“Some sort of periodical is an essential life-line in village such as ours”

Welcome to West Farleigh’s own

LIFELINE
Distributed freely in December 2020 Edition no 528 - Editors: Stephen Norman, Helen Swan and Jacky Taylor
Website: www.thefarleighs.co.uk Email: editor@thefarleighs.co.uk
The editors would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We especially hope you
enjoy seeing these lovely paintings sent in by local children

Greta Aged 8 Rachel Aged 8

Bethany Aged 11 Jack Aged 8 Eli Age 3

Dear Readers We explained in the last issue that the ongoing costs of your village LIFELINE
are borne by All Saints Church, which is itself in difficulties brought about by Covid 19. So
we decided to look for more advertising to support our printing costs. We have been
amazed by the response. Within a few days, we had enough subscriptions to move from 8
to 12 pages with 4 pages of colour, some for promotion and some for editorial. Here it is,
in our Christmas edition! The Editors

Deadline for the next issue is 20 February 2021

Advertise your product or service here!

6 mths: £140 (colour) £ 70 (mono)

12 mths: £224 (colour) £112 (mono)

space@thefarleighs.co.uk

Page 2 of 12
Pastoral letter
What are you hoping for? Something short term and known only to you or your family and
friends? Or a bigger thing that will benefit many? Do you harbour your hope in secret, or are
you sharing it with others? Hope. It’s a strange word and has many interpretations. “To
desire or cherish with an expectation of fulfilment” or “a feeling of expectation and desire
for a particular thing to happen” are common definitions. How secure are we in the things
we hope for? How confident in them are we?

The opposite of hope is despair, or dread, or disbelief. In Dante’s Inferno, part of his 14th-
century epic poem Divine Comedy, we are made aware of the sign above the inferno (also
known as “hell”) which says: “Abandon hope all ye who enter here”. What an awful place to be – in a place with no
hope. Dante’s poem has three parts (followed by Purgatorio and Paradiso) in which he tells the story of a journey
towards hope and life in all its fullness with God.

When we are in such a place, it is often a change in circumstances that can trigger the renewal of hope. As I write,
many things have changed in the past weeks, which may have triggered a fresh hope in you. For example, a new
president-elect in the USA. The shake-up at No. 10 Downing Street as long-standing SPADs leave. The success of
Pfizer in development of a vaccine against COVID-19.

As we enter the season of Advent, we recall that it is a special time of hope and anticipation. We anticipate the
celebration of the first coming of Jesus to earth at Christmas – and whatever the pandemic situation, we can
celebrate that in our hearts with joy and peace. And we anticipate the return of Jesus at a time unknown to any of
us, when he promises to end all suffering, to bring about a new heaven and a new earth, and when God promises to
be with his people. This is the Advent Hope – in which we can be confident because it is based on God’s promise to
us!

The writer to the Hebrews tells us that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet
seen” and St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

May Advent be a time of hope for you, filled with God’s blessings.

Peter Callway
Rector.

Current Church Services

We will continue to hold online (Zoom) services each Sunday at 10.30.
http://bit.ly/UnitedBenefice

Wow - thank you! Your contributions are truly Making A Difference In Maidstone!!

Yesterday I delivered the groceries donated by the people of West Farleigh to M.A.D.M. and although the Charity
Shop is closed due to the current Covid restrictions I was able to view its newly acquired office and stores above the
shop. What I saw was amazing and I couldn't wait to share it with you! Amanda Sidwell (founder of the Charity)
proudly showed me around the rooms surrounding a communal meeting area. I saw a room full of clothes and
shoes, another with bedding/linen and sleeping bags, another store for food and a quiet room for prayer. It was
truly inspirational to see what one woman's vision and faith has achieved and I am proud to think in a small way we
at West Farleigh are helping. The clients that receive help are from various backgrounds - some homeless, some
struggling to feed their families and others living on the edge of society with mental health issues. So well done
West Farleigh - let's keep up the good work! If you have any donations of non-perishable food or toiletries that you
would like to give please give me a call on 01622 727852 and I will be happy to collect it. Thank you too to those
who kindly donate financially, your gifts are going to such great use. Thank you. Sue O'Donnell

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Parish Council News
West Farleigh Parish Council has been working quietly behind the barrier of Covid!
Grass has been cut, the Lower Green kerbs have been found! With the planting by the Bloomers it is looking very
smart. The kerbs around the main Green will get the same treatment (weather permitting). The Parish Clerk is still on
the case of speeding on the Lower Road.

The Parish Clerk has been in discussions with the agent, following a meeting with residents, which has resulted in
amended documents being added to the original planning application on the MBC portal. Residents can now submit
a further comment on the amendments that have been made.

Whilst mentioning planning, Councillors would also like to draw resident’s attention to the Maidstone Borough
Council’s Local Plan review. There is to be a 3 week public consultation commencing on the 1st December regarding
the future development required in the Borough. All documents can be viewed on the Maidstone Borough Council
website: www.maidstone.gov.uk

.
Congratulations to Jack and Yvonne Martin on their Diamond Wedding

Lifeline has just discovered that Jack and Yvonne Martin

celebrated their Diamond Wedding on October 29th. They were
married at Tunstall church, near Sittingbourne. They came to
live in a house on Hospital Barn Farm, Heath Road, East
Farleigh. Yvonne was working for Anscombe Corn Merchants, as
a secretary, when they had the opportunity to move to a rent-
free house on the site opposite the entrance to Clock House
Farm. Now built up, as Georgian Drive. They had to keep an eye
on the premises at weekends! Jacks father moved to Castle
Farm, where the farmhouse was condemned and was pulled
down and replaced with a modern bungalow. In 1970 they were
granted planning permission to build another bungalow and Jack and Yvonne moved to Castle Farm. They have two
children, Jane and Paul.
Jack first played football for West Farleigh, when he was in the Kent Farm Institute team, to make the numbers up.
He joined the Sports Club in 1955. He was captain 1958/59. He rose up the ranks to become President, with Stephen
Norman taking over as president.

Jack and Yvonne have worked together on the farm and are still working together in their splendid garden.
Covid, unfortunately, prevented them from celebrating with their friends. They had a low-key family meal AND a
telegram from the Queen.
We wish them many more happy years together.

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What is it with Blackbirds and crops?
by Ray Morris

I have two crops in mind. The first is our annual, usually splendid crop of pyracantha
berries – commonly known as firethorn. These grow around our pond where we get
a good view from the kitchen window. As the name suggests, they are little dots of
fiery red that become brighter as they ripen. But it’s not long before the intense red
is disturbed by an eager yellow bill – that of one our male blackbirds. Being a
uniform dull brown, the females creep in under the radar. The berries have evolved
to attract the birds of course, and the many seedlings we find around the garden bear testimony to Darwin’s bright
idea.

But it’s none-the-less galling to watch as the berries disappear at a rate of knots into the second crop – that of the
hungry blackbird. It’s not as though the birds are desperate for food at the moment as there is still plenty to be
found in hedgerows and orchards, but blackbirds, and mistle thrushes in particular, often guard a good crop of
berries and chase off likely competition for them. They stand out as a good food source so the birds are quick to take
advantage of it.

I’ve never bothered to estimate, much less count, the number of berries we have on our two shrubs. But I do count
the berries filched by our resident avian gourmet. This morning it was fifteen in quick succession, and I once counted
as many as twenty-two disappear with ease. No doubt the figure is an under-estimate. Birds, unlike humans, hold
their food in a pouch called a crop, where the digestive process starts. With no teeth, their food isn’t chewed, so
strong muscle action starts to break up the food in their crop before being passed further down to the gut. Seed-
eating species have to ingest grit or small stones to help break down hard husks. When we are ringing small birds,
especially nestlings that have yet to grow their feathers, you can actually see their last meal through the thin,
translucent skin around their crop.

After watching the fast-food disappearing (a bit like me scoffing fifteen small apples on the trot) I was curious
enough to collect fifteen berries and weigh them - just 2.5 grams. A small percentage of the bird’s average 100g
weight. A metal ring that we put on a blackbird, by the way, doesn’t even register on the scales. For me to consume
a similar percentage of my own weight in food in one go it would have to be 2kg!
I’m fairly confident, by the way, that ‘our’ bird is a resident. In winter thousands of migrant blackbirds arrive from
Europe, but to an experienced eye they look slightly bigger and lighter-coloured. I once heard a disgruntled local
blackbird – Nigel, I think his name was - while being shouldered out of a bush by his bigger European relatives,
mutter “... they come over ‘ere, taking our berries ...”. One of the things we know from ringing birds, though, is that
many of ‘our’ Farleigh blackbirds, migrate in the winter too – to the milder West Country and even crossing into
Europe as far south as Spain. Where presumably Señor Nigel also mutters...
I just hope the birds don’t eat all the holly berries before Christmas.

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LOCAL TRADES LISTINGS

Neighbours who can help – no Googling required!

Business Business service Contact

name (40 chars max) Website name phone no email
Firefly
Payroll Jason 01622
Services Payroll www.fireflypayroll.com Hart 934110 enquiries@fireflypayroll.com
Professional &
No Muck'in affordable Sarah 0788
About cleaning services Dunn 5634559 nomuckinabout@outlook.com
Electrical
Heathside Installation and Mr 07976
Electrical maintenance www.heathsideelectrical.co.uk Sephton 895001 enquiries@heathsideelectricals.co.uk
01622
842481 or
Richard 07758
Pest Purge Pest Control www.pestpurge.co.uk Lee 615101 richard@pestpurge.co.uk

It’s amazing how much talent there is just next door!

You can list your product or service here for just £20 a year, that’s less than £2 a month.

Contact space@thefarleighs.co.uk for more details.

Page 6 of 12
West Farleigh In Bloom
As everyone is no doubt aware, life for bees and other pollinators is becoming quite grim
with loss of habitat and climate change. West Farleigh in Bloom are joining Kent's Plan Bee
to see what we can do in the village to build “bee lines” (areas of wildflower, longer grass,
hedging). The intention of Plan Bee is to build bee lines all over the country with the aim of
them joining up.

We are looking to plant some pear trees – on the back of Ray’s article in
last month’s Lifeline on the impact of losing the pear orchard in East
Farleigh – and also to encourage pollinators. There are ways we can all get
involved - for example

• all-year round flowers - to provide suitable habitats for the 4 stages of

insect life and give nourishment and shelter in the winter as well
• leave some piles of leaves for the winter
• leave an area of long grass in your lawn
• provide water
• use containers and window boxes
• don’t use chemicals !
• buy organic products to discourage the use of pesticides.

Looking forward to spring the team have been out bulb planting around
the village and in the churchyard: 1650 assorted spring bulbs (iris
reticulata, English bluebells, aconites, scillia, giant snowdrops) plus 25 kgs
of tahiti daffodils– so fingers crossed for a fine display around the village.
(see below)

Evergreens
The leaders are keeping in touch with the members. They are very pleased to receive a
phone call. Several of them have had spells in hospital and have had good service. None of
them had Covid! We are grateful for our amazing NHS, who comes up trumps in the face of
many difficulties. Everyone is missing the regular contact. They have less to look forward to,
at present. Hopefully they will be able to see some of their family over Christmas.

Litter pick
Assuming that lockdown is lifted on 2nd December, our monthly litter pick will beback on
Sunday 6 December, 9:00 a.m. on The Green, as usual.

We might even get to do coffee and bacon butties! We look forward to seeing you...

Page 7 of 12
 The Women’s Institute would like to raise awareness of a campaign they are promoting
to improve the registry for the UK Stem Cell for more people to receive potentially life -
saving stem cell transplants.

Are you between the age of 18 - 55 and in Good health

Did you know that only 2% of people are registered on the Stem Cell Registry in the UK
There is an urgent need to increase the number of people registered, in order to
improve potentially life-saving treatment to people of all ages with certain blood cancers. The more people that
sign up to the registry the better the chances that a suitable match will be found for someone with blood cancer

Did you know every 20 minutes someone in the U.K. is diagnosed with blood cancer Only 30% of people with blood
cancer find a match within their family and 90% of donations are carried out through a process similar to giving
blood called blood peripheral stem cell donation, this is a simple painless process

Registering to become a donor is quick and easy process, you request a swab kit from DKMS once completed you
send the swab back to the organisation, they will check your tissue type, and then enter your detail in their
website. By signing to register though you would be willing to donate.

In order to register and obtain your swab please contact www.dkms.org.uk and they will give you more
information.

Go on register today it will not cost you a penny and you could save someone’s live.

Sports Report
Football

Just two games to repor on last month due to the latest lockdown situation. Good news,
however, we won both of them. Our 1st XI had a fine away victory beating Bearsted 3-2.
Meanwhile, our 2nd XI had a convincing win against Tatsfield 3-0. Let’s hope we are back playing
real soon.

Netball

Our girls have played just the once last month because of Covid and are still looking for our first
victory. We started well against Foxy Wotsits goin a goal up early on but eventually losing 49-7!
Lets hope better results wont be too far away.

Ton Up Club – Our lucky winners for last month were:

No 57 Gary Reid £30 – No 88 Karim Habibi £20 – No 17 Greg Snipe £10

Yours in sport Tel

West Farleigh Sports Club Christmas Trees

One again the Sports Club will be selling Christmas Trees. These will be delivered to your door anytime in December
(before 24th), prices are the same as last year and you may get a mince pie too!
5 ft (approx) £30
6 ft (approx.) £34
7 ft (approx.) £42

May I wish my reader () a very happy Christmas! Phone nos 01622 815267 or 07761 355518
PS old trees can be taken away after Christmas

Page 8 of 12
In the Garden with Jon Fenlon

It’s that time of year when it is good to sort out any empty beds you have by either
giving them a good dig over to break up heavily compacted areas that are causing you
problems or to give the beds a good dose of nutrients by applying compost or a mulch.

Skimmia (left) is a great plant for the winter even in pots, it has got
lovely shiny red berries that are very long lasting and look nice
whether the sun is shining, or they are covered in frost. They are
evergreen and do well in partial shade.

Cornus (below right) another great plant for the winter, it comes in a
variety of colours so there is plenty of choice out there. The trick
with most Cornus is once they are established, cut them back very
hard. By cutting them back hard you get the most vibrant colours
from the new growth. You can see in the photo above the
difference between the new and old stems, it’s quite an amazing
contrast.

We have been doing some restoration pruning to our Portuguese

Laurel hedge (below left) , the hedge had outgrown itself and
started to die off in areas as well as re rooting at the ends of the
lower branches. The hedge at its widest point was estimated at
4m. We have pruned all the outer branches back to the main
trunk and transplanted all the younger plants back in line with the
hedge. The hedge will be receiving a good heavy mulch with some
organic fertiliser over winter. Next year we will keep an eye on the
hedge during dry periods as it may need some watering to help it
bounce back quickly.

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas from

the Gardens team at Smiths Hall.

Page 9 of 12
Page 10 of 12
 All the latest News from Dandelion Time

Figure 1 Dandelion Plan for the Future

In March, this year Dandelion Time moved out of Elmscroft House into the adjacent property, Elmscroft Cottage, on
Charlton Lane. The charity is now developing the 22-acre site to create a therapeutic sanctuary for the children and
families the charity serves and an office HQ for the admin staff.

Planning permission was received earlier this year and in September building work started. The first phase is now
underway and the derelict barn that is attached to Elmscroft Cottage is being renovated to create an open flexible
space suitable for therapeutic activities, training sessions and available at evenings and weekends for other groups.
In phase 2 the courtyard stable will be converted into a small craft studio and the pottery will be renovated too.

The Dandelion Time sheep, donkeys and chickens have all moved into new shelters and over time the charity will
create a vegetable patch, a sensory garden, outdoor crafting areas and continue to manage the beautiful woods and
pastureland.

It’s a large building project yet when completed it will give the charity a sustainable and cost-effective base from
which to deliver its vital service for the next 30 years.

There are various ways to support Dandelion Time in the run up to Christmas...

• Order Christmas cards from their online shop

• Support their Online ‘Best of Kent’ Christmas Auction runs from Nov 22 to Dec 6
• Join their Christmas Campaign runs from Dec 1 to Dec 8

All details on their website https://dandeliontime.org.uk/

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