Hedingham District
Hedingham District is situated in the picturesque Colne Valley and stretches from the village of Gt. Yeldham through Castle and Sible Hedingham and on to Gosfield.
Near by are the market towns of Halstead and Braintree with Sudbury just over the border in Suffolk. The towns of Colchester and Chelmsford are within 20miles.
Gt. Yeldham has a Guide, Brownie and Rainbow unit.
Guides enjoy camping, sleepovers, canoeing and craft. Several girls have gained their B P award. The unit has also been to the BIG GIG at Wembley Arena.
Brownies recently visited ICANDO. November will see them busy packing shoe boxes for the charity Operation Christmas Child. Guides and Brownies frequently join together for Guy Fawkes, and summer B.B.Qs. Pack Holiday takes place in August with the other Brownies in the District.
Rainbows have great fun on their sleepovers - have visited ‘Build A Bear’ in Colchester. They have also raised money for the R.S.P.A. The village of Gt. Yeldham is noted for its ancient Oak Tree reputedly over 1000 years old. It has a fine sports ground, village hall, White Hart Hotel, a mix of clubs and societies and a new Police station.
Travelling along the A11017 towards Castle Hedingham is the Colne Valley Railway events include Thomas the Tank days, Victorian days for schools and Santa Specials. There is also a Farm Park on the site.
Castle Hedingham has Guide, Brownie and Rainbow units.
Guides have recently knitted blue squares for the charity Water Aid to make a ‘River’ to be used for an advertising campaign. They also have made models of the Keep, St. Nicholas church, a local bus and the hump back bridge, these are displayed in the library in Sible Hedingham . Camping, sleepovers and activity days are part of their programme.
Brownies have compiled an A B C of their village this is to be printed in the form of a poster. Pack Holiday, a village trail and Kite making for the Anglia Outdoor Challenge Badge are some of the activities the girls have taken part in.
Rainbows are busy working for their 20th Birthday Badge. Sleepovers with the other units are very popular and cooking is an activity they all look forward to.
The Village of Castle Hedingham is best known for its magnificent Norman Keep. During the summer months the castle and grounds play host to medieval events, jousting, weddings and corporate events. St. Nicholas church is in the heart of this pretty village surrounded by quaint cottages with The Old Moot House a restaurant, Magnolia Tearoom, Post Office, The Bell Inn, and The Wheatsheaf - all in the centre of the village.
Sible Hedingham has a Brownie and Rainbow unit.
Brownies held a swimming Gala this summer. They also took part in the District Pack Holiday at Thorrington. The pack often uses Makaton in their end of term performances to parents,and at District and Division events. The unit enjoys a full and varied programme.
Rainbows - this unit was recently reformed and forms a good link with the Brownie unit, they often join together for parties and celebrations. At present they are busy with the Rainbow 20th Birthday Badge and enjoy singing and playing games.
The Village of Sible Hedingham is the largest of the villages with a busy through road, with several shops, and many new houses. St. Peter’s Church in Church Street is one of the oldest parts of the village with many attractive cottages. There are two water mills, Alderford Mill which is sometimes open on heritage days and Hulls Mill converted into a home.
Broaks Wood is a Forestry Commission Site with a vast range of woodlands and beautiful walks. Entrance to the wood is on the A1017 travelling from Sible Hedingham towards Gosfield.
Gosfield has Guide, Brownie and Rainbow units.
The Guide unit is newly formed this year and is going very well.
Brownies visited London to see the rehearsal of Trooping the colour and also went to No. 10 Downing Street where they had their photo taken. Mary Poppins was the theme of their float which they entered in the village Fete.
Rainbows celebrated the 20th Birthday party at Boydells Farm, with games, crafts, feeding the animals and a sing song. They Lion King was the theme of their float in the village Fete, the girls loved dressing up as animals and waving to the crowds. The sleepovers with the other Rainbows in the District are very popular.
The village of Gosfield has a mix of new and old properties dating back to the middle ages. Gosfield Lake is a 36 acre natural beauty spot with camping and caravanning facilities plus a water ski school. Gosfield Hall, a stately home dated 1545 and is set in 10 acres of parkland and gardens, this is also a wedding venue. The village also has an 18 hole golf course. September is the month for the Scarecrow Trail an annual event to raise money for charity.
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