About the Highclere Society

Why do we need the Society?

• Our environment is under pressure from change.
• There is increasing local concern about the future of our community and environment within the parish.
• A consistant co-ordinated approach is needed,not single issue lobbies.
• A non-political voice representing all of those who live and work here.
• A focal point for all issues of the natural,social and built environment.
• A resource to harmoniously support our local council,other organisations,representatives and officers.

Objectives

Mission statement

To bring together the people of the parish of Highclere (the wards of Highclere and Penwood) and promote a sense of community and a regard for the environment in the parish.

Our objectives are to:

• Promote high standards of planning and architecture and to educate the public in the geography, history, natural history and architecture of the parish of Highclere
• Secure the preservation, protection, development and improvement of features of historic or public interest and of the environment in the parish of Highclere
• To promote social activities to encourage a community spirit in the parish of Highclere.

Please support us

You can support us in several ways:

• Participating in our various 'serious' activities/projects - planning, history, walks, wildlife
• Coming to one of our social events, such as the summer party
• By joining as a member!

See below what the support of our members has helped us achieve.

Our activities and achievements

Over the 13 years since we started our activities and grants have included:

• Welcome packes delivered to newcomers moving into to the parish
• Regular newsletters and alerts on local issues and events
• Annual social events, winter wine tasting, summer party and two golf tournaments a year
• "Pride in our Parish" iniative, starting with planting 400 daffodils; our next project (2010) is renovating the bus shelter
• Meeting to discuss the Highclere Castle enabling development proposals
• Completion of the first walks pamphlet - the second is in preparation
• Village Design Statement
• Regular review of planning applications and consultation documents and submitting responses as appropriate
• Highclere Past & Present, History Project
• Clearing the pond at Penwood
• Tree survey of the entire parish
• £500 in grants to assist Highclere Film Club with equipment purchase
• £2,000 grant to assist with the extension to Highclere Village Hall
• £1,000 grant to fund the campaign to object to the NATS/CAA proposal to over fly Highclere (and the AONB) to which members donated a further £2,400
• £500 to prime the pump for the new committee at Penwood Village Hall