Compton Dando News

Compton Dando Craft Days

Harriette’s Craft Day in Compton Dando on 17th October, the first of this winter’s sessions, was well attended. It was a lovely collaborative, calm day doing everything from knitting and crochet to glass mosaic, wood block printing, card making and making charming book journals. Jenny supplied her delicious soup and Dawn kindly brought her chocolate cake to add to the other homemade foods. The next three dates are: Saturday 18th November, Tuesday 9th January 2024 and Saturday 3rd February 2024.

Please contact Harriette Dottridge if you would like to come, cost is £8. Bookings to be made before Wednesday 15th November please, for the following Saturday.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone is doing next month. Embroidery is one Alison began at last year’s sessions, she is now working on a new seedhead illustration.

Lovely film about rewilding part of the River Chew

Mossy Earth, in partnership with Bristol Avon River Trust, In this video we’re introducing our new project areas along the River Chew in south-west England, where we’ll be undertaking a variety of interventions to let the river run wild again.
⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 Intro
1:20 Context
3:39 Beautiful habitat
6:28 The problems
7:51 Our project
🔎 ABOUT THIS PROJECT
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The River Chew is a scenic watercourse that forms part of the Bristol Avon network of rivers, streams and lakes in the British countryside. Along stretches of the river, trees and vegetation provide food, shelter and spawning grounds for important migratory fish and invertebrates, including the protected Atlantic salmon. Where there is sufficient shade, trees help improve water temperatures, sediment levels and the riverbank. However, sections of the River Chew don’t have this delicate balance of vegetation cover and have been degraded by surrounding land use. Partnering with BART (Bristol Avon River Trust), we are focusing on river habitat restoration, riparian tree management, landowner engagement and habitat and fish spawning surveys to improve two key fish spawning tributaries.

You can read more about it here: https://www.mossy.earth/projects/spaw…

Annual Litter Pick

The annual litter pick made it to the pages of Keynsham Voice this month – here are the volunteers. Sarah Wilson commented: Luckily the weather was kind and we covered all the lanes including the one to Burnett. Big thank you to #KeynshamWombles for the equipment and #BANES cleansing team who pick up the litter we collect. Also thank you to those villagers who collect litter regularly throughout the year. All in all, it was a great effort to keep our beautiful village litter free.

Report on Winter Craft Days run by Harriette

Thank you all who came on Saturday 4th Feb: with 29 people through the door and a wide range of ages, it was another friendly, creative day.  We had about 22 for lunch and I’m very grateful to Jenny for her butternut soup and to Diane who kindly brought a chocolate cake, much enjoyed by young Chris when he took a break from his block printing in the morning.  My soups were parsnip and sweet potato (very simple), and leek and potato.
I have just done the sums and over this winter we have made a profit of £228 which I have just paid to the Compton Dando Community Association who publicise and support our events and also provide insurance for our activities.  They not only support the villagers, holding monthly coffee morning open to all, provide our tea and coffee for the Craft Days, help organise our fete in the summer, occasional Open Garden days, raise funds for support for the church, hall and information for visitors to the area: about walks, wildlife and local events.
Mary suggested we make a recipe book of soups and cakes we provide.  Anyone wishing to take this idea on?  Perhaps we could have recipes illustrated by the wonderful artists in the group?  Or with decoupage from the card makers?
Anyway, I’m also grateful to Jenny for warping up my loom and this seemed to fascinate a few people so if you want to find out more, then check this link https://ridgewoodcommunitycentre.org.uk/listing/ridgewood-weavers-spinners/ for the group Jenny runs near Yate, which is an excellent place to learn not only weaving but skilled people there are happy to share their knowledge too.  A number of us also belong to the Wiltshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers and they meet in Steeple Ashton and hold classes to learn all sorts of crafts as well as talks and exhibitions.  To find out more check out their website here: https://www.wiltshireguildswd.org/.
Photo courtesy of Ros Anstey

Christmas Wreath Workshop

Just WOW! The xmas wreaths made at last weeks Compton Garden Flowers workshop are amazing.

A big thank you to Sarah and for the donation to the Compton Dando Community Association. You can see some of them at http://compton-dando.org/archive/

Village Quiz Night 2022

Thanks to everyone who came to the evening: nearly 50 people attended. The winners were Atrophy, and the wooden spoons were Clayley Clots.

We had 8 teams and topics were: Flowers, Travel, Food, Sport, Music, Christmas, Politics and TV & Film.
Also, thank you to all who donated raffle prizes. Alice took a healthy amount on the raffle, and there were some super prizes!
Again, thanks to Steve Bell for fetching the fish & chips, and to everyone who helped serve and clear up. – many hands make light work.
From comments we have had, Alice and I are pleased with the outcome – it is about providing a fun evening for the village, although we have made a decent profit, due to the raffle.

Fete Results 2022

Thank you all who contributed to this year’s fete as volunteers, participants, helpers, visitors, donors, supporters, and in so many ways.  The opening of the fete by Jack and Jess at the end of their wedding service was a special occasion.  The morning’s downpours had dried up, and held off until a brief deluge for about 20 minutes mid-afternoon. Thereafter it was all clearing skies for a lovely evening.

The highlight events included the egg-throwing contest with 40 pairs taking part. After the winners of the fantastic raffle prizes had been announced, the 300 ducks were released on a tsunami of water from outside the Parish Hall, and Nigel Gale captured the first three to escape downstream, with number 8 being the winner. A few escapees are somewhere nearing Keynsham by now.

Takings are expected to be around £4000 to be split between the Compton Dando Community Association, the Village Hall, and St Mary’s Church.