News and Events

We have had a couple of deliveries which means we are able to provide a pre-arranged collection service starting Monday (Mon – Sat, 10am – 3pm). This includes pet food (dog, cat, horse, poultry etc), gas, fire wood, cleaning products etc. We are unable to replenish our stock of aggregates (both small and bulk) so these continue to be unavailable unfortunately. We are still offering plant hire.
We won’t be opening our doors for public access to the shop, and must stress again that collections are to be pre arranged only. We have very minimal staffing and can only cope if this is adhered to.
It would be very helpful if all requests could be emailed to claire@groundhoghomehardware.co.uk, but where that isn’t possible you can call us on 01508 492222. We will call you back to take card payment over the phone.
The phone lines have been very busy, even when we have been closed, so please bare with us and only call if you need to.
We will not be responding to facebook requests for orders or stock enquiries; again, please email those requests to us.
It may be possible to deliver to local residents who are unable to collect.
We will update you all as soon as anything changes.
Stay safe.

Please see below opening times for Brooke Post Office, they will be operating a strict one in and one out policy

The following businesses are able to offer a take away service

The Dove PH
Thurton George and Dragon – Tuesdays and Fridays.
The Old Feathers pub – Wednesday’s and Thursdays (just for fish and chips) rest of the week normal menu & Sunday Lunch.

Friday, 8th May 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day.  After nearly six years of war the United Kingdom and its allies were able to celebrate victory in Europe following the surrender of Germany.  The Second World War did not end that day as it continued to be fought in the Far East against Japan until the 15th August 1945.
Winston Churchill in his radio broadcast on the 8th May 1945 said “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing; but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts that lie ahead.”  Later that day King George VI asked the nation to join him in an act of thanksgiving, remembering the men and women who had laid down their lives and said “We have come to the end of our tribulation and they are not with us at the moment of our rejoicing…Let us salute in proud gratitude the great host of the living who have brought us to victory.”
There were many events planned for the 8th May 2020 to celebrate and commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, but sadly due to the Covid-19 pandemic these have had to be cancelled. However, this doesn’t mean we can’t commemorate the anniversary at home, for example you could:
* make some VE 75 bunting to put in your windows, perhaps including a photo of a member of your family who served in World War Two.
* Have your own VE Day tea party at home.
* Join in the two minutes silence organised by the British Legion at 11am on 8th May to honour the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation and reflect on the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on so many lives across the world.
* Tune into BBC One from 8pm on Friday, 8th May for an evening of music and memories culminating at 9pm in a sing-a-long to Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again.
Personally, I will be remembering my parents who, for different reasons, were not celebrating in this country on VE Day.  My father was serving as part of an anti aircraft gun team protecting airfields in and around Meiktila, Burma on VE Day and didn’t return to ‘Blighty’ until late June 1945. However, he was at home in Hertfordshire on leave on 15th August 1945 to celebrate VJ (Victory in Japan) Day when the Second World War finally ended.  My mother was at home in Holland on VE Day, no doubt celebrating that the whole of the Netherlands had been finally liberated three days earlier on the 5th May 1945 after five years of German occupation.
Perhaps you have stories of your parents or grandparents that you would like to share with your friends and family as we remember VE Day.  Maybe you had family who served during the Second World War either in the Armed Forces or on the Home Front.  Maybe a grandfather was in the Home Guard, perhaps the Bergh Apton No. 3 Platoon.
However you mark VE Day 75, remember we will meet again, hopefully soon.
Sue Stacey

Although we have been blessed with a beautiful April, May is when the garden really begins to wake up and it’s the time when we all gear up ready for the Summer ahead. 

Lawns

This is the time for active lawn maintenance and really the last chance to sow or lay new lawns until autumn without using our sprinklers. Thanks to our recent rainfall, the lawn will need weekly mowing from now until autumn and the edges will need trimming. 

Planting

Plant out any strawberries and sow runner beans outside and construct your wigwams or cane supports for them. The end of the month is the best time to plant out tender courgettes, aubergines and the colourful summer bedding plants.

This is also the time to repot pot-bound container plants in pots about 10cm bigger than the current ones. Give them a good feed and tie-in any long climber shoots to their supports with soft twine or string.

Protect from pests 

The insects are  now becoming much more active as temperatures rise, so be especially vigilant about pests. Pick off scarlet lily beetle from your lilies (their larvae rapidly defoliate plants). Watch for vine weevil in container plantings – irregular-shaped notches to leaf edges are tell-tale signs (the young grubs in the soil eat the roots really quickly!) If possible, use natural nematodes to control them at the end of the month. 

Check your roses for black spot, remove and discard all infected leaves on the plant to prevent it spreading. They may need spraying with a fungicide throughout the growing season to keep it under control.

If you find aphids/greenfly on your rosebushes, as an alternative to shop-bought pesticides you can spray them with washing up liquid solution (the same strength as you would use for washing dishes) and on a cloudy day, spray the whole bush, including the tops and undersides of the leaves and buds. You may need to repeat this treatment regularly to keep your roses clear of these pests.

You can now cover soft fruit bushes with netting to prevent birds eating the fruit. If you are growing strawberries, put straw around or under them. 

Prune Spring-flowing shrubs  

Your Spring-flowering shrubs will be finishing their flowering display so now is the time to prune these  – eg:- Ribes, Weigela and Forsythia,, these all flower on this year’s growth, so prune them back into shape just after they have finished flowering to give a beautiful display next year.

“The Chelsea Chop”

To check the growth of perennial plants which can grow too tall, you can make the plants branch out by cutting or pinching off the growing tips. Plants which respond well to this treatment are Rudbeckias, Solidago (Golden Rod), Heleniums, Phlox and Michaelmas Daisies. This should reduce their overall height by about 25% and although they may flower a week or two later, they won’t be so prone to collapsing or being blown over at flowering time.   

Feed

Feed your spring bulbs with a granular fertiliser or blood, fish and bone, to give them an energy boost and help them flower next Spring. 

Relax

Remember to take some time to sit in your garden to relax and enjoy the sights, sounds and atmosphere of your beautiful surroundings.

First Response 

A 24/7 helpline offering immediate advice, support and signposting for people with mental health difficulties.

If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed or worried about your mental health, call the helpline on 0808 196 3494. 

Who can call? 

The helpline is available to members of the public of any age. The line is also open to other healthcare professionals, such as ambulance staff and GPs, as well as social care colleagues and police personnel who may need advice when working with individuals who are undergoing mental health difficulties or may wish to refer someone.

What if I want to remain anonymous? 

If you would prefer that the person answering your call doesn’t see your telephone number, you can turn off your caller ID in your phone’s settings.

We think it’s very important to supply this vital piece of PPE to people, especially care homes – Some aren’t getting any PPE at all!

If this is something you think you could assist us with, please do not hesitate to contact us on the information provided below.

chole@displaywindows.com

01508 528028

From Tuesday we return to our regular opening hours with services continuing to operate out of our Poringland site. We will continue to review the re-opening of our second site in Rockland St Mary.