Cats Protection - Bredhurst Adoption Centre - Open Day

Louise Ferne

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September News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Club - www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

September is the month that sees the transition from summer to autumn and things start to slow down a little as temperatures fall. It’s a sad time of year because you know what’s coming but it’s a time of getting the last out of the garden before starting to put things to bed for the winter.

It’s the perfect time of year for establishing a new lawn from turf or seed or carrying out necessary lawn maintenance. After the hot weather in June the lawn will need scarifying with a spring tined rake and bare patches will need scratch seeding. Aerate the ground with a garden fork to avoid compaction and waterlogging. Also apply the final weed and feed for the year with an autumn fertiliser that is high in potassium and low in nitrogen. Potassium encourages root growth which will develop a healthy mass of roots known as the “sward”. Low nitrogen will avoid too much leaf growth which will be susceptible to frosts.

Continue to feed and dead-head containers and hanging baskets which should last well into the autumn. Divide herbaceous perennials and water in well and plant out lupin and delphinium seedlings if you sowed from this year’s seed. Plant spring flowering bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths and hopefully you followed my advice on dwarf irises (iris reticulata) and the big crocus (crocus vernus). If you have sedum and chrysanthemums in the borders they will put on a strong autumn show. Ensure camellias and rhododendrons remain well watered as next year’s flower buds will be developing now. Now is also a good time to plant bare rooted trees and shrubs but try and appreciate how big they will grow. Prepare the soil well, add some bone meal and plenty of water.

Keep harvesting vegetable crops and if you have a glut consider freezing, drying, storing and pickling. I always plan on keeping marrows until Easter and pickled shallots with black peppercorns and chilli flakes are great with the Christmas ham. Cut down your potato maincrop haulms (foliage) about 3 weeks before lifting. This avoids the possibility of blight and helps to thicken the skins. Leave about 3” so you still know where they are. Last year I left my maincrop in the ground and they remained in fine shape but it was a risk. It is best to lift them, dry them and store them in hessian sacks in a cool dark place. It’s a good idea to check them as one rotten potato will infect all those around it and give quite a pungent smell. Place pumpkins and squashes on a piece of wood to keep them off wet soil and prevent rotting. Also remove any leaves that shadow the pumpkins to allow them to ripen in time for Halloween. Keep feeding climbing and runner beans which should go through to October. Pick little and often to prevent them setting seed. Ensure that brassicas are covered with netting to keep the birds away. The end of the month is a good time to plant garlic bulbs and autumn onion sets. Pot up some mint and parsley for the kitchen windowsill to use during winter.

Apples should start ripening from now through to the end of October depending on variety. Remove any rotting or undersized fruit to encourage the final crop. When ripe they pick easily by lifting them in the palm of your hand and gently pulling away. With pears it’s not so easy as they ripen from the inside out. It’s best to pick them a little early and ripen them on the windowsill than risk them rotting. It’s also blackberry season so time for puddings and jams and freeze any surplus.

I do believe I just heard the bar open.

We are always looking for new members and try to encourage a fun attitude towards friendly competition. So if you want to grow your own fruit, vegetables and flowers or even enter any of the 3 shows we hold each year, then please get in touch, we would be happy to hear from you.

If you are interested in becoming a new member, (all ages are welcome), please contact Rosey on: 01634 377812 (evenings) or Email: rosemary@ringwoodaccounting.co.uk

Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society

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The Angel Messenger Centre at Upchurch Village Hall

The Angel Messenger Centre begin new fortnightly evenings of clairvoyance, starting with Medium Dawn Evans on Wednesday 6th September in the Back Hall at Upchurch Village Hall.

Doors open at 7:00pm for 7:30pm. This first evening will be free of charge.

The Angel Messenger Centre on Facebook

Becky Smith

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Newington History Group

The story of the poor people from the county whose passage was paid to help them emigrate to the colonies will be told at Newington History Group's September meeting. 

The details will be given by Helen Allinson, author of Farewell to Kent, on Thursday, September 14th, 7:30pm in the Methodist Hall, Church Lane ME9 7JT. Guests are welcome (£3).

Members will visit Sheppey Little Theatre for a tour and talk on Thursday, October 12th.

The group seeks to unearth, preserve and promote the history of the village and neighbouring areas. Annual subscription is £15.

For more details contact 01795 842711 or thelma@newingtonhistory.co.uk

Follow the History Group @newingtonhg

Richard Thompstone

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Newington Uncovered - Heritage Open Days

People who have lived in or around Newington for many years are being invited to reminisce about village life during the national Heritage Open Days weekend on September 9th & 10th.

Newington Uncovered, a free event giving visitors an opportunity to find out more about the village's rich heritage, is being held in St Mary's Church between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.

There will be an opportunity to share stories during an informal discussion, Memory Moments, which will be held each day at 3:30pm.

Organisers of the weekend, Newington History Group (NHG), hope to hear untold stories and reveal unknown details about the village. They are also hoping that some people will take along items or photographs with a local link.

Thelma Dudley, NHG secretary, said: "People often don't realise the wider importance in local history terms of a family story, incident or picture. For instance, recently someone showed us an old family wedding photograph and we noticed two oast houses in the background. The significance was that, until then, we'd thought there was only ever one oast house on the site."

The open days will include displays on Newington's Roman occupation, its Australian pioneers, Royal connections and other unique stories.

The church is the village's oldest building and historians will be on hand to show and describe details of its stunning Medieval graffiti and murals. In addition there will be history trails, children's activities and teas will be available.

For more details contact 01795 842711 or thelma@newingtonhistory.co.uk
Follow the History Group @newingtonhg

Richard Thompstone
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Upchurch Fifty Years Ago in September 1967 by David Wood

The closure of Dr Cockerill’s National Health Service practice in Upchurch and the transfer of his patients to Dr Hollingshurst in Rainham became one of the most significant issues of the month. This meant that Upchurch residents with the exception of a minority taking private care had to travel to Rainham for a doctor’s appointment. The elderly and infirm without their own transport, and relying on an infrequent bus service, were those most affected. However, periodic mass X-ray screening continued in the village.

Concern also grew about the increasing numbers of children attending the Infant’s School causing a severe shortage of space. Kent County Council Education Department stated that they had limited funds and could not invest more money to solve the problem. After pressure from residents and the parish council a temporary classroom was erected in the playground. This created a short term solution but it reduced the size of the children’s play area. The County Council announced plans for a new village school in 1969/1970 but this did not materialise until 1976 with the construction of the new Holywell School in Forge Lane for both primary and infant pupils.

The residents Association stressed their disappointment at the Village Hall Management Committee’s decision not to investigate the proposal to have a children’s playground established next to the village hall. With about 400 children of 5-12 years old in the village a pilot opinion poll showed that 95% of the village population supported the proposal. Eventually, a play area was established in The Paddock during the early 1980s.

In church affairs Sister-Superior Katherine Mary from Cambridge visited Upchurch. Reverend Bradshaw periodically invited monks and nuns from the Church of England to visit and help with religious affairs in the village. Meanwhile, with sufficient children available Sunday School began in the church on September 10th. Later, on Saturday 30th September the Harvest Supper took place in the village hall. The only other significant social event of the month involved Upchurch Playgroup which held a garden party on the lawn of ‘Avondale’ in The Street.

In village sporting affairs a very average season for Upchurch Cricket Club had almost ended but a match took place in early September when the club played Ethelbert Road Old Boys from Faversham. Batting first the Old Boys were dismissed for 70 with bowler Frank Cook taking 5-24. In reply Upchurch reached their target with the loss of six wickets. George Snashfold scored 17 not out.

The football club had a good start after pre-season training on the recreation ground with the First XI securing a win and a draw while the Reserves lost 2-0. Reserves captain Tony Peers from Forge Lane successfully appealed for new players which improved the Reserves results as the season progressed.

The horticultural society considered their September exhibition the best ever with 450 entries, sixty more than the previous year. Les Stevens from Lower Halstow had most success winning the Blue Ribbon Award for the best exhibit of six plates of apples. He also won the L & H Starnes Cup, the E C Neame Cup and the Chrysanthemum Cup. Charlie Langford won the Belnor Trophy while Mrs Johnson won the A J Town Cup with the best vase of dahlias, George Friend got first prize for the best chrysanthemum exhibit and R Sewell won the Dahlia Shield.

The parish registers for the month recorded the burial of Emma Castle aged 88 from The Street and baptisms of Edwina Lloyd from Horsham Cottages, Mandy Busbridge from Forge Lane, Alison Maxted from Chaffes Lane, Sarah Thornton from Church Farm Road and Stuart Nicholls from The Poles. This ended a busy month in Upchurch village affairs.

Memories of Upchurch by David Wood

David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years, making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village.

Memories of Upchurch is available direct from David

Email: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at

Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.

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