from Manns Music, Colchester, or A Dickens on 07887 934726).

Sunday ups the ante with the show being opened at 10am by BBC Radio's Richard Spendlove MBE and includes the Massed Bands of the City of Coventry, Jez Avery Honda Buggy & Trials Bike Stunt Show and The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Parachute Freefall
Team “The Tigers”.

Licensed Bar running throughout.

Any enquiries to M J Culham on 01206 271253

Q: When is a MUGA not a MUGA?

A: When it is an all-weather sports area managed by West Bergholt Sports Club.

The village games area situated on the Lorkin Daniell field is now managed by the Parish Council who, in an innovative agreement, have arranged for the Co-op store to hold the bookings diary.  To find out more about West Bergholt Sports Club visit their page on the village website. 

Free Half Term fun - Thursday 2nd June

The Halfords Tour Series is coming to Colchester Thursday 2 June 2011, bringing with it a whole afternoon of festival activities for all to enjoy, in addition to the thrilling professional cycle race that will take place in the town centre streets from 7pm.

Castle Park will host an array of free activities from 2pm for people of all ages to play a part in, in the lead up to the evening race.

Head to Hollytrees Meadow, Castle Park, to trial the amazing 54 metre Northshore mountain bike track, bikes and helmets will be provided. Budding BMX riders can freestyle on the BMX Park or brush up your tricks with the skills sessions – bring your own bike.

Drop in on the Halfords Hub Arena where there will be all sorts of entertainment going on throughout the afternoon, and prepare to be amazed by the tricks and flips of Triple World Champion Ben Savage as he tackles the VooDoo Bikes Stunt Rig. There will be an opportunity to improve your cycle skills with some coaching from Ben himself.

Don’t miss all that Lower Castle Park has to offer including football skills sessions, kwik cricket, tennis and volleyball.

Hollytrees Lawn will host the entertainment and refreshments arena, come and try Zumba Latin workout, join the street dance workshop or relax and enjoy a programme of activity throughout the day.

Gardening update

The West Bergholt Gardeners' Association thanks everyone for supporting their April Plant Sale. From funds raised they are donating to two village organisations and Essex Air Ambulance. Next year’s sale will be on 21 May 2012.

Natalie Finch delighted her audience in a virtual tour of her garden of roses at the Association's May meeting. Members shared her knowledge, passion and romanticised in a journey of beauty and colour landscaped by old English roses.

Wickham Place Farm Gardens

A leisurely stroll in Wickham Place Farm ancient walled gardens, dating from 1706 and 14 acres of woodland was enjoyed by members this week. Theirr admission costs were donated by the owner to charities supported by the National Garden Scheme.

All seats are sold for the trip in June to East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens.

Beeleigh Abbey Gardens, Maldon will be visited on Tuesday 5 July at 7.00pm. Three acres of riverside gardens in a picturesque and historic setting dating from the 13th century.

Growing as a Community is this year’s theme for RHS’s Dig Together Day in September. The Gardeners’ Association will undertake to improve an authorised public area in the village. Updates and publicity on this project will follow.

Top Ten Trees of Colchester is the topic of speaker Ian Baalham at the Association's AGM on 19 September.

For details on our meetings and activities contact the Chair – valerielofthouse1@hotmail.co.uk or the Treasurer – terryclaydon@aol.com.