Some new arrivals at Macaroni Wood
2 baby Kune Kune piglets arrived at Macaroni Wood last week. They are two females, six weeks old and very, very cute and already popular with all our visitors.
Macaroni Wood Charity Cycle Ride
On Saturday June 11th we organised a charity cycle ride from London to Macaroni Wood, a distance of 80 miles, and raised over £5000 to date for the charity. Like last time, so that people of all abilities could join we also had starting points of 50 miles at The Fox and Hounds pub in Christmas Common where the riders stopped for tea, coffees and cakes at 11am and 30 miles at The Plough Inn in Appleton as pictured below, where we all stopped for lunch and drinks in their delightful beer garden. Our annual charity cycle ride took place on Saturday 11th June 2016, here are some having a well-earned lunch break pic.twitter.com/whPIbWbB3x — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) June 14, 2016 Over 50 riders took part and the event was a huge success. Here are the first to cross the finish line at 3.30pm, Ed, Duncan and Liam, going so fast the camera couldn’t keep up! The first riders, Liam, Ed & Duncan over the finish line! pic.twitter.com/KlKiJxbj0w — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) June 14, 2016 Here comes Jonathan and his wife Michelle. It was Jonathan who started the highly successful crowdfunding campaign for Macaroni Wood at Xmas 2014. Here comes Jonathan and his wife Michelle. pic.twitter.com/ZuBwqQj4xr — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) June 14, 2016 Some of the many helpers who worked hard behind the scenes to make sure that it all ran smoothly. This included Chip Eastham and Caroline Newton and Jo Wylie who managed all the transport issues. Dennis Hunter who ran the BBQ with Greg Phillips. Jane Phillips and Nicky turner who helped Liz plan all the food and drink for both the Saturday and the Sunday morning. And, of course, a huge thank you to Pete Sherrott and James Wilkinson who planned and implemented the whole thing. A massive thanks to some of the many helpers who did a fantastic job organising… pic.twitter.com/geISJ7wAYu — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) June 14, 2016 Here comes Helena Eastham who, not satisfied with raising over £2,000 running the London Marathon for us this year, went on to ride as well. Thanks again for the efforts Helena. Helena Eastham who raised over £2,000 running the London Marathon for us this year! pic.twitter.com/JsGJVJweq0 — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) June 14, 2016 The ride is always finished with a slap up BBQ with fine food and kegs of ale and lager to quench the thirst… Dennis and Greg feeding the masses! pic.twitter.com/eEGJNisklO — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) June 14, 2016 And finally here’s most of the gang, watching the England game and relaxing after a long hard day. Sadly England threw away the chance to win their first ever European Championship opening match, but you can’t blame the organisers for that, they’re not miracle workers! The gang after watching Eng v Rus on the projector in the main building. pic.twitter.com/k3XRXaD1z4 — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) June 14, 2016 Once again, thanks to all you, you are all brilliant!
Another visit from the guys at the Vietnamese Supplementary School
Since 2009 the Vietnamese Supplementary School have been organising a yearly residential trip to Macaroni Wood for their students with support from volunteers/parents. For many Young people, this is the first time they had a chance to pick an egg from the cage or feed pigs, particularly Vietnamese pigs. As well as playing games they enjoyed making Vietnamese Spring rolls and having a barbecue, bicycle rides and exploring the countryside…. A great three days at the woods with lots of learning new life skills and apparently they talked about the trip all the time after they returned home.
Cleaning the pond
James Webb, Grants Officer at The Wates Foundation, who fund half of Marcus’ salary, spent the day here with Marcus last week. They worked hard all day to clear the pond with some help from Molly and now it is almost back to normal, and very full of water – a haven for the wildlife! James Webb, Grants Officer at The Wates Foundation, who fund half ofMarcus' salary, spent the day helping. pic.twitter.com/xawZphMDmp — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) May 16, 2016 Cleaning out the muddy pond at the woods with thanks to the Wates Foundation… pic.twitter.com/icJmGI7s9g — Macaroni Wood (@NACVMacaroni) May 16, 2016
Music therapy Sense
Over half term the first people to use the new wetroom in Castree House were our loyal regulars Sense: The Deafblind Organisation. They used the Richard MacVicar House (the sportshall) classroom for a music therapy session, they braved the elements to take part in woodland learning deep in the muddy woodland and had a thoroughly good week. Below are some more pictures. Our holiday makers and #volunteers having a great time in @NACVMacaroni on our first #shortbreak of the year! pic.twitter.com/15iNE5tjtd — Sense (@Sensetweets) 18 February 2016 What better than a warming hot chocolate cake and custard on a rainy Wednesday? @Sensetweets#shortbreakspic.twitter.com/Zp1AAb63aD — Hannah Tompkins (@hannahtompo) 17 February 2016 Martha’s marvellous music therapy session on our @Sensetweets @BHamCityCouncil #shortbreak @NACVMacaroni pic.twitter.com/I67VVHBfqI — Hannah Tompkins (@hannahtompo) 18 February 2016
Thanks to Ian MacVicar who raised an amazing £167 for Macaroni Wood
We’d like to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to Ian MacVicar who on Boxing Day last year swam the Tenby again in memory of our good friend Richard ‘Mac’ MacVicar and raised an amazing £167 for Macaroni Wood. Thanks Ian, and thanks to all you kind folk who donated!
Castree House wetroom refit
Castree house was opened in September 1996 by Anneka Rice, as many of you will remember. The building has been very well used ever since and some areas were in need of restoration. Last year we managed to completely renovate the small upstairs bathroom and make it into a wetroom. We’re delighted to say that this year 11 different trusts and funding bodies contributed to allow us to do a total restoration of the downstairs wetroom. It has now got a heated floor, tiled walls and floor, a complete new bathroom suite and a redecoration and the whole thing looks fantastic as you can see from the photos below.
RIP Winston Weston – Macaroni Wood Legend
It’s with a heavy heart we had to say goodbye to a Macaroni Wood legend this year. Winston Weston, AKA Sweetbwoy, visited us every summer for years with GEMs and was a great charismatic character we always enjoyed seeing. In fact he was down with GEMs as recently as August bank holiday weekend. If you visited one of our Summer fetes you will have no doubt have heard him on the microphone entertaining the countryside crowds with his South-East London wit and distinctive booming laugh when drawing the raffle prizes. Rest in peace Winston, you will be greatly missed!
St Andrews Music Session
St Andrews took advantage of the new classroom during their stay with a percussion music session. Everybody joined in and it was great fun.
New woodland path created
Marcus and Duncan who are employed part-time to help on work around the site have been as busy as ever and we are constantly being complemented on how Macaroni Wood has never looked better. They have created a new path through the wood to the left of the mobile home, for the kids, and big kids, to cycle through. This is one of the benefits of clearing up after the wood harvesting in February. As well as the new woodland path we’ve also had this brilliant mural created on the driveway and have repainted all of the signs on site.