Gardening hints

Well after a very dry and very cold April with many frosty nights, lets hope May well bring warmer temperatures where gardening will be a bit more enjoyable. Be aware of late frosts where it will kill of tender bedding plants, basket plants, tomato and cucumber plants. It is too early unless you have a greenhouse, the earliest to plant out tender summer plants is mid May. You can harden off plants by putting them outside during the day and bringing them back in to a well ventilated greenhouse during the night.

May is a good time to sow cabbages, lettuces, carrots, peas, radishes, salad onions, spinach, turnips, winter cauliflowers and also plant brussels, early cabbage, cauliflower, shallots and onion sets.

The second week in May is a good time to plant your runner beans. Dig in well rotted manure or composted materials into your prepared soil, keep well watered and when the flowers appear feed with a high potash feed once a week.

Earth up early potatoes if they are showing through by covering the tender shoots with soil to prevent possible frost damage, it will also help to produce a heavier crop and prevent the top potatoes going green.

Now is the time to mulch well established trees and shrubs and top dress with a general feed. Also give the lawn a good rake over with a metal rake to remove all dead grass, this will aerate the lawn and allow it to thicken up. Use a weed-feed and moss-killer for a really healthy lawn.

If you fancy growing tomatoes and have limited space why not try tumbling cherry tomatoes, plant three in a hanging basket, just keep them watered and fed with tomato food once a week throughout the season you have no need to shake or pinch out the side shoots. Just let them grow and you will have plenty of sweet cherry tomatoes with very little effort.

Although May is a very busy month, still find time to sit back, relax and enjoy your efforts with a drink of choice (mine is still a cold beer). Cheers

Source: Nigel, Art Garden Centre

Community events

North Weald Bassett Parish Council is planning three community events - in North Weald, Hastingwood and Thornwood - to highlight the work of the council over the past year.

The events would replace the usual Annual Parish Assembly - which has been cancelled because of COVID-19 - and give the council the opportunity to highlight ongoing matters in the Parish such as North Weald Airfield and the Inland Border Facility. The council is looking to hold the events, which could include its Citizen of the Year awards, in October.

It is not uncommon to find a baby bird in your garden or on a walk fallen from a nest, here is some advice from the RSPCA on what to do.

Cricket Season Returns

Following it’s cancellation last year due to coronavirus, Dynamos Cricket will be launching this year for 8 to 11 year olds in the local area who want to participate in cricket. All Stars Cricket, for 4 to 8 year olds, will be continuing as in previous seasons, providing a pathway for juniors aged 4 to 11.

Essex Library Services - Reading Friends

Do you know someone who would benefit from having a Reading Friend to connect with over the phone or as part of an online group? The Reading Friends scheme brings people together with trained volunteers to read, share stories, meet new friends and have fun. It’s been happening for some time elsewhere in the UK and has been highly effective in reducing social isolation. After taking part, 83% of participants reported feeling more connected to other people. Together with participants Reading Friends will be checked to meets each person’s needs and matches their interests. You could be talking about books but it’s just as likely that you could be sharing recipes, solving a crossword puzzle together or chatting about something you’ve seen in a newspaper or magazine. This could be viz one-to-one phone calls as well as virtual groups, which will use video call technology. Eventually, in-person groups in libraries are planned when restrictions lift. Interested in taking part? Please email - information.enquiry@essex.gov.uk or phone 0345 603 7628.

Both All Stars Cricket and Dynamos Cricket have been developed by the ECB, the sport’s national governing body, in order to introduce children to the sport, teach and develop their skills, and make new friends. Junior training sessions will be running from the start of May until the end of August on Sunday mornings at the Memorial Playing Field. The adult teams have an action-packed summer ahead, with 48 matches spread across a bumper season. The Saturday league side will take to the field in the Premier Division of the Herts and Essex Border League, including clashes with local rivals Matching Green, Hatfield Heath and Potter Street, while highlights of the Sunday season include visits to Ivanhoe, Stansted and Dunmow. The club has had a successful winter on the fundraising front. Vice Chairman Bob Wood said “We are delighted to have received funding from the Magic Little Grants fund, and we continue to be grateful for the support shown by Co-op members through their ongoing contributions to the Local Community Fund.”