What’s happening where you live...

become a nature detective, its time to go pond dipping. Find, catch and identify a variety of pond life at Tyland Barn. One hour sessions at 10am and noon. Group tickets cost £15 which is for five people (max two adults/ minimum one adult per group). Places are limited to nine groups so booking is essential. For information or to book online go to www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk or call 01622 662012 (Mon -Fri). Vacancy: If you would like to be correspondent for South Park/Shepway, contact Debbie Edwards, email: dedwards@ thekmgroup. co.uk WI: South Park WI is having a cake stall at Loose Fete on Saturday, September 3 from 1.30-5pm. Go along and support the institute. Cream tea with a twist: On Saturday, August 20 from 3-5pm, St Martins is holding a cream tea. Tickets will include full cream tea with home-made scones and there will be family card games, quiz sheets etc to entertain! In the church in Northumberland Road or outside, weather permitting. St Martin’s church: On Saturday, August 20 from 10am-noon, there will be a coffee morning with books, bric-a-brac, raffles, cards and refreshments on sale. Correspondent: Andrew Watson, 9 Barn Meadow, Staplehurst, TN12 0SY Mob: 07715 572772 Tel: 01580 891986 staplehurst.report@ btinternet.com Sobell beer tasting: On the grounds of Sobell Lodge is the annual beertasting, always a great afternoon, from 1-5pm on Saturday, August 20. As always, the beer will be supplied by several local breweries. An adult samples yicket includes a ploughman’s cheese/ham and three tasters of beer (or Pimm’s if preferred) at £8.50. A child non-samples ticket to include soft drinks, costs £5. There will also be a raffle, with lots of prizes, tombola, and other stalls. Tickets must be booked and paid for by August 15, so phone 01580 893996. Proof of age may be required. Sobell Lodge is a Leonard Cheshire Disability care home located behind the Village Centre in the High Street, a home which provides a range of services for physically disabled adults. All proceeds will go directly to providing improved facilities for the residents. Summer supper: In support of Hi Kent, the local deaf charity, on Friday August 19, Frankie’s Farmshop is putting on a Summer Supper. It will start at 7.30pm, in the Restaurant at Staplehurst Nurseries, Clapper Lane. Tickets cost £25 (drinks not included) – for a two-course meal (with vegetarian option). Call Hi Kent on 01622 691151 or textphone 07795 951466, call in at 18 Brewer Street, Maidstone or email to Liz at L.clayton@hikent.org.uk (credit/debit cards accepted). Littlefest raises £2500: The Littlefest 2016 held at Lainey’s Farm last Saturday more than doubled the £1,092 raised last year, which illustrates the event’s increasing popularity with all proceeds in aid of the Kent Ambulance and Eliana’s wish to run. Brave little Eliana is from our village and her parents have to find £85,000 for the operation in the US – see http://just4children. org/children-helped-2016/elianaswish-to-run/ – a worthwhile cause to which you can still make contributions). Many thanks to local sponsors Hush Heath Winery and the Tonbridge Brewery. Laineys Farm provides day care for adults with learning difficulties. Find out more and what Laineys can offer, email toby@laineysfarm. co.uk or check the Laineys Farm website www.laineysfarm.co.uk Walnut tree talk: Alexander Hunt will be talking about walnut trees at the meeting of the horticultural society on Tuesday August 16 at 8pm in the village centre south hall, to which all are welcome. The society aims to engage with the local community and in particular with local children in order to promote an interest in gardening and rural matters in general. It holds monthly meetings in the village centre with illustrated talks, raffles, refreshments etc as well as a number of annual events. Contact Sue de St-Jorre (893922) for details. Scout Group: The Beavers Hedgehog Colony have 20 girls and boys. Since the last round up, they have been active trying to get some badge work finished. They visited Sissinghurst Castle and did a hike around the grounds. This hike was a little different as the Beavers were asked questions to do with the Safety Activity badge. They were also asked to collect items on the way around. They have had two joint evenings with the Explorers, who helped them cook hotdogs and marshmallows with chocolate biscuits, and have also had great fun branding signs (all using the open fires (!); making a hedgehog house to go in the Scout Hut Grounds; practising first aid and putting up tents. They attended the County Cub and Beaver Adventure Day held at the County Scout Headquarters in Sandling. During this afternoon they started with a picnic closely followed by using the big climbing wall, bouldering, the caving bus, archery, water rockets, target frisbee and pedal carts. This afternoon wasn’t just fun for the Beavers and Cubs but also for the parent helpers and Leaders! They enjoyed a hike around Staplehurst. Half the colony went one way round and the other half the other way. Along the hike they were asked to do things regarding their Safety Activity badge and their Challenge badge, for example, to use the pedestrian crossing safely, to walk along the pavement safely and what they need to do if someone stopped to ask them a question. They were also asked some general knowledge questions and to find information on signs along the walk. When the Beavers returned back to the Scout Hut they found their parents sitting waiting for them . It was their first Awards Night, where the Beaver of the Year award was presented to joint winners, Honey Southby and Flo Mannell and the Beaver of the Year runner-up award presented to Daniel Foreman and Aiden McBean. All the Beavers came away with an award, which included awards like The Years Most Accident Prone Beaver, A Scout in the Making and The Most Helpful Beaver. The Awards Night was a great success and will be held on a yearly basis. Next year they are hoping to try and fit it in with the group’s AGM. Adele would like to thank everyone who has helped her in one way or another over the last year and is looking forward to starting her second year on Wednesday, September 14. The Beavers meet on a Wednesday from 5.15-6.30pm at the Scout Centre in Nicholsen Walk. For information on Beavers or the waiting list, contact the Beaver Leader on 077490 55004 or staplehurstbeavers@gmail.com Eagle Cubs: The Cubs have enjoyed a fun filled summer term. In March, they enjoyed a muddy hike through the fields surrounding the village. Eagle Cubs have worked hard towards many badges: World Challenge, First Aid and Navigiator. The Cubs always put their all into everything they do and support each other, there is a great sense of teamwork amongst the Cubs. Two Cubs were recently awarded the Chief Scout Silver Award, which is the highest award avail- able to Cubs. When the weather was a bit kinder, they lit fires and cooked bread twists on willow sticks. The Cubs made the dough from scratch, which turned out to be a little messy, but a lot of fun! The Cubs also learned about how to treat burns, luckily their newly found first aid knowledge was not needed at the time. They celebrated Ramadan, played games originating from different countries, and have enjoyed many games of rounders, including wet rounders and a newly created Summer Submarines game. They decorated the hut for the carnival with some excellent posters and bunting, and also celebrated Canada’s Independence Day with maple pancakes and creating mini flags. The Cubs had a camp kit talk by Akela. There were lots of interesting ideas and questions about what was appropriate to bring to camp – they seemed shocked that an Xbox wasn’t a good idea! They went off on their summer camp at the end of July. Eagle Cubs meet on Thursdays from 6.15pm-8pm at the Scout Centre. Adam Best – eaglecubs@ staplehurstscouts.org.uk Scout Group: As well as the usual fun and games at the hut including laser games, barbecue and cooking skills, the Scouts have been on a hike, played Wide Games at Angley Woods and had an evening of outdoor activities at Staplehurst Manor. They had a busy summer term with Scout Leaders and Scouts helping with the bottle tombola at the carnival, and also supporting Staplehurst School’s Summer Fair by running the crockery smash for it. Many of the Scouts attended the District Fun Day at Lordship Wood and enjoyed activities such as archery, rifle shooting, branding and much more. The Scouts also helped run the gate and parking at Laineys Farm- Littlefest, helping to raise money for Kent Air Ambulance (Marden) and Eliana’s Wish To Run charity. The group lookforward to returning on September 16 for the autumn term. The group meet on Fridays from 7.30 and 9.30pm. Scouts, Mark Weddell, staplehurstscouts@googlemail.com The group raised about £250 supporting the Staplehurst 10k Fun Run by serving breakfast in the Scout Hut. They also raised about £400 at the carnival by offering a tea service in the Scout Hut and running the bottle tombola out on the field. These funds will go towards hut refurbishment, a new disabled access, a new fire exit at the rear of the hut, replacement tables and benches, some new equipment and to help pay for Beaver, Cub and Scout trips and events. Leaders needed: The Scout Group urgently needs new leaders, assistants and helpers for all sections, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. If you are interested get in touch with Paul Brooker, the Group Scout Leader on 01580 891207 or Bill best the chairman on 893133. Alternatively go along to the scout hut and meet the team at any of the meetings. Details on the website www. staplehurstscouts.org.uk Surgeries: On Saturday, August 13, parish Cllr Joan Buller will be in the library to answer your questions from 10am-11am. These recently-introduced weekly surgeries are gaining popularity with residents, and they do provide the opportunity for issues to be logged. This is particularly important with the ever-increasing traffic problems in which minor accidents regularly go unreported, and therefore do not count in KCC’s statistics on which any hope of remedial steps depend. Supporting photographs can be of great value when building any case for improvements. Correspondent: Claire Adams, Woodmancote, Rumstead Lane, Stockbury, ME9 7QL Tel: 01795 841140 foxgloveadams@ aol.com Parish council: The next meeting

is on Wednesday August 17 at the Correspondent: Eileen Riden Tel: 01622 844953 riden887@ btinternet.com Correspondent: Ron Stubbs Tel: 01622 726962 The case of the stifled scream: The Testonites’ summer revue, A Midsummer Night’a Scream, originally billed for August 19 has had to be postponed until October. It is hoped that no inconvenience has been caused. Arts and crafts: Will be showcased during the Flower Festival to be held during the Bank Holiday weekend, Saturday to Monday, August 27-29 in church. Refreshments will be available and anyone considering selling an item or items in this showcase event will be welcome .subject to a 20% commission for church funds. Speak with Dawn on 01622 812691 about this matter. Concert: The concert has been arranged for Saturday, August 27, featuring the Testonites and the musicians, singers and dancers of the Apple Tree from East Malling. The concert will start at 8pm and refreshments will be available. Tickets will be £8 from Dawn or £10 on the door with proceeds shared the two groups. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com PARISH COUNCIL: At the August meeting, the following issues were noted. Cllr Hogg had delivered flood warden letters to various roads in Tovil. Cllr Smith said he would continue with the new planting of the wooden boxes. The bank on Farleigh Hill needed to be strimmed: the clerk would inquire of Kent Highways with an emergency cut to be undertaken by Pearson’s Landscapes. The bank on Tovil Hill was also overgrown. The Millstock Terrace bus shelter window had been replaced. Regarding the renewal of the parish council’s membership of the Kent Association of Local Councils, a presentation by officers of KALC would be held on Monday, August 15 at 7.30pm at the community centre. The damaged fence on the left of Cave Hill, entering from Straw Mill Hill was reported and it was requested that the parish council take on and fund this repair at the approximate cost of £250. This will be an agenda item for the September meeting. It was reported that several near accidents involving children walking up Courtenay Road to the pre-school at the community centre had occurred because of cars parked on the Courtenay Road pavement. Councillors were asked to look out for the cause of any sudden parking influx, and if one could be found, the parish council would try to address the issue. Correspondent: Leila Ware Tel: 01622 842330 leilaware@ outlook.com Community pub: Four residents have made a collective offer to buy the freehold of the Harrow, which had failed to attract a single bid when put up for sale at auction on July 25. The offer has been accepted enabling the building to be secured for an exciting new community project opening in the near future. The intention is for the Harrow to be a multifunction pub, café, tea room and shop run and staffed entirely by residents of the village. The Harrow has not traded for more than 10 years and has been on and off the market for some