Welcome to Inkpen

Website updated - 3 November '24

iMPFT

Inkpen Parish Council is the corporate trustee for the Inkpen Memorial Playing Field Trust. The IMPFT has its own website and this can be found at http://impft.co.uk. All bookings, events schedule etc. is available on the impft website.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Please don’t forget your change for our collectors or pop a cheque in one of our Gift Aid envelopes. If you don’t have cash all collectors have a QR code on their collection tins so you can donate via your phone.

As well as house to house collections there are also poppy boxes at the Crown & Garter Pub and Honesty Shop/Bakery – they also have a QR code on the collection tin. If you have any questions about our collections, please contact claire@clairejjones.com Thank you as always for your support it is very much appreciated.

There are still so many service men and women who need help. For some, the physical and mental toll of confronting huge challenges like health issues, debt, homelessness and unemployment alone can be overwhelming. PTSD has a massive impact on mental health and the challenges of life. Royal British Legion is the lifeline support to those who need it.

Please consider helping with collections next year. It is a great cause and only requires you to collect in a small area near your home. Thank you.

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Headlines

The Bulletin
To download your copy of the latest Bulletin click here.

The Hungerford and Kintbury Ward news can be found here.

Inkpen History Society Meeting
Well, we had a good meeting presenting the Lidar scan of Gallows Down and Inkpen Hill, the surprising results of the dowsing day and finally the translation of one document from the 14th century folio.

The Lidar still must be turned into false colour to enable us to see the indentations in the ground that have arisen over the centuries and millennia. At that point it will be joined to the Lidar scan of Walbury Hill, so that we have a full representation of our bit of the North Wessex Downs. Additional scanning will take place using a multispectral drone which will hopefully highlight evidence of ancient habitation.

Now the dowsing results. It seems clear that these were not random. There was a significant superposition with the previous resistivity results obtained on the land in question. But some points didn’t coincide with anything identified with either resistivity or magnetometry. Understanding how dowsing works or the full significance of the results is challenging. However, there is sufficient coincidence with conventional geophysics to be worth a second test. This will be arranged soon.

The medieval latin court rolls for Inkpen posed a huge translation problem. There are so few scholars that can even attempt a translation. With the help of a local resident, we were able to find someone for a one-off attempt, which I think was very revealing. The original and the translation will be posted on the website for all to see, as soon as possible.

The history society has several other projects on the go and every offer of help is very welcome. Help us reveal the people that used to call our Inkpen, home.

November Pop-In Café

Remember penny for the guy or the smell of fireworks? Well, things like the cost of insurance have put an end to that for most of us. Luckily, we have the Pop-In Cafe to fall back on. Some people come and sparkle, some glow, most make noises. Hopefully everyone enjoys it.

Well, the next one is on the first Thursday of November, the 7th, 10am until 12:30pm at the Inkpen playing field pavilion. As always, the follow-up is on the 3rd Thursday of the month, same time same place.

Now we come to the Christmas warm up. That’s also the first and third Thursdays 10 till 12:30, but there’s a little something special. You’ll have to come to find that out. See you there.

STARGAZERS
There was a presentation looking at how we might with the group to develop. Technology is changing so quickly that things that seemed impossible just a few years ago are enabling even a complete novice to get spectacular results. That said, doing some things the traditional way seems somewhat more authentic. So, we had a pitch for fund raising for a piece of new technology, and a pitch for something that would foster traditional stargazing.

Now that we are into the season of dark evenings, we will aim to meet more regularly enable all interested to come and view some of our planets and galaxies. Just keep an eye on the village website for further details, inkpenvillage.co.uk.

Going for a walk

If you want a breath of fresh air and some exercise, check out the Inkpen walks, but keep your distance from others, that's at least 6 feet apart in old money. If you feel that you should wear a face mask when outdoors, then checkout the design given on the News page.

On the news page this month there are a number of updates including from the Inkpen Primary School and pre-school, from the Playing field trust and Village Hall, and there's this months Police Report .

Climate change issues.
The IMPFT, the playing field trust, is in the process of installing solar panels and a key entry system. The trust, chaired by Brian Cox, is aware of the need to reduce its carbon footprint and is making what progress it can. The solar panels are clearly there to reduce the trust's reliance on fossil fuel energy, and to feed whatever extra is generated back into the grid. The key entry system is there to make sure energy is only consumed when the facilities are in use. Many of you are choosing to adopt private energy saving measures - the trust is focused on trying and do the same.

We are depending on renewables to help us get to net-zero carbon emissions. If you'd like to see what contribution renewables are making on a daily basis, have a look here.

Please give us a hand – Oak Trees in Inkpen
We need your help to measure oak trees. Measuring tree girths helps us to evaluate changes that have taken place in Inkpen and enable future researchers to evaluate the effect of climate change on tree growth and distribution. This is work of real value, be part of it. Go to inkpenhistory.uk to find out more.

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What else do you need to know?

All council business is shown on the 'Council' page which is selectable via the menu at the top.

Speeding in Inkpen
Please follow the link to find out what you can do to help. Click here.

Learn How To Save A Life
Please come along to the Inkpen pavilion to learn how to use the Inkpen defibrillator – this simple action could make the difference to save a life in an emergency – either the life of a child or the life of an adult. By using the defibrillator before the ambulance arrives you can significantly increase the chance of survival – the defibrillator is sited at Inkpen Pavilion – act quickly in an emergency, use the defib. and CPR.

Join us at Inkpen pavilion of Friday 15th November 2024 at 7pm when Dave Lester will lead a session on 'Defibrillator Awareness'. Please email if you can attend to: gloriakeene@hotmail.com

Mobile Library Dates are: The mobile library van has books for all ages and all capabilities. It will call at Inkpen on 5th November and 17th December. The van stops at: Craven Rd. Inkpen 2.20-2.50pm and at Inkpen School at 3.05 – 4pm. Books are the stuff of dreams and the experiences of lived lives. Come and join the mobile library. It really is worth it.

If you want to, go on line and order your books, or ask the staff for help in locating the books for you.

Thames Valley Police
Thames Valley Police are keen for your help in reporting any areas where you feel unsafe in the District. There is a new pilot service called StreetSafe hosted via the Met Police website where issues can be reported. StreetSafe is a service for anyone to anonymously tell the police about public places where you have felt, or feel unsafe, because of environmental factors e.g. vandalism and/or because of certain behaviours e.g. being followed or verbally abused.

Please make reports via the following link: StreetSafe | Metropolitan Police (see at the end the home page where is says: ‘No – Continue to StreetSafe’) Please note that StreetSafe is not a replacement for reporting crime or incidents this should still be done via 101 or online.

Dog Warden:
If anyone has issues with dog fights, dog fouling etc etc. the Public Protection Partnership has arranged for the animal warden to be contacted on 01635 519171 to discuss specific issues or problems that you may have.

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