Neither the Oak nor the Ash triumphed in the race to be the first into full leaf this year. So although I cannot claim to have knowingly met an old wife; they have had to forget their theory of long-term weather forecasting based upon the result (“Oak before Ash…etc.”). The sudden improvement in the weather has encouraged every plant to develop at once. As this photograph shows, taken upon one morning this week, each species was pushing it’s leaves out at the same time. As they did so, the Hawthorn flowers were arriving in all their glory. Then without a further backward glance Spring turns to Summer.
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Oak or Ash?
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Celebrate the Aylsham Navigation in August
August 26th 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the Aylsham Navigations closure due to a massive flood which occured on that date in 1912. The Navigation was on the Bure and there were locks at Horstead, Buxton, Oxnead, Burgh and Aylsham (Burgh Hall). Up to that time coal and other consumables were brought to Brampton by wherry and the local agricultural produce and bricks were taken in the opposite direction. There was actually a large brickworks in the field opposite what is now Brampton Common. The remains of Oxnead lock can clearly be seen as can the staithe by the mill where the wherries tied up to be loaded.
On the 26th August there will be a carriage of a token cargo in canoes down the Navigation from Aylsham to Coltishall where it will meet the only surviving trading wherry, The Albion. That will be moored on Coltishall Common where there will be a celebratory extravaganza with games, exhibitions, stalls and entertainment. Car parking can be had in Coltishall or at Roys overspill car park in Wroxham from where an historic old bus will run a shuttle service. You would be very welcome there and you could even travel by the Bure Valley Railway and then old bus from Wroxham if you didn’t want to drive. Nearer the time we will be publicising details of when the canoes will transit Brampton and Oxnead so you could cheer them on.
This event is being organised by the Bure Navigation Conservation Trust and more details can be found here. BNCT also have for sale at a reasonable price of £7.99 a two DVD set entitled a “Wherry for Aylsham” – the website has details of how to obtain this. A membership application can be found here -: Membership-Application-and-Flyer1
- A wherry waits at Burgh Staithe
- Brampton Common
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Breast Cancer event in Brampton
A message from Kath ChapmanWe are holding a Coffee morning/ raffle / cake stall etc at Pipers Moon on Saturday 26th May at 10am – noon, in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.There is a sponsored cycle ride on Sunday 22nd July from London to Cambridge in aid of this charity. ‘Team Brampton’ has been formed (our Brampton and Brampton in Huntingdon) in memory of our Carolyn, who died 10 years ago …and whose birthday falls on 22nd July! Julie’s husband works for Microsoft and they will match whatever sponsor money is raised by Team Brampton!! A very generous offer.There will be about 16 people in the team at the time of going to press, including several members of our family.Any offers of help, cakes, prizes or donations will be very gratefully received even if you are unable to attend on 26th May. -
Cuckoo returns
At last the Brampton Cuckoo has put in an appearance. On Tuesday night, on the Karnser, it called from a low perch, with that call that is more of a “whoop-you” than a Cuckoo. It is noticeable that the calls of birds which have evolved for transmitting over large distances so often seem distorted when heard from close by. This one flew with that weak falcon shaped silhouette eastwards along the marsh hedge, it’s grey plumage and paler undersides showing clearly in the light of the setting sun. Jenny tells me that she heard it call on Sunday evening, in which case it beat the BTO monitored Cuckoos back to the UK, but for my own record the 2nd May must the date in the book – the latest over the last few years.
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Nonsuch at Brampton
Choral music by composers spanning five centuries graced Brampton Church on Saturday night. The twenty strong Hickling-based choir, the Nonsuch Singers, under the Guidance of the urbane Dominic Vlasto, sang works by the sixteenth century composer Orlando Lassus, William Byrd, Vaughan-Williams and Billy Joel amongst many others. Choral pieces were interspersed with readings of short pieces by Bernard Levin, Evelyn Waugh and some authentically delivered Noel Coward musings. The Coward readings alone would have been highlight enough if it was not for the genuine pleasure in hearing a choir in the nave of Brampton church. The church was full and the evening ended with a splendid light buffet. The lack of a proper car park at the church did led to an inevitable excitement at the end of the evening, but all in all the evening was a highlight and a great success.
The Nonsuch Singers in full flow -
Brampton Church concert 24th March 2012 – click on poster to enlarge
Momsuch Singers -
MOTHERING SUNDAY
COME TO MOTHER’S DAY SERVICE AT BRAMPTON CHURCH
10.45 a.m SUNDAY 18th MARCH 2012
St Peter’s Church, Brampton
Everyone welcome
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Brampton and Oxnead on film
A new DVD set has been produced by John Parker, a Norwich based independant film maker and supporter of the Bure Navigation Conservation Trust as part of the Aylsham Navigation’s centenary events. It has been wonderfully filmed, edited and narrated and comes in two parts. The first tells the story of the wherries to Aylsham and contains some interesting local material filmed on and around the river in Brampton and Oxnead. The Aylsham Navigation served our communities from 1797 until 1912 when it was closed by a massive flood.
The second disc shows the river from Horstead to Aylsham as it is today; again local scenes can be found. It really is a televisual feast.
Copies can be ordered from Stuart Wilson ( [email protected] ) at a price of £7.99 each (+ £1.00 p&p although we will deliver free locally). Any donations to the trust can also be made by following this link.
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Council Tax
The Council Tax bills have dropped through the door this morning and you will not fail to notice that the Parish element of the rate has increased enormously although the overall figure for increase is less than 2%.
The Parish figure is due to two things. One, increased clerk salary figures as a result of unplanned additional meetings which were required to fulfil our role satisfactorily. Secondly the withdrawal of delegated function funding by Broadland which represented nearly 50% of our income.
If you want to know more come to the PC meeting on 21st March at 7:30 in the Village Hall
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Red litter day
Brampton is a tidier place after this morning’s Big Tidy Up. Ten village litter pickers set out in all directions from the Village Hall art eleven o’clock. An hour’s solid picking yielded several sacks full of rubbish from the hedges, lanes and wider country.
Litter picking is a bit like the evil twin of fruit picking – once you get your eye in you see so much more. You find more if you walk in each direction up a hedge line, seemingly stumbling up more that was missed on your first pass.
Most of the litter came from the usual food wrappings – we must be a “cheese-burger’s” distance from the nearest fast food joint. Grateful thanks to all of this morning’s litter pickers and to the many more who carry out their own personal campaigns around the village all year round.
