Wrights Clock Land CIO

25/01/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? The Wrights Clock Land CIO is seeking a dedicated individual to join our Board of Trustees. We are a charity focused on benefiting Fulbourn parish, providing vital support and resources to enhance local life.⁣
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There is a lot of information about this charity (CIO) on our website, please have a good look at it. https://wrightsclockland.com/⁣
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As a trustee, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of our projects, drive positive change, and ensure that we effectively serve the needs of our community. We welcome applicants with diverse skills and backgrounds who are committed to our mission.⁣
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As a Trustee, you will be required to attend monthly face-to-face meetings (weekday evenings) and review associated documents and funding applications outside of these meetings. You may also be asked to perform other duties to help deliver our objectives, and identify further opportunities for the charity to benefit the community.⁣
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You will be joining a team of 9 enthusiastic and committed volunteers with an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in Fulbourn. Our financial position allows our remit to extend well beyond that of the original clock tower maintenance, working with local clubs and institutions in areas such as education, sport, the arts, health & wellbeing and the environment. Fund-raising will not be required!!⁣
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If you would like more information before applying to be a trustee, please email Stuart Thorpe at [email protected].⁣
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To apply, please just write an email including the following :⁣
• Brief information on your background – work, interests, connections with Fulbourn etc (full C.V. not necessary!)⁣
• What you particularly could bring to this charity (other than enthusiasm, interest and time).⁣
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Please email your application to [email protected] before the end of February. On receiving applications we might then ask for more information, and request interviews. Note that the Trustees’ decision is final.

20/01/2026

Wright’s Clock Land CIO has recently taken the rare opportunity to buy two parcels of land adjacent to the south side of Fleam D**e, one of them adjoining Fulbourn Fen Nature Reserve. This marks the beginning of a long-term plan to put the Ancient Monument back into its original setting of chalk grassland, which will also improve biodiversity in the parish, and increase the area of wildlife reserve available to the public.

The land will be leased to the Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust (BCN), which own this part of Fleam D**e, and manages Fulbourn Fen reserve. Ownership will remain, via Wright’s Trustees, with the village, increasing the area of Fulbourn Parish which is communally owned. For more details of the land involved please see Wright’s website: www.wrightsclockland.com. On the ground, there won’t be any immediate change, as the previous owner is signed up to a Countryside Stewardship Scheme until next September. Until then, he will continue to farm the land as our tenant. Restoration for nature is a long-term project!

2025 was the 500th anniversary of Richard Wright’s will of 1525, leaving his ‘Clock Land’ in trust. Since January, the Trustees have renewed the Church Clock (see The Mill, April) and also, for the first time in 500 years, purchased land.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳/𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘭, 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯'𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. 𝘔𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 © 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘔𝘢𝘱 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵'𝘴 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘓𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘐𝘖.

Want to know more? You can find full details on our website: https://wrightsclockland.com/land-purchase/

16/01/2026

We are delighted to be supporting the work of The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants as they work to restore Ansetts Wood to a safe and healthy condition.

Please be mindful of signage around the woods as work begins.

Donate to our Wilder Future Fund to support the creation, restoration and management of woodlands, and our work engaging people with these vital and amazing habitats

08/01/2026

Next Tuesday!

17/12/2025

Thank you to all those who entered our Children’s Art Competition - we had some fantastic, creative entries and will be contacting all the winners shortly.

Thank you also to everyone who braved the weather and stopped for a chat at our stall. It was great to hear such a wide variety of thoughts about our village and we’ll be sure to factor these into our future plans.

If you didn’t get to meet us, then fear not, we will be running a joint event with the Co-op at the Six Bells on Tuesday 13th Jan. Drop in to the function room anytime between 12-2pm and 5-7pm, have a chat and pick up a few goodies, courtesy of the Co-op.

04/12/2025

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘! 🎄⏰

The Fulbourn Winter Festival is just days away (7th December), and we'd love to see you at our stall!

𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧 💬 Share your thoughts on what makes our village special – and what could make it better. Happy to chat, or just pop a note in our anonymous Suggestions Box.

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🎨 Ages 4-11 can enter to win prizes!
• Download our templates to colour in, OR
• Create your own picture of your favourite Fulbourn spot
• Drop it off at our stall (name, age & school on the back)
• Every entry gets a free treat! 🍬

Look out for our logo and come say hello. We're here to listen and support our community – and we can't do that without hearing from you first.

See you Sunday! 🕰️

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦: 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘥!

19/11/2025

Come along and tell us what you think about Fulbourn at this year's 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 on 7th December. ❄️

We will be hosting a stall and we would love to hear your thoughts on Fulbourn … the good, the bad and … well, the rest!

Don't want to talk? No worries, we will also have a Suggestions Box and it's entirely optional if you leave your name.

We will also be running a Children's Art Competition (ages 4-11) with a free treat for all entries and prizes for the best in each age category. 🎨

You can either:
a) Download one of our templates to colour in, or
b) Create your own masterpiece showing your favourite part of Fulbourn

Then drop off your picture with us at the Festival (don't forget to include your Name, Age and School/Pre-School on the back).

Just look out for our logo and drop in. 🕰️

06/11/2025

For a long time, Wrights has had a great relationship with The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants, working with them to ensure that Fulbourn Fen Nature Reserve remains a valuable asset for our community and environment.⁣
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We are also aware that many residents have questions and have heard various rumours about the future of Ansett’s Wood (currently closed to the public, at the end of Stonebridge Lane); so we put some of those questions to Martin Baker, Conservation Manager at the Wildlife Trust on your behalf.⁣
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Although it is disappointing that the wood will not be open for a significant time yet, Martin explains the reasoning behind the continued closure and the latest progress on getting them open again. A further update will be provided in the New Year.⁣
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𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭’𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝?⁣
Over the summer a tree fell near to a child playing in the wood, though luckily, they were not seriously hurt. The wood was closed immediately, pending a full safety inspection. This inspection identified large numbers of diseased trees in danger of further collapse and on the basis of this assessment the continued closure of the wood was the only responsible course of action. ⁣
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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝?⁣
The Wildlife Trust has applied to the Forestry Commission for a felling licence to remove the diseased and damaged trees. The wood also forms part of a conservation area, so we have also had to apply to South Cambridgeshire District Council for permission to fell trees. The Wildlife Trust has sought quotes from three contractors, as of the start of November we have had two quotes and are awaiting the third. We are also keeping Fulbourn Estate up to date with the situation.⁣
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𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜?⁣
The Forestry Commission takes 10-13 weeks to assess an application and issue a felling licence. Once we have the necessary permissions, we can issue one or more contracts to undertake the approved tree work. Therefore, the work is not likely to happen before February 2026. We will also require suitable weather and ground conditions so as not to cause other damage to the ground or the trees to be retained and need to be mindful of nesting birds in spring. Once all of the permissions are in place we will be able to provide a more accurate date.⁣
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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬?⁣
The extent of clearance will be determined by the safety of the trees and depend on the mixture of forestry management versus individual tree surgery undertaken. It is likely that in some areas all diseased and damaged trees will be felled, while in other areas individual trees will be felled or damaged branches removed through tree surgery. The exact work undertaken will depend on the terms of our felling licence and conservation area permission. The Wildlife Trust will re-plant trees in areas where significant numbers of trees are removed.⁣
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𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞? ⁣
No. If one of the trees then fell onto a visitor or a pet dog, our insurance may be invalid, and we may also be subject to an investigation by the Health & Safety Executive. Having a warning sign explaining you enter at your own risk would not be deemed responsible with the known extent of damage to the trees, spread throughout the wood.⁣
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There’s a link in the first comment to the Wildlife Trust’s web page on Fulbourn Fen where you can find the latest updates.⁣

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘺 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦

27/10/2025

Five years ago last week, we took our biggest leap in 500 years 🎂

On 20th October 2020, Wrights Clock Land became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation - transforming from a charity that maintained one church clock into one that could support our entire community.

The results? In just five years, we've awarded:

💰 £1.96 million in grants
😲 90 separate projects funded
❤️ 28 different parish organisations supported

From Fulbourn Primary School's IT upgrades to the Windmill restoration. From Fulbourn Arts' staging equipment to the Winter Festival. From Scouts facility improvements to church maintenance and community events.

For 495 years, Richard Wright's 1525 bequest faithfully kept the clock ticking at St Vigors Church. These past five years, we've kept that commitment alive whilst expanding it across every corner of Fulbourn.

Not bad for a charity that's celebrating its 500th anniversary and only just joined Facebook! 😊

Here's to the next chapter of supporting our village. Still keeping time, but in more ways than one 🕰️

11/10/2025

Two building sites, two very different futures 🏗️

If you've walked past St Vigors Church or the recreation ground this week, you'll have spotted some serious activity. Two projects happening at the same time, both supported by your local 500-year-old charity, but taking very different approaches to serving Fulbourn's future.

𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲: High above the church porch, skilled craftspeople are replacing centuries-old tiles. The south porch roof had become unsafe after years of weathering (and some determined bees 🐝 who complicated things!). When the scaffolding comes down, this Grade II* listed landmark will look just as it has for generations. Whether you worship here or simply love how its tower defines our village skyline, St Vigors will continue standing as it always has, doing exactly what it's done for centuries.

𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Meanwhile, at the recreation ground, the old scout hut has been demolished. It's stood empty since the Scouts moved to better facilities in The Hub, and that space won't be rebuilt as it was. Instead, it will become something the village needs now: improved access to the rec, with room for a proper pedestrian walkway so families can reach the playground safely. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
Same week, same charity, completely different trajectories. One project preserves what should endure unchanged. The other adapts a space to meet current needs.

We've been part of Fulbourn for 500 years, but this week captures something about how we work now: supporting the village as it decides which buildings to carefully restore, which sites can better serve in a new form. Both approaches matter, and this week just happened to show them both at once.

𝘚𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯, 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳. 🕰️

03/10/2025

𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥

Wrights has funded a range of impactful projects at Fulbourn primary school, helping to enhance learning and wellbeing across the community. These include new laptop computers, refurbishment of the IT room and reading café, staffing for Wednesday afternoon re-opening, support for out-of-school enrichment activities, and funding for the Pastoral Team and Reading Ambassador role.

The 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦’s work has led to measurable improvements in pupil attendance, mental health support, and a reduction in significant behaviour incidents, making a lasting difference to pupils, families, and the wider school community as recovery continues from the COVID pandemic.

The 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 has introduced a new phonics scheme, improved reading fluency, and led targeted interventions. These efforts were recognised in the school’s successful OFSTED inspection in 2022, and reflected in reading assessment data that consistently exceeds the national average. In recognition of its achievements, the school has been identified as a centre of excellence for the Teaching of Early Reading by the University of Cambridge.

The charity trustees are proud to support the school and are delighted that available funding continues to contribute to its ongoing success and the development of every child’s potential.

𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰: 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭’𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 – 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘧é

28/09/2025

Wonderful to see Ian's dedication to preserving this historic landmark for future generations! 🏰 We're proud to support the Fulbourn Windmill restoration project as part of our commitment to protecting the heritage that makes our village special.

Meet Ian, the keeper of our Fulbourn Windmill.

Ian and Prue took over ownership of the mill in 2006. They’re now both eager to see its full restoration start very soon thanks to the support from Wrights Clock Land CIO Fund.

What’s planned? 🕰️✏️📒

There’s a lot that needs doing to the mill to ensure it stands strong in Fulbourn for generations to come. This includes correcting the twisted internal structure, which currently prevents the sails from turning and the mill from grinding flour.

👍 To keep up to date will the mill’s progress and support its restoration, like this post and follow the page.

📣 Want to help us save Fulbourn Windmill? Reshare this post! It just takes 2 seconds and helps us spread our mission!