New bird boxes
The scouts made a number of bird boxes and we have been busy putting them up around the parish.
Swindon to submit bid to be the first Electric Bus Town
Swindon Borough Council is charging ahead with a bid to the Government to improve the Borough’s air quality. The Council has teamed up with Swindon’s two main bus service providers – Swindon’s Bus Company, owned by Go South Coast, and Stagecoach West – as it aims to become the country’s first Electric Bus Town. Transport… read more
Let’s bring life and colour back into the countryside
Communication from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
Gardening in the Rain
From Dick Milliard: An intrepid (brave? foolhardy?) group of seven of us spent most of the morning in the Old Town Railway Cutting in Swindon, clearing vegetation from the rocks in two locations. We finished with most of the job done, at the point when the rain made it rather hazardous underfoot. The left hand… read more
More work on the Railway Path
A productive day last Thursday. Sustrans has installed a new bench near the lineside hut between Ogbourne St Andrew and Ogbourne St George. We’ve cleared an area round it (and removed lots of nettle roots) and now planted it with local wildflower seeds. We’re not sure how the area is going to develop, and it… read more
Reporting Fallen Trees
Storm Ciara has brought down several trees along the Railway Path, and Storm Dennis may bring down some more. We’d be happy to collate a list of any locations needing attention. Some may be small enough to be dealt with by volunteers, but larger trees will need a Sustrans tree surgeon with proper equipment, and… read more
Wheely good advice on offer at Council-run bike roadshow
To kick off half term next week, Swindon Travel Choices has joined up with the Beat the Street team to hold a cycle roadshow at the Orbital Retail Park. The roadshow, which will take place on Monday (17 Feb), will promote the benefits of cycling and highlight the many traffic-free routes that are available across… read more
Hedge Laying Success
Another lovely morning, with only a passing shower to bother us. Another 20m or so now laid, between Coate Water and the motorway: we’re now a little less than half way along. My thanks to The team of eight, two of whom were new to hedge laying. I hope they enjoyed it! The Woodland Trust… read more
Great British Spring Clean 2020
On Saturday 28th March in the morning, the Parish Council will be organising the annual litter pick in conjunction with the “Great British Spring Clean”. Please put this date in your diary and let us know if you can join us. Amazing offer from the Chiseldon House hotel. If you take part in the Annual… read more
Council commits to carbon neutrality by 2030
Swindon Borough Council has committed to going carbon neutral by 2030 as councillors step up the fight against climate change. At a meeting of the Full Council last night (23 Jan), members unanimously agreed a motion committing the Council to reduce its corporate carbon emissions, with the aim of making the Council’s estate and activities… read more
Recycle for Charity
Donate your used inkjet cartridges with us and raise money for the Wiltshire Search and Rescue. Each inkjet cartridge will get £1 for the charity. You can either put them in the box located at the Chapel office or post them to us using envelopes that you can pick up from the office. Contact us… read more
Improvements to the Railway Path
Improvements complete for path linking Swindon to Marlborough You may have noticed quite a bit of work on the path recently, undertaken by Sustrans: there’s some new surface, new benches and signing and quite a lot of tree management. We hope this makes the path easier and more enjoyable. There’s an article about it in… read more
Council launches e-newsletter dedicated to New Eastern Villages project
Swindon Borough Council has launched a special e-newsletter to keep residents fully up to date with one of the largest greenfield developments in the country. The New Eastern Villages (NEV) will consist of around 8,000 homes, new schools, employment spaces and community facilities. It will span 724 hectares, with its eastern boundary reaching the point… read more
Friends of the Railway Path: hedge laying on February 1st
Our second hedge laying day of the winter will be on Saturday February 1st: details are below. Date: February 1st Time: 10.00 – 3.00 Meeting location: see map below. We will continue work along the stretch leading from Coate Water to the M4. Parking is available in the public car park at Coate Water (charges… read more
Public to be asked for their views on updated Local Plan
An important consultation which will shape and guide future housebuilding in Swindon over the next 20 years will open tomorrow (17 Dec). Local people will be asked for their views on the Draft Local Plan Review, which sets out where 20,450 homes could be built in the Borough up to 2036. The six-week consultation, which… read more
Get hunting!
Dear Supporter When you are next out on a walk, get involved with Plantlife’s Great British Wildflower Hunt. It’s so simple and a great introduction to wild flowers around us. Register quickly here then next time you are out, login and see what you can find. It’s great fun for all the family! Whether you… read more
Another 40 Yards
We had a lovely time laying more hedge: see the before and after photos below. In the “before” picture, you can see part of last year’s laying, now sprouting away: and the section that we laid stretching away into the distance. We also planted up a short gap using some donated plants. I hope to… read more
Hodson Road improvements
Ground investigations for the failing embankment at Hodson Road started last Monday. Our contractors have been drilling boreholes and installing equipment that will enable the embankment to be monitored remotely. The road will be open later today (22 November).
Friends of the Railway Path: Hedge Laying
This winter, we will be able to do some more hedge laying. We will continue work along the stretch leading from Coate Water to the M4. Date: Sunday, December 1st Time: 10.00 – 3.00 Meeting location: see map below. Parking is available in the public car park at Coate Water (charges apply). Please wear suitable… read more
AGM and Update on Planning Application
You are invited to The South Swindon Protection Group AGM on Monday 18th November 2019. Venue: Wanborough Village Hall Time: 7.30 PM The AGM should be completed within 20 minutes,and then we hope to open the meeting to give an update on the Inlands Farm planning application and unveil our new video. Agenda For AGM… read more