Category: More News

TIME is running out to submit your entry to the Chilterns Conservation Board?s Creative Writing Competition. Let us know what makes the area special to you and you could win

OXFORDSHIRE Mind has to raise a staggering

CHILTERNS WOODLAND CONFERENCE – Friday, January 26, at Green Park, Aston Clinton, Bucks.
DAVID Lidington MP will be the keynote speaker at a conference on how Chiltern woods can help provide a local source of green renewable fuel for heating.
Using timber from woodlands as an alternative, renewable fuel for heating is the topic of the moment for woodland management as the government is soon to announce its policy on woodfuel.

SPEAKERS at the Conference include:
David Lidington MP for Aylesbury
Mike Render (Forestry Commission and Chilterns Conservation Board)
– The Chilterns woodland resource and national wood fuel policy
Charlotte Bruton TV Energy – The Tree Station, wood fuel supply
Will Richardson, Yorwoods – Ignite ? a wood fuel training scheme in the north of England.
Questions & Discussion

The Chilterns Conservation Board says: “The woods of the Chilterns have survived as a managed resource to provide raw materials and historically firewood was very important. Cutting down trees and burning them for fuel can be a sustainable use and has a low carbon impact as young replacement trees will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. Letting more light into the woods by carefully thinning out the poorer trees for fuel can also benefit wildlife and encourage more plants to grow helping improve the environment.”

Booking is essential Please contact John Morris, Chiltern Woodlands Project
woodlands@chilternsaonb.org Telephone 01844 355503

The Chiltern Woodlands Project is a charity (reg no 1002512) working to encourage the sensitive and sustainable management of woods across the Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty famous for its beech woodlands.

THE number of Oxfordshire pupils getting five good grades at GCSE, including English and maths, has improved and is better than the national average for the second year running.
According to school performance tables published yesterday, 47.5 per cent of the county?s students achieved five or more A*-C grades including English and maths, compared with 45.8 per cent for all schools nationally and 44.1 per cent for state schools nationally.

The top performing state school in the county on this tougher measure was Chiltern Edge School in Sonning Common where 65 per cent of candidates achieved five good grades including English and maths.

The percentage of pupils getting five good grades at GCSE has also improved from 54.4% in 2005 to 56.6% in 2006. The national average for state schools is 57.5%.

Some schools made significant improvements in 2006 with Carterton Community College, Chiltern Edge School, Oxford Community School and St Birinus in Didcot all raising their grades by at least ten percentage points or more.

Thirteen schools are in the top twenty five per cent nationally on ?Contextual Value Added?. This is a score which measures the progress pupils have made between 11 and 16 taking into account factors such as gender, special educational needs, ethnicity, deprivation, English as a second language and how often pupils have moved schools.

Bartholomew, Blessed George Napier, Carterton Community College, The Cherwell, King Alfred?s, Langtree, Matthew Arnold, St Birinus, St Gregory the Great, Wallingford, the Warriner and Woodeaton Manor all achieved good ?contextual value added? scores.

A-level

Faringdon Community College and The Cherwell in Oxford were the best performing county schools at A-level and are in the top 15 per cent nationally.

Faringdon Community College achieved the highest score where students averaged 948.6 points.

The Cherwell School achieved the top score per entry at A-level of 227.8.

The county average point score is 712.2, compared with the national figure of 709.0 for comprehensive schools and 721.5 for all schools and further education colleges.

Councillor Michael Waine, the county council?s Cabinet Member for School Improvement, said: ?It is good to see that Oxfordshire schools have moved forward again at GCSE and A-level. There are some great individual successes and pupils and teachers deserve credit for all their work.

?The overall picture is very promising and we look forward to building on the progress made to raise standards still further.?

THAME Town Council’s Planning committee will discuss their response to a draft strategy consultation document which looks at how South Oxfordshire District Council will deliver future sustainable
development for the area.
The Draft Strategy document is in response to the Government’s new UK strategy for sustainable development, ?Securing the Future?.
The strategy deals with such things as Sustainable Consumption & Production, Climate Change and Energy,
Natural Resource Protection and Environmental Enhancement, and Sustainable Communities.
Full details of the strategy can be viewed on SODC’s website: Link

WHY not take part in the RSPB?s Big Garden Birdwatch on 27-28 January, the world?s biggest bird survey, and help make it the biggest and best yet.
These seasonal surveys provide the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds with a vital snapshot of the UK’s birds each winter.
Over the years, RSPB scientists have been able to record patterns in bird numbers and use this information to help prioritise its bird conservation work. The survey has recorded huge declines in some of our most familiar birds.
Since 1979 for instance, the number of house sparrows counted has fallen by 52% and the number of starlings by 72%. By joining hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and counting the birds in your garden, you really are helping to save wild birds. For more information visit the website at: Link

THAME police are seeking information following two burglaries in Old London Road, Wheatley in December, last year (2006).
The first was on December 12, when entry was gained to a garage by levering a window, and food was taken from a freezer inside.
The burglary occurred overnight between the hours of 11pm and 9am.
The second burglary was on December 23, between 12 mid-day and 5pm, when a dwelling house was burgled and items stolen.
Anyone with information about either of these crimes is asked to contact the Police Enquiry line 0845 850 5505, or, if you don’t wish to give your name, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

CHRISTMAS is over and now all you?ve got to show for it is the left over strawberry creams, pine-needles in your shagpile and a few extra pounds on your thighs. Your six pack looks more like a keg, and your bootilicious bottom is now, well? bountiful!
But don?t worry because this year help is at hand to encourage you to stick to your new year?s resolution and lose those unwanted pounds.
The Oxfordshire SOLLutions Health & Fitness clubs, including Thame Leisure Centre, run by charitable trust SOLL Leisure, are encouraging people to get up and get active, as part of its New Year ?Move it to Lose It? campaign.

FIVE TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU STICK TO YOUR NEW YEAR?S RESOLUTIONS

1. BE REALISTIC! Make realistic New Year?s Resolutions, for example instead of saying that you will never eat chocolate again just stop snacking in between meals and then reward yourself occasionally for your efforts. If you?ve been good all week, why not treat yourself with low fat chocolate dessert on a Friday night? This way you won?t feel like you are totally denying yourself and your New Year?s resolution will be easier to stick to!

2. FOCUS ON THE FUN FACTOR! If one of your New Year?s Resolutions is to get fit, then find an activity you enjoy. There is no point promising yourself that you will get up before work and go for a run if you hate mornings! You won?t stick to it and you will soon feel demoralised. Instead find an activity you enjoy. Your local SOLLutions Health & Fitness Clubs offer a range of fun, innovative classes such from Body Combat to ball room dancing! Find a class or activity that appeals to you and commit to doing it twice a week.

3. SLOWLY DOES IT! If your New Year?s Resolution involves learning a new skill, break it down into manageable sized chunks. For example if you have decided to learn Spanish or start playing the piano, then promise yourself that you will do 10 minutes a day. These short sessions will soon mount up, and will be easier to fit into your life!

4. GET SUPPORT! Don?t be afraid to ask for support or help from experts. For example if you have decided to get fit, then talk to the qualified instructors at your local leisure centre. This January SOLLutions Health & Fitness is running the national ?Move it to lose it? campaign, which is designed to give you the support, advice and encouragement you need to get fit and lose weight!

5. IGNORE THE SLIPS! If you slip up and miss an exercise class or have a few days without practicing the piano, don?t beat yourself up about it. Instead start your resolution again with renewed vigour. No one?s perfect, but with enough determination you can achieve anything!

?Move it to Lose it? is a national campaign endorsed by the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) and designed to help participants lose weight by incorporating regular physical activity into their lives.
Victoria Branch campaign organiser says: ?After Christmas many people pledge to get fit and lose weight, but in the short, dark days it can be difficult to muster the energy and motivation. The ?Move it to Lose it? campaign has been designed to give people the support they need to get more active, lead a healthier life and ultimately lose weight.?

Reducing obesity is a key priority for the Government. According to the World Health Organisation, prevalence of obesity has trebled since the 1980s, and well over half of all adults are either overweight or obese ? that?s almost 24 million people. The Government?s Health Select Committee estimate that the cost of obesity and overweight to the economy stands at

FORTY Oxfordshire young people, including three from Lord Williams’s school, Thame, will be presented with the Gold Duke of Edinburgh?s Award at a special ceremony tomorrow.
James Hultman, from Chinnor, Matthew Lamb, who now lives in Aylesbury and Emma Turnbull of Long Crendon, have all taken part in a wide range of activities including sports, four-day expeditions, work in the community and residential projects in the UK and overseas.
Unfortunately, Matthew will not be collecting his award in person tomorrow night, as he has had to return to university where he is studying Architecture but he told ThameNews.Net about some of the activities he took part in to achieve his award.
As part of the Service section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, he was one of the first to act as a mentor to year seven pupils coming up to Lord Williams’s school from primary school, helping them with social or academic concerns that they may not wish to talk to a teacher about.
Matthew challenged himself to improve his fitness levels so well during gthe Physical recreation section that he now feels ready to take part in this year’s London Marathon.
He said that the highlight of his Expedition section, to Zambia and Botswan, was a trek in the Tsodilo Hills, the site of the famous ancient rock paintings. During this week-long trek, Matthew was able to show his leadership skills by taking charge of the 14-strong team.

The Vice Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Malcolm Cochrane, will make the presentations at Wychwood School, Banbury Road, Oxford tomorrow, Thursday, January 4, at 7.30pm.
The number of young people participating in the Award in Oxfordshire increased by 50 per cent during the last two years. 555 Bronze Awards, 217 Silver Awards and 77 Gold Awards were achieved in 2006.

The Award programme is delivered mainly as an extra-curricular activity in mainstream schools. Recently, there has been increased involvement by youth centres, community groups and among young people who may be at risk of exclusion.
The Duke of Edinburgh?s Award in Oxfordshire is delivered through a partnership between the county council and Amey plc.
Maggie Willis, County Co-ordinator for the Award said: “Our congratulations go to these young people who have successfully completed a unique challenge demonstrating responsibility, self reliance and perseverance.
“We greatly appreciate Amey?s involvement and the continued support of many dedicated volunteers who provide opportunities for young people.”
Keith Sexton, Health, Safety, Environment and Quality Director at Amey said: “We are proud to continue to support The Duke of Edinburgh?s Award and help young people prepare for their working lives. We can see tangible evidence of the effects of our involvement in improving the chances of many young people.
“I would like to congratulate all those who achieved Gold Award and wish them every success in the future.”

Photo: Matthew Lamb during a field trip to Chicago with the University of Nottingham, as part of his Residential section of the Duke of Edinburgh Award challenge.

CHRISTMAS cards can be recycled for The Woodland Trust up until January 31, by taking them to any mainland WH Smith store, Tesco supermarket (including selected Express stores) and TK Maxx stores.
Visit www.woodland-trust.org.uk/cards for more information.

South Oxfordshire District Council is encouraging residents to recycle their Christmas trees in the New Year, in a drive to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill over the holiday period.
The Council is encouraging its 10,000 residents to use its new garden waste scheme to take advantage of the service to dispose of their trees.
Residents with brown bins can put their chopped up Christmas trees inside their bin for normal collection. The trees collected will be composted locally and used to improve local farmland. For those people without a brown bin, there are a number of alternatives for getting rid of used Christmas trees. The Council has arranged with a number of local garden centres for residents to return their trees for composting. Residents can also take their trees to one of the household recycling centres in the area for composting. The Council is also encouraging residents to recycle as much of their Christmas waste as possible via their kerbside collection in an effort to reduce the excess rubbish usually generated at this time of year.

For details of locations and more information, visit www.southoxon.gov.uk.
This service is only for Christmas trees and at the times listed, before 12 noon, on Sunday, January 14.

Photo: TV soap star Debra Stephenson ? Corrie?s Frankie Baldwin, is helping The Woodland Trust promote its Christmas Card re-cycling scheme.