What a terrific turnout and very warm welcome from Jillian and the volunteers, who served tea and cake to copious amounts of us in the library last Friday. Frances Fish provided a great 1973 themed quiz, which got many of us reminiscing. There is still a small exhibition on view in the library, showing Seal Library life since 1973. Thank you to Jillian and all the volunteers (especially the long suffering Derek who remained firmly at the kitchen sink).
Jillian is also in possession of a Pandora bracelet. If you have lost one, please contact Jillian and if you can describe it accurately, you can arrange to collect it from her.
SAVE THE DATE - SAT MARCH 11TH 11.30-1.00 SEAL VILLAGE HALL KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURS
Come along, have a coffee, cake and a chat with members of local village organisations and find out what happens in our village. Also, let's have your ideas for what you would like to see in the future.
Stone Street Toad Patrol 2023
This wonderful local Toad Rescue group NEEDS YOU!!! Last year, we saved the largest number of amphians (frogs, toads and newts) in Kent, by helping them across the roads to and from their spawning pond in Stone Street, near Seal. Without our help, 4,500 animals may undoubtedly have been road traffic victims. It is incredibly rewarding and, if amphibian-friendly, fabulous fun!! We would much value more volunteers for our very friendly and well supported rota of Toad patrollers this season. We are expecting that the amphibians will be out and moving to the pond from the local woods by then end of January/early February- they cross the roads on mild, wet nights from dusk onwards. Hi Vis vests, torches, buckets and clickers are all provided.For a very interesting chat about what’s involved, including safety factors, Please contact Colleen: colanrob@hotmail.co.
SEAL ECO CHURCH NEWS
St P& P’s Church, Seal, is now a registered Eco Church, working towards a bronze award at this time of accelerating climate change and species loss. We warmly welcome anyone along with an interest in protecting nature and caring for God’s Earth (A Rocha Uk) Hope to meet you soon! Babs Bartholomew (07973 478968) & Lise Michaelides (07570 125115).
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE ECO GROUP AT THE FOLLOWING:-
SEAL PARISH COUNCIL
Vacancy - Seal Parish Councillor
Seal Parish Council is now looking to fill three Councillor vacancies by Co-option for Seal Ward.
We would welcome Parishioners to apply preferably living inSeal Ward, but can live in other wards.
Candidates should be interested in taking an active role in the area they live and working to improve the local
community.
To find our more please contact Clare Boland on 01732
833360 or email sealparishc@outlook.com
We look forward to hearing from you!
SEAL COMMUNITY LUNCH
Sadly, this lovely project has had to be postponed for the foreseeable future.
KENT FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
Are you aware that you can have a free check from KFRS to ensure your home is safe? We had a courtesy visit from them at Friday Group last week, and they chatted to us in small groups, which we all benefited from. If you have concerns about your home, or even maybe a neighbour, please contact www.kent.fire-uk.org/
KENT WILDLIFE TRUST
Kent Wildlife Trust’s Sevenoaks Greensand Commons Project is running a Winter Walk Challenge! Can you please help us to raise awareness for challenge?
Did you know that spending time in nature can alleviate the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder? The project manages eight commons across Sevenoaks, Westerham and Seal, and we want to raise awareness of their value so that residents can take advantage of the sites for leisure, exercise and more this winter.
The Winter Walk Challenge pack is free and includes information on species identification, the heritage of the Commons and parking and public transport information. The pack includes maps of the sites and information on how the plant and animal species of West Kent use the Commons during winter.
The pack has been designed to help families to continue exploring natural spaces despite the cold weather! Spending time in nature is crucial for our physical and mental well-being. If your organisation can help us to spread the word about these free resources, our staff and volunteers would be incredibly grateful. If possible, please share the Winter Walk Challenge via your website, social media and mailing list.
The Winter Walk Challenge can be accessed here. Participants can download their packs digitally and physical copies are also available for collection from our Visitor’s Centre at Bradbourne Vale Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3DH.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO KCC SERVICES
Changes are being proposed to the following services:- Childrens' Centres and Youth Hubs, Public Health Services, Community Services for adults with learning disabilities and Gateways.
Learn more about proposed changes in your area and have your say. Visit kent.gov.uk/
There will be an opportunity to visit drop-in sessions at Sevenoaks Library on Tuesday March 7th between 10am and 1pm, or Swanley Youth and Community Centre in St Mary's Road Swanley on Wednesday 8th March between 4-8pm.
If you or anybody you know uses any of these services, it would be a great idea to get along to one of these sessions, or at least look at the website, to see just how changes (and cuts) are likely to take place.
CORONATION CELEBRATIONS
We have been discussing the logistics of having one large village celebration, and in light of the lack of people keen to organise such an event, we were thinking, maybe some of you might prefer to organise a more localised celebration just for your immediate neighbours
If you feel you want to do this, and may need some support, please let us know and we will help you to facilitate this in any way we can. For instance, if you would like to get together with others who are also planning something similar, we could have a get together to discuss how we can all move the plans forward and support each other.
Again, we will have some funds to share, thanks to our 100 Club revenue, but, undoubtedly, more will be needed.
IF ANYBODY WISHES TO ORGANISE SOMETHING ON THE RECREATION GROUND, PLEASE CONTACT OUR PARISH CLERK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THE PAVILION WON@T REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR LONG! sealparishc@outlook.com
As always, it would be great to see the village decorated for this great occasion, so if you can add to the atmosphers with an appropriate scarecrow, bunting, red, white and blue floral display, etc, that would be great!
ARE YOU A KNITTER WHO ENJOYS A CHALLENGE?
We have a small group who are keen to crochet and knit a 'PILLAR BOX TOPPER' for the coronation. (For a photo of examples, please email me). If you are keen to join this little band of merry knitters, please get in touch via my email address marionjgilchrist@gmail.com
This is still at very early stages, so all ideas are also welcome. If this is successful, it would be great to see them to celebrate at other significant times.
You do not need to attend at regular times for this if that is not convenient for you. The patterns could be taken and used at home if that suits you better.
If you are planning, or already running some activity in Seal you would like to share with us, please contact us at this email address, and we will do our best to spread the word. Also, please remember to tell any new neighbours about this group, so that we can add them to our circulation list, or they can use the FaceBook page.
SEAL CHURCH CHOIRS
Adult and junior choirs looking for new members - practice Wednesday evenings -sealpandp@gmail.com
SEAL CHURCH BELLRINGERS
Have you ever had the urge to ring the church bells? If you are interested, we are always looking for new ringers, so please contact Paul Thompson paul.h.thompson@
SEAL OVER 60s
2nd Saturday of each month 2.30-4pm.Seal Village Hall. £3 per head, for a delicious tea, interesting speakers and great company. Call Chris 01732 763585 or 07759 808814
.
SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Thursday evenings Seal Village Hall contact Alan Davies jandadavies@hotmail.co.
SEAL SEQUENCE DANCING - Village Hall Tuesdays 8pm -10pm contact awatts@talktalk.net
SEAL SCOUTS, CUBS AND BEAVERS.
Please contact 9thgslsevenoaks.
DANCE FOR FUN
- Village Hall - Tuesday mornings -10.30am - contact Luci 07748 008431.
SEAL LIBRARY-
OTFORD PATIENT PARTICIPATION SURVEY
A reminder for you if you are a patient of Otford Medical Practice?
Dear Patient,
We would like to invite you to take part in our PPG/OMP annual patient survey for the past year and welcome your honest feedback.
We have developed two versions but, please, only complete one of them. It should take no more than about 5 minutes.
1. Many of you will prefer to respond to the interactive questionnaire. Please click on the following blue link which will take you to the questionnaire: https://forms.
2. Some of you, however, will prefer to use a paper version. If so, do please print out the attachment below, complete it and leave / post to the Practice reception. We are aware that some patients do not have access to a computer or printer. If you know of any OMP patient in this position, we would be extremely grateful if you would be kind enough to print a copy to give them. Thank you. **
The survey will stay open until the end of February.
Thank you so much for taking the time to complete the questionnaire.
Very best wishes
Chris Haslam (PPG Chair)
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