where it's not just about adding years to life, but life to those years

The countdown to staying sharp, relevant and joyful has started

Keep your mind on its toes

Challenge yourself - learn new skills

Connect socially 

Embrace physical movement

Challenge yourself with technology

Maintain a sense of purpose

Manage stress in healthy ways

Seek out novelty and lean into the unfamiliar

That’s the u3a?  come and join this welcoming community designed for those no longer in full-time work.     

This month showcasing HISTORY:  study lived experiences social structures and social processes. BOARD GAMES:  come play your favourite CHURCHES: more aptly named ANCIENT BUILDINGS gain insights into past civilisations and design principles. COMPUTER GROUP: baffled by technology – this group unravels the mysteries of technological devices and processes

More information and details about how to join can be found on the website https://chinnor.u3asite.uk/ or look at the new Face Book page or contact Nettie Dearmun This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel 07711337243

SPRING UPDATE

As we welcome the new season, we’re excited to see the allotments flourishing, with more new faces joining our community. With only a few plots left, we look forward to welcoming even more members (email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

As a new committee, we are building a better, kinder, more inclusive environment through improved training, open communication, and a renewed commitment to respect and patience—values that mirror the care needed to nurture our plots and gardens.

We’ve also made improvements: feedback on not rotavating plots for preparation has been positive. However, for those who wish to have their plots rotavated, we are exploring the possibility of bringing it back, with the fees going back into the allotment to cover fuel and maintenance of the equipment. Additionally, we are considering offering our small rotavator for hire to plot holders, subject to our insurance policy.

For plotholders, we have launched a WhatsApp community to improve communication. This is part of our ongoing efforts to engage and support members more effectively.

A very special thanks to our team of wonderful volunteers for leading the Easter Treasure Trail on the 6th April and all the wonderful families from the village who joined the free public event.

Looking ahead, we encourage plotholders and CAGA Members to join us for a working party on 21st April—a chance to meet others and enjoy the outdoors. Gardening is a great way to connect with nature and improve our well-being.

We’re also delighted to announce that the allotments will be part of the Chinnor Open Gardens event on the first weekend of June. Don’t miss the chance to walk through and enjoy the beauty of the site.

The new season marks a time of renewal, both for our gardens and our community. We’re building a stronger, more welcoming CAGA, and we invite you to be part of this journey with Community (C), Acceptance (A), Growth (G) and Acknowledgement (A) as our core committee values for 2025.

Kindest Regards,

The CAGA Committee 2024-2025

CHINNOR AND PRINCES RISBOROUGH RAILWAY NEWS

(Registered Charity Number 1016237)

CPRR has taken a major step forward towards ‘independence’ – no we are not declaring UDI!! 900 tonnes of ballast was laid on the 800m long Chinnor Independent Line just outside the town during March. The track had recently been re-laid with the aim of re-opening the Chinnor Independent Line before the Summer, which runs beside the current Thame Branch Line which CPRR ‘borrows’ from Chiltern Rail every time we run.

This was Part four of the major logistical projects bringing in materials for the line. Parts 1 and 2 involved small track panels, previously cut up, sections of track from 15 to 30ft long moved to the railway by large lorries in 2023, craned across and taken to site on CPRR wagons. Part 3 brought 60ft track panels in by train in July 2024, which were craned into position alongside using the railways track relaying machine. Since then, the track has been laid, and now Part 4 has delivered a trainload of recently quarried granite ballast to go on top – ballast has to be new, whilst CPRR can safely utilise second-hand panels taken up from the mainline, as we run slower trains.Bringing the ballast in by train has avoided some 30 full-length articulated tipper lorry movements and removed the challenges of transferring the load into rail wagons for the final move from a road access point to the locations along the railway.

The ballast arrived in an 18-wagon train, 300m long, at breakfast time on 11th March, possibly to the surprise of commuters waiting on Princes Risborough station and were then taken on to CPRRA track by our trusty class 08 shunter (08825 for the train geeks!). The unloaded ballast was extracted from wagons, spread and levelled by an excavator, while volunteers recovered the remaining ballast from the corners of the wagons. It’s difficult to extract with large excavators, but traditional methods came to the fore: blokes with shovels! Check out https://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/section.php/17/1/buy-tickets for all the events currently available to book.

NEWS AND EVENTS

We have been busy planting trees in the village and creating a wildflower area at the Conigre park, and will continue through the Spring.

Our next event is the CHINNOR COMMUNITY ENERGY AND LOCAL CLIMATE RESILIANCE EXPO being held at the Chinnor Village Hall, upstairs room, on Saturday 26th April, 2 – 4.30pm.

Please come along to listen, learn and ask questions about low-cost energy solutions, with trusted experts, with free energy advice.

Know you need to do something to improve the energy efficiency of your house, but either don’t know where to start or don’t have the money to do it? Heard a bit about air source heat pumps, but not sure if they’re the right thing for your house? Bring your questions, and we’ll do our best to help.

This is a free event.

Our next free film showing will be the much-acclaimed film WILDING, on Friday 16th May at the Chinnor Village Hall. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start, finishing at around 9.30pm. There is no need to book.

The film will be followed by several short presentations and questions on the subject of wilding our own outdoor spaces. Based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book of the same name, Wilding tells the story of how she and her husband Sir Charles Burrell transformed Knepp Estate in West Sussex from a failing, debt-laden farm into one of Britain’s best biodiversity hotspots.

This is a free event, with donations welcome. Refreshments available.

THE GREEN LIVING FAYRE will be taking place on Sunday 8th June at the Village Hall in Chinnor, from 11 – 4pm. There will be local crafts, information stalls, books and a second-hand freebies table. Lots of exciting children’s activities will be on offer too. We will be serving lunches of filled rolls and homemade soups, as well as refreshments and cakes all day. A BIKE EXCHANGE will be taking place from 11 – 1pm on the day, so if you have a bike to sell, please clean it up and bring it along at 10.30am, labelled with your contact details and the asking price. Friends of the Earth take £5 commission for every bike sold. If you are looking for a bike, for all ages, there will be lots to choose from.

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events.

18^TH  ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION : SATURDAY 28 JUNE 2025 : 10:30AM – 5PM

Chinnor Churches go Wild! Will be celebrating its 18th year anniversary with a Celebration Convention on Saturday 28 June 2025 at St Andrews Church starting at 10:30am.  There will be two keynote speakers in the morning as well as additional speakers in the afternoon.  There will be an opportunity to host a stall by several organisations linked to Chinnor Churches Go Wild!  Refreshments will be available. Lunch will not be provided.   There is no charge, but donations are welcomed. Join us for all of the day or part of the day.  Provisional programme as follows :

9.30am       Church open for people to set up stalls

10.30am     Registration and refreshments

11.00am     Speaker 1 Keynote: Dr Bob Sluka, ARocha International.

12:00 noon Speaker 2 Keynote : Hannah Mann, Environment Programme Manager, Diocese of  Oxford.

1pm            Break for light lunch sandwiches and tea/coffee, networking.

1.45pm       Speaker 3 : Maranda St John Nicolle, World Mission Officer, Diocesan of Oxford.

2:15pm       Speaker 4 : Dr David Furze, St Peters Church, Quarrenden, Aylesbury.

2:45pm       Break for Refreshments, etc

3.15pm       Speaker 5 : Andy Lester, Arocha UK – to close with a short Bible reading.

4.15pm       Open Forum - discussions, questions and conclusions : Brian to chair with Bob and Andy to answer questions.

5.00pm       Close

5.00pm       Stalls dismantled and cleared

Chinnor Climate Café is a welcoming space for people in the community to join the conversation about climate change, nature and the environment.

Join us in the conservatory at Chinnor Village Centre from 10.30 – 11.30 am every second Thursday of the month from Thursday 13 February 2025, followed by Thursday 13th March. All welcome.

Hello everybody, I thought I would give you the Flower Arranging classes ahead of the show to give you time to think up your entries for this year’s show. Every year I am truly amazed by the imagination used in this class. I for one, would not know where to start!

Novice Class

Kitchen Garden: Any shape or design not to exceed 18” wide x 24” high including accessories

can use Oasis

Open Classes

Remembering VE Day: Any shape or design, not to exceed 24” wide, unlimited height can use Oasis

Ridgeway Walk – Foliage only: Front facing design not to exceed 18” wide, unlimited height

No Oasis to be used

Small Delights: Miniature exhibit – width and depth not to exceed 4” can use Oasis

Wine Circle: Judged from the front, width not to exceed 24” including accessories, unlimited height. can use Oasis

Also, I thought I would list the photography classes again for those who maybe did not see it before.

Bark & Branches

Bees or Butterflies

Family celebrations

Moonlight

Spring

All prints to be up to & including 180mm x 128mm (7” x 5”) If a mount is used it must not exceed 1”

Also, this year for the Young Adults section there is a photo of any subject using digital manipulation and must show one photo before manipulation and one after.

Hope this will help in you deciding what to enter and I look forward to seeing all your entries.

Cheers

P.Stick

“The hidden Church with the big heart” 62 Station Road.

“Why are you here?” and “Who is it you are looking for?”, challenging questions before and at Easter but maybe the answers are in the words “Peace be with you.” and “Follow me.”

Do come and join us on Sundays for worship at 10.30am, followed by tea/coffee, time to chat, catch up on news of friends, village news.

Our Easter Sunday service on 20th April includes Holy Communion and will be led by Rev Heegon Moon. All welcome.

NB There will be no service at our church on 11th May we will be at St Andrew’s church for a united service arranged by our dedicated Christian Aid committee in Chinnor. Please join us there.

Come along to Exploring Faith, a group who meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month 2-3.30pm. Meeting on 6th and 20th May. Refreshments followed by discussion. Please check dates.*

Drop in to Tots and Toys on Wednesdays in term-time, 9am-11.30 am. Re-starts 23rd April. A morning play and craft session for the under-5s with their parents or carers. There is a baby corner, and many exciting toys to enjoy in our worship space, a separate crafts room with playdough, pasta/rice play, painting/gluing activities, and a warm kitchen area where we serve tea/coffee, juice, and biscuits. The morning closes with time for a story and plenty of singing. E-mail Liz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or *text 07720647914 to find out more or to check dates. All our spaces are available for hire, too.

If you are unable to join us for our service at Chinnor there are live-streamed services from Aylesbury Methodist church every week from 10.30am with previous weeks available on catch up. https://thesundayservice.gallery.video/aylesburymethodist

On Saturday, 22 March 2025, the Chinnor Village Hall buzzed with excitement as around 50 children, parents, and grandparents gathered for the Chinnor Rotary Film Matinee. Organised in collaboration with the Red Kite Family Centre, a local charity, this event brought the community together to enjoy the screening of the Super Mario Bros Movie.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship from RedHill Construction and Park Street Dental Clinic, the tickets were free for all attendees. These sponsors covered all the hiring and film license costs, making the event accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

The event was not only a fun-filled afternoon but also a successful fundraiser. A total of £123.47 was raised to support the Red Kite Family Centre, aiding their efforts in providing valuable services to families in the community.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Marie Scott, Red Kite’s Centre Manager, for her efficient organisation of the ticket bookings. Her dedication ensured a smooth and well-managed event. Furthermore, Zena Baker, Chair of the Chinnor Village Hall, provided valuable advice on utilising the projection equipment and the excellent facilities at the hall.

Our gratitude also goes to Bipul’s Kitchen for offering a family meal voucher which topped up our raffle prizes.

We are now working on our next project: we would like to select at least one young person, resident of Chinnor, aged between 18 and 25 years to participate in a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) course. RYLA is a leadership training and skill development course for young people enabling them to bring new found confidence back into their communities. The course will take place in the Snowdonia National Park from Saturday 19 July to Saturday 26 July 2025.

Anyone interested in this project should contact Marius Ciortan, club’s president via text or WhatsApp:  07871 644 434 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To find out more about Chinnor Rotary’s projects and how to join Rotary, visit www.chinnorrotary.org or www.facebook.com/chinnor.rotary or email:

The Final of the Single Mat League was on Thursday 27th March, between Chinnor Short Mat Bowls Club and Amersham Short Mat Bowls Club. It was a very tense affair, as the singles players started the first match of the evening, the spectators went silent, and we were so proud of Paul Knight, our singles player, who held his nerve and pulled off a fantastic win. Then it was the turn of Bob and Ann Hine, playing the pairs. By this time, the supporters of both teams were becoming somewhat more vocal, and the oohs and aahs as some shots succeeded and others didn’t, were fuelling the excitement. We won the pairs by 5 shots. After a suitable break for drinks and nibbles, we settled down to enjoy the remaining game of triples, when Chris, Rosie and Jan stepped up. It was so exciting, as the Amersham team slowly started reducing the shot deficit, and our team hung on to prevent them from snatching victory. So Chinnor retained the trophy, it was presented to our victorious team, and now we just need to get it engraved!

In the Two Mat League, after all the league matches have been played, Chinnor are at the top with 125 points, which is 29 points ahead of our nearest rival which is Beacon, so Chinnor have been declared the winners, and will host the presentation evening at the end of April, when we will be presented with the trophy.

At the time of writing we just have one more final to play, which is the John Robinson Tournament. This takes place on the 14th April against Marsh Gibbon. Watch this space.
Despite these successes, we need new players, so please come and give Short Mat Bowls a try, especially if you have just retired and are looking for a completely new interest. We practice on Wednesday evenings and Friday afternoons, at the Village Hall.

Contact Bob on 01844 351154.

THE ORCHARD COTTAGES - CENSUS OF 1891

In 1891 the area at the top of the High Street leading to the Ridgeway path was variously described as Rices (more correctly ‘Risers”) and Hollands Lane. The upper part then housed two cottages being the remainder of three that had existed since at least the beginning of the century and before. To reach the cottages one has to traverse the railway line which has probably hindered access to the cottages and has made them more remote from the village.

The occupants of the cottages would have to pass Hill Farm in which the Eggleton family resided, having taken over from the Keen family whose family name was later adopted for the trackway which became known as Keen’s Lane.

The Rogers families monopolised the cottages. The three families residing there are all surnamed Rogers, James and Rebecca, Joseph and Sarah and James and Charlotte together with their respective families.

James and Rebecca and their 5 children, occupy one of the cottages having taken over the rental from Rebecca’s father, William Marriott, in about 1872, following William's death.  James, and two sons Harry and George, still find their employment on one of the local farms whilst the eldest child Sarah, 29, is a lacemaker. Their eldest son, Edward, had left the family previously and was residing at Cadmore End working as a Farm Servant.

Another cottage is occupied by Joseph and Sarah. They are 74 and 73 years of age. Ten years earlier Joseph was earning his living as an Agricultural Labourer as he had done all his life but presumably had no savings and not enough current income to live on. He and Sarah are therefore claiming benefits from the parish as “Paupers”. Living with them is son Ernest and also son-in-law Alfred Howlett and his wife Mary, nee Rogers, who had married in 1886. Subsequently Alfred had moved in. The census reveals a daughter, ‘Alice’ born in 1888. This appears to be an error in the census as the ‘granddaughter’. It was in fact an Elsie May born in 1888. The baptismal records of the church do show that a daughter ‘Alice’ [Ellis] Kate was born but in 1891, not 1888. Joseph died in 1892 and Sarah died 3 years later. Alfred and Mary carried on the tenancy following the deaths and Alfred was to witness the birth of 3 further children during the next decade.

Another James Rogers occupied the remaining residence with his wife Charlotte. Also residing are 7 children, William the eldest at 20, Jesse 17, both employed as Agricultural Labourers, as is their father, James. Also living with them is Charlotte’s mother, Phebe Smith, who has been living with them since the 1860s. Phebe was to pass away and be buried in Chinnor on the 9th July 1894 at the grand age of 89. Children born into the household since 1881 are Arthur, Charles and Ada joining the existing 4 children making a total of 10 inhabitants. Daughter Emily is not mentioned and it is not clear where she was living – but she subsequently married a George Lidgley in 1892 and moved to Beaconsfield.

Bernard Braun April 2025

Other ‘Stories from the Orchard’ can found on our website at https://greeningchinnor.blogspot.co.uk under the ‘Stories’ tab. If you would like to know more about the Donkey Lane Community Orchard project or get involved, please contact Linda on 07973 788993 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FORMER PLAYERS OF CHINNOR ATHLETIC ARE HOLDING THEIR FOURTH CHARITY FOOTBALL MATCH ON SUNDAY 8TH JUNE THIS YEAR.

Once again the ex-players will dusting off their boots and ‘putting on kit to support a worthwhile cause. A vote which was held between the players, have determined that this year we will be raising money for The Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

The match kicks off at 10.30am at the Community pavilion pitches, followed by a fundraising raffle being held in the club afterwards. Hot food will be available to purchase, and the bar will be open for drinks and snacks.

We are hoping to add more exciting attractions as the day nears - so please keep an eye out on social media!

If you’re an ex player of Chinnor Athletic and are interested in playing in the match, or just wanting more information, please just get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 07738 631297.

Any help or support would be gratefully received.

Chris, Rod, Steve and Andy

Chinnor Athletic FC Charity Committee

How welcome the sight and feel of the Spring sun has been, but this is a challenging time of year in the garden. We get enthusiastic about seed planting but it's still cold at night and the wind can be dangerous to young plants so we are grateful to have our greenhouse for the first time. We have planted cosmos seeds to start off our cut flower area after a visit to Emma Mears' Garden in Lewknor for advice.

The new pond has been installed and the surrounding area landscaped to encourage wildlife. It is already showing signs of life. Thanks to the help we received from the Community Payback Scheme. The fruit cage has been ordered and the planters have been constructed and placed along the side of the drive-in path. These have been planted with rhubarb, sage, rosemary, chives, oregano parsley, basil and coriander. Once these are established, they will be available to pick.

We had our first event of the year on Saturday 29th March when we held a Mother's Day Open Afternoon with tea and cake. About 30 people came including children and they enjoyed making cards and a small bouquet for their mums. We appreciated the donations given.

Our next event is a visit by Jack and Jill Preschool on the Easter Trail on Monday 21st April between 10-12 noon, followed by the Seed and Plant swap on Saturday 3rd May 2-4pm. Please collect any plants you can share and bring them along to the garden on the day.

Little Greens Garden Club recommences on Saturday 26th April 11.15-12.15pm, and the garden will be open between 1-4pm on Saturdays and Sundays from this date so pop in and see what's been happening at the garden. The blossom is starting to open, the anemones are cheerfully smiling, gladioli have been planted and who knows, we may have some toad spawn. We are keen to welcome volunteers and visitors. If you would like to see the garden open more often then please come along and get involved, there are opportunities for everyone.

Please visit our Facebook page or the website for more information. To get in touch, email us at; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Winter is now over, and we have already had some nice warm spring days. For Remembrance this year there are two significant dates; the 80th Anniversaries of VE Day (Victory In Europe, 8th May) and VJ Day (Victory in Japan, 15th August) which marked the formal end to the Second World War. There will be significant national commemorative events to mark this and I am sure that the Parish Council will be organising those for our community.

VE Day was significant for our nation as it represented the end of the threat posed by the Nazis and the cessation of action in the European Theatre of War. There would be no more doodlebugs, (the very first ‘military’ drones,) and V2 rockets falling from the skies. No more risk to shipping in the Atlantic, or North Sea and the threat of air raids was finally over, although by 1945 only a remote possibility, but the War was not over. It would continue for several months yet in the Far East and many servicemen continued to risk and for some, lose their lives.

In both theatres, it would still be a long time before servicemen would be able to return to their families. We must also remember that there were many women, both service women and civilians who have worked tirelessly to bring about the end of this conflict, both behind enemy lines and on the Home Front. The aftermath of the war would still affect everyone’s lives for many years to come.

As a Branch, it is our intention to mark both events with a short Ceremony of Commemoration on the day of the 80th Anniversaries at Chinnor War Memorial. The Ceremonies will start at 10:45 AM on the respective days, with a Two Minute Silence at 11:00 AM. As with our D Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration last year, we aim to keep this as a low-key event, not least because we cannot close the High Street for a major ceremony, but all will be welcome to join us. As we are on the High Street, if you attend please do be careful.

Poppy Co-ordinator Lynn has obtained a limited supply of VE Day Poppy Pins which she will have available at our Commemoration, and we will be looking for donations of £5.00 for one of these. If you would like to donate more, then that will all go to help the Appeal and the servicemen and their families that it supports!

Ian White. Branch Chair.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

01844 352085

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH : FLOWER AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL WITH AFTERNOON CREAM TEAS : THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC : SATURDAY 7 – SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2025 : 1-5PM

The St Andrew’s Church Flower Guild is hosting a flower festival with the theme of “Thank you for the Music” on Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June 2025, in conjunction with Chinnor Open Gardens.

The church will be decorated with flowers depicting “Thank for the Music” from all decades for all age groups. In addition, the church has invited several artists and crafters to share their skills during the flower festival in the church. There will also be a produce stall selling jams, crafts, etc and a plant stall – any donations towards the produce stall will be gratefully received closer to the date of the festival. Please note no bric-a-brac. There will also be a willow crafter sharing her skills and crafts with the public. Cream teas will be sold on both afternoons of the festival. This year’s festival will again host tours of the bell tower on both days.

Suggested donation of £2.00 at the door will be gratefully received. The funds raised during this Flower and Crafts Festival will go towards the ongoing care and maintenance of St Andrew’s Church. St Andrew’s Church is in the heart of Chinnor and beloved by locals and visitors alike. The building is used by the community, for the community.

Opening times: Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June: 1pm- 5pm

Bell Tower: Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June : 2-4pm

St Andrew’s Church Flower Guild

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH : FLOWER AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL WITH AFTERNOON CREAM TEAS : THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC : SATURDAY 7 – SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2025 : 1-5PM

The St Andrew’s Church Flower Guild is hosting a flower festival with the theme of “Thank you for the Music” on Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June 2025, in conjunction with Chinnor Open Gardens.

The church will be decorated with flowers depicting “Thank for the Music” from all decades for all age groups.  In addition, the church has invited several artists and crafters to share their skills during the flower festival in the church.  There will also be a produce stall selling jams, crafts, etc and a plant stall – any donations towards the produce stall will be gratefully received closer to the date of the festival.  Please note no bric-a-brac.  There will also be a willow crafter sharing her skills and crafts with the public. Cream teas will be sold on both afternoons of the festival.  This year’s festival will again host tours of the bell tower on both days.

Suggested donation of £2.00 at the door will be gratefully received. The funds raised during this Flower and Crafts Festival will go towards the ongoing care and maintenance of St Andrew’s Church.  St Andrew’s Church is in the heart of Chinnor and beloved by locals and visitors alike. The building is used by the community, for the community.

Opening times: Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June: 1pm- 5pm

Bell Tower: Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June : 2-4pm

St Andrew’s Church Flower Guild

LOOKING FOR A SENSE OF PURPOSE - would you like to contribute or create

LOOK NO FURTHER ..become a VOLUNTEER in Friendship Clubs, mini bus or café and contribute to giving others a really great experience or become a TRUSTEE and help to create the future. Whichever you decide we would love to be able to tap into your skills and experience. You would be joining a team of friendly, dedicated people and would receive a very warm welcome. If you fancy a chat about this - contact Michele Pethers 0779732097 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thanks to all those who came to the Quiz Night on 21 March. This collaborative event with Chinnor & District u3a) raised over £700.00 for CVC

THE YEAR AHEAD

COMING UP NEXT

Friday 9 May Jacqueline Faye – Night out with the Stars

COMING SOON

Saturday and Sunday 7&8 June Community Cafe open for Chinnor Open Gardens

LEGACY FUNDING

The CVC relies on donations, and one way you could help is by leaving something a donation in your will (also avoiding or minimising inheritance tax)

For further information on events, donations please contact Julie or Rayne in the Administration Office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 01844 353733

The Lyrid meteor shower runs from 16-25 April, peaking on 12 April, there is no that night so the sky will be dark.  The meteors are from Comet c/1861 G1 Thatcher which circles the Sun every 415 years.  The Lyrids are the oldest recorded meteor shower being noted in 687BC.  The Moon has many conjunctions with planets this month: Jupiter on 3rd & 30th, Mars on 5th, Venus and Saturn on 29th.

Dr Barry Kellett's February talk was on "Mysterious Mercury".  It is the solar system's smallest planet but it has the largest core, relative to it's size. Temperatures at noon can soar to 800°F, hot enough to melt lead, and drop to -290°F. It is the planet closest to the Sun but it also has the most eccentric orbit varying between 29 and 43 million miles. it is also very difficult to get to because it is travelling so fast.  Earth travels at 107,000 kph and Mercury 172,000 kph so any space craft has to make use of gravity assists from Venus on its way there.

Astronomers assumed that Mercury was tidally locked to the Sun with the same side always facing the Sun so that its day is one year.  It is locked to the Sun but in a 3:2 ratio, for every 3 times Mercury goes round the Sun it rotates twice,  its day is longer than its year! Its axis is almost perfectly vertical so shadowed areas at the poles contain ice!  The first photos of Mercury made it look much like the Moon with many craters but it turns out these are not impact craters but volcanic craters.  Mercury is almost as dense as Earth and has a magnetic field so must have an iron core, but it rotates so slowly it should not be magnetic!  Part of its outer core must therefore be molten, and to be molten there must be radioactive elements present.  There is much yet to learn.

Our next meeting will take place at 10am on Monday 28^th April in Watlington Town Hall.  You do not have to be an astronomer, the talks are at the lay person's level. Do come along and join us as we revisit one of Barry's previous talks.
Phil Crockett.

APRIL NEWS – CURLEW

The Curlew’s wonderful ‘bubbling’ call is one of the most evocative sounds of springtime in meadows and pastures across Oxfordshire. Something we cherish, but which is sadly under threat. The Curlew is arguably the most pressing bird conservation priority in the UK, where nearly half the breeding population has been lost over the last 25 years and where range contraction has seen Curlews disappear from many traditional sites.

Watch our 'Curlew River' film which explores the work of farmers and volunteers to help our wonderful Curlews as well as highlighting the fabulous ancient meadows and wet grassland habitats that they inhabit in our area. https://www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk/projects/curlew

National Allotment Week

ALLOTMENTS CAN PROVIDE WONDERFUL SPACES FOR NATURE AND PEOPLE. ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ARE NOW A vital refuge for much of our local wildlife, with many species now relying on our gardens to survive, such as the greenfinch, stag beetle and hedgehog. It’s easy to forget that our gardens join up with other gardens as well as the local greenspaces to make one big patchwork of foraging, drinking, and nesting sites. Together we can help nature bounce back, garden by garden.

Thank you so much for all you have done for nature's recovery in the last year. Together we have brought people together, created more space for nature, and inspired more people to act for nature. Many people contribute to Wild Oxfordshire, and this support enables us to create a more natural, resilient, and biodiverse Oxfordshire for the benefit of all. If you would like to join in and are able to, we would greatly appreciate a contribution towards our work, either through a one-off contribution, or a monthly contribution. Check out our website to find out more about the many ways you can support us and our recent achievements.

Mike Pollard, Wild Oxfordshire Curlew Recovery Project

https://www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk/

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER MARCH 2025 – many hours after the first service had taken place on the island of Samoa in the Pacific Ocean we held the same here in Chinnor at the Community Church on 7th March.

The sun was shining as we greeted all our visitors with the gift of a flower to wear for the day; together we were focussing on the Bible passage “I made you Wonderful” through a service written by the Christian women of the Cook Islands. This service was both powerful in its affirmation of who we are, unique and wonderfully made, and peacefully reassuring as it emphasised God’s love and support through experiences shared, songs and prayers.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and especially those who took part as readers, technicians, and musicians, we had a band and keyboard with folk from all of our churches.

It was a special occasion to celebrate the Cook Islands, too, with displays of pictures from the Islands, palms, coconuts, shells, and Cook Island shell necklaces all set out on a colourful cloth, a present from Cook Islanders who visited Chinnor and Thame in the 1990s. We recycled hand-made palm trees from the Christmas Tree Festival (St Andrew’s).

Thank you to pupils from Year 4 at St Andrew’s School and children at St Andrew’s Church Chooseday group who created a display focussing on the environmental issues of global warming and the effect it is having on the Cook Islands. What an amazing variety of sea creatures you coloured, and we added some exotic shells and a model of a Cook Island Polynesian/Māori canoe beautifully made by our resident engineer/craft expert. Perfect for sailing off into the warmth of a day exploring the Cook Islands.

Resources were also shared with Aston Rowant school.

Our local Guide Rangers used World Day of Prayer resources to support their focus on guiding around the world and created a colourful and interesting display on the history of Guiding in the Cook Islands. Thank you so much.

Where possible we set up our displays in our village churches available to view for a few weeks following our services.

Do visit the national website and browse news, prayers, plus information and resources for the annual services www.wwdp.org.uk,.

Next year our services will be held on Friday 6th March 2026 at St Andrew’s Church; the service has been prepared by a writing group of Christian women in Nigeria using the text “I will give you rest, come”. Please add the date to your diary and join us.

Anne Marie, Barbara, Margaret, Diane, Sue, Ruth, Monica, and Ann.

Chinnor Branch, World Day of Prayer.