The Restoration Project was completed towards the end of 2009. It had taken three years and much endeavour. Our sincere thanks go to our supporters and funders, who made the transformation possible.

LINK to Latest Report

The original Village Spring or "Spout", as it became known, is an historic feature of the village. It used to be the main source of water for the majority of residents. Some houses in Bubbenhall still use a private spring water supply for their domestic needs.
People travelled distances to come and “take the water” as myth and legend and folk law deemed it the “elixir of life”!

In recent years, the flow of the Spout had diminished to a trickle and the water source became undrinkable. A project was begun to achieve its reinstatement and the restoration of a natural spring water source and outlet. At the same time, a project was drawn up to restore the whole of the Village Green area.

The Master Plan

A plan in three phases was agreed, which included the sinking of a borehole on the green to access the pure spring water focal point on the Village Green. In addition, a “lych gate” style bus shelter made from English oak, 200 year old reclaimed tiles from the village and local stone was created along with a restored Village Pit or Pond situated on the Pit Hill side of the green.

New Fountain

With everything now completed and in place Bubbenhall has a restored heart to its fabric as a village. Why not visit us and “take the water” yourselves.

Click for Link to Bundanoon

 

---

Bubbenhall Village Green & Village Spring
report to the Parish Council 13th July 2010

The Village Green and the Village Spring area.

You will already know that my application to Awards for All, for funding for the UV system, the repairs to Spout pipe-work and the replacement of the water trough, was unsuccessful.

In the interim, I have revisited the fitment of an Ultraviolet sterilization system to the Spring water via original contractor, Davian of Kenilworth.
This shows that the concept is much more costly than at first estimated.
You will have seen my e-mail attached.
A decision is required as to the need for this feature in the short term. If there is, I will need to revisit the grant bodies in a new application.

Other identified actions concern the long-term provision of a growing Christmas Tree and the Village storyboard. Please see a concept below:

Village Green Rules

Whilst I do not believe that, we should be overprotective and deemed to be killjoys but the green has begun to be used by ever-increasing numbers for playing football. There has already been a minor non-road related injury and the juxtaposition of Spring and Pit Hill is a potentially dangerous accident hazard. Part of the problem is caused by visitors to the Three Horse Shoes allowing their children to join in the games.

I believe that ball games are not allowed under our Public Liability insurance and on what I understand to be its interpretation by the Parish Council.
Should we put up signage that forbids the “games” on the grounds of safety and directs activities to the Playing Field?

Bubbenhall Best Village Competition - update

I have completed and mailed the names and numbers of our “team” who will attend the Awards Ceremony on the 22 September 2010. The venue has yet to be advised.

Here’s wishing us our fair share of luck!

Tony Sproul.

---

New Fountain

 

 

---

Link to Bundanoon, Australia

There was worldwide publicity for the Village of Bundanoon, in New South Wales, Australia, for their decision to become the first community in the World to vote to go “bottled water free”. They felt that their source of natural spring water should be protected and be freely available.

Water is a very precious commodity in the whole of Australia, so when a spring water company in Sydney applied for planning permission to build a spring water extraction plant in the village, there was unanimous objection from the inhabitants. They started an initiative called “Bundy on Tap” and began a project to fund raise and then install spring water fountains and dispensers across the village and to sell refillable bottles and ban all sales of bottled water.

With the similarity to our spring water project, we contacted their committee and on the 14 September 2009, Suzy Molyneux of the Bundy on Tap Committee and her husband, Tony visited us here in Bubbenhall. We met excitedly over tea and muffins, exchanged experiences and vowed to keep in touch over time. Suzy took a copy of the last Newsletter with her back to the Committee, plus a special bottle of Bubbenhall Spring water. So, we are now “bonded”!

Take a look at their inspiring story at www.bundanoon.com.au.

 

---