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»Bridge Ends Owl box project take-off Notes and queries Nature Notes by Alastair Driver

*** STOP PRESS - More owlish news *** Thanks to the generosity of resi- Owl Trust, Colin Shawyer, who supplied all dents and a much-appreciated donation the boxes in kit form and constructed them An excited Paula McNeill emailed Ali from the Scarecrow Committee we now on site at the Reading University Farm Driver on 2 November to report that have 15 new “state-of-the-art” Barn Owl buildings – for which many thanks to Mike unbelievably the family had seen a boxes installed on large trees alongside Judd and colleagues. Then in the space of Barn Owl perching on the postbox in rough grass- a day and a half, Colin, assisted by me and their garden! This was the first time

land on farm- an ecological consultant from Reading, • Winter 2016 49 Issue they have ever seen one apart from the land and in Katy Thomas, installed the boxes around Newsletter of the Sonning & Society tame one at the launch of course! large private the village. The truth is, Colin did all the A Thames Parish Magazine properties hard work and made it look easy, which The Society would like to congratulate around the is understandable I guess, given that he »Eye on Sonning the Parochial Church Council and in village. designed the boxes in the first place and SCAA - nearly there! particular Gordon Nutbrown for his Twenty- during the course of our project installed Mike Hart, Chairman From the Editor’s Desk assiduous work in making back issues five years his 3500th box ! The 2016 Sonning Conservation characteristics of their allotted charac- The Editor of the Sonning Parish Magazine more ago, when The project publicity took place at Area Appraisal (SCAA) is in its final ter area – these not only took account So how does Bridge reach you, the reader? widely available. The three volumes I was Con- Bishops’ Close courtesy of Paula and Max stages before adoption by of the buildings but also the trees, open First is the ideas stage. This can be are welcome additions to bookshelves servation McNeill and was a great success thanks Borough Council (WBC). It has been a spaces, roads and footpaths as well as planned ahead, particularly for “Page 3”. if further inspiration is needed for Manager for to Sadie Shepherd of the Feathers and long time in the making but has been safety aspects and ambient noise. The Sometimes, the editor knocks up a piece, Christmas. Above, Colin Shawyer installs a the Thames Fur Falconry Centre at . Sadie worth the wait. forms were then collated by Diana but usually there is something in the top box, and right: Sadie Shepherd Region of brought along Barn Owls and a Tawny Owl, The statutory definition of a con- Coulter and Louise Ryan, then a recent drawer or a willing author is on the case. Reading in 50 buildings and me with Barn Owls and the National which drew in BBC South TV who covered servation area is an “area of special Reading University graduate and now The front page can be challenging. It’s A new series of books published by Caroline Gilmore (a sponsor/box host) with a Tawny Owl. Rivers Au- the item pleasingly accurately on their architectural or historic a senior conservation good to ensure it’s topical. Occasionally an Amberley, takes British cities and thority, I evening news. interest, the character or professional, to create historical story is used. The Executive and towns, presenting them through their initiated a project with the Hawk and Owl There is no guarantee that our target appearance of which it the first version of the Panels generate news - reports on actions 50 most interesting buildings. Stuart Trust for the installation of Barn Owl boxes species will take up residence in these is desirable to preserve updated SCAA. This was showing how we work on your behalf as Hylton is the author of the volume on Reading University farmland at Sonning boxes and some of them will no doubt be or enhance.” Once so showcased in a public well as advance notice of events. These on Reading, covering many buildings and in the Loddon Valley. This project led adopted by squirrels, stock doves, jack- designated, development consultation in Pearson are usually straightforward. It’s difficult to within the IDR but also further afield, to several pairs of Barn Owls breeding daws and maybe even Mandarin Ducks, proposals within the con- Hall in February 2013 quantify how long the ideas stage takes as e.g. in Caversham, Coley and . where there were none previously. In fact but there is every chance we will attract servation area are sub- which attracted 55 visi- it can depend on serendipity. Starting with St Mary Butts, the list installation of Barn Owl boxes all over the ject to specific national tors and over 110 contri- Secondly copy is put “to bed” using ends with the new station and a histori- country has been hugely successful with and local policies that are butions on the website. Adobe InDesign. There is a template and cal pub crawl. This could make a good the population increasing from c. 3000 to designed to preserve or The SCAA then went a few simple guidelines. Another editor Christmas stocking filler. over 8000 pairs in the last 30 years, with enhance the area. through a lengthy may prefer different desk-top publishing Dunsden Hall Appeal - deadline soon 75% of those pairs breeding in boxes. The The historic core of period of review and software, triggering a fresh look at layout - The Village Hall desperately needs a Sonning boxes have all rotted away over the village of Sonning revision. Successive for example, after 50 issues tastes in font new kitchen and the One Family Foun- the years and recently I decided it was was first designated a drafts were produced styles have moved on. This technical stage dation are offering £25,000 if the Hall time to resurrect the idea, doing it entirely conservation area by and commented upon by probably takes about 3-4 days. can get enough votes. To do that the with local funding. I hadn’t predicted the County Council in 1971. It SPC and the Society. A final draft was Finally, there is getting printed copies out local community and hall users need to incredible response I would get however was extended in 1980, and the first prepared by WBC and placed on their to members, using Lesley Heaney’s excel- vote for it. Every vote counts! Here is - before I knew it I had more than enough one or two pairs of Barn Owls. The moni- Appraisal was undertaken in 1996. The website for the second public consulta- lent Excel database to create distribution the link https://foundation.onefamily. sponsors and was having to turn people toring, which will be done by Katy, Sadie current SCAA, prepared in accordance tion that took place last month with a lists, bundling up copies for delivery to the com/projects/providing-a-new-accessi- away! and others under licence, will commence with guidelines published by Historic well-attended presentation in Pearson team of distributors and perhaps taking on ble-kitchen-for-the-local-community-at- With funding secured, my next point of next June and I will let S&SES members , builds on the 1996 edition but Hall on 26 & 27 October. The ensuing one round. All in all about 2-3 days work. dunsden-village-hall/ call was the ex-Director of the Hawk and know as soon as I have any news. goes into much more detail in defining comments are being compiled and any If you think you could take on all or any DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES April 2017 (Date tbc) the “character areas” of the village. resulting changes made before the final one of these elements, do please contact Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7.00pm At a joint meeting between SPC and SCAA is adopted by WBC early next Mike Hart on 0118 969 8145 or the editor. Members are welcome to attend Executive meetings. the Society in 2011 to prepare the year. The display boards describing the Bridge: Newsletter of the Sonning June 2017 (Date tbc) 7 December 2016 ground for the SCAA update, it was SCAA were displayed at the Society’s and Sonning Eye Society Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7.00pm Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7.00pm decided that updating the SCAA would AGM in Pearson Hall on 19 November. Education & Social Panel August 2017 (Date tbc) February 2017 (Date tbc) be a collaborative effort between SPC The Society owes a huge debt of c/o Red House Cottage, Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7.00pm Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7.00pm and the Society. The conservation area gratitude to Diana Coulter and Brian Pearson Road, RG4 6UH October 2017 (Date tbc) 10 February 2016 was divided into 9 “character areas” O’Callaghan who masterminded the tel: 0118 9692132 Executive Committee St. Sarik Room 7.00pm Future Events : another Thames-side village - a talk by Peter and teams of volunteers were tasked SCAA update and guided it through the email: [email protected] Delaney Pearson Hall @7.15 for 7.30 pm (See page 2) with filling in forms that described the past 5 years. A job well done! web: www.sonning.org.uk

Bridge newsletter • Issue 49 • Winter 2016 Bridge newsletter • Issue 49 • Winter 2016 »Executive Committee & Panels: breaking news Amblings & ramblings: Eye - Sonning Andy Bell, Patrick Hamblin and Pauline Simmonds New Executive 2016/17 Reflections on a stroll around Sonning & Sonning Eye by Joyce Reed Sonning businesses relating to their If you respond to our request you will At the AGM on 19 November, Mike Shameless name dropping – and loiter- morency’s dead water rat seems an winter’s night towards Cirencester. At traffic/parking plans. Whilst we have not need to respond again to SPC as we Hart, Bob Hine, Andy Bell and Alan ing with intent? In Sonning…? Cue apt ingredient, if unlikely to make the the junction with Pearson Road, in The made a good deal of progress in identi- are pooling the comments. Furness were elected as Chairman, who ‘roamed about menu at our fine eateries. Upstream, Grove, Admiral Villeneuve, of Trafalgar fying the problematic areas, we realise Vice-Chairman, Hon Secretary and Local Plan Update sweet Sonning for an hour or so’. Start Jerome is buried at Ewelme, Orwell at fame, was a prisoner, dining with Pitt. that finding solutions will take much Hon Treasurer respectively. Ali Driver WBC has published a list of sites for at the Waterwheel bar; here two mills Sutton Courtenay, both near the river. Look left towards Sonningdene … Revd longer. We would like to ask your was welcomed as a new member while updating the local plan that will guide and five fisheries, owned by Reading Over the bridge, bear left into Blue Sidney Smith defined heaven as ‘eating help by telling us: the following were also elected: Patrick development in the Borough for the Abbey, were recorded in Domesday. Plaque territory – Rattigan lived in foie gras to the sound of trumpets’. Po- 1. Instances where you have experi- Hamblin, Lesley Heaney, Annabella next 20 years and also the gypsy and The eight, black-robed Benedictines the Red House. On the right, Lutyens litical connections abound, historically enced difficulties (inconsiderate Marks and Pauline Simmonds. traveller local plan. There are seven from the Abbey of Cluny, founders of designed The Deanery, and Jekyll its as well as currently - Lord Sidmouth, parking, on pavements, for exam- sites listed in Sonning. The list of Reading, would have been intrigued, gardens. Loud traffic noise may evoke speaker of the Commons, was also as- Planning applications ple); and submitted sites is available on the centuries later, by the recurrence of the sociated with Sonning. The Planning & Traffic Panel has met 2. How you feel the problems of park- WBC website. It is understood that an name (albeit spelled differently) now Off to the right, the delicate tracery monthly and reviewed 15 applications ing should be tackled. initial assessment of the sites would associated with the island. Thespians of Reading Bluecoat School and Holme during the past three months. be undertaken by WBC, which would sense the ‘Blithe Spirit’ of The Mill – Park has welcomed Ricky Gervais, aka SPC Planning Committee meetings form part of the Preferred Options Ayckbourn, Coward, Rattigan, music, David Brent, Keira Knightley and In- In the same period the Panel has at- consultation that is planned to start in jazz and rock. A glance left, towards spector Morse. The medieval Bishop’s tended these meetings as an observer. June 2017. It is also understood this is Dunsden, nods to Owen’s curacy there. Palace on the mound hosted King John

Cycle racks a lengthy process and that completion Who boated upstream?... The Danes, and Princess Elizabeth I. At “Turpin’s” of the Local Plan is not expected before ready to sack Reading Abbey?… Turn- house, go through the lych-gate. His The Society is now in discussion with May 2019. A link to the pages on the er, artist of the Thames?... Shelley, exploits, and those of Claude Duval in SPC regarding the provision of cycle WBC website is below: poet of the Thames, resident at Marlow, Thicket, must have been racks in the St George’s playing field. http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/ rowing with Thomas Love Peacock, in the talk of the day at The Bull. Traffic planning-and-building-control/plan- a wherry as far as Lechlade? A book Grey ghosts of language, recorded by Please feel free to contact either Pat- Following a recommendation by the ning-policy/local-plan-update/# of Shelley’s poetry, gifted to Owen, David Crystal, ex professor of linguis- rick Hamblin (patrick.hamblin@btin- Society to SPC, a joint working group entitled ‘Strange Meeting’, is the title tics at Reading University, surround ternet.com) or Bob Hine (bob.hine@ has been set up to discuss parking of one of Owen’s most famous poems. you at every turn. Odo, mentioned in btinternet.com) with your comments. A The Society continues to be grateful to problems in Sonning. The first meeting The Bishop of Sonning is reputed to St. Andrew’s, fought against the Danes, similar note is being placed in the next Ali Driver for maintaining his involve- was held at the end of October and have left from here, to conduct the ob- at the battle of Brunanburgh, although edition of the SPC newsletter. ment with the Sonning Cutting issues. discussions are to be held with some sequies of Henry 1, who died in France, a Dane himself, commemorated in the from eating a surfeit of lampreys. The Anglo-Saxon poem of the same name. »New Members & King, sewn inside a bull’s hide, minus Aelfric, monk of Abingdon, in his Col- Wargrave unwrapped his entrails, travelled upstream, to be loquies, evokes everyday Saxon rural Pauline Simmonds 2017 subs due buried in a silver casket in Reading life, Sunna’s people indeed; tombs, In January we would like you to re- Abbey. Are his remains those found brasses and monuments weave a rich things in common? Or does new your subscription, which is be- recently in the car park of Reading tapestry of language, in Latin, French, this neighbouring village, ing held at the same level as 2016. Gaol? Here, on the Thames, paths Led Zeppelin rather than the six-part and English. Jane Austen’s uncle, without a Bishop’s Palace Renewal forms with all the details have crossed, centuries apart. canon ‘Summer is i cumen in’ by John Edward Cooper, was rector here. or bridge have a different are enclosed for those who need Downstream, mid bridge, glimpse Fornsete, a monk at Reading Abbey. Choose your own end-point. Take re- ‘history’ to tell ? them. Please note you can safely Shiplake’s islands. Spot a fish ‘Coming Pass The White House, associated freshment at The Bull, where medieval Peter Delaney has been ignore this message, if you have Up For Air’? … The title of a novel by with Uri Geller, and straight ahead pilgrims sheltered whilst visiting St Secretary of the Local already set up a standing order or George Orwell (Eric Blair) reflects his lie the trees of The Acre, recalling Sarik’s chapel for a cure for madness. History Society for over joined at or after the Village Show. lifelong passion for fishing; ponds, carp Holman Hunt’s most famous painting, Jerome describes it as a ‘veritable 25 years, and has written A warm welcome is extended to and Lower Binfield evoke his childhood ‘The Light of the World’, which this picture of an old country inn’, although or edited several books on the following new members: spent at Roselawn in Shiplake. Tenny- Pre-Raphaelite brother painted by its clientele may have changed from the subject. He has kindly • Dr & Mrs Farquhar son married in Shiplake. Arguably, the moonlight in his garden here. Locals the old men who ‘drink their ale and offered to talk to us about • Mr & Mrs Haldane most famous Thame-side meal, Irish thought he was mad but St Sarik’s gossip over village politics’. The ‘low, Wargrave: another Thames- Members had a very successful ‘visit’ to • Mr & Mrs Pascall stew, was cooked, on a Shiplake island, chapel has a cure for that! quaint rooms and latticed windows, and side village on Friday 10 February 2017 in Salisbury in September but our next talk is • Ms T Scott by George & Co: potatoes, cabbage, Into the High Street: French echoes awkward stairs and winding passages’ the Pearson Hall starting at 7.30pm. So much nearer home. • Mr & Mrs Thomas a peck of peas, half a pork pie, cold reverberate. Isabella de Valois, child remain largely unchanged. Did Leland make a note in next year’s diary. Tickets Wargrave, like Sonning, is on the river, • Mrs Westbrook boiled bacon, half a tin of potted salmon widow of Richard ll, whose emblem down an ale here? as usual, costing £4 for members, £5 for was mentioned in the Domesday book, has Welcome packs for new residents and cracked eggs would impress any was the , former name of Sonning?... Starting point, meeting guests, will be available in January from several timber framed buildings and a cen- are available from Lesley Heaney, River Cottage cook … no waste here, The Great House, rides past you, with point, end point. Walking made you Penny Feathers (Tel 934 3193). tral Conservation Area. Do we have many Membership Secretary (969 7231). Hugh, and as for local foraging, Mont- the Earls of Kent and Salisbury, on a feel peckish? Lampreys or Irish Stew?

Bridge newsletter • Issue 49 • Winter 2016 Bridge newsletter • Issue 49 • Winter 2016