utlook September n Oxney 2020 Outlook On Oxney , Stone & Ebony Community Magazine

Photo courtesy of Paul Venning

Contents

Editorial 02 Letter from the Rectory 13 A note from the PC 03 Sport! 14 Story of the month 04 In the garden with Lex 16 RARING TO GO! 05 A Darker Oxney 17 What’s happening 09 A love of moths 18 Stone Recreation Group 11 Important Info 19 Flower show and fete 12 WE NEED YOUR HELP! 20

www.outlookonoxney.co.uk 02 Dear Readers,

Welcome to the September edition of Outlook on Oxney - we’re finally back in print, and to celebrate we’re in glorious technicolour, YIPPEE!

A lot of planning and time has got us to this point, so I just want to say a huge thank you to the newly formed steering committee for helping me get the magazine back through your letterboxes. Plus we have had some great submissions, so an even bigger thank you to all of you who contributed.

The past 3 editions have been online only, which allows a lot more flexibility (& has been fairly easy to create), so please do Editor bear with me whilst I find my ‘print feet’ over the next few editions. Sam Collins outlookonoxney@ The website will still remain (& grow) and I will continue to yahoo.co.uk upload each edition there too. This will also allow us to expand on those articles that are just too long for the printed version. Proofreader Jo Thom A few of you have asked to opt out of the printed version & we will look to arrange this in the near future once we have an Chair/Advertising easy way for you to do this, and for us to manage this. Chris Lee Finally, please send us your suggestions. We need articles farawaycott@ from everyone in our community & we desperately need gmail.com your feedback to keep the magazine & website going now and always. Send to: [email protected] Treasurer Peter Burnett We look forward to hearing from you!

Stone Rep Stay Safe

Outlook On Oxney - September 2020 Sue Lowrie Sam x Peg Tiling & Listed A note fromBuilding the Specialist Parish Councils 03 Summer House, The Street, Wittersham, , Residents of Wittersham have Kent long come TN30 to 7EA rely on Stone-cum-Ebony parish council would like to add Outlook on Oxney for news of localTel: events 01797 and 270268 to keep their voice of thanks to the outgoing committee of abreast of other happenings. Mobile: 07958 495787the OoO, and warmly welcome and thank the new Seeing the familiar style of the print edition landing on the committee for taking on this important role. mat each month was lost onceEmail: printing [email protected] and delivery became impossible as the pandemicwww.kentpegs.com increased its hold The Outlook is funded through all our council tax back in March, and the future looked very uncertain. After and is delivered by volunteers to all three villages many years of dutiful service the key members of the on the island. This funding method has helped to committee who produced the magazine also saw the ensure the survival of the magazine for the last opportunity to stand down so others could take the project twenty years, and long may it continue. forward once that became possible again. Stocks Farm Physiotherapy We look forward to the Outlook continuing to keep Readers might Mrs be unaware Kate J Gale that MCSP Wittersham SRP AACP & Stone PC the island informed and entertained, and eagerly Wittersham, Nr Tenterden, Kent, TN30 7ET has funded the ‘free’ magazine (also supported by await to see how our new look OoO might develop advertising) bymob: nearly 07810106325 £2,000 pa. tel: 01797270895 This comes ultimately [email protected] under its new management. from Council Tax, of course, but we have been happy to meet these* FULL costs MUSCULOSKELETAL/ORTHOPAEDIC because of the importance ASSESSMENT of good * SPINAL MOBILISATION; CERVICAL THORACIC AND LUMBAR Good luck to you all communications* MANUAL THERAPY/MASSAGE/TRIGGER in maintaining a flourishing POINT communityTHERAPY and supporting village organisations. * ELECTROTHERAPY Dan Lyward * ACUPUNCTURE It was with this in mind that Wittersham PC took steps Chair Stone-cum-Ebony pc * EXERCISE REHABILITATION early in the pandemic* BACK CAREto ensure AND INJURY that a PREVENTION new Editor could be identified (Sam Collins),* HOME a website VISITS IF wasREQUIRED set up and monthly editions of a reinvigorated magazine were produced and published online while printing and delivery remained impossible, and it paid the costs as they fell. I am delighted that it all went so well under Sam’s inspired leadership and her considerable efforts, and we can now all welcome a return to a printed and delivered edition, benefiting from lessons learnt during the lockdown. A new steering committee has been formed to take the magazine forward, independent from the parish councils except in the matter of financial support, and I wish them well as they take things forward, building on the advantages we have seen from the internet but now to be combined with printed copy. It will be interesting to see how they develop this, and what it can bring to community development in the two parishes as, of necessity, we beginCOUNTRY to rebuild our neighbourly activities as the effects of the pandemic slowly (we hope) recede, and we get moreFURNITURE practiced at living within the remaining restrictions. MADE TO MEASURE Lastly, my thanks to the previousIN SOLID committee WOODS who worked for many years on our behalf, and to those now taking up these rôlesKITCHENS, so we can BEDROOMS,continue to benefit BOOKCASES from our monthly ‘Outlook’. DRESSERS, TABLES, CABINETS Jeremy Smith, Chairman,CALL Wittersham GLEN ON Parish Council T: 01797 270561 M: 07908 858617 04 Story of the Month!

A thought provoking story this month, I hope it inspires some of you budding writers to send something in for the next edition!

STRANGE TIMES

It was time for the daily update from Downing Street – the highlight of her day. Elsie wondered how many more had succumbed or survived, how many died, and how many had gone under in care homes? She wondered how long before they decided to put her in one – tomorrow? Next week? Could there possibly be a tomorrow? And if so, what would it look like?

Sitting in a deckchair she watched the silvery willow trees, the swallows swooping high and low around them. Whatever happened, trees and swallows would still be here long after... She pushed a wisp of faded hair from her eyes and stretched out a hand for the egg sandwich – a hand like a little brown leaf, a gardener's hand. This was her main meal each day.

Her dogs sat on each side in close attendance, damp noses a-twitch as they anticipated the treat to come. Rescue dogs. Anthony, plump and indolent, and Cleopatra, a plotter and schemer, were good friends. The moment had come: two pieces of egg sandwich were offered. Eager jaws snapped shut. The daily ceremony over, they scampered off barking, in search of squirrels. Elsie went indoors and switched on.

As she watched she felt that the speaker, backed by patriotic Union Jacks, was just a little boy, blustering, boasting, hoping to give the impression that he knew what he was doing. His side-kicks batted follow-up questions smoothly and reassuringly. Everyone agreed that whilst the whole thing was an appalling tragedy we would all summon up the war-time spirit and beat the enemy. But the message became less convincing day by day, at least to Elsie. What was the point of living? What would happen to Anthony and Cleopatra if she succumbed? She began to think of a plan...

* * * The dogs shivered together in the back of the van. They had been given their daily treat – a last morsel of egg sandwich at an unusual hour that morning. But they didn't know it was to be their last. As the van bumped and swerved they both felt uneasy; where were they going? Where was Elsie? Standing, buffeted about, they stayed close to each other.

Sun shone, trees fluttered, swallows swooped. Elsie had put a glass of water on a small table beside the deckchair. Beside the glass she aligned a neat row of ten sleeping pills. They reminded her of tiny blue forget-me-nots. Time passed... Suddenly she sprang up, hastening to the telephone, dialling the vet's number. It rang and rang... At last a voice: “How can I help?”

Elsie waited on the pavement, thin arm raised to shield her eyes. The van doors opened and out bounded Anthony and Cleopatra. In the kitchen she prepared the egg sandwich, explaining to the dogs that in strange times human beings make strange decisions. The moment came: two jaws snapped shut with satisfaction. Squirrels ran for their lives as the garden filled with joyful barking. Elsie made a nice cup of tea and switched on the TV.

Gilly Metcalfe RARING TO GO! 05

In March, Coronavirus brought the social life and activities of our community to a grinding halt and the pandemic coincided with the resignation of the Editor and team that produced Outlook on Oxney. So now seems a good time to remind you of the diverse range of clubs and groups that usually meet regularly in our villages and who are raring to go as soon as restrictions are lifted. Keep an eye on the Outlook website (outlookonoxney.co.uk) for updates on when activities are restarting.

OXNEY LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Almost 20 years old and open to all who are interested in the local history of the Isle of Oxney. On our first evening we expected half a dozen people so were surprised when over sixty came and our membership has remained approximately that ever since. Our aims are Research – Record – Inform & Educate and Socialise. The last Tuesday of alternate months at 7.30pm. Clubroom, Wittersham Village Hall and Stone Memorial Hall. Membership £10 per annum Contact: Dave Fletcher, 01797 270701, sndfl[email protected] or Peter Leach, 01233 758404

APPLEDORE ART CLUB meets every Tuesday afternoon 1.00 - 4.00 pm in Stone Memorial Hall. A small group of local amateur artists. We use our own equipment although we do have a large selection of paints and papers for those who like to try something new. Occasionally a visiting artist will do a workshop or talk. A tea-break gives us a chance to admire each other’s work and have a chat, very informal. Membership is £10 per year + £3 when you attend. Contact Denise Stephens 01233 758952 or email [email protected]

OXNEY RURAL BUSINESS GROUP A group of Oxney islanders formed a business group to help promote each other’s businesses at the same time as meeting up and having a drink. We met at members’ premises so we learned how each enterprise operated and members included everything from an Alpaca farm, Classic Jaguar Racing, Website Developers, Motor Repairs to Dog Grooming. It was a lively group with good networking opportunities. Maybe it’s time to restart ORBG? Contact: Peter Burnett. Email: [email protected]

The Stone-cum-Ebony Short Mat Bowling Club meets on Friday evenings at the Stone Memorial Hall, from 7-9pm @ £2 per session (currently suspended due to Covid-19). Most members are comparatively new to the game but a few 'old stagers' help us through and sessions are always fun and sociable. We have equipment available for newcomers, and whether they be established bowlers or first-timers, all are welcome, young and old. If you would like more information about joining, or want to come along just to give it a try, please contact Peter Coleman on Tel; 01233 467005 or email: [email protected] 06 Stone WI The Stone-cum-Ebony WI meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the Memorial Hall at 7.30pm. We enjoy a variety of activities and speakers on a wide selection of subjects, most recently before lockdown on the work of the Air Ambulance, stained glass and hands-on Sushi making ̶ something for everyone we like to think.

We are a friendly and sociable group of local ladies; we're not all about Jam and Jerusalem, and new members can always be sure of a very warm welcome. If you are interested in joining us (once meetings resume after Covid), please contact President, Joan Banks, on 01233 758323.

WITTERSHAM WI We are hoping to have our first meeting in Wittersham Village hall on the first Tuesday in October and at the moment we have changed it to an afternoon meeting. I will update when I know any more. Contact Jean Elliott 01797 270656 [email protected].

Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness Contact Lizzie 07388 575300, www.altaihealing.com. Regular classes in Stone and Warehorne plus online, in my studio or in the garden/on the beach. 1-2-1 sessions also available or small private groups. Suitable for all ages and ability, a time to escape, have giggles and let go.

Wittersham's Wednesday Walkers A NHS/Ramblers sponsored health walk group. We meet every Wednesday morning at 10am for a 10.15am start (pending the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions) at the Church in the village. We walk for about an hour along the footpaths, covering 2 to 3 miles. Anyone can join, I don't need to know in advance, but no dogs, I am afraid. Please join us for a bit of exercise and a chat along the way. Contact: Yvonne Osborne Telephone no: 07944 183798 Email: [email protected] Cost: A donation

WITTERSHAM SHORT MAT BOWLS is played at Wittersham Village hall usually on a Monday evening from 7pm - 9pm. Not yet certain when it will start again. Contact: Jean Elliott on 01797 270656 email [email protected]

Stone-cum-Ebony Memorial Hall The Memorial Hall was built in 1922 in memory of all from the Parish who fought in WW1. A management Committee organises fundraising events throughout the year. The biggest of these is the Pop up Pub, 'The Memorial', which opens its doors three or four times a year. Check out the Pub's Facebook page: Memorial Inn-Stone cum Ebony-Pop up Pub. Various groups regularly use the Hall, and it's also available for private hire. Current hire rates are: Meetings - £5.00p/hr. All other functions - £8.00p/hr. Hire of tables - £2.00 each. Hire of chairs - 0.25p each. Phone 01233 758362. Email: [email protected] 07 WITTERSHAM FILM SOCIETY Films shown first Thursday of the month in Wittersham Village Hall. Doors open 7.15pm, film starts 8.00pm. Membership: £10.00 pa plus £4.00 per ticket. Non members: £7.00 per ticket. We have a digital projector, Dolby surround sound built into the ceiling and a ten foot screen. A bar serves wine and beer at £2.50 per drink. The society has become a social gathering with friends turning up for a drink, a chat and the film. The committee meets every six months to decide future films and at present we have fifty members and are awaiting the lifting of restrictions and the reopening of the Hall. Contact: Nigel Thom 01797 270304. Email: [email protected]

WITTERSHAM FOOTBALL CLB Runs youth teams and a senior team. Junior training has now resumed and takes place on Tuesday evenings at the sports field. League matches begin on Saturday 5th September. We are open to all who wish to play and the annual subscription is £25. For further details contact Club Secretary, Miriam Lewis: Tel: 01797 270335, Mobile: 07950047623, Email: [email protected]

WITTERSHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Hon. Secretary: Laura Mepham 01797 270935 laura.fl[email protected] Open to all in the village. Annual membership of £5 per person entitles the member to discounts from local outlets as well as seed and bulb suppliers (see membership card or annual Handbook). Normally, three Shows per annum plus a Coffee Morning and Christmas Social. Other occasional attractions include talks and visits with member discounts.

WITTERSHAM LUNCH CLUB The third Monday of each month in the Village Hall 11am - 2.30pm. We have Coffee/Tea in the Club Room and then a home-cooked meal in the Village Hall with wine/soft drink followed by coffee/tea. Everyone is welcome; we have 70 + members at present ranging from 12yrs - 92yrs. The charge is £5 to cover costs and contribute toward our Christmas Lunch. Sadly, we are unable to reopen because of Covid but as soon as it is safe and practical to do so we will let everyone know. Contact Name: Joan Gamblin, 01797 270355

Wittersham Yoga I’m Bernie Power and I am passionate about yoga and what it can do for you. After more than 15 years practice I know that, whatever your level of fitness, yoga can: improve stamina, clear the mind, improve flexibility and balance, increase core strength, improve well being, and can be great fun!

I run drop-in yoga classes for men and women. They suit all abilities and are ideal if you are completely new to yoga or want to deepen your practice.

To find out more contact me on 07872026231 08

BINGO First Wednesday every month in Stone Memorial Hall raising money for the Hall funds ̶ Contact Mark and Lizzie 01233 758758. A fun-packed evening of entertainment, cash prizes and a roll-over Jackpot. Come and join in. Free refreshments available but please feel free to bring your own to make a party of it. YOU’VE GOT TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!!

Wittersham Brownies and Guides is for girls aged 7-10 (Brownies), 10-14 (Guides) and 14-18 (Rangers). We meet in Wittersham village hall on Wednesday evenings, Brownies 5.45-7.15 and Guides/Rangers 7.15-8.45. The weekly cost is £2.50 per girl with a small discount for sisters.

We do lots of different activities such as cooking, den building, campfires, singing, crafts, teamwork activities and games. We usually go away on camp every year too.

As of now we are not planning on returning as normal in September in line with guidance from Girlguiding UK but we hope to return soon.

If you would like to register your daughter with us for a place when we do start up again, please do so using this link. https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/register-your-daughter

Viki Webb (Guider in charge) 01233 758950 [email protected]

Stephen Pockley - Electrician Electrical Installations for Householders, Landlords & Businesses

Inspection & Testing - Fault Finding & Repairs Electrical Alterations, Additions & New Installations Fuseboard Changes - Re-Wiring - PAT Testing

Phone: 07941185440 or 01797 280817 Email: [email protected] Web: www.stephenpockley.co.uk

What’s happening 09 Stone-cum-Ebony Scrapbook 2020 Providing an insight to chronicle these times and creating a local archive that can be passed down the generations Tell us your lockdown stories! • How was your lockdown? • What changed? What didn’t change? • How did you cope with home working/schooling or not going out? • What was your experience of shopping or shielding? • Was there an event this year that was cancelled? • Did you Zoom or find other ways to keep in touch? • Send in your photos of your masks, bought or homemade We would love your stories and photos to put in the book so please send yours along, or if you’re not sure then get in touch with the Scrapbookers Sue Lowrie: [email protected] tel: 01233 758560 Mandy Button: [email protected], Sue Wotton, Janet Ledger or Cheryl Paine

Save The Swan Campaign The Steering Group are still committed to the campaign and have met a few times via ‘zoom’ during lockdown. Our plan is to meet again in September, discuss the current situation and plan when we can pick up where we left off.

Best wishes and stay safe. John Newton (Chair) [email protected]

Stocks Mill Stocks Mill, along with the other eight mills owned by Kent County Council, will remain closed for 2020. A risk assessment means it is difficult to open to visitors.

The Friends of Stocks Mill committee places great importance on the health and wellbeing of our volunteers. The mill was treated for beetle infestation before lockdown this year and the usual annual inspections have continued. It was hoped that this autumn the mill would be 'weatherproofed' (painted) and we are waiting to hear from KCC about this. As Hon. Sec. of the Friends, I continue to chase our new KCC heritage manager about this and other projects.

For enquiries, please contact Sue Duff 270295. 10 Wittersham virtual flower show

Dear Wittersham Horticultural Society members and others who may be interested. As you may have heard, sadly the autumn horticultural show scheduled for the 12th of September has been cancelled owing to the continuing prevalence of Covid-19. However, we thought that as a substitute, we would hold a virtual show for anyone, members or not, to enter. There will be no judging and no prizes, but we think this will be a nice way for the residents of Wittersham to come together and share a few images from this spring and summer, which will hopefully raise a smile or two. There will be just 5 classes to enter and all are to be entered as photographs. 1. An Autumn flower arrangement 2. The Ernie Stone dahlia for 2020 (or another dahlia if you do not have this variety.) 3. A trug/basket of homegrown veg 4. Something I've made during lockdown (craft/cookery/woodwork/etc) 5. An image from lockdown. (Photo/painting/any image which has brought you joy) Owing to the fact that not everyone has fast broadband speeds, it would be appreciated if photo sizes are limited to no more than 5mb. Please send the photos to [email protected] AND laura.fl[email protected] by September 7th 2020.

Over 55? Are you finding living independently difficult?

Spires in Tenterden offers independent living in a home of your own with the added security of care and support at hand when you need it. It is not a nursing home, residents who are over 55 have their own front door and access to communal facilities.

These modern and recently built flats all have a patio or balcony, fitted kitchen and bathroom with level access shower. Spires has fabulous communal facilities including a restaurant, lounge and hair salon.

Interested? Call Alex or Sue to arrange a visit 01580 764432

E6612_WK_Spires Advert_P2_AW.indd 1 28/09/2018 12:28 Stone Community Recreation Group11

What a year so far – we are fortunate that in lockdown we live where we do. Our exercise for the day meant we could walk around our field and people did. The brilliant weather we had made it a pleasure.

We purchased some new Reptile Mats to help spotting and there have been some amazing sightings including slow worms, grass snakes, mice and butterflies. Nightingales have been singing and further around the village buzzards, kites and deer have been spotted.

Maybe people have had more time this year to look around them and nature seems to have blossomed. The Willow Tunnel has sprouted and there is plenty of fruit in our community orchard.

It’s excellent to see our field being used so much from just walking round, learning about nature or building dens.

Big shout out to Jack and Neil who have been busy mowing and Dave for strimming.

This is a lovely note we received about our field… Your Nature Reserve

At the moment butterflies are a rare sight in our garden, maybe one or two whites in a day and perhaps a meadow brown or two, so we were very surprised by what we saw in your recreation field walk and wildflower area today.

We stopped counting the many Peacocks, plus 7 Red Admirals, 5 Commas, Small and Large Skippers, a Ringlet, many Meadow Browns and a whole colony of lovely Marbled White butterflies. These last probably wandered from the colony I discovered years ago on the other side of Stone Cliff at the bottom of the hill and found your little bit of wildflower habitat to their liking.

We also saw a very large mature Slow Worm, a Common Lizard, unidentified large dragonfly, plus one Common Darter Dragonfly.

I think your group is to be congratulated on re-establishing such an interesting and varied ecosystem. The wildflower area is small but remarkably successful and deserves enlargement.

It was a joy to walk around there.

Thank you. Phil 12 Stone-cum-Ebony Flower Show and Fete

Normally at this time of year I am writing about what a great successful fete we had – of course, not so this year and it has been greatly missed. However, we did hold a virtual one. Here in Stone we had a thriving Facebook page and it was suggested we gave out seeds so people could grow them during lockdown. Then our idea grew and we posted a Victoria Sponge to Bake (fairly easy ingredients to get hold of) and a photo of Spring Flowers. Although not knowing how it would go, that first week we had nine cakes and eight photos – no judging but eating the cake was your prize. For the following nine weeks we had a different cake and photos, then later on included flowers from your garden – and extra goodies for our V.E. Day picnics sitting in our front gardens. The entries grew and grew and we even had people baking for the first time. We had a break and then for 18th July, which should have been our flower show day, we posted a mini schedule and had over 80 entries and even managed a raffle with people queuing up (at a distance) to buy tickets. We raised £341. Thank you to everyone who donated prizes and bought tickets. Let’s hope that next year we get to enjoy our annual get together in the sunshine. Letter from the Rectory & Vicarage 13

A Letter from the Rectory Dear Friends How lovely to know that Outlook on Oxney is in print again. We have just started services in Wittersham and will hold our first service in Ebony on the first Sunday in September. Sadly we are not able to hold our annual pilgrimage at Ebony. During lockdown we have been lucky that the contractors have been able to work in both churches. The servery in Wittersham is almost finished. The ceiling in Ebony has been repaired.

Thanks to you all who have supported us for these projects and to our contractors for their work. We hope to give you more information next month. Blessings to you all. Rev Judy

From the Vicarage

As I write, Face to Face worship is due to take place in St. Mary the Virgin, Stone-in-Oxney on Sunday 23rd August at 9am. There will be a PCC meeting following the service when we will discuss where we go from there. The likelihood is that there will, for the time being, be a monthly service, possible on the 4th Sunday in the month. We are fast approaching what would normally be a very busy time of the year where the church is concerned, but safety must take precedence. In the meantime, we will continue with our Sunday Zoom services at 10.30am when there is no service in church. If you would like to receive a copy of our weekly ‘Pew News’ with details of the Zoom services, please contact me. God Bless Tricia ([email protected])

www.outlookonoxney.co.uk 14 Sport! Beyond the Boundary

There was a point a few weeks ago when I thought I would not see or hear of a village cricket match this season, or write a report. Thankfully I was wrong!

It did not seem right to have a field all fit to play on, thanks to the dedication of Tevis Knight Snr. Our wonderful pavilion was shut and the sound of leather on willow was not to be heard. And then, all of a sudden, cricket was given the green light! Of course, it had to have restrictions owing to the current COVID situation, with sanitising facilities in place, the changing rooms out of bounds with players coming dressed ready for cricket and social distancing measures in place. But to me, as a past player, (and I may be biased here) the worst part of all was not having Janet’s legendary teas! To me, teas are as important as the game itself and they are definitely a real part of village cricket. You all know my thoughts about playing cricket: it should only be played when the sun shines on your back and the sweat drips from your nose and it is then that showers are very handy. Just the weather for playing as I write this!!

There is no league this year and all games are therefore friendlies. There is only one game per weekend, on alternate Sundays and Saturdays to respect current guidance. The first game of the season was to be against Staplehurst on 19th July. Everything was set for a match, the teams turned up at the same time as the rain appeared and it poured all the afternoon. No cricket. The following weekend on the Saturday it rained again but cricket was played out in the rain against Tenterden. Stone won and soggy players retired to The Ferry for a well-earned pint. The next game was to be against Linton Park away, but unfortunately Stone could not field a side. August 8th saw Stone at home to Smallhythe and an honourable tie was the outcome, with Andy Wilson hitting his first 50+.

As I write, Stone will play on Sunday 16th and a report will follow.

The village was fantastic at supporting last year’s event against the Help for Heroes team. So happy were they with the way the day went that they are returning this year on Sunday 13th September – restrictions willing. As with all matches, do please come and show your support for the teams – they really appreciate it!

And finally. Do you play cricket? Do you want to play cricket? We would love to hear from you if you do. With no pressure of league games, now is an ideal time to turn up and meet the teams and join in. Please contact our secretary Dave Norton (07983 687960) or drop by when you see us playing.

Frank Wenham Sport! 15 WITTERSHAM SPORTS CLUB (WSC) UPDATE

August 2019

Cricket season is up and running and there have been several 20/20 matches. The last match against Beckley was won by Wittersham. They were chasing 182 runs. Well done, Wittersham. We could hear the thunderous applause across the village. Please come down and support us. We post all matches on the WGSC Facebook and Nextdoor Wittersham pages.

The juniors of the Wittersham Football Club (WFC) have now started training and it is wonderful to see the field back in use.

The club room and bar are having a makeover. We have refurbished the ladies and gents toilets and have created a small kitchen area in the main club room for teas. The carpets have been replaced along with flooring. All this has been achieved from the legacy left to us by John (Bub) Paine and a grant received from . Our sincere thanks go to the WSC Committee who has worked tirelessly to achieve all this and, of course, Mervyn Toogood for taking the time to obtain the much needed grant. We still have a long way to go in making further improvements, and your support is needed.

We have also replaced the broken fence at the front of the ground. The funding for this has been achieved from bar takings.

Please note that our subsidiary Wittersham General Sports Club Trading Limited (WGSCT), which operates the club room bar for us, is a Private Members’ Club. To make use of our facilities you need to apply for membership, either through one of the sporting sections OR directly to WGSCT. Membership is currently £25.00 per family per year.

We are keen to introduce as many sports as possible to our village and the WSC is still hoping to arrange a ‘general sports day’ open to all inhabitants of the village. There will be an array of Sporting Activities, along with a BBQ, etc. Please keep a lookout for the date!

If anybody is interested in helping with activities, then please contact our Secretary, Tina Barratt.

I look forward to updating you all on the WSC situation, and activities planned, on a regular monthly basis. Please support us.

Gail Bartlett Wittersham Sports Club

The Glorious Twelfth for Wittersham Cricket

On Wednesday 12th August, Wittersham XI triumphed over Beckley XI. Beckley batting first scored 183, but batting second in fading light Wittersham chased down the challenging total and won on the final ball of the match. Dax made a great contribution to the Wittersham score with over 90 runs.

The cricket season opened in late July this year and Wittersham have hosted several matches already, both mid-week and weekends. Everyone is welcome to come along and watch. Seating is provided, but you can bring your own chairs too and there is plenty of room to socially distance and still enjoy the company.

[email protected] 07737 990380 16 In the garden with Lex Flower Garden Keep going with feeding and dead heading pots and baskets. Snip back Lavender and Hebes just to tidy them up after flowering. You can still cut evergreen hedges now; box and yew should not be left much longer. I like to leave my mixed deciduous hedges until February as the birds find winter food in there as well as roosting places. Now is the time to take cuttings of half hardy plants like Pelargoniums, Osteospermums and Marguerites. You should be able to save seeds from your annuals, like Cosmos, Zinnias and Ammi. Lift and divide herbaceous plants; the soil is still warm so they settle back in easily. It is time to order your spring bulbs, always an enjoyable job. September is a good time to scarify and oversee lawns. With the hot dry weather we had earlier I know my “lawn” looks pretty awful. Grass seed needs temperatures above 10 degrees C to germinate, so if you get it going now it will be fine and have some time to get established.

Veg Garden Sow over wintering vegetables such as turnips, spinach, chard and winter lettuce. Keep broccoli, cabbage and sprouts covered to protect from pigeons. If it isn’t too late, save seed from your beans etc.

Nematodes We suffer from slugs and leatherjackets on the veg plot. If your recently planted seedlings drop dead or simply disappear overnight you might have leatherjackets. These are the larvae of Daddy Long Legs or Crane Flies, fat green grubs which eat the roots of young plants Nematodes are natural predators, microscopic creatures which kill slugs and other garden pests. You can buy Nematodes to deal with these things on line and, depending on the pest you have, many are available. You can buy them on line sent to your home. We bought some for our veg plot and we’ve had hardly any slugs or leatherjackets. As with many things you can’t really tell what it would have been like without them, but I think it was worth the investment. From the same source we bought some whitefly parasites for the greenhouse. They are called Encarsia and they come on a piece of card which you hang in the greenhouse around the Tomatoes. This really does work. Although quite an expense you do get a lot more vegetables for your efforts and avoid the heart ache which plants dying brings.

Someone put a little book through my door, “100 ways to kill a slug”. I think I am always writing about them in this piece! Thank you for that. Lex Datta A Darker Oxney 17

The Isle of Oxney is predominantly rural and on a clear night we should be able to look up and see the stars and the Milky Way really clearly. Sadly, that is not the case because of light pollution. It’s not just the stars we miss out on either, because in the same way that light pollution affects the life pattern of nocturnal creatures like owls and bats, alters the photosynthesis of plants and drives migratory birds off course, it also disrupts our own body clocks, altering our sleep-wake rhythms and melatonin levels which can result in insomnia, cancer and depression.

Light pollution is one of the few environmental problems that we can individually do something about with little effort. If you leave your curtains open at night because ‘nobody can see in,’ have outside lights that flood your property, up-light your house insensitively or don’t switch off garden (and solar) lights when you go indoors, you are a light polluter. Simple ways of reducing the damage you are doing are:

Close your curtains/blinds when you switch on the lights indoors. Turn off decorative garden lights when you go inside. Use dimmers and motion sensors to reduce illumination levels and times. Use warm (not blue or white) coloured LEDs and compact flourescents. Don’t install equipment that spreads light above the horizontal. Put a cap or hood over lights to minimize glare.

Our gardens and the countryside have helped us cope with the difficulties of the pandemic. Whatever the season, a star-filled sky keeps us grounded and connects us to each other and the Universe. Let’s switch out Oxney’s lights, go outside and look upwards – it’ll be Heavenly.

For more information visit: www.darksky.org.

Chris Lee, Stone-in-Oxney. 18 A love of moths

What triggered my interest in moths? Well, It was the sight of a spectacular Jersey tiger moth resting on a graffiti covered wall in Brixton a year or two ago. Just imagine creamy striped forewings and bright orange underwings and there you have it. A daytime flying moth like this will often be brightly coloured to detract predators whilst the more subtle colours of nocturnal moths act as camouflage as they rest during the day. And not only are their markings and colours fascinating but their fanciful names too. These were thought up by Victorian naturalists who often used references from ‘the big house’. So we have ermines, footmen, satins and wainscots amongst others. Otherwise their wonderful names come from their appearance, including such gems as Heart and Dart, Ruby Tiger, Clouded Buff and Yellow-Tail.

There are around 2,500 species of moths in the UK with continental visitors adding to their numbers and no, these are not the clothes moths that you despair of when you find holes in your favourite jerseys. As well as being pollinators, moths play a vital role in the food chain. Birds such as blue tits time their breeding period to coincide with the emergence of winter moth caterpillars in the canopies of natives like oak. They are an important food source too for hedgehogs, amphibians, spiders and bats. Moths feed on both the roots and leaves of native plants, grasses and trees. So, as numbers decline, plant or encourage their favourite foodstuffs. Leave wild strips around the garden and grow foxgloves, thymes and majorams, honeysuckles and verbascums, night scented nicotianas and evening primrose. And leave ivies to run to flower to provide a late season food for both them and for the birds.

Sue Whigham Important Info! 19

Final copy for the Acknowledgements October Edition is Thank you to everyone who has contributed articles, pictures, 15th September! stories, and suggestions for this edition. The support from our loyal advertisers over the years has been greatly appreciated and it supported the magazine as well as bringing local businesses to the attention of our villagers. We hope to cover Wild Boars, All advertisers who had paid in advance for a year’s Cider Making, Halloween & entries but had not yet received the full benefit of ten Harvest in the October edition, editions should by now have received a repayment by cheque of their outstanding balance or been contacted. so please send in any stories, history or info you have on these. We hope to offer online advertising options too in the future!

We need a Story of We welcome your feedback (good and the Month - please bad), suggestions and send in anything contributions for the you think would be magazine and website! enjoyed. Outlook On Oxney - September 2020 utlook September n Oxney 2020

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We currently have a steering committee but we need extra volunteers to complete the team; Distribution - to manage the 3 delivery teams Ebony & Wittersham Reps - to ensure we continue to get great content from the villages We also welcome any other interest!

We will have a general meeting later in the year to get your thoughts/feedback, allow people to volunteer for all roles & hopefully vote in a long term committee.

Have we missed you? Were you a part of the delivery team previously, a group/society leader or perhaps an advertiser? If so, apologies we couldn’t reach you. Please do get in touch with us so we have your details!

The Small Print! All contributions to the website and magazine are subject to Editorial Committee approval. The Editor reserves the right to amend or, if there is insufficient space (for magazine), to omit articles as necessary. We are grateful for the considerable amount of voluntary effort that goes into the typing, layout, preparation and delivery of Outlook on Oxney. The website and magazine is funded by donations from the Parish Councils, subsidised by advertising and other donations. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, we cannot be held responsible for any misinformation, typesetting or errors contained within the magazine. www.outlookonoxney.co.uk