South Hill Park 

 The Bracknell Forest Society

(TBFS)

Welcome

The Bracknell Forest Society, started in 2007, is one of 1000 Civic Societies in England that encourage civic pride. They celebrate and safeguard their communities and environment and give local people a voice.

~

 The Aims of The Bracknell Forest Society  

We have changed the aims to better fit the special circumstances of our Borough.

• To improve the image of Bracknell Forest and encourage community spirit
• To ensure local information is easily accessible to all
• To welcome new appropriate development and business which enhances the Borough
• To celebrate our environment with its trees and green open spaces and  promote local improvements
• To encourage the participation of youth into Borough activities
• To be an umbrella for organisations in Bracknell Forest especially those without a website. 

Why not join us?   See Contact Us  

It would be good to have more residents and local businesses joining The Bracknell Forest Society (TBFS) to help with our running costs. We are not sponsored by any official group as we must remain independent. 

We have a full programme with a variety of events for members of the Society. These will take place each month at a variety of times and days so there will be something for all. There are talks, visits, guided walks and social occasions.

                                  ~

The Bracknell Forest Society plays a vital role in the life of the Borough.

It has a place on the Cultural Partnership and is represented at each meeting by a member of the committee. It is a member of the Heritage Forum, and as a member of the Voluntary Sector Forum, works with Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action. 

In addition, members sit on other partnerships and strategic groups in a variety of ways:

• Bracknell ForestPartnership
• Health and Social Care Partnership Board
• The Older People's themed partnership
• HealthSpace Project Board
• Local Involvement Network (LINks)
• Biodiversity Forum
• Friends of South Hill Park Grounds
• Friends of Lily Hill Park
• Heritage Open Days Weekend
• Citizens' Advice Bureau
• The Federation of Community Groups
• Community Associations and the editorial of their Magazines
• Neighbourhood Action Groups
• Bracknell Forest Police Liaison Board
• Bracknell Forest Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education
• Bracknell Forest Christian Network
• We are affiliated to the Minorities Alliance
• Bracknell Flowers:Britain in Bloom
• A Children's Centre Board
• Extended Services Area Partnership: Schools / Children's Services / PCT Community Services / Police and Community
• The Faith and Belief Forum
• We scrutinise the Borough/Town Planning processes 

Our Chairman has put the Society on Facebook and 43 members have signed up.  Key in 'TheBracknellForestSociety'. 

This website will be up-dated regularly to give residents the opportunity and voice to know through an independent body exactly what is going on in their area.

The Red Lion and Winchester House, the former '3M building'

We thank our Corporate Members for their support:

Dennis Artis Tree Surgeons
01344 486332
dennisartistreesurgeons@hotmail.com

We are extremely grateful to Peter Munday who created and managed our first website.  We can recommend his 'MIP Websites' 'affordable web site design in Berkshire'  www.mipwebsites.co.uk

Spotlight on OBJ Morris Dancers

OBJ Morris, Bracknell and Wokingham's Morris Team which has been in existence for 15 years, held a Wassail on Sunday 15^th January at The Boot in Park Road, Bracknell. There were five sides of Morris dancers, some traditional songs and carols, a Mummers Play (In comes I, Saint George!), a bit of music from the Soundblast Sinfonia and the Wassail ceremony itself.

Wassailing is an old custom to encourage fruit trees into producing a good harvest in the coming year. It involves a certain amount of singing, driving out evil spirits and encouraging the tree with cider or beer.

The ceremony starts with a wassail cake – whoever gets the piece containing a bean becomes the King or Queen of the Bean, and presides over the ceremony. Traditional songs are sung, evil spirits are driven away by loud noises, a wren (not a real one!) is buried in the tree’s roots, beer poured over the tree and toast places in its branches. If the pub doesn’t have an apple tree, we bring our own, so we can vouch for the success of the wassail as it’s thriving.

OBJ Morris practices at Easthampstead & Wildridings Community Centre on Tuesday evenings in the autumn and winter. You may have seen OBJ at fetes, pubs and other events in our area, wearing green, black and white kit.

If you think you might enjoy Morris, why not come along to one of our Tuesday evening practice sessions and we’ll get you started. It doesn’t matter how many left feet you have – we’ll get you dancing. If you can play any kind of instrument, bring it along – the more the merrier!

If you’d like further information, go to www.obj.org.uk, email info@obj.org.uk, or phone Colin Charman (0118-9890760) or Alison Gale (01344-640856)

It is hoped that OBJ will dance at the Woodland event on February 18th at Jocks Lane Park and the Giant Picnic on 24th June at Lily Hill Park.

Photos and Report from OBJ

　~

 Civic Societies

There are many towns with civic societies.

Griff Rhys Jones, writer, actor, and comedian, is the new President of the Civic Trust (now named 'Civic Voice') which campaigns for better places in the built and green environment.

Griff Rhys Jones said: "All over Britain people who love and care about their towns and cities work to take responsibility for something that affects us all - our urban landscape. I salute them, respect them and am delighted to be made their President and to support the work of the Civic Trust."

Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement. It aims to make places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive and promote civic pride. 

 Representatives of The Bracknell Forest Society met Griff Rhys Jones, President of Civic Voice and main speaker, at their Reading Conference