It is with great sorrow we have to report the death of Bill Haine of Restharrow, on Wednesday 27th July.

I am sending you all, a "big" thank you!! With your help I have managed to collect £5,836.49 a huge amount of monies which will be divided 50/50 between the Fire Fighters Charity and DEC Ukraine Appeal! Please see the poster below, that shows a "before" and an "after" picture! I am hugely grateful and humbled by your generosity - thank you everyone!

From Saturday 6 August to Sunday 4 September South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils are once again running FREE Litter Bug Detectives activity trails for children in villages and towns across the districts.

Those taking part have a chance to win £20 vouchers for themselves and a rainbow-coloured bench – made from recycled plastic – for their school.

The trails average just over 2km on marked routes around local parks and recreation grounds. There are 14 stops on each route with questions on waste and recycling. The answers to the questions give letter clues to make up a three-word answer at the end.

Local town and parish councils are managing the trails using materials from the councils’ waste team. The activities follow a successful scheme run during the school holidays last year.

The trails are aimed at primary school children (under-12s) to promote recycling and reuse messages and explain the damage litter does to our environment.

Each child, who sends in the correct answer, can request a personalised Litter Bug Detectives certificate. They are also entered into a prize draw – one draw for each council – for £20 vouchers for themselves and a bench for their school.

Cllr Sue Cooper South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for said: “This was very popular last year, with lots of entries and lots of parents telling us how nice it was that the councils provided something fun and free to do during the school holidays. For us, it’s also a great way to promote recycling and reuse to primary school children – and their parents.”

Cllr Sally Povolotsky, Vale of White Horse District Council cabinet member for Climate Emergency and the environment, said: “The trails are fun, free and local. Hopefully many families can just walk to their nearest trail. In addition to some exercise, the children get a chance to win a prize for themselves and their school, and also learn some interesting facts about waste!”

How to take part

1. Go to our Litter Bug Detectives Trail webpage and download the trail map of the area you wish to visit. The map will show a trail to 14 sites.
2. At each site there will be a question on the theme of waste and recycling. The 14 answers will each provide a letter each to make three words.
3. Email the three-word answer and your name and address and school to waste.team@southandvale.gov.uk before midnight on 11 September and the team will send you a Litter Bug Detective Certificate and enter you for the prize draw. Terms and conditions are on our web pages above.

Notes to editors
The trails will be available from 6 August at the following sites:

• Abingdon Ock Path
• Didcot, Ladygrove
• Drayton Millennium Green and village green
• East Hagbourne
• Forest Hill
• Great Coxwell Barn and footpaths
• Kennington Playfield Road recreation ground
• North Hinksey
• St Helen Without Sandleigh Road recreation ground
• Thame
• Uffington recreation ground and village
• Wallingford
• Wootton cricket ground and Old Boars Hill
• Whitchurch on Thames

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Please put your bins out the night before they’re due to be emptied this week. Biffa will begin waste collections at 5am on Monday 18 July and Tuesday 19 July due to the expected heatwave. This should help their crews avoid being out at the hottest part of the day.
 
Even with the early start, it’s possible Biffa’s waste collection crews may not be able to complete their rounds. If this happens and your bins are not emptied, please leave them out for two days after your scheduled collection day and the crews will aim to catch up later in the week. More information is on our missed bins page

https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/recycling-rubbish-and-waste/when-is-your-collection-day/missed-bins/
 
Communications and Engagement Team
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils
01235 422400
www.southoxon.gov.uk @southoxon
www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk @whitehorsedc

To all the winderful people in the village who contributed either by coming or donating to the charities I had named. We made over £2000 which will be equally divided

The speaker will be Helen Plumb, talking about Glorious Coloured Gemstones  in the Faringdon Corn Exchange at 2.30pm on Thursday 14th July.  Helen will explain some of the key attributes of minerals which make desirable gemstones.  We shall all learn new intriguing and surprising facts about gems  - and become more knowledgeable than the average jeweller!  Helen will bring a selection of loose gemstones for members to handle and will encourage questions about all aspects of gemstones and gem set jewellery.  Members are welcome to bring in gems for identification.  After the talk refreshments will be available for everyone.  Visitors are also welcome but must pay a £1.50 entrance fee.

Please remember all those wishing to attend the meeting must be vaccinated to the recommended level and should be in good health.  This is to ensure that we protect all vulnerable members.  If in doubt please stay home!
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