The Australian badge cleaning day on Saturday 5th July - Tom Thornton

Come along and pend the morning with us in a beautiful spot with a great view, helping our Australian visitors to maintain a special WW1  memorial which is a unique local landmark and part of our local history. 

This is an event organised by Codford Parish Council and involves U.K based Aus. Defence Force personnel, together with local people, undertaking the upkeep of the WWI chalk hill-figure, which is a 60 x 40 metre outline of the A.I.F cap badge, cut into the hillside of 'Lambdown'. This is necessary to prevent the 'Badge' becoming overgrown by the surrounding turf. 

Everyone who is suitably fit is welcome to join in. It is a family activity but children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times, and the Badge Committee states that you take part in this activity at your own risk. 

We meet at the Codford village hall at 8.45am (BA12 0PP - what3words : sober.completed.shipyards), and please bring weeding and grass cutting/raking tools and wheelbarrows plus hats and water if it is hot.

At 9am we will drive east along Codford High St., then up Malmpit Hill, park in the arable field corner at the top of the hill on the east side of the private road (what3words : trumped.mammoths.seat). Then continue on foot 600m on the grass track running along the top of the downland pasture hillside of the 'Badge' site. 

There will be an on-site briefing at 09.30, then the morning will be spent 'gardening' - weeding and edging the chalk surface of the 'Badge' and cutting the surrounding grass, raking it up and removing it onto the trailer provided. (The badge is fenced against the cattle that graze the hillside to prevent them damaging it.).

Around 12 noon it’s all back to the village hall for a cold buffet lunch kindly made and laid on by the Codford resident volunteers. There is a cash bar in the Village Hall. 

For more information please ring Tom Thornton on 07970 153377 or Colin Beagley on 07977 567603.

NOTES:

- The weather is typical UK summer : 'changeable', so hats/sunscreen and wet weather gear both advisable.

- Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for a steep hillside.

- Drinking water is provided but feel free to bring your own + snacks etc. 

- Please bring suitable gardening hand tools if you possess them, but a supply is provided.