Willow Wood grows with 480 new trees planted!

A huge thank you to everyone that joined us for what turned out to be a perfect December morning for a community tree plant. In total, we planted 480 native trees adding to the 5500 trees that have previously been planted, as an extension to the mature Willow Wood.

Our gratitude to OVO Energy and The Conservation Volunteers for donating the trees and the Geocachers, 2nd Amersham Common Scout Group, Rotarian’s from the Amersham Rotary Club, Bloom Volunteers and the many members of the community that came along to help. What a wonderful community initiative.

Congratulations to our 1st & 2nd prize winners!

With less than two weeks until Christmas, we are pleased to announce the winners of the Mayor of Amersham’s Christmas Card Competition!

With so many wonderful entries it was difficult to choose. Thank you to everyone who took the time to create such imaginative Christmas cards. Even if you didn’t win a prize, you’re all winners based on effort alone!

Town Mayor, Cllr Caroline Jones, presented the prizes to the winners. Well Done to Ella Dickinson (2^nd ) and Alara Bir (winner), whose designs you can see below.

1st Prize:

2nd Prize:

On Sunday 9th December 2018, the Town Council would like to invite residents, community groups volunteers and anyone else who might want to do their bit to improve the Town to join our Amersham in Bloom Community Tree Plant at Willow Wood, off Stanley Hill.

Over 500 trees have been donated by the Conservation Volunteers and we would be grateful if you could come along to help us with the planting! Join us from 10:00am to 11:30 to plant a tree…..or stay longer if you are able to….all we ask is you bring a fork with you! Access to Willow Wood, very much a hidden gem in Amersham is via Stanley Hill Cemetery or by accessing the public footpath beside the cemetery entrance gate, just past the college in Stanley Hill.

The Community Tree Plant initiative is a fantastic fun way to keep our environment green and encourage wildlife! We hope to see you there!

With Summer now a distant memory, we look towards the end of the year and Christmas. Amersham will be bustling with festive cheer so make sure you note down these Christmas events taking place.

Amersham Action Group are hosting their popular Christmas Festival on Saturday 1 December. There will be lots of wonderful attractions on offer from 12:00 noon including Children’s Funfair, Santa’s Grotto, Live Entertainment,  Christmas Market in St. Michael and All Angels Church and the fantastic Christmas Tree light switch on at 4.30pm. It promises to be a great event for all the family to enjoy.

Next up is the Old Amersham Christmas Shopping Evening in Old Amersham on Friday 7 December. The Old Amersham Business Association will be transforming the Market Square and Broadway into a wonderful Christmas wonderland with lots of exciting Christmas themed attractions including a skating rink, festive Christmas carols and Christmas Tree switch on by a very special guest. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open for more updates from the organisers of this event.

And last but certainly not least is the Amersham Community Carol Service. Town Mayor Councillor Caroline Jones is delighted to announce that this year’s Carol   Service will be taking place in the beautiful St. Mary’s Parish Church in Old Amersham on Thursday 13 December from 6.30pm.

Local school children will take centre stage this year, with the evening open to all residents.

Community Christmas Events

While the Town Council does not organise the Community Christmas events, we are pleased to announce the following dates for your diary:

Saturday 1 December

Amersham Christmas Festival and light switch on (Sycamore Road; organised by the Amersham Action Group)

Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 December

Amersham Museum’s Christmas Market 11am-4pm

Friday 7 December

A Magical Evening in Old Amersham (Late Night Christmas Shopping Event and light switch on, organised by the Old Amersham Business Association)

Thursday 13 December

Amersham Community Carole Service hosted by Town Mayor Councillor Caroline Jones (St Mary’s Church, Old Amersham 6.30pm)

Town Council Tree Recycling Service

The Town Council is once again offering a free Christmas tree recycling service this January at our Hervines Park Depot. Please feel free to drop off your used Christmas tree at the Depot, where they will be shredded for compost, which will be re-used around the town. There will be a designated area, upon arrival for any unwanted trees, with the service running from Wednesday 2nd January until to Tuesday 15th January 2019. If you should need to contact the Depot office, please call 01494 725650.

Remembrance Sunday

Amersham, joined the millions of people around the world to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War as part of a number of Remembrance Sunday events. 

Unveiling of the bench at Sycamore Corner

In association with Amersham and District Residents Association and Bucks County Council, the verge at Sycamore Corner was transformed into a ‘Centenary Bed’ to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. Six trees – one of which was planted by the presenter of BBC Two’s Britain in Bloom programme – were intentionally chosen for their height and colour. Some of the trees have red berries, blossom or leaves to represent the poppy, while others have white blossom to represent peace.

On Remembrance Sunday one of two commemorative benches were unveiled. We would like to thank Gareth Williams for sponsoring one of the benches, and Bloom Volunteer Carole Taylor for raising the funds through her Amersham in Bloom card sales to buy the other. Once again I would also like to thank the Amersham and District Residents Association for their support and for helping to fund the new border.

Centenary Field

On 11 November the Memorial Gardens in Old Amersham were officially declared as a Centenary Field through Fields in Trust. The Town Council has ensured that this valuable community space is protected as a living remembrance to those who fought and lost their lives in World War One; a proud moment for the town.

The Nations Tribute – Beacons of Light

On 3rd August 1914, Britain’s Foreign Minister, Sir Edward Grey, was looking out of his office window. “The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime,” he remarked. Our country was about to be plunged into the darkness of the First World War, and it would be four long years before Britain and Europe would again experience the light of peace.

In commemoration and remembrance of the end of the Great War and the many millions who were killed or wounded, a national initiative saw a chain of 1,000 WWI Beacons of Light lit throughout the United Kingdom – a century after the guns fell silent.

To mark this occasion, 100 tea lights – decorated by St. Marys CofE Primary School, Stony Dean School, Elangeni School and beavers from 2nd Amersham Common- were lit and lined the path leading to the plinth in the Memorial Gardens. Thank you to all those who attended this poignant event and to Kim Speller of Amersham Band who played The Last Post.

It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

With just seven weeks until Christmas we are pleased to launch the Mayor of Amersham’s Christmas Card Competition!

We are searching for something extra special to form the cover of this year’s official Mayor’s Christmas Card. With the theme ‘Santa becomes environmentally friendly’ we will looking for a design that encapsulates this. The winning designer will have their Christmas image featured on the front of the card, in addition to receiving a prize!

To enter, please send us your design on a piece of A4 paper with your name, age, school year and school on the back to: Councillor Caroline Jones, Amersham Town Council, Flint Barn Court, Church Street, Amersham, Bucks, HP7 0DB.

The closing date for entries is 22 November with the winner being announced soon after, on a date to be confirmed. For more information, please contact the Town Council on 01494 434000 or email admin@amersham-tc.gov.uk.

AMERSHAM FESTIVAL OF ARTS 2018 A HUGE SUCCESS

This year’s art festival was a huge success with a Beatrix Potter Immersive Tea Party, hosted by Venture Quest Productions, pop-up art displays throughout town to showcase young creative talent PLUS our annual art exhibition with art displayed by local artists. £1087.47 was raised from art sales for the Grants Fund, to be distributed to community projects.

We are currently planning our civic events for 2019. Dates for Amersham Festival of Arts 2019 will be confirmed in due course.

The latest edition of the Town Council newsletter should be finding its way through you letter box this week. If you are not a resident of Amersham then please click here for an electronic version of the newsletter. Our thanks to Hamptons International for kindly sponsoring Amersham News.

Volunteers Sought for Office of Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC)

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is seeking volunteers to join its Independent Custody Visiting Scheme in Aylesbury.

An Independent Custody Visitor (ICV) is a role performed by volunteers from the local community checking on the welfare and treatment of those being held in police custody.  ICV’s make unannounced visits to police stations to observe the conditions in which people are being held and, importantly, talk with willing detainees.

Volunteers typically make one custody visit a month ensuring that detainees have been offered food and drink, they are warm enough, cells are in a reasonable condition, that religious and cultural needs have been considered, have been informed of their rights and know the reason why they are in custody.  Any problems are brought to the attention of custody staff and the OPCC.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld said ‘ICVs play a vital role in ensuring there is confidence in the way that detainees are being held and treated in police stations across the Thames Valley.  We currently have a number of vacancies in Aylesbury and I would encourage anyone who is looking for a rewarding role within their local community to apply.’

Applicants will be invited for interview and successful candidates will complete an induction programme before beginning the role.

ICVs must be 18 or over and should be independent of the police. Serving police officers or members of police or OPCC staff are not eligible to apply.

Anyone interested in applying can download an application form at www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/independent-custody-visitors/

Closing date for applications is 31^st October 2018

We are delighted to announce that Amersham received a GOLD award at the Britain in Bloom National Finals Ceremony in Belfast on 19 October. In addition to this highly sought-after accolade, Amersham was also presented with the RHS award for Involving Young People and Children, for ‘demonstrating excellence in this particular area’. Quite a feat considering that we were chosen over the other 76 national finalists, who are regarded as the best in the UK.

We are the first town in Buckinghamshire to achieve gold standard nationally and only the third entrant, since the start of the century, from the Thames and Chilterns Region (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) to achieve this feat.

Town Mayor Councillor Caroline Jones, led a delegation from Amersham which included Councilor Andrew Seymour; volunteers Jill Mace and Carole Taylor; Steve Catanach and Town Council Groundsman Stephen Hansford.

This national success follows a Gold at the Thames and Chilterns in Bloom Regional Awards which took place in Woodley. In addition, Amersham was also awarded a National Certificate of Destination for Parks for the Memorial Gardens display, a gold award for the Memorial Gardens and a regional award for (best) horticulture.

Chestnut Lane School was named the best school in the region, receiving the Mark Mattock School Challenge Award, while Stony Dean School received the regional award for involving children and young people… Quite a list of accolades.

These awards are a testament to the hard work and unwavering commitment of both the Town Council and Amersham in Bloom volunteers- a formidable partnership! Similarly, we couldn’t achieve such an incredible results without the support of local schools, businesses, community groups, Scout Groups, Chiltern District Council, Serco and Buckinghamshire County Council- It is truly collaborative effort. Of course a special mention to Andy Honour who created the wonderful models in the Memorial Gardens which commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War.