Walking in #FiningsWood with the dog and getting thoroughly wet in the pouring rain earlier this week, I was curious to see soapy looking bubbles pouring down this #Oak tree trunk. Maybe you have witnessed this too?
There are several reasons why this happens....if the tree is healthy then it is most likely this one. I quote. .
#Saponins: Many trees, especially eucalypts and pines, contain saponins in their bark and sap. These are natural compounds that act like soap when mixed with water. "It is common, it’s just sapanoids? In the bark that are released when it rains and foam up. Nothing to worry about"
Stemflow Mixing: Rainwater trickling down the trunk collects these saponins and other particulates, creating foam through a process called stemflow mixing. "As rainwater trickles down the trunk, it collects these saponins and other soap-like molecules, which then foam up at the base of the tree"

​Author Pauline Thomas - Supporter - Facebook post

A moment of woodland magic with Sylvana ! Forest calm, quiet beauty, and my faithful shadow  - Janet King - supporter  (click on images to see larger)
​Facebook

On behalf of the commitee for Finings Wood Community Group I would like to thank all our friends and followers for their support through 2025 and wish you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

It has been a challenging year: we lost our very good friend Paul Thomas who was always a tower of strength and will be sorely missed. And our good friend Trevor Mansfield moved to Suffolk. He too will be missed although he has kindly offered to continue offering help and advice from afar.

We have made good progress with fund raising and plans and now we await the decision of the Parish Council with the allocation if funds from the sale of the land at Chalky Fields. Like others in the village we had hoped to have heard by now but we wait and hope. Once we get a positive decision we shall be in a position to negotiate on the Woods. So lets hope 2026 brings positive news for our group.
Author Alastair Cameron - Chairman

Oooh its a goodie!! Our wonderful Christmas Hamper raffle launches today! £5 a ticket, it will close at 8pm on Monday 22nd December. Just look at the fantastic contents! As per last year, we have 2 hampers, a first and second prize.
You can pay using Paypal (You dont need an account using the button or QR code below, or straight to our bank account.)
If you do the bank account, please message me, and advise so I can contact you if you win! We will allocate the numbers to you and confirm by email or messenger.
Our website has all the details too... https://www.finingswood.org.uk/christmas-raffle.html
Lets smash last years £800 raised!! GO FOR IT!
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AFEJLGHMPSCUN

There are just not enough words to describe how devastated we all are in our Finings Wood group and throughout the village, to hear that our wonderful trustee and dear friend Paul Rees Thomas passed away this week whilst fighting a very aggressive cancer found only this summer.
Paul was the founder of our group. The guiding light about everything in Finings Wood, as he has walked in it nearly every day since he moved to Lane End when first married to lovely Pauline Thomas.
He lived and breathed the woods and because of his incredible talent and career as a wood carver, it was a match made in heaven.
His daughter Holly Rachel Haynes and their family have such wonderful memories in the woods and have shared some of their favourite pictures here all taken in Finings Wood.
We send our heartfelt love to all of the family and have lost a true friend and such a kind, gentle man, but will keep his mission alive and will fight to save these woods for the village and for generations to come.— feeling heartbroken with Pauline Thomas and 2 others
Caroline Watson - Facebook Post

On Saturday, a few of our committee popped over to Paul and Pauline's and went apple picking. Thanks both - I haven't picked apples since I was a youngster. Good fun apart from Alastair Broom dropping apples on my head!...we also got some lovely little plums too. Will be back I think. Thanks to to Romi from Londis for lending us some crates!
This morning Mike Watson took them over to the wonderful https://www.chilternridge.com/ to get them pressed into our lovely apple juice we sell for Finings Wood funds. Last time I think the committee bought most of the bottles it was so yummy. Thanks Mike!

Go and visit! It's a great place with their own little shop there too.
Author - Caroline Watson - Facebook post - Committee Member

​Lane end residents have until 30th June to respond to the Parish Council who want to hear your comments about how the Chalky Fields money is to be used. See the link at the bottom to add your voice, especially for the Finings Wood purchase. See you at the Fete.
Slip into the cool green shade where leaves gently whisper and each soft step melts away the stress of the day. That’s the power of ancient woodland and we’re lucky enough to have it on our doorstep with Finings Wood.
Scientific studies prove that being in nature is crucial for our health and wellbeing. More housing is needed, but as more and more of Lane End’s green spaces disappear under developers’ paving, it’s also vital to safeguard the pockets of nature that we cherish.
Securing Finings Wood for the community of Lane End:
Protects the wood from falling into the wrong hands so we can all continue to access it
Allows us to restore areas with the potential for high quality woodland
Offers new leisure opportunities in less sensitive areas of the woodland, for example:
Off-road cycling
Fitness trail
Enclosed dog exercise and agility area
Children’s wild play trail
Training and volunteering opportunities in bushcraft, wildlife and woodland skills for adults and youth groups such as youth clubs, scouts and DofE
Finings Wood Community Group is regulated by the Charity Commission. Thanks to local support, £56k has already been raised towards the purchase of Finings Wood. £200k from the sale of Chalky Fields would allow us to unlock new sources of funding, bringing us closer to a position where we can make an offer.
View this and other projects here and email your support for Finings Wood to Hayley, the clerk at the Parish Council.
https://www.laneendparishcouncil.gov.uk/
[email protected]

Author - Paul Thomas - Facebook post - Committee Member​

I suspect most of you will have seen the Lane End Parish Councils post regarding the proceeds from selling Chalky Fields.  They have a substantial fund of money and many great organisations including ours have submitted our requests for funding.  Now it is YOUR TURN!  You have until 9am Monday 2nd June.

It is really important that you write to the parish clerk Hayley with your comments on these suggestions. I did mine yesterday.

I introduced myself first, as to how long I have lived in the village, what I do for a living, and mentioned any groups I volunteer at for clarity and transparency.

I copied all of the list below into an email and then wrote my comments on every one including this one. Yes it takes a while, but its hugely important that you - our parishioners gets the right to 'vote' on these entries in a calm, polite, well thought out response! Your thoughts are incredibly important to their team, as they have originally had over £3m in wishes, with a budget of £1.75m.

Of course, we are there, on the top of the list! No pressure. So we can hopefully count on you to do your bit!

Finings Wood is so important to save for our village and the generations, but also environmentally would mean that our village may have lost a field to housing but we can help to offset that green loss, with these amazing woods.

Email: [email protected]

Author Caroline Watson - Committee member

List below
​ We Want to Hear from You!
Lane End Community and Organisation Funding Applications
Lane End Parish Council is pleased to announce the receipt of several expressions of interest/funding applications aimed at enhancing various community projects and facilities. While these applications are yet to be debated by the Council, we wanted to provide an insight into the current proposed funding requests. Selected applications will receive funds from the proceeds of the sale of Chalky Field. Applications received from local organisations are as follows:
Finings Wood Group
Purchase of Finings Woods: £200,000
Additional funding for Fitness Trail (12 - 18 year olds): £15,000
Lane End Youth and Community Centre (LEYCC)
Kitchen refit and new PA systems: £25,000
Lane End Food Hub: Replacement Fridge/Freezer and Storage Cupboard + Food/Household Supplies: £3,000
Cadmore End Village Hall
Toilets and Kitchen Refurbishment: £30,000
Lane End Conservation Group
Project 1: Provision of secure storage unit and improved equipment with training: £28,000
Project 2: Renovation of Harris Garden: £12,000
Lane End Village Hall
Renovation and upgrading of infrastructure, installation of flexible seating and enhancement of catering facilities: Phase 1: £300,000, Phase 2: £100,000
Lane End PTA (for Lane End Primary School)
Project A: Provision of an extended day by after school activities for a 3 Year Period: £120,000 (£40,000 per year)
Project B: Provision of an Outdoor Space with forest school, sensory garden and mini-orchard: £60,000
Holy Trinity Church
Repair and rebuilding of churchyard walls and railings: £72,000
Repair of Church Floor in Entrance Area: £12,600
Lane End Players
LED lighting, sound equipment, projection equipment and storage facilities: £240,000 - £260,000
Elim Church
Application 1: Extension to building at side to provide a Wellness Centre and at front to provide Café Facilities: £200,000
Application 2: Employment of a Community Worker: £120,000 (£40,000 per year)
Application 3: Renovation of Kitchen and Toilets, purchase of stackable chairs and renovations to building: £100,000
FlexiTalk Services
Community library: £31,500 - £97,000
Mental Health and Education provision for young people: £200,000
Parishioner
Provision of a Skate Park (Millenium Park / Lane End Playing Fields): £200,000
Cadmore End Cricket Club
Cadmore End Cricket Club: Pitch Enhancements: £50,000
Parishioner
Installation of a footpath along the side of Wheeler End Common: TBC
The Sonning Farm Company
Purchase of Bolter End Common: £147,000
Tiptoes
Expansion of existing dance studio: £70,000
Ex Ward Councillor / Flexitalk Services
Enhanced Bus service from Lane End to Marlow: £5,000 per annum
Parishioner
Ditchfield Common Track: £30,000 (Indicative estimate)
Parishioner
Community Bus: £80,000 (Indicative estimate)
Holy Trinty Church
Replacement of Fossil Fuel Heating System: £TBC – No cost estimate
Parishioner
Raised Pavement in Pusey Way: £TBC – No cost estimate
Lane End Parish Council Owned Assets
In addition to these community led applications and proposals, the Council will also be considering potential enhancements to its own assets to further benefit the community, in the following areas:
1. Enhancement Projects
Best Kept Village Project: Enhancements to the village with an approximate budget of £78,000-£87,000.
Village Ponds Project: Restoration of the village ponds with an approximate budget of £80,000 - £100,000
Christmas in the Village : A number of minor projects to enhance the annual provision of Christmas in the Village with an approximate budget of £4,500.
2. Children's Play Area
Provisionally allocated a budget of £230,000 for the development of a new children's play area at Lane End Playing Fields. This project will include modern play equipment, safety surfacing, and seating areas for parents and guardians. Our goal is to create a fun and secure environment where children can play and socialise.
3. Refurbishment and Extension to Sports Pavilion
Another significant project is the refurbishment and extension of the sports pavilion, with enhanced disabled facilities. With a provisional budget of £220,000, this initiative will upgrade the existing pavilion, providing better amenities for all users, including improved accessibility for disabled individuals. The extension will also offer additional space for community events and sports activities.
4. Development of Car Park Facilities
To accommodate the growing number of visitors to Lane End Playing Fields, there is a potential budget earmarked of £100,000 for the development of car park facilities. This project will increase parking capacity, ensuring convenient access to the playing fields and reducing congestion in the surrounding areas. activities.
5. Enhancement of Access Road to Playing Fields
A further potential project is to undertake enhancements of the access road to the playing fields and also highway safety works at its junction with The Row. A potential budget for these works has been set at £100,000.
Other Proposals
Further proposals under consideration by the Council but not directly related to its own assets include the following :
6. Traffic Management Study
Evaluation of measures to assist traffic Calming: £30,000 (indicative estimate).
7. Traffic Calming Measures
Implementation of measures to achieve traffic calming: £80,000 (indicative estimate).
8. Street Lighting
Installation of additional street lighting at a limited number of selective locations: £25,000.
9. Footway Extension
Extension of footway at Gracewell to connect to footway on The Row: £15,000.
10. Purchase of Land at Handleton Common: Purchase of land immediately adjacent to the Playing Fields: £80,000 (indicative estimate).
We are excited about the potential impact these projects will have on our community and look forward to the positive changes they will bring. For comments, please contact Hayley, email: [email protected]
This is a chance for everyone to share their thoughts and provide feedback. However, the final decision on which projects will be supported rests with the Parish Council. Your input is valuable and helps us ensure transparency in our process.

The muddy footpaths in #finingswood are drying up and the weather looks good for the weekend so plan a trip out and feel the sun on your back. Listen out for the tap tapping woodpeckers, the deep croak of the ravens and the high altitude whisper of the skylark.
#chilternfootpaths #birdsong
Facebook post by Paul Thomas

Happy New Years Eve! Well we have not been successful in finding our hamper winners Marie and Thomas P as no contact form filled in as per our rules. 
They have until 12pm tomorrow to claim then we will do a redraw. Hope they come forward! ​

Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful supporters.
Wishing for a restful and peaceful time for all.
Let's hope we find our pot of gold in 2025 to save these woods for the village to own.