Abthorpe
BLUEBELLS: PERHAPS it's imagination, but the bluebells in our local Abthorpe woods seem better this year than ever before.

Where foresters have cleared trees to create clearings in Bucknell Wood, the large Forestry Commission site in our parish, there is a carpet of vibrant bluebells interspersed with occasional bright yellow celandines that stretches almost as far as the eye can see.

The scent of the blooms hangs in the air like an expensive perfume.
As bluebells are a protected species and may not be dug up, there seems every likelihood that this amazing springtime sight will be enjoyed by future generations if they head out and appreciate one of England's great natural wonders.

Adstock
ANTIQUES EVENING: THANK you to everyone who helped to make the Antiques Evening, held in the village hall on Friday, April 25, such a success.
The committee produced an excellent meal prior to the talk by Hugo Morley Fletcher.

Guests had brought along a varied selection of china and glass for Hugo to talk about and value.
It was fascinating to be in the presence of someone with such knowledge and expertise.

The range and value was enormous from a few pounds to several hundred but, as Hugo said, as long as you enjoy your pieces that is all that matters.

ADSTOCK OPEN GARDENS: A VARIETY of village gardens will be open to the public on Saturday, June 6 and Sunday, June 7, from 2pm to 6pm both days.

Akeley
AEROCISE: AT the village hall on Wednesdays from 9.30am to 10.30am, £5 per session.

Contact Joanne on 07851 032316 for further details.

STEP BY STEP: WHY not join us on Thursday evenings from 8pm to 9pm for ballroom and Latin American dance lessons?

It's good fun and good exercise, £10 per couple or £6 single.

ANNUAL MAY DAY WALK: ON Monday, May 4 there will be two routes for the May Day Walk.

For those wishing to take the longer route over the fields, John Cowley will be departing from the village hall at 10.15am.

There is also a family/pushchair-friendly route which leaves at 11.30am.
Both walks will end at the scout field in Chapel Lane around noon.

The Scouts have kindly agreed to provide refreshments for a nominal charge or please feel free to bring your own picnic.

Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.

RHS GARDENS, WISLEY:
AKELEY Gardening Club is holding a trip to RHS Gardens, Wisley, on Sunday, June 14

Treat yourself to a day out with us to this wonderful RHS garden, only £10 including coach and entry to the gardens.

Contact Sherri on 01280 860486 or Jackie on 01280 860295.

WEBSITE: YOU can keep up to date with what's been happening in the village and find out what is planned for the next few weeks by visiting the parish council's website which can be found at www.akeleyparishcouncil.gov.uk.

Chackmore
PLAYSCHOOL MAY DAY FUN DAY: COME and join us to celebrate the official opening of our wildlife garden by the RSPB on Saturday, May 9, from 11am to 1pm.

Also enjoy the children's musical parade, the Brackley Morris Men, bird corner, trade stands, RSPB children's activities and crafts.

Refreshments will be available to purchase, or bring a picnic.

Admission is £3 per family and proceeds will go to Chackmore Playschool.
Family and friends are most welcome.

Croughton
ANNUAL PARISH ASSEMBLY: THIS year's assembly held on Monday, April 20, followed a different format from previous years.

The chairman welcomed everybody and approved the minutes of the Annual Parish Assembly 2008 and the Annual Parish Council Report 2008/09.

This meeting was an open forum which was attended by councillors and representatives of organisations.

The annual parish council report was handed out.

There were reports from each organisation and the police.

Community panel meetings are held every three months.

COFFEE MORNING: A COFFEE morning was held at 54 High Street and raised £345 for Alzheimer's treatment in the local area.

Jean Coles thanks all her helpers and those who supported the event.

Deanshanger
DROP-IN: THE monthly drop-in at the chapel is today, Friday (and every first Friday except August and January).

Lunch is served from noon.

There is always a very good home-made lunch or you could choose soup and a roll or just a cup of tea or coffee.

It's a great way to meet new people and make friends, or get together with old ones.

There is always a warm welcome.

It is held in Deanshanger Methodist Chapel in Church Lane.

SONGS OF PRAISE: SONGS of Praise at Haven Court is this Sunday, May 3, and is now at its summer starting time of 6.30pm.

This is an opportunity to come along and sing your favourite hymns, listen to readings and prayers.

Why not come along – everyone is welcome.

COFFEE MORNING: THERE is to be a coffee morning at Haven Court on Wednesday, May 6 from 10am until noon.

There will be cakes, a raffle and bric-a-brac.

LIBRARY COMPUTER SESSIONS: THE Library Service is running some short taster sessions on beginning your family history.

These will be on Wednesday, May 13 from 3pm until 5.30pm.

Each session lasts 20 minutes and, as space is limited, it is advisable to book. Ring Deanshanger Library (open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 1pm–6pm, and Saturday, 10am–2pm) on 01908 562889.

10TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: DEANSHANGER Village Heritage Society is holding a special exhibition to mark its 10th anniversary in Deanshanger Community Centre on Saturday, May 16 from 1pm to 5pm.

Admission is free and there will be lots to see – old slides, historic pictures of the village and lots of exhibits showing village life from many years ago right up to the present.

More information on exhibits will follow in the weeks to come.

Great Horwood
WINSLOW COMMUNITY BUS: CONTACT Sue on 01296 715786 for further information or to book bus trips
Email wdcbenquiries@btconnect.com or visit the website at www.winslowbus.com.

Everyone is eligible to come on our trips, please ring Sue for more information.

SUMMER BALL: THIS is always a popular event and tickets sell fast!
This year it will be held on Saturday, July 4 in Great Horwood School Hall.

For tickets contact June Margerrison on 01296 714554 or David Brazier on 01296 714712.

GREAT HORWOOD PRE-SCHOOL: WE will be holding an exciting Family Creative Fun Day which will be held on Saturday, May 16.

Activities which will be on offer include painting, sticking, making and face painting.

Refreshments will be available.

Great Horwood Pre-School has extended its opening hours.

If you are interested in a place for your child then please contact the leader Wendy on 07999 806961 or email greathorwoodpre-school@hotmail.com.

The pre-school is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

We also can pick up children from the Reception class from Great Horwood School at 12.15pm.

GREAT HORWOOD SILVER BAND: GREAT Horwood Silver Band will be playing on Sunday, May 17, for the opening of the new recreation ground in Great Horwood.

Details of all the band events for the coming year can be found on the band website at www.freewebs.com/greathorwood.

FURZE DOWN SCHOOL: THE school in Verney Road, Winslow, is holding its Spring Fayre on Saturday, May 9.

The fun day begins at 10am and goes on until 4pm.

There will be traction engines, archery and miniature steam train rides, stalls galore and fantastic raffle prizes, so don't forget to buy your tickets!

There will be crafts to try your hand at and many items to buy.

ALLOTMENTS 2008/09: ALLOTMENT payments are now due.

Please make payments to parish clerk Duncan Trigg on 01296 715177.
The yearly rent for the allotments is going up from next year, so enjoy the coming season at the old rate.

If you no longer wish to cultivate your allotment, please let Duncan know as soon as possible as there is a waiting list.

Little Horwood YOUTH CLUB: WELL done to all the organisers of the varying age groups who set up the first week's youth club for the village.

The evening was full of friendship, fun and laughter for all who attended, whether a participant or helper.

The good weather encouraged most activities to take place outside for the older children but the little ones really enjoyed the arts and craft activities held inside, too.

The tuck shop proved to be a great success all round!

We wish you every success for the future and thank you for your time and the effort put into making this dream a reality!

SWANBOURNE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS: THANK you to everyone who supported the coffee morning and bring and buy last Saturday.

It was a lovely morning where unwanted goods and donations of cakes were sold to provide extra funds for the club.

Anyone over the age of 55 is allowed to join the club and would be made most welcome.

So if you are retired or would like to make new friends do come along on the second Monday of each month to Swanbourne Village Hall, starting at 1.45pm.

SPRING HARVEST: SPRING Harvest is a Christian celebration held each year over a three-week period during Easter at Butlins in Minehead and Skegness.

Over 53,000 people gather during this time to enjoy a break in a safe environment with opportunities to learn more about the Christian faith and to join in worship together.

This year our group of 23 went to Minehead.

We had the most fantastic time which was helped by the glorious weather.

On Easter Sunday morning at 7.30am, 1,500 people of all ages gathered for a spectacular celebration service on Minehead beach, which was bathed in sunshine even at that hour!

Of course, the weather in our country can never be guaranteed but Spring Harvest is always so wonderful that a group from our benefice goes each year, so if you are interested in joining us next year please contact me as soon as possible because the booking day is on June 10.

CHURCH SERVICE: PLEASE join us in Little Horwood Church for an Interactive Family Service on May 3 at 11am, run by our young mums.
There is something for everyone in this service, all are welcome from new-born upwards!

Afterwards, a shared lunch will be held in the old school behind the church and next to the play area.

It doesn't matter what you bring; anything from a bag of crisps to a home-baked cake will all be gobbled up!

This is followed by plenty of time to play with your children in the recreation area or to sit and chat over tea or coffee.

Maids Moreton
CHURCH SERVICES: ON Sunday there is a service of Holy Communion at 8am followed by a Family Service with Searchlights at 10.30am.

WHIST DRIVE: The next whist drive will be on Friday, May 8 in the village hall at 7.30pm.

WHEATSHEAF QUIZ EVENING: THE next quiz evening at The Wheatsheaf will be on Monday, May 11 commencing at 8.30pm.

Teams should be a maximum of four people.

There will be a nominal charge which includes a snack buffet, the proceeds of which will be donated to a local charity.

If you require any further information please call Gary on 01280 815433.

THE GRUMBLE GRANGE GROUP: THE next Grumble Grange meeting will be held this Tuesday, May 5, at 7.30pm.

SOUP LUNCH: THE next soup lunch will be held on Friday, May 15 in the village hall at 12.15pm for 12.30pm.

MAIDS MORETON MERRYMAKERS: THE first outing of the season will take place on Wednesday, May 6, going to Lichfield.

The coach will leave the village hall at 9am and will pick up in all the usual places.

The cost of the coach will be £9 for members and £10 for non-members.
If you would like to join the Merrymakers please call Bob on 01280 814295.
 
BAGS 2 SCHOOL: MAIDS Moreton C of E School is collecting Bags 2 School.
Please collect old clothing, bedding, belts, shoes, etc for Friday, May 8.

Please drop the bags off on the day, inside the school gates, by 9.30am.
If you have any questions please ring Annie on 01280 701820.

VILLAGE VOICE: FOLLOWERS of this column may be interested to know that an unexpurgated version of the Village Voice also appears on the Maids Moreton village web site along with additional information relating to the Parish Council and other activities taking place in the village.

Padbury
CLOTHES EVENT FOR PADBURY SCHOOL AND PRE-SCHOOL: IS your wardrobe bulging with clothes you haven't worn in years?

Then there is an opportunity to swap them for something different this evening, Friday, in the village hall at 7.30pm for 8pm.

As you arrive, exchange vouchers will be issued for each item you bring, so the more you contribute, the more you get to swap.

The clothes and accessories are displayed for everyone to choose from and try on, and you and your friends go home with a great new look.

Entry is £5 a head which includes a drink and a goody bag, and all proceeds will go to Padbury School and Pre-School.

Contact Louise on 01280 820760 or Katherine on 07772 128419 for more information.

This is the perfect way to get the buzz of a trip to the shops without it costing the earth.

LITTER PICK: COME and join in the great village litter pick tomorrow, Saturday.

All volunteers should meet at the play area on Main Street at 2pm.

If you haven't already let Debbie Gibbs know you intend to come and help, please contact her on 01280 815044 to see what you need to bring.
It's amazing what lurks in the highways and byways and it all helps to tidy up our attractive village.

ANNUAL LAMB LUNCH: PLENTY of warm sunshine is already ordered for Sunday, May 10 when the annual Lamb Lunch is once again being held at Betts Farm House, Winslow Road (thanks to Fred Morris), starting at 12.30pm.

This is always a popular event with a real sense of community in spite of the inclement weather which sometimes occurs.

Bring rugs and drinks and/or sunshades/wellies.

Tickets are going well and will cost you £8 for an adult and £4 for children.

You can buy them from Fred Morris on 01280 816059 or John Wrigley on 01280 814199.

NEW INN QUIZ NIGHT: MAKE a note of the next quiz night at the New Inn on Sunday, May 10 starting at 8pm – a good follow-on from the Lamb Lunch earlier in the day?

ADSTOCK & PADBURY GARDEN CLUB: MEMBERS are visiting Gypsy House and The Plant Specialist Nursery in Whitefield Lane and One Church Street in Great Missenden on Wednesday, May 13.

This is a self-drive trip as the club has chosen to take advantage of the National Gardens Scheme opening that day, with combined entry to both gardens and the nursery costing £5 per head.

You can time your visit as you wish as the nursery opens at 10am and the gardens from 2pm to 5pm, but the Garden Club visitors will assemble as a group at Gypsy House at 2.15pm.

If you have any queries, please contact Sue Crook on 01280 816505.

The Club has an outing on Wednesday, July 8, to Spetchley Park Gardens near Worcester where you will find both formal and informal gardens with a vast collection of plants, some rarely found outside botanical gardens.

There is also an adjacent deer park for the more energetic.

I know this event is a long way ahead but there is quite a large coach to fill and the organiser, Sue Crook, would be delighted to know if anyone fancies coming along.

For details of cost and refreshment options, please give Sue a ring on 01280 816505.

CARE FOR A CUPPA OPEN DAY: DIABETES UK has its 75th anniversay this year and Bijoux Jewellery, run by Jackie Bailey, and Pretty Bags, run by Tracey Sargent (both from Padbury), are getting together for an open day on Friday, May 15 to raise some funds for this very good cause.

The event wil take place at Bennetts Farm, Main Street, from 9.30am to 9.30pm and there will be refreshments and a raffle, so tell all your friends about it and come along to see the very pretty things available to buy.

SPRING SAFARI SUPPER: SATURDAY, May 16 is the date for the spring safari supper.

Starting at the New Inn, you are then given the secret address of the host for the first course.

That host will divulge the location of your main course and all the participants will meet together at another mystery venue for puddings and coffee.

Come and enjoy good company – perhaps you could host a course – or just come along and eat.

Tickets are £15 a head with food costs refunded, and there is a special offer of half-price tickets for anyone attending a Padbury safari supper for the first time.

To book or to obtain more information, please ring Sue or Nick Fane on 01280 823976.

OPEN GARDENS WEEKEND: ON June 13 and 14 we have the village open gardens weekend and the plant stall does need a good stock of plants to sell, so when you are tidying your gardens over the next few weeks, please pot up a few spare plants or chop a bit off those spreading clumps, or sow a few extra seeds of vegetables or flowers now.

The stall will welcome any contribution, perfectly labelled please.
Contact Sue Wrigley on 01280 814199 or Fred Morris on 01280 816059 if you have any questions.

BINGO: THE next bingo evening will be Friday, May 8, but if you have any queries in the meantime or wish to donate any raffle prizes, please ring Shirley Lafford on 01280 812535.

Preston Bissett
VILLAGE MEETING: PRESTON Bissett's annual village meeting is being held on Thursday, May 7, at 7.30pm in the Old School.
All villagers are welcome.

Syresham
MAY DAY FETE: THE annual May Day Fete will be held at Syresham School on Monday, May 4, starting at 2pm.

There will, as always, be lots of stalls and games for all the family, plus a grand raffle with many super prizes.

The children of the school will also be entertaining us with their traditional Maypole dancing.

SYRESHAM AND DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY: THE May meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at 7.30pm with a talk entitled Alice Hawkins – The Life and Times of a Suffragette.

Peter Barratt will recount the story of his grandmother Alice Hawkins who was a prominent member of the determined group of women who struggled to win the right to vote.

Many were arrested and imprisoned in the pursuit of their beliefs.
This promises to be a most interesting and enlightening talk and visitors are, as always, most welcome.

SYRESHAM SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB: THE next event at the club will be on Saturday, May 9, with a barbecue and wine night, which will be served starting at 6pm.

Red, white and rose wine will be £1.50 a glass.

Everything will be served outside.

SYRESHAM SCARECROW FESTIVAL: JUST a reminder that the theme for this year's festival on June 27/28 will be Comedy and Laughter.

AGM: THE AGM of Syresham Village Hall Management Committee will be held on Tuesday, May 12 at 7.30pm in the village hall.

Everyone is invited to come along.

You will be able to find out what has been done to the hall during the last year, and what improvements we are hoping to make in the future.
This is your hall, so please come along and support us if you can.

Tingewick
ACORNS AND CHURCH SERVICES: THERE will be a Family Service at 4pm on Saturday, May 2 following the Acorns' meeting at 2pm.

Contact Eleanor on 01280 847145 for full details.

WHISKY TASTING: ON Tuesday, May 5, starting at 8pm, the Royal Oak on Main Street will be hosting a whisky tasting tutorial followed by a buffet.

Telephone the pub on 01280 848373 for more information.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: ON Friday, May 8, from 7.30pm, there will be a talk in the village hall on the topic of growing plants in difficult places.

Entrance £2, which includes refreshments.

Contact Pat Swinburne on 01280 847764 for more information.

TINGEWICK DIAMONDS: THE Tingewick Diamonds will meet on Wednesday, May 6, from 11am in the village hall.

Contact Chris Carter on 01280 848291 for details.

ROMI MAYS BAND: CANADIAN singer Romi Mays will be playing in the village hall on Saturday, May 2.

Doors open at 8pm.

Tickets £10 in advance from The Duke's Music in Buckingham.
See www. empty-rooms.com for more information.

PARISH COUNCIL: THE parish council will meet at 8pm on Thursday, May 7 in the village hall.

SCOUTS: THE Tingewick Scout group is unable to take on new members at the moment as there is a waiting list – but not enough Scout leaders.
Adults who would like to contribute towards providing young people with new experiences and activities should contact Roger on 01280 847824 to find out about becoming a Scout leader.

Full training is provided for this very rewarding role.

TINGEWICK PARENT AND TODDLER: THE Tingewick Toddler Group is open from 1.15pm every Thursday in Tingewick Pre-School on Main Street (just next to the village hall).

It costs just £1 per family group.

Twyford
FUN RUN AND FETE: THE church will be holding this new event on Sunday, September 27.

Further information about booking for the fun run will be available soon.

COFFEE MORNING: TOMORROW, Saturday, from 10.30am to noon at the United Reformed Chapel.

Greetings cards, books, cakes, preserves, eggs, plants and Fair Trade goods.

Free admission.

Wappenham

CHURCH SERVICE: THERE will be an 'Infant Church' Service tomorrow, Saturday, at 10am at St Mary's Church.

All pre-schoolers, their families and friends are welcome.

Westbury
AVDC PLAY IN THE PARISHES: THIS event proved to be enjoyable and four more sessions are planned for school holidays this year.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS: THE annual bike ride is planned for June 14, details will follow later.

The Annual Summer Camp is also planned, again details to follow.

Safari supper – this will be our first attempt at having a safari supper in the village – planned at the moment for July 11. Details later.