July 2016

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The Great Fen
The Wildlife Trust, Huntingdonshire Local Group, invites you to attend a walk at the Great Fen on Sunday 10th
July at 2.30pm.
Our walk will be led by Henry Stanier, who is the Great Fen Ecology and Recording Officer. We will visit the New
Decoy Farm Area which is at the heart of the Great Fen. We hope to see a rich variety of wildflowers, dragonflies,
butterflies and birds.
The walk will last about 2 hours; shorter options will be available, but unfortunately the walk is not suitable for
pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Everyone is most welcome to attend. Please meet at the Information Point on the B660 (known locally as Long
Drove). Parking is limited so visitors are encouraged to car share. There is no charge, but donations are wel-
come. For more information please contact Tim on 01480 457795.
Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Registered Charity No:
1000412
Red Cross Week 2016 May 8th to May 15th
I am delighted to report that once again this year the people of Buckden
were incredibly generous in raising almost £1,300 during the door-to-door
collection in May.
The work of the British Red Cross remains vital to support people in need: for example those recovering from ill-
ness or injury. All the money raised in Cambridgeshire stays right here and helps provide items such as wheel-
chairs, bathing aids, commodes and other aids to independent living. And did you know that there is a Red Cross
outlet in St Neots where anyone is able to borrow this equipment – with a donation to the charity.
I am hugely grateful to the willing band of volunteers who conduct the collection – as a group we cover almost all
of the streets in the village, but as ever I would be delighted to hear from anyone else who feels they would be
able to give up just a few hours to help with our collection in 2017. If you would like to know more of just what is
entailed, please drop me an email: hilarygillam@hotmail.co.uk or give me a call on 07876 443062.
Thank you again Hilary Gillam
The Friends of Buckden Towers
Dates for your diary:
8th July 10.00 – 11.30 Coffee Morning
All welcome – coffee (or tea) and cakes and Bring and Buy stall. A warm and friendly chance to
relax.
Sunday 17th July Tea at The Towers. 3.00 – 5.00. Join us for tea and scones on the terrace in the Knot Garden.
All Welcome. Chat, learn about what we do and enjoy our lovely garden. £3.50 per person.
Welcome to our new Chair:
Pat Huff, who has been our Treasurer for the past 3 years and has organised the Plant Sale stalls for much long-
er, has taken on the Chair of the Friends. Pat has very much in mind the charity’s objective of raising funds to help
the Owners maintain this wonderful set of buildings in the centre of our village.
Plant Sale 2016:
This year we had a record number of stall holders and with space at a premium, there is a waiting list of exhibi-
tors. The Council is looking at ways to expand the number next year. Visitor numbers seemed about the same as
last year, despite the dismal weather forecast. In the event it was not as bad as feared, although overcast and
cold. As always, the stallholders brought along a huge variety of plants in excellent condition. Many visitors bought
as much as they could carry, loaded their car and then came back for more. As so often with the Plant Sale, there
were many comments by visitors, both as to the quality of the plants on sale and the friendly, uncommercial at-
mosphere. Our thanks as always to the many volunteers, especially the catering staff who, as always, provided
very high quality food.
Financially it was very successful, raising just under £3,300, which is more than last year, despite the weather.
Many thanks to Anne Furbank Ltd for their generous sponsorship.