GARDEN NOTES FOR MAY

Mowing controls many lawn weeds, and feeding and scarifying at the right time keeps the lawn healthy without the thin and bare patches. Weeds such as Daisies, Dandelions and Speedwell survive by smothering the surrounding grass with their large leaves. These can be tackled by hand or chemical lawn weedkiller. Use a narrow trowel, Daisy Grubber or an old kitchen knife to dig out the roots of the weeds. Fill holes with old compost or soil. Lawn Herbisides kill broad-leaved plants but not grasses, so are good for spot weeding. Large areas can be treated with a weed and feed mixture either in liquid or granular form.

The hoe must be used regularly and as old time gardeners say the time to hoe is when you can’t see the weeds. Hoeing is much easier when weeds are tiny as the sharp hoe cuts them off. Even perennial weeds give up eventually. Make sure the hoe handle is long enough for you to stand upright and keep the blade sharp. Hoeing is done on a fine dry day so that if weed come up with roots they will die rather than reroot.

Shrubs that were left unpruned to protect new shoots should be done as soon as possible, such as Hardy Fuchsias and Hydrangeas, also prune Forsythia, Ribes and other spring flowering shrubs after they have bloomed. Hanging baskets can be planted up this month, plant up in the greenhouse and grown on for a few weeks before hanging out in June. If no greenhouse, any place out of the way of frost that you can find. Feed springflowering bulbs, scattering a few handfuls of general fertiliser round clumps of Daffodils and Tulips.

The month of May means gardening, and enthusiasm for that activity in full swing. Perhaps the one time of year when everyone has a go at tilling the soil and grow something either for table eats or decoration. A flower patch in the garden to provide a Nosegay, bunch of flowers for the home: where one rose or spray will give delight through perfume or beauty of form. The planting time for most plants of a perennial nature is rapidly drawing to a close, but this month is ideal for sowing and planting or numerous annuals so gaily displayed on attractive seed packets. Easy growers are Caledula, Cornflower, Love-in-a-mist, Annual Poppies, Cosmos, Dimorphotheca, Godetia, Lavatera, Rubbechia, Venidium, Viscaria and Zinnia, to mention a few. Also the dried flowers, cut and dried, make good flowers for the dull months. Acrolinium, Helichrysum, Limonium (Statice), Lunaria (Honesty).

The vegetable plot should be filling up by now. Beans to be set this month, even if you have little space a couple of grow bags will grown runner beans and will do well if a frame is made for them to climb. Salad will be acceptable too, Lettuce, Radish, Spring Onions, Mustard and Cress. The high cost of culinary vegetables and salads make it imperative to make full use of whatever area is at our disposal. Seeds are expensive too, so they must be sown carefully and nursedthrough the early stages. Pestisides and insecticides are available in variety and for a multitude of purposes. They certainly save much labour of weeding; and guard against loss of crops through insect pest or disease. But do read all instructions and follow carefully, particularly those stating certain plants which are susceptible to some preparations. Keep locked away from children.

Not only concerned with flowers and vegetables for this year but the gardener must look ahead. Now is the time to consider what Biennials and Perennials will be the best bet for time saving and ease, labour and maintenance must be reduced with the bulk of the replacements made in the Autumn when more time is available. So, the garden may be a happy place with lots to look forward to; pleasant for both self and neighbours. Failing everything else, lay down the area to grass; seed sowing is the easiest method but do not become the master of the grass plot and don’t let it take yourself over. May is a busy month with its sowings and plantings, filling vacant corners, get the family to help, then later they will walk round the garden with increased interest and pride. Don’t forget to wind cotton round fruit bushes to keep the birds at bay also about 2” from the ground, round pea rows, black cotton to be used. What is done in May will make or mar the whole garden. Remember a full garden will keep down the weeds. Happy Gardening.

KIDS EASTER WARSOP COMPETITION

CONGRATULATIONS to WILLIAM SPENCER aged 11 years, one of the winners of the Kids Easter Egg Competition seen here receiving his egg from me, your Editor. There were two more winners Zoe and Charlotte Barlow (no relation), congratulations to you both. The eggs were kindly donated by Warsop Parish Council.

Answers to Kids Easter Egg Competition
1. Which street in Warsop was formerly called Butt Lane? SHERWOOD STREET
2. Which building in Warsop has a Tudor front? THE HARE & HOUNDS PUBLIC HOUSE
3. Who has sponsored the new litter bins in Warsop? AREA ASSEMBLY
4. Which street was formerly called Water Lane? WOOD STREET
5. What is the river called that runs through Warsop? MEDEN
6. Which lane was formerly called Back Lane? BURNS LANE
7. Where is the Gateway to Warsop? DAWNEY HILL, OPPOSITE CATHOLIC CHURCH
8. What are all the new signs about? TOWN CENTRE IMPROVEMENTS
9. When is the first market? (the answer can be found in your Warsop News) THURSDAY 17TH APRIL
10. Which street was formerly called Low Street? CHURCH STREET
11. Which day is the Library closed? THURSDAY
12. How many clock faces as Warsop Paris Church got?

INFORMATION FOR ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AND WHEELCHAIR USERS
SENSIBLE GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY

When using the footpath – Just because you are on the footpath or pedestrian precinct does not make you a pedestrian. If you are on a motorised vehicle you are no longer pedestrian. Remember – pedestrians always have the right of way! Many people on foot will be kind and helpful to the drivers of wheelchair/scooter. But not everyone! In a crowded precinct or market area, or footpath, it is your responsibility to ensure you do not run into anyone or do any harm with your vehicle. While many people will make way for you, you cannot expect everyone to do so. Some will appear not to even realise you are there. They will climb round and even over your vehicle rather than allow you room to move. Do not yield the temptation to ram them! Information taken from the “Get Wise” leaflet published by the British Healthcare Trades Association.

For further information or a full leaflet contact the BHTA on 01732 458 868 Fax: 01732 459 225 E-mail: bhta@bhta.com Web: www.bhta.com Information and leaflets also available from: The Mobility Unit Disabled Living Foundation The Department of Transport 380-384 Harrow Road 1st floor London 76 Marsham Street W9 2HU London SW1P 4DR Tel: 0171 271 5257 Tel: 0207 289 6111

WARSOP CHURCH SOCIAL COMMITTEE GARDEN PARTY
to be held on the Rectory lawn Saturday 31st May 2.00pm
Brass Band Prize Draw Tombola Stalls Games Refreshments
Admission Adults 50p Children Free

1208 (WARSOP) SQN
Flt Lt Paul Colley, Officer Commanding,
Russet House, Appleton Street,
Warsop, Notts, NG20 0QE.
Tel: 01623 845139 email: p.colley@kostal.com

THE UP’s AND DOWN’s OF Cadets Michael Hayes, Christopher Burton and Hayden Hallet take the strain whilst doing ‘chin up’s’ at the Welbeck College Gym. Like the rest of 1208 (Warsop) Sqn’s cadets that were there that night, they were taking part in two activities. One was Drill Training in readiness for a forthcoming Annual Parade and the other was circuit training. You may ask why do we do it? The simple answer is that a certain standard of fitness is required for the cadets to join the Air Training Corps and to allow them to takepart in and enjoy other activities. Sometimes, the cadets have to get involved in classroom sessions so that they can qualify for advancement in the Air Cadets but the rest of the time they need fitness.

Whether taking part in sports like football, hockey, basketball or athletics, for the Squadron or the Wing, taking part in Fieldcraft exercises in the woods over a weekend or a full week or competing against yourself and others on the Assault course, you need to be fit to enjoyit. Even taking part in Drill is tiring and tests most of your muscles! Drill is used to generate a disciplined team and this comes in very handy when working together on other tasks like sport, initiative exercises or White Water Rafting as they will find out later this month at Holm Pierpoint. Do you think you are fit enough to join us? Come along to any Squadron night on a Wednesday or Friday between 1900hrs and 2100hrs at the end of Carr Lane in Warsop and see.

If you are aged between 13yrs 3 months and 18 yrs old and have an interest in shooting, adventure training and all things aviation, then come along to 1208 (Warsop) Sqn on Carr Lane. We parade on Wednesday and Friday nights between 1900 and 2115hrs.

BRIEFING PAPER: WARSOP OPEN MEETING
More than 200 residents met at Warsop’s Ex-Servicemen’s Club for an open meeting about the redevelopment of the Royal in Warsop. Local MP John Mann chaired the meeting which was sponsored by Warsop Neighbourhood Management Team attended by representatives of Mansfield District Council, East Midlands Development Agency and Leicester Housing Association. Government funding, called SPV – Special Purpose Vehicle, will pay for the repair and refurbishment of rented and owner occupied property and for rebuilding houses to replace those that will be demolished as part of the overall plan for the estate. A not-for-profit company has been set up to run the project and Mansfield District Council has appointed Leicester Housing Association to be responsible for the rented property on the estate. The company, known as Making Places has a management board which represents all the organisations which will be involved in the redevelopment. A local Dr Frank Barratt, has been appointed the company’s community director – an unpaid post and one which ensures that residents’ views are represented on the board. Following a short introduction by John Mann, the panel answered a range of questions from the floor. Many residents were anxious that the estate will still suffer from “anti-social elements”, even when it has been renovated, and more were concerned that they be made to move against their will from either their homes or the estate. John Mann reassured residents that their views paramount, that every resident’s case will be treated individually and that reasonable compensation will be paid to people who either rehoused permanently or moved temporarily while their homes are renovated. He is confident that everyone will benefit individually and as a community as a result of the redevelopment of the estate. John Mann, MP and the Making Places Ltd. management board see the redevelopment as part of the government’s continued commitment to the former coalfield areas, and as an exciting opportunity to make Warsop a place where people will want and which offers their children a home for the future.