6
Are New Developments Ever Good for Wildlife?
The Huntingdonshire Local Group of the Wildlife Trust is pleased to present an illustrated talk entitled ‘Are New
Developments Ever Good for Wildlife’. This will be held on Wednesday 9
th
March at 7.30pm at Brampton Memori-
al Hall, Thrapston Road, Brampton, PE28 4TB.
The talk will be given by Martin Baker, who is The Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Manager for Cambridgeshire.
Martin will explain that Cambridgeshire is one of the fastest growing counties in England, with plans for many new
towns and extensions to our existing towns. Martin advises us that a development planned in the wrong way will
result in further losses of wildlife, but planned in the right way, it can protect and even enhance wildlife and its
habitats. Using the experience gained by the Wildlife Trust with the Trumpington and Cambourne developments,
Martin will explore what must be done if wildlife is to thrive alongside our expanding population.
Anyone interested in wildlife is most welcome to attend. No need to book. Entrance charge £2.50 (accompanied
children free). No need to book. Please contact Tim on 07941 261346 for further information.
Part of the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Registered Charity No: 1000412
The Friends of Buckden Towers
Dates for your Diary:
4
th
March – Quiz Night 8.00 at The Towers
27
th
April – AGM 8.00 at The Towers
21
st
May Plant Sale at The Towers. No admission before 11.00 a.m. Closes at 3.00 p.m.
8
th
July Coffee Morning 10.00 at the Methodist Hall
17
th
July – Summer Event at the Towers – details to follow
I hope as many of you as possible will come to the Quiz Night. It is always a fun evening. There will be prizes, a
raffle and of course excellent refreshments.
Our AGM is early this year to avoid various clashes of dates with other commitments. Last year the attendance
was rather down on previous years. This is the one opportunity in the year for your committee to tell you what we
have been doing over the year and for you to ask us questions. It is also an opportunity for members to show their
support for our work. It is a boost for the committee when members attend the AGM and I urge you all to do so.
New members are always welcome and the AGM is a good opportunity to find out what we do and to join.
Our Plant Sale is proving so popular with nurseries that we have more applicants for places than we can accom-
modate. It is a tribute to the organisers, both of the stalls and the refreshments that it has such appeal. Customers
come from miles away to buy because there are plants on sale which are not available at the more commercial
garden centres. They are also in very good condition. If you haven’t been before, come along and find some un-
usual additions for your garden.
We will be holding a different summer event this year in the Knot Garden. Plans are not yet finalised, so “watch
this space” and keep an eye out for posters around the village.
The viewing platform is coming on well, but is not quite finished yet. John and Keith are now fixing the roof planks.
This is a time consuming job as each one has to be cut to the precise size for its place. Assuming the weather
holds up, they hope to have the job finished by the end of March. This is a challenging target and if anyone with
carpentry skills can assist, on a Tuesday or Thursday morning, please let me know.
Finally, I will be retiring as Chair of FOBT, and from the committee, in May. I have enjoyed doing it, but it is time
for someone new to come along and bring fresh energy and ideas to the job. I would like to thank all the commit-
tee members who have worked hard and given freely of their time and to those helpers who have assisted in set-
ting up and taking down marquees, doing the refreshments and making our events the successes they have been.
Without them, we would not be able to raise the funds to help in preserving this unique historic building in the mid-
dle of our village.
John Thelwall, Chair