Welcome to this week's Know Your Neighbours
Before we get started on any reports for this week, I have to say a huge thank you to those of you that turned out to help get the Christmas lights down last weekend. Especially, those who couldn't make the Sunday, so braved the elements on Saturday. It is great to have them all safely stowed away for next year. We will have to replace some more for Christmas 2022, as there were some damaged, but as we know, this is going to be an ongoing situation, and the majority have served us well for 3 or 4 years.
As the 100 Club finances this project, we are mostly covered for all we should need. If you would like to join the 100 Club, please let me know and I will send you joining instructions.
Know Your Neighbours Zoom Meeting
This took place last night - many thanks to Annie Fish, who hosted this for us, and those who gave their time to join in the discussions. .We were joined by just 10 people, and several gave apologies but sent their ideas. It was disappointing not to have many youngsters involved, but this was the outcome:-
Throughout the whole jubilee celebration period, we are hoping to have a display of Seal through the past 70 years - probably in the Village Hall (to be confirmed).
David Williams has also kindly offered to guide another of his ever popular historic walks or two!
Friday June 3trd 12.30-4.30 Seal Village Allotments will hold a Jubilee Picnic.
Saturday June 4th - pm Frances Fish is going to organise another Garden Safari around the gardens of homes in Seal village.(Proceeds ro Kent Air Ambulance)
IF YOU HAVE ANY UNWANTED CHRISTMAS GIFTS OR ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE< FRANCES IS LOOKING TO PUT SOME RAFFLE PRIZES TOGETHER FOR THIS AND OTHER EVENTS IN THE VILLAGE. Please let me know and we will arrange collection.
Sunday June 5th - The Big Lunch on Seal Recreation Ground, with food outlets being present but you can bring your own picnic if you prefer. There will be games and fun for all ages - competitions, races and general fun activities for all.
We all felt that a good spruce up of our village beforehand, would be a great start, so look out for dates and times of community litter picks, etc. Also, we felt it would be great to encourage as many people as possible, to decorate/adorn the village appropriately. Here are some ideas:-
Planting your front gardens or outside areas in red white and blue - hanging baskets or borders, etc.
Display a 'Royal Scene' in your windows - rather along the line of Advent Windows, but with a royal theme
Display a royal scarecrow outside your home or in a public area where he/she or it, will be seen.
Decorate your home with red, white and blue bunting and flags
Obviously, this is a very early stage in the planning, so some changes may have to be made as we confirm availablity etc. We will keep you updated weekly via these emails.
There will be lots of opportunities for you to get involved in the planning of these events, so please let us know if you are interested to help (before you get press-ganged)!
Ideas for fund raising were also discussed, as we may need some extra set up costs. One idea, (very popular I might add), was to have a @QUEEN OF PUDDINGS AND QUIZ EVENING' The idea being, to encourage as many people to create their favourite (or new to them) pudding for all to sample, and have 'A RIGHT ROYAL QUIZ' alongside the tasting. Please let me know if you would be interested in attending such an evening, and of course, if you feel you would like to help organise it.
Another idea which has been on the agenda for some time, would be to have an evening of close magic and a supper, in one of the halls. The entertainer we have used for christmas parties, is very popular, and several people have asked if this would be possible.
The Village Covid Commemoration tree
We have received several ideas of suitable species, which will need to be discussed further with horticultural experts, to ensure suitability. We discussed the possibility of fixing a water butt ro the downpipe of the building concerned, so that watering wouldn't be so difficult. Several people have kindly come forward and offered help with watering.
Species being considered are:-
Holly
Crab apple
Amelanchier
Salix.
We did not get around to discussing potential new groups, as none of the people who had put their names forward, were in attendance, so it was felt better to leave this until the appropriate pepole were there.
SEAL TIDDLERS
This group meets in the Church Hall on Monday mornings between (.30-11.30, but as Covid rates are still high, they have decided to start this term on January 31st.
SEAL PARISH COUNCIL WILDFLOWER PROJECT - REMEMBER TO SIGN UP FOR NEXT WEEK'S SESSION!
Following on from our wildflower talk from the Kent Wildlife Trust's WILD ABOUT GARDENS team, are running a series of zoom sessions this winter on WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN, This is a great way of encouraging wildflowers and pollinators to your garden, This, is combination with our wildflower verges project, will also help create joined up 'pathways' for bees, butterflies and other key pollinators in our parish.
Details of the events can be seen on the Parish Council website, but the zoom sessions cost £5 a session, and are as follows:-
Wednesday January 26th 10,30am- midday - Managing pests and diseases in a Nature Friendly Way
Saturday Feb 5th 3pm-5pm - Building and Maintaining a Wildlife Pond
Monday March 7th 7.30-9pm - Wilder Lawns
Sat March 26th 11-12.30 - Using weeds and wildflowers in a garden to attract bees, butterflies and moths.
Deniz's coffee shop still has some copies of our Seal Historical Guided Walk books for just £5 a copy. All proceeds go to the Seal Village Fund. A perfect time to walk around our beautiful village and see it through new eyes!
ST PETER AND ST PAUL CHURCH SEAL
Just a reminder that Anne is still making podcasts of the weekly services, so please log on to the church website www.sealpeterandpaul.
