Contacts: Brownies Chris Ellis, 884868; Guides Pat Nash, 390489; Rainbows Penny Grayer, 390484
WHAT WE DO

The Brownies and Guides in this area are the 1st Landford Units; Rainbows are 1st Nomansland; but they serve jointly the villages of Whiteparish, Landford and Nomansland.

We are very active units—and did you know that the Brownies celebrated their 90th birthday in 2004? That’s 90 years of fun and activities that many young girls and women have had while growing up as a Brownie. In the autumn of 2004 the Brownies in our area joined over 2,000 other Brownies from all over the South West of England in a day full of activities at Foxlease, our Guiding home in the New Forest. Brownies from all over Wiltshire have attended Pack Holidays and camps, teaching Brownies how to survive without Mum and Dad. Examples of past or planned Brownie activities have included: an evening tour of Marwell Zoo as part of our birthday celebrations; Pack Holidays including sailing at Calshot Activity Centre, and climbing, archery, and lots of other activities outdoors and in at Ferny Crofts, the Scout Training and Activity Centre.

Recent or planned Guide activities have included an exciting and energetic day Dragon Boating with Guides from all over Wiltshire; ice-skating, ten-pin bowling and swimming at Basingstoke with other Guides from Downton District; a course in First Aid; a week in the Czech Republic; and joining Guides in the rest of the district for a day at Calshot, climbing, ski-ing and sailing. In addition Guides always enjoy craft activities and always have an annual Camp.

BROWNIE NEWS (January 2008)

Trip to London.

A group of excited Brownies met at Southampton Airport station for the train journey to Waterloo. Oh,, we did reserve seats! Sorry madam, but we can put you in first class. So despite the awful weather we travelled to London in style. Our first stop was the Houses of Parliament where we had a guided tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The girls were extremely interested in all the history and interesting facts our guide, who herself had been a Brownie, had to tell us. We learnt how the two houses work and saw, the throne where the Queen sits to open Parliament, the woolsack, and portraits of all our past Kings and Queens. We ended the tour in Westminster Hall and left to see the hands of one face of Big Ben whirring round and round! Eventually all faces showed the same time. This was followed by lunch on the Victoria Embankment (the rain had stopped) and a trip down the river to visit The Tower of London. We were lucky enough to see the bridge open to let an old Thames Sailing Barge go through. This was followed by a brief train ride and a visit to Pizza Express. A good time was had by all and the girls were a pleasure to be with.

Radio Day

As part of our Communicator Badge some of the Brownies went to Chandlers Ford where, with the help of a Guider and Itchen Valley Radio Club, we joined in a Jamboree of the Air and were able to talk to people near Birmingham, who were in an old windmill, and even to someone in New York State, although this was very faint. The girls learnt how to spell their name in the Phonetic Alphabet and made a bead bracelet to represent the name in Morse code. We have also been texting our Brownie friends in Nomansland.

Other Activities

We took part in the Village Service in Landford Church on 14th October and showed how we begin our meetings with a Brownie Ring around the toadstool, singing the Brownie song.

Autumn leaves inspired the girls to make leaf pictures of an animal or person which would have graced any gallery.

Star Gazer Badge . Unfortunately the weather prevented our visit to the Southampton Observatory but Mike Bryant came to explain the workings of the solar system with help of lamps, a polystyrene ball and the Brownies!

Halloween Activities included making a stained glass pumpkin and bobbing for apples.

Christmas s aw us making presents, sparkly Christmas tree shaped boxes with chocolates inside and Christmas tree cards using felt and more sparkle!

Our party took the form of a Teddy Bear’s Night, which I was sorry to miss.

THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO

  • Our newest Brownies will make their promise.
  • Valentine’s Day cards. SHhhh!
  • There will be a Thinking Day Service
  • We’ll be making Mother’s Day items. SHhhh!
  • Easter activities

Little Owl

BROWNIE NEWS, Autumn 2006:

The 2006 autumn term started with the Brownies of the First Landford Pack completing work to achieve their Brownie Pack Holiday Badges. This year, twenty four Brownies had a fun-packed weekend at the Wiltshire Guide Headquarters, in the old school at Berwick St James. Eight of the older Brownies braved the inclement weather (thunder, lightning, rain!!) in a tent in the grounds accompanied by two guiders. Activities centred on the theme 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and included a physical activity course, a scavenger hunt in the local countryside, cooking, and clay work to produce a name plaque. All great fun, but totally exhausting!!! Brownies have lots of energy.

Also this term, six new Brownies will take their Promise and we will be doing some star gazing as part of the Seasons Badge. The Brownies have already made beautiful Autumn leaf collages.

We were very pleased to be invited to take part in the Christmas Tree Festival at Landford Church from December 8th to 10th, and our tree will be decorated on the theme of 'Away in a manger' Do come along to see ours, and all the other trees.

Happy Christmas to everyone from the First Landford Brownie Pack!

AGE GROUPS; AND WHEN WE MEET

RAINBOWS is for girls from 5 years, and we meet on Wednesday evenings. Contact Penny Grayer on 390 484.

BROWNIES is for girls from 7 years, and we meet on Tuesday evenings. Contact Chirs Ellis on 884868.

GUIDES is for girls from 10 years, and we meet on Thursday evenings. Contact Pat Nash on 390489.

CAN YOU HELP?

Although there are plenty of young girls keen to join Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, the number of adult leaders has dwindled over the last few years, so much so that units have had to combine or close.

Our District, which covers Downton, Redlynch, Nomansland, Landford and Whiteparish, is in need of more leaders. It can only be a few hours each week helping to teach young girls a wide spectrum of activities, from road safety to camping, and how to work as a team. You don’t need specialist skills, and you don’t need to have been a Guide yourself, but liking children is an advantage! If you are interested in helping, please get in touch with our District Commissioner Sue Brown on 01725 511477; she would be delighted to hear from you. You can also contact your local Rainbow/Brownie/Guide Unit.

 
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