Village News and Events
in Boxted and Langham
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.
Happy Christmas to all our readers!
Putting down roots in Boxted
Above and below: trees recently planted in Queen’s Head Road
Residents may have noticed lots of trees being planted in the village and wondered what it is all about.
The planting has taken place under the Woodland Carbon Guarantee Scheme. This allows producers who produce carbon to offset it against carbon reducing schemes.
A year ago the landowner entered the area they were going to plant into a Government Woodland Carbon Guarantee National Auction and obtained a price that they could run with.
At that point they successfully applied for a Forestry Commission Wood Creation Scheme and Carbon Set Off Scheme. This involved the following agencies:
- Forestry Commission.
- Natural England.
- Environment Agency.
- Local Authority Archaeology.
- Boxted Parish Council.
There are approximately 8 acres being planted consisting of the following trees.
- 1877 Oak
- 1460 Hornbeam
- 1250 Lime
- 1200 Silver Birch
- 600 Cherry
- 400 Hazel
- A small number of Scots Pine and Douglas Fir.
The number and varieties are at the behest of the Forestry Commission.
Carbon will start to be sold after approximately 5 years, increasing yearly.
Responsibility of maintaining woodland is the landowners to the satisfaction of the Forestry Commission.
It is a long term project but the local environment should benefit fairly quickly. 
Village Walks
Meet at Boxted Village Hall, 10am
Saturday 17 December
Church services
Please see below all church services for this month, 
Langham Community Shop
Christmas and New Year Opening Hours
Christmas Eve, 24 December , 8.45 am to 1.00 pm
Christmas Day , Closed
Boxing Day 26 and 27 December (BH) , 9.30 to 11.30 am
28, 29, 30 December , 8.45 am to 4.00 pm
New Years Eve, 31 December , 8.45 am to 1.00 pm
New Years Day and 2 January (BH) , 9.30 to 11.30 am.
Mobile library
Thursday 29 December, 10.10am to 10.40am
Boxted Village Hall car park
Cosy Café
Langham Community Centre
Wednesday 11 January, 10.00 am – 1.00 pm
Run by the Community Shop, there is free homemade soup in a warm space; freshly baked rolls, mince pies, hot drinks and cakes available for sale. Those who wish to come along and have difficulty getting to the Centre please call 272431.
St Peter’s Churchyard Working Group
Saturday 14 January, 10 am – 2.00 pm
We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join in. We are making great progress but we need to maintain the momentum!
Tools and refreshments will be provided and any time you are able to join in between 10am and 2.00 pm will be much appreciated.
Contact Stephen Whybrow for further information on 07801749575
New Year – routine chores
Simon Armson-Smith
Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor
Essex Police
The start of the new year is a good time look at your safety and security and check that everything is as it should be both inside the house, outside and at work. Below are just a few things to consider but I am sure you can think of many more:
- This time of year is a good time prune many varieties of plants, trees and shrubs so have a look at them; ensure that they do not provide a climbing aid into your property or prevent that all important clear view into your frontage that may deter crime. Be mindful though; those brambles, other spiky plants and stinging nettles on your boundary are nature’s own deterrent to intruders, any cuttings can be used to fill gaps in a hedge line.
- Consider supplementing your boundary security with some nice spiky plants, they look and smell nice but may also be a deterrent to intruders. Suitable advice can be sought from The Royal Horticultural Society or your local garden centre.
- Fences and gates, are they still intact and well maintained, do the gates lock securely.
- Outside lighting, are they all working okay and are they clean?
- Sheds and outbuilding are they still intact and well maintained, lubricate the locks exposed to the weather.
- Smoke detectors; are they working okay and in date and where appropriate do the batteries need replacing, remember mains operated ones may have a battery back-up that may need replacing regularly.
- CCTV systems: like with your lighting ensure that they are kept clean and maintained. Smart doorbells or other that may use a solar charger, at this time of year they may not be getting much of a charge so consider topping up the battery with a charger where appropriate.
- Property marking; over Christmas you may have received some new tools, electrical or computing items consider using an appropriate property marking product.
- 21/12/22 is the shortest day so we still have a few more ‘darker nights’, make your home looks like you are in even when you are out by having lights on timers in the house and perhaps a TV simulator.
- Lastly in my list, don’t leave your car unattended on the drive with the engine running whilst you de-ice/demist it, it only takes a minute to steal it and it mat affect an insurance claim.
For further crime prevention advice see https://www.essex.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/
or https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice
1921 Census now available for free searching
You can now get free, unlimited access to transcripts and images from the 1921 census of England and Wales. All the censuses from 1841 to 1921 can now be searched free of charge, enabling family historians throughout Essex to build up a comprehensive picture of where their ancestors lived throughout the period and with whom, their approximate ages, and details of their occupations.
Just visit your local library and log on to Find My Past . (Link: libraries.essex.gov.uk/reference-and-courses-online/reference-materials/biographical-historical-and-family-history/ )
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 .
Open door drop-in cafe
Friday mornings in term-time, 8.45am – 10.15am
Boxted Village Hall
Boxted Royal British Legion
Check out the latest events on the RBL Facebook page .
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!!
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Village Walks
Meet at Boxted Village Hall, 10am
Saturday 21 January
Sat 18 February
Boxted History Group
3rd Wednesday of each month
Boxted Village Hall
For further information call 01206 272774
Boxted WI
2nd Tuesday of each month 7.30 – 9,30
Boxted Village Hall
You can find us on Facebook
Art and Craft Club
1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall
Bowls club
Every Friday 2 – 4 pm
Boxted Village Hall
Monthly Pencil Art
Contact willowsofdedham@gmail.com for more info
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 Dominic 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
The Shepherd and Dog, Langham
Second Monday of the month, 8pm
In the Community
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
. Items currently sought-after include:
- Long life fruit juice
- Long life milk
- Tinned meat/fish
- Fruit squash
- Pasta sauce
- Small boxes of tea *80*
- Tinned veg
- Tinned custard/rice pudding
- Jam/peanut butter
- Multipack snacks
- Small jars of coffee
- Nappies sizes 5,6,7 and 8
- Deodorant male/female
- Shampoo
- Small washing powder/liquid
- Washing up liquid
- Shaving gel/foam
For more information, please visit their website: https://colchester.foodbank.org.uk/
Thank you in advance for donations. The British Legion request that donations are not left outside the Club, BL Opening times are:
- Monday : Closed
- Tuesday : Closed
- Wednesday : 16.30 – 00.00
- Thursday : 16.30 – 21.30
- Friday : 16.30 – 00.00
- Saturday : 15.00 – 00.00
- Sunday : 13.00 – 21.00
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.
Green Energy Consultation
For further information on what’s going on with the National Grid Green Energy Project, please visit https://boxtedparishcouncil.org.uk/national-grid-green-energy-project/
A petition has been set up to ‘SAY NO TO 180km of Essex Suffolk Norfolk pylons’ and is asking the Government to look realistically to the green future and build a strategic offshore grid instead. You can find the petition at www.pylonseastanglia.co.uk or you can write to local MP Sir Bernard Jenkin – bernard.jenkin.mp@parliament.uk who is chair of OffSET (the Off-Shore Electricity Grid Task Force).
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.
Digital help at home
This service is available online. Michael Smith at Colchester Borough Council is still offering digital support via a remote service. See the Council’s webpage or, for further information.
- Colchester 01206 282 452/ Clacton 01255 686497
- Email: Digitalaccesssupport@colchester.gov.uk
Mobile library
10.10am to 10.40am
Boxted Village Hall car park
19 January
9 February
For all mobile library dates go to https://libraries.essex.gov.uk/mobile-library-service/boxted/boxted-village-hall/
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
Little Owls Pre-School
Langham and Boxted Churches
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 Village Website
Langham Parish Council
2nd Langham Scouts
Dedham Vale & Stour Valley ANOB
Essex County Council’s PROW Interactive map
Colchester District Neighbourhood Watch
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