LOCAL GARDENERS ARE ALL SET TO SPRING INTO LIFE
Green shoots of recovery IT was the poet, T.E. Brown, who penned the oft quoted line: "A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!"
No doubt it is, but Rudyard Kipling introduced a note of realism when, somewhat later, describing the glories of the English garden, wrote: "…such gardens are not made/By singing: 'Oh, how beautiful' and sitting in the shade."
Well, up until the last fortnight or so there has been little chance of anyone sitting in the shade but lots of reasons to snuggle by the fire. Now that the weather is picking up, though, and the sun having made a welcome return, gardeners should be keener to take up Kipling's hint and, that being the case, the Horticultural Society are eager to remind everybody that the closing date for their inaugural Spring Garden Competition is Wednesday, March 31.
The competition is held independently of the annual Flower Show and is open to all residents within the Parish of Benholm and Johnshaven, bounded by the Lauriston Den to the south. There are three sections – gardens of any size, spring borders and containers and baskets.
Individuals may enter their own garden or nominate a garden of their choice and free entry forms are available from the Johnshaven Stores or alternatively entries may be emailed to morag@johnshaven.com stating the address of the garden entered or nominated with name and contact.
Judging will take place during the third week of April and the first prize is a 50 voucher to spend in a local garden centre. Second prize is a green waste composting bin for the garden and third prize flower and stem secateurs.
SHARK
The conscientious "green finger", however, will probably spend as much time on the tedium of tidying up and clearing away as on the skills of cultivation to produce Brown's "lovesome" garden and this is one of the areas, among others, that SHARK can be of great help.
Safe Habitat Alliance for Rural Kincardineshire (SHARK) became a constituted Environmental Group in 2006 and the most visible feature of their activities, of course, has been the fortnightly green bag collection of garden waste which begins mid-morning on Saturday, April 3. Currently 23 volunteers have been recruited to carry out the doorstep lifts, working on a rota basis.
Although placed on a short list some time ago for a grant of 25,000 from the Climate Challenge Fund to purchase a lorry, SHARK are still waiting the result of their application but, regardless of the outcome, a vehicle will be ready for April.
However, since its formation, SHARK has also been actively involved in campaigning for better waste water treatment, carrying out regular, well-supported beach clean-ups, including taking part in the Marine Conservation Society's annual Beachwatch campaign, annually give the encroaching scrub on the old railway line coastal walk a good bashing and in December last year planted 100 trees as part of a national attempt to break the Guinness World record for the most trees planted in an hour in multiple locations, the result of which is still awaited.
Recently, though, the group's main priority has been community composting which they helped trial run in partnership with the Aberdeen Community Compost network, but from now on they will be entirely self-financing as they take on the full responsibility of managing and operating the Johnshaven Community Compost Project.
In the midst of getting things geared up, organiser, Rebecca Chambers said: "We are looking forward to another busy season. So far 100 householders have paid their 10 collection fee and a number of others from last year have still to do so and we are always very happy to enrol others.
A reminder, too, that there is compost from 2009 which is available in return for a donation. For any other information on volunteering or composting I can be contacted either on 01561 362120 or by email on www.shark.btik.com "
Oh, and the Hortus's enterprise in organising a discount seed and plant sale in the Village Hall on Saturday was well rewarded when orders worth around 500 were taken from which the Society will receive 5%.
Calum McLeod
Readers of this column who have followed the fortunes of promising young cricketer, Calum McLeod, will be interested to know that, following a technical hiccup last year, his career now seems to be back on track.
Born in Stepps, Lanarkshire, Calum, as a young boy, spent many summer holidays in Castle Street with his grandmother, Anne Scott. Playing for Drumpellier C.C., Calum exhibited such talent that in 2006 and again the following year, he was chosen as Scotland's "Young Cricketer of the Year" and, spotted by Warwickshire County Cricket Club, he was taken on as an apprentice and gained his first cap for the Saltires against the United Arab Emirates in 2007.
He spent the winter of 2007/08 gaining valuable experience playing in the summer grade leagues in Sydney, Australia, and at 19 began the summer of 2008 on a two-year contract with Warwickshire.
Representing his country in age group World Cups and progressing to win 14 caps in the various formats of the game, Calum's career seemed well set to flourish until July last year when the legality of his bowling action was called into question.
This was a crushing blow because it effectively meant that he had to start from scratch. However, Calum has fought back and has just left with his County team mates on a pre-season tour of South Africa which hopefully will help establish him as a first team player.
Now 21 years old, the 6'3" strapping paceman may just be the vital spark needed to reignite the faltering Saltires who, although they did just manage to retain their ODI status, failed to qualify both for the 2010 World Twenty 20 in the West Indies and the 2011 Cricket World Cup in South Asia.
Mearns Coastal Parish
This Sunday's services will be held at the usual times of 10 a.m. in St Cyrus Church and 11.30 a.m. in Johnshaven Church. On Sunday, March 28 the Sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated in St Cyrus Church at 10 a.m. and will be immediately followed by the Stated Annual Meeting of Mearns Coastal Parish Church. This will be the only service in the parish that day.
Meanwhile Bible study sessions continue at 38 Invergarry Park, St Cyrus, on Monday evenings between 7 and 9 p.m. and all are welcome.
Mearns Coastal Guild
The daffodil tea/coffee morning held in the Church Hall on Saturday morning raised 200 for Guild funds and thanks are expressed to all who contributed in any way to this excellent total.
The last regular meeting of the Guild will be held in the Church Hall on Monday, March 22 at 2.30 p.m. when the Rev L. Broadley, Hillside, will give a talk on cookery, then the following Monday, March 29 the Guild's AGM will take place at the same venue and at the same time.
Looking further ahead, a soup and sweet lunch in aid of the Guild Project will be held in the function room at Wairds Park on Saturday, April 10 at 12 noon.
Ceilidh
There are still tickets available either from the organiser of the event, Mrs Jean Cook on 01561 362318 or the Johnshaven Stores for tonight (Friday's) stovie and dumpling ceilidh in the Village Hall priced 7 for adults and 4 for 16 year olds and under.
Music is provided by the Scottish Accordion Music Group, there will also be a raffle and the ceilidh, on a "bring your own bottle" basis, runs from 7.30 until 10 p.m.
Bowling Club
It now looks as though the Bowling Club's plans for the start of the season will be delayed. On Sunday specialist equipment was used to remove the last of the faulty concrete while construction of the flood prevention wall and new ramps is virtually complete.
However, the Wairds Park Committee, whose responsibility the bowling green is, has let it be known that April 31 is the earliest the new carpet will be ready for play.
Community Council
The Annual General Meeting of the Community Council will be held in the Village Hall on Wednesday, March 31 at 7 p.m. The business of the meeting will be to receive the Annual Report and the audited accounts; election of new community councillors and office-bearers and appointment of an auditor.
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Weather for Stonehaven
Thursday 09 February 2012
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