August News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

We are now rapidly heading towards mid-summer and the garden should be at its peak. Hopefully you are enjoying outdoor living and making the most of pleasant evenings and weekends. Keep up the maintenance and use a high potash (K) feed on everything that is budding, flowering or fruiting. I must admit I am struggling with the weeding and can always find something better to do instead. I also, still have some bare patches in the lawn that need re-seeding. Otherwise I am managing to follow my own advice.

Remember to pinch out the tops of climbing beans, runner beans and aubergines to encourage the plants to thicken up and produce more harvest. Also pinch out the tops of tomatoes and the side shoots so that all the energy is directed into producing fruit. Carrots and beetroot should be ready and maincrop can be lifted when the haulms yellow and wilt. If you want thick skins on your potatoes cut the haulms downs and leave for another 2 weeks before lifting. Store in hessian sacks or if you want to take the risk just leave them in the ground. I have been doing that for years now and other than minor slug damage have not suffered any adverse effects… yet!! Test sweetcorn by pressing the cobs with your thumbnail and look for a milky juice that indicates that they are ready for picking. Then either cook immediately or freeze as the sugar turns to starch very quickly and the flavour deteriorates. This is also when the caterpillars get to work on the brassica and Provado will deal with them as well, being an all round pesticide.

I mentioned last month that rhubarb should not be picked after the end of June which started a bit of discussion with people who stated that they quite happily pick theirs right through summer. Which made me wonder why you shouldn’t pick your rhubarb after June!!? There are lots of little “rules of thumb” in gardening which advise you on what to do without actually providing a reason. What I have found is that rhubarb likes cool wet conditions and thrives in relatively low temperatures and plenty of water which is why it gets going early in the year. As the weather turns hot and dry it stops growing which normally coincides with the start of July. When this happens it is best to let all the stems die down naturally as this strengthens the crown. However, if you keep it watered or we get a wet cool summer it will keep growing. I transplanted mine last November, when the plant is naturally dormant, to a low lying area of the garden which gathers rainwater and it has been the best ever. It is still throwing out fresh stems so I will take another pick and see if it continues to grow, if it does I will take another pick until it visibly stops growing. Then the time is right to let it die back.

We are into fruit harvest and you may well have already taken cherries and possibly plums although my Victorias are a few weeks away. Remember to prune plums before the winter as this can expose them to disease. Hopefully you thinned out apples and pears and have some large fruits developing. Cut back the fruited stems of summer raspberries after harvesting.

We are having a reasonable summer so far with some good days, although early June was a bit of a washout. Personally I am just happy that the lawn isn’t getting another bashing after last year, although that may still happen. Do make the most of it, I am planning on having lunch on the patio and organising a BBQ for next weekend. The Duchess spotted a clever little patio set with a fire built in to the centre of the table so we can all sit round the BBQ and keep warm while we eat. Then when the evening gets a little chilly light the chiminea to keep the party going before the ladies retire indoors. You can then politely join them or maybe the men can have a last beer outdoors while the embers burn down. Summer should be good fun!!

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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Upchurch Fifty Years Ago in August 1969 by David Wood

The annual village carnival which had taken place every year since 1952 became the main highlight of the month attracting visitors from far and wide.

As always the village marathon took place one week before the carnival. It started and finished in The Street with separate races for men, women, girls and boys, organised by Aubrey Smith from Oak Lane.

Former winner Bernard Sketchley from Chaffes Lane dominated the 1969 men’s marathon and won the Pepperill Challenge Shield for the second consecutive year, beating his brother-in- law John Gilbert, formerly of Drakes Close into second position. Rodney Jones from Lower Halstow came third. Jayne Batchelor from Forge Lane won the women’s marathon with June Manley from Wallbridge Lane second. Alan Webb from Drakes Close won the boy’s marathon and Brenda Clark won the girl’s event.

In the weeks leading up to the carnival residents from the village housing estates and roads prepared decorated floats for the carnival procession through the village which started on the recreation ground and incorporated Oak Lane, Horsham Lane, Church Farm Road, Forge Lane, Chaffes Lane and Wallbridge Lane.

Fifteen floats took part in the 1969 carnival procession. Three nominated village queens also participated on their own floats. Maureen Siggers appeared as Carnival Queen, Lorraine Manley as Miss Upchurch and Vivian Atkinson as May Queen.

After the procession a fete took place in The Paddock which included a dog show and the crowds were entertained with a dancing display by the Maids of Kent (children from Holywell School). Rich Boakes from Chaffes Lane provided recorded music on a loudspeaker system, The Women’s Institute served tea in a marquee, stalls sold a variety of goods and sideshows grabbed visitors’ attention.

Church Farm Road won the ‘Best Float’ competition for the second consecutive year with the Women’s Institute second. Carnival Committee chairman Rita Woodford told the East Kent Gazette, “The floats are better than ever this year. More work has gone into them.”

The 1969 carnival proved successful and well attended with £400 raised for the ‘Extension of the Village Hall Fund.’

Village clubs and organisations continued their monthly activities in August. The Women’s Institute held their monthly meeting at Lower Halstow where Mrs Duncan gave a talk about a horse drawn caravan journey from Somerset to Scotland. Meanwhile, Upchurch Cricket Club had a month of mixed results at their Poot Lane ground with some matches cancelled because of rain. The biggest disappointment turned out to be the abandonment of their annual all day match against Pegasus from Romford Essex on August Bank Holiday Monday. Upchurch managed to complete their innings scoring 188 with Ian Daniel from Oak Lane hitting 68 runs but rain finished the game. The Pegasus players then gathered in The Crown where they drank and loudly sang the night away, which they did every year after the match before returning to Romford.

The parish council had a busy month. They gave permission for the recreation ground to be mown for the carnival and reported that the old churchyard needed attention because of its terrible overgrown condition. As a solution they decided to look for volunteers to complete the job. They discussed stiles on the seawall as being a hazard for children and old people who found climbing over them difficult. They also discussed the growing problem of parking in the village centre and the racing of cars around the village causing a danger to pedestrians. Rubbish dumping raised concerns, so a proposal was made to display posters warning against it around the village.

The parish records for August recorded the cremation of Joan Barden from Forge Lane aged 46 and the baptisms of Cristine Goodson from Horsham Lane, Geoffrey Tyler from Otterham Quay, Philippa Thompson from Chaffes Lane and Jennifer Tassell from Huntingdon.

August proved to be an entertaining month for residents with the staging of the carnival and the opportunity for some housewives and teenagers to go fruit picking on local farms to earn some extra money.

About David

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

David's book, ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters.

Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.

David Wood

UpARA - August 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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Swale Borough Council - Plans to Support Local Foodbanks

Plans are being put together by Swale Borough Council to help local foodbanks support more local families.

Cabinet members have been meeting with groups such as Children and Families, Faversham Foodbank and Sittingbourne Foodbank that run local projects to get a better understanding of the need and take up of the service.

These meetings also gave councillors the chance to see how the foodbanks work with each other and other agencies, and helped the council identify ways it could support them to become more effective.

Cllr Julian Saunders, deputy cabinet member for community at the council who is leading on the project, said:

“It’s a sad fact that there are a significant number of local people - including families with children - who simply cannot afford enough food to get by.

Thankfully, there are groups of dedicated volunteers who have been working hard to fill the gap - and it’s time for us to support them.

Cabinet members have been actively speaking to different local foodbanks to try to identify useful ways we can help them to help more local people.

By looking at provision across the borough, we’ve been able to help identify areas where there are gaps in provision, as well as flag up opportunities for more cooperation between groups.

We’re keen to help them work efficiently to support people, including making sure people are getting information about eating healthily, and signposting towards relevant advice to help address their need for a foodbank in the first place.

We also need to make sure people are more aware of our foodbanks so that donations of food and cash increase.”

The plans to support local foodbanks are being finalised but will include funding to help with logistics and advice.

The project is being put together by a number of cabinet and deputy cabinet members including Cllr Angela Harrison, Cllr Richard Palmer, Cllr Hannah Perkin and Cllr Saunders.

Swale Borough Council

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The Prince's Countryside Fund - National Countryside Week & The Village Survival Guide

The Village Survival Guide

Today is officially the first day of National Countryside Week.

The British countryside is a huge natural asset and its contribution to our everyday life cannot be underestimated, so to help ensure its future, The Prince's Countryside Fund has launched The Village Survival Guide - How to build a strong community.

Featuring a foreword from Miranda Hart, the guide is based on the lived experiences of rural residents from all across the UK, and will help communities tackle a multitude of issues to make sure that their community will thrive in the future.

Featuring advice from experts, as well as the stories of those who've made a real difference in their rural community, The Village Survival Guide is a colourful manual that features case histories, checklists and practical advice, and is intended to help those living in the countryside to utilise the talents available in their own communities to tackle some of the social and economic barriers they face.

The Village Survival Guide follows on from the Fund’s 2018 research, which saw over 3000 people tell the charity about the challenges they faced living in rural areas, and how they were pulling together to overcome these.

Buy a copy of The Village Survival Guide or read it online at >> http://bit.ly/2OubI8u

Keep an eye on social media pages for updates throughout the week:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/countrysidefund
Twitter: www.twitter.com/countrysidefund

Instagram: www.instagram.com/countrysidefund

The Prince's Countryside Fund

The fund's vision is of a confident, robust and sustainable agricultural and rural community which is universally appreciated for its vital contribution to the British way of life and fit to support future generations.

The Prince's Countryside Fund is passionate about the countryside. Established by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2010, The Prince’s Countryside Fund exists to improve the prospects of family farm businesses and the quality of rural life. Through their partnerships and events such as National Countryside Week they celebrate and promote the value of the countryside.

To help ensure the future of our countryside they:

• Provide more than £1m in grant and initiative funding every year to projects across the UK that help to provide a secure future for the countryside.
• Lead their own initiatives, such as The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme.
• Commission research into issues affecting farming families and rural communities.
• Are an advocate for the countryside and bring together individuals and businesses to help us tackle current challenges.
• Help communities in crisis through their Emergency Fund.

The Prince’s Countryside Fund relies on the income they generate through their corporate partnerships, events and donations. They are grateful for the generosity of all those that support them.

Read more at >> www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Temporary Road Closures & Suspend Cycle Lane - Various Roads, Dartford, Gravesham, Maidstone and Swale

Because of works on overhead power lines, Kent County Council has made an order to prohibit through traffic and cycles on various roads and a cycle track, in Dartford, Gravesham, Maidstone and Swale, as per the below.

22nd July 2019 for 75 days - Cycle Track - Fastrack Bluewater (next to A296 Watling Street).

31st July 2019 for 3 weeks - D398 Batts Road J/W D397 Gold Street To D398 Batts Road J/W D397 Henley Street - between Batt’s Road and Henley Street, Cobham.
The alternative route is via Henley Street and vice versa.

31st July 2019 for 3 weeks - Dabbs Place, Cobham - between Copt Hall Road and Henhurst Road.
The alternative route is via Church Road and Henhurst Road and vice versa.

2nd August 2019 for 28 mornings between 04.00hrs and 07.00hrs - only 5 days out of 28 will be closed as and when signage is on site - A206 Crossways Boulevard, Dartford - between Anchor Boulevard Roundabout to Galleon Boulevard Roundabout.
The alternative route is via A206, A226, Cotton Lane, B3228, A206 and vice versa.

23rd September 2019 for 3 weeks - White Hill Road, Detling - between Scragged Oak Road and Kemsley Street Road.
The alternative route is via Magpie Lane, Cox Street, Matts Hill, Matts Hill Road and vice versa.

9th September 2019 for 11 days - Boxted Lane, Newington - between Breach Lane and Church View Cottages.
The alternative route is via Breach Lane, The Street, Sheerness Road, Basser Hill, Iwade Road and vice versa.

9th September 2019 for 11 days - Wardwell Lane, Lower Halstow - between School Lane and Newington Enterprise Centre.
The alternative route is via Breach Lane, The Street, Sheerness Road, Basser Hill, Iwade Road and vice versa.

The Kent County Council Highways helpline is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, see: www.roadworks.org

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

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