Welcome to the latest newsletter. If you wish to have an item included in this newsletter, please email us at newsandevents@boxted.org.uk by Thursday 5pm at the latest. Thank you.
Crocuses at the Cross
Just before Christmas members of the Boxted Wildlife group planted a mixture of early spring flowering bulbs on the grass verges around The Cross and Hobbs Drive. Bulbs planted included crocus, narcissus bulbocordium and iris reticulata. As well as brightening up the area, the blooms should provide some welcome nectar for any early emerging hibernating bees.
Various varieties of daffodils which should give a display of blooms from now until May were also planted on the verges around Hobbs Drive.
Parish Councillor Vacancy
If you have an interest in your local community and want to help decide the (very) local matters then do have a think about applying.
Its a voluntary position but training and expenses provided.
https://boxtedparishcouncil.org.uk/vacancies/
The initial (legal) process to fill a vacancy is run by Colchester City Council and the application needs to be received by 28th March 2024 with the names of 10 local residents supporting the application – so a bit of time is needed.
Forest Church
Saturday 9 March, 3pm
St Peter’s Churchyard
Church Services
Sunday 10 March
St Peter’s Boxted
9.30 am Holy Communion.
Tuesday 12 March
11.45 am – 1.15 pmLent Soup Lunch
Buy an Easter Lily in memory of a loved one
Each Easter St.Peter’s Church, Boxted continues the ancient tradition of decorating the church with lilies, which are arranged in memory of the departed.
If you would like to remember a loved one at this Easter by purchasing one or more lilies to be displayed in church on your behalf, please contact Annette Whybrow on 01206 272773.
Price:
Arum : £2.70 each
Longiflorum : £ 2.00 each
Orders to be placed by 22 March 2024.
Mobile library
Thursday 14 March
9.35am – 10.05am: Moor Road, Langham
10.10am – 10.40am: Boxted Village Hall car park
Below are a couple of photos of attendees enjoying the previous wildlife walk. For further information on how to participate contact Boxted Wildlife at info@BoxtedWildlife.co.uk or just come along to the village hall meet-up point and get walking! 
Bus Survey 2024
Have your say on travelling by bus in Essex
TravelEssex is conducting a survey to better understand public opinion of the bus services in Essex, and how it can improve bus services to encourage more people to use them.
An online survey for both bus users and non-bus users is available during the next two weeks.
In addition, face-to-face surveys will be carried out across Essex in six locations: Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow, Clacton and Harwich during the same period.
The survey will close on Sunday 17 March 2024. To have your say and take part in this survey, please click here .
Boxted History Group
Wednesday 20 March, 8pm
Boxted Village Hall
Steve Pollington will talk to the History Group about Anglo-Saxon burial mounds .
All welcome. Phone 272250 for information
Langham Film Nights
What’s on in April ….
Dedham Vale National Landscape Dark Skies Campaign Dark Skies Fair
Sunday 7 April, from 3.30pm
Boxted Village Hall
To commemorate the International Dark Skies Week 2024 we are holding a FREE Dark Skies Fair at Boxted Village Hall on Sunday April 7th from 3:30pm to 10:00pm. There will be lots of activities for both young and old.
We have a number of speakers lined up to talk about the night skies and the effects of the encroaching light pollution on our beautiful National Landscape. Starting with Dr Chris Gibson: The Famous Moth Man. Topics will range from Wildlife and Nature to our own health. We will be having a number of astronomy talks including: recognising the night skies, our solar system, and buying a telescope.
We will also have practical workshops where there will be a number of experts on hand to help you with telescope workshops and one to one advice sessions. If you want to know something about your equipment then bring it along and we will show you how to use it.
Weather permitting during the day we will have some Solar Telescopes trained on the Sun where you will be able to see sunspots on the surface, and flares and prominences being ejected into the chromosphere. As the sun sets we celebrate the dark skies with the moon out of the way you will be able to observe some of the faint and fuzzy delights above us.
There will be a number of exhibits, films and activities for all ages. Including paper rocket making and colouring.
Booking is not required, but emailing DedhamValeAstronomy@gmail.com will help us gauge the number of attendees to expect. There is no charge for this event, and there will also be free refreshments available.
Our event page will be regularly updated at https://www.dedhamvalesociety.org.uk/pages/dark-sky-fair
Schedule:
Open at 3:30 In the hall:
- 4:00 Dr Chris Gibson: The Famous Moth Man
- 5:00 Beverley McClean : Planning for Lighting
- 5:45 Lisa Mathews: Nocturnal Animals
- 6:15 Telescope Workshop
- 6:45 Paul Blakesley: The Solar System
- 7:30 Mike Barrett: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- 8:15 Nik Szymanek: Beginning Astrophotography
- 8:45 Telescope Viewing/Workshop
- 10:00 Close
In between talks Dark Sky Videos will be playing On the field (weather permitting)
- 4:00 to 6pm Solar Observing
- 6:00 Planet Observing (Jupiter and Venus)
- 7:30 Sunset / Watch the Stars pop out
- 8:30 to 10pm Observing
Boxted Annual Parish Meeting
Wednesday 10 April, 7pm
Boxted Village Hall
Did you know the Parish Council has a meeting for all residents each Spring and the date this year is Wednesday 10th April 7pm in the Village Hall?
We are hoping to hear about the Boxted against Pylons campaign and also have a chat with Doug about his experiences of opening and running Harpers Caffe in the village.
Its an opportunity to have a chat with the Council in a less formal setting than the monthly Parish Council meetings.
Put the date in your diary and come along if you can.
Click here to buy tickets onliine
Save the date …
Regulars in Boxted
Did you know there is an events calendar for Boxted Village Hall on the Boxted Village Website. Click here to view the calendar .
Sing to beat Parkinsons
Fortnightly Wednesdays 10.30 – noon (term time). £5.00. Contact Emma Bishton at colchester.singtobeat@gmail.com for more information and check session dates at www.ejbmusic.co.uk/colchester
Boxted Royal British Legion
Check out the latest events on the RBL Facebook page .
All are welcome to all events!
Don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter! If you have already signed up and not seen anything yet – please check your junk mail and mark us as not spam!!
Please click here to add your name to the mailing list: https://yvugxoqm77a.typeform.com/to/XkCQ9Db
Forest Church
Second Saturday every month, 3pm, St Peter’s Churchyard
Boxted Bingo!
Contact Dot for more details on 01206 272676
Open door drop-in cafe
Fridays, 8.45am – 10.15am
Boxted Village Hall
Term time only
Boxted History Group
3rd Wednesday of each month
Boxted Village Hall – 7.30 pm
For further information call 01206 272774
2nd Tuesday of the month 7.30pm @ Boxted Village Hall
Contact:
Geraldine Russell 07840 746953
Email Essex HQ @ admin@essexwi.org.uk
Find us on Facebook
Art and Craft Club
3rd Wednesday of each month 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall
Bowls club
Every Friday 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall
Our Boxted Evergreen Club meet in the village hall every four weeks from 2.00pm to 3.30pm. Anyone wishing to come along would be given a warm welcome. Our members are always asked for their suggestions before our yearly entertainment programme is arranged, so we do try our best to cater for everyone. If you would like more information about our club please call Linda on 01206 272710.
Monthly Pencil Art
Contact willowsofdedham@gmail.com for more info
Mobile library
10.10am – 10.40am
Boxted Village Hall car park
04 April
25 April
16 May
06 June
27 June
18 July
08 August
29 August
19 September
10 October
31 October
21 November
12 December
https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/digital-content/our-mobile-and-home-library-services/mobile-libraries/colchester
You can call our Contact Centre on 0345 603 7628 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, to speak to an advisor, or use the 24-hour automated service (option 1) to renew your items (also at weekends).
The Edge & The Zone
The Zone for 6-11 year olds 5.30pm-7pm and the Edge for 12-18 year olds 7.30pm-9.00pm. Fortnightly during term time at St Peter’s Church. Contact Linda Sheil 01206 273324
Regulars in Langham
The Langham Community Centre hosts a wide range of regular clubs and unique activities. Many of these groups would welcome new members, so don’t hesitate to browse the ‘Activities’ page on the website or see the Facebook page to find out more.
If you have an idea for a new club or event, please contact Sue Armstrong by calling 07741 284132 or emailing LanghamCC@gmail.com to further discuss your idea.
Langham Ladies meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 7:30pm – 10:00pm at Langham Community Centre. Contact Gill Brown on 01206 273286 or Tricia Gooding on 01206 230510
Langham Community Cafe
Main Hall of the Community Centre on the last Friday of each month, from 10:30am until midday. All are welcome to join us for coffee/tea and cakes.
Beer and the Bible
Mobile Library
Moor Road, Langham, 9.35am – 10.05am
04 April
25 April
16 May
06 June
27 June
18 July
08 August
29 August
19 September
10 October
31 October
21 November
12 December
https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/digital-content/our-mobile-and-home-library-services/mobile-libraries/colchester
You can call our Contact Centre on 0345 603 7628 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, to speak to an advisor, or use the 24-hour automated service (option 1) to renew your items (also at weekends).
In the Community
East Anglia GREEN project update
Following the name change we have also updated our project contact details which you can now use to get in touch with us here:
– contact@n-t.nationalgrid.com
– FREEPOST N TO T
– www.nationalgrid.com/norwich-to-tilbury
Langham Community Shop now has leaflets regarding National Grid’s Norwich to Tilbury pylon/cables plan. If you would like to object to their proposals, please pick up and complete the forms, which can be left at the Shop to be sent to the Secretary of State.
You can also find the petition online at: https://pylonseastanglia.co.uk/ or join the Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/718238339216424/
Food bank donations
Food bank collection points are at Boxted British Legion Club, St Peter’s Church, Boxted, St Mary’s Church Langham and Langham Community Shop
Find out what’s needed and how you can help. Go to: https://colchester.foodbank.org.uk/
Good Neighbours
For help with transport to an important appointment (hospital, dentist, flu/covid booster, collection of prescriptions or a visit for some company. Call so we can help, Monday to Friday, 8am – 7pm:
- Monday……….230525 or 272773
- Tuesday……….271813 or 273195
- Wednesday….272755 or 272013
- Thursday……..07842 034489 or 323007 or 07765 037892
- Friday………… 07510 504026
Please phone for the day on which you make your call, not the day of your appointment.
St Peter’s Markets Plants
Over 500 plants are for sale in aid of Langham with Boxted Church Funds. Most plants are £1.50 to £3.50 with quantity discounts. Perennials, English native trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers are available. First come first served but all will be done to fulfil requests. Contact Stephen Whybrow on 07801 749575 or email stephenwhybrow@msn.com to order or arrange viewing or visit https://stpetersmarketplace.org/ for more information.
Useful links:
Boxted Parish Council
Boxted Parish Council on Facebook
Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Village Website
Boxted Neighbourhood Plan
Boxted Primary School
Boxted British Legion
Boxted S t Peters Church
Little Owls Pre-School
Boxted Cricket Club
Mobile Library Service
Boxted Runners
Boxted 10K
Boxted WI on Facebook
Boxted WI on Twitter
Boxted Airfield Historical Group
Langham Community Centre
Langham Community Shop
Langham St Mary’s Church
Langham Village Website
Langham Parish Council
2nd Langham Scouts
Dedham Vale & Stour Valley ANOB
Essex County Council’s PROW Interactive map
Colchester District Neighbourhood Watch
Boxted Village Website 