Parish Council

The Annual Parish Council Meeting was held on 30th April. At this meeting all Officers were re-elected to the same posts as they held last year. The council discussed further the build-up of litter throughout the village, and it was decided that the council would meet on Tuesday, 7th May, for the sole purpose of clearing all rubbish throughout the parish; we searched the village and cleared all the litter that we could possibly find, and we much hope that the village is now a lot tidier than before. Now that all the litter has been cleared I would be most grateful for as much co-operation as possible from all members of the village in reporting any large lumps of scrap that are dumped anywhere to the Clerk of the Council at No. 1 Grainy Field, so that we can prevent a further build-up in future.

Once again I would like to stress that the Parish Council is very willing to help anyone in the village who has any queries. Please do not hesitate, therefore, to ask about any matter that is concerning you. We will do our best to deal with it.

W.J.W.

COUNTRY NOTES

In spite of pesticides and the cold, wet May, it has been cheering to observe quite a few butterflies on the wing already. Last week I twice saw a tiny Blue and in each case they seemed more like the rare Adonis than the Common Blue. This week an Orange-Tip flew across a Stockbury lane in front of me and several Meadow Browns were enjoying the sun in Cuckoo Orchard. This orchard also boasts quite a few rabbits at present; it is unusual if my Jack Russell does not disturb one or two in the hedges or near the Dane Lane store-sheds. I would think this increase is general in this part of Kent. And the bird population - well, the report is the usual one of nests and families. Some come to grief before hatching out, like the Blackbirds in the vicarage laurel, its still warm nest found early one morning on the ground, with the eggs lying smashed nearby - almost certainly the work of a fox. On the credit side a Blue Tit's family is almost ready to leave the nest-box near the house. Much more exciting, though, is a pair of Hawfinches, probably nesting over the wall in an unoccupied area of Dane House estate.

J.H.G-W.G.

PERSONAL

Mrs. Cork wishes to thank all her helpers and those who bought at her Jumble Sale on 4th May. It produced £27 for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

FROM THE PARISH REGISTERS

Baptism

May 26 Mark Ashley, son of Dennis and Pamela Ansley.

Wedding

Mar. 30 Christopher Allen and Suzanne Spragg (at Sittingbourne).