St Giles and

NEWSLETTER

October 2019 OFFICERS OF ST GILES AND VILLAGE ORGANISATIONS

ST GILES Rector of Shipbourne with : 811081 Rev Dr Peter Hayler Email: [email protected] The Rectory, The Street, Plaxtol TN15 0QG

Lay Reader Mr P Brewin 810361 Churchwardens: Ms C Jackson 07729814798 Sir Paul Britton 365794

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Secretary: Mrs M Perry 810797 Treasurer: Mr P Sandland 07866 588856 Deanery Synod Rep: Mr N Ward 810525

CHURCH OFFICERS Safeguarding Miss G Coates 811432 Officer: (Children) Safeguarding Sir Paul Britton 365794 Officer: (Vulnerable Adults) Choirmaster: Mr J Young 810289 Electoral Roll: Mr A Boorman 353597 Flower Guild Mrs F Ward 810525 Bell Ringing Sir Paul Britton 365794

SHIPBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL Parish Clerk: Sarah Huseyin 886402 [email protected] Chair: Nick Tyler 811079 Councillors: D Pettengell, V Redman S Hine J Sheldrick, J Bate

VILLAGE WEBSITE www.shipbourne.com

SHIPBOURNE SCHOOL Interim Head: Mrs Daters 810344 www.shipbourne..sch.uk

SHIPBOURNE VILLAGE HALL Chairman: Curtis Galbraith 763637 Bookings: Helen Leach 811144

SHIPBOURNE FARMERS’ MARKET Manager: Bob Taylor 833976

SHIPBOURNE WI President Margaret Thompson 810789

SHIPBOURNE CRICKET CLUB Secretary: Mark Fenton 811067

PLAXTOL & SHIPBOURNE TENNIS CLUB Membership: Cilla Langdon-Down 810338

ST GILES’ AND SHIPBOURNE NEWSLETTER Editor: Lindsay Miles 810439 [email protected] Advertising: Tish Gourmelon 07966 035492 Copying: Mary Perry 810797

USEFUL POLICE CONTACT NUMBERS 101 Non-urgent attendance, passing information and 24 hr crime reporting 999 Emergencies 01622 690690 For Maidstone office 07772 226006 Mark Thomas, Police Community Support Officer

HAYWARDS the Butchers, 6 York Parade, Tel 01732 355611 Cheerful and efficient service for all your needs Meat and meat products, a range of sausages, cheeses, eggs, ham and much more Giving a party? HAYWARDS will help you plan your catering and all your requirements (12/16)

TREESERVICES LTD All aspects of private and commercial tree work undertaken by fully trained and well equipped staff

Fully insured Free advice and Estimates Our services include:-

 Hazard Evaluation (Health and safety checks)  Cutting back of trees and branches  Dangerous trees made safe  Crown reduction and thinning  Hedge cutting  Stump removal  Seasoned Logs and wood mulch sold

01732 810933 / 07973 264952 [email protected] Stone Cottage Roughway TN11 9SH (tbc)

Rector of Shipbourne with Plaxtol Rev Dr Peter Hayler The Rectory, The Street, Plaxtol TN15 0QG Tel: 01732-811081 / E-mail: [email protected]

PARISH DIARY – OCTOBER 2019 Except where indicated below, the main morning service at ST GILES SHIPBOURNE is at 9.30am.

Every weekday at 8.00am Morning Prayer will be said at Plaxtol Church and every weekday evening (except Friday and Saturday) at 4.30pm Evening Prayer will be said at St Giles Shipbourne.

Thursday 3rd 9-11am Farmers’ Market at St Giles Shipbourne SUNDAY 6th 8.00am Holy Communion at Plaxtol Church 9.30am Parish Communion at St Giles Shipbourne 11.00am Harvest Festival Family Communion at Plaxtol Church Readings: Lamentations 1 vv 1-6; 2 Timothy 1 vv 1-14; Luke 17 vv 5-10 Wednesday 9th 1040am Lent Plus course (at the home of John for 11am Young) 7.40pm Lent Plus course (at The Rectory) for 8pm Thursday 10th 9-11am Farmers’ Market at St Giles Shipbourne Friday 11th 7.30pm Harvest Supper at Home Farm Barn SUNDAY 13th 8.00am Holy Communion at St Giles Shipbourne 9.30am Matins at St Giles, Shipbourne 11.00am Parish Communion at Plaxtol Church Readings: Jeremiah 29 vv 1, 4-7; 2 Timothy 2 vv 8-15; Luke 17 vv 11-19 Monday 14th 7.30pm Shipbourne Parish Council meeting at Village Hall Thursday 17th 9-11am Farmers’ Market at St Giles Shipbourne SUNDAY 20th 8.00am Holy Communion at Plaxtol Church 9.30am Parish Communion at St Giles, Shipbourne 11.00am Benefice Community@11 at Plaxtol Church Readings: Jeremiah 31 vv 27-34; 2 Timothy 3.14-4.5; Luke 18 vv 1-8 Thursday 24th 9-11am Farmers’ Market at St Giles, Shipbourne 9.30am Benefice Playchurch at St Giles, Shipbourne Saturday 26th 9.30- Community Breadbasket at Plaxtol Church 11.30am SUNDAY 27th 8.00am Holy Communion at St Giles, Shipbourne 9.30am Family Service at St Giles, Shipbourne 11.00am Parish Communion at Plaxtol Church Readings: Joel 2.23-end; 2 Timothy 4 vv 6-8, 16-18; Luke 18 vv 9-14 Thursday 31st 9-11am Farmers’ Market at St Giles Shipbourne

To all parents with babes-in-arms, toddlers and pre-school children! Please come to our United Benefice “PLAYCHURCH” Everyone welcome! Come and join us! A Bible story, creative fun followed by drinks and biscuits Next Date and Location: Thursday 24th October 2019 9.30am at St Giles, Shipbourne

LENT+ Wednesday 9th October 2019 Morning Group: 1100hrs at the home of John Young Evening Group: 20:00hrs at The Rectory

Both groups will be looking at Ruth Obbard’s account of St Theresa of Avila’s “Interior Castle”

Community Saturday 26th October 2019 9:30–11:30am Plaxtol Parish Church Bread Basket

Café style Breakfast All welcome

Including Food Bank Collection and Book Sale/Swap

PASTORAL LETTER

HANDLING THE HARVEST “We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land”. We all love to sing this traditional harvest hymn - the season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” wouldn’t quite be the same without it. But do we all plough the fields? No! When I was a cynical teenage chorister I used to want to sing “We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the blotting paper” because that was the extent of my participation in sowing - living, as I did, in a suburban setting.

As I think and write, I feel a sense of frustration about the harvest this year… linked with the fact that we’re about to go on holiday, and that the harvest is still coming while we’re away. So I’ve been giving the lawn under the crab-apple and Bramley trees one more clear before we go, giving away as many courgettes and sweet-corn as I can, and making a last quick batch of jelly. Now that I’m handling the harvest in a much more real sense, it’s hard to see “all good gifts around us” going to waste.

At the same time, we’ve had new food-waste bins arriving from the Borough Council, and we’re waiting for new brown bins for garden waste. In our contemporary society recycling comes alongside the harvest as a really important way of handling organic material and nature’s resources. Even what we don’t eat needs to be carefully looked after so that nutrients can be returned to the earth, enabling the ground to store greenhouse gasses. We all need to play our part.

The traditional Psalm for Harvest time (Psalm 65) ends with some lovely words: “The valleys also shall stand so thick with corn: they shout for joy, as sing!” Anyone seen any singing cornfields recently? Perhaps not literally, but many speak of the joy and beauty of nature, especially living in this beautiful part of our temperate green isle. Be sure to “Lift your eyes unto the hills” (Psalm 121) as you walk out this autumn… and give thanks “for the beauty of the earth”.

Our Harvest Festivals fall across the September/October month end, with Shipbourne’s service on 29th Sept at 9.30, and Plaxtol’s service on 6th Oct at 11am. Both are Family Services. There is also a Choral Evensong at Plaxtol on 29th Sept at 6pm. Our Harvest Supper will complete the celebrations and, this year, is being held a little later: Friday 11th Oct – but otherwise in the usual manner, with thanks to Fairlawne for use of the facilities at the Forresters’ barn, Home Farm. This is a ticketted event, and tickets are available from Plaxtol Village Stores and Shipbourne Farmers’ Market – don’t leave it too late as this is always a sell-out.

Peter Hayler, Rector [email protected]

RIDE AND STRIDE – SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2019 Lionel Stielow represented St Giles on Saturday 14 September in the Ride and Stride fund raising event for Friends of Kent Churches.(by the way, Sir Paul Britton is Chairman this year!). Lionel visited 21 churches in the local vicinity – well done Lionel!

Monies raised will be helping small churches which find repairs etc onerous as well as benefitting St Giles by receiving half of what Lionel raises. It’s not too late to sponsor – please contact Lionel or Mary Perry who will gladly add you to the sponsorship form.

ST GILES SUMMER FAIR – THANK YOU! It was a scorcher! Having experienced some real downpours in previous years we mustn’t complain about the high temperatures on Bank Holiday Monday – although it was a shame (but sensible decision) that the dog show had to be called off.

The Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Training Band played their brilliant tunes, Shipbourne Farmers' Market sausages and burgers featured on the new BBQ menu, a fabulous Pimms and beer tent quenched thirsts, teas and cakes were served in the Village Hall, fantastic prizes were to be won in the Grand Drawer and it was a record breaking year on the cake/produce stall.

In total around £4,000 was raised.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped out (including the extra family members and friends who lend a hand) - we really appreciate you giving up your Bank Holiday for the village. Thanks too to Fairlawne for their help and everyone who helped with the morning set up and afternoon de-rig.

We look forward to thanking everyone at drinks on Friday 1 November, 7pm-9pm at Shipbourne Village Hall.

Thank you! Viv and Lindsay

THANK YOU DRINKS for everyone who helped with the St Giles’ Summer Fair Friday 1 November 2019 7pm-9pm Shipbourne Village Hall Do come along!

REMEMBER: CLOCKS GO BACK SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2019

TMBC NEW WASTE/RECYCLING SERVICES Please refer to the Parish Council article in this Newsletter. The new collection schedule starts from 30 September 2019. Full details found on https://recycleforall.tmbc.gov.uk/

Please note your collection day may be different – for example TN11 9PP Back Lane properties will change to a THURSDAY collection day.

Each month we collect food and small household items to give to our link parish – All Saints’ Chatham. I recently asked them about the project and how our food donations have helped.

Their administrator, Diane Hatcher writes,

Here at the Magpie Centre we offer lots of things, all with the aim of bringing people together. We offer a community café, a computer suite for people to learn computing skills, weekly groups such as craft, knit-and- natter, fortnightly lunch clubs and a support group for depression and anxiety. All our groups seek to reduce isolation and loneliness. There is an active After School Club during term time and the Magpie Growers tend a local allotment. In the office we have advisors who help with benefit, job application, passports, and much more. We also give out foodbank vouchers, utilities assistance and, if we can, we help to source furniture.

Your lovely donations of food have helped enormously. We have families who arrive hungry, who have not eaten for a day or two and, because the nearest food bank does not open every day, we use your donations to help give them something to eat. We also have a Pay-It-Forward scheme here, where people donate into this scheme and when someone arrive hungry but having no money, the café will give them something to eat. The two systems together work well. Any donations of clothes or small items, we willingly give to those in need. Donations of money can be used in other areas. We hear many different stories, and deal with a wide range of crises and challenging circumstances.

I hope this shows how your support of food, small items and money helps us to help so many others. Many thanks and wishes to you all.

Diane Hatcher, Administrator.

Our next food bank collection dates are: 28/29 September and 26/27 October Boxes are placed in Plaxtol Church and St. Giles’, Shipbourne.

WWW.KENTPAINTERSGROUP.CO.UK

KENT PAINTERS EXHIBITION 2019 The Kent Painters Annual Art Exhibition & Sale will be held at Sevenoaks School over the weekend of Friday 25th October to Sunday 27th October.

We are now in our 29th year of exhibiting a diverse range of paintings and sculpture. In that time, we have raised over £300,000 for local mental health charities.

Proceeds go directly to our supported charities, Sevenoaks Mencap, Macintyre and Rethink.

Friday evening is a bit of a party between 6.30 and 9pm, with a chance to ‘meet the artists’ and to buy quality art at modest prices without gallery overheads.

If you prefer a quieter, more leisurely browse, then we are open between 10 – 4 p.m on both Saturday & Sunday. Coffee, cakes and light lunches will be available.

Entry is free so do come along – we would love to see you. www.kentpaintersgroup.co.uk

UNSUNG HERO – PETER LEACH A shout-out to Peter Leach. Not only does Peter always help with the setting up of gazebos and tables for village events but he can often be seen pre-7am in the morning litter-picking around the Village. Thank you Peter!

SHIPBOURNE SCHOOL NEWS September went beautifully at Shipbourne School, with all children returning after the summer break with a smile on their faces. Over the summer, we had a lot of decorating done and the hall and classrooms are looking very smart and welcoming. We once again welcomed new staff to our team, with Mrs Watts and Mrs Bradford sharing the teaching role in Tinley Class (year R and 1). They have both settled well and we are delighted to have them on board. We also welcomed new families to our school, with six new children starting in year R. This year we are in the unusual position of having space in this year group, but we are hoping that new families will join us during the year. Watching children new to primary school begin the next step of their learning journey is always a real privilege.

The children in our older years have also been very busy getting to know new teachers, new class mates and getting down to hard work. They remain very eager to learn and have lots of exciting activities and trips to look forward to. September saw Fairlawne Class visit Horton Kirby to study the river and its wildlife, and October brings with it the opportunity for Hampton Class to test out their map-reading skills at Bedgebury and for Tinley to make pizzas at Pizza Express in Sevenoaks. You may see Year 6 out and about taking part in Bikeability, an opportunity to learn to cycle safely on our roads in preparation for their transition to Secondary School.

As we approach half term, all eyes at Shipbourne School will turn to our annual fireworks and bonfire event which this year takes place on Saturday 2nd November, between 4.15pm and 6pm. Tickets are available from the school office or the Chaser. Many thanks in advance for your support but also your patience during this event.

Mrs T Daters Head of School SHIPBOURNE PARISH COUNCIL

The contact details for the Parish Council are:

Shipbourne Parish Council Clerk – Mrs Sarah Huseyin Gable Cottage Ismays Road TN15 9BE e-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 01732 886402

Please visit the website for Shipbourne Parish Council Meeting Agenda’s, Minutes and News. (http://www.shipbourne.com/) If you have any ideas or would like something added, such as a news item, please email the Parish Clerk.

VACANCY PARISH COUNCIL 2019 We currently have 2 vacancies. The Parish Council meet on the second Monday of each month at Shipbourne Village Hall at 7.30pm. If you live or work in the village and would like to become a Parish Councillor, please contact [email protected] for further details.

KENT POLICE To report a non-urgent crime, call 101. have launched a new online reporting service: The public can now report crimes and incidents as well as non-injury road traffic collisions ONLINE directly through the website (www.kent.police.uk). We have received a number of reports about outbuildings being broken into, please ensure that sheds and outbuildings are locked and report any incidents.

PARISH NOTICES Please note that Agenda’s and Parish notices will be displayed on the Parish Noticeboard in the refurbished bus shelter on Upper Green Road. All other information including Minutes and accounting information will be posted on our website www.shipbourne.com and are available from the Parish Clerk [email protected] .

LOCAL PLAN For the latest information on the Local Plan, please go to www.tmbc.gov.uk and select Planning, Local Plan. Shipbourne Parish Councils responses to the consultation can be found on our website.

NEW WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES TMBC You should have received your new food waste bins and brown bins for garden waste if you opted into the new garden waste service. The new collections will be effected from 30th September, please visit https://recycleforall.tmbc.gov.uk/ for details on the new collections. The new service will help improve recycling collections direct to your home to include plastics, glass and cartons. This is in line with the majority of councils in the UK. You should all be receiving a letter in the post. Please note that your collection day may be different.

CLIMATE CHANGE At a recent TMBC full council meeting, there was motion regarding setting a date by which TMBC will be carbon neutral. Members voted to be carbon neutral by 2030.

A subcommittee is due to bring a report as to how to achieve this back to council by May 2020.

Shipbourne Parish Council are taking measures to address climate change and from September will be paperless. We will only print the agendas that need to be posted on the noticeboard and one copy of the Minutes that need to be signed to be kept on file.

Mrs Sarah Huseyin - Parish Clerk e-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 01732 886402

SHIPBOURNE WI After the success of the WI day in July, and then a very enjoyable tea and afternoon at the Rectory in August, thanks to Peter and Donna, the WI held their September meeting. It was decided to postpone the Quiz Night, planned for October, until the new year.

The subject of the talk by Stuart Robinson, was The Plague City and the Plague Village 1665, which was extremely interesting but rather gruesome! The illustrations were vivid, particularly from London. Learning about Eyam in Derbyshire and the sacrifice of the villagers was very moving and their efforts are still remembered with a service to this day.

A walk has been planned for September 25th, followed by lunch at the Greyhound, Charcot, and the book we have been reading is This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay.

The next Committee Meeting is on 2nd October, and the main meeting on 9th October when we shall be hearing about The History and Works of the Dogs’ Trust. The item of interest will be a favourite pet picture. That sounds fun!

Glynis Coates

BULK REFUSE SERVICE (4th Saturday of month) Upper Green Road (opposite Village Hall) 8am - 9am on Saturday 26 October 2019 Saturday 23 November 2019

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Please send any articles and adverts for the November newsletter by 15 October 2019. Please note any articles received after this date will be held over to the next issue. Please email articles to [email protected] or call 01732 810439.

BIRDWATCH Casting my mind back, say 15 years, I would suggest that the sighting of a Sparrowhawk was, if not rare, certainly uncommon. Indeed the very first bird I saw I can remember very vividly. I had heard of a hunting bird in the farmland surrounding High Elms in the village of Downe, near Pratts Bottom where I used to live. At the crack of dawn I sat in a hedgerow waiting for a possible glimpse of this predator and after about three hours of waiting, suddenly there it was flipping over the hedgerow into a group of finches feeding on the seed heads of the autumn thistles. My binoculars swung into action, but as luck would have it my dog had been licking the end of them and I saw only a blurred image. “You stupid dog!!!” I shouted, or words to that effect......

However since then, with the banning of DDT and the elevation of Sparrowhawks to a Group A protected species and the more tolerant attitude towards birds of prey by such important country people as game keepers, Sparrowhawks have thrived, indeed some would suggest that their increased numbers have put an intolerable burden on our garden birds whose numbers have so drastically reduced, mainly caused by modern farming methods. But then in the early 50s the Collared Dove started to appear and become numerous, and in many instances a nuisance. With large numbers disease was always a threat, but with the coinciding increase in the Sparrowhawk population, control of the Collared Doves around our village has happened as nature intended.

Today I watched an immature female Sparrowhawk fly down a Collared Dove, kill it with a twist of its notched beak, pluck it and then start to feed on it, and all this in my front garden in the middle of the village green. Now I have watched a Peregrine Falcon fly down Red Grouse on a wild Scottish Moor, I have seen a Golden Eagle crash into long heather after Mountain Hare and on one occasion on a Scottish isle seen the very rare white phase Gyr Falcon stooping into a flight of Rock Doves. Yet here, in our village, the same excitement happened as I watched a superbly skilled hunter fly down its quarry, and for perhaps just a moment, my garden became an exciting wilderness.

Ian Bowles With thanks to Sue Bowles for giving her permission to re-print.

Shipbourne Village Hall Registered Charity No 1074519

The Hall can be hired for £12.50 per hour with a minimum of 4 hours (£50.00). It has an attractive secure garden with a good gate that can be closed. Inside there is wheelchair access through the rear door, a well- appointed kitchen, the main hall and an adjoining side room plus all usual facilities. For Village Hall enquiries and bookings please call 01732 811144 or 07762 241720 or email [email protected] Further details can be found on the Shipbourne website www.shipbourne.com

COMPLETE PROPERTY SERVICES www.inscopeinteriors.co.uk

EXTENSIONS, CONVERSIONS, KITCHEN & BATHROOM DESIGN & INSTALLATION SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR ENTIRE PROJECT DETAILED, ITEMISED AND COSTED SCOPE OF WORKS FREE SURVEY AND ESTIMATE CAD PLANNING Contact Peter Leach Tel: 01732 811144 Mob: 07889 362462

References and photo gallery available at http://www.checkatrade.com/InscopeManagement Services/ 12/19

The Kentish Rifleman Dunk’s Green, TN11 9RU

A Free House and by far the best in Dunk’s Green

16th Century Inn serving a good selection of real ales, wines and home cooked food. Now open all day, every day from 11.30am.

www.thekentishrifleman.co.uk

Bookings always advisable on 01732 810727

October in Shipbourne Village Hall

Tuesday 1st 19:15-21:00 Scottish Dancing Wednesday 2nd 19:30-20:45 Yoga Thursday 3rd 19:30-20:30 Pilates Wednesday 9th 14:00-16:00 WI Meeting Wednesday 9th 19:30-20:45 Yoga Thursday 10th 19:30-20:30 Pilates Sunday 13th 10:00-14:00 Private Hire Sunday 13th 14:30-18:30 Private Hire Monday 14th 19:30-21:30 Parish Council Meeting Tuesday 15th 19:15-21:00 Scottish Dancing Wednesday 16th 19:30-20:45 Yoga Thursday 17th 19:30-20:30 Pilates Wednesday 23rd 19:30-20:45 Yoga Thursday 24th 19:30-20:30 Pilates Saturday 26th 09:00-12:00 Puppy Training Classes Sunday 27th 15:00-17:00 Private Hire Wednesday 30th 19:30-20:45 Yoga Thursday 31st 19:30-20:30 Pilates

SHIPBOURNE FARMERS MARKET - OCTOBER The numbers visiting the market to the end of August are almost like an Australian cricket score! The year to date figures at of the first week of September have already exceeded 4 out of the last 5 years footfall for the whole of the year ending in September !!

October is THE month of apples, pears and cobnuts for which this area is justly famous. It should be a great season so make sure you try as many local varieties as possible, whether for eating with local cheeses or cooking into pies, puddings and preserves.

The changing season herald a longing for richer, more comforting meat dishes and it’s the start of the game season with pheasant appearing once again at the market. Use it as chicken – cubed breast meat works perfectly in curries, stir fries or just marinate the whole breasts and cook on the griddle. Lean and tender, it suits quick cooking methods such as frying and grilling. Try them with mushrooms the perfect partner for seasonal game

Fish and seafood are plentiful this month and very reasonably priced. Much of our seafood is at its best when caught in colder waters, so as the sea temperature drops fish gets better and better. Sea bass, skate, Dover sole, plaice, turbot, cod and haddock are all good at this time of year.

Onions, leeks, beetroot, carrots and tomatoes are all full of flavour at this time of year whilst the wonderful array of squashes and pumpkins offer so much more for the cook than merely lanterns for Halloween. Try them baked with cream and spices or in risottos and curries. Root vegetables such as parsnip, swede and celeriac are all wonderful roasted or mashed and perfect with new season’s game. Use them in soups, stews, bakes and pickles for rich seasonal colour and taste. Kentish Cobnuts, walnuts, and chestnuts are all ripening – try them now when they are ‘wet’ and discover a whole new intensity of flavour. Use in autumn salads or toasted with fruit compotes or meringues for impact.

To receive our newsletter which gives you more producer information go to www.ShipbourneFM.co.uk

COOKERY CORNER

PHEASANT BREASTS WITH LEMON, THYME AND CHILLI This method of cooking also works just as well with chicken

Serves 2/Prep 5 mins plus 30 minutes marinating/Cook 10 minutes

 2 pheasant breasts, skin on or off  2 tbsp olive oil  1 lemon, thickly sliced  3 -4 sprigs fresh thyme  1 red chilli, seeded and chopped  salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 Place the pheasant breasts in a sealable plastic bag. Add the oil, lemon slices, thyme sprigs, chilli and plenty of seasoning and rub the bag sides to coat the pheasant meat thoroughly in the marinade. Leave in the fridge for half an hour or longer.

2 Heat a griddle pan or frying pan until smoking hot then add the pheasant and cook for 8 – 10 minutes turning once until browned and cooked through so the juices run clear from the meat. Transfer to a board and cover loosely and leave to rest for 5 minutes. Add the lemon slices to the pan and cook quickly on both sides over a high heat until charred. Serve with the pheasant. I serve them with oven cooked sweet potato wedges and a big rocket or watercress salad.

Recipe by Mary Gwynn who is a local author and food writer. She writes regularly for Waitrose Weekend newspaper and has published several cookery books, including The WI Cookbook: The First 100 Years and The Busy Mum’s Cookbook. She is also Manager of Penshurst Farmers Market.

THE WEATHER IN AUGUST The highest day temp. was 35.50c, (Tues 27th) the lowest night was 0 th 6.0 c, (Tues 20 ) total rainfall was 37.5mm, with the average for the last 25 years being 77.35mm, the highest month being Aug. 2014 with 117mm and the lowest month was Aug. 1995 with only 2.0mm. Lionel Stielow

THE GARDEN SHED The autumn colours are at their best this month and, if the weather holds, October can be a lovely time in the garden. This is a good month for planting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants as the soil is still warm enough for the roots to take hold before winter settles in.

If you have some empty gaps to fill and want to inject some instant autumn colour, why not plant some asters with their daisy-shaped blooms mixed with bright nerines and evergreen grasses such as bronze career.

Keep on the lookout for ripening seeds to propagate and collect them before they are shed. Dry the seeds off and put them in paper envelopes. Even if you don’t want to collect them, many plants have seed heads and pods as beautiful as their flowers and these will last throughout the winter.

Now is the time to incorporate compost or leaf-mould into your borders, so I would like to explain in a little more detail the importance of a healthy soil. Soil is very much a living thing that needs to be treated with respect. It is not inexhaustible.

Soil itself is a mixture of rock, water and organic matter. Sandy soils are known as light soils and have relatively large bits of rock. Clay soils are heavy and have smaller particles of rock. The essence of success in gardening lies in getting the right balance, the right structure, between the two types of soil

It is essential to find the proper ratio between crumbs of earth and air pockets. In heavy soils there is not enough air. In light, sandy soils there is too much air and the fine rootlets that absorb nutrients are unable to clutch at what they need.

The perfect soil is called loam. You achieve it by adding humus to your soil; it opens up the heavy soils and adds bulk to the light ones. Anything bulky and organic will do: mushroom compost (do not use with acid-loving plants), homemade compost, farmyard manure. Before plants can take up food, their roots need passages along from which they can absorb the nutrients necessary for healthy growth. Humus help create these vital passages chemical fertilisers don’t.

Plants also need minerals for healthy growth such as boron, copper, iron, manganese and zinc. In fertile soils they are naturally present. Lack of nutrients can cause plant deficiency diseases, such as a lack of magnesium, which causes leaves to brown and wither.

Acid and Alkaline are terms that apply to the pH (potential Hydrogen) of the soil. The pH scale runs between 1 and 14: neutral in the middle, acid below the middle and alkaline above. Rhododendrons, for instance, need an acid soil to prosper.

As you pamper your soil, do some planting and fight the annual battle against falling leaves, do take the time to feast on the colours of autumn at their most vibrant. Next month: more on the autumn garden and beginning to prepare for winter. Anne-Marie Klain-Verdegem

Unique Garden Designs Anne Marie Verdegem Offering sensible, professional and affordable solutions to the needs of your flowering garden beds, perennials and shrubs. Specialising in Herbaceous Borders, design, plant advice, planting and pruning, fertilising, dividing and weeding. RHS-certified. Phone: 07711 932015 [email protected]

CHIMNEY SWEEP

E. COLEMAN

Clean, Efficient and

Friendly Service Traditional Brush and HEPA Vacuum Smoke Testing and Insurance Certificates Issued

Fully Insured ICS Registered Installation Advice Given (01/17) 01732 810053

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SHIPBOURNE CLASSIFIEDS

Shipbourne Classifieds –Contact Details:

Tish Gourmelon Tel: 07966 035492 / Email: [email protected]

Simple Domestic and Personal Advertisements, up to four lines, are free to Newsletter readers. This free category includes items for sale or wanted, baby-sitting, dog walking, domestic needs etc. To ensure Shipbourne Classifieds is kept up to date, each advertisement will be published in the Newsletter for three months and then removed unless requested otherwise.

Business Advertisements are charged at £1 per monthly issue or £10 for a whole year of 12 issues Also available are quarter-page display advertisements, charged at £10 per monthly issue, or £100 for a full year of 12 issues. Business advertisements must be booked and paid for in advance – please see contact details for Tish Gourmelon at the top of this page.

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FABS Fitness Classes for Older Adults covering FLEXIBILITY, AEROBIC, BALANCE and STRENGTH, enjoyable, effective exercises accessible to everyone, can be done seated or standing. Age or ability are not barriers to an active lifestyle. OSH - Tues 10.30am, Golden Green Hall Tues 12.30pm, Nettlestead - Wed 12.00 noon. Seated Class OSH Hadlow starts Tues 15th Jan 2.15pm, Seated Class Jan date TBC – Register today! Call: Carol 07941345001 Email: [email protected] TASTER CLASS FREE (£5.00 per session thereafter) (12/19) IF YOU NEED HELP with personal household costs or club activity details, I can help to organise your data in easy-to-understand spreadsheets to ease your workload and improve your presentation - charged @ £10/hr. Please contact Nick on 07784 231127 to discuss your requirements. (10/19) WEALD PRE-SCHOOL local pre-school, established for over 50 years, offering a caring, safe and stimulating environment for children to develop friendships and have fun! Experienced and caring staff, spacious hall and garden, safe drop-off area. Open every weekday during term time for children aged 2-5 years old in St Georges Church Hall, Church Road, Weald. Breakfast club available from 7.30am. www.wealdpreschool.co.uk. Contact us on 07453 016132/ 01732 450272 (church hall) [email protected] GARDENING SERVICES I can assist you with general garden maintenance, hedge cutting, lawn mowing and trimming or one-off tidying jobs. Please call Clive on 01732 365879 or 07773 151796 for more details. GARDENING SERVICES: and National Trust trained. Regular or one off jobs available. Please call Peter Zoephel on 01892 836866 or 07845 174936 (10/19) DOG WALKING FOR BUSY PEOPLE. I'm a local dog owner and have worked at a kennels/ homing centre and am happy to offer dog walking 7 days a week on a regular or occasional basis. Reliable and responsible with references for reassurance. Looking forward to meeting your 4 legged friend. Call Laura 07922077552 DOG WALKER. 'I am a nineteen year old university student back for the holidays offering dog walking services. Whether you need your dog walked or looked after during the day, I'd be happy to help. Philippa 07752 304272 UNLOCK MY PAST: Local Photo, Negative & Slide Scanning, Cine, Video & Audio Transfer Services. We also author slide shows, assist with compiling celebratory photo books, family history services and other related bespoke work. Please view our website www.unlockmypast.com for details or contact us on 0333 011 8514 (local rate call). (05/19) RUSTIC BIRD BOXES FOR SALE. £8.00 each or two for £15.00. All proceeds go to charity. (www.aquinoe.org).Telephone 01732 365879 LOCAL MUSIC LESSONS: Experienced and enthusiastic violin, piano and music theory teacher now teaching lessons in Shipbourne. Beginners as well as advanced students. Excellent exam results track record. Contact: 01732 810984 or 077898 33740 (05/16) FREE DELIVERY OF PRESCRIPTIONS - Thompson’s Chemist on Riding Lane, offer free delivery of prescriptions in Shipbourne and the surrounding area. Once your doctor has sent us the prescription, we take care of the rest. Call 833433 for details. CHIROPODIST/PODIATRIST Alice Neale BScHons MChS, HCPC registered. Effective and caring foot care provided at my clinic in Hildenborough or home visits by arrangement. Established 10 years +. Please call 01732 832524 DOMESTIC GODDESS is a family run business offering cleaning, ironing and housekeeping support. We provide a professional, experienced, reliable and fully insured service and are committed to delivering the highest standard of work. We’d be happy to hear from you on 07746 488449 or see our website www.domesticgoddessuk.co.uk (04/16) LOCAL BABYSITTERS AVAILABLE; two 15 year old girls available for babysitting weekends and weekday evenings. Comfortable with all ages - reliable and friendly. We live locally in Plaxtol. Please contact Hannah and Grace Bryden at [email protected] LOCAL BABYSITTER: My name is Alice Tyler, I am 17 years old and live on the Shipbourne green. I am an experienced babysitter and am free most weekends and also some weekdays. I am fun and responsible and am very happy to cook, play games and read stories. I am also able to drive. Please contact on: 07521832752 or 01732811079 EXPERIENCED LOCAL BABYSITTER with own transport. 20 years old, has been babysitting for several years and is confident and good with children of all ages. References available. Available during the University holidays from 5th December. Please phone Amy Wadsworth on 07514819430 DOG GROOMING KENT - Sue Angliss your local pet groomer based in Plaxtol both Salon Details Certified and City & Guilds qualified. Find me on FB or www.doggroomingkent.co.uk. Please call 01732 811023 (01/17) HAIR BY SHARON - Mobile hairdresser, for prices or to make an appointment please call 01732 773043 (05/19) TONBRIDGE OSTEOPATHIC CLINIC AT PEAK FITNESS GYM. Osteopathy for all ages and all problems. www.tonbridgeosteopathicclinic.co.uk / 01732 369928 £10 discount off 1st appointment when you mention this newsletter! MULTI-SKILLED TRADESPERSON, SHIPBOURNE BASED, with over 30 years’ experience. References available. Animal Enclosures, Carpentry, Disabled Adaptations, Fencing, Floor Laying, Plumbing, Tiling, Tree Surgery, no job too small, Free estimates. Please contact Martin on 07851105739 Email: [email protected] (12/16) SALLY OSBORNE – ELECTRICIAN: NAPIT Part P approved. All domestic electrical work undertaken. To arrange a free quote please contact me on 07710 443079 or email [email protected] (03/17) DAVID ROWE Plumbing & Heating, a reliable engineer for all your domestic requirements including: boiler installation, servicing and repairs, full heating systems, radiators, hot water cylinders, power-flushing, gas fires, gas cookers, bathrooms. Please contact David, 07715266311 or email [email protected] (03/17) YEW TREE & GARDEN SERVICES provide a complete solution to all your tree and gardening needs. Please visit us at www.yewtreeandgarden.co.uk. For garden enquiries please call Simon on 07864 829587, for tree work please call Christian on 07711 783580. NPTC Qualified & Public Liability insured. (12/16) KINDLING: Split softwood quality kindling sticks, neatly cut and bagged in large green or orange nets. These barn stored seasoned sticks are ideal for lighting woodburners, log fires or barbeques. £5 each or 3 nets for £12. C.O.D. Free delivery in Shipbourne. Ring Cilla on 810338 LOCAL WASP NEST TREATMENT: Fast, efficient, reliable. Andy Wasp 07833 558773 VEHICLE REPAIRS and maintenance. Local mechanic with 30 years experience. No job too large or too small on any make of vehicle, lawn mowers etc I have a fully- equipped van so can offer a mobile service. Call Fred on 07714749754 (12/16) NEED ASSISTANCE with your tax return? Worried about tax? Let me help. Friendly and personal assistance from a specialist. Call John Foster-Powell FCCA on 01732 810661 or 07914 855035 to arrange a meeting to suit you. Free initial consultation. B AND B holiday accommodation in self-contained oast house in the heart of Shipbourne village. Visit www.bearmanoroast.co.uk For further details phone 01732 811256 or e-mail [email protected] BED AND BREAKFAST in the centre of Plaxtol. Periwick Barn offers friendly informal accommodation in two oast bedrooms overlooking the rear garden. Traditional English breakfast is included. For more information telephone me Anne Shelmerdine 01732 811368 or go to my website www.periwickbarn.co.uk (06/20) WE ARE DOWNSIZING and have several items of stripped pine furniture for sale (wardrobe, chest, small cupboards etc.) which we cannot squeeze into the new house! Please email [email protected] if you would like photos or ring 01732- 833976 for more details.