MONTHS have passed since I commented on the natural surroundings and activities in the valley. A number of interesting observations deserve comment. The weather, of course, has been most erratic. Some days temperatures rose to near record heights, while the coldest July day in a quarter of a century was also recorded. A favourite hibernating spot for butterflies, in my garage, has already been occupied by a confused peacock.

Thrushes have been declining in numbers so all the nature watchers tell us. Has anybody noticed that the valley seems to be an exception? Earlier in the summer there was hardly a minute between dawn and dusk (quite advanced dusk), when it was not possible to hear thrushes proclaiming their territory, with their distinctive repetition of short, intricate phrases. Perhaps they have been more prominent even than blackbirds in our part of the village, towards the north. I'm not sure if there is just one very persistent thrush vigorously patrolling all the gardens around or if the population is particularly prolific here. Whatever, the presence was much appreciated.

CYCLING, and particularly safe and disciplined cycling, is another element of school travel. This term Burford has run a new cycling course aimed at six to nine year olds, called Biking Basics. This was set up following significant interest from those who returned the Travel Survey last autumn. Not everyone was able to get a place, however, so there are plans to run another course, probably in spring 2006. Parents will be informed nearer the time to ask who is interested.

Saddle Safari, off Spittal Street in Marlow, have been kind sponsors of the scheme.

LEAVING cakes and jams aside for a day, the valley WI visited the new composting site at Booker last week. I should apologise, I publicised an open day last month. I was mistaken; there was a day when the resultant compost was available, but no guided tours. However, the WI group was positively glowing about the aims of the composter and the very responsible approach being taken towards its management. The member who contacted me suggested that other groups (the site manager is naturally reluctant to conduct individual visits) might like to see what is happening to the recyclable rubbish.

Incidentally, there is still apparent resistance to the process from some directions. The green bins often contain hidden plastic and even rocks that cause great problems for the maceration plant.

Meanwhile, my piece in praise of the constructive reaction of WDC's Stuart Maxwell to some smell problems at the tip prompted him to visit a member of the Residents' Association to stress that he was inordinately complimented. He pointed out that the Thames Water Terra division staff who run the process at Booker deserve the bouquets more.

REBELLION what does one say about their open weekend. OK, so I was a bit wrong; the weather was not unbroken sunshine, but the whole event was still magnificent.

Some 4,000 people turned up and drank, sorry, tasted, freely from around seven different draught real ales. The burgers were terrific, and they served around 1,200 to an unbroken queue on Saturday alone. There was continuous jazz from a High Wycombe Music Centre ensemble that just gave that additional relaxing touch.

One group of CAMRA enthusiasts turned up in a vintage Greenline bus, allegedly headed for Victoria, but I think Marlow Bottom was the last stop on the outward journey that day.

Proprietors, Tim Coombes and Mark Gloyens were obviously highly delighted with the response. Tim was almost gleeful at the prospect of giving away many thousands of pounds worth of beer. To put it into some sort of context, the brewery gave away about the same number of pints in two days as they might have expected to produce in two good weeks of brewing during their first year, 1993.

The ultimate delight for Tim was that the collecting boxes brought in the staggering sum of £3,345 for Wycombe Hospital's Scannappeal, more than double the amount from the last event two years ago.

Asked if Saturday afternoon's rain was disheartening, Tim responded that everybody had arrived by the time it started, and they seemed quite content to stay. He reflected that the brewery staff had been wondering how they would encourage people to leave, when the five o'clock downpour solved the problem without the need for subtle diplomacy or duress.

Tim said he had three main aims for the weekend; to say thank you to a loyal band of customers, to benefit Scannappeal and to acquire some good PR results. Mission accomplished, I would say, and I think there are several hundred who will join me in thanking the brewery for such a magnanimous occasion.

CLAMPING is alleged to be coming to the valley. I was contacted by readers who had heard a strong rumour that the Village Hall Trust is to investigate the possible use of a security company to clamp unauthorised users of the car-park outside the village hall. I have tried to investigate but cannot get information from the Trust's committee as to the seriousness of any plans. Along with other residents I find it difficult to see how any fair discrimination can be made between authorised and unauthorised users, particularly since that status could be perceived to change several times a day as people visit the various organisations that use the hall or simply stop off the road because the shop car-parks are full.

It will be interesting to hear the outcome of the next meeting of the Trust.

CHANGES in arrangements for the Booker tip facilities were due to have taken place in July. The date for a one day total closure and a brief outline for new access were published in this column. It didn't happen because BCC have had to address design issues which will take some months to resolve. The new closure date is likely to be mid-autumn, with the new expanded facilities probably not ready before early next summer. Watch this space.

HANDY CROSS M40 changes are still under review, apparently, following some dispute about costing. Consequently the exhibition of those plans mentioned in this column, has still not been re-scheduled. The appropriate office of the Highways Agency has promised to keep me posted. I was amused at the need to use the right terminology my initial enquiry to speak about the "road" plans resulted in a question "would you mean highways"?