Lyminge Online

Community Matters

The Lyminge Association’s Charities’ Trade Fair
Saturday 5 March, 9.00am – 12.00pm at Lyminge Village Hall

Every year the Lyminge Association hosts the Charities’ Trade Fair, but you may know it by another name – the Charities’ Coffee Morning! The new name is to help us move with the times. If you have never been to this function, or you are new to the area, it is a not-to-be-missed part of the social calendar of Lyminge – in fact it starts the “season”!
What happens is this…. local and national charities hire one or two tables. They are invited to sell what they like in order to raise funds for their organisation – so the goods on offer may range from bric-a-brac and cakes, to their own charities goods (pens, pencils, notepads and so on). The Lyminge Association sets up the tables and organises the refreshments. It is a good place to meet up with friends for a coffee and natter while, at the same time, supporting your favourite charities.
If you know of a registered charity which would be interested in taking a table or two (two is the maximum, because it is such a popular event; the cost is £3.50 per table), please suggest they ring Mary Bennett on 863057.

Roadside Nature Reserve
by David Wiseman

Those of you who use the road from New Barn Corner to Stone Street may have noticed that small notices have appeared on posts about half way up and again at its junction with Farthing Common. The notices will tell you that this section of roadside verge has been adopted as a roadside nature reserve and is managed by Kent Wildlife Trust.
   Why? Because this section of road verge is recognised as part of Kent’s heritage of important roadside habitat, in this case ancient woodland verge and contains many species of flora that have been gradually eradicated by modern practise. The verge looks uninteresting for part of the year due to the heavy tree cover but from late Autumn into Spring comes into its own when scarce plants such as green hellebore appear and flower. In spring, this verge is a riot of colour with bluebells, yellow archangel, and wood anemone adorning the banks.
   This roadside reserve is one of 132 throughout Kent that stretch for 55 road miles. They each have there own management plan including when to cut, which recognises the important flora and fauna present, including rare wild orchids, and, their attraction for many insects including butterflies. Each verge has a volunteer warden to carry out management tasks and check on the reserves well being.
   There are a number of larger Kent Wildlife Trust managed sites close by, for example Park Gate Down, Elham; Spong Wood, Elmsted; and Yokletts Bank off Stone Street.
   If you would like more information regarding the Trust’s work visit their web site on www.kentwildlife.org.uk or even give consideration to spending an enjoyable day on one these sites carrying out management work.

Poem of the Month

Outside the School

The fresh mourning breeze dances to and fro,
A tree waving one to another,
A butterfly swiftly hoping across the green grass,
The sun pushing down heat waves,
The clouds swirling round in the sky, T
he playground snoozing under the sun

David (Yr 6)

Your Letters

Dear Editor: When we moved to Brady Road some years ago to raise a family, it seemed at the time ideal. All too soon our children were running the gauntlet dawn and dusk for the school bus, wearing reflective armbands and diving into the hedgerow to escape yet another near miss on the ‘rat-run’ Brady Road had become.
   Our youngest was knocked off his bike by a motorcyclist who failed to stop. Fortunately he only suffered concussion. Not so lucky our much loved and missed feline family members; leaving broken hearts and traumatised children: Metoo 7 mths; Frodo 2½ yrs; Enna 2 yrs; Bilbo 3 yrs; Henry 6 mths.
   We bless everyday Pippin and Freyer are still with us, a locked catflap from 5pm to 9am may be responsible for their longevity.
   Since the establishment of the Sibton Park complex, pedestrian and canine traffic has increased substantially. Surely a more vigorous traffic calming measure could be emplaced. It is only a matter of time before we have a human tragedy on Brady.

Tessa Box.