RSPB Newsletter – May
· After almost completely drying out in March our ponds are now full to overflowing. At Tudeley Woods, woodland gullies that have been dry for several years are flowing strongly.
· Despite the weather it’s been an interesting month for birds – Woodlark seem to be pairing up and hopefully breeding at Broadwater for the first time in 9 years. They have also been seen at our Tudeley Woods reserve, on newly created heath. The migrant Blackcap returned in March and their lovely song can now be heard. Treecreeper are nesting in an oak next to the Decoy Pond. Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler has recently been spotted at Broadwater, and Ravens have been seen and heard ‘Gronking’ on numerous occasions. Check out our website where you can see and hear all these brilliant birds… http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds
· Lots of people have already attended April’s Dawn Chorus walks and Early Morning bird walks.
· 5 Exmoor Ponies arrived at Broadwater Warren on 4th April and have spent the last month munching their way around the nature reserve. 20 brilliant volunteers stepped up to help with the regular checks and pony welfare. Thank you so much.
· Our Broadwater Doggy Code has been very well received and we are extremely grateful to all the dog walkers who are taking extra care around the reserve to not disturb the wildlife or other visitors. We hope the less responsible dog walkers will appreciate this and adapt their behaviour accordingly. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and speak with people that we meet.
· We are holding a butterfly weekend at our Tudeley Woods Nature Reserve on 12th and 13th May. Drop in any time during the day (10am to 5pm), pick up a butterfly guide, and go for a self-guided walk through the woods and across the meadow. There will be staff and volunteers on hand to show you butterflies, moths and their habitats. It’s possible you will see one of our rarest butterflies, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary.
· Other butterflies to look out for in May include Orange-tip, Peacock and Brimstone.
Here’s to some sunshine and warmth to really bring the wildlife out!
The Jacqui Dankworth Quartet
One of the UK’s truly great singers Jacqui Dankworth (daughter of Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth)
featuring songs from Jacqui’s highly acclaimed new album ‘It Happens Quietly’
Frant Church, High Street Frant, Nr Tunbridge Wells TN3 9DX
FRIDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 2012 @ 8pm (doors open 7.30pm, licensed bar area)
Tickets £20 from Frant Stores, or tel. Paul Barber 01892 750665, David Cragg 01892 750845
In aid of the conservation of Frant Church, a beautiful grade 11 listed building in the heart of Frant village, Re. Charity 243134
A recital by Jonathan Lemalu and Joseph Middleton
Grammy award winning singer Jonathan Lemalu - ‘A major talent’ (The Gramophone Magazine)
Joseph Middleton, piano - ‘The cream of the new generation’ (The Times)
Songs by Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninov, Mahler
Frant Church, High Street, Frant, Nr Tunbridge Wells TN3 9DX
FRIDAY 17th August 2012 @ 8pm (doors open 7.30pm, licensed bar area)
Tickets £12 from Frant Stores or tel. Paul Barber 01892 750665, David Cragg 01892 750845
In aid of the conservation of Frant Church, a beautiful grade 11 listed building in the heart of Frant Village Reg. Charity 243134
Reporting non-emergency crimes using 101
101 is the number to call when you want to contact your local police – when it’s less urgent than 999. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Where is the 101 service available?
101 is now available across all areas of England and Wales.
What you can report using 101
Call 101 to contact the police to report less urgent crime and disorder or to speak to your local officers. For example, call 101:
- if your car has been stolen
- if your property has been damaged
- if you suspect drug use or dealing in your local area
- to report a minor traffic accident
- to give the police information about crime in your area
- to speak to the police about a general enquiry
If you have a non-emergency problem to report but can’t call 101, you can contact your local police force on their alternative non-emergency number.
When you should use 999 instead
In an emergency always call 999.
You should call 999 if:
- a crime is in progress
- someone suspected of a crime is nearby
- there is danger to life
- violence is being used or threatened
If you call 101 but are reporting an emergency, you will be directed to the 999 service.
Cost: what you will be charged if you call 101
Calls to 101 (from both landlines and mobiles) cost 15 pence per call no matter what time of day you call, or how long you are on the phone.
Who will answer your 101 call?
Calls to 101 are answered by police call handlers in the control room of your local police force.
When you call 101, the system will automatically connect you to your local police force. You will hear a recorded message telling you which force you are being connected to. If you are on the boundary between two or more forces, you will have a choice of which force you are connected to.
Calling 101 if you have speech or hearing impairments
If you are in a 101 area and have a speech or hearing impairment, you can textphone 18001 101.
What happens if English isn’t your first language
If you have difficulty speaking English, your local police force can get an interpreter to translate your call.
How to report general nuisance or environmental issues
You should still call your local council about issues like:
- reporting graffiti
- dog fouling
- abandoned vehicles
- dumping and fly tipping
- vandalism
Diamond Jubilee Celebration, Eridge
On Sunday 3 June the Eridge Event Organising Committee are arranging an evening event to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee . This will be held in Eridge Park by kind permission of the Marquess.
There will be a hog roast supper and entertainment provided by the Eridge Choir and others. Please make a date to come with your family and friends. More details to follow nearer the time.
We hope that as many people who either live in the village or have some sort of connection with village life will be able to attend.
Just – SAVE THE DATE!
Bells Yew Green Village Hall AGM
RSPB Reserves Update – April 2012
Here is the news in brief from the RSPB reserves at Broadwater Warren and at Tudeley Woods.
· Our summer events season starts in April with Dawn Chorus walks at Tudeley on the 14th and at Broadwater on the 22nd. In addition everyone is invited to our Tudeley Woods reserve on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th for a weekend of woodland flowers.
· There are lots of birds on the reserves now. Chiffchaffs returned in March, as did Blackcaps. You can find details of both and hear their different songs via our website www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/index.aspx . Tree creeper, Nuthatch and Jay have all been regularly seen or heard, and Blue Tits and Great Tits have certainly been very busy.
· A Woodlark was spotted at Tudeley Woods on 21st March on patches where heathland has been created. It has since been seen displaying and heard singing. This is the first Woodlark recorded at Tudeley since a brief sighting in summer 2009.
· Our ponds are alive with frogs. At the Decoy Pond at Broadwater, the western end has big patches of frog spawn. Over the next two years we’ll be gently restoring and enhancing this pond.
· There is now plenty of butterfly and moth activity at the reserves. Butterflies you might see include Comma, Brimstone, Orange-tip, Holly Blue, Small White, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral and Peacock. There have been Orange Underwing moths flying around the car park at Broadwater and a Ruby Tiger moth has pupated on the post of the kissing gate.
· 5 Exmoor Ponies arrive at Broadwater Warren on 4th April. They will spend the summer with us, grazing in the newly cleared areas and in the small wet woodland and grassland paddock. Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to help with the regular checks.
· The Broadwater Warren Doggy Code leaflets are now available at all entrances to the reserve. These remind everyone what is expected. Crucially, dogs must be kept on the paths and under control (not necessarily on leads). We hope this will be useful and will also resolve the problems being caused by irresponsible dog walkers. We’ve also set up an informative web page: www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/broadwaterwarren/dogs.aspx
· More trail improvements will take place in April and May. At Broadwater we’re extending the nature trail to include the zig-zag boardwalk and improving several other tracks. At Tudeley we’re renewing trail markers and refreshing our three different trails.
Please check out our reserve webpages for details of events and to see recent photos:
WEALDLINK COMMUNITY TRANSPORT coming to Bells Yew Green,Eridge and Frant – to register your interest please read on………
COMMUNITY TRANSPORT FOR FRANT, BELLS YEW GREEN & ERIDGE (Please pass this information onto friends and neighbours who you think might be interested in using this service)
WEALDLINK COMMUNITY TRANSPORT
North Wealden Community Transport Partnership operates Wealdlink Community Transport Shopping Services and runs two 15 seat wheelchair accessible mini buses. Wealdlink is delighted that Frant Parish Council has now become a North Wealden Transport Partnership member and we look forward to running services from February 2012.
North Wealden Community Transport Partnership would like to hear from those people within the Frant parish who find accessing public transport difficult and are interested in using the new Wealdlink services suggested below.
Service 1
The Wealdlink community bus will be offering a service to Bells Yew Green, Eridge and Frant into Tunbridge Wells on a Tuesday. The bus would pick registered users up from their houses between 10.45am and 11.15am. The bus would return from Tunbridge Wells at 1.30pm and return services users to their door.
Service 2
The Wealdlink community bus can also offer a service to Crowborough for registered users on the 2nd Monday of each month. This service would pick registered users up between 10.45am and 11.15am. The bus would return from Crowborough at 1.30pm.
Fare
The charge for using each service is £4.00 return and this service is not able to accept concessionary bus passes.
What next?
If you would like to find out more and register with our service please follow the steps below.
Step 1 – Ring our office on 01892 771 332 – our registrations and bookings hours are Monday to Friday (9.30am- 12.30pm) If for some reason you cannot speak to anyone please leave a message on our answer machine and we will call you back to confirm we have received your message and we will then discuss your transport needs with you.
Step 2 – Register your name, address and phone number with our bookings staff and let them know which day you would like to travel ( if you become a regular user you will not be required to ring and book a seat each week)
Between 9.30am and 12.30pm
Ring 01892 771 332 To Register
www.4weald.co.uk
Career opportunities – apprenticeships
At the recent Annual Parish and Town Council meeting, councillors were informed of apprenticeship schemes.
If you are interested in undertaking an apprenticeship, please go to www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Wealden District Council lend support for local businesses
Wealden District Council is offering small grants to local businesses to help them through the present challenging economic environment. If you are running a small business in the parish, do contact Wealden District Council to see if they can help you.