March Meeting: Lynne Flower

LYNNE FLOWER IS DUE TO SPEAK ABOUT BARN OWLS AT OUR MEETING ON 

WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH 8PM, RED CROSS HALL, OXTED.

Lynne and Peter Flower, Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers, writes about the work they do to support and protect existing barn owls and create safe places for them to increase in numbers.

"Soft dark eyes, in a pale heart-shaped face, Silken white feathers with buff speckling….. It is difficult not to be awed by the sight of a barn owl."
As their name implies, barn owls are happiest in a traditional farmland habitat, providing hedges and rough grass, and where beams in open barns provide good nesting platforms, near hayricks and straw stacks which house mice and voles – their main food source.
Although welcomed by most farmers, game-keepers in Victorian times killed many as they wrongly thought barn owls preyed on game chicks. In more modern times barn owls have suffered a big decline in their numbers, up against many threats, such as reduction in hedgerows and other good hunting habitat; the use of rodenticides; loss of old barns for nesting; and in particular increase in road traffic when many are killed foraging along verges.
In 2013 the Sevenoaks Living Landscapes (SOLL) chose ‘barn owls’ as a special project. The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Landscapes projects are a major tool to create ‘stepping stones’ for wildlife across a landscape area by working with landowners to manage and maintain good habitats for a wide range of wildlife. Good habitat management for barn owls also adds up to great habitat provision for a host of other creatures – and who can resist working towards improving conditions for barn owls!
So, in the SOLL area we began a plan to make barn owl nest boxes and put them up where habitat was suitable and where barn owls may have been seen – then talking to neighbouring landowners helping them to tempt barn owls into their area with good habitat management. Since then we have put up 28 boxes, had several successful nesting, and many sightings. We have learned so much and had such a rewarding time – and over the next year will share our experiences and pictures with you.

February Meeting

Bennet Smith chats to an LODHS member

We were delighted to welcome Bennet Smith who entertained us with his talk about the creation of his small garden in Sevenoaks. 
Although small, it is packed with an amazing range of plants and must take considerable time to to set up and maintain. 
Well worth a look, and his garden is open as part of the Yellow Book, National Gardens Scheme on 7 and 8 July 2018. Click here  for details.

Apple Trees for Sale

WEDNESDAY 7 FEBRUARY

At our monthly meeting at the Red Cross Hall Oxted we will be delighted to welcome Bennet Smith.

Garden photographer, percussionist, NGS garden opener, Gardeners' World Small Garden of the Year 2017 Finalist and lover of all leaves great and small
His garden is located nearby at Cramptons Road Sevenoaks. Here is how it is described:
A very small, lush and leafy plantsman's oasis. A tapestry of carefully chosen plants from around the world selected for their texture, elegance, leaf size and shape or long season interest, or perhaps for their unusual habit or rarity: schefflera, wildlife-friendly umbellifers, trochodendron, tetrapanax, pseudopanax & Aesculus wangii. Discover what can be created and combined in a tiny space!
Bound to be an entertaining and enlightening evening. Make a note to be with us. His talk starts at 8pm.

SEASONS GREETINGS

St Peters Limpsfield at Christmas

Wishing all our members and friends a very Happy Christmas, not to mention the prospect of good gardening in 2018.
We hope we shall see you at our next meeting at the Red Cross Hall, Oxted in February.
In the meantime enjoy all the festivities and don't forget to look after the plants you have indoors.

November 2017 Mothly Meeting

This month we welcome Paul Patton whose subject will be "Autumn Inspirations". Just the sort of thing to keep us occupied in the garden for the next few weeks.
Here is a bit of background about Paul:
"He is a Professional Gardening Consultant ,writer, speaker and broadcaster who has over thirty years experience in growing and looking after plants.
He specialises in plant care including pest, disease and weed control;feeding, propagation and all other general growing techniques.
Paul now uses his considerable experience to run his own freelance business that  offers a wide range of gardening and related activities. He supports gardeners across the UK through his regular slot on BBC Southern Counties Radio, at talks to clubs and societies, question time at many  of the key gardening shows and events and through his writing. Paul has a passion for growing anything that he and his children can eat fresh from the garden, particularly the more unusual and exotic crops. The biggest pest in his garden  are his three teenage Boys!"
Hope we shall see you at the Red Cross Hall, Oxted on Wednesday 1 November for 8pm.

Harvest Supper

On Saturday 14 October was the date for an LODHS "first". Our Harvest Supper took place at the Red Cross Hall, Oxted and proved to be a most enjoyable occasion.
We were especially thankful to Sylvia for organising everything so professionally.
There a choice for our main course of beef casserole, chicken & leak pie, or a vegetarian option. After that we had choices of pudding including crumble and roulade. Coffee and mints then rounded off the menu. All this went down very well with everyone.
Then, just for fun, a quiz was circulated to each table. Despite many multiple choice answers to questions, it was still quite tough, but enjoyable just the same.
Finally, there was a raffle ticket by each place, with a draw at the end of the evening. The lucky winner can be seen below.
We all look forward, hopefully, to repeating the event in 2018.

Supper organiser Sylvia

The prize draw winner

October Monthly Meeting

Elaine Merrylees (centre) is seen chatting after her talk

Out talk this month was given by Elaine Merrylees, and concerned the topic of permaculture. A lot of us are probably not entirely sure what the subject is about, or perhaps associate it with the idea of using plants for a roof covering.
The talk by Elaine gave us instances of the important things that can be achieved by the practice of permaculture which combines three aspects:
1. An ethical framework
2. Understandings of how nature works
3. A design approach
This unique combination provides an ethical framework that is used to design regenerative systems at all scales - from home and garden to community, farm and bioregions.
We we given several examples of arid environments where with careful management of water harvesting along with a balance in the use of crops and animals could produce viable and hospitable landscapes thus supporting the local populations.
The illustrated talk gave us a photographic demonstration "before" and "after". The success of the various projects was clearly evident.
We were left wondering why we do not hear more about the activities of the Permaculture Association and similar organisations. Click here to find out more.