With the weather steadily improving and with the nights getting longer, it is even more important that your garden is secure from would-be criminals. Making your garden more secure could prevent an intruder from getting into your home, garage or shed.
Essex Police have offered the following hints and tips for securing your garden:-
Installing strong fences or gates will act as a deterrent, preventing intruders getting into your garden.
Ideally any gates, fencing, walls and hedges at the front of your property should not be more than 1.2m (4ft) so the front of your house can be seen by passers-by.
A standard 1.8m (6ft) wall or fence at the back of your house is sufficient. Increase the height to 2m (6ft 6in) if there is public access on the other side – any higher than this will need planning permission.
Trellis fixed to the top of a fence is not only decorative but can provide extra protection as it is difficult to climb over, breaking easily and noisily. Trellis does not need planning permission.
If your garden is easily accessible via the side of your house, a strong lockable gate, fitted towards the front of the property, will act as a deterrent.
Garden gates should be at least the same height and strength as your fencing with hinges securely attached to the gateposts.
Fit a good quality rim lock which can be locked from both sides as well as a padbolt with padlock inside.
Ensure locks fitted to gates cannot be reached from over the fence.
Remember to always lock your gates.
Planting prickly plants or a hedge, such as firethorn, climbing rose or hawthorn, around the perimeter of your garden can be a powerful deterrent.
Gravel on paths and driveways can act as an alert to someone coming towards your property.
Install dusk to dawn security lighting. The low energy lamp stays on in the dark and switches off when it starts to get light.
Secure garden furniture and wheelie bins so they cannot be used to climb on and gain access to upstairs windows.
Do not leave ladders lying around – they could be used by thieves to climb into an upstairs window. Keep them locked in a garage/shed or chained to a fixed object.
Do not leave tools, gardening equipment or debris lying around in the garden as they could be used to smash windows.
Keep your garden neat and tidy so it looks cared for.
While working in your garden, make sure doors and windows are locked to stop unwanted visitors.
Do not use barbed wire, razor wire or broken glass on walls or fences to protect your property – you could be held legally responsible for any injuries caused. Consider fitting spiky plastic topping, which is legal, along with a small warning sign.
Returning for it’s tenth year, Colchester Borough Council have 2016 free trees and fruit bushes to give away in its popular Trees for Years giveaway. The free plants are available to Colchester Borough residents, community groups and parish councils. Residents can collect up to three plants per household and up to 15 per community group, school or parish council.
If you are unsure about which plants would be suitable for your garden, members of the Parks Department will be available to give advice on which plants would be suitable for different size gardens. There will also be a useful pamphlet giving care guidelines, the following is for the 2015 event which has some of this years plants as well:
The 2016 bare root trees and fruit bushes will be available on a first come first served basis.
Trees must be planted on private property. Postcodes will be recorded to monitor the distribution.
The event takes place on Saturday 30 January, from 10am to 1pm, in the car park of Colchester Borough Council’s offices at Rowan House, in Sheepen Road, Colchester.
Trees for Years has previously been funded through sponsorship by OfficeIS, but CBC are looking for new sponsors for future years.
The Beth Chatto Gardens have recently been in touch with a summer offer:
The Beth Chatto Water Garden
We’ve come to realise that a lot of the local community have never visited the Beth Chatto Gardens before and so we’re offering free entry to the garden for children under 14, throughout the summer holidays (3 children per paying adult at £6.95), and we’d also like to invite you to a FREE evening of music and art on the 20th September.
It would be lovely to welcome members of your parish to the gardens and if you’d like to sign up for the events newsletter, please do here: http://eepurl.com/bmfHyb.
Beth Chatto Gardens are based on the ecological and creative principles of their founder. They aim to provide an inspirational and sustainable, quality experience for all visitors. Education and enjoyment underpin the gardens’ philosophy. They are located at:
In previous years West Bergholt Gardeners have opened their gardens to the public in aid of charity, most recently in 2014 where well over £3,000 was raised for teenage cancer charities. This year the organizers are taking a break, hopefully to be back reinvigorated next year, but for those still hoping to visit local gardens and get some ideas, we have recently received details of another similar event:
Coggeshall Hidden Gardens 2015
Sunday, 7 June 2:00 PM To 6:00 PM
This year Coggeshall is opening its garden gates so that you can visit walled gardens, kitchen gardens, tiny gardens, gardens that will delight and inspire you. There’s lots to do and see for young and old alike. Follow the children’s trail, visit the plant stall, enjoy a delicious home-made tea – a perfect afternoon out for the whole family! For more information visit the website at www.coggeshallopengardens.org.uk.
If You Can’t Make Coggeshall
There are some 23 Villages/Parishes running Open Gardens in Essex this year, a small sample includes some relatively local:
Walton-on-the Naze – 27th & 28th June – Various gardens open in Walton-on-the-Naze for the benefit of Walton in Bloom. Come and spend a wonderful day by the sea. Refreshments, tombola, raffle, plant sales and crafts for sale. – http://www.waltoninbloom.org/.
Chappel & Wakes Colne – 7th June – About 12 beautiful gardens open in and around the Essex Colne Valley. Lovely garden location for refreshments.
Earls Colne – 21st June – A number of gardens will be open to visit, all within easy walking distance with garden trail for the young ones. St. Andrews church and tower will be open for views across the beautiful Colne valley. Refreshments on sale. http://www.colnevalley.com.
Tollesbury – 27th & 28th June – Over twenty gardens will be open, from small courtyard gardens to larger gardens, from community gardens to gardens as yet unseen by the public.
Pebmarsh – 7th June – This Trail includes a variety of gardens. Snipelands is a stunning two-acre garden in a peaceful setting, on the outskirts of Pebmarsh, at 10 Mill Lane are mature shrubs, herbaceous borders, and a fern garden under trees whilst Matson Lodge is a 1½ acre garden developed for wildlife. http://www.redcross.org.uk/opengardens.
Blossom of the Bird Cherry – one of the varieties on offer
Trees for Years 2015
Colchester Borough Council have 2015 free trees and fruit bushes to give away as the popular annual Trees for Years initiative returns for the ninth year in a row.
The free plants are available to Colchester Borough residents, community groups and parish councils. Residents can collect up to three plants per household and up to 15 per community group, school or parish council.
This year’s initiative includes a variety of fruit bushes, decorative shrubs and trees to help create a greener Colchester for all. Species available this year are:
The 2015 bare root trees and fruit bushes will be available on a first come first served basis.
Cultivation guidance will be available so that trees can be selected, taking into account the ultimate size and form of mature trees.
People collecting trees need to bring their own bags to put them in.
Trees must be planted on private property. Postcodes will be recorded to monitor the distribution.
The event, which is funded through sponsorship by officeis takes place on Saturday 7 February, from 10am to 1pm, in the car park of Colchester Borough Council’s offices at Rowan House, in Sheepen Road, Colchester.
Sowing & Harvest Guidelines – Click to view full size
Allotments December 2014 Update
The West Bergholt Allotment Holders committee have recently announced Important Allotment Dates for 2015 which have now been published on their webpage and the village calendar. Other important news updates, with more details in the latest minutes published on the webpage, are as follows:
Committee Vacancies
There are currently 2 vacancies on the committee, if any plotholders are interested in becoming more involved they should contact one of the current committee members who will be able to advise them on what is involved.
Available Plots
There are approximately half a dozen plots currently available; precedence will be given to those on the waiting list, but should you be interested in acquiring a plot for yourself (think of all those home grown veggies!), then please contact Terry Claydon on 01206 241256 or by email to [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
Vehicle Restrictions
The committee has recently agreed that, in order to protect the pathways, there should be no vehicular access to the allotments between the months of November and March, this is because of typical weather conditions at these times. Any access must be expressly approved by the Allotment Committee Chair, Terry Claydon.
Rents
Given recent trends in income & expenditure, the Allotment Holders Committee are recommending to the Parish Council that there should be no increase in rents for 2015. This recommendation will be considered by the Parish Council Environment & Highways Sub-Committee.
Manure update
As previously advised (September news update), whilst some limited supplies were secured for 2014, there is, as yet, no ready source of supply for 2015 and plot holders may have to organise their own supply. Should anybody be aware of a supply that would provide adequate quantities with minimal transport issues, please let a committee member know.
Happy Gardening for 2015
Last, but not least, seasons greetings for the upcoming New Year!
We held our first meeting of the Club year (Sept 2014 – Aug 2015) and were pleased to see new and old members – a total of 41 members and 6 guests. The first meeting consisted of a Speaker followed by the A.G.M. The speaker was Deborah Hart who gave a very informative illustrated talk on Hanging Baskets and Winter Containers, and also a demonstration on creating a hanging basket for the winter, which she kindly donated to our raffle.
At the A.G.M – the committee was re-elected, and Rosemary James who had kindly held the Chair and Secretary Positions for the last year, has handed over the Chair position to David Withnall and still retains the Secretary position. David Draper who has been a committee member for several years stood down and was thanked for all his help over the years. We also welcomed 2 new committee members, giving us a committee of 8.
Our speakers for the remainder of this year are:
20th October – Darren Tansley on The Mammals of Essex
17th November – Rob Sherriff on Dahlias
8th December – Ric Staines – Gardeners Question Time & Xmas Buffet
All are welcome to our meetings – £10 membership or £3 non-members. Meetings are held in the Orpen Hall, West Bergholt CO6 3BW at 7.30 pm and include free Coffee and Tea.
Outings for 2015
June 4th – Cottesbrooke Hall NN6 8PF
Cottesbrooke Hall and the estate in Northamptonshire, England is a Grade I listed country house and estate reputed to be the inspiration for Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, published 1814. Cottesbrooke is a wonderful Queen Anne house dating from 1702, set in delightful award winning gardens in rural Northamptonshire. More details at www.cottesbrooke.co.uk.
July 2nd – Utling Wick Gardens CM9 6QX
Nestling in the conservation area of the Chelmer Valley in rural Essex the eleven acre gardens at Ulting Wick have been redesigned, extended and developed over the past 15 years by Philippa and Bryan Burrough. The garden is centred around three listed black Essex barns and a 17th century farmhouse. The buildings provide structure, shelter and a canvas for exuberant, colourful and vibrant planting of thousands of tulips in box-edged beds followed by an exotic display of dahlias, bananas, grasses, cosmos, sunflowers and other annuals to provide late summer interest.
Refreshments will be included in the ticket price. Transport will be by own transport or sharing.
Tickets and Times will be published at later date and will be available to members and non-members.
For more details and up to date information go on to our web page.
Notice to Allotment Holders and other interested parties
This year maybe the last year we can obtain bulk supplies of horse manure for our allotments as the current supplier is seeking to sell and move to another location. Despite considerable efforts by the committee and many plot holders, other sources to date have not been located. Naturally we will continue to seek a supplier who can provide upwards of a 100 tonne per year. If you know of a potential source who could provide a similar amount please contact the chairperson, Terry Claydon or those below. Furthermore, the transport provider who provided the delivery service for many years has now retired, although he has honoured a commitment this year to outstanding supplies from last year which was delayed due to the prevailing weather conditions at the time. A new transport contractor has been arranged for this year, which has necessitated an increase in the rate charged per trailer load. However, a full load of manure has increased by 20%.
Cost
Full Load £70.00 (10 tonne approx.)
Half Load £35.00
Quarter Load £17.50 (37 barrow loads approx.)
Note
A minimum of two/four plot holders will be required to facilitate half/quarter loads being made available.
Payment in cash required at time of order.
Supplies will be delivered as near to plot as is reasonably possible and if off-plot will need to be relocated to plot at earliest opportunity by the plot holder.
Supplies
To arrange your requirements please contact below before 29th September 2014
Mervyn Donnelly 241656 or email [antibot mailto=”[email protected]”].
St Mary’s Update – 2nd May
Churches Update – 11th April
Garden Security Hints & Tips
Open Gardens 2015
We held our first meeting of the Club year (Sept 2014 – Aug 2015) and were pleased to see new and old members – a total of 41 members and 6 guests. The first meeting consisted of a Speaker followed by the A.G.M. The speaker was Deborah Hart who gave a very informative illustrated talk on Hanging Baskets and Winter Containers, and also a demonstration on creating a hanging basket for the winter, which she kindly donated to our raffle.
June 4th – Cottesbrooke Hall NN6 8PF
July 2nd – Utling Wick Gardens CM9 6QX
Notice to Allotment Holders and other interested parties