Welcome to the Rudloe and environs website.
Here you will find news, articles and photos of an area that straddles the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in north-west Wiltshire.
Contributions in the form of articles or photos are welcome. Even those with completely contrary views to mine!
Thanks to the website builder 1&1 and Rob Brown for the original idea.
Rudloescene now, in January 2014, has a sister, academic rather than anarchic, website about Box history here: http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/
It contains thoroughly professional, well-researched articles about Box and its people.
Contact rudloescene through the 'Contact' page.
Following a baking July which, apparently, was the driest since 1836, the Rudloe Wombles gathered for the August litter pick on Sunday, 2nd August 2026. The comment in the July article about the 'run down to Christmas' was further asserted by discussion of a venue for Christmas lunch! There was no consensus but it's reckoned that Vine & Plate in Box would be a likely contender.
August's stalwarts are: Rod, Gordon, Madeleine, Derrick, Meg, Dave and Sian; along with yours truly, that's just eight this month.
Sian and Madeleine set off, heading for Westwells Road and Park Lane
Some households have taken to dumping their garden waste in roadside verges (examples shown below are in the Bradford Road). The rudloescene reader may say (but hopefully not) "well, what's wrong with that?". For a start, these people do not appreciate what wild plants and flowers they are dumping on top of. Also, what if all households did this? Our verges would no longer display a wide variety of wild plants but would just be one extended midden of garden waste. Household fly-tipping no less.
The following images show: 1. just two of about fifteen cans chucked into the Bradford Road hedgerow (Park Place side) 2. One of the cans buried in the hedgerow 3. McDonalds detritus deposited in the Bradford Road verge by a McMoron
August's litter which will be collected by Wiltshire Council's French contractor tomorrow (Monday)
And so the year turns and we run down to Christnmas... Sunday, 5th July 2026 brought a fine day with nine stalwarts (seven pictured below) picking the litter. I seem to have developed a left-hand thread with the photo as it isn't centred - Derrick is at the edge of the Boxfields Road precipice.
This month's stalwarts: Madeleine, Lorraine, John, Meg, Rod, Gordon and Derrick. Mike is yet to arrive so with yours truly, we are nine.
John and Lorraine patrolling the Bradford Road
The Bradford Road/Park Lane Miscanthus is now a good eight feet high having been harvested in April
Overflowing bin by Rudloe Stores. Shows perhaps that people are making good use of the shop and that Wiltshire Council should be more conscientious with their bin emptying.
Madeleine and Derrick patrolling Leafy Lane
Squashed adder found by Madeleine in Beech Road
July's pickings which will be collected by Wiltshire Council's French contractor tomorrow (Monday, 6th July)
Sunday, 7th June 2026 and the monthly litter pick followed the 3rd June Wombles summer dinner at Vine & Plate in Box - a good time was had by all. The title picture shows John in the shade of the ash tree in the Bradford Road.
This month's stalwarts are: Rod, John, Lorraine, Iain, Bernard, Derrick, Meg, Madeleine, Dave, Gordon and Sian. Along with yours truly, a dozen.
White dog rose (Rosa canina) in the Bradford Road verge
New Miscanthus growth (the previous crop was harvested in early April) - skylarks singing above
Tiger moth in the Bradford Road verge identified and photographed by John
Queue for Nick Mason's annual open day
Gate into Maidment's field above Copenacre - poster is for George, a lost parrot
A delivery from Guiting & Oathill Quarry for the continuation of Marco Pierre White's dry stone wall (further bags on the other side of the gate)
June's haul which will be collected by Wiltshire Council's French contractor tomorrow (Monday)
Sunday, 3rd May 2026 brought the monthly Rudloe litter pick. At this time of year, litter becomes more difficult to track down as it may be hidden by spring growth. The title picture shows Lorraine and John by the Toghill Crescent bus stop.
This month's pickers in three photos
The footpath behind Springfield Close with wisteria and horse chestnut
John and Lorraine in Toghill Crescent
Spring springing...
Toghill Crescent from the Bradford Road
Ash in the A4 verge opposite Copenacre
Views towards Rudloe and the Clay Vale from the A4 close to Rudloe Firs
Garlic mustard in the A4 verge close to Rudloe Firs
This month's haul which will be collected by Wiltshire Council's French contractor tomorrow (Monday)
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