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Category: Thame news

  • Gardening in June – Latest newsletter from Jane Folis

    SARDINIA has been, and gone. What a beautiful island with its white sandy beaches and turquoise sea. Our house was more than we had hoped for with stunning views across mountains and sea. The only noise we heard was the ocean and the birds, not even a human voice. It was heaven.

    Sadly, I managed to catch a virus on the way out which has rendered me completely doo lally and two weeks later there is little or no improvement! It has affected the inner ear and I am finding it very disorientating to head off in one direction only to find myself involuntarily six paces closer to any point of the compass. It is even worse when lying down, reading or watching television. Not being one for sitting still at the best of times, it is frustrating to know the ?safest? place to be is sitting upright in a chair doing nothing?

    Despite these problems I still headed off to Chelsea to do my stint for the Society. I am sure the 5.00am start did nothing to improve my well-being! It was a good day with only a few odd showers which I managed to avoid. Not as inspiring as usual, but there were one or two gardens that really stood out. Not least Auf Nordfjell?s garden for The Daily Telegraph. His use of materials and planting made it for me ? so tranquil, yet elegant with his very clever melding of architecture and nature. Luciano?s step into using colour also paid off and his combination of plants left me wondering whether or not I liked it? It was very clever, but almost impossible to reproduce to look as it did for Cheslea week.

    I could write reams on the subject, but as always one of the highlights for me is to meet up with fellow designers, suppliers and old friends ? not to mention bumping in to one or two clients. Our stand had pole position opposite Thomas Hoblyn?s garden and we were privy to many a filming session of the said garden, watching Andy Stugeon and Nikki Chapman getting soaked. Andy came and joined us later on the stand and it was good to catch up as we both use the same contractor ? recommended to Andy by myself.

    I found lots of goodies, including some much sought after seed for one of my clients. All I have to do now is to successfully germinate it and nurture the plants ready for planting next spring. Inspired by Italy I now have even more seeds for the vegetable patch! I found new (and old) suppliers of wonderful furniture and a superb blacksmith/iron worker who can make almost anything. All in all an excellent day out.

    I love June in the garden ? the vegetables are continually giving pleasure and if organised the crop rotation almost takes care of itself. The main garden is looking a picture with constant promises of new blooms and surprises. There is very little earth showing which reduces the weeding and I find I can sit back and enjoy the sunshine and lazy weekends with friends. Let?s hope we really do get a summer this year?

    RECIPE
    ARTICHOKE AND WARM POTATO SALAD
    500g New Potatoes
    4tbs Olive Oil
    Juice of a lemon
    Grated Parmesan
    350g Preserved Artichokes
    Bunch of parsley
    Handful of mint

    Steam or boil the potatoes until just soft. Drain and set aside. Put the lemon juice, olive oil and parmesan in a bowl and add a little coarse ground black pepper. Mix well.

    Slice each artichoke into four and each potato in half. Add to the dressing whilst the potatoes are still warm. Add the Parsley and Mint, toss well and serve. Delicious with almost anything.

    SEASONAL TIPS
    Cut back perennial flowers as this will help to produce a second flush.
    Remove poppy heads, unless you want them to seed naturally.

    Divide bearded Irises after flowering. The tulips will have died back by now. If you are going to leave them in situ, cut back the flowering stem,
    but leave the foliage as this will help feed the bulbs for next spring.
    Alternatively, they can be lifted and stored in a cool dry place ready to re-plant in the Autumn.

    Fast growing hedges, such as privet can be cut back in June, but do be aware the birds might still be nesting. Box is traditionally (Old Wives
    Tale) cut back on Derby Day ? which I believe is in early June?

    Prune back spring flowering shrubs, straight after flowering. Remove some of the older wood to encourage new growth.

    The lawn can be regularly mowed once a week. To remove excess weeds such as clover and yarrow, go over the lawn with a spring rake before
    you mow.

    If you have hanging baskets and grow annuals it should now be safe to plant them outside.
    Water and feed regularly anything you have recently planted as this will help them to establish. Don?t rely on the rain ? it will not be enough.
    Phostrogen is a good all purpose plant food.

    VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
    Plant out any vegetables you have sown indoors or in the greenhouse.
    As usual, there are just too many to mention here. I am still sticking to growing in blocks fairly close together. This means the range and variety I can grow has almost doubled and I am spoilt for choice. However, it does mean I am not going to get a glut of any one crop and it suits my diet perfectly. I hope to be pretty much self-sufficient this year.

    Pigeons, Cabbage White caterpillars and carrot flies are a perennial problem, so do protect your crops with netting ? Wondermesh and Enviromesh are both excellent insect-proof netting.

    Remember to nip out the side shoots of tomatoes. I do have an idiot proof guide to growing tomatoes if any of you are interested.

    Continue to sow salad crops and herbs, such as Basil and Coriander every
    two weeks or so to give a constant supply. The Greek Basil,
    recommended by my son, is growing brilliantly ? I must have about
    thirty plants ? if anyone wants one, just let me know.

    Weed the vegetable patch regularly. After only a week away I found mine
    had got slightly out of hand. I did a hands and knees job, but now I will
    probably keep it under control by gently hoeing on a regular basis.

    Protect ripening fruit from birds by covering with netting.

    Prune blackcurrants at the same time as picking the fruit. Cut out some of the oldest, fruited wood to encourage new growth.

    It is time to thin out fruit. Fruit trees produce too many young fruits and if you allow them all to develop, the fruit would end up small and misshapen because the tree simply can?t provide enough nutrients.
    There is a natural ?June Drop?, but you still need to thin them further.
    Reduce the number of fruits so that the distance between fruit is as follows:_
    Desert Apples 10-25cm
    Cooking Apples 15-20cm
    Pears 10-15cm
    Plums 8-19cm
    Peaches 15-20cm

    Put straw or matting around strawberries to keep the berries clean.
    For more information, visit LINK TO RHS.ORG

    GREENHOUSE
    Stop the greenhouse from overheating by keeping the windows and doors open. Shade if necessary by using Coolglass ? a temporary white paint. Soak the floor regularly with water to cool it down and raise
    the humidity.

    I have potted on Cucumber, Peppers, Chilli and Gherkin and will keep them in the greenhouse. It is only 1200 x 1200 ? so I have to be very selective on what stays inside. My Tomatoes and Aubergines
    seem to thrive outside.

    POINTS OF INTEREST
    ?We will if you will?
    A Government-backed initiative to encourage healthier lifestyles.
    The first is to encourage people to eat more home-grown, seasonal and UK produced food.
    Visit LINK
     for more information.

    PLACES TO VISIT
    Gardens free to RHS Members
    RHS Wisley; Blenheim Palace Park and Gardens; Nymans; Waddesdon Manor; Waterperry Gardens; West Dean Gardens.
    For a full list visit www.rhs.org.uk.

    FIVE BEE FRIENDLY GARDENS

    Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond

    The National Wildflower Centre, Liverpool

    Garden Organic Ryton, Warwickshire

    RHS Wisley, Woking

    Highgrove, Gloucestershire

    2009 National Gardens Scheme
    There are too many gardens open in this area for me to mention here, but do visit www.ngs.org.uk for more details. Free leaflets are available in libraries and garden centres.

    EVENTS

    RHS SHOWS FOR 2009
    HAMPTON COURT ? 7TH ? 12TH July
    TATTON PARK ? 22ND ? 26TH July
    Tickets: 0844 209 1681
    BBC GARDENERS WORLD ? 10TH ? 14TH June
    www.rhs.org.uk

    HARTWELL HOUSE
    10th June ? Garden Talk and Tour
    RHS Members :

  • Chinnor-based Conservation Board wins green award

    THE primary conservation body that looks after the Chilterns has won a prestigious Silver award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

    The award won by the Chilterns Conservation Board recognises all the work the Board has done over the last two years to reduce its carbon footprint. Solar panels have been installed on the office roof, over 80% of all waste is recycled and staff mileage has been reduced. The Board has also been planting hundreds of trees and distributing free low energy light bulbs to offset its remaining carbon emissions.

    “This award is the icing on the cake for us,” said Claire Forrest, Information Officer at the Board. “As the main body looking after the Chilterns countryside, we have a responsibility to work as sustainably as possible and the award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme is great confirmation that we are doing the right things. Any business can make the changes we have and we encourage local businesses to go green – it makes great economic as well as environmental sense.”

    The Chilterns Conservation Board is one of only five organisations in Oxfordshire to have a Silver award and is amining to achieve Gold within two years.

    Photo: Flash back to when Thame’s MP at the time, Boris Johnson launced the Chilterns Conservation Board’s low energy lightbulb scheme

  • Thame Cattlemarket move backer supports supermarket

    THE main supporter and spokesman for Thame farmers who want the cattlemarket to move to Thame Showground, has said that he is doubtful that anything other than a large supermarket on the North Street site would make the move viable.

    Local Developer and former President of Thame Show, Bob Williams, whose original ‘vision’ it was to keep the cattlemarket in Thame and save the struggling Thame Show, has driven the proposed move to combine the two within the new site. He said today that he feels frustrated that the district council (SODC) which owns the current cattlemarket site, “..does not seem to want to engage and talk to me.”

    Mr Williams said that he has told SOCD that both Sainsbury’s and Tesco believe that Thame has the capacity for a new supermarket and believe that people who should be coming to Thame to shop are not doing so. “There is a case to be made,” he said.

    Mr Williams said that he does not believe that a new development on the North Street site, including a community facility, would easily be viable without a large supermarket.

    “Thame show lost money again last year,” said Mr Williams, “and if the cattlemarket cannot relocate soon, it will go somewhere else away from Thame.”

    “There are some big decisions to be made in the next few months – things need to be resolved,” he concluded.

    South Oxfordshire District Council are against a large supermarket on the North Street site, and indeed Tesco lost an appeal at a public enquiry into objections made to the draft Local Plan for South Oxfordshire three years ago.

    It is understood that the council is refusing to enter into negotiations about proposals that include a supermarket.

    NB SEE previous articles on Thamenews.Net:
    Bad news for Tesco

    Supermarket ruled out on Thame Cattlemarket site

  • Police question drivers over Kingsey fatal crash

    DRIVERS using the Kingsey to Longwick road, near Thame, were being stopped and questioned on Sunday (24/05/09) by the police.

    The operation was being carried out to try and jog the memories of people who may have been travelling along that same road, the A4129, last Sunday, May 17, when 18 year-old driver, Greg Stiles from Thame was killed in a five-car crash.

    The police are appealing for information about a BMW X5, seen driving towards Greg’s car on the wrong side of the road, to get in touch with them. They also want to hear from the drivers of three other vehicles that the 4×4 may have overtaken before the crash. One of these is believed to have been a horse box.

    The families of both Greg and his girlfriend, Abigail Dowdy, 17, have made an emotional appeal for the driver of the 4×4 to come forward. Mark Stiles, Greg’s 22-year-old brother, said: “Nothing will bring him back but we will find some comfort in understanding the events that took place.”

    Anyone with information should contact PC Dan Watford on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Thame cubs and scouts in Bank Holiday bonanza

    THAME Scouts, Cubs and Beavers spent the May Bank Holiday (2009) camping with over 2,000 others from all over Oxfordshire and were visited by some very important grown-ups!

    The Zodiac 09 County Scout Camp at Thame Showground was visited by Chief Scout, Peter Duncan, MP John Howell and the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green.

    Activities included climbing, abseiling, archery, shooting, quad biking, orienteering and Thame Scout Group built Woggle Wall – a mosaic design made up of woggles, which was assembled over the week-end.

    In the evenings, there were live bands and a Talent show.

    Sally Stewart, the Leader of Thame Cubs, said: “We all had a fantastic time, blessed by continuous sunshine. “

    Photo: The Mayor or Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green and Thame’s MP John Howells, talk to scouts and some of their leaders.

  • Vigilance warning after attempted break-in in Thame

    THIS is a Ringmaster message from Thames Valley Police. Between 13.30 and 17.10 hours on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, a property in Grenville Way, Thame was subject to an attempted burglary.

    Offenders have attempted to gain entry by smashing the outer pane of the rear patio door. Please be extra vigilant. If you see any suspicious looking people or vehicles in the area, or have any information relating to this message, please call the Police on 08458 505 505 and state you are responding to a Ringmaster message.

  • Police officer in Thame murder case commended

    A police officer based in Thame was one of four commended for their commitment and professionalism during the investigation into the murder of an elderly woman, whose body was dumped and burnt near Thame.

    Their investigation into the murder of 93 year-old Thea Zaudy in July 2007, led to the successful prosecution of Adrian Lis and Jolanta Kalinowska, who both received life sentences.

    Mrs Zoudy was murdered by Kalinowska, who was her cleaner at the time, and who then crammed Mrs Zoudy’s body into a suitcase with the help of her son, Adrian Lis. With the unwitting help of a friend, they then drove out to farmland just outside Thame, and Adrian Lis set fire to the suit case. It was later found by two farm workers.

    Asst. Det Insp Anthony Collingwood, from Thame, along with Det Con William Downey, Det Con Alan Hillsdon and Det Con Paul Mackie, will receive their commendations at a special ceremony at Drayton Park Golf Club, on Tuesday, May 26,(2009).

    Photo: Thea Zaudy

  • Witness pleas from family of Thame crash victim

    THE friends and family of Greg Stiles, killed in a four-car crash at Kingsey, near Thame, are pleading for anyone with information about a four-by-four vehicle involved, to come forward.

    Greg’s girlfriend, Abigail Dowdy, 17, of Prestwood, remains seriously ill in a coma after the crash in Kingsey, between Thame and Longwick, last Sunday, May 17, 2009, at around 3pm.

    The police are searching for, what the family believes is, a vehicle similar to a BMW X5, 4×4, which failed to stop after the crash.

    Greg and Abigail were on their way home from work at Thame Leisure Centre when the crash happened.

    Anyone with information should contact PC Dan Watford on 0845 8 505 505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

  • Towersey sex offender faces prison

    A TOWERSEY man was today told by a judge to expect a prison sentence, after he was found guilty of two sexual offences against an 8 year-old boy.

    Richard Nicholas Templar Graves, known as Nick Graves, of Manor Road, Towersey, near Thame, shook his head as the jury foreman announced a unanimous verdict on two counts. The child’s mother wept with relief as she heard the verdict.

    Graves was found guilty of the offences of Sexual activity with a child, and Causing or inciting a child under 13 years to engage in sexual activity.

    Ordering Graves to return for sentencing on or around June 19, 2009, Judge Julian Hall told him: “I must warn you that imprisonment is very much on my mind.”

    In his eveidence Graves said: “I did not do anything of which I am shamed or would not have done in front of anyone else. I was simply tickling (the child) which I had done before and he had liked it.”

    He insisted that if he did touch the boy, when feeling to see if his boxer shorts were dry after a swim in Grave’s pool, it had been “entirely accidental.”

    Evidence from the child himself, the boy’s father and sisters and cousins however, recounting the child’s reporting of events to them, convinced the jury of Grave’s guilt.

    Nick Graves himself is well-known in the village of Towersey, particularly for his contribution to the annual village pantomime, and has also been both a rugby and a cricket coach locally.

    He was ordered by the judge to sign the Sex Offenders’ register before leaving court today.

  • Thame parent fined for failing to send his child to school

    A THAME father has been fined