May to July 2022 Issue 91 Funded by Myland Community Council FREE TheMylander K E E P I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y I N F O R M E D Meet your local health and well-being coaches St Helena Hospice’s Wills Month Visit Boxted Airfield Museum Spring garden crime prevention Environmental special: how you can play your part
Located in Colchester, Essex Call Rhiannon on 07722 404889 to Sign-up Evolution Foundation College Unit A3, The Seedbed Centre, Wyncolls Road, Severalls Business Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 9HT F O U N D A T I O N C O L L E G E F i n d t h e P o t e n t i a l i n Y o u Evolut ion ADULT DANCE CLASSES BALLET, TAP & 'BROADWAY' BOOGIE Classes Start Monday 10th January £5 for 1 class, £9 for 2 classes, £12.50 for ALL 3 classes Ballet - 7pm-7.45pm Broadway Boogie - 8.30pm-9.15pm Tap - 7.45pm-8.30pm la ses on Monday and Tuesd y £5 per class Located in Colchester, Essex Call Rhiannon on 07722 404889 to Sign-up Evolution Foundation College Unit A3, The Seedbed entre, Wyncolls Road, Severalls Business Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 9HT F O U N D A T I O N C O L L E G E F i n d t h e P o t e n t i a l i n Y o u volut ion B , TAP, JAZZ & 'BROADWAY' B OGI Tap Monday - 7.45pm - 8.30pm NEW Jazz Tuesday - 7.15pm - 8.00pm Broadway Boogie Monday - 8.30pm - 9.15pm Ballet Monday - 7pm - 7.45pm Tuesday - 8pm - 8.45pm L , TAP, JAZ & ‘BROADWAY’ BO E
3 Keep up to date with local news, updates and events on Facebook: facebook @Myland Community Council MYLAND COMMUNITY COUNCIL Office: 101 Nayland Road, Colchester, CO4 5EN Office Hours: 8.30 - 11.00am (Monday to Friday)* Tel: 01206 853400 Website: www.mylandcommunitycouncil.gov.uk *Due to the current situation, the office is closed to the general public but can be reached via phone or email during these hours. The Mylander Keeping The Community Informed The Mylander is funded by Myland Community Council as a community service. It is issued quarterly and distributed to every household in the parish. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Myland Community Council. Articles and information are reproduced in good faith. Contents 5. Chair’s report 7. Council reports 18. Churches 20. From inside the community 40. Learning and growing
Myland Community Council The Chair Alison Jay 07761 729054 Vice Chair Pete Hewitt 853942 Office: 01206 853400 Email [email protected] Clerk: Katherine Kane [email protected] Editor: Katie Maddocks [email protected] Anglian Water Emergency Services 0800 771 881 Age UK – Free call 0800 055 6112 NHS Blood and Transplant Donor Information 0300 123 23 23 Camulos Academy 588588 Childline – Free call 0800 1111 Colchester Borough Council – Enquiries 282222 Colchester Police Station 101 Colchester Community Policing Team [email protected] Crimestoppers – Free call 0800 555 111 Gas Emergency Services – Free call 0800 111 999 High Woods Country Park, Turner Road 853588 Mile End Methodist Church, Rev. Ken Chalmers 545253 Church Hall Hire, Keith Thompson 844252 Mill Road Surgery, Mill Road 845900 Myland Parish Halls Hire (Sarah King) 07518 437488 Myland School, Mill Road 852109 NHS Advice Line 111 NSPCC – Free call 0800 800 5000 Priest-in-Charge, Parish of Myland, Revd Ray Gibbs 843926 Queen Boudica School 844654 St Joseph Church, Mgr. Chris Brooks 866317 Samaritans, Walsingham Road 116123 Phone numbers are 01206 unless otherwise stated Pauline Bacon 07929 903484 Clare Bailey 842327 Gary Braddy c/o 853400 Catherine Clouston 07785 987 734 David Clouston 07748 064 562 Marina de Smith 07791 463 080 Jocelyn Law c/o 853400 Winston Browne c/o 853400 John Dickson c/o 853400 Martin Goss 07912 396335 Phil Coleman 07808 530587 Alan Hayman c/o 853400 Alison Jay 07761 729054 Robert Johnstone 853204 Clare Williams c/o 853400 Mark Fried c/o 853400 4
Chair’s Report Finally, it feels as if we can start to enjoy the (slightly) warmer weather and get out and about again. As I hope you will see from this issue, we have continued to push on with matters of concern and address what we can; buying new litter bins, cutting back hedges and clearing pathways, as well as running a very popular mental health event and monthly walks. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our two new councillors, Mark Fried and Winston Browne, who we know will add new experiences and views. We were delighted to have had three residents step forward looking to join us and we are very sorry we only had two vacancies to fill. What have your Council been doing recently? • Litter: We have agreed to purchase four litter bins and two dog bins, at a total cost of £2,773.56, to replace those damaged beyond repair. • Hedge cutting and pathway clearance: With the help of a local contractor, a small number of identified locations have had hedges cut back and footpaths cleared, using our budget from ECC Highways. This is the first step in taking on increasing responsibilities for our local environment from CBC . If you have anywhere near you that you think we could be looking at, please email or ring us to let us know. Although we can’t cut hedges now, until the nesting season is over, we can look at other locations and plan what we can do next, as well as support our County Council in reporting potholes, pavements and bollards which need repair. 5
• Garden project: We set a 2020/21 budget of £20,000 and agreed a quote of £19,880 in our November Full Council meeting, so work by Alex Willis Building & Landscaping started in early March. We are delighted to see the emerging new patio, shed base for storage and grass area with the driveway and pathways starting soon. We are already looking at ways we can make use of our safer facilities. • Budget and precept: We are delighted to confirm that following scrutiny of our existing reserves and agreeing a detailed action plan for future projects, we were able to reduce our precept request to CBC to £120,000 (from £139,000 in previous years). This has meant a reduction in the amount our Band D residents are paying to MCC for their work from £23.38 to £19.42 per annum. We hope this both supports residents in times of real concern over rising costs, whilst continuing our commitment to the things we can do to improve our quality of life in Myland. 2022/23 plans include; • Maintaining progress on the handover of the old rugby club land on Mill Road to MCC as a Village Green • More defibrillators and more work on greening our Parish • Continued grants to support local non‐profit organisations in need • More work in clearing footpaths • Getting our proposed hopper bus up and running • Keeping an eye on housing and other developments in Myland and ensuring we represent residents’ views so that get what they want from the area they live It is encouraging to see so many residents engaging with us in a number of ways and we are always happy to address your concerns by email, phone call to the o ce or please do feel welcome to attend our meetings. Cllr Alison Jay Chair of Myland Council Chair’s Report 6
Council Reports Your guide to Myland Community Council Meetings Myland Community Council (MCC) currently has three standing committees; Planning & Highways; Resources, Policy & Strategy; Community Engagement. Please see below for their upcoming meetings. 1. Planning & Highways MCC has the statutory right to be consulted on all planning applications, within the boundary of the parish. The Committee will look at each application and agree the response to be submitted to Colchester Borough Council, who will make the final decision. The applications range from small household extensions, right up to larger developments. Currently the Committee is also tracking progress on the Severalls and Chesterwell developments. Upcoming meetings: 1st June, 6th July, 3rd August 2. Resources, Policy & Strategy This Committee is responsible for keeping an eye on Council finances; making sure the Council is within budget and making plans for future years. The Committee each year will make recommendation to the full Council regarding the amount of the precept, which pays for MCC services. Upcoming meetings: 15th June, 13th July 3. Community Engagement Through the Health & Wellbeing survey, the CEC has been able to engage with residents to find out what issues concern them and work towards these as goals. The Committee organise the annual Myland Bulb and Tree Giveaways and theMyland Fete, as well as maintain theMCC owned noticeboards, purple bus shelters and grit bins. The CEC has an ongoing programme of adding planters in Myland to enhance the local environment and is working on rolling out defibrillators across the Parish. 4. Full Council Meetings Full council meetings take place at Mile End Methodist Church. Upcoming meetings: 25th May, 29th June, 27th July Agendas are posted on the council website the week prior. 7
Council Reports Recycling: what can we do to help? Latest figures published show that since April 2021, Colchester residents have recycled 52.37% of their waste. The target for England was a recycling rate of 50% by 2020 and the current national average is around 44%, so on these figures we are doing well. However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has announced government commitments to recycle 65% of municipal waste and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill to 10% by 2035 and this also includes ambitious targets for business that generate waste, so it’s not just our efforts that will count. We are lucky in Colchester that we have ways of recycling a whole range of items from plastic and glass through to food waste, textiles and crisp packets via a number of sources, although some of these aren’t via the curbside collection and other school or supermarket collections points have to be used. There are also many active Facebook groups available for swapping items and passing on those things we no longer need, so there are plenty of ways to do what we can. But what happens to our waste when it is collected and what about the things we think are recyclable but aren’t? All glass and cans are sent off to a company called James Hayes, who are Essex-based. They will sort and start the job of processing this prior to be it being sold onto the open market to be recycled. Food waste is shipped off to make electricity, so next time you switch your lights on, it could be powered by your food waste! Garden waste is shipped off to a large plant in Birch just past Colchester Zoo and all of it gets turned into compost, which then gets sold back to garden centres. So your old garden waste could well end up back in your garden! Finally plastic is processed in theUK and resold for recycling.Where the plastic is contaminated, or unable to recycled, it is sent to a cement factory in Turkey and burned safely and cleanly to make electricity. For those things we are unsure about Love Essex has a useful list of what can be included in each type of collection: CLICK HERE As does the Colchester Borough Council website. 8
Council Reports However we sometimes find ourselves hesitating with an item over our waste bin, wondering if something could or should be recycled, and often “if in doubt throw it out”. Unfortunately “wishful recycling” or throwing items in the recycling bin that you hope are recyclable or think should be, could actually be contaminating collections of recyclable materials. Often, instead of manual sorting, contaminated loads are merely sent to landfill, along with thousands of potentially recyclable items. It may sound harmless, but trying to recycle items that we shouldn’t can lead to multiple problems within the recycling process. So no plastic bags or plastic film or food ties, which clog up machines and slow the whole process down, no uncleaned items and no greasy food boxes or toothpaste tubes. On the other hand, according to Wrap, more than half of households put items in general waste that could be recycled, including shampoo and conditioner bottles, cleaning and bleach bottles, foil and aerosols. The general rule should be “If it’s plastic and bottle-shaped it can go in” but hard plastic refill tops and pumps should go in general waste. Find out where to recycle items you aren’t sure at: CLICK HERE Just enter the item and your location and it will tell you where it can be recycled. For Tetrapak packaging click HERE en-form are an excellent local town centre space where anything from toothpaste tubes to bras can be recycled. If they don’t recycle it, they know someone who can! On Facebook there is the Giveaway Group, where members can take unwanted items free of charge and save them from landfill: THE GIVEAWAY FACEBOOK GROUP Plastic bags and packaging can be recycled at most supermarkets and household batteries can be returned to any shop that sells them. It is law that any battery retailer has a battery collection box available for customers to return used batteries, to which are then sent away for recycling. We are fortunate in Colchester to have a pretty comprehensive recycling collection taken regularly and we should all make our best efforts to get the best out of it. 9
Council Reports And finally just a reminder—you can report missed recycling collections: CLICK HERE Find your 2022/23 recycling calendar: CLICK HERE Cllrs Jay, Goss and De Smith Neighbourhood Plan Thank you to all those who responded to our Neighbourhood Plan survey. We received 666 responses, mostly completed via the on-line survey. Hard copies were also input, so that all data could be generated by the survey system. Using an automatic number generator, our Clerk was able to choose the three lucky winners of £50 each who have been contacted. Reviewing the bar code data on subject ratings of importance, there is very clear evidence of what MCC needs to remain focused on. Your supplementary comments on each of the questions will take a little longer to analyse and it is important we use those to support the conclusions we draw and to evidence the Plan Policies. Because the Plan has an important place in the local planning process and has a status equal to that of the Colchester Borough Council (CBC) Local Plan, we do need to follow strict requirements and have an independent Government examination of our proposed postreview Plan. This will be done in conjunction with CBC. Thank you again for playing an important role in the future of Myland and Braiswick. I will keep you up-to-date on proposed policies as we develop them. Pete Hewitt 10
Council Reports Myland Access Group I received an email today from the Chief Planner – Active Travel England – (I presume it was also received by every planning authority and highways authority in England). It explained that Active Travel England (ATE) was a new Executive Agency which supports the Government’s ambitious strategy for walking and cycling, as set out in Gear Change 2020. It went on to invite stakeholders and local authorities to take part in a survey about how best ATE could support local planning authorities in promoting active travel in the planning system, boosting cycling and walking and delivering a healthy, safe and carbon-neutral transport system. I wonder how Essex County Council and Colchester Borough Council will respond to this survey. I wonder if they will mention the loss of a couple of kilometres of footpath in Myland due to road planning? Or the several kilometres of “shared use” pavements which ECC have imposed on us? Incidentally, although ECC has, (very quietly), said that any new infrastructure would comply with Gear Change, existing non-compliant cycling infrastructure would not be affected. Here is a reminder of the Key Design Principles of Gear Change: • Cyclists must be separated from volume traffic, both at junctions and on the stretches of road between them. • Cyclists must be separated from pedestrians. • Cyclists must be treated as vehicles, not pedestrians. • Routes must join together; isolated stretches of good provision are of little value. • Routes must feel direct, logical and be intuitively understandable by all road users. • Routes and schemes must take account of how users actually behave. • Purely cosmetic alterations should be avoided. • Barriers, such as chicane barriers and dismount signs, should be avoided. • Routes should be designed only by those who have experienced the road on a cycle. 11
Council Reports I look forward to seeing the new plans for the “postponed” North/South cycleway, as soon as ECC have found the money to pay for it which apparently was received from the Government! In other news, we recently held a couple of well supported litter-picks – one got cancelled by the snow! Further litter picks are planned during the summer especially just before the Platinum Jubilee Celebration on the 4th June on the Mile End Rec – keep an eye out for dates. The Last Saturday Walks (LSW) will continue on the (you’ve guessed it) last Saturday of the month, always starting at the War Memorial, Braiswick Lane, opposite St Michael’s Church, and always at 10am. In June however, we intend to do a much longer walk to celebrate Mid Summers Day on Saturday 25 June at 10am. It will be round the Myland Orbital, the same route as the Boxing Day Walk – but with added sunshine! Happy travelling! Robert Johnstone Chair, Myland Access Group 12
Council Reports Planning & Highways Committee So what is happening to the former Rugby Club site on Mill Road? Well, the good news is that the clubhouse will be demolished (perhaps already has been?), and replaced with a new community centre. The St Marks Community Centre will be an extremely sustainable building with solar panels on the roof, access to air source heat pumps and has been designed to allow for potential expansion, should the need arise. There will be a small hall downstairs, with a licensed café and a larger hall upstairs (seats 120), with a balcony overlooking the new village green. There will be space for toddlers and playgroups as well as many other uses – from dance classes to birthday parties, bridge clubs to music sessions. The community centrewill be located toward at the eastern end of the “Pedestrian Boulevard”, which starts at the roundabout on the Via Urbis Romanae, close to the football stadium. A brief YouTube film, as part of the consultation process, can be found here: SEE YOUTUBE FILM HERE The rest of the site is due to contain a 75 bed care home, a private acute surgical hospital, and about 650 homes, as well as office space, a medical centre and retail premises. The planning application (199665), which was registered at Colchester Borough Council over two years ago, on 29th March 2019, is still not resolved. I understand that the delay is in reaching agreement on the S.106 agreement, - a legal agreement between the developer and the planning authority designed to mitigate against any detrimental impact caused by the development – probably about money! There were many objections to this application, and I hope that they can be resolved. Objections such as the one which asks “Why can’t the only two bridleways in Myland, (Tower Lane and from Severalls Lane to Axial Way), be joined up? Why are the Highways Authority insisting on widening the VUR – which was completed fairly recently? What concern is being shown for the climate emergency that will be our legacy? Development comes with opportunities to protect and enhance our environment – the National Planning Policy Framework says so. 13
Council Reports Negotiations are still on-going, but I have been told by planners at CBC that agreement should be achieved within a few weeks. Robert Johnstone Chair, Planning and Highways Committee Helping the Environment What can we do to help the environment? Myland Community Council is always seeking ways to improve the quality of life of Myland residents. Taking care of our environment and our local biodiversity go hand in hand with this guiding ethos. MCC wants to lead by example and that is why in February the council adopted a new environmental policy. So, what can we do to help the environment? Reading about the climate crisis in the news, it can seem overwhelming but even tiny actions can add up quickly if we all work together to develop good habits. Waste Hierarchy Recycling is one easy way to be more green. That said, did you know that recycling is in fact only in the middle of the Waste Hierarchy? Please see the graphic for further explanation - sending waste to landfill is the final resort. Source: @suffolkrecycle on Twitter 14
Council Reports The number one thing we can all do is to reduce our waste in the first place. One way to do this is to take your own bags to the supermarket so you don’t need to buy new ones. Some coffee shops will give you a modest discount if you bring your own reusable cup - if you do so, you won’t be sending a single-use coffee cup to landfill. These are habits which take time to cultivate; however, after a while they become second nature. Walk to School Week - May 2022 Sometimes, doing the right thing for the environment comes with added health benefits. For example, with the ever-increasing price of fuel it makes sense to leave the car at home when making short journeys and using a bike or walking instead. Encouraging children to walk to school, where possible, means that we can all enjoy reduced congestion and pollution, while the children are well on their way to meeting the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day to stay fit and healthy. This year, Walk to School Week runs from Monday 16 to Friday 20 May. Why not take advantage of the warmer weather and start a new daily habit? Turn off your engine Another way to save fuel and reduce your carbon emissions is to turn off your engine when queuing at a long red traffic light or when parked up. A lot of us worry that it is inefficient to do this but in fact, sitting with the engine running for 10 seconds uses more fuel than switching it off and on again. If we take the Mill Road/NAR crossroads as an example, this is a spot where we can often be waiting our turn at the lights for much longer than just 10 seconds! Most modern manual cars have a start-stop system fitted as standard so are designed to switch off when put into neutral. Smart meters Another rising cost for households is energy, both gas and electricity. If we watch what we spend on heating etc. then that helps both our wallet and the planet. One budgeting tool which you may wish to consider is a smart meter. The government has required energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales to provide smart meters to their customers. 15
Council Reports In order to get a smart meter, contact your energy supplier, who can arrange for smart meters to be installed at a time and date that suits you. You will not be charged for the installation. More information is available on the government website: CLICK HERE Councillor Clare Williams Air Pollution Thursday 16 June 2022 is National Clean Air Day and I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the problem of air pollution and give you some ideas about what you can do personally to improve air quality. How much of a problem is air pollution in the UK? Air pollution is a silent killer. In Colchester, where I work as a GP, one in 20 deaths is related to air pollution and every year across the UK air pollution causes around 40,000 deaths. Air pollution affects us ‘from cradle to grave’ causing low birthweight, premature births, heart and lung problems, cancer and dementia. 16
Council Reports What is air pollution and where does it come from? Air pollution is an umbrella term for the many types of pollutants in the air around us. While walking outside enjoying a spring morning, you might be forgiven for thinking that air pollution is only a problem for large towns and cities. But air pollution doesn’t only come from transport and factories. Household burning, such as fuel-burning stoves and open fires, is the biggest source of particulate matter, which are tiny particles smaller than the width of a human hair. Solvents in household cleaning products are the largest source of chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Agriculture and farming also release pollutants into the atmosphere. What can you do? Walk or cycle where possible. Studies show that around 60% of short journeys of 1-2 miles are made by car and so leaving the car at home - even just once a week - can make a difference. Anti-idling. One minute of a car idling produces enough toxic emissions to fill 60 people’s lungs. Children and babies in prams are particularly at risk as they are closer to car exhaust fumes. Turn off your engine when stationary and talk to idling drivers about doing the same. Avoid burning solid fuel. If you do burn solid fuel, make sure the appliance is well maintained and fuel is clean and dry. Why not show your support for Clean Air Day? See HERE for free resources and posters. Dr Vasandhara Thoroughgood, Mill Road Surgery 17
Churches The Well Methodist Church As we write, there is still uncertainty as to whether the coronavirus is a threat to our society, and, how Russia’s war with Ukraine will end. The latter has caused great concern and we were pleased that we were able to have our March charity coffee morning for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, through the Disasters Emergency Committee. We are grateful to the community who supported this event and gave generously; the final amount raised was £1000. A splendid sum – thank you! We continue with our monthly charity Coffee Mornings, usually on the third Saturday of the month, throughout the year, apart from August and December. Watch out for the posters or look on our website to see which charity is being supported. In 2020we had planned to celebrate our 125thAnniversary and launch the three congregations of Boxted, West Bergholt and Mile End coming together to form The Well Methodist Church, but this had to be deferred because of the coronavirus outbreak. We have now planned our coming together to be celebrated at a special service on Sunday 3rd July. We have been able to restart our ecumenical activities in Mile End, and, on Palm Sunday we met at St Joseph’s to share in the blessing of palm crosses and the reading of the Passion of Jesus. The ‘Drop In’ between 9 and 11am on a Tuesday continues during term times and adults and children are welcome to come for a free ‘Cuppa’ and cake. It also provides an opportunity to collect any surplus food we have to give away. During the Easter holidays Make Lunch Myland operated, providing a hot meal on a Thursday for those families who would have had free school meals. We pray regularly for places where readers of this magazine live. If you have a particular prayer request, please let us know. More information about our church is available on our website: CLICK HERE Keith and Di Thompson Tel: Col 844252 Email: [email protected] 18
Churches St Michael’s Church, Mile End We are delighted that St. Michael’s Church buildings, including Myland Parish Hall have now reopened. Myland Parish Halls is currently open for Weekday Services as follows: • Tuesday 9.15am for Morning Prayer • Wednesday 10.15am for Morning Prayer, with coffee/tea after • Friday 9.15am for Holy Communion Sunday Services in Church start at 10.15am and follow a monthly cycle: • First Sunday: Holy Communion with prayer for Wholeness and Healing • Second Sunday: Family Service currently with Baptism • Third Sunday: Holy Communion and exploration of a current Big Issue • Fourth Sunday: Baptisms and Holy Communion • When there is a fifth Sunday in the month we will have a Family Service Special Services and Activities (Meet in the church unless otherwise stated) May 14th May Plant Sale and Coffee Morning July 10th Pet’s Service Please check our website HERE for more information, this will be updated regularly. You can also follow us on Facebook: St. Michael’s Church &Myland Parish Halls. Rev’d Ray Gibbs 01206 843926 [email protected] Rev’d Hazel Greenland 07707 894526 [email protected] Rev’d Sarah Hayward (Severalls) 07828 046193 [email protected] Sarah King, Church Office Admin. 01206 855040 [email protected] Lesley Hindle, Churchwarden 07708 954990 [email protected] 19
From inside the community Myland Jubilee Picnic To celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Myland Community Council ran a young artist’s competition (for ages 11 and under) to design a poster for theMyland Jubilee Picnic in the Park. This event will be held on Saturday 4th June. The winner was chosen through the Myland Community Council Facebook page by the general public, who voted amongst all the entries by liking their favourite poster. A big congratulations to Felicity Walker, aged 5, who won the competition. Felicity also won a £25 voucher to spend at Hobbycraft. She was absolutely thrilled with her prize and we all agree it’s a wonderful picture. We help you kickstart your skincare journey with our nature packed products. A luxurious collection of handcrafted skincare products that truly nourishes your skin. Handmade in Colchester, using only natural ingredients that is kind to sensitive skin. We understand that everyone has different skincare needs and have formulated a variety of products to cater for all skin types and age groups. 07716 035627 [email protected] @handmadeorganics.uk www.handmadeorganics.co.uk 20
From inside the community Nature Notes It is early/mid March and spring is confused, and so am I. The camelia, shown here, flowered earlier in February, but only these two heads, the others have just begun opening. I have been thinking about hedgerows. I enjoy walking grass green paths beside them, especially if the hedge is heavy with wild roses running rampant. The Readers Digest Field Guide to theWild Flowers of Britain tells us of the Dog Rose and the Downy Rose as both being common to our hedgerows. The book goes on to explain that the dog rose was so named because it was believed the roots could cure a man bitten by a mad dog. It was Henry VII who adopted the Tudor rose as his official emblem. Rupert Brooke, in his poem ‘The Old Vicarage, Grantchester, wrote of the dog rose: Unkempt about those hedges blows, An unofficial English rose. Hedgerows are important green connecting corridors across our landscapes. They will be foraging routes, nesting sites and nectar providers. We recently walked the path between Bergholt Road and Braiswick Lane with its high hedges either side. There was not a lot of birdsong it must be said, but the two small copses either end of this connecting path were a different matter. We heard a pair of chiff chaffs calling and replying and a blackcap trying the same, all singing to spring. We saw one of the chiff chaffs and a pair of long-tailed tits. The birds were all busy and delight to watch and/or listen to on a quiet Sunday morning. I am pleased to say in the midst of all the development taking place in Myland the vast majority of the hedgerows are being retained and in many case with a green buffer zone for biodiversity. Pete Hewitt 21
From inside the community Essex Police Spring Garden Crime Prevention Hopefully by the time that you read this, spring will be established with the weather improving, inviting us out into our gardens. It’s a good time to take a look around; • Are your fences and gates in good condition do you have good quality locks on gates, will they keep the unwelcome intruder out? • To the front of your property, where possible, keep fencing, planting, and hedges to about 1.2m in height so that an intruder is not hidden from view. • Protect your rear garden with 1.8m strong fencing, close boarded wooden fencing, and gates are a good choice and this can be topped with trellis or a plastic spiky topping such as DEFENDA STRIP (warning signs needed). Panels should not be able to be lifted out of the posts, and avoid your fencing becoming a ladder by ensuring that the horizontal cross battens are facing into your garden. 1. Defensive planting: Security does not have to be just about locks, bolts, and spiky fence toppings; nature provides some excellent plants to keep people away. There are a Residential carpet cleaning • Commercial carpet cleaning • Event carpet cleaning We provide professional carpet and upholstery cleaning services to Essex and Suffolk: • Carpet cleaning • Stain removal & protection • Curtain cleaning • Upholstery cleaning • Leather cleaning & re-conditioning 01206 657559 [email protected] 10% off when you use the Quote & Book system www.premierproclean.co.uk @premierproclean 22
From inside the community number of attractive, fragrant plants of a spiky nature such as climbing roses, pyracantha and berberis and other planting of a dense nature that can work quite well. Have a chat at your garden centre or with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) for the right plant for the right location. We actively work with the RHS at Hyde Hall and there are a number of mature examples of defensive planting that can be viewed there, and some very knowledgeable people that can advise you. 2. New plants: Larger plants etc. can be secured to land or rootball anchors or plant through chicken wire covering the area with soil. Cement or bolt down containers to the ground. The RHS or your local garden centre or DIY store should be able to help. 3. Working in the garden: It is easy to get engrossed in what you are doing when working in the garden, if the house is empty it is wise to close and lock the door (don’t forget the key though!). Remember when you stop for a break put your tools away, and at the end of the day as well as putting tools away put the wheelbarrow and wheelie bin away too. “It will add insult to injury” if your tools are used to break into your house, a neighbour’s, nearby building such as a church, or provide a climbing aid or method of carrying things away. 4. New tools and lawn mowers: Be mindful of how you dispose of the packaging to your new purchases; don’t advertise it to the thieves and burglars with your empty boxes on display outside for roadside collection. Fold boxes inside out or break them up and put them in bag for collection. If you are not using your lawn mower, jet washer or other put it away out of sight from prying eyes. 5. Property marking: It may deter a thief if your property or flower pots is visibly security marked with your house number and post code such as CRE PRODUCTS or labelled if a forensic (hidden) property marking system is used such as SMART WATER or SELECTADNA. You can also record the serial numbers of any tools HERE. If your property does get stolen with property marking and/or recording, there is a greater chance of you getting it back. For suitable security products look for the Secured by Design or Sold Secure logo’s and for further garden security advice see the following webpages: ESSEX POLICE SECURED BY DESIGN SOLD SECURE RHS Stephen Armson-Smith Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor 23
Art Group Alternate Fridays Jenny Goodey - 01206 751077 Morris Dancing Fridays 8.00pm The Well Methodist Church Hall Martin Theobald - 01206 853500 Mothers’ Union First Wednesday monthly Ivy Dix - 01206 851743 Myland Foodbank Tuesday & Friday 10am-12pm Myland Parish Hall Mile End Road, CO4 5DY [email protected] 01206 621998 Myland Parish Halls Sarah King - 07518 437488 www.mylandparishhalls.org.uk Myland Singers Wednesdays 7.30pm (term time) Katrina Brooks - 07539 321348 Severalls Bowls Club League matches Tues afternoon/Weds eve Club Night Friday 6.00pm Mill Road Peter Weeden - 07785 114348 Women’s Institute First Friday monthly H/Woods Sandra Jones - 01206 853594 From inside the community 24
Girlguiding Myland Rainbows Myland Brownies Myland Guides www.girlguiding.org.uk/joinus Myland Pre-School (Myland Parish Halls) Monday 9.00am-3.30pm Tuesday 9.00am-3.30pm Wednesday 9.00am-12.00pm Friday 9.00am-3.30pm (Term-time only) Diane Woodrow - 07592 548335 or 07544 830780 [email protected] Rainbow Pre-School Monday 9.30am-3.00pm Wednesday 9.00am-3.00pm Thursday 9.00am-3.00pm Friday 9.00am-3.00pm The Well Methodist Church Hall Gina Oxford - 07779 349128 Scouts 1st Myland St Michaels’ Scout Group Beaver Scouts Thursday Cub Scouts Thursday Scouts Thursday 1stmylandscoutgroup.org.uk Stmix Kids Saturday 10.00am (Various term-time) Myland Parish Hall Karen Appleby - 07468 480110 Learning and growing 25
From inside the community Mill Road Surgery So, we are well into the spring now and hopefully will be treated to an amazing spring and summer! For this issue I’d like to introduce a couple of colleagues of mine who do some amazing work for Mill Road Surgery’s patients, along with the other local surgeries who are part of our primary care network, and of whom some of you will be registered. They have both worked for our PCN for a while, but now we are finally emerging from Covid restrictions, it is easier for them to see patients. Sue Felgate and Terry Pullon are health and well-being coaches for North Colchester Primary Care Network. Sue & Terry support patients that want to make lifestyle changes to improve their health and well-being. Making these changes are often the most important things we can do to improve our health, but can be hard to achieve without help. Sue and Terry support patients with weight management, increasing physically activity, stopping smoking, improving mental well-being, managing long-term conditions, drinking less alcohol, and other lifestyle related issues. They have specialist skills in health behaviour change and use techniques and tools to help patients explore and increase their motivation, to change and reach personal health improvement goals. They have excellent knowledge of other local services and organisations that can also help and can support patients gain access to those. Highly experienced plumbing and heating engineer for all your domestic plumbing needs in Colchester and its surrounding areas. Call or text Tom on: 07801595692 Or e-mail: [email protected] “Tom was reliable, professional and made sure our new bathroom was just what we wanted!” R. Andrews, satisfied customer 26
From inside the community They work with the patient’s agenda, eliciting from them what they want to achieve and feel is possible, but also providing information that supports lifestyle change. This empowers patients to increase their knowledge and understanding, which is often important for change to take place successfully. Patients are frequently referred by health and other professionals, but they can also self-refer by either emailing directly: EMAIL HERE or contacting Reception. Sue and Terry make an initial phone call to engage with patients, and discuss what health coaching can offer, and confirm if they would like some sessions, (telephone, face-to-face appointments, or sometimes a mixture of both). We offer up to 12 sessions at various intervals, depending on the patient’s preference. Next issue we’ll introduce you to other members of our team who you may not have met before, but until then, enjoy the sunshine! Ashley Moore Paramedic Practitioner/Nurse Manager 27
Severalls Hospital Site - The Chapel Where possible development of the Severalls Hospital site has been sympathetic to the buildings and grounds. Some buildings have been saved and refurbished, as has the war memorial site, and much of the woodland has been kept together with green spaces. Despite best efforts to have the Chapel kept as a community asset, sadly this was not achieved. The Chapel was deemed to be fragile, as the single-width brick external wall was bowing. Action was taken therefore to save some Chapel features and the demolition company, Mick George Ltd., assisted in this. The availability of the organ was made known through various channels and it is now played in a village church in Brittany. The Chapel bell and external cross are currently safely cared for in the cellar of a local house, thanks to Council colleagues. The trickiest feature to save was the stained glass windows, here shown in-situ in a black & white photo pre-demolition. Thankfully the windows were saved and are in the possession of your Council until a final home can be found for them. It is our intention to have them examined by experts and Colchester Museum, so that an appropriate use/home can be decided. They are fragile and will require attention and your Council will do all that it can to ensure these heritage features are secured. Pete Hewitt From inside the community 28
From inside the community St Helena Hospice Open your garden for St Helena Hospice From May to September, St Helena Hospice is looking for keen gardeners who want to show off their hard work to open their garden to the community and raise money to help support local people facing incurable illness and bereavement. Share your beautiful garden and join our other green-fingered supporters in raising funds for the hospice by hosting bake sales, plant sales, raffles, or maybe even a garden party for the Queen’s Jubilee! The fundraising team at the hospice can support you by providing you with helpful hints and tips to get you started and some handy materials to support you with your open garden, including poster templates, cake toppers and balloons. To find out how to get started and host your own open garden, visit ST HELENA HOSPICE OPEN GARDENS or contact our fundraising team on 01206 931468 or EMAIL HERE Make your Will this June and support your local hospice This June, St Helena Hospice’s Wills Month returns, giving local people the opportunity to make or amend their Will whilst supporting the hospice. Three local solicitors have waived their usual fees and will write or amend individual or mirror Wills in return for a suggested donation to St Helena Hospice. Rachel Joy, St Helena Hospice fundraiser, said: “Having a Will is really important, whatever your age or circumstances, yet more than 50% of British people do not have a valid Will. If you haven’t made your Will yet, or need to update it, June is the perfect time to do so. “We are hugely grateful to Birkett Long, John Fowlers Solicitors, and Fisher Jones Greenwood, our participating solicitors. Thanks to them, all the money raised from Wills Month will go towards ensuring more local people receive the comfort, dignity and compassion they deserve, right to the end of life. 29
“1 in 5 patients and families cared for by St Helena Hospice are supported by donations made from gifts in Wills. When the time is right for you to remember a charity in your Will, please remember St Helena Hospice.” To find out more about Wills Month or to book your appointment with a participating solicitor, please CLICK HERE Appointments must be booked via the online booking form on the St Helena Hospice website or by calling the fundraising team on 01206 931 468. Women’s Institute It has been good to be returning to a more normal W.I. meeting, although we haven’t sung ‘Jerusalem’ yet! At our February meeting we were joined by seven of our men, who really enjoyed the film evening given by John Jones. Members were very generous with donations of cakes for St Helena Hospice. Unfortunately, our planned speaker for March was unable to come along, but Liz White gave us a very interesting talk about the Avenue of Remembrance. She was able to tell us many fascinating facts about who is actually the subject of the remembrance. In April, Jade Hamnett spoke of her journey into her interest in the joys of kiln-fused glass. Most of us had no idea just what is involved in the production of such beautiful pieces. From inside the community 30
From inside the community May will be the Annual General Meeting, when elections of officers will take place. Our Junemeeting should be the evening of 3rd June, but as this will be a Bank Holiday for the Queen’s Jubilee, it will be a Garden Party instead, to take place at the home of one of our Committee Members. On 30th June the FEWI County Annual Meeting will be held at Charter Hall, Colchester. The guest speaker will be Jennie Bond, the well-known broadcaster and journalist, and entertainment will be provided by The Big Sing, a community choir, which was started in Witham 10 years ago. It promises to be a memorable occasion for everyone. In addition to the monthly meetings, there is a Book Club and occasional Coffee Mornings. Now the lighter evenings are with us, why don’t YOU come along? You would be most welcome. The evening starts at 7.15pm on the first Friday— at Highwoods Community Centre. Sandra Jones Walking in England Time to get walking again! At this time of year we start to think about the mud drying up and getting out to walk in the beautiful English Countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks? Walking in Essex has hundreds of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county andmuchmore. Whether youwant towalk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place. John Harris (the custodian of the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Essex (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’. With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy. So home or away, check out the websites and get walking! John Harris 31
Chesterwell Plaza New East of England Co-op Supermarket opens in Chesterwell A much-anticipated, purpose-built supermarket has opened on Chesterwell Plaza, part of the Mersea Homes’ Chesterwell development in north Colchester. The 4,500 sq ft new East of England Co-op supermarket was officially opened on Friday 3rd December by East of England Co-op President, Frank Moxon and Mersea Homes Managing Director, Stuart Cock. Serving the newly established Chesterwell community, construction on the building started in January and project completion was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday. To celebrate the opening, the first 20 customers received a £5 voucher to spend in store. The East of England Co-op is the region’s largest independent retailer. Joint Chief Executive, Roger Grosvenor comments: “After nearly a year in the making, this impressive new store opens its doors in the heart of Chesterwell and we are proud to serve this new, growing community. From inside the community 32
“The East of England Co-op runs a little bit differently to other retailers. Our 250,000 members are made up of local shoppers across the region, all with an equal share in the business. We have a long history of support for our communities, from tackling food poverty to supporting local farmers. Our new store will not only supply local people with quality food, drink and all the supermarket essentials; it will be an integral part of a thriving Chesterwell community.” The new store includes a Barista Bar serving coffee and other hot beverages, award-winning local produce including many products grown and produced in Essex, and a wide range of everyday essentials. From inside the community 33
Boxted Airfield Museum Just outside of Myland, in Langham, is Boxted Airfield, which was in use between 1943 and 1947 throughout WWII. The airfield now runs as a museum, which can be opened for private and group visits. Visitors can discover how a WWII airfield and 3000 military personnel affected a small village, read about the history behind the uniforms, see a recreation of a B26 Marauder aircraft cockpit, and view a photo gallery of buildings then and now, as well as other exhibitions. The museum has disabled access to all areas. It is open to the public on the last Sunday of the month until October, 10am – 4pm. The admission is a donation of £4pp and accompanied children go free. You can find out more by: VISITING THEIR WEBSITE HERE or call 07503952354. From inside the community Mayne Veterinary clinic is a small independent veterinary practice on Bergholt Road near North Station in Colchester. We’ve been making pets feel better since 1975, that’s just one reason why we’re such a popular family vet – we’ve looked after generation after generation of pets for local people. That special continuity of care and our famously warm personal service mean we get to know you and your pet well. We make every effort to make sure you see the same team member each time you visit, something that makes you feel even more comfortable and cared for. T : 0 1 2 0 6 8 5 1 3 3 8 E : r e c e p t i o n@ma y n e v e t s . c o . u k A SMALL VETERINARY PRACTICE WITH A BIG HEART
History of the Airfield Construction of the airfield started in 1941, with the removal of the fruit orchards. The 386th Bomb Group arrived in May 1943 and was assigned to the US 9th Tactical Air Force and flew the Martin B26 Marauder. The group’s role was to destroy strategic targets such as airfields, convoys, tanks, trains etc. The first mission from Boxted was to bomb Woensdrecht airfield in Holland; one Marauder was lost, but the mission was successful. The 386th only stayed at Boxted for three months before being transferred to Dunmow in September 1943. The 354th Fighter Group came to Boxted in November 1943. This group flew the new Merlin engine P51B Mustang. Their primary role was to escort the bombers on their missions over the continent and eventually all the way to Germany. After their first commanding officer, Kenneth Martin, was shot down and captured, James Howard was put in charge. Jim was the perfect choice, he had seen combat with the Flying Tigers in China. On11th January 1944 Lt Col. JamesHoward, C.O. of the356thFS, flying abomber supportmission, came upon a formation of thirty enemy fighters attacking B17s of the 401st Bomb Group over Oschersleben, Germany. Finding himself temporarily alone and without any thought for his own safety he attacked the enemy formation. He pressed home his attacks claiming three destroyed From inside the community 35
and several others damaged. For his action that day he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honour, the highest award for bravery to go to a fighter pilot in the European Theatre of Operations. The 354th proved that the Mustang was a viable aircraft in combat and the group laid the foundations in tactics that would be followed by the other fighter groups. The 56th are generally acknowledged as the top scoring US fighter Group of World War Two. The group arrived at Boxted on 19th April 1944. They had already experienced combat at their previous bases in England. They were led by the inspirational Hubert Zemke. a great tactician, a man who would not accept second best. The 56th took part in all the major air battles during their stay at Boxted including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. They gained the nickname Wolfpack because of the number of high scoring pilots in the unit. With 31 kills Francis Gabreski was the top scoring American pilot in Europe. Bob Johnson, another member of the Wolfpack, was number 2. From inside the community 36
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