Happy Easter!
It was great to be able to work on the plot with more people this week due to the relaxing of the Covid rules. We had cake on both garden sessions in celebration which went down very well, particularly Theresa’s carrot cake on the Saturday morning as it was freezing cold out there. We had a couple of beautiful warm days at the start of the week, and since then it has gradually become colder again with the threat of frost and possible snow to come in the next few days.
We really could now do with a good amount of rain to finally fill that pond to enable us to finish tidying the edges. We have only had 51.3mm of rain in March, and with all the new sowings and plantings, we have managed to empty our water bowser already. We have sown leeks, carrots, parsnips, celeriac and nasturtiums, plus some tree spinach and a few more flowering annuals such as cosmos and French marigolds. We checked the new plantings for any casualties due to damage and replaced them with spare plants, and planted the perennials given to us by Morrison’s last week.
Two spinach beds got planted up, and three with lettuce. We have a few different lettuce varieties in shape and colour to make that salad bowl as interesting as possible. The broad beans got staked, and time will tell if there are enough bees around willing enough to visit their flowers. Some blossom is out on the old plum trees, and the maiden pear trees are trying hard to flower but it would be better if they remained closed for just a few more days until the cold snap has gone.
The kale has gone to flower and so they have been stripped and pulled up, the purple sprouting should be carrying on for a few more weeks as should the spinach from last year and the remains of the chard.
We are waiting on several things to arrive in the post, which does not seem to have been very reliable of late. Our new rhubarb plants have gone astray and we are told they could take up to a couple of weeks to arrive – always a worry when you have live plants in the postal system! We are also waiting for our new tool box which has been on order for weeks!
The situation with the continual bombardment of sycamore seedlings continues. Fortunately a few of our gardeners find pulling them out quite therapeutic and we probably have at least another couple of weeks of attacking them before the plague begins to subside. Happily they make good compost but what a shame they are not edible too.
Incredible Edible news
The Incredible Edible team have been busy filling Cheriton High Street planters with new plants, and continuing work on the new herb garden. The addition of a lovely new cherry tree to the garden is a reminder of the cherry tree orchards that apparently used to flourish in the area.
What’s next?
The Government is seeking views on the use of the current arrangements which have allowed local authorities to hold meetings remotely during the pandemic. They are inviting views from the public, elected members and officers.
If you wish to give your views you can do so using the link below – closing date 17 June 2021.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-authority-remote-meetings-call-for-evidence
With the planned reopening on Sandgate Library from April 12th, we’re pleased to say we can also reopen our Food Bin drop off point for donations to the Folkestone Rainbow Centre Foodbank.
The call on the Foodbank, and their need for donations is greater at this time than ever. They really do need any help and donations you can offer: simply bring them to Sandgate library and drop off in the foodbin.
Waitrose in Hythe, Asda & Tesco in Folkestone, and Sainsbury’s also all have drop off points, and all dried or tinned food donations would make a big difference.
At this moment, there is particular need for long life UHT milk, tinned meat, instant mash, long life orange juice and jams and spreads.
April-21-collection-bin-poster-A4-1-1Thank you.
From Kent Highways: It will be necessary to close Coolinge Lane, Folkestone from 6th April 2021 for up to 2 days.
The road will be closed between the junctions of Sandgate Hill and Bathurst Road.
The alternative route is via Sandgate Hill, Grimston Avenue, Shorncliffe Road and Coolinge Lane.
It is planned that the road will be closed between 09:00 and 16:00 hrs each day.
This is to enable carriageway patching to be carried out by Kent County Council.
Sandgate Parish Council will broadcast this meeting as a video on Facebook live at the time of the meeting itself on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/sandgatepc/ Comments made on the Facebook video during the meeting will not be monitored and are not a way of feeding back to the Council.
Env-Agenda-4-06-04-21
It will be necessary to close Seabrook Road, Hythe from 1st April 2021 for up to 1 night.
The road will be closed outside 11 Seabrook Road (near The Bell Inn).
The alternative routes are via:
Mill Road and Station Road.
B2063 Hospital Hill, B2063 West Road, B2063 North Road, B2063 Military Road, B2063 Risborough Lane, B2064 Cheriton High Street, M20, A20 Ashford Road, A261 Hythe Road, A261 London Road, A259 Military Road, A259 Rampart Road and A259 Prospect Road.
A259 Sandgate Esplanade, A259 Sandgate Hill, A259 Sandgate Road, A259 Earls Avenue, B2064 Shorncliffe Road, B2064 Beachborough Road, B2064 Cheriton High Street, M20, A20 Ashford Road, A261 Hythe Road, A261 London Road, A259 Military Road, A259 Rampart Road and A259 Prospect Road.
It is planned that the road will be closed between 19:00 and 23:00 hrs.
This is to enable manhole cover repairs to be carried out by Southern Water.
Sandgate Parish Council will broadcast this meeting as a video on Facebook live at the time of the meeting itself on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/sandgatepc/ Comments made on the Facebook video during the meeting will not be monitored and are not a way of feeding back to the Council.
Members of the public can ask representations regarding an application. Any comments sent to clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk will be sent to all Councillors prior to the meeting and acknowledged by the meeting. If a member of the public would prefer to speak to the application (for up to three minutes) themselves, they can do so by emailing clerk@sandgatepc.org.uk at least 2 working days before the meeting asking to speak to Planning committee, specifying on which application. Members of the public joining a Council meeting to make a representation will be asked to follow the protocol at https://sandgatepc.org.uk/public-speaking-at-online-meetings-of-sandgate-parish-council-protocol/
Planning-Agenda-06-04-21-doc
Do you have some special memories of Folkestone you’d like to share for a new community project?
Perhaps you used to visit the Rotunda regularly and met your partner there. Did you gaze in wonder at the rock being made in the Old High Street? Maybe you used to have a secret den in the Warren?
Or maybe you know someone in your family, or a friend who likes to wax lyrical about their memories or has some funny anecdotes?
Hand of Doom Productions, a Folkestone-based community interest company, would love to hear your memories and share them as part of a project called Folkestone StoryMap: Your Stories.
You can record your stories using a smartphone, or via a Zoom call, and then send them in. They’ll then be added to Folkestone StoryMap audio trail in the Lower Leas Coastal Park which launched at the end of last year. The trail uses QR codes fixed to a site specific location and are accessed via smart phones to listen to the stories.
Michele Sheldon, of Hand of Doom Productions, said:
“Everyone is aware that Folkestone has changed greatly over the last few years, with the loss of much-loved landmark attractions like the Rotunda, and there’s almost a sense of loss from people who remember the town as another place. We’d love to record memories of the town for posterity.”
Michele, along with fellow directors Ribs Norman and Jude Sach, is looking for stories of up to two minutes. Stories can be recorded stories either over the phone or via Zoom with help and advice available at folkestonestorymap.co.uk, or if you’d like more help to record your story, you can use the contact form on the website to get in touch.
Your Stories is being funded by the National Lottery Community Fund through the Local Connections Fund.
Please visit folkestonestorymap.co.uk for full details.