What’s happening where you live...

agreed as part of the Heath Road Traffic Calming Scheme will be completed by KCC Highways during September. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail. co.uk Church Open: St Martin of Tours will be open from 10am – 6pm for visitors on Saturday, September 12. Family Service: On Sunday, September 13 in St Martin of Tours church there is the monthly family service at 10.30am. A warm welcome to everyone, there are activities for the children and refreshments for all at the end. Detling Strollers: On Thursday, September 17 there will be a walk based on Trottiscliffe. All welcome, meet outside Detling Village Hall at 10am and transport will be shared. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. The return is usually by 1pm. For further details contact John Munson on 01622 630231. Coffee Morning: On Wednesday, September 16 there will be another popular coffee morning at Detling Church from 10.30am – noon. All welcome, there is no charge. Detling Showground: Over the weekend from Saturday to Sunday, September 12 – 13 it is Truckfest at the Detling Showground, open from 9am – 5.30pm. The weekend is full of activities and all the way from North Carolina, Television stars Ron and Amy Shirley, from the hit show Lizard Lick Towing will be at the show. Tickets are available at the gates, Adults - £17, Child (5 - 15 Years) - £7, Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) - £40 for single day admission. For further information visit the website at www.truckfest.co.uk or call on 01775 768661. On Wednesday, September 16 is the monthly Clive Emson property auction, which will start in the Clive Emson Conference Centre in the Detling Showground at 11am. For details of the properties up for auction visit www.cliveemson.co.uk. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail.com Council date: The parish council’s community centre committee meets on Monday, September 13 at the community centre at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Sixties dining: The Orchards Cafe within the East Malling Research Centre, is opening its third bistro night after its successful launch this year. The 60s themed dinner will take place on Friday, September 11 and diners will be transported back to a time when prawn cocktails and melon boats were popular alongside scampi and chicken in a basket and black forest gateau and sherry trifle. Diners can enjoy a two course meal for £14.95 or a three course meal for £18.95. Dining starts at 7pm. Booking is essential as their will be no availability on the night. Call 01732 523781. Volunteer wanted: Communigrow, a horticultural project in Ditton and surrounding areas is looking for an active, voluntary grower to join its small team of amateur gardeners. The charity needs help to plan, maintain and distribute fresh, sustainably grown veg as local food to support the charity’s education and work experience. Call 07806 708386 if you can help. Heritage weekend: Ditton Heritage Centre, New Road, will be open on Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13 from 10am-noon as part of Heritage Weekend. Visitors always welcome. The centre holds its annual meeting on Thursday, September 17 at 7.15pm. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com 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 on Saturday September 12 from 3pm to 5pm. Tickets cost £5 and they can be obtained by phoning 01622 861245 or 01622 861374. Party For Everyone: A Tea Party will take place at St. Nicholas Church on Thursday September 17 at 3pm. Everyone Invited. For details or if a lift is needed phone Joan Palmer on 01622 202239. 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. Ride and Stride: The annual sponsored Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride will take place on Saturday September 12 from 10am to 6pm. People can obtain sponsorship and cycle or walk with the money raised being divided equally between the Friends of Kent Churches and the church of the rider or walker. Routes are likely to be fairly local. People will also be needed to ‘man’ local churches including to welcome riders and walkers and give them refreshments. For details phone 01622 861382. R.S.P.B. Meeting: The local group of the RSPB will be given an illustrated talk about the Swiss Alps highlighting it’s fauna and flora by Gordon Small. Refreshments will be free and there will be opportunities to buy bird feed and Sales goods. Entrance fee for visitors £4.50 (£3.50 for group members). Easy car parking available. R.S.P.B. Outing : There is a great opportunity to visit the famous RSPB Minsmere Reserve by joining the local RSPB group’s coach outing on Saturday September 12. Tickets cost £26 and can be obtained by phoning 01622 674007. Messy Church: This church at St. Nicholas Church will meet on Monday September 14 from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. The format is for children with their parents/ carers to enjoy a couple of hours of fun activities, games and music, finishing with a tea For more details phone 01622 861383. Correspondent: Jake Harfleet Tel: 01732 847858 joharfleet@ blueyonder. co.uk Farmers Market: The August farmer’s market had a constant stream of customers and stallholders reported pleasing sales. The new fish stall was well received as was Sutton Park’s wider range of meat. They will continue to bring as varied a selection as possible and often have frozen back up supplies, so please ask if you cannot see what you require. £120 was donated from the July and August markets to Restoring Hands. A charity committed to supporting the local Maidstone community by providing assistance to improve quality of life, restore dignity and promote hope for the future. They aim to help people who find themselves in need or hardship. The October market is on Sunday October 4 from 10am to 1pm in The Old School Hall. Harvest festival service: We will be celebrating the Harvest Festival on Sunday October 11 with a service at 11am. As usual we will be giving the Harvest gifts to Maidstone Christian Care. They do appreciate the gifts they receive at this time of year from churches and others celebrating Harvest. Among the most useful items are: tinned meats, tinned fruits, long life milk, pot noodles and basic toiletries. It is desirable that tinned goods are in ring pull cans. All storable foods are very acceptable.

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 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 Toddler Group: Parents & toddlers group or aunties, uncles and grandparents often accompany the toddlers. Each Wednesday from 1.00pm to 2.30 pm at Tonbridge Road Methodist Church, in the School Hall. Toys for the children and a cup of tea and time to chat for the adults. However, we do not meet in the school holidays. Contact Betty tel: 01622 754564 Correspondent: Joan Drury, Weirton Villa, Headcorn Road, Grafty Green, ME17 2AP Tel: 01622 853766 jdrury23@ btinternet.com Life of Abraham: Bible studies based on chapters from the book of Genesis will be resumed on Thursday September 17. Coffee will be available at 10.15am and the study will begin at 10.30am. Evening Worship: A service of choral evensong will take place in St Nicholas church Boughton Malherbe on Sunday September 13 at 6.30pm. The weekly prayer meeting will be held in the same building at 9.30am on Tuesday September 15. The church will be open between 10am and 6pm on Saturday September 12 for the annual Ride and Stride.. Sponsor forms can be obtained from Joan Davidson (01622 850210). Harvest Supper: Tickets are now on sale for the annual Harvest Supper which will be held in Grafty Green village hall on Saturday October 3 at 7.30pm. This event is orgaised jointly the the church and the village hall committee. The price of tickets, available from the village shop, Sandra Pilborough and Joan Davidson, will be decided when the events of the evening are decided upon. Phil the Bag: This fundraising event for Grafty Green village hall will be held in the hall on Sunday October 18 between Poor Freya was in a sad way when she came to the RSPCA as a stray. She had been attacked by another cat and had suffered a bite to her front leg which fortunately has now fully healed She also came with a litter of day-old kittens. They are growing fast and are due to be re-homed in a couple of weeks. So now the RSPCA is looking for a new and loving home for Freya herself. Freya is a sweet-natured girl who could live with other animals and children. She will make a lovely family cat and will be ready in a week or two when her kittens have gone and she has been spayed.

If you can offer Freya a home call 01622 891222. 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 Gardening Society: The next meeting is on Tuesday, September 15. The speaker will be Barbara Stevens who will be talking about Olive Oil and on Saturday September 19 the society will be visiting the RHS gardens at Hyde Hall. Contact Peter Brown on 01622 851075 History society: The groups next meeting takes place on Monday September 21, 7.30 at the school hall. The speaker will be Maureen Clayton who will give a talk Mobile Police station: The unit will be visiting Harrietsham on Friday, September 18 from 12noon until 1pm in the village hall car park Whist: The next whist drive takes place on Friday, September 11. 7.30pm at the village hall, all welcome.