full April Bulletin - Biggleswade Rugby Club

4 BULLETIN APRIL 2012 TEL: 01234 834700 EDITORIAL: editorial@biggleswadebulletin.co.ukBig day for schoolsTHE 16th April is a BigDay for all Schools inBiggleswade! It’s the daybefore all students returnto school for the summerterm and Stratton UpperSchool is hosting the firstBCUS Conference Day forall 400 teaching staff andteaching assistants drawnfrom a total of 12 localschools.BCUS (BiggleswadeCommunity Union of Schools)has been in existence since2010/11. Head teachers in our12 schools are working togetherto develop a vision for educationfor our area. The idea is thatthis should include all children(0-19) in all settings includingChurch Schools. The aim is tosupport the needs of all our childrenthroughout their schoollives, developing better linksfor smooth transition betweenschools. The schools are workingfrom the perspective thatthey understand our geographyand demographic. They are alsoStop themigrainemadnessaware that we are using theresources of the TrainingSchool, established at Strattonfor the last nine years, toshare expertise across theBiggleswade Community ofschools.Headteacher Rob Watsonsaid: “We have a clear aspiration.We all want to support ourchildren and families moreeffectively. We all want ourchildren to achieve more.”The focus for the BCUSConference Day is to enable allphases to work together ondevelopment themes, to meeteach other and to develop a0better understanding of eachothers’ context. Educationalexperts covering a variety ofthemes will be working with thestaff to develop approaches toteaching and learning, studentengagement, literacy andnumeracy amongst otherthings.We all hope to be inspired bythe experience to take ourshared vision forward.Visit:www.bedfordmigraine.comHarrisonsAccountancyCHARTERED ACCOUNTANTSSave money on your accountancy costs.Year round support for a fixed fee.Accounts, Tax Returns, Payroll, Bookkeeping,VAT Returns and Management Accounts.Tel: 01767 312696Email: info@harrisons.netwww.harrisons.netReturning from winter holiday!APRIl is the month when mostof our summer birds will arriveback in the UK after their longmigrations and it’s always anexciting time at The lodge.We’ll be looking and listeningout for these birds as they startsinging to attract a mate almostas soon as they land! We havemany species of warblers thatcome to breed on the reserve;willow warblers, blackcaps,whitethroats and garden warblersand these will join the chiffchaffsthat have arrived earlierduring March.We hold a ‘What’s that warbler’walk in May, identifyingthese small birds as their songsare quite a challenge! One of themost eagerly anticipated migrationmoments is when the firstcuckoo is heard calling. Thesebirds are becoming increasinglyscarce, but we are fortunate tohave a few pairs spending thesummer here. They are oftenseen and heard on the new heathcalling their distinctive ‘cuckoo’‘cuckoo’ call, often from a hightree. There is an old rhyme thatdescribes the Cuckoo’s time inBritain:In April I open my billIn May I sing night and dayIn June I change my tuneIn July far I flyIn August away I mustRSPB is launching the SteppingUp for Nature awards to celebratelocal communities and individualsin the east who have donesomething amazing for wildlife.Aggie Rothon, awards managersaid: “we know that there arepeople out there working hard fornature, be it in their own back garden,their local green space or atwork. We think it’s time that theseEaster is a great time to havea visit as trees and plants arelooking terrific as they begin tobloom around the reserve. We’llhave an Easter trail set up forvisitors to enjoy during the busyBank Holiday weekend andthere’s always a good chance ofspotting the pair of ravens thathave been resident in the areasince around September.Over the last few years wehave found these trails to bereally popular, we have also hadwoodpecker and springwatchtrails and it’s a great way toencourage families to visit anddiscover the reserve and enjoynature and being outdoors. let’shope it’s a nice, sunny weekend!You can find more details ofall of our walks and events atwww.rspb.org.uk/thelodge, orpop into the RSPB shop andpick up a leaflet. The lodgereserve is open every day of theweek, from dawn to dusk, andthere are plenty of organisedevents: just ring to book.Entry is included in the carparking fee – £4 a car fornon-members, free if you aremembers or just visiting theshop. The shop (01767 680541)is open every day and haseverything for people who lovenature.Celebrating nature’s heroesheroes for nature got noticed andwere thanked for all their efforts.”With a judging panel includingthe naturalist and televisionpresenter Mike Dilger, RichardPowell regional director of theNational Trust and Matt Shardlow,Director of Buglife, the awardshave six categories that you canenter yourself or nominatesomeone.