Audit: All audit paperwork for 22/23 is now available on the audit page, including the period for Electors' Rights.
Elections: As only nine candidates stood for elections for the eleven places, those nine are deemed elected - the remaining two seats will be filled by co-option. The Borough election will take place on May 4th - two candidates for one place. Information on all this is on the elections tab (under information).
Council has agreed a budget and precept for next year - this is all on the minutes of the January meeting. We are please to say that we have not increased the precept for 2023/24.
We have added a "wider information" section to the previous local info page. This means we can keep you up to date with useful info about the cost-of-living situation and other relevant advice. Please pass this on. Hover over "Information" on the menu. UPDATE - ADDED 13/2/23 ELECTION INFORMATION - under Information link.
Hugh Rayner has donated a tree to mark the Coronation - this can be seen on the In Bloom page.
BIRCHAM IN BLOOM
Congratulations to our Team for their success at the recent awards ceremony:
The awards day for Anglia in Bloom took place on Wednesday 7th September at Orsett Hall in Grays, Essex. This is part of the RHS Britain in Bloom competition which was set up to help us get the best out of where we live, both florally and environmentally.
The event was attended by nearly 170 people from the six counties of the Anglian region. The Birchams were represented by Chris Fellowes and Darri Pattinson from Bircham in Bloom. We made submissions in three categories - Village, Churchyard and Nature Conversation Area - and were delighted to have been awarded Gold for the Nature Conversation Area (the Spinney), an Order of Merit for the Churchyard, and Silver Gilt for the Village.
Chris Fellowes, chairman of Bircham in Bloom, commented, “We're so pleased to have been part of this fantastic initiative which focusses not only on the planting, but also on the environment and community participation. The judges gave us some lovely comments which can only inspire us moving forward. We have many ideas for the future, and are looking forward to receiving the judges’ written feedback to help us formulate our plans.”
The judges made particular mention of the bee hotel, hedgehog house and bat boxes together with the flower meadow and the general wildlife friendly work that had been carried out.
Bircham in Bloom would like to thank everyone who has supported them including the Parish Council, local businesses and volunteers.
New members are welcome, and if you would like further information on our activities please contact the Parish Council.
Welcome
The Parish of Bircham lies on the border of the Sandringham Estate, about 7 miles from the North Norfolk coast and comprises of three small villages:- Great Bircham, Bircham Tofts, and Bircham Newton. Bircham Tofts is recorded in the Domesday book as Stoftstan, referring to its stony soil and it merged with Bircham Newton in 1719. Norfolk's most famous son Admiral Lord Nelson's daughter Horatia married Philip Ward, the local rector, and brought up a large family at Church Farm.
Great Bircham hosts a farm shop with deli and cafe, St Mary's Church, and the King's Head Hotel with an award-winning restaurant. There is also a fully restored windmill, considered to be the only working windmill in this part of the county, where visitors can climb five floors up to the fan stage, and on windy days, you can watch the sails and milling machinery turning and admire the view. The mill also has an onsite bakery, a small children's farm, and a cycle hire centre. The Parish also played host to RAF Bircham Newton which opened in 1918, now home to the Construction Industry Training Board.
Bircham Newton has a small, private trout fishing lake and the Church of All Saints, one of the smallest in the county, with no porch, few windows and Victorian box pews.