Broughton Village Players' Christmas Dinner - 15th December 2020 Photos Anna Green
Carol singing in the church yard. 19th Dec.
Wednesday lunch party - 7th December Photo by Sue Johns
Half Cut's performances of A Christmas Carol were held in the church 1st December
Quiz on 9th October photos by Sue Johns
Produce show on 3rd September
Judges
Winners
30th June Scaffolding in position / Robin Graham talking with Liz Hirst re the inspection of the wall paintings.
Flower Festival & Open Gardens - 18th and 19th June
Flower arrangements In order of visiting, they are The Crown, The Swan, The Wagon Wheel, The Bricklayers Arms, The Riverside, The Plough, The Cricketers Arms, The Gardeners Arms, The Three Horseshoes, The Angel, The Half Moon, The Boathouse, The Mermaid, The Miners Arms, The Stags Head, The Beehive.
Classic cars
Halfcut Theatre were back with Much Ado at The Crown - 3rd June photos by Harry Elleston
Litter pick - 21st May
Bell ringers. Experienced and trainees
Coffee morning - 30th March photos by Janet Probyn
Egg and spoon races
Scooter race
Wildlife Ponds - Funding Available!
Ponds are a cherished part of the parish landscape; familiar historic features found at the heart of most village centres and in the wider countryside. Sadly, due to changes in land use and agricultural practices, the UK has lost around 50% of ponds in the 20th Century. Those remaining are often threatened by pollution. This means the many species of plant and animal that rely on them are also under threat.
Excitingly, funding is now available in certain parts of Cambridgeshire for the restoration and creation of clean water wildlife ponds capable of supporting great crested newts. The funding is part of Natural England’s District Level Licencing scheme (DLL), a new strategy for compensating the loss of newt habitats, which seeks to provide new ponds and bigger, better, more joined-up habitat for this orange-bellied amphibian at a landscape scale.
In Cambridgeshire there is a high demand for such wildlife ponds through the DLL scheme. Most of the 150 or so pond projects we have delivered to date have been fully funded under the scheme. You can view some of these projects at: www.fwageast.org.uk/ponds.
We are seeking local farmers, smallholders, large rural garden owners, land-based businesses and parish-owned land to create and restore more such ponds. If you have a location in mind in your parish, please email [email protected] to receive further information or arrange an informal chat. Let’s do something brilliant for wildlife!
Ponds are a cherished part of the parish landscape; familiar historic features found at the heart of most village centres and in the wider countryside. Sadly, due to changes in land use and agricultural practices, the UK has lost around 50% of ponds in the 20th Century. Those remaining are often threatened by pollution. This means the many species of plant and animal that rely on them are also under threat.
Excitingly, funding is now available in certain parts of Cambridgeshire for the restoration and creation of clean water wildlife ponds capable of supporting great crested newts. The funding is part of Natural England’s District Level Licencing scheme (DLL), a new strategy for compensating the loss of newt habitats, which seeks to provide new ponds and bigger, better, more joined-up habitat for this orange-bellied amphibian at a landscape scale.
In Cambridgeshire there is a high demand for such wildlife ponds through the DLL scheme. Most of the 150 or so pond projects we have delivered to date have been fully funded under the scheme. You can view some of these projects at: www.fwageast.org.uk/ponds.
We are seeking local farmers, smallholders, large rural garden owners, land-based businesses and parish-owned land to create and restore more such ponds. If you have a location in mind in your parish, please email [email protected] to receive further information or arrange an informal chat. Let’s do something brilliant for wildlife!
A recently created farmland pond
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A recently restored parish pond
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Road work. Removing the upper layer of bitumen - February
Cleaning brook - February
Long-Distance Paths (LDP)
Three national long-distance paths (LDPs) route via Broughton, and there is an additional European long-distance path which passes to the north of Broughton. Here is a brief description of all these paths together with their individual website URLs for more details of all 4 paths.
LDPs via Broughton:
1. Pathfinder Way.
This is a circular route which starts and finishes at RAF Wyton https://www.walkingenglishman.com/ldp/pathfinderlongdistancewalk.html .
The route connects the former Pathfinder Force https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinder_(RAF) airfields of RAF Wyton, the former RAF Graveley, RAF Oakington, and RAF Warboys. The commander of the Pathfinder Force was Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett who was an Australian.
Three national long-distance paths (LDPs) route via Broughton, and there is an additional European long-distance path which passes to the north of Broughton. Here is a brief description of all these paths together with their individual website URLs for more details of all 4 paths.
LDPs via Broughton:
1. Pathfinder Way.
This is a circular route which starts and finishes at RAF Wyton https://www.walkingenglishman.com/ldp/pathfinderlongdistancewalk.html .
The route connects the former Pathfinder Force https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinder_(RAF) airfields of RAF Wyton, the former RAF Graveley, RAF Oakington, and RAF Warboys. The commander of the Pathfinder Force was Air Vice Marshal Don Bennett who was an Australian.
2, Via Beata.
This is a pilgrimage route which connects the broadest part of the UK, Lowestoft to St David’s in Pembrokeshire,https://www.viabeata.co.uk/ .
The direct route is about 140 miles long, but Via Beata uses PFPs making a total distance of more than 400 miles. The way-stations in our area are at Bluntisham, Burleigh Hill Farm (near St Ives Rugby Club),
This is a pilgrimage route which connects the broadest part of the UK, Lowestoft to St David’s in Pembrokeshire,https://www.viabeata.co.uk/ .
The direct route is about 140 miles long, but Via Beata uses PFPs making a total distance of more than 400 miles. The way-stations in our area are at Bluntisham, Burleigh Hill Farm (near St Ives Rugby Club),
3. Rothschild Way.
In the early 20th Century Charles Rothschild purchased two areas of land which then became conservation areas. We know these specific areas as Wicken Fen and Woodwalton Fen (part of ”The Great Fen” project) https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Rothschild+Way .Local walkers then established a route between the two conservation areas, now known as “Rothschild Way”.
https://www.greatfen.org.uk/explore/walks-trails/rothschild-way .
This path takes a slightly different route though our village following the PFP around the west of the former RAF Warboys, joining Illings Lane at Illings farmhouse, continuing for a very short distance onto Causeway Rd, around Bull Cottage, before then routing via Bull Lane on the PFP adjacent to the polytunnels. It then re-joins Illings Lane north from where the route originally joined Illings Lane, and then continues towards Wistow.
4. E2 European long distance path.
This route passes to the north of Broughton, but it worth investigating. https://www.era-ewv-ferp.org/e-paths/e2/ .
The route is from Galway to Nice. The Irish part of the route remains inactive, but the route itself passes through Peterborough following the river and PFPs.
Enjoy your walks.
Mike
Michael O’Donovan
Feb 22
In the early 20th Century Charles Rothschild purchased two areas of land which then became conservation areas. We know these specific areas as Wicken Fen and Woodwalton Fen (part of ”The Great Fen” project) https://ldwa.org.uk/ldp/members/show_path.php?path_name=Rothschild+Way .Local walkers then established a route between the two conservation areas, now known as “Rothschild Way”.
https://www.greatfen.org.uk/explore/walks-trails/rothschild-way .
This path takes a slightly different route though our village following the PFP around the west of the former RAF Warboys, joining Illings Lane at Illings farmhouse, continuing for a very short distance onto Causeway Rd, around Bull Cottage, before then routing via Bull Lane on the PFP adjacent to the polytunnels. It then re-joins Illings Lane north from where the route originally joined Illings Lane, and then continues towards Wistow.
4. E2 European long distance path.
This route passes to the north of Broughton, but it worth investigating. https://www.era-ewv-ferp.org/e-paths/e2/ .
The route is from Galway to Nice. The Irish part of the route remains inactive, but the route itself passes through Peterborough following the river and PFPs.
Enjoy your walks.
Mike
Michael O’Donovan
Feb 22
Platinum Jubilee festivities below.

THURS 2nd JUNE - Beacon and Church Bells
Meet at Pound Green at 8 pm with a picnic, snacks and drink, bring a chair or rug. The beacon will be lit at dusk and the church bells will ring to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
FRIDAY 3rd JUNE - Half Cut Theatre 7 pm
Half Cut Theatre will perform Much Ado About Nothing in the grounds of The Crown Inn from 7 pm - free performance, pay what you think it is worth at the end
SATURDAY 4th JUNE - Film Night at the Pub
Lulu's Outside Picture Show is showing 'A Royal Night Out' (more details from The Crown)
SUNDAY 5th JUNE - Bring and Share Tea from 3 pm at the Village Hall
Bring a plate of food to share, sweet or savoury, and join in a celebratory tea in the grounds of the Village Hall (inside if wet) from 3 pm. Tea, coffee and rousing music provided, bring any other drink you like and something to toast the Queen!.
Meet at Pound Green at 8 pm with a picnic, snacks and drink, bring a chair or rug. The beacon will be lit at dusk and the church bells will ring to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
FRIDAY 3rd JUNE - Half Cut Theatre 7 pm
Half Cut Theatre will perform Much Ado About Nothing in the grounds of The Crown Inn from 7 pm - free performance, pay what you think it is worth at the end
SATURDAY 4th JUNE - Film Night at the Pub
Lulu's Outside Picture Show is showing 'A Royal Night Out' (more details from The Crown)
SUNDAY 5th JUNE - Bring and Share Tea from 3 pm at the Village Hall
Bring a plate of food to share, sweet or savoury, and join in a celebratory tea in the grounds of the Village Hall (inside if wet) from 3 pm. Tea, coffee and rousing music provided, bring any other drink you like and something to toast the Queen!.
Day 3. Village Hall party
Day 2
To mark his 41 years as parish councillor and 35 years as PC chairman John Ray planted an oak tree, grown by Stephen Saxby from an acorn from a Broughton oak. Mike O'Donovan, the new PC chairman said a few words. Eric Self, the second oldest resident, was in attendance, as was Margaret Webb and many others. 4th June