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However there will be joint practise for the church choirs of Detling and Boxley on Tuesday, September 8 at 7pm in St Martin of Tours church Detling. They will be learning special music for the Harcest Festival. Detling WI: The next meeting for Detling W.I will be on Wednesday, September 16. The speaker will be Mr Geoff Wood, his very interesting subject will be on Cake Decorating, and the competition will be A Cake Recipe, doors open at 7pm, they invite visitors to come along and enjoy a very friendly evening with refreshments at the end of the meeting. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Council meets: The parish council meets on Monday, September 7 at the community centre at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Time will be set aside for public comments at 8pm. Churchyard tidy: The autumn clearup of the churchyard and church centre garden will be on Saturday, September 5 between 9am-noon. All volunteers welcome and refreshments will be available during the morning. For catering purposes, call David Stevens on 01622 717492 or email david.stevens30@talktalk. net if you will be joining in. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Any Answers: A Quiz will take place at St. Nicholas Church on Wednesday September 9 at 7.30pm. Bring your own nibbles and drinks. For details phone 01622 737684 or 01622 739129. Raspberry Tea: Oakdene Farm is one of the biggest producers of soft fruit in the U.K. Not only growing fruit but packing and distributing fruit throughout the country. This is a chance to learn about the way in which this is done and enjoy some of the products in the form of a delicious Raspberry Tea at Oakdene Farm, Leeds Road. Tickets Cost £5. Due to a limited number of places, tickets need to be purchased in advance. For tickets phone 01622 861245 or 01622 861374. Parish Council Meeting: Downswood Parish Council will meet at the Community Centre on Tuesday September 15 at 8pm. Members of the public are invited to attend. Messy Church: The next session of this church at St. Nicholas Church will take place on Monday September 14 from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Messy Church is primarily aimed at children with their parents/carers. After a settling in period with a drink and biscuit and colouring/ games the children are introduced to the theme for the session and have activities. Then the children have a story and song around the theme and then sit down to a buffet style tea. For details phone 01622 861382. Correspondent: Jake Harfleet Tel: 01732 847858 joharfleet@ blueyonder.co.uk . Ride and Stride: Saturday, September 12. East Farleigh is looking for participants to ride or walk on behalf of East Farleigh Church. Half the money raised goes to East Farleigh Church and the other half to the Friends of Kent Churches. Contact Judy Salway 01622 727142 if you’re interested in taking part and to get a sponsor form and list of participating churches. Biggest coffee morning: The Friends of East Farleigh School is inviting East Farleigh residents and the wider community to the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ at East Farleigh Primary School, Vicarage Lane, ME15 OLY from 9am on September, 25. All proceeds will go to MacMillan Cancer Support. Farmers’ market: The September market will be held on Sunday, September 6 from 10am-1pm in The Old School Hall. Kenward Trust should be back with their woodcrafts and plants and Spice of Life return with their delicious Indian Pickles and flavoured oils. There should still be some soft fruit, plums and apples, lots of freshly made preserves plus all our usual selection of food and crafts. WI August news: The August WI meeting provided a taste of the magic of the Middle East, with a belly dance teacher, Ann Hall showing various dances and exotic costumes. A number of WI members joined in and the music was fantastic. Every fifth Wednesday of the month we open our doors to all, men included. September 30 John Ray will be giving a talk on Freemasonry, what’s it really all about? Come and find out. Cost £3 on the door includes refreshments. Other forthcoming events include; Macmillan Coffee Morning, September 23 10am-12 noon all welcome. Halloween evening, October 31 and a Christmas shopping event on November 7. The WI meets every second Wednesday at 7pm for 7.30pm in the WI hall in Forge Lane, East Farleigh. If you would information about any of the above, please contact Diane Scott 01622 814476. Quiz: Come along and join us in the old school hall for a fun quiz night on Friday, September 4 at 7.30-10pm. Teams can have a maximum of eight members (so pick your brainiest friends!) £5 per person which includes nibbles & tea/coffee, all proceeds go to the up keep of our beautiful hall. Please feel free to bring along as many other refreshments as you like, including alcohol. For tickets call Mandy on 07703 525138 or email amandashoward@hotmail.com Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Correspondent: Fran Smith, 14 Pitt Road, Maidstone, ME16 8PA Mob: 07791 650955 Tel: 01622 720623 fransmith@ talktalk.net Polling Station Change: Don’t forget to vote in the Fant by-election on Thursday, September 10. If you live in the east of the ward and usually cast your vote at St Michael’s School remember that on this occasion your polling station is the Grange Moor Hotel in St Michael’s Road, ME16 8BS. Fant Wildlife Group: The next work party takes place on Saturday, September 12, 10am – 12 noon. Meet at the Roseholme entrance. Further details on the website: www. fantwildlifegroup.org.uk Correspondent: Joan Drury, Weirton Villa, Headcorn Road, Grafty Green, ME17 2AP Tel: 01622 853766 jdrury23@ btinternet.com PARISH COUNCIL- Planning: As Grafty Green’s correspondent I have always tried to use this column to ensure that readers are aware of the dates of parish council meeting. I regret that no reference was made to the planning meeting which preceded the full council meeting on Monday August 17.. Since returning from holiday I have looked at the village notice board and read the planning agenda posted by the Clerk on Tuesday August 11. Had I been aware of this I would have drawn attention to it in the Friday August 14 issue of this newspaper. The planning application is for 14 detached bespoke dwellings on the former Grafty Green Garden Centre site. It is an issue of great local importance and many residents attended the 2 meetings in April at which Quinn Estates presented their proposals and invited comments. As a result of the lack of adequate notice only 4 residents were able to attend the planning meeting on Monday August 17. Unfortunately the closing date for comments, Tuesday September 1, has passed. I am sorry for this omission. Memorable Worship: A trumpet, a guitar, a keyboard and the organ were used to provide music when members of the 4 Len Valley churches worshipped in Boughton Malherbe last week. Guest speaker, Capt Graham Nunn of te Church Army is a well known magician. During a short and challenging talk he made use to a Bible which burst into flames and a trick involving 3 ropes to illustrate his points. As is usual at these combined services there was an interval at which families with young children were given an opportunity to leave. Capt Nunn preached again during the Holy Communion service which followed the short time of family worship. He will be going to China in 2 weeks time to preach and teach. Coffee and Cakes: Once a month Grafty Green village hall becomes a cafe. Coffee, tea and cakes will be available in the hall on Wednesday September 9 between 10.30am and noon. Why not come along, meet friends, talk about your holidays and enjoy the refreshments. Tuesday Prayers: The regular 9.30am prayer meetings will be resumed in Ulcome church on Tuesday September 8. Prayer Book Service: Holy Communion following the Book of Common Prayer version will be celebrated in St Nicholas church Boughton Malherbe on Sunday September 5 at 9.30am. Correspondent: Jackie Nixon Mob: 07527 449540 jackie.kmlocal@ hotmail. com Correspondent: Rosa Sams, Uplands Hogbarn Lane, Harrietsham, Maidstone, ME17 1NZ Tel: 01622 859412 rosa.sams@ googlemail.com Village Show: All invited to the Gardening Society’s annual Flower, vegetable and craft show village show that takes place at the village hall on Saturday, September 5 from 2.30pm Hall votes: The project for installing solar panels on the roof of the village hall has made the short list on the Marks and Spencer Community Energy Fund. The committee are asking for residents to support this by voting by going on the link www.mandsenergyfund.com/project/27171. For those not able to access the internet call 07500548806 to find an alternative way of voting. Correspondent: Mike Bennett Mob: 07979 672985 Tel: 01580 761943 mikebennettkm@ tiscali. co.uk Walk date: Members of the village footpaths group meet at the High Street War Memorial on Sunday, September 6 at 10.30am to travel to Linton for a four mile stroll ending with an optional lunch. New members are always welcome. For details contact Christine Dutton on 01622 890142. Village hall: All residents are invited to view the activities on offer at the village hall at an Open Day between 10am-4pm on Sunday, September 6 when there will be an art show and have-a-go demonstrations. Pets service: All creatures great and small are invited with their owners to a special pets service in the parish church at 10am on Sunday, September 6. Ride and Stride: Cycle, walk orrun between as many churches as you can between 10am-6pm on Saturday, September 12 is the challenge to raise cash for the parish church. The annual Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride sponsored event will see half the proceeds donated to St Peter and St Pauls church. Entry forms are available at the church but if unable to volunteer a team of local cyclists already entered would welcome sponsorship. For details contact Jackie Collins on 01622 890199. Parish council: All residents are invited to attend at the village hall when the next full meeting of the parish council is held at 8.15pm on Thursday, September 10. It will follow a meeting of the planning committee at 7.30pm, also open to the public, when the latest development applications for the village will be debated. Coffee time: The St Nicholas Group Lucky winners: Mrs M Waring with £25 and Mrs C Hollamby £15 are the latest lucky winners of the monthly Centuries Club draw supportin the efforts of the Friends of the parish church. New members are needed to boost this vital fundraising effort. For details contact Jean Vidler on 01622 890201. Correspondent: Liz Willy , 108 Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, ME17 1UA Mob: 07928668924 elizabethwilly@ btinternet.com Bourne Musicians : The classes have been running for 13 years and we now teach over 270 children a week in schools, pre-schools and classes in Bearsted and Hollingbourne village hall Friday 11 September Please see the website for further details www.bournemusicians@ hotmail.co.uk or contact Beccy Stroud on 01622 880377 / 07771 784429 Bulky Freight : Saturday 12 September from 7.45am to 8.30am at Troy’s Mead Sponsored Bike Ride: Saturday 12 September, atAll Saints’ Church in Hollingbourne and churches across Kent. See how many churches you can visit in one day! All are welcome to participate. For details contact the organisers at carolyn. millen@virginmedia.com or go to http://friendsofkentchurches.co.uk/ Members of the All Saint’s Bell Ringers are participating in aid of the new bells appeal. Parish Council Meeting: The monthly meeting is on Monday 14 September from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in the Cardwell Pavilion.