April News from Upchurch Horticultural Society - From the Potting Shed

Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd

Well, here we are again. I didn’t manage to get back in March but am ready for April to get to grips with another year in the garden. I was busy retiring in February so failed to produce an article last month, but now have all the time in the world. Curiously, I recently discovered that Russia and Ukraine supply 40% of all the world's fertilisers, so be prepared for a possible shortage.

Enough of this relaxation there is weeding to be done. As usual, I am behind in clearing the weeds from the borders which diminishes the effect of the Spring bulbs. The first Crocus flowered on 05 Feb 22, which is the earliest date so far, and the Spring flowers are in full bloom, although the Snowdrops have gone over now. I have started pruning the hedges around the vegetable patch which will open it up and get more air and light to this year’s seedlings. I am also digging trenches where I intend to grow vegetables and filling them with well-rotted compost to improve the condition of the soil. Seedlings and cuttings were started early in the greenhouse and just starting to germinate now. I do not intend to do too much in the vegetable patch this year as part of the retirement plan is to move to a quiet part of Suffolk and start all over again!

The lawn improved considerably last year and is now ready for the first cut. The blades are set high which will give an even cut but not too short. That will be followed by a good scarification with a rake to get all the dead thatch and moss out following the Winter. Then break up the compacted soil with a fork to allow air to get into the roots. Finally, a high Nitrogen Weed & Feed to get everything greened up and growing and clear the weeds… who needs Green Thumb!

The next two months are very intense in the garden, and it’s a question of keeping going. Everything falls into place eventually, and you reach the end of May with a garden looking good and ready for the Summer.

The more effort you put in now, the better it will be.

UHS is always looking for new members and tries 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

The Rainbow Café at St Mary's Church, Upchurch

Thursday 7th April

10:00am - 12:00pm

Hi everyone,

Do come along to our slimmed-down Rainbow Café in St Mary's Church, Upchurch.

There will still be excellent homemade cakes and savouries, and we are still supporting a group of kids in Uganda to go to school.

And the welcome is just as warm - why not bring a friend.

Our hot drink with a slice of cake is a ridiculous £1.50 - if you can't afford to pay, don't worry, it will be our pleasure to serve you and have a chat.

If you can give a bit more, that will be amazing!

God bless you all ♥️

Gill and the Rainbow Café Team

Great British Spring Clean - Upchurch - Thank You

Rubbish collected by the Cubs and year 5 & 6 pupils at Holywell School.

Guides made posters for their take action skills builder during the run-up to the litter pick.

One Bag

Big Difference

The young people of Upchurch have led the way again and cleaned up the village brilliantly for The Queen's Platinum Jubilee as part of this year's Great British Spring Clean.

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides and pupils from Holywell School have all been out litter picking around the village, accompanied by their leaders and teachers. Children and staff from Nursery Days also pick up litter from around the village centre from time to time.

Their tremendous litter picking effort all week meant the few volunteers who came to The Recreation Ground Car Park on Saturday morning found there was little left to do.

Amazing!

Well done everyone.

The village looks lovely.

To find out more, visit >> www.keepbritaintidy.org

#GBSpringClean #BigBagChallenge

Upchurch Matters

Poolside Bar Music Night with Mike 'Smooth' Harris at Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

From 8:30pm

Free entry - Non-members welcome

Food available until 8:00pm

Jenny Giles - Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

Telephone: 01634 360626

Website: www.rivervalleygolf.co.uk

UpARA - April 2022 Newsletter

Hello UpARA members,

You will note that our first London walk of the year takes place on the 22nd of April, and the area we will be walking this time will be ‘Westminster and Whitehall’. The walk length is around 3 miles, and as normal will take a few hours due to all the stopping at various points of interest.

If you wish to join us, please Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com, text: 07802 250773, or add your name to the sheet at the meeting.

Details will be relayed to those interested nearer the time.

Thursford 

We are planning a day trip to the Thursford Christmas Spectacular on Monday, December 12th. The cost is £82 with local pickups at around 8:00am.

This is now open to both members and those on the waiting list and friends/family.

Deposits of £22 are required by 8th April with the balance due in October.

If you are interested in this, please Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com, text: 07802 250773 or contact Bryn.

Unfortunately, if we do not get enough wanting to go, we may have to cancel and refund those who have paid their deposits.

The thoughts of Chairman John

Hello everyone,

We have just changed the clocks and, as usual, so has the weather; we were suddenly enjoying summerlike days, now snow is forecast - the joys of British weather.

Covid is still rearing its ugly head, causing some of our members to miss out on our activities, although some of us are already booked in for our fourth booster jabs, hopefully giving us all that extra protection.

On the lighter side, all of us who were at our Birthday Bash enjoyed a really entertaining evening, thanks to the Social Degenerates and their helpers.

We will be organising many other events throughout the coming months, Bryn has already given a brief list, together with all the trips, and the holidays in the pipeline, with Brenda.

I'm also going to offer Boules on a Thursday evening throughout the summer if there is any interest? Please also note that our normal Boules on the 3rd Tuesday of the month has reverted to its Summer start time, 2:00pm.

Stay safe.

John W

Fundraising day / Can you help us?

Our fundraising day, on Friday 3rd June, during the 4-day Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations is getting closer. We have decided that we will pay for the defibrillator from our funds and that all the proceeds from our fundraising day will go to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

We are holding a Quiz evening from 7:00pm, with the various village groups, and an ‘Open Afternoon’, (12:00pm - 4:00pm) with a variety of entertainment, teas/coffees/cakes/ baguettes etc.

The afternoon will be open to all - members, non-members, villagers - the more the merrier - The aim is for every pound spent to go to the appeal and costs incurred to be via donations.

We still need members in groups of 4/5/6 to take turns ‘manning’ the kitchen in 30/60-minute intervals, so that we can all enjoy the day.

Please put your name forward if you can help - It really will be appreciated - we ideally need 20 - 30 members to come forward.

Also, please add your names to be part of one of the UpARA teams in the evening quiz.

AGM

Our AGM will take place after the Friday meeting on 13th May.

Kentish Lady (£32) and Thursford Deposits (£22)

Should be paid before or at the meeting on April 8th.

April Calendar

Friday, April 1st at 10:00am - Village Walk

Mondays April 4th, 11th, 25th at 10:00am - Short Tennis

No Tennis Easter Monday 

Monday, April 4th at 2:00pm - Kurling

Tuesday, April 5th at 9.30am - Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, April 5th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Wednesdays April 6th, 20th, 27th at 10:15am - Line Dancing

Please note no Line Dancing April 13th

Tuesday, April 12th at 10:00am - 10 Pin Bowling

Friday, April 8th at 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting

David Bowdler, 'Instrumentals from the 50’sand 60’s' 

Tuesday, April 19th at 2:00pm - Petanque

Note new Summertime start at 2:00pm.

Friday, April 22nd - London Walk

Westminster & Whitehall

Tuesday, April 26th at 9:30am - Coffee Morning and Art

Tuesday, April 26th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com
Website: www.upara.club

Sonare Choir Presents Songs of Springtime at St Mary's Church, Upchurch

Following their successful concert in the church in September 2021, Sonare Choir will be returning to St Mary's, Upchurch on Saturday the 23rd of April between 7:00pm - 9:00pm for one Spring evening concert only, as part of their 'Songs of Springtime' tour.

Sonare Choir is a London - based choral quartet bringing sophisticated and accessible choir concerts to the city and beyond.

The choir's spring tour promises to bring a flowery and sublime programme of choral music across London and a little bit beyond! 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy a bucolic programme featuring Moeran's 'Songs of Springtime', Fanny Mendelssohn's 'Gartenlieder', and works by Elgar, Saint-Saens, Clara Schumann, and many more.

Advance tickets are £10 + £0.25 service fee.
Advance tickets for under 35s are £9 + £0.23 service fee.

Or £12 on the door.

Advance tickets available from: www.sonarechoir.com

Upchurch Matters