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pleased with the outcomes of the meeting which was held on Friday August 26. Parishes affected by flooding in Helen’s constituency were represented at the meeting and were able to present their response to the news that the EA will not be following through their previous plans to build flood storage areas on the Rivers Teise and Beult. Councillors from Collier Street, Marden, Nettlestead, Hunton and Yalding spoke about their disappointment to hear that residents will only be offered grants for property level protection (PLP) Not only are these proposed grants minimal, but the protection they will fund will not be effective for the majority of homes at risk in the catchment. Helen Grant is to ask for further information/data from the EA about their decision and there will be another meeting of the group in September. Environment Agency newsletter: The EA has produced a newsletter which communicates the very disappointing news that they will not be building flood prevention measures for the parish. This has now been circulated to every home in Collier Street via the free parish magazine. There will be a three day exhibition at the village church on October 6,7 and 8 during which the EA will explain their controversial decision. The parish council hope that residents will attend the event and challenge the EA’s findings. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Church Fete.: Holy Trinity Church will be holding a Fete tomorrow (3rd) in front of the church from 1-30pm onwards. BBQ, raffle, tombola, coconut shy, strawberry teas, entertainment. Lots of fun for everyone. Admission free. Thursday Club.: Members of the Thursday Club will be going on a river trip to Runnymede on 11th September. This is a club for over 60s and meets in the Scout hut on alternate Thursdays from 2-4pm. Cost £1.50. For more details, contact Peggy-Anne on 745288; Polly on 745769; Anne on 747747. Correspondent: Jenny Cosgrove Tel: 01622 630462 jenny.cosgrove@ hotmail.co. uk Farewell: On Sunday, September 4 the Reverend Paul Gish will lead the 10.30am Sung Communion Service at Detling Church for the final time as he will be installed soon as Vicar of Yalding. Everyone is invited. If you wish to make a donation for his farewell present, please contact June Eckton (church warden) on 01622 630898. Parish Council: On Tuesday, Sep

tember 6 Detling Parish Council will meet at 7pm in the Committee room of the Detling Vilage Hall. Planning matters are dealt with at the beginning. All residents may attend and will have a chance to speak during the time allotted for public debate. Ride or Stride: The Friends of Kent Churches annual fund raising event is on Saturday, September 10. Volunteers are needed to get on their bikes or stroll or hike and at the same time call in to the nearest churches on their route which are check points. If you would like to join in, please contact Margaret Cooke on 01622 737987 who can provide a sponsorship form. Detling Showground: On the weekend of Saturday to Sunday, September 3 – 4 the Antiques, Vintage and collectors fair will be back up at the Detling Showground. On Saturday the early entry tickets are available between 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM - £6, followed by later entry between 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM - £5. On Sunday the gates are open between 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM - £4. For further information, visit www.b2bevents.info/detling.html. Over the weekend from Saturday to Sunday, September 9 – 10 The Social music festival will be held at the Detling Showground. The Social is a boutique music festival showcasing the world’s greatest dance music acts in the idyllic setting of The Kent County Showground in Maidstone, Kent. If you would like to see further information regarding the lineup and tickets visit www.thesocialfestival.com. Correspondent: Mike Brine Tel: 01732 845825 mbriney.yoda@ hotmail. com Heritage weekend: As part of Tonbridge and Malling Council’s Heritage Weekend the heritage centre in New Road will be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday, September 10-11 from 10am-3pm. All welcome. Council date: The parish council meets in the community centre on Monday, September 5 at 7.30pm. Residents are welcome to attend. Kilnbarn quiz: The next Kilnbarn quiz is on Sunday, September 25 at 8pm. Teams of six to eight at £2 per head, with a meat raffle. All welcome. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Any Answers: A Quiz will take place at St. Nicholas Church on Wednesday September 14 at 7.30pm.Bring your own nibbles and drinks. For details phone 01622 737684 or 01622 739129. Church Tower Open: There will be a Tower Open Morning hosted by the Bell Ringers at St. Nicholas Church on Saturday September 10 from 10am to noon. Come along and visit the ringing room, have a go at ringing, under supervision, and enjoy the refreshments on offer. Children wishing to ring a bell must be 9 years old or over and be accompanied by an adult. Contact : Mal Williams, The Tower Captain, on phone no. 01622 861143. Church Bellringing: Novice bellringing will take place at St. Nicholas Church on Monday September 5 at 7.30pm and there will be a bellringing practice on Wednesday September 7 at 3pm. For information phone 01622 861143. Messy Church: The next meeting of Messy Church at St. Nicholas Church will take place on Monday September 12 from 3.30pm. Craftwork, a story and songs followed by a tea. Children with their parents/carers welcome. For details phone 01622 861382. Party For Everyone: A Tea Party will take place at St. Nicholas Church on Thursday September 15 at 3pm. Everyone Welcome. 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 6 at 8pm. Members of the public are invited to attend. Correspondent: Maureen Jopson, 68 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PY Tel: 01622 746086 joplot8@ hotmail.co.uk Farmers Market: The September Farmers Market is on Sunday (4th) between 10am and 1pm in the Old School Hall, Lower Road. The usual produce plus Knife Ninjas will be there to sharpen your blunt equipment. W.I: Members of The Farleighs W.I. are reminded that the District Walk is on Wednesday (7th). If you would like more information contact Diane Scott on 01622 814476. Sponsored Ride: Are you taking part in the Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride on Saturday 10th September? If so, Judy Salway has sponsor forms and a list of open churches and will be pleased to help anyone wishing to take part. She can be contacted on 01622 727142. Correspondent: Fran Smith, 14 Pitt Road, Maidstone, ME16 8PA Mob: 07791 650955 Tel: 01622 720623 fransmith@ talktalk.net Wildlife Group: The next monthly activity session will take place on Saturday, September 10, 10am – 12 noon. 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: There will be a meeting on Monday September 5 at 7.30pm in Grafty Green village hall. Members of the public are invited and will be given an opportunity to speak. Gardening Club: Grafty Green gardeners will visit East Sutton Vine garden on Tuesday September 6 at 6pm. For more details ring Sue Burch on 01622 850381. Sunday Worship: Holy Communion will be celebrated in St Nicholas church Boughton Malherbe on Sunday September 4 at 9.30am. Ulcombe church will be the venue for Tuesday prayers on September 6 and 9.30am. Yoga Classes: The new 7 week term will begin in Grafty Green village hall on Wednesday September 7 at 7pm. The Thursday morning session the following day will begin at 9.30am. There will be a one-off Saturday class on September 3 from 10am to 11.30am. Booking for this session would be appreciated by Sue Burch on 01622 850381. Family Fun Day: This event, organised by Grafty Green village hall committee, is also called Animal Correspondent: Rosa Sams, Uplands Hogbarn Lane, Harrietsham, Maidstone, ME17 1NZ Tel: 01622 859412 rosa.sams@ googlemail.com Flower Show: The annual show takes place on Saturday, September 3 at the village hall from 2.30pm. Schedules and entry forms available from the Post Office, Hairdressers and surgery or online at harrietshamgardeningsociety. org All welcome Whist Drive: The club will resume on Friday, September 9, at the village hall. All welcome Correspondent: Liz Willy , 108 Eyhorne Street, Hollingbourne, ME17 1UA Mob: 07928668924 elizabethwilly@ btinternet.com Bredgar Railway: Steam through Warren Wood on a historic 2 foot gauge narrow railway. Also a museum of classic cars and a steam organ. Refreshments available. Sunday 4 September, 10.30am to 5pm Warren Wood beyond the top of Hollingbourne Hill towards Sittingbourne. Ride and Stride: A sponsored bike ride in aid of Kent churches. See how many churches you can visit in one day! All are welcome to participate. Saturday 10 September, All Saints’ Church in Hollingbourne and churches across Kent. Parish Council Meeting: Monday 12 September, at 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Cardwell Pavilion. Correspondent: Helen Ward Tel: 01622 820810 herald@hunton.org.uk Needles and Natter: Can you knit, sew, crochet or make jewellery? If not, would you like to learn? Whatever your craft, if you would like to try something new a “Needles & Natter” group is starting up on the 3rd Friday of each month from 8pm in Hunton Village Club, with the first get-together on Friday, September 16. This is a chance to bring along whatever you are working on, seek advice and tips or share your knowledge, patterns and ideas with others. All welcome. Further information from Kathy on 01622 820092. Poppy Appeal Help: The Royal British Legion is looking for someone willing to take over the organisation of the Poppy Appeal in Hunton. It involves collecting the trays of poppies and collecting tins (usually 10-12 of each) from the office in Marsham Street, Maidstone; distributing to various collectors within Hunton, including the village club and school, then, about three weeks later, returning to collect unsold poppies and the tins with the money in and returning them to Marsham Street. If anybody is interested and would like more information, with no obligation, please contact Maureen Jopson on 01622 746086 or email There will be a combined cleaning of the church interior and tidy up of the churchyard on Saturday, September 10 from 9am-12pm, with the usual break for refreshments. Any help would be very gratefully received, even if you are unable to stay for the whole time. Please contact Lesley if you are able to come along on 01622 820210 email lesley.a.lee@btinternet.com. Village Walk & Lunch: There will be a village walk on Saturday, September 17 starting from the village club. Please arrive at 10.45am for a prompt 11am start. This will be a circular walk lasting approximately one and a half hours and finishing at the club, where a ploughman’s lunch followed by tea or coffee and cake will be served for a donation of £5 (all profits will be shared between the club and St Mary’s Church). If you would like to come along please book a place in advance by contacting Lesley on 01622 820810 or email lesley.a.lee@ btinternet.com. All welcome. Councillor Steps Down: Due to personal circumstances, Steve Wyles has stepped down from the parish council. Steve has also resigned his role as Speedwatch coordinator but will remain a member of the flood group and will continue as Huntonwatch coordinator, along with his wife Sue. Correspondent: Martin Hider Tel: 01622 736327 mhider5@ gmail.com Open Day: St. Mary’s Church will be open on Saturday September 10 from 10.30am to 4pm. Farm Shop. Refreshments including lunches and afternoon teas. Listen to music by Chris Hebditch and friends on the hour from noon. Come along and support this contribution towards the cost of keeping both churches in the church parish open and out-reach to the wider community. This will be the last open day at St. Mary’s Church in 2016. Amount Raised: The Open Day at St. Mary’s Church in August raised £313. Thank you to everyone who supported this and to Maria and Denise who arranged the Days. Breathe Easy: The Maidstone and District Breathe Easy Group which helps anyone living with a lung condition meets at Langley Village Hall on the third Tuesday of the month from 2pm to 4pm. Fun, informative meetings, speakers and social activities. All welcomed. For details phone 01622 664943. Correspondent: Janetta Sams, Uplands Hogbarn Lane, Harrietsham, ME17 1NZ Tel: 01622 859412 sams_uplands@yahoo.co.uk Heart of Kent Hospice: Pedal your support for Heart of Kent Hospice at Cyclo Sportive 2016. Starting at East Malling Research Centre on Sunday October 2. you have the choice of three distances taking you through the heart of the Kent countryside on either a 100km, 65km or 38km circular route. All routes include feed and water stations Comprehensive signage Marshals, First Aid and vehicle support professional chip timings Special finishers medal. Over 18s only, Entry fee for 100km £35.00. Entry fee for 65km and 38km £30.00 To mark the 25th anniversary year the hospice ask all to raise a minimum of £25.00 in sponsorship and anyone raising in excess of £50.00 will be entered into our prize draw. For full details of the Sportive and the Family Fun Cycle which takes place on the same day please visit www.hokh.org.