Creation’s Treasure Island & Shakespeare outdoors

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Book your tickets to enjoy As You Like It & Treasure Island thanks to Creation Theatre’s touring productions that stop at Heath Farm near Chipping Norton, Hughenden Manor, The Earth Trust Centre in Little Wittenham and Oxford’s Wycliffe Hall

“The rain, it raineth every day.” It feels that way this summer, doesn’t it?! But the show must go on, at Creation Theatre’s upcoming productions.

They will bring you Treasure Island (from 23rd July to 17th August) and As You Like It (24th July to 17th August) on the South Lawn at Wycliffe Hall in Banbury Road, Oxford.

Their fabulous production of Treasure Island brings Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling 1883 tale to life with theatrical magic. Whilst retaining the narrative of Stevenson’s classic, with depth, integrity, a dash of thriller and a large amount of silliness, Gari Jones’ adaptation zips along like a wacky race brimming with pirate speak, off-the-wall characters and a whole heap of original sea shanties.

You can also catch it at Heath Farm, near Chipping Norton at 7pm on 18th July, Hughenden Manor, High Wycombe in Bucks at 7pm on 30th July & The Earth Trust Centre, Little Wittenham on 6th August at 6pm.

As You Like It (on tour 12th to 19th July in Oxfordshire and beyond, offers an unforgettable evening as Lucy Pitman-Wallace, the award-winning director of productions for the RSC, Lord Chamberlain’s Men, Nottingham Playhouse, and Salisbury Playhouse, brings a fresh twist to Shakespeare’s beloved comedy.

Transport yourself back to the 1970s, the era of peace, love, and endless summer nights, in an enchanting outdoor setting, a perfect backdrop for this tale of love and laughter.

Take your friends, pack a picnic, and get ready to be transported to a world where romance and revelry reign supreme. As You Like It will be performed on the beautiful lawn in front of Wycliffe Hall, as well as on tour in Oxfordshire and beyond.

Visit Creation Theatre Oxford

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Didcot Divas concert of hope

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A concert in Wantage on July 28th is helping a cause close to members’ hearts and easing the heartache for many more people with funds for Missing People

Didcot Divas will perform a concert at St John Vianney & Sacred Heart Church with heartfelt meaning for members and none more so than one its number, Gill Koch.

Each year the group of ladies ‘of a certain age’ who have been singing together for 14 years chooses a charity to support, this year it is Missing People.

Gill is just one of those who is only too aware of the charity’s work and support. After 20 years she has no idea where her beloved son Gareth is. In 2004, the 24-year-old flew to Kathmandu in Nepal for a four-week trekking holiday with the aim of reaching the base camp of Mount Everest. Travelling with an older work colleague who had been previously and equipped with maps and a strict itinerary, they set off. That was the last time Gill and husband David saw Gareth. They tell their story:

“Gareth was due back in the country on 20th March 2004 but when he failed to contact us to let us know he had arrived safely we initially assumed that he had taken a later flight.

“We were somewhat bemused to discover that his work colleague had returned a week earlier than planned and had left Gareth in Nepal. Both the Embassy in Nepal and Thames Valley Police were contacted and Gareth was now officially a missing person. A search was organised by the Embassy in the hope of tracing him or at the very least where he was last seen. Unfortunately, the Embassy failed to organise a proper search and used a local guide who could not speak or read English, had no photograph of Gareth or even a copy of his handwriting.

“After a local fundraising event in September 2004 we flew out to Nepal in the hope of finding Gareth or at the very least, some trace of him. We spent four weeks trekking in the foothills of the Himalayas, reaching Chhukung, just below Base Camp. Although we did not find Gareth we did discover where he had stayed as he had signed into one of the tea lodges.

“Since then there have not been any other sightings or information as to what may have happened to him.

“We are very grateful to Missing People, a national charity which has been, and continues to be extremely supportive to us and other families who have family members who have gone missing both here in the UK and abroad.”

Tickets will be £10, no concessions. Cash only. Children and students free. Contact Judith for ticket enquiries on 07557 940801 and via email at [email protected]

There will also be donation buckets at the concert.

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Royal swan upping event

Liz Nicholls

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Picture 1 shows: Cllr Jocelyn Towns, Cllr Carol Heap and the Swan Uppers

Our local swan population has seen a considerable decrease, say the King’s Swan Uppers

This summer’s Royal Swan Upping took place on Tuesday, 16th July, with the vibrant red outfits of the Swan Uppers providing a colourful sight for walkers along the Thames towpath.

Marlow’s Mayor David Brown accompanied the Swan Uppers on the river from Marlow to Cookham and back to Marlow, where he held a reception at the Two Brewers pub. “I was delighted to be part of this traditional event,” he said. “The Swan Uppers ringed cygnets between Cookham and Marlow as part of the process of checking on the health of swans and cygnets on behalf of His Majesty, the King.”

Swan Upping is an important event in the calendar each year. It plays a crucial role in the conservation of the mute swan and involves the King’s Swan Warden collecting data, assessing the health of young cygnets and examining them for any injuries. Cygnets are extremely vulnerable at this early stage in their development and Swan Upping provides an opportunity to help both adults and cygnets that might otherwise go untreated. Swan Upping started on July 15th from Sunbury lock and finished at Abingdon on Friday, 19th July.

Picture 2 shows: Stacey Brown, Mayoress of Marlow, Mayor of Marlow, David Brown, David Barber, Swan Marker to His Majesty The King

According to the Swan Marker, last year saw a considerable downturn in cygnet numbers due to the loss of many breeding pairs during the outbreak of Avian Influenza.  “So far this year we have received very few reports of Avian Influenza cases within the swan population in the Thames Valley,” David Barber said. “This is very positive; however, the swans are contending with very high water levels and strong streams due to the widespread flooding that has washed many nests away. In some cases, the swans may rebuild their nests, which could result in a late breeding season this year.”

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Riverside reverie at Swan at Streatley

Liz Nicholls

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With its location on (possibly) the most gorgeous stretch of the Thames, alfresco Lobster Bar, outdoor cinema and plenty of options for messing about on the river, this Coppa Club gem is giving us Made in Chelsea vibes (in the best way)

Summertime (at last!) and the living is easy… so long as you’re not the one sweating over a hot grill, of course. But the guests enjoying the Coppa Club’s Streatley clubhouse ooze a sort of swanlike grace that matches this fairytale setting. With its easygoing luxe vibe, settling in to one of the upholstered booths for lunch, drinks or dinner is as relaxing as sinking into a warm bath.

And you don’t have to worry about imposter syndrome, either, thanks to the great, smiley staff who can whip up a mean cocktail – top marks to the Cuban Missionary (the drink, not the barman). With its wide vista of the Thames and pretty olde worlde wooden bridge, no wonder this is a top choice for summer weddings. It’s the land of beautiful people of all ages – I’ve even heard it referred to as “Pengbourne”, upriver. In fact, it could be the setting for an epic sit-down episode of Made In Chelsea, if the glossy posse drifted upstream out of London for the day…

But: lobster. The lobster pulled me here. I’m a sucker for a lobster (literally) so I’d travel a long way for a good one, not least a mere few miles downstream from the Isis (Thames innit) at Donnington Bridge. Until the end of summer, the Swan at Streatley offers an alfresco lobster bar serving freshly prepared grilled lobster (arriving daily from Cornwall, £34/£60 half or whole, with nori fried & dressed leaves) which is delicious with simple garlic and parsley butter and pairs perfectly with a glass of Nyetimber. Other treats under the sunny canopy include a poached lobster, celery, mayo & pickles roll (Homer Simpson noise) and brilliant burgers (including a plant-based whopper), giant tiger prawns and BBQ herb chicken, all rustled up with ease in front of you, no sweat.

To help locals and visitors make the most of the sun-drenched days and longer evenings for date nights with a difference, there’s a great programme of summer events to enjoy up to September, including regular live lounges and outdoor cinema. You can glide along on one of The Swan’s fleet of electric motor boats, ordering a signature picnic hamperfilled with quintessentially British classics. Or, to work up an appetite, book in for a spot of wild swimming & sauna withSwims & Things, led by our very own Jo (who is endlessly patient: she has swum the Channel!), try stand-up-paddle boarding with SUP Life and yoga with the lovely Grace & Gravity ladies.

There are with 47 bedrooms (including dog-friendly options) from £80 a night if you want to make a summer staycation out of it. And you can win a stay here! Be lucky, and enjoy!

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Learn new skills at Coaching Barn

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Head to The Coaching Barn at Littlestoke Manor Farm on July 20th & 21st and 27th & 28th and join the Modern Makers Collective

Learn some new skills as the Modern Makers bring you two weekends of fun and creativity at the fabulous Coaching Barn near Wallingford – the perfect space to switch off.

Spend two days of meditative stitching with Aimée Alice Payton on July 20th & 21st as you create a beautiful gathered lampshade. Aimée is an upholsterer and lampshade maker who uses exquisite textiles to create bespoke items for beautiful interiors. Her handstitched and hand-rolled lampshades are full of colour, life and stories. She will share her knowledge to help you achieve a professional finish to your lampshade.

Mark aka Lino Lord will introduce you to the art of lino printing on July 20th when you’ll design, carve and print a black under his guidance. You may choose to create three beautiful stacking rings using traditional silversmithing techniques with award-winning jeweller, Charlotte Berry or how about creating a beautiful summer wreath with Jane Body, both on Sunday 21st.

Charlotte creates exquisite fine and heirloom jewellery from her workshop based in South Oxfordshire using traditional techniques and the finest materials and specialises in helping couples create their dream one-of-a-kind ethical wedding jewellery to cherish for a lifetime.

With a background in art and photography, Jane combines her expert eye for design with her love of the natural world. Much of Jane’s foliage comes from her own abundant garden which is delicately arranged with luxurious decorative elements. With a range of bespoke wreaths on offer, Jane also runs workshops and provides kits to be made at home.

The following weekend you can learn the ancient art of block printing fabric using Lino in a day long workshop with Oxfordshire-based textile printer Albert Harvey on 27th or spend time making a beautiful basket with basketmaker Louise Arthur from Rough Around the Hedges to use for storing and displaying items within the home or for gathering fruit, eggs, mushrooms and berries in the great outdoors.

The workshops weekend closes with another Lino printing class on Sunday 28th as above and a fun day making Boho jewellery earrings and necklaces with Kate Wilkinson.

For all events refreshments are provided with additional lunch options available from The Goring Grocer.

For full details of all the workshops and to book, visit Summer School | modern makers uk (modernmakerscollective.co.uk)

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Freddy, steady go in Seer Green!

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Star pianist Freddy Kempf will star in Seer Green on Sunday, 14th July, as the final highlight in Jordans Music Club’s 81st summer festival

Jordans Music Club’s members are delighted that Freddy Kempf is returning to play for them again after his triumphant concert in 2018.

Chairman Marian Pell says: “Freddy is one of today’s most successful pianists, performing to sell-out audiences all over the world. Exceptionally gifted with an unusually broad repertoire, Freddy has built a unique reputation as an explosive and physical performer unafraid to take risks as well as a serious, sensitive and musical artist.

“The concert opens with one of the great achievements for piano in Beethoven’s middle period, the C major Sonata dedicated to Count Waldstein, a sonata which reflects both the grandeur and the brilliance of the Eroica Symphony, composed the previous year.

“We are then treated to Moments Musicaux, first by Schubert and then by Rachmaniov. Schubert’s Moments are quite short, reflecting different moods from the melancholic to the whimsical. Rachmaninov’s versions show the influence of Chopin but are more monumental and virtuosic as Rachmaninov draws on models from high Romanticism and remoulds them. The mood moves from the intensely mournful through storms and calm to the majestic grand finale – a fitting close to our 2024 season.”

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Do you dig Greys Court?

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As part of this month’s Festival of Archaeology, archaeologists from the National Trust and South Oxfordshire Archaeology Group will investigate some of Greys Court’s fascinating buried archaeology. Katy Dunn tells us more…

The known history of Greys Court, between Henley and Rotherfield Greys, stretches back over 900 years, with the earliest known record being the Domesday Book of 1086. The de Grey family constructed the original manor house on the site, and early historic fabric survives, notably the Great Tower and adjacent wall fragments, dating from the 12th-14th centuries.

The archaeologists will examine the evidence of a series of “parch-marks” which are revealed on Greys Court’s oval lawn in particularly dry weather. These hint at a courtyard wall with a possible gatehouse structure. There were also other buildings on the site, now demolished. The team will also be guided by a geophysics survey across the lawn.

National Trust archaeologist Adrian Cox said: “We are hoping to add to our knowledge of the fascinating early history of Greys Court. We have a range of information already, including aerial photographs and the evidence of an 19th-century engraving depicting the site and showing its courtyard walls. We want to better understand the medieval and post-medieval layouts of the manor, so that we can give visitors a more accurate picture of how it looked in the past. We are aiming to give visitors close access to this archaeological research as it unfolds on site.”

The National Trust is proud to support the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) Festival of Archaeology, the UK’s biggest annual celebration of archaeology.

Shannon Hogan, National Archaeologist with the National Trust said “We’re delighted to be working with Council for British Archaeology on the Festival Archaeology at the places we care for. Archaeological experiences and activities offer opportunities for more people to find ways to connect with and learn about their local history and heritage. The Festival of Archaeology helps us deliver more for communities by uniting children and adults alike in a range of heritage activities and events.”

Archaeologists will be working at Greys Court from 15th to 21st July, and will be very happy to speak with visitors and explain the work and there may be opportunities to get involved.

To find more National Trust Festival of Archaeology events, visit Festival of Archaeology 2024 | National Trust

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Le Tour de Farcycles in Faringdon

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Faringdon-based Farcycles are getting ready to stage their 11th Le Tour de Farcycles on Saturday, 13th July

Take part in a sublime blend of BREW-tiful Cotswold countryside and three deliciously smooth MOCHA-me-happy rides depending on how far you want to push yourself.

We’re famous for the delicious homemade fare at the well-stocked feed stations, and the hot lunch at the finish!

All funds raised by the Sportive go towards local cycling projects including supporting the Cycle Park, teaching and commissioning infrastructure projects such as cycle repair stations, and road safety signs.

Primo-30 (the FLAT WHITE): 30 miles of rolling Cotswold countryside that is just enough to stretch someone looking for a first event. It is also the choice for regular cyclists to have a social meander through some of the region’s prettiest villages. The route is also perfect for families who would like to cycle together.

Medio-50 (the FRAPPUCHINO): 50 miles taking in some of our favourite country lanes. This is the perfect ride for cyclists who want to try a longer distance for the first time or who want a longer ride while still having enough energy for lunch afterwards.

Massimo-80 (the MACHO-ATTO): 80 miles taking in some hillier terrain that will stretch regular cyclists with a big hill or two, while still enjoying the archetypal Cotswold scenery. Back in time for lunch to relive your epic ride with your cycling buddies.

Go to Le Tour Overview — Farcycles or search for Le Tour de Farcycles.

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On a mission with Shakespeare

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To like or not to like Shakespeare? That’s the question Louise Taney is posing with her new theatre company Truth Told who are staging Romeo & Juliet at Cogges Manor Farm

Louise Taney is on a mission to help everyone enjoy Shakespeare and see the relevance of his plays today.

She originally trained at The Oxford School of Drama near Woodstock and has participated in TV, film and theatre shows but her passion is Shakespeare, and this is the driving force behind her new theatre company, Truth Told Theatre which is performing Romeo & Juliet on the Manor Lawn at Cogges Manor Farm in Witney, July 17th-19th.

Having never understood Shakespeare properly at school, where everyone would read round the class not knowing what they were saying, Louise discovered whilst at drama school that the grammar was there as an instruction for the actor on how to say the lines and to give an indication of how the character was feeling (for example, a full stop in the middle of a speech meant a quick change of thought for the character). By using the grammar, the characters come to life and she realised that Shakespeare should always be acted and not read, along with the fact that anyone who could act could act in a Shakespeare play!

This she proved when directing and playing Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream two years ago at Cogges in conjunction with Buttercross Theatre Productions. She quips: “One of the comments I got from a member of the audience after the show was that she’d never laughed at Shakespeare before!”

Launching her company this year, Louise says the thinking behind the Truth Told name is about playing a character truthfully to do justice to their performance and the script. The logo being of someone looking in a mirror, that has been a long-term symbol of truth.

She has been working with Cogges on other projects and loves the unique setting of the Manor lawn, with the farmhouse providing a unique and relevant back-drop for the play.

Louise edits Shakespeare’s plays down to a manageable watching time of two hours including an interval and tries to make her shows visually stunning, fast paced and full of action so modern audiences can relate to them.

She says: “Romeo & Juliet is the original teenage drama that ends in tragedy and the ending is extremely similar to storylines seen in modern soap operas such as EastEnders and Hollyoaks. It is about teenagers not being listened to and being forced to conform to the rules of the adult world along with gang warfare, all of which are still relevant today.”

There’s a bar and refreshments to add to your enjoyment. Bring your own rug or low backed chair. Doors open: 6pm. Curtain up: 6.30pm. Tickets £14 adults, £10 child 3-13; £12.60 adult / £9 child for Season / annual pass holders, £12 students.

Book at Buy Admission Tickets | Cogges (myonlinebooking.co.uk)

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Big Butterfly Count is flying high

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You can help protect the future of local species under threat thanks to Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count, 14th July to 6th August

Butterfly spotting can be one of summer’s most wonderful experience. As the sun appears, and flowers bloom, more and more sightings of our fluttery favourites can be seen.

You may be able to identify some common butterflies quickly. The Brimstone, for example, is a yellow-green butterfly that’s one of the first species to be spotted in spring. The Comma is another favourite for many, and has distinctively scalloped wing edges and its underwings resemble dead leaves as a form of camouflage.

A number of stunning day-flying moths bring the same buzz. The Six-spot Burnet has striking red spots on each forewing. Butterfly Conservation has a handy online identification tool. You may also like to familiarise yourself with different species’ habitats. Red Admirals enjoy almost any habitat from hedgerows to the top of mountains. Others, such as the Speckled Wood inhabit woodland.

Holtspur Bottom Butterfly Reserve, HP9 1DH, covers an area of about 4.5 hectares (11 acres), and is managed thanks to the hard work of local Butterfly Conservation volunteers.

And, Yoesden HP14 4AR, is home to an impressive array of butterflies, considered by many one of the jewels of the Chilterns AONB, with some 28 species recorded, including three scarce blue species: Adonis, chalkhill and small blue butterflies, all of which rely on the flower-rich grassland that makes up half the reserve, owned & managed by Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust. Park at Bledlow Ridge; more info at Yoesden | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (bbowt.org.uk)

The Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen science survey of its kind. By recording your sightings, you’ll provide valuable data on the populations and distributions of common species. Last year revealed species such as the Common Blue and Holly Blue had a good summer, with an increase in sightings of 154% and 120% from 2021 respectively.

It takes just 15 minutes and whether you’re in a park, garden or looking out of your window, taking part helps us understand UK butterflies’ plight. Some 80% of butterflies have declined since the 1970s and two thirds of common moth species have declined in the last 40 years.

Visit Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) to take part & Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) to find out more.

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