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Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/171443/22
Between 00:01 on Friday the 26th of August and 11:46 on Thursday the 1st of September, somebody stole a grey Audi Quattro, Reg No: KS06***, from Holywell Lane, Upchurch.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk
Kent Community Messaging
Sponsored by Upchurch River Valley Golf Course Ltd
At the time of writing, temperatures are pushing the 30s, drought conditions have been announced and a hosepipe ban must surely follow. Unless you have been able to water regularly your garden probably looks like a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The ground is rock hard and if we do get a downpour it will run off and lead to flooding. Pleasant ideas of outdoor living run the risk of heat stroke, butane is going through the roof and BBQ buns are astronomical. If this continues into September we may well see standpipes in the street. Having said that come January and February we will look back with fond memories of a wonderful Summer.
I really don’t know what to say about the lawn, it’s amazing how crispy it is underfoot as you walk over it. Now we are on a meter, I gave up watering it a month ago and now it is scorchio! Walking the Junkyard Mutt early yesterday morning I noticed a slight mist over the fields and the grass was slightly moist to the touch. Looking over the fields there was a faint green shimmer that hints at a recovery. However, this year, it is a lost cause and we will just have to wait for the Autumn rains to see how well it returns. Normal English meadow grasses cannot cope with this degree of heat and drought and maybe we have to consider tougher grasses. The most drought resistant grass seed are Zoysia, Bermuda, Kikuyu and Kentucky Blue Grass. It may need a trip to the seed merchant to look for a bespoke mix of seed that has a chance of handling these conditions.
Oh dear, it’s happened again!
Hopefully, you have been able to water the vegetable patch. The lawn will come back but the Runner Beans won’t. This weather, they need a good drenching every day along with all the veg. Despite that, the flowers are dropping and the yield has been poor so far. The Marrows have turned out to be Green Bush and I can only guess that they are from the Tiger Cross Marrows that were grown 2 years ago that are an F1 hybrid of Green Bush and have reverted back. Either way, it is good to have stuffed Marrow again. Hopefully, your main crop Potatoes are holding up and ready for lifting this month along with a lot of other crops which can be harvested now.
Borders and containers also need a lot of water to keep them going and you can use a hosepipe to fill a watering can which avoids running up and down the garden. Even established shrubs have needed watering this year as everything has looked a bit limp and leaves are shedding. A mulch around the roots of shrubs and fruit trees can help to retain moisture in the soil. Monty Don commented last week that maybe we need to start facing up to hotter Summers and look at more Mediterranean planting. Attractive hard landscaping can reduce the size of lawns and borders with a switch to perennials and shrubs that can handle drought.
Much of the fruit is ready for harvest. Plums, Cherries and Apricots have probably been picked by now with Apples and Pears ready this month. Some varieties like Braeburns run on into October. Keep watering, feeding and mulching up until harvest. Tidy up Strawberry plants and cut back Raspberry canes.
September is also the transition time from Summer to Autumn and it will be interesting to see what happens to temperatures. All this hot, dry weather is enough to give someone a thirst. As my mind wanders to Mediterranean gardens I can’t help thinking of ice cold Italian lagers. The big question is which one?.... Peroni Nastro Azzuro or Birra Moretti?…. I know I will go for both.
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.
Sean Barry - Upchurch Horticultural Society
Age UK Faversham & Sittingbourne and The Avenue Theatre in Sittingbourne are looking into holding a 'Charity Talent Show' in October 2022.
This would be a joint fundraising event, with money raised being split between both causes.
But to host a 'Charity Talent Show', they need talent!
Maybe you have discovered a hidden talent, maybe you have learnt a new talent, maybe you have improved your talent, or maybe you just want to share your talent.
Whether you are an individual, a duo or a group, they want to hear from you. Anyone, of any age, with any talent, can participate. All they ask is that it is family-friendly.
They look forward to hearing from you.
Kay Wright
Anyone eligible is being encouraged to be protected this Winter by having the Covid-19 booster vaccination.
The programme starts from Monday the 5th of September with care home residents and people who are housebound, the first to receive their vaccines. Health and social care workers will also qualify for the vaccine.
Covid-19 vaccines are vital for protecting the population of Kent and Medway and remain the best defence we have against the virus.
Guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on the Autumn programme outlines who should be offered the jab.
These include:
• Residents in care homes• Frontline health and social care workers
• People aged 50 years or above
• Anyone aged five to 49 who is in a clinical risk group or are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• Pregnant women
NHS Kent and Medway
Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward
Crime Number: 46/169605/22
Between 16:00 and 23:59 on Monday the 29th of August, somebody stole a flail mower from a vehicle parked at a farm in Yaugher Lane, Hartlip.
Crime Number: 46/169048/22
At around 19:12 on Sunday the 28th of August, somebody deflated the tyres of a Toyota Yaris parked on the road in Pear Tree Walk, Newington.
Crime Number: 46/168989/22
Between 00:01 and 08:00 on Monday the 29th of August, somebody stole the batteries from temporary traffic lights on Windmill Hill, Otterham Quay Lane, Upchurch.
Crime Number: 46/169684/22
At around 17:16 on Monday the 29th of August, somebody broke into a water pumping station in London Road, Upchurch. The police are continuing their enquiries.
If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.
For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk
Kent Community Messaging
Hello UpARA members,
Did You Know
Did you know that Riviera Travel have an affinity partnership with KentARA?
If ever you book with Riviera and mention this, together with the name, UpARA, then a commission is received by us once the holiday is completed. To date, over £70,000 in commission has been raised by KentARA clubs in this way.
Dates
Dates for our first two fundraising events for the Church Bell Tower fund have been set.
On the afternoon of 21st October, there will be a ‘Race Day’ where you can join in a fun afternoon and maybe win some money to boot!
On the evening of 11th November, there will be another of our popular Quiz Nights.
Please support us and keep both dates free, more details later... Also, this month ‘History of Upchurch’ talk on 24th September in St Mary’s - See flyer below.
Our meeting this month is a week later than normal, on the 3rd Friday of the month. Our guest speaker, Tony Harris is returning to give us his unique take on ‘Secret London’. Many of you will remember Tony in his previous guises as Henry VIII, Sherlock Holmes, and, more recently, as a Pantomime Dame.
The thoughts of Chairman John
Hi everyone,
I can't believe it's that time of the month when you are subjected to my ramblings. We have been so busy throughout the month, as usual. I can't believe that this past week I have had Sunday afternoon tea with Dame Patricia Routledge (best known as Mrs Bucket) a wonderful lady who is a classically trained singer and has starred in 3 Broadway musicals and 11 in the UK, a no mean feat, such a talented lady, and at 94 still as sharp as a knife.
My week only got better as on Tuesday we had our Coffee Morning and Art Class (thanks to all our members who stayed behind and helped us to clear up). In the evening we had our penultimate Evening Petanque, a very close encounter, but I believe the men, (supported by Gill), won!
Wednesday, our monthly Lunch at the Crown, where I had the opportunity to meet some of our new members, (not too sure of the impression that we gave them?) hopefully they will see that we are harmless. It is really good to see that we are having more members joining us from the Village.
My day finished with an evening with the Rev Richard Coles and a Q/A afterwards. I can now see why my family are envious of my lifestyle, how did we all find time to WORK?
See you all soon.
John W
Badminton
We will be running a trial Badminton session on the afternoon of Monday 19th September at 2:00pm. Please just turn up. If this proves to be popular, we may make it a regular activity. Please Email us at uparaupchurch@gmail.com for more information.
London Walk
Our second attempt to complete our Regents Canal walk will be on 23rd September, from Little Venice to London’s latest space at Granary Square, King’s X, with a lunch stop at Camden Lock. If you are interested, please let Bryn know, and to receive further details nearer the time, at uparaupchurch@gmail.com
More London walks are being planned, including Soho, which was going to be our next London walk before we were curtailed back in March 2020.
Lunch Club
There will be no lunch club in September. The next will be on Tuesday 25th October in the Crown.
Evening Petanque
Our last evening Petanque... for the Summer will be on September 27th. After a slow start, this has proved to be quite popular as an early evening activity and gathering. Hopefully, we will be repeating it during the Summer months of 2023.
2023
2022 may be only just halfway through... but plans for 2023 are brewing, with Linda and Sandra beginning to book our schedule of speakers and Malcolm and Brenda looking at next year’s trips and hols.
September Calendar
Mondays September 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th at 10:00am - Short Tennis
Monday, September 5th at 2:00pm - Kurling
Tuesday, September 6th at 9:30am - Coffee Morning and Art
Tuesday, September 6th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis
Wednesdays September 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th at 10:15am - Line Dancing
Tuesday, September 13th at 10:00am - Ten Pin Bowling
Friday, September 16th at 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting
Tony Harris ‘Secret London’
Monday, September 19th at 2:00pm - Badminton
Trial
Tuesday, September 20th at 2:00pm - Petanque
Friday, September 23rd - London Walk
Grand Union Canal
Tuesday, September 27th at 2:00pm - Table Tennis
Tuesday, September 27th at 9:30am - Coffee Morning and Art
Tuesday, September 27th at 6:00pm - Evening Petanque
Saturday, September 24th at 7:00pm - The History of Upchurch
Special illustrated talk in St Mary's Church, £5 entry on the door - all proceeds to the Bell Tower Restoration Fund.
Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.
