Snowdrops a sign of spring
A one-acre garden with panoramic views of the Weald has been welcoming visitors to see a display of snowdrops. Spring Platt, in Boyton Court Road, Sutton Valence, is just one of hundreds of gardens open to the public as part of the National Open Garden Scheme. It has more than 600 varieties of snowdrop grown in tiered display beds with spring flowers in the borders. In the greenhouse there is an extensive collection of alpine plants, Visitors can warm up with a bowl of home-made soup with bread or they can opt for a hot drink and cake. Admission to the garden is £4. For more visit www.kentsnowdrops.com to donate, email breakfast@hokh. co.uk or call the fundraising team on 01622 790195. in Fant Hall on Friday, March 2 from 7.30pm. Dancing will be to the music of John Sweeney. Tickets cost £10 each and include a ploughman’s-style supper. Take your own drinks and nibbles. To book, call John on 725435 or Alan on 761004. Ivy Club: Members will meet on Wednesday, February 14, when they have a visit from Wiltshire Farm Foods. This involves plenty of tasting and trying! Note this meeting starts at 1pm instead of the usual 2pm. Questions: The Friends of St Margaret’s will be holding a quiz evening at the village hall on Saturday February 10 from 7.30pm. Teams of up to eight, or you can join with others to make up a team. To book call Joan on 727114 or email stmagsfriends@yahoo.com. Ploughman’s and soft drinks included, but take your own cutlery and alcoholic drinks. Tickets £12. We will remember: One by one - Saturday, February 17 at noon by 11 Plantation Lane. Albert Edward Croucher who died in Iraq and is buried in Baghdad. Ladies Ecumenical lunch: On Monday, February 12, at the tennis club, Greg Carapiet from the Matt Carapiet charitable trust will talk about the background and vision of the charity. For information, contact Carol 0754 999 2185. Methodist church: The church is holding a quiz night on Saturday February 10 at 7pm. Tickets ost £10 and include a ploughman’s, pudding and drink (no alcohol). To book tickets, contact Sue Byard on 07946 614 609. Coffee time: Coffee morning in the church room on Friday February 16 from 10am-noon. For information call Felicity on 07821 677 462. Pancake service: Sunday February 11 at 6pm in the village hall. Lenten service followed by pancakes. Bridge afternoon: Thursday February 15 at Underhill prep school. 1.45pm for 2pm. An afternoon of bridge with a tea. £7.50 per head take your own table and cards. Inquiries to Heather Knowler 01622 749012 or Sue Webb 842629 Coffee morning: The Friends of Sutton Valence and District Branch of the Royal British Legion invite you to their coffee morning on Friday February 16 from 10.15am-12.30pm in the village hall. Correspondent: Jenny Scott Mob: 07785 974951 Back in time: The Yalding and District WI meeting in Yalding Village Hall on Tuesday, February 13 at 7pm, will feature speaker Julia Davis exploring the intriguing subject of Rattling the Family Bones. The competition is for an old family photograph. Visitors and new members are welcome. Call Vivien on 01622 871152 for information. Marden Walkers: On Saturday, Feb- PARISH COUNCIL: New road name. It was noted that MBC had rejected the suggestion of “The Oval” as a name for the new road on the Clockhouse Farm development. It had suggested “Oval Crescent” as an alternative. This suggested name was considered to be a contradiction in terms and so it was agreed that a counter-suggestion of “St Lawrence Crescent” should be put forward in order to retain the cricketing connotation. Forstal Lane development. Disappointment and frustration was expressed at the MBC decision to approve the outline application for the development site off Forstal Lane. The next opportunity to influence the design and layout of the site would be at the stage when a detailed application is submitted. Planning. The following applications had recently been discussed. Conversion of a garage into a habitable space with alterations to the roof, including three roof lights and alterations to fenestration at 8 Amsbury Road. Recommended for approval. Erection of toilet/shower/reception building and bin/store/recycling area at Orchard View, Well Street,