The Council meeting held on Monday 9th February was attended by four Councillors, the District Councillor, the County Councillor and one member of the public. The following are extracts from the minutes that the Council need to approve at the March meeting.

The Council noted that planning permission had been granted by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The Council noted that the appeal that had been lodged with the First Secretary of State following the refusal of SODC to grant planning permission had been dismissed by the Inspector.

The Chairman informed the Council of a briefing at SODC on the new waste collection and street cleaning service that will be introduced in June this year. The events will take place on 3, 4 and 5 March. The Council discussed the proposed new service and were extremely concerned that the new service could present real issues within the village. The Council RESOLVED that the clerk should write to SODC expressing the Council’s concerns and to emphasise the need for a carefully planned implementation.

At this point in the meeting Cllr Stuart McGill and Cllr Alison Shelton declared a prejudicial interest and vacated their place at the Council table.

The Council elected Cllr David Wakeling to chair this agenda item.

The Chairman reported that the IPS had responded to the draft lease and had tabled a number of points that required clarification. The Chairman explained that the Clerk had sought a legal opinion on all of the points that had been raised. The Council RESOLVED to discuss the major concerns and as result it was RESOLVED that the Clerk would formally respond to the IPS after taking further legal advice although it appeared that all the major issues had been satisfactorily resolved.

The Clerk informed the meeting that the Council had received a letter from Mr Emmett’s solicitor that indicated he was happy to see the proposal proceed but reserved the right to enforce the covenant and to recover the overage if the situation changed from a non-profit making shop. The letter included a proposal to give formal consent if the Council wished to pursue that option. The Council RESOLVED to ask the Clerk to ascertain the likely legal costs in connection with this matter as the Council would be responsible for any costs. This matter will be considered when the estimate of the legal costs is available.

Cllr David Wakeling raised the issue of water leaking from the bank in Gold Street although this issue has already been taken up OCC Highways. He also highlighted the storm drain adjacent to the school that continues to be a problem in extreme weather. The Clerk stated that he would take up the matter with Thames Water. He also highlighted the deteriorating road surface adjacent to the traffic lights on Church Hill and the Clerk stated that he would speak to OCC Highways.

Cllr Mabel Wood requested that the Council put pressure on SOHA to increase the security for some of the bungalows in Old Field following the recent break-in to the home of an elderly resident. The Council were fully supportive and asked the Clerk to raise the matter with a degree of urgency.

District Councillor John Nowell-Smith informed the meeting that SODC Council tax for 2009-10 would increase by just under 3% and County Councillor David Turner reported that the County Council would increase their Budget by 3.75%.

The Parish Council will meet on Wednesday 11th March 2009 at 8.00 p.m. in The Pine Lodge Little Milton unless there is a need to convene any planning or other meetings.

Residents can see the records of the policies and practices of the Parish Council

including minutes, financial information and responses to planning

consultations, on request from the Parish Clerk.

Your bin will be collected on the same day as your normal refuse and recycling. Please ensure however that your bin is placed in a safe place that does not obstruct the pavement or highway. The dates for March are as follows:-Tuesdays 3rd, 17th

Please note the new schedule for Community Waste Collection has been greatly reduced in line with the reduced demand.

As part of the County Council’s on-going improvement programme for Oxfordshire’s Waste Recycling centres (WRCs) the Oakley Wood Site will be closed for refurbishment from 23 March for approximately 3 months. The improvement work will be carried out before the introduction of the new waste collection service which starts in June. During the redevelopment residents are advised to use the alternative sites.

NEW WASTE SERVICES – COMING JUNE 2009

In January 2009 Verdant was selected as the company to run South Oxfordshire District Council’s new waste collection and street cleansing services, which it’s providing jointly with the Vale of White Horse. The service will lead to a massive increase in recycling through a completely new approach to waste collection.

The new service, which starts in South Oxfordshire in June will include;

weekly food waste collections in kerbside bins

fortnightly collections of recycling in wheeled bins

fortnightly residual (non recyclable) waste collections in wheeled bins

continuing with the opt in garden waste service in wheeled bins (charged for service)

Under the new scheme food waste, which currently goes to land fill will be collected separately every week for composting and people will be able to recycle more items than ever through their kerbside collections.

In South Oxfordshire residents will be able to recycle glass, tetra paks and aerosols from the kerbside for the first time - as well as the usual materials like paper, cardboard, tins, cans and plastics. This will help us to recycle more than 50 per cent of our rubbish for the first time ever.

Recycling will be collected fortnightly in wheeled bins and any waste that cannot be recycled will be collected on alternate weeks from wheeled bins. Food, including cooked food, dairy products and meat as well as "green" food waste, will be collected weekly in caddies, with a second smaller caddy, which people can store in the kitchen.

Separate arrangements will be made for people in flats or households where it is difficult to store wheeled bins, but the intention is to ensure the same level of service for all residents. Assisted collections for people with mobility problems will continue.

Crews will be using on-board technology so the council can monitor progress on their rounds for customer service purposes. The bins will be micro-chipped to help with this and track missing bins. The microchips will also help to monitor participation and performance of the service by measuring the waste and recycling so we can make any improvements through targeted education.

The council has no intention of introducing a pay by weight scheme however there is a significant risk that during the lifetime of the contract changes required by Government (e.g. some form of waste charging) may require the use of chip technology.

Verdant, which currently operates the garden waste scheme for South Oxfordshire, will also be responsible for street cleaning in both districts. The contract for the new services was awarded after months of negotiations with bidding companies. The multi-million pound deal not only offers an improved service to residents and contributes to a better environment but will also deliver increased recycling credits of almost £200,000 and significant savings of up to half a million pounds to be shared between the two councils. This will free up cash to protect other vital council services.

Full details and guidance will be sent to all residents and made available on the councils’ websites in advance of the new service starting.

Spring is just around the corner and I have arranged to collect the necessary equipment from SODC so that the village can be blitzed on Saturday and Sunday 21/22 March. There is a wider campaign across Oxfordshire during March. If you think that you could help during the weekend of 21/22 March please contact me on 01844 279150.

W/E 7th March - Mrs A. Hawkins/Mrs. S. Jones

W/E 14th March - Mrs. M. Davies/Mrs S A Dennis

W/E 21st March - Mrs L. Lovegrove/ Mrs C Coward

W/E 28th March - Mrs E. Summers/ Mrs A Jones

W/E 4th April - Mrs. G. Taylor/Mrs H Ridley

Well, what a stroke of good fortune! A vacancy has arisen on the rota as suggested in the January Newsletter! Sarah Jones has kindly given up her place on the rota to enable someone new to have the chance of cleaning the Church with Anne Hawkins (see below for Anne’s date this month in March). So hurry quickly and be the first to apply and be certain of a place at our midsummer cleaners supper in June…Don’t delay for a moment longer or you could be disappointed…either talk to Anne or me ASAP!

The flower rota is suspended during March as it is Lent. I will require volunteers to decorate the church for Easter but information will appear in the April newsletter.

Tuesday 3rd March - 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Sunday 8th March - 10.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.

Quarter peal 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.

Tuesday 10th March - 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Tuesday 17th March - 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

Tuesday 24th March - 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm

This always takes place on the second Monday in the month in the Common Room at Fullers Field, Great Milton at 6.00 p.m. and lasts about 35 minutes. The service is a simple one of hymns, readings and prayers. If you are available then do come along and a warm welcome will always await you. There will be a service on Monday 9th March in the Common Room at Fullers Field at 3.00 p.m. (NEW TIME)

Staying with a family can be quite a salutary experience. It certainly was for me when I stayed with a friend of mine and his family. The wife said that for her, the start of the day was always a scramble, as she got herself and her family ready for all the various activities. She had often been proud of her ability to multi-task, organising breakfast whilst finding stray pieces of school uniform, checking homework, writing notes to teachers and finishing the various chores. She also sometimes noticed with bemused frustration the less energetic but more focussed progress of her husband who carefully got himself prepared for the day and sat at the table waiting for the children to make themselves ready to leave. She confessed that she had often thought that her husband really depended upon all that she did, but when her work took her away for a few days, the family coped ‘annoyingly well’ without her.

It was later that that incident came into my mind as I read the account in the gospel of the household of Martha and Mary. Martha and Mary were two sisters who were friends of Jesus. If you recall the event, one was so keen to welcome Jesus as a guest in her house that she rushed about doing tasks for him and became exhausted, whilst the other showed her love by simply sitting at his feet and listening to his words. Jesus commends Mary for her way of being above Martha’s busy activity. Perhaps Jesus is offering a gentle challenge to our modern society which tends to favour productivity and action above making time and space for others. "Martha, Martha you worry and fret about so many things and yet few are needed"

There is I believe something of the Martha in us all. We have all found that being busy can be truly creative, and a degree of stress can be effective. But there comes a time when we begin to realise that being constantly active can have a negative side to it. We are tempted to think that we are only helping others when we are busy on their behalf. It’s a hard lesson for us to learn that sometimes by not doing things, can we create more space in which others can grow. And that can empower and be far healthier for everyone.

We are in Lent: that special parenthesis in the Christian Year when we find time deliberately to still ourselves and reflect on things more than we otherwise might. Perhaps we can find a space to steel ourselves away from our fretting and fussing, to be like Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to his words. We might, much to our surprise, find it empowering, and help us to create more space in our lives in which those around us can grow.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Sunday 29th March following on immediately from the Evening Service which will begin at 6.30 p.m. and you are all invited to attend. This meeting does give you all who have St. James’ on your heart to come along and see what’s been happening, and how we are doing. There will of course be various elections-Churchwardens and PCC, for instance, and to hear reports, such as, on the fabric, our finances, our Sunday School and so on, but it does give you dear people of Little Milton the opportunity to come along and to ask the questions you want to ask, and also the opportunity to discover how we can better serve our Lord in our parish in 2009.

Every year our Electoral Roll has to be updated, and in this connection if you would like to be on our Church’s Electoral Roll then have a word with me, or Paul Jeffrey (1, Chiltern View) or Raymond, and we would be only too pleased to help you. We look forward to seeing you.

FROM THE RECTORY.

LENT IN OUR PARISHES,

By the time you read this, we shall be well into Lent, that special time of reflection of steeling ourselves away from our daily round and common tasks, to find a space and consider what we feel is amiss with ourselves and our world and to be inspired and encouraged to think of how we can play our part in putting things right. That will mean different things to different people, since our circumstances are so very different.

To help us there will be the usual services of the contemplative service, lasting about 30 minutes, called Compline on a Wednesday evening and Holy Communion at 9.00 a.m. each Friday, and these services will rotate around the Benefice week by week. Please see the list of Service for the dates and venues. People have said just how much they have appreciated the stillness of the Compline Services and I would encourage you to come along.

MOTHERING SUNDAY is the fourth Sunday in Lent and this year falls on the 22^nd March. The Benefice Mothering Sunday Family Service will be held in St. Mary’s, Great Milton at 10.00 a.m. This is a real opportunity for us all along with our families and friends, and especially our children, to come together to give thanks and praise for all that we have received through our mothers. So 10.00 a.m. on Sunday 22^nd March in St. Mary’s.

LENT LUNCHES

These lunches are being held around the benefice on four Mondays in Lent. After the bitterly cold winter weather these lunches will give us an opportunity to get out and about to enjoy each other’s company and meet old friends and make new ones. You are all welcome, every one of you. They is no need to book simply arrive and take you place between say 12 and 1.30 p.m. Any donations may be placed in a bowl or dish to be given to Christian Aid.

The venues this year are as follows:-

Monday 2^nd March The Old Vicarage, Great Milton, by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Hood.

Monday 9^th March Simeons, Gold Street, Little Milton, by kind invitation of Mrs. Lawrence.

Monday 16^th March, The Old School House, Back Way, Great Haseley by kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. D. Maloney.

Monday 23^rd March, The Bell House, The Green, Great Milton, by kind invitation of Mrs. Jane Falloon.

We look forward to seeing you all.

CONFIRMATION

Over the last few weeks, a group of our young people have been preparing for Confirmation, and this will be held on SUNDAY 29^th MARCH in DORCHESTER ABBEY at 10.00 a.m. by Bishop Colin of Dorchester.

That Particular morning, there will be no Benefice Communion Service in our benefice, and instead we are all invited to join with our Young People in Dorchester Abbey.

There will be, however, a Service of Holy Communion in St. Mary’s, Great Milton at 8.00 a.m. that day. Later that day at 6.30 p.m. there will be an evening service in St. James, Little Milton, followed by their Annual Parochial Church Meeting.

FULLERS FIELD ECUMENICAL SERVICE.

Because of the dark and chilly evenings of winter, it was thought that the earlier time of 3.00 p.m. would be more suitable for those who like to attend this monthly service in the Fullers Field Common Room on the second Monday in the month. The next Service will be on the 9^th March at 3.00 p.m.

A WORD OF WELCOME SEEN ON A CHURCH DOOR.

Enter this door as if the floor with were gold and every wall of jewels,

All of wealth untold,

As if a choir in robes of fire were singing here,

Nor shout,

Nor rush,

But hush!

For GOD is here.

Perhaps there’s something in this for us all to think about during Lent.

We’ve begun our Lenten Spring teaching programme based on the story ‘Guess how much I love you’ and we’ve had a tidy up and a sort out of our materials and Notice Boards…thanks to the extra help kindly offered.

This month our dates and places are:

March 1st 11-12.30 Brunch at the Wakeling’s home

March 15th 11-12.30 Saint James Church

We welcome any child over the age of 4 years with or without their parent(s). You can either just turn up or phone for a chat first to see what we’re all about.

The prize wining numbers were drawn by the Little Milton School Children at their Good Work Assembly and were as follows:

1st Prize No 45 Sarah Simmonds £14.00

2nd Prize No 48 Christina Derrick £10.00

3rd Prize No 7 Jill Hoban £6.25

‘For the first in years it is planned to hold a Summer Fete in the grounds of the Manor House. This is planned for the afternoon of Saturday, 23^rd June and it is hoped that everyone on the village will come and support this fund raising event.

Many residents have observed that although the village community has so many excellent features for which we must count ourselves lucky, village life deserves a good, fund raising garden fete each summer. We hope that if this fete is a success, it will become an annual summer feature.’

Well we now know that this year we will celebrate our 25th anniversary and you can now put a date in your diary of Saturday 21st June in the Manor Grounds. The ethos of our fete has grown over the past twenty five years and we all look forward to another special day on the 21st.

The next meeting will be on Monday 2nd March at the home of Gill Taylor - 40 Chiltern View - from 11.30am.

Everyone welcome, stitchers, knitters, crafts and especially chatters!  Just ring Gill on 278617 to confirm and for lunch numbers.

We are delighted to have been asked by Cumnor Singers to join forces for two performances of Haydn’s inspiring and uplifting work "The Creation". The first performance will be at Cumnor on Saturday 21st March and the second here in Great Milton on Saturday May 9th

reat Milton Singers is a friendly medium-sized choir and we welcome new singers! If you think you would be interested in joining us to perform in this, and future concerts please contact Kate Pattinson ( 279204) or Alex Kirkman (279090). We rehearse on Thursdays at 7.30pm at The Bell House, Great Milton.

Next Meeting: Our AGM will be held on Thursday, 12th March at 7:45 pm at The Pine Lodge, Little Milton.

Our last meeting saw the return of popular speaker, Christine Whild, to talk about Easter traditions. Christine demonstrated how to blow a hen’s egg to make a traditionally-decorated Easter egg. Her collection of exquisitely hand-decorated eggs with amazing patterns fascinated many members.

President: Sylvia Kirby 279416 Secretary: Heather Peers 279352

Press Reports: Lyndell Dixon 279275

The first signs of spring are beginning to show, trees have started to open their buds and birds are now preparing for the nesting season. Our next work party will probably be the last chance we will get to plant any more hedging for a while. Our focus will continue around the allotments until June, when we can start carrying the annual wildlife survey work, monitoring species of butterfly, mammal and dragonfly.

Our next work party will be on March 8th from 10.30am until 1pm at the allotments. Jobs planned are: Spring tidy, hedging, mulching and the movement of one of the allotment boundaries. Anyone is invited, even if you can spare just an hour. The work-party for April is provisionally on the 5th, which Phil Jones will lead.

There will be an allotment holder's meeting on 4th March at the Lamb from about 7.30pm where BBOWT will outline the future plans, and seek feedback from the group. There will also be a BBOWT lead work-party at Wells Farm allotments on 25th March from about 10am to complete the tidying.

Finally, during late January, there was a significant increase in the amount of doggy-doings in the allotment site. We would appreciate it if dog walkers would clear the mess up afterwards or access may have to be restricted in the interest of health.

There is no need to speculate any more as to what the winter is going to be like, and although we have had some pretty horrendous weather, it could have been worse. I would guess it will not be quite so cold from now on because as the days get longer the temperatures will begin to rise; the most recent cold snap was not quite as cold as the previous spell.

Not only have the temperatures to warm up but we now need a period of dry as the ground is now really saturated. Certainly after the recent bout of snow and rain (amounting to 2 inches by the 12^th Feb), the flooding was worse than I have ever seen in this area. Those poor soles whose houses were flooded once again will know all about that. It seems we have still not learnt that if water courses are not kept clear we will get flooding.

As many will know we are in the throws of a house swap. Part of this process is to renovate one of the cottages for Heather and me, whilst this happens we are living in a caravan, not ideal in the weather we have just experienced, however we have survived so far. As the caravan is sited on the edge of a field we have a wonderful vantage point to observe the wildlife across the valley. So the red kites are observed closely as are the many rooks, the odd muntjak and every so often our resident roe deer. The other day we observed the process where the deer start to sort their herd out by ostracising one of their numbers and then there was a spectacular fight amongst six hares. Fighting aside, it was good to see that number of hares about.

The present financial climate is presenting its own problems for the farming world particularly the organic sector and this has created quite a discussion in the media. It affects not only farmers but also those who administer the rules, creating a number of problems. These are not really a big problem to the organic farmer who runs a mixed farm (in other words a farm that has crops and livestock), but is of more concern to those who have specialised into one particular enterprise as is the general trend nowadays. The most dramatic effect is on the dairy sector and those dairy farmers that are currently converting to organic production. A lot of the food that a dairy cow requires has to be bought in and it is this food, meeting strict organic criteria, that has escalated in price. Conversely, the price they receive for their milk is being reduced as we the general public are find it difficult to justify paying extra for something conceived to be the same as cheaper ordinary milk.

Anyone could be excused for saying that that’s business; unfortunately it is not quite as simple as that. There are other issues that cloud the whole thing and these are why the certifying bodies such as the one I am involved with have a major problem. Possibly the worst example is as follows: A farmer is approached by his milk purchaser to convert to organic as there is now such a high demand, and as the government wishes to encourage this course of action, give a conversion grant. This grant is to help finance the income drop over the three or so years conversion period. If the conversion is not completed all the grant money has to be repaid. Now, the milk purchaser is saying to these converting farmers "Oh! We’re sorry, because of the financial situation people are not buying organic milk therefore we don’t want yours and we will only pay you the conventional milk price". The farmer is then facing the dilemma, does he withdraw his organic status and have to repay all the grant money or does he loose money on every pint he sells hoping that things will improve?

What we have proposed is a sort of holding process, or "organic holiday", in that he continues to farm the land organically but is able to feed the cows ordinary cheaper food and sell his milk through the normal channels. Now, of course the purists will say that is not truly organic and to a certain extent I would agree, but when you are dealing with someone’s livelihood what else do you do. It is almost the same scenario as the Mini workers i.e. not fair but what are the alternatives?

Phew! Sorry about this rather long winded paragraph but I just wanted to try and explain this difficulty that the organic farming world is facing and like all farming sectors no one has the resources to stand this sort of financial pressure.

On a lighter note, I mentioned last month that by now our new poultry unit should be in full production. Well that was a little premature. I think this was possibly due to the cold weather. We are as I write actually getting 2, yes 2 eggs a day! But hopefully soon we shall be able to supply all those who wish to get their eggs from us. Just give us a call. This is a venture that is trying to follow the trend for more local food and less food miles etc, if it is successful who knows we may do more, and expand our very small beef & pork trade.

5 a-side football continues on Wednesday, 8.00 – 9.30 pm. £2.00 per session. All welcome, aged 16 or over.

If you want to lose that Christmas flab, please come along. All levels of skill are on show(!). There is a very friendly, non competitive atmosphere. Give it a try.

Moles continue to be a problem on the rec, but we are trying to keep on top of them

Saturday 7th. Meet at Thornhill Park & Ride (Oxford) at 09:30am for a 12 mile walk through Shotover House grounds, Horspath, Garsington and Brasenose Wood. Pub stop. 01865 874300.

Thursday 12th. Meet in Tetsworth (west end of the village green) at 10:00am for a 7 mile circular walk via Adwell and Stoke Talmage. Optional pub stop at the end. 01844 213608.

Saturday 21st^t. Meet in Horton cum Studley (park at the Millennium Hall) at 10:00am for a 10 mile walk to Otmoor and its seven towns. Pub stop. Sorry, no dogs allowed. 01865 358905

Saturday 28th. Meet at Hambledon (car park at the rear of the Stag and Huntsman PH) at 09:30am for a 13 mile walk via Henley. Hills and woods. Pub stop. 01844 339969.

On Monday, the 19th January, a meeting was held in Fullers Field to discuss this year's outings programme.  There were lots of ideas and suggestions and eventually eleven trips were agreed.  Celia will now follow these up.  Our first meeting of 2009 took place on the 29th January.  Our main topic was to discuss this year's programme; once again lots of ideas were talked over.  The Sheppard Trust has awarded us a contribution of £1,600 for which we are very grateful.  We must use this very carefully as with interest rates so very low now we do not know if anything will be forthcoming next year.  Our next meeting on the 12th February was our A.G.M. at which the Chairman's and Treasurer's reports were presented.  It was agreed that the annual subscription should remain at £3 and that all Committee members should continue in their positions.  We now have 26 members.  The Pickett Cup was won jointly by Tricia Harris and Joyce Price who will each keep it for six months.  Wednesday, the 18th, saw us off on our first outing of the year.  This was to Bablockhythe; a very dismal day weather-wise but 49 of us had a great time.  We enjoyed a lovely lunch followed by an afternoon of skittles. 

 Wed 11th - Outing London tour including British Library, restored St Pancras Station and new-look London Transport Museum

                  in Covent Garden.

Thurs 12th - Berlin Airlift by a pilot who was there. Talk by Sq Ldr A Garrett M.B.E. - 2.15 p.m.

Thurs 26th - Fish and Chip lunch - 1.00 p.m.

As I mentioned in last months Newsletter, we hope to begin work on the new Village Shop, Post Office, and Coffee Shop in the next few weeks.

Everyone who offered a donation, loan or offered to buy shares back in May of last year has been written to, and I am delighted to say that at the time of writing this, we have received cheques for loans and donations of just over £5,500. This is nearly 50% of the total funds pledged back in May. Thank you again for all those who have contributed so far.

Obviously, since last year, the credit crunch has bitten many, so we fully understand if you find yourself unable to make the same offer today as last year, but we would ask for as much as you can afford, either as an interest free loan, or as a donation.

If you missed the chance, you can still make a contribution by writing to or phoning me. As you will know, the shares cannot generate dividends (prohibited by the grant donors) but you will still feel part of a vitally important village amenity run for the benefit of the community, not as a private commercial venture.

‘The Duchess’

If you want advice or general information call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. This is a 24 hour service staffed by nurses who can give confidential advice and information on what to do if you are unwell, have any health concerns and give contact details or self help or support organisations. You can also visit their website at www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

If you need to visit a GP or health professional outside of normal working hours you can call our service on 0845 345 8995. We will then arrange for you to see the right health professional in the right place. This service runs from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours over weekends and bank holidays.

In an emergency please call 999 to talk to the ambulance service.

Bring useful old stuff that you no longer need; take away FREE stuff that is useful to you. If you are bringing stuff it needs to be in the hall no later 10:30am.

You can now bring (small) electrical items that are in working order – we can PAT test them.

Bringing is not compulsory – call in and see if there is something you want to take.

RECYCLING: You can also bring used printer cartridges, old mobile phones, Tetrapaks, plastic milk bottle tops, batteries and foil milk bottle tops for us to recycle.

Refreshments available (small charge)

Run by Wheatley Community Action Group

Reuse, recycle and keep stuff out of landfill!

Tasks for March in the garden.

Fork over and remove weeds from the vegetable garden, dig out potato trenches and fill with compost, top dress asparagus beds with manure or general fertilizer.

Unless the soil is excessively wet plant out onion, and shallots sets, and potatoes. Sow lettuces, radish, and salad onions, and prepare nursery beds to sow Brussels sprouts, cabbages and leeks. Root crops such as parsnips, turnips, beetroots, and carrots can also be sown, making sure that you do not sow them in ground that has been manured. In the greenhouse sow peppers, aubergines basil and tomatoes, if not already done. In the flower garden weed and apply a general fertilizer, or top dress with mushroom compost, general compost, or a mulch, to retain moisture through the summer and reduce weeds. Plant out hardy perennials, and autumn sown sweet peas. Sow hardy annuals such as Godetia, candytuft, poppies, cornflowers, and love-in-the-mist, where they are to flower. Continue to deadhead daffs and narcissi, and divide clumps of Snowdrops to give a larger show next year. Continue to feed the birds, and watch out for slug damage, and take precautions.

If you would like to become a member of the Great Haseley and District Horticultural Society, for £5 you can and enjoy our garden visits, talks and entering produce into the show in August please call Sally Orriss on 01844279231

Dripwell House has a 3-acre mature garden set on a terraced slope, well known for unusual shrubs, azaleas and rhododendrons.  Gower House has a small plantsman’s garden on the site of the old vegetable garden.

A ten-acre garden laid out in 1925 as a series of smaller gardens on different levels including huge borders full of unusual plant varieties, a water garden, a new rose garden, innovative planting in terrace pots, a herb garden and a newly established wildflower meadow.  There is a nursery with plants propagated from the garden.

Meet: 10.30 at Dripwell House

Transport: own cars – directions with confirmation

Lunch:  café serving light lunches in the stable yard of Coton Manor from 12.00 when the gardens open or bring a picnic

Cost:  For all three gardens, £10.00 members, £15.00 non-members.

This is the home of garden writer and designer Mary Keen who will give us a personal tour.  There are collections of galanthus, hellebores, auriculas and many half-hardies. The garden is designed to make the most of its beautiful setting and to create a peaceful atmosphere with many different areas of changing levels. 

An extraordinary contemporary garden created by Christine Facer combining the best of old tradition with stimulating new modern design.  Near the house there are courtyards, huge borders, wide terraces, herb beds and topiary which are in complete contrast to the contemporary garden with its bamboo maze, slate starburst black pool and six stone balls in the cosmic evolution garden representing planets.

Meet:  10.30 at Daglingworth House

             2.30 Througham Court

Transport:  own cars – directions sent with confirmation

Lunch: we suggest The Bell at Sapperton or bring a picnic

Cost: For the two gardens to include tea and home-made cakes at Througham, £20.00 members, £25.00 non-members.

Great Haseley and District Horticultural Society AGM

Tuesday 2.00 – 7.00 p.m: Wednesday 9.30 am. - 1.00 pm.: 2.00 5.00 p.m.