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Under 5s to Shut as Direct Result of School Closure Badwell Ash Under 5s PreSchool is to close in July.

The playgroup found that only one child was

expecting to stay on in September. Some of the

current children are going on to school, others are

moving to Under 5s groups that feed directly into

local primary schools, and no new children have

applied to join. Badwell’s primary school closure was

the death knell for the group. ‘It’s completely

understandable that parents want their child to be with

children who they’ll be going on to school with,’ said

staff leader Charlotte Poole.

The long-running Under 5s has been operating in a

purpose-built room built onto the Village Hall. They

have access to the playing field, an outdoor play area

and a small patch for gardening. ‘We’ve been very

lucky with the facility and the outdoor areas,’ said

Poole, ‘and we’re very grateful for all the local

support we’ve had.’

The Under 5s will be selling its equipment to other

preschool and primary schools, and to local people. If

you might be interested in buying anything, there will

be an Open Day in July after the school term has

finished. The date has not yet been finalised: look out

for notices with further information nearer the time.

Thanks to Lynn Smith, Sally Davis, Rebecca

Dewhurst, Helen Mansfield, Natalie Drake, Julie

Evans, Ashley Simpson, Lisa Helen and Sylvia, John

Bacon, Vince Moore, Paul Basset, Ash Asasi and all

those others too numerous to mention who have

donated time, expertise, equipment or anything else to

the Under 5s over the years.

WORLD WAR ONE

COMMEMMORATION DAY

3rd Aug at 3pm (time to be confirmed) Inauguration of the New Village Sign & benches

British Legion Standard Bearers Military Chaplain & Wreath Ceremony

At St Mary’s Crescentt, and afterwards in The Village Hall, with refreshments and a WW1 exhibition

The Parish Council is planning to place a time capsule in the new

village sign. It needs suggestions from residents as to what should

be placed in the capsule.

Please contact chairman, Karl Hortt, on 258438

BBaaddwweellll BBrrooaaddsshheeeett Issue #40 June 2014

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Village Hall Update

Anyone using the Village Hall recently will have

noticed that it is receiving a great deal of tlc. Mats,

plants, pictures, more kitchen equipment and a general

atmosphere of care has permeated the building.

There is currently no management committee, so the

hall is being managed by the Parish Council as

trustees. However there is a strong group of people led

by Alexis Farmer looking after the hall, organising

fund raisers and running entertainment such as Bingo

for the village.

Residents who shop at Waitrose may have noticed that

the hall was one of the community charity ‘token’

projects for the month of May.

Recycling The hall is also now registered with

EcoKids, a textile recycling project. This takes the

following items: good quality, dry clean clothing; soft

toys; pairs of shoes; handbags; net curtains; bed linen;

costume jewellery; some small electrical item and

some bric-a-brac. If you can donate any of the above,

or want to find out if an item would be acceptable,

please call Alexis on 258010.

Jumble & Raffle We are also collecting for our

Jumble sales all year round, so any unwanted items,

and any donations for raffle prizes would be greatly

appreciated.

Paint/Brushes/Help The Village Hall is in need of a

lick of paint. Does anyone have any paint or painting

equipment they could donate? Alexis is looking for

magnolia paint to give the hall a fresh look, along with

brushes, cleaning materials etc.

Mobile Library Once a Month

Remember to make use of our local mobile library

service, which comes every 4 weeks on a Tuesday.

The next few dates will be 10 June, 8 July & 5 Aug.

The library stops at Richer Close at 1.35pm and the

Thurlow Arms at 1.40.

Mobiles carry a wide range of books etc. Also books,

DVDs, CDs, large print etc reserved in advance online

or by phone can be picked up at the mobile. You can

borrow up to 20 items for eight weeks at a time, plus

books can be borrowed from other libraries and

returned to the mobile and vice versa. Call Suffolk

Libraries – 01473 836838 or visit online at

www.suffolklibraries.co.uk

Village History Group Update

Thanks to all who have responded to our request for

information. As the result of that we have some

valuable leads - we have gathered some photographs

and research material but we are always keen to hear

from anyone who has something to contribute.

As anticipated, the work is taking time.

The current focus is the anniversary of WW1 and Tony

Pringle, Donia Stick, Sarah Brown have put in their

time and effort into researching and compiling

information. Web pages relating to the men who served,

and their families, are now available. Please visit

http://badwellash.onesuffolk.net/

If you feel that any of the names or stories are of

interest or relevance to you or if there is something you

can add please email julie_evans2579@yahoo.com Julie and Pat

Could you Foster or Adopt? There are currently around 750 children in care in Suffolk, most with registered foster carers. Suffolk County Council wants all children in its care to have a permanent, safe home in which they will be loved and thrive. For some this will be with family members, while for others the best option will be to be adopted or be fostered. Suffolk Fostering Service needs carers for children of all ages, but is particularly interested in hearing from people able to care for sibling groups or children over the age of 11. Foster carer Jackie says ‘ Being a foster carer gives me a huge sense of pride– to make such a difference, and to be part of, and share, a child’s life is so gratifying’ Contact the Fostering Service on: 0800 328 2148 or visit www.suffolkfostering.com Suffolk Adoption Agency is currently looking for families particularly for brothers and sisters to grow up together; for children over three and for disabled children of all ages. Building a family through adoption is rewarding, and is an opportunity to make a very significant different to someone’s life

Contact the Adoption Agency on: 0800 389 9417 or visit

www.suffolkadoption.com

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Badwell Ash Annual Parish Meeting

Badwell Ash held its Annual Parish Meeting on

Wednesday, 14th

May at 7pm in the Village Hall.

Suffolk County Councillor Jane Storey made her

report. SCC’s portion of council tax will be frozen at

its 2010/11 level for the fourth year in a row, with

plans to freeze it up to 2017. SCC will be saving

£38.6million over the next year to meet a budget gap;

this is the first part of plans to save £156 million over

four years. SCC will be pushing ahead with important

projects, such as ‘Raising the Bar’ (driving up

attainment levels in education), the roll-out of super-

fast broadband across the whole of Suffolk, investing

in apprenticeships, and supporting the development of

10 new care homes for older people. The road

maintenance budget – used for fixing potholes has

been protected from cuts. Storey said she was always

available to talk to people about their problems and

would always do all that she could to help.

Unfortunately Mid Suffolk District Councillor Roy

Barker was unable to attend and his annual report was

read out. MSDC increased the council tax by 5p per

week for band D properties - the first increase for 4

years. MSDC hope to insert the new Waste Calendar

into the parish magazine this year. Barker thanked

everyone who goes out litter picking all year round.

The major item coming up is the school and what the

community and SCC want to do with it. Barker

thanked the parish council and residents for the

support given to him last year.

Suffolk Constabulary’s annual report was read to the

meeting. For 2013–2014 there were 9 reported crimes:

1 x burglary dwelling, 4 x burglary other building,

sheds/garages/outbuilding, 3 x theft other post

box/cycle/drain cover, 1 x theft from motor vehicle.

Mrs Jane Storey gave the Badwell Ash United

Charities annual report. The trustees (Mrs J Storey,

Mr A R Le Grice, Mr R Pratt and Mr N Bassett) had

distributed funds to two Institutional recipients: Silver

Ash Club (£50) and St Marys Church (£50). 11

Individual recipients also received £30 each in

December 2013. (The terms for being a recipient are

that you are over 80, a Badwell Ash resident and

living on your own.)

Mr Karl Hortt, Chairman of the Village Hall trustees,

gave his report. Hire charge have been increased from

£6 to £7.50 an hour; the heating has been regulated; a

new door and lock has been installed, and minor repairs

have been carried out. The Under Fives have confirmed

they will close at the end of this term and the Village

Hall needs to plan how to use the small hall from

September. The trustees want to try and form a

‘community forum’ to organise and co-ordinate events

for the village.

Cllr Karl Hortt, Chairman, gave the Parish Council’s

annual report. The council has held 8 meetings

including a number of special planning meetings and

site meetings for several planning applications.

Meetings have looked at items including wind turbines

and school closure. Mr John Hines had to resign as a

Councillor due to health issues and Councillor S Rose

was appointed to Council.

Badwell Ash Parish Council Meeting

The Parish Council meeting was held on Wednesday,

14th

May. 5 members of the public attended.

Councillor K Hortt was elected Chairman and

Councillor R Pratt was elected Vice-Chairman for the

following year. SCC Councillor Storey was hoping to

meet with Parish Council Chairmen and representatives

from Highways in June/July to discuss Highway issues

in the Parishes.

A member of the public advised there was a problem on

Back Lane of cars parking on the pavement asking if

bollards could be installed. The issue will be brought to

Highways attention at the proposed meeting, together

with other village issues including flooding and pot

holes.

The new sluice gate for the drain on Richer Road has

been installed.

PCSO Clarkson and colleagues are keeping an eye on

the school and playing field particularly in the evening.

A copy of the deeds and map showing ownership of the

playing field, village hall and school will be shown to

SCC. The SCC owns the Village Hall driveway and

have been informed that it and the wooden fence need

urgent attention.

The Commemoration Day will take place on Sunday 3rd

August starting at 10.30 – 11am. It is hoped a military

chaplain and bugler will attend. After the ceremony

people will be invited to the Village Hall for a WW1

exhibition with tea and cakes, where Badwell Ash

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WW1 booklets will be for sale. The Village sign is in

production, an oak post has been donated and Cllr

Pratt will undertake the ground works for the sign.

A request for the refurbishment of the Role of Honour

Scroll in the church had been made. A member of the

village hall fundraising group volunteered to go round

the village raising funds towards the cost and it is

hoped to have it on display on the Commemoration

Day where fund raising could also take place.

SCC Councillor Storey agreed to fund half the cost of

a new bench to match the new memorial bench.

One planning application was decided and the Parish

Council year end accounts were approved and

adopted.

The date of the next meeting is scheduled for

Thursday, 24th

July in the village hall at 7.30pm.

Everyone is welcome. Sandra Brown, Parish Clerk. Tel: 01359 242304

E-mail: Sandra_brown60@hotmail.com

The Mystery of the Missing Toads The Toad Patrol saved nearly 500 toads (and some frogs and newts too) as they migrated across the road in Badwell in Spring. Although numbers were up at Walsham, they were down nearly 40% on 2013 at Badwell, and we do not know why. A possible reason is that we had a major road kill last year when toads crossed late one evening when we had ceased patrolling. This may account for some of the decline but not all. Another possible reason is the toads have changed their habitat - where they spend their summer and then hibernate. Can anyone help explain the mystery? Toads spend most of their lives on land and may travel up to a kilometre from their breeding ponds. Does anyone know if there have been any changes in the area around the Badwell Ash site? Did anyone see major road kill this year? A big thank-you to all those involved, and to all the drivers who slowed down to let the toads cross. Thanks to the couple who let us park and store equipment in their shed, and to the owners of Badwell Ash Lodges for allowing us to put the toads safely by their ponds.

Sadly, we still experienced significant road-kill – nearly 100 while we were patrolling and probably quite a few more when we were not. The more volunteers we get next year the more toads we can help. As we have seen this year, toad populations are very fragile - they need all the help they can get. If you can help in any way, contact: Liz Miles on 258317 or e-mail: miles.liz@gmail.com

Adrian Rumbles

OPEN EVERY weekend in June

11am - 5pm

Studio X, The Grange, Long Thurlow Road

Landscapes and semi-abstract paintings in mixed media and oils.

Suffolk Open Studios in June

2 Artists in Long Thurlow

Look out for the signs:

Sarah Brown Fleming

OPEN 7- 8, 21- 22, 28- 29 June

11am – 5pm

Pounde House, Long Thurlow Road

Portraits, still life, and a series of interiors 'Living in a Tudor House Today'.

www.suffolkopenstudios.org

Sarah and Adrian are part of the Suffolk Borders Trail on 28/29

th June. Start your day in Long Thurlow that weekend

and get a map at the studios leading you to 6 further artists and a gallery, all in MidSuffolk.

The Badwell Broadsheet is funded by Badwell Ash Parish Council. We will distribute as many copies as possible, otherwise please

pick up a copy at the shop, pub or fish shop. Articles of interest, information about local events, notices and feedback are welcomed; there is no insertion fee. Please contact the editor Sarah Brown at 259625 or badwellash@hotmail.co.uk, or leave pieces for inclusion with Ashley Simpson at the White Horse.