UpARA - July 2019 Newsletter & Latest Schedule of Events

John Wishart - Chairman

Tel: 07971 511956

Email: john@togthedog.co.uk

Website: www.upara.club

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1st Upchurch Brownies and Guides - Strawberry Tea - Amount Raised and Thank You

Congratulations to 1st Upchurch Brownies and Guides, and thank you to everyone who came along and supported their Strawberry Tea again this year on Wednesday the 3rd of July at Drakes Lodge Scout Hut. Also to everyone who bought raffle tickets in advance and donated prizes. 

The event raised a new record amount of £675.14.

The proceeds will be split 50/50 between Breast Cancer Care and the Upchurch Guides equipment fund.

Breast Cancer Care Website: www.breastcancercare.org.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Please Help Save The Happy Pants Ranch - Animal Sanctuary

For the first time since the ranch began almost 6 years ago, the future of the sanctuary is now in danger.

Over 200 animals currently have their forever home at the sanctuary near Rainham, after being previously abandoned, abused, homeless or threatened with death. Over the past few years Amey's not-for-profit ranch has helped saved the lives of 100's of needy animals, with a plan to continue doing this for hopefully many more years to come…

The ranch presence is just starting to grow with lots of local and national support, open days, volunteering, collaborations with schools and mental health organisations plus charity registration in the pipeline!

However there is now a chance Amey may lose the sanctuary’s home, unless she can raise the funds to keep it open, if not, the 200+ animals that live there are at risk. Amey needs to raise enough funds to be able to relocate the sanctuary to a similar site to secure it’s future.

It took 3 years to find a suitable site for the sanctuary and since moving here, £1000's has been spent on animal fencing, housing, ponds and cat pens etc. Moving location would not only be a huge expense, difficult to co-ordinate but of massive stress to the animals.

Although it’s a big feat, Amey believes it is possible to save The Happy Pants Ranch - Animal Sanctuary! The animals and this sanctuary are Amey's life, so she's not giving up without a fight.

But Amey can’t do it alone, she needs YOUR HELP.

Even if you can’t donate funds, you may be able to help by donating your time volunteering, creating your own fundraiser, joining the “SAVE THE HAPPY PANTS RANCH!” Facebook group or even just sharing the ranch posts and campaign to help spread the word.

Every little helps, YOU CAN make a big difference!

Please join the “SAVE THE HAPPY PANTS RANCH!” Facebook group here: www.facebook.com/groups/302049213838394

Donations can be sent to the Justgiving page: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/save-the-happy-pants-ranch-animal-sanctuary

Via PayPal: amey@happypants.co.uk (be careful not to incur fees from your donation)

BACS:

The Happy Pants Ranch

30-98-97

40133168

Thank you SO MUCH, from Amey and all the animals residents on The Happy Pants Ranch and from the animals hopefully to be saved in the future.

The Happy Pants Ranch Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thehappypantsranch

More info at the website: www.thehappypantsranch.com

Upchurch Matters

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Upchurch Family Fireworks

Upchurch Family Fireworks was held every year at
Westmoor Farm, A2, Rainham.

For many years, 1000's of families from around the area safely enjoyed one of Kent's biggest bonfires and most spectacular firework displays at Upchurch Family Fireworks, organised by 1st Upchurch Scout Group.

For all of the families and past volunteers who look forward to the display every year that come from outside of our village and so do not receive a copy of the parish magazine, here's the Scout Group's sad announcement about the future of the event.

"To all those previously involved in the Scouts Upchurch Family Fireworks display, we regret to inform you that due to circumstances beyond our control, we are no longer able to continue with this event. It is with great sadness that we have bad to announce this, but the venue, we have been told, is soon to be no longer available and due to a lack of another suitable one nearby, we have taken the decision that we must call an end to this event.

We very gratefully give enormous thanks to all those in the past who have contributed in any way to make this the popular event it became, from very humble beginnings in the Paddock to the huge occasion it turned out to be in the last few years. Many, many people have been involved over the years since the Scout Group took on the task from the One-o-Clock Club. Volunteers such as you are what gives the village that community spirit. We hope that in some way you can continue to support your village life.

Thanks again to one and all.

1st Upchurch Scout Group”

Upchurch Matters

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Rivers Restaurant Christmas Party Nights 2019 at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

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July News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

July hopefully means that summer really gets going with long warm days that run on into the evening. This allows time for pottering around in the garden doing the little jobs and keeping everything looking at its best as the garden reaches its peak. It is also the time for garden parties and BBQs or just sitting on the patio, when all the hard work to get this far pays you back. It’s all about maintenance now, deadheading, weeding, trimming and pruning, watering and feeding to get the best out of your fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Take a regular crop of fruit and vegetables as they come available, re-sow to fit in a second crop particularly salads but avoid picking any more rhubarb as this will exhaust the plant prior to winter and result in a poor crop next year. If you have a surplus of herbs just pick and dry them for storage in glass jars or simply freeze them for later use. Keep battling the pests and diseases which can cause so much damage. I tried an organic pesticide this year which was not very effective so the black fly has infested the broad beans and the aphids are curling up the apple and plum leaves. Provado is on order from Amazon, so returning to chemical attack and can’t arrive quick enough. I do my best to be organic but sometimes it just doesn’t work well enough.

Another area where I resort to chemical attack is when it comes to weeds. Where possible I dig them out and compost them as some weeds are more nutritious than the vegetables we keep and eat. However, when weeds sprout from the gaps and cracks in paving or get established in the lawn it’s time to look for that dedicated sprayer or watering can that has WEEDKILLER written on it with an indelible black marker. That’s right… the one that doesn’t get used for anything else and gets a good rinse afterwards.

Weedkillers come in all shapes and sizes but rest assured that 1L bottle of WEED OFF from the garden centre is the most expensive way of clearing your weeds. It is so much cheaper in the long run to buy the concentrate and dilute according to the instruction on the packaging. A lot of weedkillers contain Glyphosate which is highly effective for dealing with the driveway but this will kill everything so avoid it on the lawn. My favourite is SBK, available from Amazon, and will finish off tree stumps if required but again do not use on the lawn. When it comes to lawns it gets a little more complicated as you do not want to kill the lawn, but there is no single weedkiller that will deal with all lawn weeds. Yarrow for example, is difficult to clear and needs 2 or even 3 different weedkillers combined to be fully effective.

Yarrow.

The active ingredients fall into two categories, Group 1 MCPA and 2,4-D and Group 2 Dicamba, Dichlorprop and Mecoprop. You need to ensure that you have at least one weedkiller from each group.

So enjoy your garden through the summer, the hard work is done until clear up time in the Autumn. To quote Charlie Dimmock “if it’s not fun you are not doing it right” so time for a beer and to figure out exactly what Charlie was talking about.

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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