Newsletter April/May 2016
Welcome to our Newsletter. As a small committee, it is always a challenge ensuring all residents are kept informed. We hope this newsletter will prove an effective way of distributing information to you, especially residents who do not have access to the website.
We welcome all residents to get involved. If you would like to add an article/funny quote… for future publication please send Email: mappers1971@hotmail.com.
“What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.
—John Ruskin
Dates for Your Diary
afternoon TEAs
Sunday 24th April 2016 2p.m – 5 p.m
Sunday 22nd May 2016 2 p.m – 5 p.m
Cake donations needed and helpers
coffee mORNING
Saturday 14th May 2016, 10 a.m – 12
Cake donations needed and helpers
Queens Birthday Celebration
Saturday 11th June ‘A Right Royal Do’
Tea Party and Sports Day 10 a.m – 2 p.m
GARDENER’S CORNER
Events
The National Sweet Pea Society Show is at Harlow Carr on 9th & 10th of July. This will be a spectacular display of top blooms.
Constable Burton Hall Tulip Festival
30th April – 2nd May 2016
Weather:
Of late we have seen hail stones and snow so remember late Frosts are still possible – protect any young plants for the next few weeks.
What to do in April/May Plant evergreen trees and shrubs. Spring flowers, such as Tulips and Daffodils – remove dead blooms and leave all foliage to die back – overcrowded daffodil clumps and other spring bulbs can be lifted and divided.
Encourage more wildlife into your garden by planting annuals and perennials to attract insects.
Lawns – apply a spring feed. If using a product containing moss killer, weedkiller along with fertilizer your lawn will look unsightly for a short while but will regenerate again. If necessary, sow some good quality grass seed into the patches. Tip – Allow more seed than recommended to allow for birds. Cut Lawns weekly when dry.
Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges. Hoe off weeds regularly. Bark chippings are reliable way to prevent weeds.
The Committee have received permission from Charles Wyvill to plant a wildflower bed on the Green. If you would like to help we will put a date in the Noticeboard soon. Thank you to Tom for his donation of wildflower seeds – it all helps. Any unwanted shrubs are good for the village pots as rabbits tend to prefer tender foliage.
We look forward to publishing your gardening tips and advice here.
Kids Stuff! Involve your children in the garden this Spring/Summer by creating insect/bee houses using twigs and canes cut up small and terracotta pots up-turned – the ones with a hole in are the best, along with pebbles and stones. Choose a quiet place in your garden and enjoy watching who comes to visit. Our village is alive with all kinds of wildlife, from small voles to the Owls and Raptors. We are fortunate to have such a diverse range of creatures who call our village home.
Spring lambs are everywhere now and a real joy to see, especially with their plastic raincoats on. We had a lost lamb appear a couple of weeks back. Hilly noticed it on The Green approx. 6 a.m one morning crying. It must have got out from the smallholding opposite The Wyvill Arms. The lamb was moved into the paddock opposite Village Farm until it was collected. Well done all involved.
Spring Clean your greenhouse and restock on bags of good quality compost in readiness for Summer planting. HUMAX is an excellent product as it contains silver sand and is not as heavy as other composts, especially for sowing seeds and potting on seedlings. Indoors – Sow tender vegetables such as Sweetcorn, runner and French beans, peas, courgettes, squash and marrow. Plant out in cold frame to harden off and plant out once frosts have past. Next Issue coming soon