Volunteers sought to plant hedge

Volunteers are need to create a new hedge at the Ashford Pilgrims Hospice.

A working party to plant the hedge is being held on Friday, December 16, from 10.30am to 3pm at the hospice in Hythe Road, Willesborough.

Kent Wildlife Trust wants volunteers to help plant the 100metre stretch.

The Trust is working with hospice staff and volunteers to enhance their wildflower meadow and is now planting an attractive, species-rich hedge in the wildlife garden.

The Trust is leading the Ashford Meadows Project, which aims to enhance and restore flower-rich grasslands such as meadows and pastures, and associated habitats such as hedgerows.

Potential volunteers are asked to contact Camilla Blackburn on 01622 357858 or email camilla. blackburn@kentwildlife.org.uk.

All are welcome, including families, and no experience is necessary, but let the organisers know that you are coming so enough tools and refreshments can be provided.

Hedge plants, gloves, spades, and mince pies will be provided. All volunteers need is sturdy footwear, a warm coat, a hat and something to kneel on.

Meet in the Pilgrims Hospice garden just past Tesco at junction 10, on the A20. After the huge success of its 21st birthday, Create Music Festival will return once again in 2017.

The event at Victoria Park will be held on Saturday, July 22.

A record 12,000 people were entertained last July by a wide range of entertainment across four music stages, finishing off with a tribute to David Bowie by DavidLive! and an illumination show around the Hubert Fountain.

The experience also included the arrival of the Ashford Farmers’ Market, town centre traders and a Chapel Down boutique bar in the Love Ashford zone, along with the food vendors, children’s rides and arts and crafts stalls.

Already announced for Create 2017 is the return of last year’s headliner DavidLive! for the Create Warm Up event at Revelation Ashford on Friday, July 21. Tickets for this show are selling fast.

Festival organisers are looking for acts and performers to take on the various stages and, after the overwhelming number of applications to play at last year’s festival, have decided to open the apply-to-play process earlier than usual.

Performers of all genres, from bands, DJs, singer-songwriters and performance poets are all encouraged to sign up online at www.createfestival.co.uk

Local community choirs, dance troupes and groups are encouraged to apply to play for the new community stage. The closing date for entries is noon on Friday, February 17.

For more information on Create, visit www.createfestival.co.uk or follow on twitter www.twitter.com/ ashfordcreate Facebook www. facebook.com/ashfordcreate

Picture: Paul Amos FM4438254 Buy pictures from kentonline.co.uk These visitors to Victoria Park were among a record 12,000 enjoying Create this year