March 2024

18 Buckden Roundabout March 2024 Village News March 2024 Engage in the Afternoons A Voyage along the Antarctica Peninsula – Wednesday 13 March 2pm. Last call for tickets for what is bound to be a great talk by our local Barry Jobling. See below for how to contact us to book … The Pathfinding Force of Bomber Command during WW2 – Monday 8 April 2pm. Our next Engage event is the first installment of a two - part talk by James Blackwood, detailing the problems faced by Bomber Command during the first part of WWII. Also covering the for- mation of the Path Finding Force and their arrival in Cam- bridgeshire. Booking essential at Buckden Library, by email StNeots.Referral@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or calling 0345 045 5225. This is another free of charge event, but donations are always welcome. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Terrific Tuesdays Our morning Duplo and games for the under 5s continues be- tween 10am and 1pm every Tuesday in our children ’ s library with the usual selection jigsaws, Orchard games, building blocks and soft toys. Then join us for Rhymetime in the afternoon at 2.15pm which will run every Tuesday during March. Rhymetime is perfect for pre - school aged children, including babies. Rhyming language and songs really help with speech and early reading development. No need to book for either of these sessions - just drop in to meet up with other families. Children need to be accompanied by an adult. Super Saturdays Combining our two popular Saturday morning sessions has worked so well we ’ re going to keep this going! Every week we will have both Lego Club (all ages) and Family Board Games (over 3s) available between 10am and 12.30pm. Just turn up if you ’ d like to take part - children under 8 do need to be accompanied by an adult please. There is no charge for these sessions but it helps us to keep them going if you could drop a small donation in the box. Knit Lit Our Knit Lit book club meets every other Friday from 7pm until 9pm. The next meetings are on 8 and 22 March . New knitters welcome – just turn up! Time to apply for or renew your bus pass? We can help. To renew, just call in with your existing bus pass. If you are applying for your first pass, and are of pensionable age, you will need to bring proof of age, proof of address and your national insurance number. There is no charge for this service. Opening hours: Tuesday: 10am – 1pm, and 2pm – 5pm Thursday: 2 – 5pm Friday: 4 – 7pm Saturday: 10am – 1pm Village Hall, Burberry Road, Buckden Tel: 0345 045 5225 www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/library News from the Knot Garden Have you seen the new steps up to the viewing platform? The old steps had rickety handrails and uneven steps. Just before Christmas these were all replaced with new trellis as well at the sides of the steps. When you go to visit the garden please do go and admire them. There ’ s an extra way to make a donation after your visit. There is the opportunity to use a QR code to make a donation to the Friends of Buckden Towers who support the garden by providing funds for structural maintenance. The cash donation box is still in use by the gate. The winter is the season where most of the structural work is completed in the garden. A new medlar tree has been planted to replace the old one which was causing problems in the herb bed. It had been grafted on to hawthorn root stock which was sending up small hawthorn bushes in the middle of the herbs. The new medlar is on Quince root stock and planted by the roses making it much easier to control. The gardeners have been working on the refurbishment of the Fleur de Lys bed. The new slate provides a good contrast to the pale gravel and the new marjoram plants . The bed is best viewed from the terrace. The bee orchids have spread towards the olive tree bed and each plant has been marked with an arch of sticks. Only the leaves are showing at the moment so after you have spotted them please make sure the sticks are back in their places.