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Concert: A concert of seasonal music with Bel Canto will take place at St Nicholas Church on Sunday, November 13 at 3pm. Those taking part will include Kathryn Norman (soprano), Brian White (bass/baritone) and Richard Kemp (piano). Entry free. Retiring collection for the church. Correspondent: Linda Weeks Tel: 01622 762422 parkwoodkm@ gmail.com If you have an item concerning Park Wood, Maidstone, please contact the correspondent above. Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com St. Paul’s Church: Sunday November 13, Service of Light at 3pm. Tuesday November 15, Quiet Time in Church at 10am. Thursday November 17, St Paul’s Fellowship at 2.30pm, will be entertained by Joshua Duo, a couple with an easy listening repertoire. Every Saturday there is a Short Service of Prayer and Intercession in Church at 9.30am. For all hall bookings contact 01622 762370 Correspondent: Alison Dickerson, 75 Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BB Tel: 01622 762334 malcolm.dickerson@ btinternet. com Wildlife Study Days: The next Wild

life Study Days will be on Satur- day November 19, and is Getting to Know Conifers. Pine, spruce, larch, fir, cedar and redwood, an introduction to identification in the classroom through foliage and cones. Linked to the next day Conifers at Bedgebury Pinetum, field studies amongst the largest collection of conifers in the world led by Ros Bennett, botanist. Sunday November 20 will be held at Bedgebury Pinetum. Normal fee per person per day is £27, £5 off for Kent Wildlife Trust registered volunteers, senior citizens, unemployed and students. Booking Wildlife Study Days, to save time please send the full fee when booking. You will be sent details of the day, together with information on where to meet, what to bring etc. If your chosen day is fully booked we will return your cheque. There is an administration charge of £5 if you cancel a booking at the time. Please note that there will be no refund or transfer to another day, if you give less than 10 working days notice of cancellation. For details contact Tyland Barn on 01622 662012. Correspondent: Linda Weeks Tel: 01622 762422 parkwoodkm@ gmail.com Men’s breakfast: St Hillary’s House, Reculver Walk, will be holding a men’s breakfast on Saturday, November 12 starting at 9am. Vacancy: If you would like to be correspondent for South Park/Shepway, contact Debbie Edwards, email: dedwards@ thekmgroup. co.uk Friends of South Park: November 7 was volunteers day again for the Friends of South Park. Despite the cold wind, a reasonable turnout met at 9.30am as usual. Work was undertaken to all the beds around the pavilion with dead heading, weeding, pruning and freshening up of the soil taking place. The last of the rose beds were edged and work was started on the large shrub bed situated on the eastern boundary as you enter the pleasure gardens. Brambles and thistles were removed along with trimming the edges. It was good to make a start on this bed which will take several volunteer days to complete. They also managed a litter pick. The Rose Campaign is progressing well and all the rose beds have been cleared, double dug and soil improvement taken place. it is hoped to start planting the new roses in the first few beds later in the month. Thanks once again to all those who turned out, your efforts are much appreciated. And all you others don’t forget you can still make a donation to the Rose Campaign. The more raised the more can be done in making the pleasure gardens a super place to visit and sit and enjoy. Correspondent: Andrew Watson, 9 Barn Meadow, Staplehurst, TN12 0SY Mob: 07715 572772 Tel: 01580 891986 staplehurst.report@ btinternet.com 2017 village calendar: Local artist Ken Collins’ calender offers us a ‘Stroll Through Time’ in aid of Leonard Cheshire Disability and the Weald Club for the Disabled. The calendar is available at the usual price of £4, at the post office, Martin McColl, Helen’s Coffee House, the Station Newsagents, Ward & Partners, Radfords Estate Agents, Henhurst Farm Shop, and Coachmans Cottage Studios. It will be available at the Carnival and Fete Committee’s French Market, and at All Saint’s Church Shepherd’s Market on Saturday Dec 3. Saturday surgery: On Saturday November 12, parish Cllrs Tom Burnham and Peter Spearink will be in the library to answer your questions on local matters from 10am-11am. French Market: The Christmas Fair and French Market is being held in the village centre on Sunday November 20 from 10am-4pm. A number of carefully selected local trade and craft stalls will be offering a range of exquisite Christmas gift ideas. The French Market attractions will include: Freshly baked bread, patisserie, crepes, French regional cheeses, provincial soaps, leather handbags, olives from Provence, jewellery, saucisson and pate from Normandy, wooden toys, basketwork, and much more. Of course, hot food and refreshments will be available. PARISH COUNCIL: Village bonfires. Some residents are annoyed by the number of private firework displays spread over a fortnight or more, and believe that if a village of our size were to organise a serious bonfire event, the need for so many private parties would be reduced. Cllr Barret Manning, who represents the village’s carnival and fete committee on the parish council, suggested that an approach to the committee might be the way forward, and the resident’s details were taken. However, as it became apparent at the committee’s AGM recently, its resources are already over stretched; but the resident was confident that the group of friends she represented could provide new active members. So, if you would also like to help out, here is the final comment from the committee’s website: As a very small, friendly, (and aging) committee we are keen to hear Christmas Fair: Here is an opportunity to buy your Christmas presents early on Saturday, November 19 from 10am-noon, in the United Reformed Church Schoolroom, Chapel Lane. Gifts and presents for all ages, including original watercolours, plants, jams and jellies, home made cakes and biscuits, special cards, books, CDs and DVDs, and children’s books by an author from the village. Entry will be free. This fair is sponsored by the Interest Group. Remembrance: The parade will meet in the village centre car park at 9.50am on Sunday November 13 and will move off at 10.15am once the A229 has been closed. The service at All Saints Church will start at 10.45am. A two minute silence will be observed on Friday, November 11 at