One of our parish councillors John Lain sorts out our litter bins ahead of south Norfolk council collections. He said he can tell that a number of residents have been taking it upon themselves to pick up litter from our streets, hedgerows, and banks.
What a lovely thing to do.
The parish council and this community website would like to sincerely thank everyone who has been doing this.
Every time someone picks up a piece of litter that isn’t theirs, it not only cleans that one piece up, it makes it less likely that other people will drop litter. It’s a known phenomenon. So each piece cleaned up has a bigger impact than you might think. And it’s also known that tidy environments make people happier. All of that added together means that there’s a small group of people in the village that is having a large effect on all of our general happiness, without realising it.
Of course, if you are doing this voluntarily we hope you take care and do it safely.
In normal years, the village holds a litter picking event which is sponsored by South Norfolk Council. For obvious reasons this did not happen last year, but it will be restarted when restrictions allow.
The start of April 2021 looks to be a little cooler than the last week of March but it will still be a Spring month and many of us will be busy in our gardens preparing for the Summer months ahead. It is also a transitional month, bringing unpredictable weather, so it is often the case of getting out to do something whenever the weather permits.
Mowing and edging
We can start mowing our lawns on a high cut if the grass is dry and frost-free and can tidy up the edges by re-cutting them with a half-moon or spade to give a neat edge to the flowerbeds or patio areas. Lawns will also benefit from a dose of lawn feed now.
Clearing up
There may still be some leaves lurking under shrubs so these can be raked out and flowerbeds tidied up, cutting back any perennials which may still have the old growth from last summer.
Sowing Vegetable Seeds
If you are planning to grow some vegetables, now is the time to sow tomatoes, runner beans, green peppers and courgettes which can then be planted on in due course.
Planting up pots and baskets
This is the best time for creating new container displays. If you have the space, pot your plug plants into larger pots as this will be cheaper than buying bigger pot plants later on. Plant up summer baskets and store undercover for putting out in the garden in late May. We can also sow half-hardy bedding plants in seed trays in the greenhouse or indoors by a sunny window.
Maintaining water butts and water features
If you have a pond or water feature, now is the time to give it a little post-winter maintenance. Clear out ponds: lift put any planting baskets and fish, keep in buckets of old pond water, bail out the water, remove sludge and refill with collected rainwater is possible (if you use tap water, let it stand for a week before putting any fish back in).
Check that your water butts are collecting water effectively, that the downpipes are clear and that the taps are working (they sometimes become blocked or sludgy with old leaves).
Protect from frost and wind
April can still bring frosty nights, so be ready to protect tender flowers and vegetables from frosts. Young, upright-growing plants may need some form of support, so stake tall plants to prevent them being damaged.
April can be the most positive month, full of gardening promises. It is wonderful to see the trees and shrubs awaken from their winter dormancy and burst into life. Let’s hope for some warm weather too.
Below is a message from Norfolk Constabulary through the Police Connect scheme, passed on through our Parish Council to us:
We are aware of concerns and rumours circulating on social media about dogs being stolen or men in a van, including a van allegedly marked with the RSPC logo, acting suspiciously around people out walking with their dogs.
Please know there haven’t been any crimes recorded this week that relate to dog thefts
nor have we received any reports of dogs being stolen from a property or while out walking with their owners over the last week.
One person in North Walsham reported an incident on Saturday in which a man in a transit van asked questions about their dog while out walking. We asked them to report any further sightings to us and we haven’t received any further reports of this happening.
In addition, the RSPCA has told us that a number of incidents circulating on social media claiming people are impersonating their inspectors do not appear to have been actual cases of people trying to pass as bogus officials.
It’s important to know there are very few incidents whereby an RSPCA officer will approach someone in public, unless they witness animal cruelty or see an animal in immediate danger. Officers will also wear RSPCA brand clothing and always carry RSPCA identification. RSPCA officers do not have power of entry or seizure unless accompanied by a police officer.
If you’re approached by someone who makes you feel concerned about you or your dog’s safety or believe someone is posing as an RSPCA officer, tell us on 101.
Try to give us as much detail about the person or the vehicle they were in as you can. And do not hesitate to call us on 999 if a crime is happening and you need our help.
Mill Road, Alpington, (the road with Green Pastures on) will be closed for 3 days 14th-16th April.
From reading the notice below it says 200m south of the a146, so my guess is that you’ll only be able to access the farm shop and garden centre from the a146 during those 3 days.
Below is a copy and paste from a document sent out by Garry Whiting, Heathgate Medical Practice & Lead Manager for the Poringland Centre:
Update – Covid 19 Vaccinations Message from Heathgate Medical Practice and Old Mill and Millgates Surgery
I have been asked where we are with second doses.
We have our last first dose clinic this Friday afternoon and then next week (29th March) we are due to start second vaccines at 11 to 12 weeks, to those we have already seen for vaccination.
Yes it’s 11 weeks since we started and locally we have vaccinated 22,000 people out of the Centre.
Your surgery will contact you as the timing of your second dose comes around. This contact will be made when we have confirmed vaccine delivery dates from NHS England.
Those still requiring first doses in the agreed cohorts 1 to 9 (above 50 or those under 50 with a specific underlying health condition) are being asked nationally to contact the national booking line via 119 or book online with the booking references from letters they have received.
There are no national invitations as yet for those aged 18 to 49 (without an underlying health condition).
Healthwatch Norfolk we are launching a project to find out how people affected by cancer have accessed their appointments during the pandemic, with the overall aim of informing the wider rollout of digital services within the NHS.
Given that there are families in our community affected by cancer, and sadly there will undoubtedly be more in future, we thought it would be helpful to publicise this to residents, who may also wish to share this with friends and relatives to ensure that the survey reaches the widest possible audience.
From Healthwatch Norfolk themselves:
At Healthwatch Norfolk we are launching a project alongside Healthwatch Suffolk to find out how people affected by cancer have accessed their appointments during the pandemic.
We are working with the people in charge of cancer services in Norfolk and Suffolk to help shape the way appointments are accessed in the future, so it is vital that we get as much feedback as possible to get an authentic sense of patient opinion.
If you live in Norfolk or Waveney and have had a cancer diagnosis, referral or treatment since March 2020, Healthwatch Norfolk and Suffolk would love to hear from you.
Whether you have had virtual appointments (by phone or video call, for example), in-person appointments, or a combination of both your experiences could help shape future provisions.
If you would like to participate, please contact Healthwatch Norfolk by calling 0808 1689669, or emailing enquiries@healthwatchnorfolk.co.uk. Alternatively, the survey can be completed online by visiting www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/cancerappointments/
We are also asking our audience to forward the information to as many people as possible, to help us with this important piece of work. We would be extremely grateful for any support you can offer.
Healthwatch Norfolk and Healthwatch Suffolk are the independent voices for patients and service users in our counties. We gather your views of health and social care services to ensure they are heard by the people in charge. For more information about what we do, visit our websites www.healthwatchnorfolk.co.uk and www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk.”
The Adult Learning Team at County Hall have put together a free series of sessions and 4‑week short courses under the banner of ‘Spring into Wellbeing’ including meditation, yoga, languages and mindfulness.
There is a taster session for every course, and then if you like it you can book onto the longer course.
They are open to all, so have a read of the flyer and book your place!
From Marc Williams, Area Coordinator for UK charity Arthritis Action:
Arthritis Action Groups are an opportunity for people with arthritis to talk with others and share their tips on how to manage their arthritis and stay active whilst at home, and we actively welcome new attendees.
We discuss a variety of self-management techniques. Participants will need to contact us directly for the log in instructions for the meeting, and we have produced ‘How To’ guides for those not familiar with using Zoom.
I’m also available for one-off presentations on self-management of arthritis via Zoom if there is a local group that would be interested. These will of course be free of charge.
Upcoming Group Dates:
30/03/2021 – Norfolk & Suffolk Online Group (Launch) – 2pm
09/04/2021 – Coffee morning (open to all areas) – 10:30am
30/04/2021 – Coffee morning (open to all areas) – 10:30am
11/05/2021 – Norfolk & Suffolk Online group – 2pm
28/05/2021 – Coffee morning (open to all areas) – 10:30am
Just 7 miles south east of Norwich is a centre for Arts and creative Christian spirituality, based in The Barn, a former old carriage house at Rockland St Mary Rectory, home of the former Burning Bush project. The Barn is a ministry run by Canon Nick Garrard and his wife Rev Helen Garrard.
At present the Barn fulfils several roles. It is a recording studio for services, an assembly line for children’s craft packs, and home to Art Café, which Nick explains, “This is a Wednesday morning online gathering where we contemplate a work of art or an artist and talk about all that intrigues and inspires us. We have conversations with artists, including the award-winning young Dutch artist Egbert Moddermann who joined us from Groeningen to share some of his paintings on Biblical themes.”
Nick’s role combines being Rector of six rural parishes (Rockland Benefice, part of the Bramerton Group) with Bishop’s Officer for Christian Spirituality through the Creative Arts. The arts ministry is based in The Barn, was developed and resourced by his predecessor, Revd Wendy Shaw and a committed core group, many of whom are still involved today from neighbouring villages and further afield.
“We trust The Barn will offer a creative space to explore their big questions. We look forward to times when people can return to the Barn for art events, quiet days, worship, coffee and cake,” said Nick, “We are launching groups with different interests soon, seeking to encourage creativity in many ways.”
Nick extends an invitation, “If you’d like to join us or receive our monthly Barn Owl round up of arts and spirituality events, my contact details are 01508 538014, email nickgarr39@aol.com or click https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/7440/get-in-touch/
Alpington and Yelverton 