Issue 55 Spring 2013 & Tattenhoe Community News The official source of Parish Council news & information for residents of Emerson Valley, Furzton, Kingsmead, Shenley Brook End, Shenley Lodge, Tattenhoe, Tattenhoe Park & Westcroft.

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO WARD BOUNDARIES WOULD AFFECT THE PARISH

Parish Grid Squares AC Emerson Valley North AD Emerson Valley South AE Furzton North AF Furzton South AG Kingsmead AH Shenley Brook End AI Shenley Lodge AJ Tattenhoe AK Westcroft AN Oxley Park

New Ward Proposals

The Boundaries Commission has issued draft Residents can make their views known by proposals for changes in ward boundaries which responding on a document that can be viewed would have significant impact on residents living on this site: in this Parish. www.lgbce.org.uk/current-consultations, In essence the proposed changes are as follows: just click on 'have your say' box. Residents living in Furzton South and Emerson A full map showing the proposed new boundaries Valley South, that is, south of the linear park up can be seen by clicking on the map to enlarge it. to Standing Way, would be transferred to It is important to note that these changes West ward. would not affect the Parish Council boundaries Oxley Park, not currently in this Parish, would at this time. become part of a new ward to be known as We would encourage residents to visit the Tattenhoe. Commission’s website and give their views. The Boundaries Commission has begun a public The Parish Council will be responding separately, consultation which runs until 18th March 2013. once this matter is formally debated. If you have access to the internet, full details can be found on the Commission’s website.

2.! Who’s Who? 8. Rainbows’ Promise. 12. P&E Report. Councillor lineup. St Giles’ Clear-up. SCF Building Project. School Fund Raising. 3. Chairman’s Column. 13 Grumpy Clerk?! Meeting dates. 9. ‘Beeting’ the Snow. 14. Community Centre Community Committee Report. Information. 6. Dig for Fitness?. EV Brownies. Tattenhoe ‘Baby & Tots’. 15. What’s On. What’s in a Name? 10. Gardening with Ginnie. 16. SBE School in Zanzibar. 11. Edith’s on the Case! Community News Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Councillors and Officers are:

EMERSON VALLEY NORTH EMERSON VALLEY NORTH EMERSON VALLEY SOUTH

David Edmonds Mark Mitchell-Doyle Policy & Finance Community Vacancy Committee. Committee.

FURZTON NORTH FURZTON NORTH FURZTON SOUTH

Kevin Geaney Maggie Geaney Chris Williams Chair Planning & Environment Community Committee. Planning & Environment Committee. Community Committee. Policy & Finance Committee. Committee.

FURZTON SOUTH KINGSMEAD SHENLEY BROOK END Keith Thomas Nicholas Vidamour Charlie Osler Web Master. Chairman, Policy & Finance Planning & Environment Community Committee. Committee. Committee. Policy & Finance Policy & Finance Committee. Committee.

SHENLEY BROOK END SHENLEY LODGE SHENLEY LODGE Dave Sanders David Livingstone Roy Verman Chairman, Community Committee. Parish Council. Community Committee. Planning & Environment Community Committee. Planning & Environment Committee. Planning & Environment Committee. Policy & Finance Committee. Policy & Finance Committee. Chairman, Committee. Policy & Finance Committee. WESTCROFT TATTENHOE TATTENHOE Jean Nicholas Michael Cato Vice-Chair, Parish Council. Michele Chapman Community Committee. Planning & Environment Planning & Environment Community Committee. Committee. Committee. Planning & Environment Policy & Finance Policy & Finance Committee. Committee. Committee.

Rebecca Carole McMillan Sharon Kerr Zimmerman Finance & Office Administrator Clerk Administrator

Andy Ridgway Karen Wheeler Matt Jarvis Karl Digby Alex Gowan Simon Wells Tony Jeffs Youth Leader Youth Worker Youth Worker Youth Worker Youth Worker Parish Warden Parish Warden

For advertising details, contact the Clerk on 01908 521538. To contribute to the Community News, please write to:- The Clerk, Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Council, 6 Wimborne Crescent, Westcroft District Centre MK4 4DE. You can email us at:- [email protected] and visit our website at:- www.shenleybrookend-pc.gov.uk Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Council does not endorse any goods or services advertised in the Community News or subscribe to, or endorse any political party. FINAL COPY DATE: May 3rd 2013 - Anything received after this date may not be accepted for the next issue 2 Spring 2013 CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN FIRST, THE GOOD NEWS……….. Your Parish Council has resolved not to increase the precept for the year beginning April 2013. This will be the third year running that we have frozen the precept, which is levied on all dwellings in this parish. Although all Town and Parish Councils in and Wales are not subject to the cost capping guidelines issued by the coalition government, we have decided that in these difficult economic times, we should play our part in not asking residents for more money. Over the past year we have looked very carefully at our costs, and in many cases we have saved money by simple good housekeeping, and re-negotiation of the arrangements we have with contractors and public utilities. In the coming year, we have determined not to reduce the level of services we provide, nor do we intend to introduce staff cuts. We believe that we can manage the affairs of this Parish Council within our agreed budget, without the need for any increase in the precept. NOW THE BAD NEWS………… We provide a number of notice boards throughout the Parish to publicise our activities and those of other organisations. In January this year, one of these notice boards located in Edison Square, Shenley Lodge, was attacked by vandals. It’s going to cost us some £300 to have it repaired; money we would rather spend on other things. We live in an odd society, where a minority seem to take pleasure in damaging facilities provided for the benefit of the majority. AND FINALLY………… The Boundary Commission is conducting a public consultation on proposed changes to Ward boundaries in our area and, if implemented, would affect some residents in Emerson Valley and Furzton but do not affect the Parish Council boundaries. More details on the front page. The deadline for comments to be received is 18th March 2013. David Livingstone Parish Council Chairman

Parish Council Meetings Can We Help You? Grants are available from the Parish Council. Meetings of the full Parish Council and its committees are held each month on Mondays at 7:15 pm. at Any group, society, play-group, or charitable Parish Office, 6 Wimborne Crescent, Westcroft (opposite Westfriers). organisation in the Parish, or benefiting residents of the Parish, may apply for a grant Full Parish Council from the Parish Council. If you can show us March 25th April 29th May 28th (Tues) June 24th that the grant will be put to good use, we are only too Community Committee pleased to help. We will also provide space in the Community News to March 11th April 15th May 13th June 10th publicise the work of organisations receiving grants. We can Planning & Environment Committee include articles from any organisation that benefits the March 4th April 8th May 7th (Tues) June 3rd community, irrespective of grant applications. Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Council is willing to publicise anything Members of the public are welcome at any of these meetings. that helps local residents, so please let us know about it. If you wish to attend, just turn up but you may wish to contact the Clerk Contact the clerk by email, telephone or letter. on 01908 521538 beforehand to check that there have not been any changes. Ward Councillors Emerson Valley Ward Furzton Ward Youth Club Sessions Stuart Burke (Lib Dem) Jenni Ferrans (Lib Dem) Monday Football 5-6pm Tattenhoe Pavilion Edith Bald (Conservative) Chris Williams (Lib Dem) Tuesday Furzton Youth Club 4.30-6.30pm Furzton Pavilion Gerald Small (Conservative) Wednesday Football 5-6pm SBE School Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes South Wednesday Westcroft Youth Club 5-7pm Parish Offices Iain Stewart MP Thursday Westcroft Youth Club 5-7pm Parish Offices Thursday Football 5-6pm Tattenhoe Pavilion

Advertising Rates Full Page £150 Half Page (landscape) £75 Quarter Page (portrait) £40 ‘Business card’ (90mmx50mm approx.) £15

Don’t forget that the Trades Directory is still available on the Parish website along with much more news and information at: www.shenleybrookend-pc.gov.uk.

3 Community News

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5 Community News ON YOUR MARKS…GET SET… Tattenhoe ‘Baby & Tots’ First Birthday With funding from the Parish Council and help from a few local GROW! mums we started up Tattenhoe Baby & Tots on the 20th April 2012. We are now nearly one year on and the group has gone Was one of your New Year resolutions to get more from strength to strength. We have amazing crafts for your exercise? little tots and a healthy snack each week. We also offer a regular guest segment to make parents aware of what other Do you want to know that your fruit and vegetables are activity groups are available. One of our popular guests is Disco fresh and free of pesticide residues, but find organic Babies and is great fun for the parents and kiddies. In produce a bit too expensive? Would you like to have November last year we held our first ‘Mummies Night Out’. Due ultra-fresh salads which haven’t been washed in to the success of this we have several future dates already planned for this year! chlorine water and packed in bags with preserving gas? On Friday 19th April we will be holding a 1st Birthday Party to Is naturally grown produce with real taste more celebrate the group running for its first year. We would like to important to you than the uniformly standardised say a big “thank you” to all our regular parents of the group offerings on the supermarket shelves? which have helped make our first year a great one and who Then why not get an allotment! make the running of the group successful. Thank you everyone, the group would not be running without you! With an allotment and some calorie-busting digging Over the last year we have had several parties and raffles which (just 30 minutes of allotment gardening can burn have been supported by local businesses surrounding around 150 calories - and give your muscles a good Tattenhoe. We would like to say a big “thank you” to all the businesses who have helped donate a raffle prize and helped tone up at the same time!) you can have cheap, home- make our parties so successful. grown food that’s fresher than anything bought in a We would also like to say “thank you” to the Parish Council shop; full of vitamins, free from harmful chemicals and who gave us the initial start-up grant. I feel very privileged to not genetically modified. have had so much local support for a facility which is greatly needed. Whilst you will need to invest time and effort in We are always looking for new members to join the group and ’growing your own’ – a minimum of 3-4 hours a week in join the committee or for anyone who would like to get the productive season depending on the size of plot – involved with the running of the group on a regular basis. you don’t need to break the bank to get started. The To find out further information on Tattenhoe Baby & Tots, basic items you'll need are a fork, spade, seed rake, hoe please visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ and trowel (these can often be bought second-hand at babyandtots.tattenhoe. You will find regular updates on guest segments and crafts for each week and photographs from car boot sales) – and of course a stout pair of wellies! previous sessions. Working an allotment is a great way of spending time outdoors, passing the time of day with other allotment What’s in a Name? holders and swapping tales of your growing successes When driving round Milton Keynes have you every and failures, enjoying nature and watching (and thought about the names of the roads? sometimes battling with) wildlife. Whilst digging over We all know that the V4 was the old A5 but what about my allotment recently I was joined by a robin, a bird the rest? known for generations as ‘the gardener’s friend’, and he Let me take you through the list. was pecking around quite happily for worms and grubs V1 Snelshall Street: The name originates from the nearby only a couple of feet away from me as I worked. If site of Snelshall Priory. only they ate slugs and snails! V2 Tattenhoe Street: The road passes the ancient village You don’t necessarily have to grow just edible produce of Tattenhoe either. The majority of allotments are given over to V3 Fulmer Street: Fulmer is the name of an ancient pond fruit and veg of course, but there’s nothing stopping at Shenley Brook End you growing flowers on your plot as well, whether V4 Watling Street: The original name for the old Roman that’s for attracting beneficial insects such as bees, or Highway arguably the original M1 to provide fresh cut flowers for your home. Whatever V5 Great Monks Street: Associated with nearby Bradwell you choose to grow though, it’s great to look at the Abbey end result and congratulate yourself that it’s there V6 Grafton Street: Named after the Dukes of Grafton of Grafton Regis solely through your own efforts. V7 Saxon Street: This runs through Secklow Corner, the There are currently some allotment plots available in site of the meeting place of the Secklow Hundred in the parish. To find out more, please call 01908 521538 Saxon times. or email us at the address below. V8 Marlborough Street: The road begins at Stantonbury, which itself is associated with Sarah Jennings, Duchess Carolyn Sanders of Marlborough. V9 Overstreet: Was a track or field near Downs Barn in the 17th Century. Point of Contact for Allotment Matters V10 Brickhill Street: Leads to the three Brickhills Great, If you would like to apply for an allotment or if you have Little and Bow. any queries or ideas regarding your allotment please V11Tongwell Street: Tongwell was an ancient hamlet in contact: [email protected] the parish of Great Linford.

6 Spring 2013

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7 Community News

had been clearing the area of rubbish regularly in an Oxley Park Rainbows Make their Promise attempt to keep their community clean. We were very proud Leaders to see the girls make their Thanks to patrols, the number of Promise and they were all awarded with their certificate, incidents dropped off and littering in the car park has badge and a special ‘Pot of Gold’ Rainbow Promise almost stopped altogether. The Neighbourhood Action Group contacted the Church again and offered to provide Cupcake. them with some equipment to make sure that if the The unit is going from strength to strength and the girls incidents did start up again at least the members of the are really enjoying themselves. We have had some congregation will be able to do their bit safely and not wonderful feedback from parents and friends of parents put themselves at risk. This is a prime example of how a number of agencies can work together through the NAG who have learnt about our unit. Our programme includes to get positive results. craft, games and activities from the Rainbow Jigsaw. They If you have any issues you feel your local NAG can help were lucky to have a visit from Santa at our Christmas end you with or you would like to become a member of the of term party and this half term we will be visiting Build-A- group then you can contact them on the details below; Bear to purchase a new outfit for our Rainbow mascot, Howe Park Neighbour Action Group (serving Shenley Sunshine Ted. Later this year Rainbows from Milton Brook End, Emerson Valley, Westcroft, Tattenhoe, Keynes will be getting together for a Mermaids and Kingsmead, and Tattenhoe Park) please contact (01908) Pirates party. 521538, [email protected] Our numbers have recently increased and the waiting list http://facebook.com/howeparknag to join us just keeps on growing.J Furzton & Shenley Lodge Neighbourhood Action Group please contact (01908) 521538 or email We are truly grateful for the very kind grant that your [email protected] Parish Council awarded us. This has enabled us to provide many fun and exciting opportunities for our girls. Easter Fun & Play in the Parish Cat April will see the return of our free ‘Fun & Play’ sessions provided by the Milton Keynes Play Association and funded by the Parish Council. These two and half hour sessions aim to Support for St Giles Church provide fun activities for parents and younger children to attend offering a range of arts and craft activities as well as a from NAG bouncy castle and a range of sports (weather permitting). All activities are free and available for all young people aged 4-14 years and will be professionally supervised by the Play Association Staff. This Easter we will be providing four sessions across two sites in the Parish. Emerson Valley will host two sessions on Tuesday 2nd and 9th April both between 10am-12.30pm at the site by the Kickwall, White Horse Drive, by the linear park. Shenley Brook End will host the other two sessions also from 10am-12.30pm on Thursday 4th and 11th April on the village green, Church End Road. As long as the weather is on our side we are sure that they will provide lots of fun and a great opportunity to meet new friends for all who attend. Details also on the website. School Raises over £6K for Hospital On Friday 19 December Shenley Brook End School Head Teacher Mr Martin, Student Voice Lead Teacher Mrs Davis and students St Giles Church on Tattenhoe has been experiencing some Elise Elsworth, Charlotte Wright and Ross Holohan visited issues with people parking cars in the car park adjacent Milton Keynes General to the church during the evenings and leaving a large Hospital to present a amount of rubbish behind. This does not only make the cheque for £6306.85. area messy and untidy for regular attendees at the church The school has been but it is also gives off a negative view of our Parish and fundraising for the last Milton Keynes as a whole to visitors who come from further afield. year to raise the money to buy a new bed for When a local resident reported the issue with the car park the maternity ward and to the Howe Park Neighbourhood Action Group, Thames held non- uniform Valley Police went into action to address the problem by days, a cookie eating regularly patrolling the area and educating any people they have found parked up in this area. While other competition and a sponge-the-teacher event. The students members of the group contacted the Church and asked were given a tour of a birthing suite before handing over the what evidence they had of the issue. The Parish Wardens cheque for £6306.85 to Carolyn Rooth, consultant midwife, would often not find any rubbish in the area as who received the cheque on behalf of the hospital and thanked community minded residents and members of the church the students for all their efforts.

8 Spring 2013

This does of course include some who attend more than January Snow and Sugar Beet one event. The snow has melted and we look forward to spring. During the twelve months to December a total of 8997 Our parish along with the rest of Milton Keynes has had some young people were recorded as attending a session snow, which by the time of publication I hope is a distant organised by the youth team. I think no one could memory. disagree that this is a fantastic result. One aspect that impressed me was the way the Borough Council Following on from this, we would love to help organise dealt with gritting and snow clearance. I’m aware that there has been a small controversy about the ‘misuse’ of grit bins but we more activities for other age groups in the area and should give praise where it is due. therefore please contact us if you would like help in setting up any group. MKC issued bulletins on their web site and designated ‘snow routes’ were kept open. We are still looking for areas where residents would like bulb planting to take place in September, ready for As a fleet manager it helped me advise my drivers and there was minimum disruption locally. Every member of staff turned up to spring flowering. work on the most affected day. These have to be decided early, to enable the Clerk to Road temperature were measured and at one point the road obtain permission from the land holder, e.g. MKC or the surface temperature fell to -10°C and sugar beet pulp was Parks Trust to do the planting. added to grit to help it stick to the roads Maggie Geaney At around -8°C salt grit begins to lose its effectiveness so with Chair Community Committee the recent severe weather the borough council did well after criticism levelled 2 years ago. Busy Time for EV Brownies Charlie Osler Emerson Valley Brownies have had a busy year since the new volunteer leadership team took over and more than Community Committee Report doubled the Brownies attending each week. The Brownies help to choose their own programme of During the three meetings since my last report we have activities and had a great time at the following exciting once more had several grant requests, but, unusually, we events to name but a few: sleepover at MK Museum, have not been able to help all the organisations that have Guiding Games at Stoke Mandeville, Archery, Harry approached us. Potter themed weekend, visit to Dickens World, Lush, The main reason for these decisions was that the Build the Bear and Crown Hill Fire Station. During our committee were not satisfied that the main beneficiaries weekly session at our local community centre we of these grants would be residents of our Parish. As this money is part of your precept we try to take great care created lots of crafts, earned badges, made new friends that the money is given wisely and to benefit our and had lots of fun. The grant from the Parish Council residents. has made a huge difference and enabled us to recruit At the November meeting there were two grant and train new leaders as well as subsidising some of applicants, both of which the committee felt unable to our activities. Emerson Valley Brownies is currently full support at this time. However our Clerk did try to help but we do hold a waiting list so if anyone is interested them by giving details of other areas from which they may in joining Brownies which is for girls aged between be able to obtain financial help. 7-10 please see the Guiding UK website at: December brought three more applicants, but we only felt www.girlguiding.org.uk and click on get involved. able to help two. The first was for the annual Christmas Alternatively would you like to give something back to bingo at Shenley Brook End village hall. This is your community and work with children? Our volunteer sometimes the only social outing many of the more leaders get lots of support, free training and uniform elderly residents of this area have, so we were delighted but more importantly have lots of fun helping to run to help with the £100.00 requested. the unit. Again if you are interested in volunteering Secondly, Milton Keynes City Orchestra requested with Guiding register your interest at: funding to allow them to present music to some of the www.girlguiding.org.uk. schools in this Parish. Having received a report of the very positive effect this has had on children in the past we were happy to help it continue. January brought only one grant applicant, in the form of Emerson Valley Brownies. They requested help with various activities including a visit to the Guiding Headquarters in London. Every meeting we are presented with a report from our youth leader, detailing the activities of his group. These always make interesting and informative reading, and we have to congratulate him and his team on the great work they do in helping to keep young people occupied in various activities to prevent the age old cry of “we have nothing to do”. To give a flavour of the work they do, in December there were a total of 505 attendees at the various activities. The girls at Stoke Mandeville when we participated in the Guiding Games

9 Community News soil. We only grow those vegetable which we know grow well in Gardening – March 2013 our soil. If we try something new and it doesn’t grow well we try The weather has once again played a large part in our again in a few seasons, after which time the soil structure could gardening and following several months of wet weather the cold have changed and also the weather patterns may be different to snap in mid/late January killed some of our perennials which suit different vegetables. we had been nurturing for a long time. Vegetable growing is hard work but it is very satisfying to cook a In the past year our lawns have taken a battering from all the meal knowing that all the produce came from your own garden or extremes of weather so my first job this spring will be to give allotment. them some time and attention. The wet weather combined with our heavy soil mean that there is a lot of moss. I use lawn Enjoy your gardening. Ginnie sand as the cheapest and most effective way of getting rid of moss. The lawn needs to be damp, not soggy, so that a week to 10 days after applying the lawn sand it will be in a reasonable Grit Bins Welcomed in Tattenhoe. condition to be raked. Apply the lawn sand as per the packet as it does depend on the strength of the additives in it as to Thanks from all in Blyth Court, Sheerness Court how much your lawn requires. In about a week to 10 days the and the bottom end of Hengistbury Lane! moss should turn black and at this point it should be raked off and disposed of in the green wheelie bin, not on your compost heap. If you put dead moss on the compost heap the spores in it will regrow after a few weeks and will then be re-distributed on your garden with the compost. The moss will also recover if you do not rake it out when black as the spores just re-grow new moss. If this has left small patches of bare soil then the grass will probably fill out and grow over them during the next few months but if the patches are larger you may need to sow some new seed. (Most gardening experts say that moss in your lawn is a sign of it being too compacted and in need of aerating, in need of feeding, in the shade and not getting enough sun and being cut too short so that the lawn gets tired by having to fight to grow.) However the experts did not expect the extreme weather conditions we have had in the past year and this is I think the main cause on heavy soils for our present problems. With the extremes of weather over the past year I am going to concentrate on growing geraniums in my pots this year. Some gardeners call them pelargoniums but in my days at college we knew them as geraniums. They are a native of Australia where they grow along the hedgerows and I find them very hardy in heat or cold, in wet or dry, sunny or shaded conditions. I grow them from seed or cuttings. Cutting should be taken in late summer. I break off non flowering shoots from the main stem and taking off all but the very top couple of leaves and put them in water in a jam jar. In a couple of weeks roots start to show and the cutting can then be potted on. Cuttings will flower after a few weeks whereas seed will take a lot longer but you can get a greater variety of colours from seed as cuttings will very often revert to the red as shown in this photo, much in the same way as polyanthus and pansies will do after the first couple of seasons. Last year was a very difficult year for vegetable growers and across the country people have been giving up on allotments as they have been dispirited by their lack of success. Our parish has also seen this happening. According to a National survey there are two reasons for this. Firstly that the gardening programmes on television have made it look too easy to grow good vegetables and this is not the case, as once the cameras turn off there is a lot of hard work going into their plots to bring them to the standard that they show week after week. Secondly, people take on allotments not realising what hard work it is and the limitations of what will grow well in what

10 Spring 2013 Local Councillor Tackles Issues with Linden Homes Site at Westcroft Anne Paton ITEC; IPTI; Residents living close to the housing development Visiting Massage Therapist alongside Sissinghurst Drive have experienced problems with lorries, dirty roads, noise, and sometimes blocked roads at the critical times of the day around school run • Back, Neck & Shoulders £25 times. There had also been complaints about vibration • from pile driving close to the houses in Stoneleigh Court Back, Neck, shoulders & legs £30 which were unresolved. Matters came to a head in early • Full body massage (1hr) £40 January with a public meeting arranged by Councillor • Indian Head £25 Edith Bald, and also attended by Chris Carvell, Neighbourhood Manager Milton Keynes Council and • Hopi Ear Candles £25 senior Council Planning and Enforcement Officers. • Rejuvanessence Face £37 A number of issued were recorded and followed up in a • letter to Linden Homes from the Council. Chris also got On Site (chair) massage £15 the Community Police involved and thanks go to Sergeant Keith Lavery who took immediate action about For relief from aches and pains in joints and the lorry traffic. Edith also talked to the Construction muscles, in the comfort of your own home. Director at Linden Homes who, having realised the seriousness of the concerns, was very helpful and clearly Appointments 9 a.m to 9 p.m. Mon - Sat has taken action to improve things for residents. The new and very experienced Site Manager is a welcome 07799 786708 change. Lorry traffic scheduling is receiving attention and the long-promised one way route through the site www.therapeuticliving.co.uk for lorries is to be implemented. There is also a wheel washer on site now and road sweeping and cleaning is much improved. The Council Enforcement Officers are also still on the case and Edith is in regular touch with Gift vouchers residents and Linden Homes. available

News update Acorn at Westcroft Wow what a wonderful time we have been having here at Day Nursery nursery. In December we were full and part-time care for babies and busy with our frosty forest walks, a trip to see the panto, young children, 4 months to 4 years our Christmas Party and also a

Christmas Song and Mince Pie Open 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday session with our parents. Free nursery places for 3 & 4 year olds In January we altered our Wholesome food, cooked daily on site opening hours - we now open at 7.30am, in line with all other Acorn nurseries. The recent cold weather has brought us some wonderful snow play sessions! We enjoyed building a snowman and snowlady, a snow cat and duck. Last year we were lucky to have 12 chicks hatch in our incubator. Four came back to visit us recently - they have grown! Our Facebook page “Acorn at Westcroft” is proving popular with parents, and we regularly post news updates and photos. Over the next few months we have some exciting develop- Acorn at Westcroft, ments planned, the main one 4 Wimborne Crescent, 01908 506793 being an extension of our Westcroft, MK4 4DE garden: we plan to join up our two existing gardens to incorporate a mud kitchen and a www.acornchildcare.co.uk growing area. Watch this space!

11 Community News Planning & Environment A Building for the Church and Committee Report Community… There has been a steady flow of planning applications over the Shenley Christian Fellowship, meet in SBE school theatre on a last few months, the stagnant housing market obviously Sunday and for many years has been organising regular encouraging people to extend rather than move house. activities to help the wellbeing of families and individuals in The Committee has not been appraised of any progress on the the community. You may know they use the village hall to run proposed Tattenhoe Park development or the new pub the very popular Easter Eggstravaganza, Mums and Tots groups development and the issue of the electricity sub station on Acorns and Little Acorns as well as a Drop-In afternoon for Chaffron Way has yet to be resolved. However, work is well local residents. underway on the small Linden Homes site on Cranborne Avenue and as can be seen elsewhere in this issue the residents’ Each week the village hall is often packed to capacity. This is concerns relating to the work on the site are being dealt with. one reason why they are intending to erect a building for use by church, youth and the wider community. The church has At our December meeting we were given a preview of a proposed recently appointed Baart Harries Newall as architects. The environmental study centre which The Parks Trust hope to build company has won many awards for buildings both for church adjacent to the car park at the entrance to , use and community buildings throughout the Midlands. opposite Westcroft District Centre. We believe that this will be a valuable educational resource. More information is available on The building, subject to planning permission, will be built on the Parks Trust website. the piece of land adjacent to Shenley Brook End School, We are pleased that the new grit bins which we have sited between Wallinger Drive and Manifold Lane. Shenley Christian around the Parish came into their own in the bad weather in Fellowship welcomes input from local people and a monthly January. blog can be found on the website at www.scf-mk.org.uk/ building if you would like to follow the story. On the allotment front, last year’s poor summer persuaded a number of residents to relinquish their plots and for the first Fundraising events will be run in Shenley Brook End over the time in many years the waiting list has all but vanished; so if next few years leading up to the build. The first of these you feel like taking up the challenge thrown down on page 6 by events is a Heart and Music concert to be held in the school Carolyn Sanders contact Sharon in the office. theatre on the evening of April 27th. On 15th and 16th June a Community Games event will be run in the school grounds to Keith Thomas which all ages are welcome. Details of these events will be Planning & Environment Committee Chairman available shortly by email at: [email protected] and on the website.

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Highs and Lows whilst carrying out my duties as Clerk Even Clerks are allowed to be grumpy occasionally and I am beginning to realise it is all part of the job! High: Sourcing notice boards for all areas within our parish and was very proud to see them installed. Low: To see one of them being vandalised, not only ripping out the Perspex but actually ripping off the door. High: Being involved in the project for the Queens’ Diamond Jubilee when Council agreed to purchase benches. I was honoured, being allowed to pick one of the locations. Low: Again vandalism, seeing the benches vandalised, scratching the engraved brass plaques. High: Purchasing grit bins after requests from residents who desperately needed to be able to drive safely outside of their homes. Low: To receive reports in the parish office that members of the public were taking the grit, not only for their driveways but keeping supplies for the next band of bad weather! High: Purchasing dog bins after frequent requests from residents who complain when their children cannot play because irresponsible dog owners let their dogs foul. Low: The fact that even after installing dog bins some dog owners still do not clean up and some admittedly do, but hang the dog bag on a branch of a tree. As Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer, a major part of my role is to ensure that money is spent wisely as this is YOUR money, yes, the precept is YOUR money, which incidentally, the Council yet again has made the decision not to increase this year, unlike several other Councils. Nothing is purchased until we have done our research to ensure we have got the best deal (value for money). The invoices I am having to pay at the moment include several hundred pounds to put ONE notice-board back to its original condition, replacing damaged plaques on our benches and refilling our grit bins (which if used sparingly for the intended purpose would not need to be re-filled so frequently.) I am proud to work in YOUR parish, I do not live in it but the recipients of this newsletter do so please, if you do see anyone vandalising equipment in YOUR parish, please do report it. We are striving to make this Parish one of the best to live and work in, please assist us in keeping it this way. Carole McMillan

13 Community News Community Centre Information SHENLEY BROOK END SOUTH FURZTON OXLEY PARK Shenley Brook End Community Centre Oxley Park Community Centre Community Centre Blackmoor Gate, Furzton. Redgrave Drive, Oxley Park Egerton Gate, Shenley Brook End. Telephone for bookings: Telephone for bookings: Telephone for bookings: Call Jo Fasolo on 07739 800840 Call 01908 524482 Call 01908 649434 Regular Users of the Centre Regular Users of the Centre Regular Users of the Centre ◆ Little Owls Children’s Centre ◆ Brownies ◆ Dance Group ◆ Kingsmead Pre-school & Oxley Park ◆ Children’s Dance Classes ◆ Fitness & Self-defence Toddler Group ◆ Christian Fellowship (Thursday mornings) ◆ Healing Group ◆ Ziggy After School Group ◆ Fusion after school club ◆ Karate for Children ◆Mums & Tots ◆ Nifty 60s ◆ Cub Scouts & Brownies ◆Ragdolly Annas ◆ Red Dragon Karate ◆ Weight-watchers ◆ Sugar Guild ◆ Al Muminaat (Arabic Classes) ◆ Shenley Stitchers (Cross-stitch) ◆ Tatty Bumpkins & Baby Bumpkins Shenley Brook End EMERSON VALLEY ◆Beginners Yoga ◆ Phoenix Tactical UK (Kick Boxing) Village Hall SOUTH ◆ Embroiderer’s Guild (MK Branch) Church End Road, Shenley Brook End River Valley Centre ◆ Beginners Line Dancing Telephone for bookings: Whitehorse Drive, Emerson Valley ◆Slim Dance - Latin Dancing Call Margaret on 01908 521530 Telephone for bookings: ◆ Various Faith Groups (Ask for details) Regular Users of the Centre Call Lyn on 01908 367329 ◆Families Need Fathers - Support Group ◆ ‘Drop In’ Meetings Mondays from Regular Users of the Centre 2pm - 4pm ◆ Playgroup (Pre-School) ◆ Pilates with April 01908 550270 ◆ ◆ ◆ Monday 7.30pm -8.30pm Rainbows Brownies Guides TATTENHOE ◆ Yoga with Katie ◆ Parent and Toddler Tattenhoe Pavilion 6-7pm beginners, 7:30-9:00 others ◆ Weightwatchers ◆ Slimming World Holborn Crescent, Tattenhoe. ◆Musical Monkeys ◆Mini-Strikers ◆ Little Ninjas/Taekwondo Wednesday 10am 11am Telephone for bookings: ◆Sunday Mornings Church Meeting Call 01908 749038 ◆ Little Acorns (07834417777) Tuesday 9.30 - 11.00 in term time Regular Users of the Centre ◆ Baby Acorns ◆ Ahmadmus Muslim Association Tues. 11.15-12.30 in term time EMERSON VALLEY ◆ Cheeky Monkeys Kids Club ◆ Acorns Toddler Group ◆Ducklings Pre-school 9:30-11:30 Thursday in term time NORTH Emerson Valley ◆ EJP Football League ◆ Bingo 2:00pm - 3.30pm Thursdays ◆MK Seishin Aikido Club ◆Urban Scouts Community Centre Wednesday 5:00pm - 8:00pm ◆ Wendy’s Aerobics Roeburn Crescent, Emerson Valley ◆ Kathy’s Kiddies Musical Melodies ◆Mini Strikers Telephone for bookings: ◆ Tairyoku Shotokan Karate Club Wed. 12:30 - 2pm Fri. 3pm - 5pm Call Lyn on 01908 367329 ◆ Tattenhoe Parents & Toddlers ◆ Thistle Scottish Dance Club Regular Users of the Centre ◆ Tumble Tots Wednesday 8pm-10pm ◆Howe Park Scout Group ◆ Weight-watchers ◆Ducklings Pre-school ◆ Zumba Fitness Classes NORTH FURZTON ◆Line Dancing ◆ Spanish & French Lessons WESTCROFT Ridgeway Community Centre ◆ Mini Strikers ◆ Martial Arts Westcroft Meeting Place Dulverton Drive, North Furzton ◆ Weightwatchers ◆ Yoga Wimborne Crescent, For Mon to Fri bookings call Bill Swindon Westcroft. on 07415 614409 or for Saturday bookings Sam Seaton on 07920 884944 Telephone for bookings: SHENLEY LODGE Call 01908 253154 Regular Users of the Centre Shenley Lodge Meeting Place or 01908 253334 ◆ Beavers & Cubs Faraday Drive, Shenley Lodge Regular Users of the Centre ◆ Geological Society Telephone For bookings: ◆ After School Club (SWASP) ◆ Maths & English Clubs Call Wendy on 07505 900686 ◆ Ducklings Pre-school ◆ Naiken System Regular Users of the Centre ◆ Ismalis Group ◆ Over 60s Keep Fit & Line Dancing ◆ Bosom Pals ◆ Jesus Fellowship Church ◆ Rosemary Conley Fitness & Diet ◆ Slimdance ◆ MK Pipe Band ◆ Square Dancing ◆ Scottish Dance ◆ Shenley Lodge Pre-School ◆ MK Society of Artists ◆ Taekwondo ◆ Shenley Christian Fellowship ◆ Weightwatchers ◆ Furzton Tots Pre-school ◆Reflection - Meditation Group ◆ Alzheimer’s Society Support Group

14 Spring 2013 What’s On?

Furzton Scout Group Shenleys and Loughton Women’s Institute Beavers (age 6-8) Mondays 6-7pm 2nd. Tuesday afternoon of every month except August - 2.30pm Cubs (age 8-10) Wednesdays 6.30-8pm Loughton Memorial Hall, Bradwell Road, Loughton Scouts (age 10-14) Wednesdays 7-9pm New members always welcome. For more information: Ridgeway Community Centre, Dulverton Drive, North Furzton Call Rosemary on 01908 521725 or Barbara on 01908 503885 Shape Changers Square Dance Club Howe Park Scout Group We are a new club formed to take beginners through the basic steps Beavers (age 6-8) Mondays 6-7pm of square dancing. We meet on Thursday evenings 8 - 10pm at Cubs (age 8-10) Tuesdays 6.30-8pm Ridgeway Community Centre, Furzton. Westcroft District Centre, Wimborne Crescent All are welcome £4 per session Scouts (age 10-14) Wednesdays 6:30 - 8:30pm Contact Susie on 01280 816940 Emerson Valley Meeting Place (North), Roeburn Crescent Contact Janette on 01908 503093 or visit our website: Zumba Fitness Classes http://howeparkscouts.org.uk Every Tuesday evening 7:30 - 8:30 at Tattenhoe Pavilion. Every Thursday evening 7:20 - 8:10 & 8.15 - 9.10 Oxley Park School. Loughton Scout Group Every Saturday morning 10.15 - 11.15 at Oxley Park Primary School Beavers (age 6-8) Thursdays 5.45-7pm Contact Yasmin on 07966488727 or email [email protected] Cubs (age 8-10) Wednesdays 6.30-8pm for more information. Scouts (age 10-14) Thursdays 7-9pm Loughton Memorial Hall, Bradwell Road, Loughton Alzheimer’s Society Support Group Information support & advice for anyone affected by dementia - Westcroft Health Centre every other Tuesday 14:00 = 15:30 Football For Fun (6 or 10 a-side, depending on numbers) Contact Dee Cope 01908 261750 for information or email Tuesday evenings. 8-9pm. Anyone welcome, male or female, and any [email protected] skill level, though being able to kick a ball is helpful! You must be 16 or over, but no upper limit! Currently £2.00 per session. 1st Oxley Park Rainbows and Brownies Shenley Brook End School (Astroturf, all weather pitch) Wednesdays, Rainbows 4.30 - 5.30, Brownies 6.00 - 7.30pm More info from Chris (07773 451678) or Matt (07804 098446) Girls aged 5-7 Rainbows - 7-10 Brownies Part of the activities organised by Shenley Christian Fellowship. Oxley Park Community Centre, Redgrave Drive, Oxley Park Contact Cat on 01908 522308 or 07713 238899 or email Parkside Community Sports & Football Club [email protected] Indoor bowls for males & females from 9 upwards on Tuesday evenings 7.00 to 9.00pm Zumba & Pilates Classes - Caroline Haslett School Shenley Lodge Fun Football for: for boys and girls from 5 years old and upwards on Saturday mornings 10am Zumba Fitness Class. Wednesday evenings 5:30pm - 7pm. We also run wheelchair football. Saturday mornings 11am Pilates Class. Contact Chris on 01908 501658 for details of all activities. No need to book, just come along. Contact Ana at [email protected] Thursday Club www.zumbamkfitness.com Every Thursday afternoon. Shenley Brook End Village Hall 2-3.30pm If you enjoy Bingo and meeting new people everybody is welcome, To publicise an event in our FREE ‘What’s On’ listing, young, old, male or female. send details to the address on page 2, Fun Language Clubs for 3-9 year old children or e-mail: [email protected] Fun Spanish Clubs with El Club Español Every Saturday. 11:15-12:15 in Emerson Valley Fun French Clubs with Le Club Français Remembrance & Wakes Buffets Every Saturday in Emerson Valley 10-11 Contact Helen by email on: [email protected] or phone 07759287206 for further information and book your child’s free trial. Website: www.lcfclubs.com/helenjones Loughton and Shenley Over 60’s Club Every Wednesday afternoon. 2:15-5:00pm Loughton Memorial Hall, Bradwell Road, Loughton New members always welcome. Call Sylvia on 01908 569165 for information Shenley Christian Fellowship Every Sunday morning. - 10.30am-12noon Creche available Shenley Brook End School, 6th Form Centre Every Sunday evening 6.30 -7.30pm. - Shenley Lodge Meeting Place Call Chris on 504299 or Lynn on 524742 for information. Term Time Toddler & Carer Groups- SBE Village Hall (No charge + free hot drinks). Little Acorns (Walkers -2 yrs) Tues 9.30am - 11.00am Baby Acorns (Pre Walkers) Tues 11.15am -12.3-pm Acorns Group (2yrs - 5yrs) Thurs 9.30am - 11.30am. Pink Sacks contact Helen on 07834417777. A Reminder that pink sacks are available for ‘Drop In’: Call in for a ‘cuppa’, chat & relax, or join in with one of our collection at the Parish Office for anyone who wants activities. Every Monday, 2pm to 4pm at SBE Village Hall No charge. them. It’s a good idea to call 521538 first to make Website: www.scf-mk.org.uk email: [email protected] sure staff are available.

15 Community News Shenley Brook End School’s International Partnership Visit Shenley Brook End School has an international schools’ partnership with the Matemwe School in Zanzibar, which is a small island off the East coast of Tanzania. In 2011 thirteen students from Shenley Brook End visited Tanzania for a month-long expedition which included climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and also visiting our partner school. ! During our visit we began building a new classroom for the school. This involved digging the foundations and putting in the first layer of brickwork; this was hard work in 30 degree heat with limited equipment in very dry soil. The beautiful scenery and proximity to the beach certainly made it easier! On our return to the UK we continued with our fundraising and just before Christmas sent enough ! money to our partner to finish the ! building by adding the roof.

They are absolutely delighted with the result and are really pleased with the new space that they have. We are now looking at ways of developing our partnership further, beginning with an email exchange which has recently become a possibility due to their improved facilities. If anybody would like to know more about the international schools’ partnership or feels that they could help in some way please contact Mr Fuller at the school. !

Community News is published by Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe Parish Council. 6 Wimborne Crescent, Westcroft District Centre, Milton Keynes, MK4 4DE. Tel: 01908 521538 Editor K Thomas Circulation 10,000 to households within the Parish of Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe.

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