VILLAGE INFORMATION

Clerks to the Parish CouncilsGreat Braxted – Sarah Mann Tel 01621 892821Little Braxted Pauline Player Tel 0621 891544.

Neighbourhood Watch Co-coordinatorsLittle Braxted - Pauline Player 01621 891544Great Braxted - Barry Grainger 01621 891514Non urgent contact number for Police 101 or 0300 333 4444Point of Contact Mobile - 07977 512068.

Wickham Bishops LibrarySchool Road, Wickham Bishops, Witham CM8 3NU Tel 01621 891216Opening timesMonday 14.00 – 18.00,

Wednesday 14.00 - 18.00, Saturday 09.00 – 13.00On a Saturday morning they run a fantastic baby and toddler Rhyme time session at 10.30am throughout term time. Please pop in if you can

and enjoy the fun!

Book start Sessions for Pre School children: - Wednesday 14.00 – 14.30People’s Network: - Free use of computers accessing Word, Spreadsheets, Internet, and Email etc.

‘Let the Library come to you.’ Phone Clare Henney at Chelmsford Library Access Services, on 01245 492758; or Peter Chapman on 01621 892624.Essex Mobile LibraryGreat Braxted. The library van comes outside the DuCane at 9.15 to 9.30am on a Wednesday fortnightly.Refuse Collection ArrangementsCollection Day for most roads in both villages – ThursdaysPaper collection every two weeksRecycling Banks.Great Braxted Pavilion – Paper and Glass Green Man Little Braxted – GlassWaste Management Hotline - 01621 875706 for further details.

A steady number of new people have again passed their email addresses through to join the online version of the bulletin over the last month and I very much look forward hearing from anyone else who would like to join. If you feel that others would gain useful information from this version please ask them to email info@villageadverts.co.uk The Online bulletin can still be printed at home so that you can also have a copy to hand whenever you need it if you so wish to. Otherwise you can always access the Braxted Bulletin at any point in the month via the Village Adverts website, you will see the Braxted Bulletin in the navigation bar on the left hand side of the home page www.villageadverts.co.uk

If anyone would like to advertise a business in this magazine and on the Village Adverts website and Facebook page then please email me: info@villageadverts.co.ukBest Wishes,Ali Aldis

YOUR NEW & IMPROVED RECYCLING SERVICE

In April 2012 Maldon District Council will be introducing a new and improved recycling service for its residents. In addition to what they already collect from your kerbside they will also be able to collect selected plastics & food waste on a weekly basis.

Look out for the delivery of your new box, bag, kitchen caddies and information leaflet in March 2012.

For further information please telephone 01621 854477 or

visit www.maldon.gov.uk/waste

Braxted Garden ClubThe March meeting will be held at the Braxted Pavilion on Thursday March 15th at 8 pm. The speaker will be Robin Carsberg and his subject is “Growing and Showing Fuschias”.

Old and New members and Guests will all be very welcome.Jenny Hornett (01621) 891424

Neighbourhood Watch Scheme Little Braxted – Pauline Player

I am concerned that many residents in the Scheme are not receiving their messages and one reason for this is because some have changed their telephone numbers and failed to inform me which, of course, wrecks the entire system.

For the Scheme to be successful I need to be kept up to date of any changes and all messages received must be passed on quickly to ensure that everyone is alerted to thefts; break-ins or suspicious happenings. The most recent messages concerned two thefts of central heating oil so it seems that the Village is being targeted.

Will all members of the Scheme please telephone me to confirm their telephone numbers and as soon as I have all the correct information I will organize a new pyramid for distribution.

If any new residents would like to join to the Scheme please telephone me on 891544. Pauline Player

The Little & Great Braxted Central Heating Oil Syndicate

Many of you will know that I run a central heating oil syndicate in the two villages and that I telephone members quarterly with a proposed delivery date.

Apart from helping to save the environment by reducing the number of oil tankers visiting the villages there is also the benefit of a two or three pence discount per litre.

Please telephone me if further information is required or if you wish to join the syndicate.

The next delivery will be in early May.

Pauline Player 891554

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

LITTLE BRAXTED ANNUAL “CLEAN-UP” SATURDAY MARCH 17TH

THE VILLAGE NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF AS MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE FOR THIS ONE.

IT’S ALWAYS A LOVELY SLOW WALK AROUND THE VILLAGE.

The “Clean-up” in Little Braxted has been arranged for Saturday March 17th. All are welcome to come along and help in this worthy cause. New residents are particularly invited as it gives them a chance to meet others. Sacks will be provided but please bring protective gloves. Please meet outside The Green Man at 10:30a.m. Any queries to me on 891544. Pauline Player.

ROYAL JUBILEE PARTY WITH HOG ROAST MONDAY 4TH JUNE

A jubilee party will be held at the Great Braxted Cricket Pitch for residents of Little Braxted and Great Braxted,

(friends and family are also welcome)Further details will follow in next month’s bulletin

so please try and keep the date free.

WALK 1 - GREEN MAN AT LITTLE BRAXTED TO WICKHAM BISHOPS AND RETURN

After the cold snap and snow in February, Spring really is just around the corner and with that thought in mind it’s a great time to get your hiking boots back on. Time to get out and about in the fresh air and take in the beautiful sites and changing flora in the hedgerows. Where better to start than with a walk around the village and a stop in the Green Man, Little Braxted.

1 Leave the Green Man, going to the left, down the hill and fork left, signposted Witham (notice in the triangle you will see the old school house that is currently being renovated). Pass Hales Farm on your left, the beautiful old farm house near to the roadside and then past Sewell’s Farm.

2 On the next bend past Sewell’s Farm turn left by a concrete public footpath sign and follow the concrete path round to the right. The path bends to the right on a narrow path.

3 Cross a stile and turn left following a reinstated path going past a large modern house with an extensive garden. At the end turn right and join Ishams Chase near the River Blackwater, to the road at Blue Mills.

4 Cross the busy road and walk over the golf course in a south-easterly direction heading uphill for a stile in the facing hedge. Continue in the same direction diagonally and follow inside the fenced footpath all the way through to the mansion in Mope Lane.

5 Turn right uphill for 500 yards. At the end of Mope Lane turn left passing Wickham Bishops Church on the right and Church Green. Follow the road round the right hand bend at the top of the round into Blacksmiths Lane to the top. Cross the main road by the Mitre pub and walk a short distance up the main road and turn right into Pony’s Chase, follow this road until you reach the public footpath near the stables (on the left).

6 At the end of the footpath turn left. Cross the road to the war memorial. Keep heading in the same direction to the signposts and turn left, heading down the hill back towards Witham. Pass Braxted Place on your right and cross the road again straight into The Green Man for some well-deserved refreshments.

CLICK ON THE ADVERTS TO VISIT THEIR WEBSITES

News from Great Totham Primary SchoolMessage from the Head teacherThe first half term of 2012 has been extremely busy for our pupils; they have enjoyed a range of new and exciting experiences and opportunities.

Keith Bannister, Headteacher

School News:Kung Hay Fat Choy! Reception enjoyed celebrating Chinese New Year. We cooked and tasted Chinese food, created our own money wallets and designed cards for our families and friends. We watched videos on the internet of celebrations taking place in China, learnt the story of ‘The Race’ and had great fun re-enacting the story, as well as parading our own Chinese Dragon through the classroom. We also learnt how to write our initials using Chinese lettering and made concertina dragons. Reception classes

All KS2 children have had/will have the opportunity to improve their cooking skills in the Cosmic Kitchen this term. We had to wash our hands thoroughly and put aprons on before we started our cooking experience. We learnt how to use two cutting techniques; the bridge and claw. The claw was the most difficult one to master because lots of people had learnt to cut and slice differently before, but we got there in the end. We learnt that the bridge and claw techniques help us to slice, chop and cut safely. The onions were particularly strong and made everyone's eyes water; it was like everyone was drowning in tears! We used onion, garlic, courgette, tomato, herbs and mozzarella amongst other ingredients to create our tasty pasta bake. We even got to take our portions home to taste with our family. We all had great fun cooking with Mrs Cripps and Mrs Babbs! Milly Gibson and Oliver Jupp, 5L

We were excited to welcome our local MP, Priti Patel, to our school. She joined us for a whole school assembly and answered many questions about her job and role as our MP. The School Council highlighted the changes in and around school that it has instigated and members of the council also had the opportunity to ask Priti some challenging questions!

PTFA Forthcoming EventsSponsored Walk: Saturday 12th MaySummer Fete: Friday 13th JulyGolf Day: Friday 28th September

Jo MazzarellaCommunity Cohesion

Gardeners Corner – March 2012

Excitement starts to build for all garden enthusiasts during this month as your hard work from all the previous months starts to literally “spring” into life!

Spend this month:

Rake lawns with a spring-tine rake to remove dead leaves and moss and begin cutting the lawn with your mower blades set on high.

Harden off young plants and seedlings gradually before planting out and continue to protect them from late frosts.

Complete feeding and mulching of fruit. Slow-release, potassium-rich granular or petted fertilisers are an option.

Protect blossom of apricots, peaches and nectarines from frost with fleece.

Prepare seedbeds, covering with clear polythene or fleece to warm the soil in readiness for planting.

Start planting early potatoes

Happy gardening and enjoy the sunshine! Jon Aldis, Goodlife Countryside Services. 07754 284195

Services for March 2012

St Bartholomew’s, Wickham Bishops&

St Nicholas, Little Braxted

SUNDAY 4 Lent 28.00am Holy Communion10.30 am Parish Eucharist

WEDNESDAY 710.00am Holy Communion

SUNDAY 11 Lent 38.00 am Holy Communion10.30 am Parish Eucharist

WEDNESDAY 1410.00 am Holy Communion

SUNDAY 18th Mothering Sunday(No 8.00 am Holy Communion at St Bartholomew’s)

9.00 am Eucharist at St Nicholas10.30 am Mothering Sunday All Age Worship

WEDNESDAY 2110.00 am Holy Communion at Braxted Place Chapel

SUNDAY 25 Lent 5 Passiontide begins8.00 am Holy Communion (1662)

10.30 am Parish Eucharist

WEDNESDAY 2810.00 am Holy Communion

CHURCH NEWSALL SAINT’S Great Braxted

A December Weekend at All Saints Church

Lent began on 22nd February – what are you giving up this year?

For the month of March the following pattern of services will apply:-

4th March - Matins – morning service

11th March - Parish Communion Order 1

18th March - FAMILY MOTHERING SUNDAY

25th March - Parish Communion order 2 (1622)

All at All Saints’ Church, Braxted Park Road at 11 am

Contact details:Revd. Anne-Marie Renshaw MA (01621 815260)

Hon. Assistant Priest: Revd. Roger Hoare (01621 817236)Churchwardens: Ken Hornett (01621 891424)

Lorna Crick (01621 815461)Website: www.tk-tiptree-braxted-benefice.org.ukParish Office: St Luke’s Church (01621) 819557

Make a date in your diary to join

Grape Passion at their

Spring Wine Tasting!Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th April

LANGFORD VILLAGE HALL, MALDON ROAD CM9 4SS

A relaxed environment to sample from our extensive range of award winning winesLots of great new wines to try

 With fun food and wine matching sessionsOver 60 different wines and champagnes to try before you buy!

Special Offers all weekendSaturday 28th April 11am - 7.30pm & Sunday 29th April 12pm - 5pm 

 £5 Admission - Refundable on orders over £25

www.grapepassions.co.uk

FIND PROPERTIES IN LITTLE AND GREAT BRAXTED &

SURROUNDING AREAS - CLICK THROUGH TO

Copy for March Bulletin to Charlotte MorganBy March 15th please.

E-mail char.mor@btinternet.com Buck HouseTiptree RoadGreat Braxted

CM8 3EJTel 01621 892126