Westfield

Westfield Church celebrates its patronal festival this week-end. The Festival of Gardens takes place tomorrow, Saturday 28 June, from 10am-4pm, so come and see Westfield’s hidden gardens. Collect a free maps from Archers or Westfield News; entry £3 payable at your first garden. Tea and coffee will be available at the Vicarage all day. Ploughman’s lunch will be available at Lankhurst Farm, preferably pre-booked (01424 751407) but not essential.

There will be a special outdoor service on Sunday 27 June at 10am. Round off the week-end by enjoying the Strawberry Tea (£4) organised by the Friends of Westfield Church. This is at Church Place Farm (Parish Hall if wet) from 3-4.30pm, with stalls (books, raffle, tombola, plants) as well as delicious food.

The New Inn: Are holding a number of events in the near future, please check their website www.newinnwestfield.com. Please remember that the Wednesday coffee mornings are very busy & booking is almost essential.

New PCSO: We are fortunate as a village community to have been taken under the wing of a new and enthusiastic Police Community Support Officer, With a view to being a prominent and approachable figure in our village, Deme is keen to introduce himself to village residents, parents and guardians and would be happy to say hello whilst on his rounds.

Westfield Youth Club: runs a number of fun events. For more information contact Min Stratford on 07952 995743.

Westfield Horticultural Society: The next trip is a self drive outing to Downderry Nursery, Hadlow, Near Tonbridge on Saturday, 25th July. This nursery, set in a walled garden, is home to the largest collection of Lavender and Rosemary species. Plants are propagated there. We will be having a tour of the nursery, an illustrated talk and a demonstration as to how Lavender oil is distilled. More details will follow in due course. In the meantime, don’t forget to find and like Westfield Horticultural Society on Facebook. All the activities are described in more detail. Here is some more about the Great Pumpkin competition: The Westfield Horticultural Society Giant Pumpkin competition continues. With the odd shower and sunny days the plant should be starting to grow. They are trailing plants so will need space and it is a good idea to train it where you want it to go. They can grow quite fast but it is always a good idea to use some slug pellets as the tender shoots are very appetising for pests. You should also be looking out for flowers. The gourd family have both male and female flowers on the same plant. This is a trick of nature to allow cross fertilization. The female flowers are easily recognised as there is a small pumpkin like swelling behind the petals, whilst the male flowers have none. Get to watch the flower buds as they develop so you can identify them. Ideally, you need both a male flower and a female one to be open on the same day. Whilst you may rely on insects to transfer the pollen from the male to the stigma of the female flower, as in many cases, if you want a job done, it is better to do it yourself. Don’t rely on the bees. So pick off the male flower, strip back the cone of petal and brush the pollen from the stamen to the stigma of the female flower. It is a good idea to collapse the female flower petal cone. Do this early in the morning so as to prevent pollen beetles and that ilk from eating the pollen. Gourd flowers only last a day, but if there is no synchronisation between male and female flowers it is possible to perform pollination after the flowers have wilted. You may use as many male flower s as you like, and failing that, if no male flowers develop on the pumpkin plant at the right time, you can use a marrow or courgette (make sure the flower is male as courgettes have been developed to provide only sterile female flowers, (an f1 hybrid). The seed will not breed true in this case but you will get your pumpkin. Non fertilized flowers will not develope. Some more tips will follow in due course. Good luck.

Westfield Women’s Institute: meets in the Parish Hall at 2.15pm on Tuesdays. New members are always welcome; just turn up, or for more information contact the President, Mrs Julie Lloyd, on 01424 754013.

The Friendship Club: continues to meet alternate Mondays from 2-3.30pm in the Parish Hall. Whist and bingo are enjoyed by members, with a chat over tea and biscuits. The subscription is just £5 per year, and new members will be made very welcome. For further information please contact Jean Hobson on 753095. The next meeting is on July 6th with future date planned on July 20th.

F3 (Friends, Fun, Fellowship): This is a group open to all women of any age. Please ring Helen 01424 752052 for more details

Westfield Scout Group: is celebrating its centenary this month. The Group has an excellent reputation with all that it offers to Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, but sadly in this special year the future of the group is uncertain as new leaders are urgently needed when work commitments force the retirement of two leaders in July. If you can help, even on an occasional basis, please contact Frances 01424 754548 or Rose 01424 754080 for more information.

Westfield Newsagent: is now a collection point for myHermes parcels. This is very useful for sending and collecting parcels. Please pop in for more information. They are also collecting the supermarket vouchers on behalf of the village school, just drop them in.

Pass and Move: runs football coaching sessions every Saturday at St Leonard’s Academy from 9-10.30am (£3.50) or 9-11.30am (£5) and in Westfield during the week & over school holidays. For information please email Duncan on [email protected], or call Tony on 07545 813545, visit Facebook:/PassMoveBattle or see the website, pass-move.com.

Westfield Football Club: is still seeking volunteers to help provide local football opportunities at all levels and ages. If you can offer occasional or ongoing support, on or off the pitch, please contact the club secretary [email protected].

Westfield Community Hub: Meets at the Plough on Friday mornings from 10 – 12. For further information www.westfield-hub.co.uk

The Rye and District Association of the National Trust: Planned events include Saturday 27th June, Playing The Clown, The Barn Theatre, Smallhythe Place at 6.30 pm. Brian Freeland will give his very personal performance of George Bernard Shaw. Tickets are £10 pp and can be obtained from Smallhythe Place 01580 762334. From 5pm you can bring a picnic to enjoy the gardens before the performance; 16th July there will be an Outing by coach to Quebec House and Chartwell. Tickets are £15 pp. Lunch can be purchased at Chartwell; a ‘Fun’ Golf Day will be held on Friday 21st August. Please contact Marion Brunt on 01424 883566 or Ros Adkins on 01797 253763; email [email protected]

The village website: www.westfieldvillage.co.uk has all sorts of information about village organisations, events, Westfield Community Association and the Parish Council. This is your website, set up to serve the village community, and your contributions, news and views are needed.

To send information: for the Westfield Village Voice please email [email protected]

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