For details of roadworks see: https://one.network
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Monday, 5 July 2021
Temporary Road Closure | Surface Dressing Improvement Works - Breach Lane, Lower Halstow and Upchurch
July News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed
Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
The wet weather in May followed by hot weather in June has brought everything on in a rush, including the inevitable weeds, which were growing at a rate of 2 feet in a week! The big ones have been pulled out to make things look better, but several hours of hand forking still lay ahead. The good news is that it has been great for the lawn which has recovered remarkably well, especially with the Canada Green seed mixed in. It is getting a high cut which makes it look lush and vigorous and holds moisture at the roots.
The planting out has been completed with inevitable casualties, so I have resorted to filling the gaps by putting seed straight into the ground. Three seeds spaced properly allow you to simply pluck the weaker ones out or provides you with extra spares. The climbing beans are all doing well and reached the top of the frame so time to pick the tops out and allow each plant to thicken up. The Broad Beans were planted at the end of March, which is quite late, but they will be ready at the same time as the Runner Beans and French Beans... so looking forward to a bean feast!
The rhubarb has also been going like the clappers as it liked the cool wet conditions this May. It needs to be well watered to keep it going, although hot weather may bring it to an end. The new potatoes are also ready, with plenty of flower, but I will wait a couple of weeks to allow them to bulk up a little while using up the last of the shop-bought Desiree.
The borders are billowing, especially with weed, and the summer perennials are starting to show. In fact, the blue Delphiniums are finishing off and the white ones just starting to come into flower. Maybe next year they will flower together, although that is probably wishful thinking. Containers and hanging baskets need a lot of attention, with watering and high potash feed. Keep them dead-headed to bring on more flowers.
The June drop is underway as fruit trees naturally jettison the weak fruit and it allows time to identify the big healthy fruits and start to pick off the small and ugly looking ones. The aphids have been rampant this year and I have effectively pruned the apple tree back to the nearest fruit. The Provanto insecticide didn’t stay on top of the pests this year so I resorted to Picket which has stopped them dead in their tracks. Unfortunately, it’s not really suitable for Broad Beans as it gets to the soft stems and leaves, so the best thing is to pick out the tops.
The tadpoles are looking well in their protected container, although the numbers seem to diminish daily. The water gets freshened up from the pond with new weed added. They remain vegetarian until the legs start to grow and then they start to eat each other, so they need to be fed with daphnia, which unsurprisingly is available on the internet.
I set about my new interest in woodworking with a visit to the Carpenters Arms at Eastling but discovered that I was more interested in a lamb joint than a dovetail joint. So I have decided to have a go at metalwork instead and booked up for the Blacksmiths Arms in Wormshill which is open at the weekends. I have been looking at village pubs on Google Maps and getting really excited at all the hobbies available although I think I already know which one will be my favourite. It’s the pub at Langley outside Maidstone.
UHS is 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 shows we hold each year, 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
Upchurch Horticultural Society - Meetings and Events 2021
Meetings held at 97 Chaffes Lane, starting at 7:30pm
Sponsored by: Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
July 7th - Summer Show Planning Meeting
July 18th - Summer Show
August 4th - Gardening for Wildlife
(Speaker)
September 1st - September Show Planning Meeting
September 11th - September Show
October 6th - October Show Planning Meeting
Friend or Foe (Speaker)
October 30th - October Show
November 3rd - Planning Meeting for 2022
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
Sunday, 4 July 2021
Upchurch Horticultural Society - Summer Show
SUMMER SHOW
Upchurch Horticultural Society will be holding their Summer Show on
Sunday 18th July 2021 in the Barn to the rear of 97 Chaffes Lane
Open to the public at 2:00pm
Liquid refreshments only
Auction of exhibits
Ample parking
Toilets
A Covid risk assessment has been carried out.
Please wear a mask in the Barn and observe social distancing - thank you.
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
Friday, 2 July 2021
Temporary Road Closure - Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch
Kent County Council has made an order to temporarily prohibit through traffic on Lower Rainham Road, Upchurch from Monday 26th July 2021, with estimated completion by 20th August 2021.
The road will be closed from the junction with Otterham Quay Lane to outside number 21, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.
The alternative route for any through traffic is via Otterham Quay Lane, A2 High Street, Station Road, Lower Rainham Road and vice versa.
The closure is required for the safety of the public and workforce while gas main replacement works are undertaken by SGN.
KCC 24hr Contact Centre: 03000 418181
For details of roadworks see: https://one.network
Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste
Lower Halstow Poetry Festival
Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher and theologian who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets.
Following a difficult and dangerous sea voyage from the Mediterranean, Coleridge, one of Englands most famous poets, came ashore in Lower Halstow in August 1806.
Overjoyed at arriving safely back on dry land, he immediately gave his thanks at St Margaret of Antioch Church by the dock.
To commentate this historic connection with the village, we will be holding our first Lower Halstow Poetry Festival at the church on Saturday 21st August from 10:00am until 4:00pm.
Entry is free, and tea, coffee and cake are kindly being provided by the lovely ladies who help keep the church at the centre of our community.
Please come along and trace Coleridge’s journey, read some of his poems, watch our very own versions of the ‘Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ and ‘Kubla Khan’ and perhaps join in our open mic session at which you can recite your favourite poem. Local schoolchildren have also been working hard and have produced some lovely art and impressive poetry.
Please pop by the church and take in a little light culture, and explore our unique village church and creek dock area.
You can be sure of a warm welcome.
Feel free to contact me with any queries on: carinaj65@outlook.com or: 07899 951044
You can read more about the life and works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge on Wikipedia at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridge
Thank you
Carina Jacobs
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