Early in the month a very well attended talk by Philip Boys heard stories from the memoirs of war poet Edward Thomas and his wife Helen, who both lived near the Common, about their life on and around the Common at the end of the 19th century.

Later in the month a few of our Heritage group were treated to a view of the nursery rhyme tiled friezes in the former Bolingbroke Hospital childrens’ ward (now the ARK Bolingbroke Academy library). It’s amazing how easily the words to Humpty Dumpty and Jack and Jill still trip off the tongue!

Exciting news from the Common itself - a newt has been spotted, the first for a long time. It was very timely therefore that this month’s Tuesday volunteer session built a dead hedge around the amphibian pool to create and improve habitat. Looking forward to more sightings as spring gets under way.

We ended the month with a spring in our steps after a talk by physio Julia Bott on the Myths and Magic of Movement and Mobility. This taught us why exercise is so important for us and why it’s never too late to start. The more the better. A definite must see. By popular request there will be a follow up talk on how best to exercise. Julia was instrumental in encouraging the Over 60s Fitness classes on the Common run by Open Air Fit that are so popular.

All are talks are filmed and can be watched at the News and Events section of our website