BKV’s Litter Patrol

On Monday 8^th February, Wombourne’s Best Kept Village team launched an exciting new initiative. The ‘Litter Patrol’ was devised as a means of encouraging children aged 3-14 to stay active and get walking, taking pride in their community and leading the way in the fight against litter.

The scheme comes at a time when children have been suffering especially due to Covid-19, being isolated from friends and family, and losing that regular interaction at school, with all the complications that has at home.

It is therefore unsurprising that the launch of this new initiative became a runaway success over night. Within that first week, 65 of our youngest residents signed up and were presented with their very own litter pickers and hi-vis jackets. They really look the part! This has been an utterly amazing response, and is due to the dedication of the BKV team who are not just keen to do their bit, but also to help educate and empower the next generation.

Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr Dan Kinsey – himself a BKV volunteer – said, ‘This is absolutely inspirational. BKV has a strong relationship with the Council, and we wholeheartedly support their amazing work to help keep our village looking its best. To see the excitement on the children’s faces is absolutely wonderful, and we are all very proud of them.’

This initiative is not merely about our youngsters doing their bit though. The scheme comes with a set of ‘golden rules’ to ensure our young volunteers stay safe, and also comes with a log-book to record their activity and certificates are awarded to those who accomplish particular milestones of 5, 10, 20, 30 and even 50 picks. You might think 50 is a very ambitious target, but some of our ‘Litter Patrol’ superstars are already well on their way!

This is also so much wider than BKV itself, with local businesses joining in to support our Litter Patrol. Our very own ‘GM Home Discounts’ very kindly donated 60 litter pickers to help start the scheme, and the Estate Agents ‘Berriman Eaton’ offered to help print log-books and certificates for the children taking part. Another local business is currently sourcing further hi-vis jackets to donate too. It really is an amazing community effort.

Alison, Donna and Simon are the BKV co-ordinators for the scheme, and we send a big thank you to them and the wider team for all their hard work.

Speaking of the impact their young Litter Patrol volunteers are having, Alison said, ‘We are honoured to have them all in our team and we truly believe Wombourne’s future is in very safe hands.’

Please take the time to visit the BKV Facebook page for regular updates on Litter Patrol and everything BKV: https://www.facebook.com/wombourneBKV/

Winner announced!

There was certainly stiff competition for this year’s Best Dressed Window Competition, with Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor Daniel Kinsey and Vice Chairman, Councillor John Pike having the difficult task of judging the windows.

We are thrilled to announce that the Winner of this year’s Best Dressed Christmas Window goes to Blush Tanning & Beauty – the judges were really impressed by their snow scene display and felt it deserved top place this year. Well done to everyone at Blush Tanning & Beauty!

Runner up this year goes to Let’s Go Round Again. Their displays are always beautiful and this year’s was no exception. Well done to the team at Let’s Go Round Again.

The judges felt that there were three shops that deserved the Highly Commended award this year, and they are Des Fellows, Niche Cards Gifts & Flowers and Peggylain Interiors. Well done to you all.

Councillor Daniel Kinsey will be delivering your certificates to you in the next few days. Congratulations to you all and thank you for getting involved.

Thanks to all the shops and businesses who entered this year’s competition.. we would urge residents to be sure to continue to #shoplocal and support our shops and businesses in Wombourne this Christmas and beyond.

Merry Christmas everyone!

We are now rushing headlong into autumn in Wombourne, and the vibrant blooms of summer are fast transforming into the familiar sights of the new season. Dare I say, we will soon be looking forward to the Christmas Lights switch-on!

I hope all villagers had enjoyable and, no doubt, well-earned summer breaks between the sometimes unseasonal and turbulent weather we seem to be becoming accustomed to in a British summer time.

Despite some cold, rainy weather at times, I think we can all agree the village looked better than ever in its summertime finery. The Best Kept Village committee again did us proud, ensuring a beautiful and tidy village. It is with great pride that I would like to congratulate them and all their volunteers in achieving third place in the large village category of the Best Kept Village competition, as well as extending thanks for their selfless hard work.

Whilst on the subject, it is also an opportune moment to congratulate the winners of the Wombourne in Bloom competition this year. Like the efforts of the BKV, Wombourne’s businesses also get in on the act to ensure the village looks its best. It was fantastic to see so many businesses participating, and I hope even more choose to do so next year. This year’s winners were Walker’s Way, where the level of work was frankly staggering, and The Mount Pleasant, where the hanging display was simply stunning. A huge well done to all those that took part.

However, there is naturally much more going on in Wombourne than marvelling at its summer splendour. The Parish Council is now passing the 125 years milestone, which is another important event in the life of the village that I hope will be built upon for many years to come.

Equally, we have renewal within the village. In early September I attended the closing meeting of 2^nd Wombourne Scout Group. Despite being the end of an era in some ways, it was not a sad affair. Rather, the meeting witnessed the birth of The Bratch Scouts – it was a renewal, and a rebranding that is intended to bring greater recognition and support to an essential community and youth organisation. The positivity of the event was fantastic, and perhaps they will be celebrating that day in 125 years’ time too.

On a final note, I also attended Perton Parish Council’s Civic Service in September. A long-time volunteer myself, I know the impact they can have. Many local community groups owe their existence to their tireless efforts, and it must be no surprise that the central theme of this article is congratulating volunteer successes, urging more to get involved and thanking volunteers for their dedication. As with the Best Kept Village committee, Wombourne’s very own Volunteer Bureau is also a key organisation at the heart of Parish life. All the groups mentioned, and many others besides, will always welcome new volunteers, and if you can spare even an hour here or there, I am certain it would be most welcome. This is where the Parish becomes a community, and I want to thank you all for the work you do.

Daniel Kinsey,

Chairman

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Winners of the 2019 awards announced…

Congratulations to Walkers Way winners of the Wombourne in Bloom Competition for 2019 for retail premises.

Karen and Nessie aka Mamma Music from Wombourne School of Music collected the certificates for all of the premises in Walkers Way and the shield which they will now keep for the rest of the year until the 2020 competition.

Karen and Nessie from Wombourne School of Music with Chairman Councillor Daniel Kinsey

Congratulations also to The Mount Pleasant winners of the Wombourne in Bloom Competition for 2019 for licensed premises.

Nicky and Mark collected their certificate and trophy which they will now keep for the rest of the year until the 2020 competition.

Chairman of Wombourne Parish Council, Councillor Daniel Kinsey said of the displays – ‘the standout business display is Walkers Way,  it’s a fantastic display they have. All of the licensed premises have done really well, but the display outside the Mount Pleasant was just stunning.’

Why not visit the locations yourself to see the stunning displays.. you can find more information at https://wombourneschoolofmusic.com/ and https://www.mountpleasantwombourne.com/index

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Wombourne in Bloom Competition. It enhances to look and feel of the Village and also helps in the annual entry to the Best Kept Village Competition.

Wombourne Parish Council has once again recognised the hard work of an individual in the Village, and the 2018 recipient of the Joan Williams Civic Award is…

Simon Williams

Simon received several nominations for the Joan Williams Civic Award for 2018 for his contributions to Wombourne through his work with the Best Kept Village Committee.

Here’s a snippet of Simon’s nominations –

‘Simon has worked tirelessly to improve the appearance of the village, leading by example whilst positively promoting community awareness and spirit. With his encouragement and the use of social media, Simon has reached out to a wider audience of residents and groups, publicising the work of the BKV team and involving and encouraging residents to take greater pride in their surroundings by taking part in the regular litter picks and clearing of pathways around the village.‘

‘Simon has inspired so many people to pick up a bag and help tidy our lovely village and has been so enthusiastic with it, he has got people involved and really for the village working together.’

‘Simon has shown commitment, energy, interest and involvement since joining the Committee and cleared vast areas of the village of overgrowth and leaves.’

The Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor Daniel Kinsey presented Simon with his award at the Annual Parish Meeting on Wednesday 12th June 2019, with his friends from the Best Kept Village Committee there to support him.

Simon graciously thanked his fellow Best Kept Village Committee members in his acceptance speech remarking they had built a sound platform in the Committee which he was simply building on.

The following day on the Best Kept Village Committee’s Facebook page he posted the following message –

‘So I wanted to keep last night’s recognition a quiet affair but those plans went out of the window (and in the bin) when many of my fellow BKV volunteers decided to gate-crash and show their support!
Not one to miss out on a litter pick I walked down to the Civic Centre suited and booted, with a brolly in one hand and an empty bread bag in the other – not my normal litter picking gear and not a position I ever thought I would find myself in. 
Zoom back to this time last year, I hadn’t picked up one piece of litter from the streets of Wombourne, didn’t know the road names around the village green let alone wonder who was responsible for planting many of the plants around Wombourne.
On that evening I bumped into a volunteer sweeping the village green. As I had a spare 30 minutes or so I decided to help him and find out who this weirdo with a broom was!
30 minutes later I walked into a BKV committee meeting not knowing what to expect – and that’s when I was hooked. I saw a handful of volunteers who had given many hours over many years trying to make Wombourne a nicer place to live and build that community spirit that many people think has long gone. 
We owe a lot to this team but it also dawned on me that this team can’t do this forever, it’s time to do my bit – I don’t want my kids to grow up thinking that a messy unkept village is the new norm. 
However, that’s enough about me, BKV as a team have done some great things this year. Like me all our new volunteers have done is simply piggy backed on to the foundations that the existing team have given us. This team were old enough and wise enough to have allowed us to bring in new ideas, new approaches and new energy. Some of these have worked, some haven’t and some of our biggest ideas are still in the pipeline. 

The actual competition doesn’t matter, we have all done our best. We have been joined by many new faces, we have been joined by businesses wanting to support us as they recognise that a vibrant village is good for them too. We have been joined by families with children both young and old. We have been joined by those that have adopted new areas of their neighbourhood, allowing us to focus elsewhere and we have been joined by the likes of the Girl Guides, Cubs, Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, Beavers, Friends of Wombrook, Schools and High Flyers. 
It’s our village not the Council’s but our working relationship and understanding of both the Parish and District Council is second to none. 
I can’t possibly mention everything we do as a team, nor can I talk about every volunteer. However I do know that some of these people have won this award in the past and I know what they continue to do for the good of the village. I know that one of the previous winners has now had a double knee replacement yet still helps us and will be out again this weekend. I know that another is on the lookout for a new set of lungs but works harder than any of us, and I know that others just continue to work quietly in the background supporting us where they can. 
It’s a team and everyone is welcome – enthusiasm always preferred over ability. 
On my own I can’t make Wombourne a nicer place to live, our committee and volunteers can’t make Wombourne that perfect place either. But we hope to encourage ever more to join us and we hope that our enthusiasm is contagious. We hope to bring fresh ideas, fresh approaches and new knees!
Thanks for all your kind messages and support and finally thanks to our family and friends. They have supported us in a role that takes up time but one that is very rewarding.’

Wombourne’s Best Kept Village committee meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month in the Council Chamber at 7pm.

They have regular litter picks arranged on Friday’s and Saturday’s every month, the next being Friday 12th July and Saturday 27th July.

Visit their facebook page https://en-gb.facebook.com/wombourneBKV/ for more information.

Congratulation to Simon on winning the Joan Williams Civic Award for 2018.

For more information about the Joan Williams Civic Award, please contact the Parish Council office on 01902 896 300.

THE JOAN WILLIAMS CIVIC AWARD 2018

Wombourne Parish Council is again making its Annual Civic Award to be presented by the Council to the person who has made a significant contribution to village life in Wombourne in 2018.

The Award was first instigated by the late Councillor Mrs Joan Williams in 1980 and there have been many worthy winners over the years.

As a mark of respect and in recognition of Mrs Williams’ thirty six years’ service on the Parish Council it was agreed that this Award should be renamed the Joan Williams Civic Award.

Last year’s winner, Mr John Reynolds, pictured with former Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor John Pike, said it was honor to receive the award.

John’s work in community dates back well over 35 years, and he is an active member of several committees, including Wombourne’s Best Kept Village Committee, Wombourne Community Association and Wombourne Carnival Committee.

In closing sentence of the nomination for John, it said ‘Over the last 35 years Mr Reynolds has fully committed himself with dedication, loyalty and hard work to the various organisations in Wombourne of which is he a member’.

If you wish to nominate someone for this Award for 2018, please put your nomination in writing and send it to Mrs R Wright, Clerk to Wombourne Parish Council, Council Offices, Civic Centre, Wombourne, WV5 9HA or email it to enquiries@wombourneparishcouncil.org.uk

You should provide the name of the person you wish to nominate and the reasons you feel they would make a worthy winner.

All entries need to received by 5.00pm on Friday 1st March 2019 and the award will be presented at the Meeting of the Full Council on Monday 13th May 2019.

If you have any queries, you can call the Parish Council Office on 01902 896300.

Thank you to all the businesses who took part in the 2018 Best Dressed Window Competition.

The entries were, without exception, of an extremely high standard, making the judges’ task a difficult one.

Winner

Congratulations to Let’s Go Round Again who are the winners of the competition for 2018.

Highly commended

Both Niche and Peggy Lain were highly commended.

Special mention

A special mention has to be made to both Wombourne School of Music (and their elves) and Des Fellows too.

Well done to all the businesses who took part.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Exciting changes at Bratch Park

A new play area has now opened located in Bratch Park, Bratch Lane specifically designed for the younger children.

A need was identified by the Parish Council in 2015-16 and the children at our four primary schools were consulted on the design and asked to identify what items of play equipment they thought most applicable.

The first item to be installed (in 2017) was their number one priority an aerial runway (zip wire) and now the new play area is now fully operational (installed September 2018).

The Parish Council successfully obtained a grant to part fund the project from the Big Lottery Fund.

Here’s some photos of the new equipment –

The next improvement at the park will be the resurfacing of the car park, watch this space for information on this!

The Parish Council would love to hear your feedback on the new scheme. You can email your comments to enquiries@wombourneparishcouncil.org.uk

Find out more about Wombourne’s Best Kept Village Committee

Wombourne’s Best Kept Village (BKV) Committee are a small team of volunteers who give up their time in order to make our Village a nicer place to live.

Here’s just some of the things they have been up to this year –

The plants in the planters at the entrance to the Village are bought and planted by BKV members. They are watered throughout the summer by High Flyers.

BKV run a posters and poetry competition for Wombourne Primary Schools with three categories, under 5’s, 5-7 years and 8-11 years. A presentation takes place at the meeting of the Full Council on the first Monday in October each year.

BKV also run a garden, hanging basket and container competition, which is kindly sponsored by Orton Electrical and Mechanical Services Ltd. This year there were 26 entrants. Judging is completed by horticulturist Mr Howard Drury, and a presentation takes place in September each year.

Members of BKV litter pick the Village throughout the year, and Members of the public are welcome to join the litter picks during April, May, June and July prior to the Committee meeting. Members also undertake other activities such as spraying anti dog fouling reminders to pavements, and painting local benches.

Local shops and businesses have got involved this year, with the Spar staff joining in with litter picks. The Co-Op is School Road have also regularly litter picked and donated bottles of water to volunteers. The Co-Op at Blakeley have formed a groundforce team to tackle various issues and Coffee 212 provided free refreshments at a recent Village Tidy Up.

If you’re interested in seeing more of what BKV have been up to this year, please visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wombourneBKV