Annual Parish Meeting
This will be held on Thursday 17th May at 7.30 pm in the Pavilion at the rear of the Memorial Social Centre.  Everyone is invited. The agenda has yet to be finalised but is likely to include
             Presentation of Alf Hicks Crystal Biscuit Barrel
             Address by County Councillor Jane Midwood
             Address by Borough Councillor Derek Redhead
             Report from Community Beat Officer
             Reports by Chairmen of Parish Council and Estates Committee
             Financial Report by Clerk
             Reports from representatives from other village organisations.
If this sounds like a long evening, fear not, because all ‘guests’ will be asked to restrict their summaries to a maximum of five minutes. So if you wish to know more about who is responsible for what, and how much it costs, come along. You will be very welcome.

Regular Parish Meetings
These continue as normal.  You are welcome to attend any. 

The next Estates Meetings will be held on Tuesdays 1st May and 10th July.  The Annual Parish Council meeting will be held on Thursday 10th May and the next regular P.C. meetings will be on 28th June and 26th July.

Election

There will be no parish election this year.  Of our 7 current councillors, 2 have chosen not to continue for a further four year period (Councillors Harrison and Sumner) which leaves 2 vacancies.  Kate Sammons of Samples Farm, Ashfield Green has been elected to fill one of the vacancies but the Council is still one member short.  The Council will seek to co-opt so if you have an interest or know some-one who may be persuaded, please contact the Clerk on 01440 821861

Current, and new, council members are as follows –
                         Paul Bevan, 7 Coltsfoot Close, Wickhambrook
                         Jeff Claydon, Gaines Hall, Attleton Green
                         Kerry Merritt, Brynawel, Thorns Corner
                         Kate Sammons, Samples Farm, Ashfield Green
                         Julia Walker, Crow Cottage, Malting End
                         Julian Wilson, Grove Farm Stud

Hedgerow Survey – We’re off!
Several willing and enthusiastic volunteers have responded to the article in the previous edition of the ‘Scene’ or to the advertising around the village. We now number 7 but Wickhambrook is a large parish and we could really do with 10 – 12.

The first move is to attend a half day of practical training at Thornham Field Centre.  This will be held on Saturday 19th May between 9.15 and 12.45.  We start with a 20 minute talk on how to complete the survey sheet and then spend the next 2.5 hours with clipboards in hedges, under instruction for a start and then on our own.

If you think you could be interested, but are not quite sure, give me (Roger Medley) a call on 01440 821861.  

Patient and Public Involvement Health Forums
A brief explanation of PPIs was given in the last edition of the Scene.  If you wish to know more attend one of the forthcoming meetings –
             Tuesday 12th June – 9.30 am – West Suffolk Hospital PPI Forum
             Wednesday 2nd May – 2.00 pm – West Suffolk PCT Locality PPI Forum
             Wednesday 4th July – 2.00 pm – West Suffolk PCT Locality PPI Forum
All meetings are held at Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds.  For further information contact the Forum Support Office on 01473 407342.

PPI Forums are made up of volunteers from the local community who are enthusiastic about helping patients and influencing the way that local healthcare is organised and delivered.   

Permissive Access Areas

The Parish Council has been informed of one new and one renewed permissive access area.

The new one, by kind permission of Roger Draycott, is ‘The Glebe’, a small meadow between Wash Lane and All Saints Church.  Entrances or exits will be found in Wash Lane, just above the ford, and in the churchyard, just below the alms houses. The field is now being managed under Environmental Stewardship and the aim is to create foraging areas for barn owls, kestrels and bats, as well as nesting habitat for a range of farmland birds including grey partridges and yellowhammers.  A walk around the perimeter is likely to be very rewarding particularly alongside the brook.

The renewed permissive access area, by kind permission of Graham Simister, is Hole Farm in the Coltsfoot Green/Fullers Hill area.  The bridleways on this farm pass a variety of habitats such as hedgerows, meadows and streams which provide valuable feeding and nesting sites for farmland wildlife such as birds, bats and butterflies.  The beautiful Suffolk countryside and much of the village can be viewed from the top of the hill.

Please note that the access provided is permissive only and will not become permanent right of way. .

St Nicholas Hospice
Ipswich Allotment Holder’s Association Ltd have challenged St Nicholas Hospice and other hospices in the area to take part in their sponsored pumpkin growing competition. 
The aim is to encourage gardening clubs, allotment associations, schools and anyone else to grow the largest or ‘prettiest’ pumpkin.  Anyone interested in more information please contact Gail Cornish, Community Fundraiser, on 01284 715555.  They will be sent a few of last year’s prize winning seeds, a sponsorship form and information pack.   
If you wish to take part I have a few application forms.

Rights of Way
If anyone has been discouraged recently from using the track that runs from Coltsfoot Green north past Australia Farm and eventually to Genesis Green, please note that the ruts are currently being filled in by the County Council.  Work should be complete by the time you receive this edition of the Scene and access will be considerably easier.

Roger Medley  (01440 821861)
Clerk.