204 February 2020

WESTWELL EYET H

E

The Wheel - February Normal Menu and Special Deals +

**14th February pm: Special Valentines Menu **EVERY WEEK

Tuesday Night: 17.30 - 18.30 Happy HourWednesday Night: Pie Night

Thursday Night: 17.30 - 18.30 Happy Hour+ Burger Night

**It’s Back - Friday Night:** 16.30 - 18.30 Happy Hour

Saturday Night: Steak Night Sunday: Children Eat Free

Contact: 01233 712223 info@thewheelinnwestwell.uk

Clockwise from Top right: Snipe taken by K. Duvall.

Below right: 2 Ewes taken by Val Butcher. Clouds taken by Nada.

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From the Editor’s Desk

Another month, another Eye! The days are getting longer, although the dark mornings still make it difficult to get up!

Table Tennis on the playing field, what a good idea - how come? I hear you say, read all about it on page 6.

I have had many positive comments about last month’s front cover photographs, but how about this month’s, Nada’s cloud photograph is extraordinary.

And now for my regular plea. The deadline for submitting copy for the Eye is the 20th of the previous month. Unlike some local magazines I am quite flexible, but there are those who are VERY late with their copy every month and this makes it quite difficult for me as I also have deadlines to keep as well as having a life outside the Westwell Eye! You know who you are, please help me; maybe put the cut off date in your diary or set your alarm on your mobile. Thank you.

6

4

MON

TUESWED

THUR

FRISAT

SUNDAY

Mar 1

3 1.30pm Art Group

(with tutor)

7pm Fitness

4

510am

Chair Fit 11am

Fitsteps 6 Rc.F.T.

9.15am Pilates

7 10am Iona Eucharist

10.30 Coffee Wheel 8

2 Presentation of Christ

8am BCP Holy Com

munion

107pm

Fitness

11

Book Club - p13

7.30pm Players

12 10am Chair Fit

11am Fitsteps 13 R,F,W

9.15am Pilates

7.30pm W

I Meeting 14

159

3rd Sunday before Lent 11am

Iona Eucharist3.30pm

Messy Church - Hall

171.30pm Art Group

7pm Fitness

187.30pm Players

19 10am Chair Fit

11am Fitsteps 20

Rc.F.T.9.15am

Pilates

21

2216 2nd Sunday before Lent

11am Fam

ily Service 3.30pm

Songs of Praise - Charing247pm

Fitness

2610am Chair Fit

11am Fitsteps

Comm

union with Ashing - p 12

27R.F.W

.

9.15am Pilates

28

2923

Next before Lent11am

Eucharist

2Feb 1

25 7.30pm

Players

3 5

February 2020

Carolyn Thorneloe

The views of any contributor to this publication may not necessarily be those of the editor and team, nor can the Westwell Eye accept any responsibility in connection with any companies or organisations mentioned or any advertiser.Correspondence to: Carolyn Thorneloe, Gaoler's Retreat, 5, Faversham Road, Lenham, Maidstone, Kent ME17 2PN.Tel: 01622 859376, Email: westwelleye@gmail.com

COPY DEADLINE - 20th of the monthADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE WESTWELL EYE

Classified ads from £3 p/issue - Business block ads from £60 p/year. Prices include free design, illustration and layout.

Copy & payment to be received by the 20th of each month.Payable to:- The Westwell Eye, either direct to bank or cheque

Sue Wood, 14, Sandyhurst Lane TN25 4NSWould you like to receive the Westwell Eye but don’t live in the area?

You can now receive it every month by post. For an annual subscription, simply send the editor your name and address and pay £8 to Sue Wood, cheque payable to The Westwell Eye

Printed by Print Junction - 01233 624462 - info@print-junction.co.uk - Brunswick Road Cobbswood Industrial Estate, Cobbs Wood House, Ashford TN23 1EP

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Telephone NumbersAge UK 642094Ashford Volunteer Bureau 665535Ashford Volunteer Car Service 633219Bees (swarming) Andy Bithell 740650 / 07933892413Borough Councillor:Larry Krause 643497CAB 626185Carers Support Group 664393Childline Freephone 0800 1111Cinema 0871 2208000Citizens’ Advice Bureau 626185Cruse Bereavement Counselling 878225Curate- Jack Bateson 756674Doctors (Charing) 714490 (Hayesbank) 624642Dog Warden 01233 330340Hospital (William Harvey) 633331 CROP 01622 851200Library (Ashford) 03000413131 (Charing) 713177MS Therapy Centre 01227 470876NHS Direct 0845 4647NSPCC 0800 800500Parish Hall Booking 01233 712016 doriscackett@btinternet.comParish Council (clerk, Sue Wood) 623902Pilgrims’ Hospice (Admin) 504100(Patient enquiries) 504112PCC Secretary (Heather Lister) 712981Police (rural matters only – crime should be reported on 101 or 999) 07980978202Rector VacantSamaritans 610000 Shopmobility 621196 Solicitor (Thorneloe & Co.) 01622 859416 Victim Support 0845 30 30 900 Water Supplies Queries 0333 000 0002Water Leak Line 0333 000 3330Wealden Wheels 01233 840000Westwell Community Website: http://www.westwellpc.kentparishes.gov.uk/

Useful Contacts

CHIROPODISTCHRISTINE GRIFFITHS

MSSCh MBChAHPC reg

FOOT CLINICMon - Sat including evenings

Home visits availableTel:01233 664702

07958 328525

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Kent Community Health NHS Foundation TrustWristband to Help Patients with Breathing Problems

A health trust in Kent is believed to be the first in the country to be pioneering a simple but effective wristband, for patients with breathing problems.

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) is trialling the wristbands with patients at risk of type two respiratory failure. The project involves patients being given a coloured wristband, which tells health professionals how much oxygen they need, should they become unwell.

The wristbands correspond with those being used in hospitals, enabling ambulance and accident and emergency staff to initiate the appropriate level of oxygen for the patient. It also reduces the risk of giving too much oxygen in an emergency situation.The oxygen wristbands pilot is a quality improvement project at KCHFT, where the trust is looking at what it does and how it can do things better. There are more than 120 projects under way.

KCHFT’s east Kent Professional Lead Sheilagh McCrossan said: “The results so far are very promising and do seem to indicate that the project has reduced admissions to hospital with type two respiratory failure, and is reducing the length of stay for patients being admitted with a flare up of their COPD.The pilot began in November 2018. Following a comprehensive assessment, patients are issued with a coloured wristband indicating target oxygen saturations appropriate for them when they are unwell.

Robin, a pat ient who has a wristband says ”The wristband is always on and so I know that wherever I am, the medical people will know what oxygen to give me – I’d be unlikely to be able to tell them if I’m breathless.”

Much of the support given to patients in east Kent from the respiratory team is focused around supporting self-management and enabling patients to have a better understanding of their health and wellbeing.

Specialist Respiratory Nurse Lauren Mackenzie said: “Robin has also attended our rehabilitation group and has said how much that helped too.”

Respiratory Nurse Merlyn D’Cruz said: “Robin first came to us after he was admitted to William Harvey Hospital. He was diagnosed with COPD about nine years ago. We have worked with him through self-education and self-management.

“I think what happened was a shock to him as he had not been unwell, but he has coped very well. We taught him what oxygen does and how he can monitor his symptoms, so he can try to prevent further hospital admissions. The wristband is helping with that too.”Jane Barlow

AZ CARING SERVICES

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email: arthurzvik@hotmail.co.uk.Excellent local references

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Thorneloe & Co.Solicitors

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Country Funerals

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WESTWELL WIOur meeting this evening was a very local affair – Leah Hutchinson of County Funerals, located in the village, came to talk to us. She told us of her earlier life and how, via nursing, she eventually became a Funeral Director – one of the first women who battled to enter that particular man’s world. Once she began to establish herself, however, she found a lot of support from others in the business and has now been running a thriving company for ten years.Leah also spoke about arranging a funeral – a difficult topic which she tackled with humour and warmth, engaging members in the discussion, and emphasising how simple or elaborate such arrangements could be. A talk on what might have been a lowering subject was instead a very positive experience for us all.Our next Ladies Lunch will be on Friday 20th March at The Wheel, Westwell. Members wishing to go need to sign up at the next meeting and make their menu choices.Those who participate in our monthly competition are awarded points and at the end of the year these are totalled up to find an annual winner and for 2019 the winner was Liz Hewitt.The competition this month was for something wooden and was won by Meg Lloyd with her owl calendar, with Liz Hewitt second with her wooden mushrooms.This year at each meeting we will be having a collection of items for a different charity. We started this month with a collection of unwanted Christmas presents which will be forwarded to an appropriate charity.

Marilyn Warner Next Meeting:- Thursday 13th FebruarySpeaker – Romney Marsh Wool by Kristina BouldenVote of thanks:- Carmen Bowdery Hostesses – Leesha Haines, Natalie Harman and Liz HewittCompetition – GlassCollection – Toiletries and sanitary products

Winter Garden. - Cynthia Adams, In winter’s cold and sparkling snow, On this cold and freezing day,The garden in my mind does grow. The Russian sage does gently sway,I look outside to blinding white, And miniature roses perfume the air,And see my tulips blooming bright. I can see them blooming there.And over there a sweet carnation, Though days are short, my vision’s clear. Softly scents my imagination. And through the snow, the buds appear.

In my mind, clematis climbs,And morning glories do entwine.

Woodland phlox and scarlet pinks,Replace the frost, if I just blink.My inner eye sees past the snow.

And in my mind, my garden grows.

Kent Community Health Foundation TrustIs this the future for home care?

A new approach to care at home was developed in the Netherlands some 12 years ago. It is based upon self managing teams. All teams are a mix of skills needed for both nursing and social work. It started with one team of four and now has 950 teams and 10,000 nurses representing more than a half of the total home care in the country. The Dutch system is called Buurtzorg (Dutch for neighbourhood care) and as a result of its success has been universally accepted throughout the Netherlands. Ourexperiments in the UK with the Buurtzorg principle of caring are organised by the NHS with local authorities playing a more minor role. The Buurtzorg trials are funded by the EU. To date there are two experimental centres in Kent one at Edenbridge and the other more locally at Charing. The Edenbridge team was the first. The Charing team has only recently become operational and has nine nurses. They all decide how they will share responsibilities and organise their work. In this respect they are self managing.This approach is a different way of delivering health and social care. The patients in the area needing attention are visited and there is no time limit on each visit. This is a very different way of working and will take time to evolve but feed back suggests that patients view the new system very favourably.The Buurtzorg approach places a lot of emphasis on supporting the care professionals in the independent teams. There is a small supporting central team who do this. The teams develop into successful and sustainable self managing units. We shall see over the next year or so whether Buurtzorg will work as well here as it has done in the Netherlands. The principles we are using are the same but there are operational differences in particular in the provision of social services. If the experiments are successful they will almost certainly be the shape of the future of home nursing/care.Please contact me if you have questions relating to Buurtzorg or any other subject which concerns the work of the Trust. You can do this by email at kcht.governors@nhs.net or by writing to Governors Support Office, Unit D, Hermitage Court, The Oast, Hermitage Lane, Barming, Maidstone ME16 9NT.John Fletcher Public Governor for the Ashford area.

Sayings for February“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” Edith Sitwell

“Keep your faith in beautiful things;in the sun when it is hidden,in the Spring when it is gone.” Roy R. Gibson

“Most people, early in November, take last looks at their gardens, are then prepared to ignore them until the spring. I am quite sure that a garden doesn’t like to be ignored like this. It doesn’t like to be covered in dust sheets, as though it were an old room which you had shut up during the winter. Especially since a garden knows how gay and delightful it can be, even in the very frozen heart of the winter, if you only give it a chance.” Beverley Nichols

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Airport Transfer & Chauffeur Service

ETM CarsCompetitive Prices

Professional ServiceSafe Comfortable Journey

Bottled Water ProvidedFree Wi-Fi

Dave Hopper 01233 629551info@etmcars.co.uk

ANP Security

Supply, install and maintain security systems, including

Intruder AlarmsCCTV

Free no obligation survey and quotation

Andy Peddle 01233 224874 - Westwell

Kilby‛s Chimney SweepAll Types of Fires and Stoves

Swept Using Brush and Vacuum

Pots, Cowls and BirdguardsSupplied and Fitted.

07756 007428 / 01233 840948

ICS Registered - Fully InsuredCertificates Issued

Keeping safe on Westwell’s roadsAt this time of year when it is often cloudy and semi dark, or dark, outside feeling safe on the road is often a challenge. As drivers we need to use lights and often drive a bit slower to always think who might be round the corner – another car or one us taking our dog for a walk. As walkers and cyclists hi-viz clothing or a hi-viz vest over clothing should probably be as automatic for each of us as putting on seat belt in a car. Westwell is a rural parish with lovely countryside but being rural comes with no pavements or street lighting. This makes our roads shared space for all users – walkers, cyclists, dog walkers, horse riders and car, van and motor cyclists – and all the others missed off this list. The parish council is considering getting some hi-viz vests – contact the Parish Clerk, Sue Wood, if you would be interested to have one, or have views on this topic. More news on safety on our roads next month.

1st Charing Scout Group

The mild start to the year has had us all trying to get the young people outside. Many are now working on pioneering badges and getting ready for camps. All our sections are full and, sadly, we have waiting lists. It’s not surprising; scouting is a fabulous adventure and great fun as well as being a brilliant start to growing up properly. Would you like to share the adventure? We are always keen to welcome new adult supporters and leaders. Our beaver section (aged 6-8) have a fabulous team of leaders. Because of work commitments several of them have trouble attending sometimes. It would be really good to have someone else in the team. Could it be you? You wouldn’t have to commit to being there every Tuesday. We are very close to opening our explorer section (aged 14-18) where our children become adults. A different challenge, but incredibly rewarding. There is an opportunity for someone to be in at the start of this exciting new development. Could it be you? Please contact me if you’d like more information.Thank you for all your support for our scouts who are planning their first camp on foreign soil.. gsl_charingscoutgroup@hotmail.co.uk Terry Lister

Anyone for table tennis? Many places now have outdoor table tennis tables: the table is installed and you bring a table tennis bat and ball, or one is provided. The parish council is suggesting we have a table tennis table for Westwell parish installed on the playing field. Look on the Westwell Parish Facebook page to ‘Like’ this idea, or add your name to the supporters list at The Wheel.

Wheel Mews Next month’s Eye will have more details of the 3 houses going up next to the Wheel Inn and who to contact if you are interested .

Making the DifferenceA different and innovative approach to Well-being for

People living with Dementia, using our Model of Care Focusing on enabling our clients to continue as empowered participants and

not just inactive recipients of care

* Promoting safe and independent living * Rehabilitation-Goal focused early interventions * Delivering personalised care * Companionship and respite *Mood management and monitoring * Therapeutic interventions

* Cognitive functional and environmental assessments * Support and assistance with Activities of daily living (ADLs)

Paula Larter Occupational Therapist BSc. Hons MRCOT01233 521818 / 07391485101 paula@makingthedifference-kent.com

www.makingthedifference-kent.com

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David FarnfieldExcellent Westwell reference

availablewww.davidfarnfield.com

07710 130275/01233 750450

High Quality Painter and Decorator

for all your domestic needs

PARISH HALL RENTAL

Rates from - £8 per hour Table and chair hire also available (to take away)

Please contact:Doris Cackett (01233) 712016doriscackett@btinternet.com

Would you like to hire the Westwell Hall for your next event? Equipped with:-

Full Catering Facilities,Stage with lighting and Piano

French PolishingFurniture & Antique

RestorationsSome Upholstery Repairs

Old Furniture RefurbishedGordon Forster

35 years experience

01233 71266507973440309

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B & B in WestwellBay Tree Lodge -

at Glebe Cottage TN25 4LQ

Self Contained Annexe, Twin Room, Ensuite Shower,

Continental Breakfast £85pn,

Ring Geraldine Bortoli01233 713919/07852 271886

Westwell Community Watch Scheme

Keeping you Safe and Secure

Last month I shared two New Year’s resolutions that I hoped would make our community safer in 2020.

This month that sentiment was reiterated by our Police Community Support Officer, PCSO Aaron Newell. In his monthly report to your Parish Council and the

SLRA Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators he preaches:“Crime cannot flourish in communities that care”

You all know that we (the Police) are trying to catch “Chancers and Opportunists”. If you can

think, and take time, to stay secure and safe we have a good chance of being crime free.

With more of you with CCTV and Ring Type Camera Doorbells plus Dash Cams we can organise and carry the fight towards the criminal persons who blight all communities.

So if you suffer, or know someone in your area who has suffered from, a crime, abuse or anti-social behaviour just reflect on whether any of your security devices may hold vital

clues. If so call 101 or contact Aaron at: Aaron Newell PCSO 46056646 | Community Safety Unit | Ashford Police Station

PoliceKent Police have published their latest Rural Crime Task Force (CRAG) Report.

This shows how busy (and successful) they have been with details of their activities in a number of crime categories including Rural Theft, including vehicles and farm equipment,

Poaching - Operation Galileo (game and livestock) and Operation Transverse (fish) and assisting local authority Enforcement officers on a number of occasions.

To read the full report go to: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=1860f616e6&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1655871876146247409&th=16fad6b2bb41b6f1&view=att&disp=inline

CRAG Winter 2019 To access the accompanying Quarterly digest Rural Matters go to https://mail.google.com/

mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=1860f616e6&attid=0.2&permmsgid=msg-f:1655871876146247409&th=16fad6b2bb41b6f1&view=att&disp=inline

Fire and Rescue Avoid fire risks and Keep Safe. For more information or to arrange a Home Assessment

Visit contact: The Home Safety Advice Team on: 0800 923 7000 or home@kent-fireuk.orgDon’t Forget: If YOU see anything suspicious call 999 (if a crime in progress), call 101 or

report on-line. Use Country Eye and Farm Watchwestwell.community.watch@gmail.com

Keep Vigilant - Tony Bartlett – WCWS Co-ordinator

Godinton Houseand Gardens

Spring Workshops 2020All About Roses

Saturday 29th February9.30am - 2.30pm £55

The Art of PruningSaturday 21st March

9.30am - 2.30pmboth including light lunch and refreshments

01233 643854 www.godintonhouse.co.uk.

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Letter to the Parish EtcDear Friends, My Father-in-Law, if he were alive and working, would exclaim at the beginning of February with a sorrowful sigh, “Well, yet another year when I have to work a whole day for the Government for no pay!” This joke he made every four years – yes, it was of course, on a leap year. However, even in a leap year February remains the shortest month and for Christians there are often, as this year, two significant events in the Church calendar.Firstly, Candlemas which always falls on February 2nd. When do your Christmas celebrations end? For some, December 27th when they return to work; for most Twelfth Night, Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the Wise Men to the Infant Jesus and when Christmas trees and decorations are taken down. For others, especially Christians in Eastern Europe, it is Candlemas, 40 days after Christmas Day. This commemorates Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the Temple to dedicate Him to God and, in a sense, marks the second stage in Jesus’ life – He is no longer just part of the Holy Family, He has been presented to the public and Simon hails him as a light to the world which leads to the custom of blessing and lighting candles on Candlemas. The second event this year falls on February 26th and, as Ash Wednesday, is more widely understood. Once again, 40 days are involved as this is the length of Lent (minus Sundays which don’t count!) This period is a commemoration of the next stage in Jesus’ life. The Bible tells us He retreats into the wilderness and is tempted by the Devil, whom He resists. After this, His ministry of healing, preaching and teaching begins as He recruits the twelve men who are to be His inner circle of disciples. So, in one short month we move from an end of celebrating Christ’s birth to a period of contemplating His death on the cross.As we prepare for this period of reflection, may I recommend the Lent Groups arranged in the Benefice and encourage you to join one and grow and share your faith?May God bless you and keep you,

. Cleaning Rota.Cleaning Sarah StevensonFlowers Heather ListerBrass Jeanette Bailey

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Philip Cox

Coffee at The Wheel InnCoffee at The Wheel, Friday 7th February from 10.30 - 11.45am. All welcome.

WAGS – Westwell Art Group3rd and 17th February.

Westwell Book Club 14th January ‘And a happy new year!We discussed different books by Santa Montefiore. She comes from a land-owning family and is of British and Argentinian descent.At the pub, and we are grateful they open on Tuesday once a month just for our meeting, there were nine of us. Everyone had had a lovely festive season and had read some or all of one book, or intended to. Most of Montefiore’s novels (she has written 20) are about love with strong female characters..and most deal with people of wealth who had spent some time abroad and away from the UK..a bit like the writer herself. In two books that we discussed there were powerful men who had ‘impregnated’ a woman in the household service..and that woman seems to get on with her life in spite of that. The novels we discussed were ‘The French Gardener’, ‘Meet me under the Ombu Tree’, ‘Daughters of Castle ‘Deverill ,’Song of Love and War’ and ‘The Butterfly Box’. Montefiore has also written a series of children’s books about rabbits who save the Queen. She wrote the latter with her husband the historian Simon S Montefiore who helps her with the plots and so her novels have historic flavours and one starts just after the Civil War and ends in the 1970s. There are lovers, broken marriages, writers, controlling men, with epic love stories and even murders. Some events seem implausible as they are brushed over very swiftly but the writing is accomplished as evident by the wide popularity of these books.

Our next meeting discusses a non-fiction book: ‘The Last Rhinos’ by Lawrence Anthony. 11th February at 11am.

Stepping towards Spring with Charing Gardeners Society

Our February meeting is an afternoon one, on the 22nd at 2pm in the Church Barn. Christine Bartlett of Orchidmania will give an illustrated talk on the care and cultivation of orchids for beginners. We are a very friendly bunch, drawing members from a wide area beyond Charing, and everyone is welcome at out meetings. £3 entry for non-members includes a cuppa and a chance to chat after the talk. There is a raffle, seed-swap and plant stall, for which contributions always welcome. This is the time for annual membership renewal, a bargain at £3, giving you our fresh-off-the-press 2020 Anniversary Annual, packed with articles, show schedules, and details of visits and members-only events. Check out our Facebook page for news and photos of recent events. For further information about the society see: http://charinggardeners.org.ukIf you can’t get to the meeting but would like to join the society, just contact Nicky Bromley (01233 713615), who will ensure you receive the annual. The membership form is also available on the CGS website http://charinggardeners.org.uk.

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Parish Council The Parish Council met in St Mary’s Church on Monday 6th January. The meeting began with the open forum, which gives residents the opportunity to raise matters of concern with the Parish Council. Among items raised were: Lack of maintenance to drains in Sandyhurst Lane, leading to flooding of a property after heavy rain; herbicide spray drift from farmland; sharing resources for village fetes in the Benefice.There was no report from the borough councillor, who was unable to attend the meeting. The Minutes of the November and December meetings were approved. Planning: There were no planning applications to discuss. An update on Wheel Mews was given, it is hoped that the application to discharge conditions relating to materials used will be approved without further delays. The homes in Wheel Mews will be sold for £425,000-£450,000, depending on the property. Finance: Payments were approved. A working group has been set up to review financing of the Westwell Eye; the advertising rates have not been increased for a number of years but this may now be justified given that there has been a rise in the number of copies of the Eye distributed as a result of the parish boundary change. The Budget for 2020-2021 was discussed and it was agreed that the Precept will remain unchanged. Quotes will be sought for purchase of a permanent, outdoor table tennis table for the playing field; residents will be canvassed for their opinion as to whether there is a wish for the table tennis table.Annual Parish Meeting: This will be held on Monday 23rd March. Consideration is being given to holding it in Sandyacres, Sandyhurst Lane, to encourage those residents in Sandyhurst Lane who are now in Westwell parish to attend.Highways: The draft Highways Improvement Plan was discussed, which highlighted issues including the speed limits in the parish and the Sandyhurst Lane/A20 junction. Light pollution from domestic security lights was reported, which is hazardous to drivers – this will be publicised in the Westwell Eye, with a request that occupiers make changes to colour of light bulbs and positioning where necessary. It is hoped to continue discussion on bus services to the village.Other matters: Action for Communities in Rural Kent will be asked if it can make a grant to the St Mary’s loo project. The five-yearly inspection of the sycamore on the church green is due this year and it was suggested that trees on the triangle opposite The Wheel are included – these are on Highways’ land so any problems found should be reported to KCC. The parish hall boiler has been repaired at a cost of approx £600. Repairs to the playing field equipment will be carried out in mid January.The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Monday 2nd March at 7pm in St Mary’s Church (tbc). All meetings are open to the public and all are welcome. The Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the parish hall on Monday 23rd March.

Parish NewsWestwell Church Services for February

www.g7benefice.orgSunday 2nd: The Presentation of Christ8am BCP Holy Communion Friday 7th: 10am Iona EucharistSunday 9th: 3rd Sunday before Lent11am Iona Eucharist 3.30pm Messy Church - Parish HallSunday 16th: 2nd Sunday before Lent11am Family Service3.30pm Songs of Praise - CharingSunday 23rd: Next before Lent 11am EucharistWednesday 26th: Ash WednesdayCommunion with Ashing10.30am - Charing Heath7.30pm - Pluckley

Church Matters February

1st February, Musical Joy, 4 - 5 pm . Overcome the grey of winter with favourite songs, drinks and nibbles. Free but donations welcome.

2nd February, Breakfast @ St Marys. coffee and croissants, tea and toast, bacon butties. Free but donations welcome. 9am for an hour followed by a short service (15 mins) for those who want to stay.

Messy 9th February. Parish hall 3.30 - 5 pmTheme:- Jesus meets his disciples. Crafts, games, songs and food with a bible theme. For all children with an accompanying adult.

All age service 16th February 11am.Informal service with things to do together and a chance to discuss things and chat over coffee.Wanted. People who enjoy working with children and would welcome a chance to be involved in an informal church based session once a month with a preparation session for an hour in the previous week.Messy runs on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 3.30 to 5pm in Westwell parish hall. Each month there is a bible based theme for all the activities. All children come with an adult.Roles include crafty stuff; games and activities; singing; preparing tea; supporting families as they work together.

2020 Lent CoursesWe have several lent courses running this year around the benefice. More details will follow, Charing: Kevin Moon will be running a weekly lent course on a Wednesday evening at his house.Charing Heath: Rev Richard will be running a weekly course in Charing Heath church on a Tuesday evening starting at 6.45pm.Egerton: Mark (our Reader) and Ylva (our Ordinand) will be hosting a course on “Exiles”. This course will include a guest speaker and will be run on a Monday Evening from 7pm Pluckley: Rev Philip will be running a daytime course on a Monday, starting at 10.30am at his house. This course will be called “Making Connections” and is based on the Archbishop’s New Years Message.Westwell: Heather Lister (ALM & secretary) and Stephen will be running a course on a Thursday evening. More details to follow.If you are interested, please speak to the course leader, and look out for more details in the March edition. Rev Jack

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Westwell Players

Players have read two Murder Mysteries and chosen and cast one although no-one yet knows who the murderer is – except our producer of course, who is keeping his cards very close to his chest. The story is about a village fete, so very close to home for us here in Westwell. It involves a cake competition and ………………………………………… but I won’t give too much away as I hope you will come along to the Village Hall on Thursday 30th, Friday 1st May or Saturday 2nd May at 7.00 pm. There will be a ploughman’s supper and a bar as usual. There will be time to question all the ‘SUSPECTS’ and so if you can muster 8 for a table that will make our job much easier. However if you are fewer in number – no worries, we will organise the tables. Please come, we will let you know as soon as tickets are available from ticket source of course as usual.

PlansThe following were approved by the Borough Council:19/01522/AS 31 Sandyhurst Lane 19/01322/AS Tutt Hill Farm

**A Saunter Through Westwell**In April 1919 an article was published in the Kentish Express describing a ‘saunter’ through the parish – the 88th in a series of pieces begun in April 1899 about villages in Kent and written by Charles Igglesden (editor of the newspaper).This has now been republished as a small booklet with the original illustrations, and a second chapter ‘Westwell Revisited’ added by Malcolm Horton bringing it up to date.This delightful volume is now on sale for £5 in aid of the St Mary loo fund – contact Sue Wood (01233 623902 susanwood@uwclub.net) or Martin Wyatt if you would like a copy.

February on Hothfield Heathlands

The sun felt stronger almost immediately after Christmas, in the mild if wet weather. Honeysuckle leaves were sprouting before New Year’s Day to get as much light as possible before the tree canopy develops. Now bluebell leaf tips are piercing the leaf litter, birdsong is strong and territorial and mating behaviour starting. The gorse is in bloom, hazel catkins have already shed their pollen, ivy berries are mostly eaten, early insects are out foraging. On a warm day the small tortoiseshell butterfly might emerge from hibernation in its adult state, and the green caterpillars of meadow browns will munch on grass, fattening for the next moult, The vibration of your footsteps will make it drop to the ground out of danger until you pass and it crawls up to its feeding station again. Many other moths will remain in camouflaged chrysalis state until the spring. There is the glint of water everywhere. Delights for all ages and levels of energy. Like the honeysuckle, the native lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) has evolved a strategy for living beneath heavy summer foliage. It will flower this month, catching the sun through bare branches and on sunny banks where more vigorous perennials are not yet in full growth. To up its chances of pollination in cold temperatures with few flying insects, it produces many flowers over a long period before summer dormancy as bulbils. The sturdy enamelled petals are held in a parabola to reflect the sun inwards, raising the temperature in the bowl of the flower. The added rewards for hungry queen bumblebees and other early fliers are the nectar sac at the base of each petal and the pollen. In case the weather is awful and little seed it set, every bulbil (fig-shaped = ficus) at the base of the plant can grow into a new plant and some subspecies grow tiny bulbils in the axils of leaves. Across Hothfield Heathlands, volunteers have been wading through the bogs removing scrub missed by the heavy machinery in the lower bog, definitely wellie work. The machine work and subsequent volunteer activity should see the spread of southern marsh orchids and dragonflies across the site. Snipe, permanent UK residents, were one of the first species to benefit from the disturbed mud, joined perhaps by migrant snipe from northern Europe. Blackbirds, one of the earliest birds to nest, may start building in shrubs and dense trees. Other early nesters are the long tailed tits, creating intricate nests of lichen in gorse and brambles, although they may not have brood until late April. Tawny owls will be looking for large holes in trees and nuthatches will adapt old woodpecker holes with mud to make the hole just the right size to keep out larger intruders. The Heathland is open for everyone to enjoy. Trails are signposted and marked on entrance maps, as is the location of livestock. The noticeboard down the main slope from the Cades Road car park gives recent wildlife sightings. Please keep dogs in check, especially around children and livestock, and away from the heather and undergrowth where they will disturb sensitive wildlife. Please remove dog mess, including in the Triangle compartment. Our next Sunday task day is on the 9th Feb (2nd Sunday of each month from Oct-Mar). Our Tuesday volunteer group will be out every other week all through the year. For email alerts on the location of the livestock or volunteer opportunities contact Ian Rickards:- ian.rickards@kentwildlife.org.uk. Margery Thomas

Mary Anne Pitt