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The Grapevine Magazine October 2003 Issue No 184
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You may have noticed how great the 'Icknield Way' is looking since the County Council improved the surface. There has been a lot of money spent on our stretch of the Chilterns and now it is up to us to follow the voluntary code of conduct and keep it that way. The "Friends of the Ridgeway" are campaigning for a ban on 4 wheel drive vehicles, especially during the Autumn and Winter months. To find out more you can visit their website. The recreation ground has really suffered during the hot weather, but on the plus side the grass hasn't needed to be cut for a long time! Hopefully with a little help and rain it will be better in time for the football season. However, the problem of owners not clearing up their dogs' mess is continuing. The lads from Thame and pupils from Lewknor School play sport every week and they really should not be confronted by a disgusting mess, as well as the disease it can carry. Last year it became an offence not to clear up after your dog, with up to £1,000 fine in court. The pupils and Krakatoa Playgroup regularly have to dodge piles of mess left on the narrow road, so please carry a bag and use the costly bins provided. Otherwise you might be prosecuted. Recently the County Council have been trying to agree on the plans for Junction 6 bus stops for the Tube. You may have seen the traffic survey being carried out. As soon as these have been agreed, we will be able to view the drawings and display them in the parish. Many comments have been received about the amount of litter by the side of the B4009, especially around the bus stops and along the A40. The South Oxfordshire Environmental Health Department are the people who deal with these sorts of problems and they can be contacted on 01491 823416.
The Planning Department at SODC has posted all the necessary paperwork for the air conditioning unit, so we shall await their decision. Nelson has a new helper to work in the shop on a Wednesday and at the weekend. He would like to apologise if you found the shop not open recently, however, he was finding it difficult to do the Cash & Carry during the day. You may have seen the notice about the off licence starting - after the meetings with the police and authorities he hopes to be up and running in October. He may do a local survey to understand what you might want and overhaul the products on the shelves. So please take time to explain what you need or ask for the blue book to write it in.
It was very kind of Mrs Watt to let us all share her garden once again for the Annual Horticultural show. The weather was beautiful, and over 150 people helped the school raise just over £1,000. It was so sunny we ran out of ice creams, however, the lovely homemade cakes that pupils' parents had made kept everyone going! There are just too many people to thank individually for all their help and support for this annual show, but please accept our thanks from the Friends of Lewknor School and the teachers. All the money raised will help the school continue to provide extras over and above the curriculum, such as workshops, trips and equipment. The trophies were awarded as follows:- THE MIDDLETON CUP: for the overall winner of the Show Caroline Notley THE RIDONE CUP: for the runner up Christine Smith THE GIFKINS CUP: for the best entry in the Show S Kotvics for photography THE SCOTT CUP: for the family with the highest combined no. of points The Andersons THE ROSE BOWL: for the best flower arrangement in the show Christine Smith THE JUNIOR SHIELD: for the winner in the Junior section (under 15) Sarah Greensmith
The full results of the competition, with judges comments, are as follows: 1st Prize - ALABASTER CUP - best overall garden Mr & Mrs Dulake Wycombe House, High Street, Lewknor STUNNING - SUPERB DESIGN, IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN 2nd Prize - TROTMAN CUP Mr & Mrs Ritchie 21 High Street, Lewknor A LOVELY GARDEN REPAYING THE OWNERÆS HARD WORK 3rd Prize - DESBOROUGH CUP Mrs Woodruffe Hounds Mead, Lower road, Postcombe BEAUTIFULLY TENDED GARDEN HIGHLY COMMENDED: Adwell Farm Cottage, Postcombe Bold, striking planting, well-maintained Wheatfield House, Lewknor Close, Lewknor Charming patio, great leaf colours & textures 25 Weston Road, Lewknor Lots of potential in this developing garden COMMENDED: Elsdale Cottage, Postcombe Lovely front garden & textured landscaping Elm Cottage, Postcombe Attractive large garden still in development Plovers Weald Very successful extension of living area & clever use of space We thought you would like to hear some more of the judges comments:- 2A Hill Road, Lewknor Demonstration of good use of space 1 The Glebe,Lewknor Interesting collection of contrasting plants 4 Watlington Road, Lewknor Charming, full of ideas and surprises 14 Watlington Road, Lewknor Charming, tranquil garden which draws the viewer in Beech Farm, Postcombe Attractive patio & well-maturing planting 4 Beacon View, Lewknor The very best vegetable garden we saw Old Post Office, Lewknor A lovely open garden with impressive vegetables 1 Beacon View, Lewknor Colourful summer bedding Bankside, Box Tree Lane, Postcombe Pleasant family garden with potential 34 Watlington Road, Lewknor Well-tended, colourful result of hard work Sunny View Cottage Pleasant cottage garden with more potential
1st Prize - THE ROSE BOWL Mr & Mrs Ritchie, 21 High Street, Lewknor AWONDERFUL COLLECTION OF CONTAINERS OF ALL KINDS HIGHLY COMMENDED Mrs Woodruffe, Hounds Mead, Lower Road, Postcombe GREAT COLOUR & VARIETY IN DELIGHTFUL GARDEN Mr & Mrs Avery, 23 Weston Road, Lewknor A VERY IMAGINATIVE USE OF CONTAINERS AND COLOUR COMMENDED Elm Cottage, Box Tree Lane, Postcombe GOOD EXAMPLES OF CONTAINER USE Wheatfield House, Lewknor Close, Lewknor EXCEPTIONAL PATIO PLANTING 16 Weston Road, Lewknor VERY AMUSING COLLECTION OF RUDE GNOMES & COLOURFUL PLANTING The Leathern Bottel, Lewknor SIMPLY SUPERLATIVE HANGING BASKETS Lewknor Cottage, High Street, Lewknor VERY ATTRACTIVE ANNUAL CONTAINERS & BASKETS 14 Watlington Road, Lewknor A FINE, WELL TENDED CANNA COLLECTION
The term has got off to a lovely start, and the new children (Rupert, Thomas, Jessica, Heather and Darcy) are settling in very well. We are fortunate in having another staff member, Jacquie Adamson, who will be helping for this term at least. This increases our staff to child ratio, which allows much more time for individual attention - a great benefit for both children and staff. The ferret race evening was a great success and we raised ú903 for our funds, which is a fantastic amount. Thanks to all of you who helped to make this such a good evening; the organisers, Mike Horns with his ferrets race and ferret sponsors, Smarts from Thame, the pudding makers, and of course all of the willing punters who were so generous and ready to part with their hard-earned money. On the 14th October at Laundry Cottage, South Weston we will be holding a coffee morning and toy and childrenÆs book sale - an opportunity to clear out toy boxes before the next lot arrive! We also hope to hold another flower-arranging evening (with the festive season in mind) - further details will be in the next Grapevine. For waiting-list and general enquiries please phone Penny McCulloch (01844) 353727.
Unusual plants for autumn colour As summer turns to autumn, keen gardeners start looking for something to add new life to their borders. It's times like this when favourites like Crocosmias, Japanese anenomes and sedums start to work so well. But if you are looking for something a little different there are plenty of options. Two late flowering perennials that are surprisingly rarely seen in our autumn flowering gardens are the Toad Lily (Tricyrtis Hirta) and the Turtlehead (Chelone Glabra). The Toad Lily produces masses of white and purple chequered orchid-like flowers throughout autumn, while the Turtlehead has spikes of truly unusual hooded pink or white blooms. Both are just under one metre tall so, like the Crocosmia, they are useful for the middle of the border. And if you can't resist another Crocosmia, but would like a variety with a twist, try the yellow version, Norwich Canary. Staying with autumn flowering plants, not many gardeners naturally associate clematis with autumn colour. There are, in fact, some beautiful varieties in bloom now. The flamboyant Clematis tangutica produces masses of yellow bell-shaped flowers, while Clematis texensis Princess Diana is showy with trumpet-shaped cerise flowers. The flowers of both varieties are followed by fluffy seed heads lasting well into the winter. From flowers to foliage - what is available but unusual? The feathery leaves of Nandina Domestica turn the richest colours in autumn and as an added bonus, the plant bears glossy red berries during the winter. Don't just choose russet hues for autumn interest though. Set them off against contrasting colours such as the cool blue foliage of the Rocky Moutain Juniper (Juniperus Scopulorum 'Blue Arrow'). This narrow upright tree looks stunning set against the season's reds and oranges. Or you could try one of our favourites the Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica). You can buy this as a standard or as a lovely mounded specimen. After this yearÆs warm dry summer, these are now putting on masses of lush green growth so they will look good in any autumn garden.
South and Vale Carers is a charitable institution which is supported financially by most of the Town and Parish Councils within those districts, including that of Lewknor. While the community will no doubt always need volunteer field workers, the Carers organisation is currently specifically seeking to recruit members for its Management Committee. The basic committment would involve attending a meeting on the first Tuesday of alternate months; there would be no recompense for this, beyond the provision of coffee and chocolate biscuits, although a mileage allowance is on offer to cover attendance. If anyone would like to know more, they should write to the Chairman, Mr Bob Ely, at the Carers Centre, 5 Lydalls Road, Didcot, OX11 7HX, or call him on 01235 510212.
Every Thursday morning Age Concern, Watlington, runs a Day Centre in the very comfortable West Room at Old School Place. Vacancies crop up periodically among the fifteen places, and just at the moment there are a few places available. Between ten o'clock and three o'clock those present enjoy friendly chat with old or new friends, tea or coffee and lunch, and a chance if they wish to join in a game of cards or bingo, a quiz or something similar. There are also gentle seated exercises to keep hands and feet, arms and legs as supple as possible. Transport is provided. If you are elderly, or know of any elderly person, who is generally housebound and would like to find out more, do get in touch with Mrs Audrey Witney, on 01491 612064.
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