Military Operations on Salisbury Plain - September
The first half of the month will be dominated by 19 Light Brigade pre-deployment exercise in preparation for the brigade’s forthcoming tour of Iraq.
Apart from some artillery firing from the edge of the impact area there will be virtually no Other training until 15th September.
The rest of the month will be busy with a major armoured exercise out of Warminster in the third week and a similar but slightly smaller exercise in the fourth week during which time 1 Staffords will be carrying out Armoured Infantry training – also in preparation for Iraq.
ARTILLERY FIRING FROM SALISBURY PLAIN (WEST): NIL LATE FIRING DAYS ON SALISBURY PLAIN (WEST): NIL HEAT FIRING DAYS ON SALIBURY PLAIN (WEST): NIL ARTILLERY LIVE FIRING DAYS FROM AREAS 7 & 8 NIL ARTILLERY FIRING FROM SALISBURY PLAIN (EAST): NIL LATE FIRING FROM SALISBURY PLAIN (EAST): NIL LATE FIRING DAYS LARKHILL/WESTDOWN RANGES: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28 NON FIRING DAYS ON LARKHILL/WESTDOWN DANGER AREA 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 30 & 1 Oct NON FIRING DAYS BULFORD RANGES 2, 3, 9, 10, 23, 24, 30 & 1 Oct NON FIRING DAYS ON WARMINSTER RANGES 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 30 & 1 Oct
All complaints may be telephoned through to Stonehenge on (01980) 620819 at any time.
HELICOPTER NIGHT FLYING: Night flying will normally take place Mondays - Thursdays inclusive over parts of the training area dependent on the weather and the availability of range space. In some cases the aircraft will show no lights but will operate under strict area control.
AIR ACTIVITIES: Dates and timings given below are those listed at the time of printing but may be altered due to aircraft serviceability or weather conditions.
AIRCRAFT TRIALS: Aircraft may conduct trials over Larkhill Range on each Wed and Fri from 1200 - 1700 hrs which could involve circuits to the East crossing the Avon Valley.
PARACHUTING: Parachute dropping is scheduled to take place on EVERLEIGH and FOX COVERT DZs during normal working hours on most weekdays. Outside working hours and at weekends the dates and approximate times are:
NOTE: Due to unforeseen changes there is always a possibility that there could be firing on other of the days listed. This is particularly so now operational training is being conducted to meet many and varied exigencies. The public should be careful to check that Red Flags are not flying before they enter the range. It is the time of the year when we change late night firing times. From March through to October the Tue, Thurs and Sat night firing times will revert back to 2330hrs.
11. 0900 - 1100 SPTA (W, C & E) 13. 0700 - 0900 SPTA (W & C)
DTE SP – PARISH LIAISON DAY 2006 DTE SP will be hosting a Parish Liaison Day on Thursday 21st September 2006 at Westdown Camp commencing at 1030 hours. We will be discussing general issues in the morning eg signage, flagging and future training trends, and after lunch in the afternoon a major presentation on the Eastern Infrastructure Project. We anticipate concluding at approximately 1530 hours, formal invitations will be posted at the beginning of August.
SIGNAGE ON DTE SP CENTRE (IMPACT AREA): We have received numerous queries regarding the ‘new’ signage in place around the perimeter of the impact area on the centre. We forewarned about this action to all Chairmen and Clerks at our Parish Liaison Day last year. The ‘new’ signs are precisely in line with our Byelaws and coincide with the Definitive Map retained and maintained by Wiltshire County Council. Parishioners wishing to utilise the MOD estate for recreational purposes should in the first instance refer to the Ordnance Survey Explorer Series 130 (for the centre) map to ensure their safety from unexploded munitions. Public Rights of Way in the centre remain accessible.
ST GILES ANNUAL SERVICE: The Churches Conservation Trust refurbishment continues at St Giles, consequently there will be no church services taking place there again this year. For an update on a potential alternative location for this service please contact the Church Warden of St Mary’s, St Katherine’s and All Saint’s Edington.
CONSERVATION OF SALISBURY PLAIN: Writing about September in early August seems to be bringing summer to an early end, but perhaps there will be plenty of fine weather to come. If September is warm and sunny it can be very good for butterflies, those which over-winter as adults such as Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock and Brimstone and many others such as Meadow Brown, Adonis Blue and Chalk-hill Blue. It has been a very good year for Marsh Fritillary and hopefully there should be plenty of caterpillars about – look for them spinning their conspicuous webs on Devils-bit Scabious before going in hibernation. In scrubby areas look out for Brown Hairstreaks – this species lays eggs on the young twigs of Blackthorn usually at the base of a spine and a careful search of bushes may well be rewarded by finding one of these. This can be an interesting time for birds as many migrants are on the move. Swallows and House Martins may still have young although some will already be leaving. Stone Curlew will be gathering into roosts, sometimes over 20 birds together and many small migrants such as Yellow Wagtails, Whinchats and a variety of warblers will be around feeding on the autumnal insects or fruit to store energy for their long journey south. It has been rather dry so far but if there is some rain there should be a good lot of fungi by the end of the month. It is surprising how many flowers are still out on the chalk grassland even in late September as long as there has been no frost
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