Below is a communication from the Parish Council on the improvements proposed at the pond.
The proposal centers around a much more accessible seating area with a ramp. The letter attached below puts this work into the context of the recent works and overall plan.
Comments on the drawings are invited by May 21st (to the parish clerk, clerk.alpington@gmail.com) after which date the parish council will be reviewing the proposal for detailed design and submitting a planning application. The aim is to progress the works during late summer this year, subject to the necessary approvals.
The full letter and drawings are attached below, and they will also be put up onto the village noticeboards.
There are 4 drawings. The originals are the PDFs attached below, but I’ve also converted them to PNG images so they’re more easily viewed online. Some of the detail may be hard to see in the PNG images, so you’ll need to refer to the original PDFs in that case.
There will be a street party at the Wheel of Fortune pub in Alpington, to celebrate the King’s Coronation. Sun 7th May, 12-3.30pm. come and celebrate with your friends and neighbours!
Hot food available to buy from Broadland Bars (or bring your own picnic)
Cakes for sale from The Jasmine Cakery
Live singalong music from ukulele group Jelly and the Biscuits!
March is the first month of Spring, longer and brighter days at last! After a relatively mild February this year, there are likely to be some cold weeks but overall the average daily temperature will be increasing, encouraging our gardens into life again.
Plants to buy or enjoy in March
Herbs: Seek out small herb plants to pot up in containers near your back door
Young bedding plants: Look for good value young bedding plants to grow-on in your greenhouse, until they can be planted out.
Some plants to enjoy: Bergenia, Camellia, Daphne, Hellebores, Primroses.
General garden maintenance
• If dry enough, mow lawns and re-cut the edges with a half-moon edging tool • Dig out a small pond to attract more wildlife • Put slug barrier products around the new shoots of Hostas • Replant pots of flowered bulbs from indoors into borders • Check that tree ties aren’t too tight and that stakes are still firmly in the ground • Prune out any wind-damaged branches on trees and shrubs • Check for new shoots of ground elder, fork these up & remove all roots you see • Place bug boxes in sheltered corners, for insects to lay their eggs • Keep putting out food for garden birds, as the breeding season gets underway • Cut back winter-flowering Jasmine to tidy it up and encourage flowers next year
Flowerbeds & pots
• Deadhead any daffodil seedheads on daffodils leaving the leaves to die back naturally • Finish pruning roses early in the month • Cut Dogwoods, Willows and Cotinus right down to the base to promote vigorous new growth • Start sowing hardy annuals outdoors, including California poppies & Nasturtiums • Tidy up alpines as they start to flower, removing dead foliage, then mulch with grit to keep the foliage off damp soil • Plant lilies and other summer-flowering bulbs in pots • Feed ericaceous shrubs, such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Camellias and Pieris, with an ericaceous fertiliser • Tidy up borders, removing established and newly-germinating weeds, then mulch generously with garden compost • Plant new roses and other shrubs and climbers • Sow native wildflower seeds in trays or modules, to produce plants for your own mini-meadow • Scatter general-purpose fertiliser over flowerbeds and around roses, shrubs and hedges
Fruit & Vegetables
• Give blackcurrant bushes a high-nitrogen feed • Sow tomatoes, chillies, sweet peppers and aubergines in pots indoors • Plant onion and shallot sets, spacing them 10-15cm apart, and keep the bed free of weeds • Avoid carrot root fly by sowing an early crop of carrots under cloches or fleece • Make the first outdoor sowings of spinach, covering with cloches or fleece • Plant early potatoes in trenches in the ground or in pots • Sow parsnips as soon as the soil starts to warm up, as they’re slow to germinate and need a long growing season • Plant a fig tree in a large container to restrict its roots, which encourages fruiting and limits its overall size • Start hoeing veg beds as soon as the weather starts to warm up, as weeds will germinate quickly • Plant strawberries in a hanging basket or trough to keep the fruits away from slugs
Greenhouse or Windowsill
• Open greenhouse vents on sunny days to prevent humidity building up • Get celeriac, celery, lettuces and parsley off to a good start sowing indoors, to transplant into the garden later • Sow a selection of vibrant annual climbers, such as Spanish flag (Ipomoea lobata) and black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) • Sow Coleus on a warm windowsill to enjoy their vibrant foliage indoors or in tropical-style displays outside • Sow dwarf French beans in a large pot for an early indoor crop in June • Pot up overwintering cannas into fresh compost, water in, then place in a warm spot to spur them into growth • Sow sweet peas in deep pots and keep in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill • Protect greenhouse sowings of beans, peas & sweet peas from hungry mice
Say thank you to local volunteers, neighbours and groups that go the extra mile in your community. Winners will receive £250 to spend on a charity or community group of their choice.
Nominate easily online by searching South Norfolk Commmunity Awards or call 01603 430591.
Those shortlisted for the awards will be invited to attend our awards evening, consisting of a two course sit down meal followed by presentations from our sponsors and councillors.
Nominations Close on 3rd May 2023.
The categories and category descriptions are listed below. If you have a group or individual in mind, please nominate here
· Inspiration of the Year – someone who strives to achieve their best at work, in their studies, in sports, the arts, or in the community
· Young Person of the Year – a young person who has made a remarkable and inspiring achievements in support of their community (Aged 18 and under)
· Volunteer of the Year – an individual who has volunteered their time to make an outstanding contribution to their community
· Helping Hand Award – a friend, neighbour or carer who always goes the extra mile to help or support others
· Green at Heart Award – an individual, school, business or community group who has made an extra effort to have a positive impact on the environment.
· Business in the Community Award – a local business that has led or supported community initiatives and values
· Community Group of the Year – a community group that has made a significant contribution to the residents of their local area
· Community Hero – a person who has made a positive impact on an individual or their community. Someone who deserves special recognition for their effort and commitment.
The bus company have asked us if we can raise awareness of this proposal to change the 86 bus service from September.
Should you wish to comment you can email yard@ourhire.co.uk
Or call 01493 752223.
Please send comments on the changes by April 17th if you have any.
In a nutshell for our village and Bergh Apton the highlights are:
The early morning bus through the village is proposed to be retimed and rerouted to serve Poringland and Arminghall. Arrive Alpington 07:53 arriving in Norwich at 08:15. This will enable students to use the service to attend Fram Earl high school.
(currently service is arrive Alpington 07:27 arrive Norwich 07:45 – via A146)
There is also an additional service leaving Norwich at 15:00 via Arminghall and Poringland which will ensure students are able to get home again.
Here is a list of times and locations that our local beat officer PC Andy Sneddon will be available for people to chat about any local concerns, on Thursday 23rd March 2023.
09:00 – 16:00
PC Andy Sneddon will be holding street surgeries on Thursday 23rd to chat about local concerns- come along to discuss issues in your area or ask him a question.
Burgate lane in Alpington is closing on 8th to 9th March 2023 for guardrails repair works.
From the official notice:
… affecting the U76372 Burgate Lane from 215m west of its junction with U76373 Reeders Lane for 50m north-westwards in the PARISH OF ALPINGTON to facilitate Norfolk County Council guardrails repair works.
The road will be temporarily closed (except for access) from 8th to 9th March 2023 for the duration of the works expected to be about 2 days within the period.
Alternative route is via: Burgate Lane, Hall Road, Yelverton Road, Framingham Earl Road, Church Road, Wheel Road.
The next Alpington with Yelverton Parish Council meeting will be held at 7.30pm at the village hall, Mon 13th Mar 2023. The agenda is downloadable below.
Alpington and Yelverton 