Category: Features

WHAT should you do if you suddenly get a letter from a bank demanding payment for a debt of which you are unaware? This may be the first indication that you may have been a victim of identity theft.

Identity theft is a type of fraud which takes place when someone you don’t know gets hold of your personal details and uses them to apply for credit or to open an account in your name.

If you have been a victim of identity theft you will usually not have to pay for any money you have lost, unless it can be shown that you have acted fraudulently or without reasonable care, for example by keeping your PIN number written down with your card. You must act quickly:

? contact the bank straight away, keep a record of all conversations you have with them, and copies of any letters sent or received
? report the matter to the police, and get a crime reference number
? check with the credit reference agencies (details below) whether any applications for credit have been made in your name. If they have, you can ask to have the information removed from your file
? if you suspect that someone has got hold of your details by stealing your mail, or has fraudulently applied to get mail redirected from your address, you should contact the Royal Mail Customer Enquiry Number on: 08457 740740
? contact CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service at www.cifas.org.uk. For a small fee they will make sure that anyone applying for credit in your name is automatically double-checked.

The credit reference agencies are:
Experian Tel: 0870 241 6212 Website: www.experian.co.uk
Equifax Tel: 08705 143700 Website: www.equifax.co.uk
Call Credit Tel: 0870 060 1414 Website: www.callcredit.co.uk

For more information and advice about identity theft, go to www.cardwatch.org.uk, or to the Home Office website at www.identitytheft.org.uk or contact Thame CAB on
Advice Line: (01844) 214 827

IMAGE: Courtesy of money.howstuffworks.com

?A true patriot ? generous, hard-working, an inspirational leader? – The President of the United Kingdom National Defence Association (UKNDA), Winston S. Churchill, has died after a two-year battle with cancer.

Winston Spencer Churchill was the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill and, like his grandfather, had pursued a career in journalism and politics. As a war correspondent he covered conflicts such as Israel?s Six Day War in 1967. He was a Conservative MP for Manchester (Stretford and later Davyhulme) from 1970 to 1997.

In an echo of his grandfather?s long and sometimes lonely fight against the follies of disarmament and appeasement in the 1930s, he became the founder-President of the UKNDA in 2007. This group was formed to highlight the state of Britain?s chronically under-funded and over-stretched Armed Forces, and to bring pressure to bear on Parliament to increase the resources available for Defence of the Realm.

The group was launched in November 2007 at the Churchill Museum in London?s Cabinet War Rooms. Alongside Mr Churchill at the launch were the founder-Patrons of the UKNDA: the former Foreign Secretary Lord Owen, and three former Chiefs of the Defence Staff ? Admiral Lord Boyce, General Lord Guthrie and Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig.

Under Mr Churchill?s leadership, the UKNDA has campaigned vigorously in support of Britain?s hard-pressed Armed Forces and has played a key role in pushing defence and national security higher up the political agenda.

The UKNDA?s Chief Executive, Commander John Muxworthy, paid tribute to the Association?s President, with whom he had worked closely since the UKNDA was formed. Cdr Muxworthy said: ?The death of Winston Spencer Churchill after a two-year protracted battle against cancer, bravely and doggedly fought, is a grievous loss to the UKNDA. ?WSC?, as he used to sign himself, was our very first President. His untimely early death is a greater tragedy for the country which he served devotedly for many years.
?As President of the UKNDA, WSC was generous, hard working, proactive, and an inspirational leader. A true patriot, WSC followed in the steps of his grandfather, Sir Winston, who, in the 1930s campaigned ceaselessly for this country to rearm in the face of the ever-growing threat from Nazi Germany. Eighty years on, ?our? Winston has been fighting the same battle.

?WSC never faltered in his devotion and commitment to this country and its national and international interests. Our sympathies go out especially to his family who have supported him in his valiant struggle throughout, and especially in the final months when they were at his bedside at all times.
?Farewell, Winston. If there is a Valhalla, you are surely there.?

UKNDA Vice-President Colonel Bob Stewart added: ?Winston was a thoroughly decent man and a great friend to me. I first got to know him 17 years ago and twice during that time I have asked for his help on behalf of other people who really needed assistance ? and twice he gave it without reservation. By so doing he changed those people?s lives forever. He did that quietly and without a fuss. I shall miss him terribly. God bless Winston.?

Shortly before his final illness, Winston Churchill wrote a powerful ?Appeal to the Nation? highlighting the parallels between the UKNDA?s mission today and his grandfather?s crusade for rearmament in the 1930s.

WE may have over a hundred TV channels, but the Victorians had seven hundred different varieties of pear. Almost all of them are now unobtainable, except by some rare fluke.

A few weeks ago, such a fluke happened to me; I went to stay with an old friend and discovered that behind his house was a neglected orchard in which three ancient pear trees were laden with fruit. The apple and plum trees had long ago fallen into decay, but pear trees can live and go on producing fruit for up to two hundred years. These venerable trees, overgrown, unpruned, and unruly, were weighted down with their bronze treasure, and more of it lay all around in the long grass. The pears were oddities by modern standards, funny shapes and sizes, but absolutely scrumptious.

When I last went to the Farmers? Market here in Headington, I was pleased to see pears, but disappointed that they were the same variety stocked by a supermarkets everywhere, the Conference. The reason this has become almost the only variety of pear available on the British market is that it?s very disease-resistant and reliable, cropping every year at the same time. The fruits can be picked while hard and transported. These are great virtues from the point of view of the commercial grower, but what about taste? The flavour of Conference is rather bland and insipid compared to that of older favourites, such as the Bergamotte Esperen or Doyenne du Comice. It is also liable to be a bit mushy in texture.
The older pears the Victorians knew had a range of amazing flavours, some of them like pineapple or muscatel grapes, some sharp and crisp, some perfumed like rose-water. They could be rather small or very big and unwieldy. Not all of them were white inside – they might be pink or yellowish – and some of them had amazing names like Worcester Black or Vicar of Winkfield. They are juicy, drippy and slurpy, and almost nothing you do to them in my opinion really improves on the raw thing. If you are determined to cook dessert pears they go rather well mixed with apples in an Eve?s Pudding, spiced with cloves, cinnamon and powdered ginger. To be a little more decadent, lace them with chestnut liqueur.

The sad fact is that nearly half of Britain’s pear orchards have been destroyed since 1970. So we need to bring back the pear in the English garden, something worth doing if only for its lovely blossom. Go to a garden centre or search the internet: there are plenty of businesses here and there that can supply you with pear trees including a few unusual old varieties. I found a business in Wales that is selling two rare types of ?Heritage? pears, Snowdon Queen and Penrhyn Castle, and I hope that other nurseries will follow suit. As a result of cunning grafting, pear trees can be full-size, dwarf or even small enough to grow in a pot on the patio. Pollination is less of a problem than you might think.
Pear trees need a suitable pollination partner to make them fertile, but experienced nurserymen know that the bees can cross-pollinate them up to a far greater distance than any other kind of fruit, sometimes several miles. So it is quite possible for a single pear tree to have fruit if there is another pear tree anywhere in the neighbourhood. If you want to make sure, plant two or even three, and if you haven?t got room, you can get a ?dual? pear tree, with two different varieties grafted onto a single trunk. These will happily pollinate each other and give you two different sorts of pear side by side.

I always wondered why it was that in the Twelve Days of Christmas, the first gift and most memorable gift was a partridge in a pear tree. Why a pear tree? What was the association between pears and December? In fact, different varieties of pear ripen at different times of year. Some produce fruit in the Spring, others in the summer or autumn and many of the prized older varieties in the middle of winter. The Beurre d?Aremberg, for instance, a French variety, ripens in December to January, so it would be just right for a Christmas feast. The best orchards were planted with a range of pears for different seasons, so that people could have fruit all the year round. The problem of storage was thus completely avoided. You just left them on the tree, right through the freezing winter months, to be picked and eaten long after all the other fruit were finished and forgotten.

As for the partridge, that is a bird which once provided food in the middle of winter too. Under the Normans, game-birds were reserved for the nobles, and it was illegal for mere commoners to eat them, so in the song it is a symbol of luxury. But the partridge is now a threatened species in England. It has almost entirely vanished in Ireland and here it is in serious danger, as its habitats are destroyed year by year. Most of the partridges we have left are the French red-legged ones, while the native grey depends for survival on people breeding it to shoot. The numbers are down to a fraction of what we had only a generation ago. If you want to help the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust with their partridge-count scheme, you could ring 01425 652381. Of course, you have to know what a partridge looks like, first. And you are certainly very unlikely to see one in a pear tree.

IMAGE: Courtesy of www.egreenway.com

AS one of the few real historic market towns left in England, Thame, with its mix of independent and a few quality chain stores, and some wonderful cafes and restaurants, is a Christmas shopping haven whatever your budget!

Whilst shopping centres do have their place and have the appeal of a wide range of national chains under one roof, anyone searching for something distinctive and special for a Christmas present need look no further than Thame. And the town centre parking is convenient and FREE for up to three hours – longer in the month of December!

Let Thame.Net, with the help of some of the best of our independent retailers, guide you around our town
of which we are very proud, and hopefully suggest some Christmas present buying ideas to whet your appetite for visiting Thame, where you will find a very warm welcome! Continued/…..

PHOTO: Courtesy of www.telegraph.co.uk

IT was a warm weekend in May. The weather was kind as 40 people started their challenge event and climbed into the minibuses. These were 40 people, some who had never met before, who were about to take on a very challenging task. Yes they were about to attempt to climb the three highest mountains in the UK.

That’s one in Wales, then one in England and finally one in Scotland. They only had 24 hours to complete this feat, but amazingly through hardwork, teamwork and determination they all JUST did it.

This was a team of people raising money for their favourite charity. So far this team alone have raised nearly

IT is nearly November and we are still experiencing temperatures of 17 degrees ? brilliant. It has extended the growing season and even my spinach has germinated. I finally took down the tomatoes yesterday and picked a final pound or two. They have been magnificent this year. The Aubergines just won?t give up and have now been put in the greenhouse. They were an outdoor variety called ?Ophelia?, available from Marshalls (www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk). There are still about ten fruits to pick. The variety is very small and quite delicious.

Now we are down to the winter crops and this weekend I really need to deal with my Endive. The roots need lifting in October/November and the leaves cutting about 2cm above the crown. Set five roots in a 20cm pot and pack with soil. Then put them in darkness indoors at 15degrees centigrade. The chicons, as they are called, should be ready in about three weeks. I?ll let you know how the Italian variety (the ones I got at Chelsea) turn out.

October has been rather a frustrating month. I managed to injure my shoulder rather badly and have been unable to do even the most basic of chores, let alone driving or drawing. Even using a computer proved impossible as I haven?t been able to raise my arm high enough to rest on the desk!! Needless to say I am rather behind with my work, but catching up fast now that I have some movement back.

One highlight of the month came courtesy of Nectar Points. I had, quite literally, thousands of them accumulated through my stationery supplier. One morning, back in May an offer came through for a demonstration and tasting day at Jean Christophe-Novelli?s Academy. Now how could I refuse? My day was planned for 16th October and even though I was unable to drive there was no way I was going to miss it. One very expensive taxi ride later I arrived at Crouchmoor Farm in Hertfordshire.

We had a wonderful day watching the master at work ? and he didn?t stop. We only had a couple of five minute breaks in the 6 or so hours we were there. We picked up loads of tips and sampled all the delights. When I get the recipes through I will include some in the newsletter. Having been on a diet for the best part of a year the highlight was eating a home baked loaf, stuffed with Camembert cheese and a magic tomato sauce. As you can imagine, the cheese erupted out of the centre like molten lava and the taste was divine. The day was brilliant and I am sure it speeded up my recovery ? the arm actually began to work later that evening. Perhaps it was the wine we were obliged to sample?

RECIPE
Leek Carbonara
This is a great alternative to pasta and a bit better for the waistline.

6 rashers streaky bacon
3 leeks
150ml double cream
2 tbs Parmesan
large knob of butter

Chop the bacon into thin strips and the leeks into thick slices. Heat a large saucepan and add the bacon. Fry for a few moments until golden and then put them to one side on a plate, pouring away the excess fat.
Add the butter and once melted stir in the leeks and about three tablespoons of water. Cover and allow the leeks to steam for a few minutes until tender.

Pour the cream over, simmering until lightly thickened, then spoon the Parmesan cheese and bacon through the sauce.

This is lovely with some lightly grilled fish, such as Seabass.

SEASONAL TIPS
It is not too late to plant bulbs. I can probably still put in a late order if you want anything, but I do know they are running short of the popular
varieties such as Narcissus ?Thalia?.

November is a good month to get the borders looking good. Many perennials have lovely seed heads and it is entirely up to you whether you keep them until the spring, or cut them back. Most stems can be chopped up and added to the compost heap, but do burn anything that shows any sign of disease. One exception to the rule is Penstemon ? these should only be pruned in spring so that any new tender growth isn?t damaged by winter frosts.

Remove any stakes and supports that are left in the ground and put them away for the winter. If you are in any doubt as to where certain perennials are, or if you have a newly planted border, do mark the cut down stems with small wooden sticks. This will help you identify what is a weed (and what is not) in the spring when the garden bursts into life.

Gather fallen leaves. Rather than bagging them up and taking them to the dump, put them in 100% biodegradable sacks and store. Leaf mulch is really brilliant for the garden. There is a great product for this process, available from Nether Wallop Trading Company ? www.netherwalloptrading.com. They suggest you collect the fallen leaves and pack them into ?love ?em and leave ?em? sacks. Tie at the top and stand in an out of the way corner of the garden.

November through to March is the time for bare root trees and shrubs being readily available from suppliers. If any of you need to infill borders or want new hedging or trees ? let me know and I will see what I can source.

Don?t forget to order seed catalogues. This will give you plenty of time to plan the borders and vegetable patch ready for the spring. A number of you have asked me how I get such a good supply of tomatoes each year and indeed get them ripened. I think it is down to my eager hope that spring is about to happen in late January!! I usually sow my seeds at this time and nurture them in my office until I can put them outside in May. By this time they usually have at least a couple of trusses and are well on their way. I don?t grow them in a greenhouse, but of course you have to be careful to choose outdoor varieties. I never, never grow them three in a grow bag. There just isn?t enough soil to cope. This year I used John?s brilliant wooden planters, but if you don?t want to go to this expense fold the grow bag in two and make into two ?pots?.

Give lawns a final cut to tidy up its appearance ? it also helps to get rid of fallen leaves. Clean away any grass stuck to the bottom of the mower and check whether the blades are blunt. If they are use a sharpening stone to put on a good edge.

Improve your soil by digging in organic matter such as garden compost or mushroom compost.

Put a floating ball or piece of polystyrene in ponds to prevent the water from freezing.

VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
Clear the vegetable patch of old plants, weeds and other rubbish that could be harbouring pests and diseases. Dig over open ground and add
organic matter such as garden compost.

Plant Broad Beans and Garlic if you didn?t get around to it last month.
Force Chicory/Endive (see above).

If you have space in the patch it is a good time to improve the soil. Dig it over now and leave it untended. The frosts over the winter will break
down any lumps of heavy soil and give you a far finer material to work with next year. Alternatively you can grow green manures, such as Caliente mustard or Phacelia. These manures suppress the weeds
and protects the soil from erosion and adds structure

Prune Apple trees. Begin by removing any dead, diseased or crossing branches. Shorten the central shoots by a quarter and then cut sideshoots back to three buds to encourage them to change into fruiting
spurs.

Prune Blackcurrant. Most fruit forms on stems produced the previous season so it is best to encourage new growth by removing about a quarter of the older stems. These are usually grey or black in colour.
If you have a plant that hasn?t been pruned for a few years, cut out more of the older wood. You can get away with cutting the whole plant back to ground level.

To stop winter moths, place grease bands around the trunk and stake of fruit trees. This prevents the female moths crawling up the tree to lay their eggs.

Spray peaches to protect against peach leaf curl. Cover to prevent any re-infection.

For more information, visit www.rhs.org.uk/advice/calandar.asp.

GREENHOUSE
Reduce watering now as the plants are moving into a dormant period.

Fungal diseases are one of the main reasons that plants can die in the greenhouse during winter. To help stop any spread, check over plants and remove any dead leaves or flowers. Remember to sweep up the
floor to clean up anything that may have fallen off the plants.

Clean up the greenhouse by washing with hot soapy water or garden disinfectant. Clean pots to avoid spread of diseases.

POINTS OF INTEREST
?We will if you will?
A Government-backed initiative to encourage healthier lifestyles.
The first is to encourage people to eat more home-grown, seasonal and UK produced food.
Visit www.rhs.org.uk/growyourown/news.asp for more information.

BIRDS AND BEES
A new RHS book is available and aimed at children.
RHS Wildlife Garden by Martyn Cox explains how to create suitable habitats for all kinds of wildlife.
Published by Dorling Kindersley ISNB 9781405334358
RHS Mail Order 0845 260 4505

PLACES TO VISIT
Gardens free to RHS Members
RHS Wisley; Blenheim Palace Park and Gardens; Nymans; Waddesdon Manor; Waterperry Gardens; West Dean Gardens.
For a full list visit www.rhs.org.uk.

FIVE BEE FRIENDLY GARDENS
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond
The National Wildflower Centre, Liverpool
Garden Organic Ryton, Warwickshire
RHS Wisley, Woking
Highgrove, Gloucestershire

EVENTS

RHS Wisley
Flower Arranging ? colourful Christmas
11th November ? 10.15 ? 12.15pm
Lunch at 12.30 followed by a guided walk at 1.00pm
Members

EX Lord Williams’s student, Pascal Ansell, now studying at Leeds university, spent the summer travelling around Europe. Nothing unusual there you might think. But then Pascal is not your average student travel writer. Here’s an excerpt from his highly entertaining and informative recollection of that adventure, recently published on his blog:

FOUR weeks seeing family and friends in Europe from the winner of Lord Williams’s School’s ‘Most Opinionated Old Man’ Award 2008.

A few days before I left a friend asked me where I was going from, so he was told. “But Pasc, you do realise it’s not called St. Pancreas?”

The Eurostar was cheap and comfortable and I had lots of train-travel advice from this website:

A ROMANTIC novellist from Thame is just about to have her 12th book published, and its guaranteed to “float the boat” of anyone who likes a good, romantic romp.

This will be the tenth novel, by Kate Lace, who lives in Thame, and its called The Love Boat.

Kate writes funny, contemporary stories for publisher, Little Black Dress, but under her own name, Catherine Jones, writes romantic novels.

A summary of The Love Boat’s plot, on the website, Fantasticfiction.co.uk, says: “Love is in the air…and on the water in this fabulous new romance from Kate Lace. Working as a chef on a luxurious holiday yacht, Poppy’s come a long way from her parents’ pub in Cornwall and enjoys a tranquil existence sailing around the Greek islands. Until the Garvie family show up that is. When their boisterous behaviour forces Poppy to pay a visit to a super-yacht docked nearby; she meets handsome deckhand Charlie and everything gets a lot more exciting. She wouldn’t mind getting cosy in her cabin with him! But why does Jake, the brooding skipper, keep rocking the boat? When it comes to falling in love, Poppy may be in danger of going overboard…

www.katelace.co.uk
The Chalet Girl – September 2007
The Movie Girl – March 2008
The Trophy Girl – November 2008
The Love Boat – October 2009

YOU may have noticed I failed to get the August newsletter out this year prior to going away! My apologies, time just ran away with me. August is one of those months where the garden is almost looking after itself ? all the hard work in spring is coming to fruition, the plants are performing and the vegetables are in abundance. I came home to a jungle as I understand it rained almost solidly. I picked literally hundreds of sweet peas and dined on vegetables for about four days. Luckily the sun actually came out by the weekend and I was able to bring everything back under control.

It would be wonderful if we had an Indian Summer to reap the benefits of all the peppers, chillies, aubergines and tomatoes that are just waiting for some sunshine to ripen. The Italian endive (bought at Chelsea this year) is looking very interesting. We have yet to try it but it definitely looks more like a lettuce than an endive! The black Kale has been decimated by Cabbage Whites ? it is a messy job pinching out the little critters but I shall continue my vigil every evening.

This month I have attached a news bulletin regarding the ever-spreading disease of Box Blight. A large number of you will have box planted in your gardens and I urge you to read this. The resultant problems are making us wonder whether we should withdraw specifying box and find alternatives.
September is the month I order bulbs. Please do contact me if you want anything for the spring. Those of you who ended up with the rogue tulips last year will automatically get replacements free of charge.

If you have been keeping a photographic diary of the garden, look back to the spring shots and identify areas that could do with a bit of colour. Obviously, there are daffodils, snowdrops, crocus and tulips but there are all sorts of other goodies, such as Alliums, Camassia, Anemonies, Chionodoxa, Cyclamen, Fritillaria, Bluebell, Lilies, Nerine to name just a few.

It has been a busy couple of weeks since my return trying to catch up and get as much done as I can before next Monday (24th). I have been called to Jury Service and hopefully it will last no longer than two weeks. It does mean I shall be out of contact as I have to be there daily even if I do not sit on the Jury. I can be available after 4.00pm if anyone needs to arrange a meeting. Please leave messages on the answerphone (01296 747775), or email me ? contact@jfgardendesign.co.uk or text me (07720 287150) and I will endeavour to get back to you.

RECIPE
Runner Bean and Courgette Salad

Runner Beans Yellow/Green courgettes
Olive Oil Lemon juice
Fresh Chilli Fresh Garlic
1 Tsp. French Mustard Salt/pepper
Fresh Thyme
This is a favourite to use up any gluts of beans and courgettes.

First, make the vinaigrette by crushing the garlic and mixing it with the mustard. Use one part of lemon juice to three parts of olive oil and mix into the mustard mix. Add salt and pepper to taste plus a finely chopped chilli and a good pinch of Thyme. The consistency should be creamy. Steam the beans until al dente. Whilst they are still warm pour the vinaigrette over the top and allow to cool. Just before serving peel strips of courgette (with a potato peeler) and toss into the beans. The courgette does not need cooking and will go a bit limp if you add it too long before serving.

SEASONAL TIPS
Keep dead heading perennials as soon as the flowers fade.

A lot of perennials will have finished flowering and can look rather tatty in the borders. Cut them back hard to encourage new foliage.
There is always a lot of clearing and pruning to do at this time of year and if you don?t have one, now would be a good time to invest in a compost bin. Local councils offer very good deals. Remember not to put twiggy off cuts into the bin as they will not compost down.

As the perennials begin to die back it is a good month to decide whether they have outgrown their space. They naturally spread to form clumps which can become congested. Dig up the plant, split it and then re-plant. Depending on the size of the clump it is possible to get many more than two from the one plant.

September can be a windy month and to avoid the risk of damage, use canes to prop up plants such as dahlias and chrysanthemums and cut back quick growing shrubs like Buddleia and climbing roses by about a third.

You can still collect seed from perennials to grow next year. Cover the seed heads with a paper bag and tap out the contents. Store in the fridge.

Aerate lawns, by using a fork to stab and lift the turf slightly. Lawns can become compacted during the summer months and this will help to encourage new growth.

If you have areas of bald grass, lightly fork the ground over and sprinkle on some grass seed. It should grow quite quickly at this time of year.

Repair any frayed edges by cutting out the damaged section and turning it around. Use grass seed to fill any holes.

Use a spring tine rake to remove any dead grass.

VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
Ensure tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers etc., are receiving plenty of water, particularly if you are growing in grow bags. Lack of water will cause the fruits to split.
Frost can easily damage tender crops such as chillies, peppers and aubergines. To prevent this, pick them now and ripen them off indoors if need be. Harvest potatoes to avoid the slugs enjoying them.

Plant autumn onions, garlic, spring cabbage and broad beans.

To encourage Brussel Sprouts to develop, cut off the top of the stem. This encourages the individual sprouts to swell. Eat the top as if it were cabbage.

Support taller vegetables, such as kale to prevent them being knocked down by autumn winds.

Apples and pears are ready to harvest from September. You can tell when they are ready to pick when they easily come off the branch in your hand.

If you have more than you can eat, apples can be stored somewhere cool, dark, frost-free and well ventilated.
Prune all berries on the canes that have fruited this year down to the base and leave all the newer canes to develop and fruit for next year.

Prune out any dead, diseased or sad looking branches on fruit trees. However, don?t prune trees that bear fruit containing stones, such as, plums and cherries as this can cause disease.

For more information, visit www.rhs.org.uk/advice/calandar.asp.

GREENHOUSE

Prepared hyacinths are available now. Plant them in a cool, frost-free place such as a shed or garage. After about eight weeks the flower will begin to start to show colour. Once it reaches this stage, move to a cool light spot. After a further two weeks move it to where you would
like to see it flowering.

Clean up the greenhouse by washing with hot soapy water or garden disinfectant. Clean pots to avoid spread of diseases.

POINTS OF INTEREST
?We will if you will?

A Government-backed initiative to encourage healthier lifestyles. The first is to encourage people to eat more home-grown, seasonal and UK produced food.
Visit www.rhs.org.uk/growyourown/news.asp for more information.

BIRDS AND BEES
A new RHS book is available and aimed at children.
RHS Wildlife Garden by Martyn Cox explains how to create suitable habitats for all kinds of wildlife.Published by Dorling Kindersley ISNB 9781405334358
RHS Mail Order 0845 260 4505

PLACES TO VISIT

Gardens free to RHS Members
RHS Wisley; Blenheim Palace Park and Gardens; Nymans; Waddesdon
Manor; Waterperry Gardens; West Dean Gardens. For a full list visit www.rhs.org.uk.

FIVE BEE FRIENDLY GARDENS
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond
The National Wildflower Centre, Liverpool
Organic Ryton, Warwickshire
Wisley, Woking
Highgrove, Gloucestershire

FUTURE GARDENS

12 gardens opened at Butterfly World, St Albans. They are all the same size and aim to invite debate and stimulate interest. On view until 4th October 2010.
www.futuregardens.org

EVENTS
FRENCH MARKET 4th/5th September
10.00-4.00pm Kingsbury, Aylesbury

WADDESDON
Chilli Festival 5th/6th September 10.00 ? 4.00pm ? Waddesdon Plant Centre
including live music performances

URCHFONT MANOR
Celebrating Art in the Garden – An exhibition of contemporary sculpture
5 ? 20th September, Devises, Wiltshire
01380 840495 www.urchfontmanor.co.uk

WISLEY
The RHS have created an Event Finder online. Visit
www.rhs.org.uk/rhseventfinder for details.

NEWS BULLETIN REGARDING BOX BLIGHT

Recently two clients have reported cases of suspected Box Blight in their gardens (one has
been confirmed by RHS Wisley) and I feel it is important for you all to know the origins of this disease and what is taking place within the industry to curtail its spread. The following information has been collated from research by the RHS, published articles and known suppliers.

Buxus spp is one of the oldest garden ornamental plants, which in the last two decades has been re-discovered and become one of the most fashionable plants in the UK. There are more than 70 species in Europe but the most commonly planted is Buxus sempervirens.

There are two organisms which cause blight, both are fungal and they can occur together. ?Volutella? has been around for many years and results in browning of the leaves and dieback of branches. ?Cylindrocladium buxicola? has only been recognised in the UK since the mid 1990?s and is far more serious. The leaves develop large brown spots which enlarge to affect all of the tissues, patches of greyish fungal growth appear on the underside and asexual spores are released to spread the infection. Black streaks appear on the stems. Germination of the spores occurs as soon as 3 hours after infection and penetration follows 5 hours post-infection. High humidity favours infection. The fungus has been known to survive on decomposing leaf material for 11 months.

There is currently no fungicidal treatment for the disease in gardens, although fungicides containing ?penconozole? does seem to have some effect. Professional nurseries can treat it with fungicides not available to the general public, but once it leaves the nursery, and based on the rapidity of the spread (detailed above), they have no control over their stock. The RHS recommend gardeners/clients should take particular care to buy uninfected plants.

?Hold any commercially sourced plants in isolation for at least three weeks to confirm they are free of infection before planting out. Commercial nurseries may use fungicides which suppress but do not kill the fungus and this isolation technique will allow time for any suppressed disease to become visible? www.rhs.org.uk

Obviously, when laying out plants prior to planting it is automatic to look for any infected plants and reject any that show signs of disease. In my experience it is very rare for suppliers to send anything that is not checked by the nursery prior to delivery.

All infections should be pruned out and all the fallen leaves destroyed. The fungus may produce resting spores and survive in fallen leaves. These spores can easily be spread in soil, for example on muddy boots. They could also be spread by water splash over short distances and it is therefore recommended not to water with a rose or sprinkler. Hygiene measures are the most important method of control for this disease.

Prune all infected material promptly and collect debris from around the base of the plants and burn. Disinfect any shears/secateurs by using household bleach or methylated spritits.

Not all brown or dead patches are caused by Box Blight, it could be caused by dog or Tom cat urine as they ?territory mark? the same spot repeatedly.

It is important to remember this is an endemic disease and rather like ?Swine Flu? can spread rapidly. There is very little anyone can do to remedy it, particularly when our weather conditions (persistent rain followed by sunshine) create the humid environment the fungal disease enjoys.

If you do detect the virus deal with it as described above. My suppliers are prepared to look at each case individually. However, based on the virulent spread of the disease, replacement will not be automatically offered. Plants from my suppliers are sold at preferential prices and they do not have the safety net of retail suppliers who enforce mark ups of as much as 200% higher than wholesalers. Plants that leave the nursery are thought to be healthy and disease free and as spores are airborne the source is impossible to detect.

Photo: Courtesy of Royal Horticultural Society

MARATHON RUNNERS get a lot of publicity in the local media, as do those who cycle from John O’Groats to Lands Ends for instance for charity, and deservedly so. But for club cyclists, one of the classic challenges is to follow in the tyre treads of their Tour de France heroes and take on the mountains of the high Alps.

Especially tough is La Marmotte
which takes in three of the most gruelling mountain ascents and is a real challenge, even for the hardiest of cyclists. But when you are about to turn 60 years-old its an unusual target to set yourself and one that beats most ‘extreme sports’ (which generally only require either nerves of steal or suicidal tendencies) for shear physical and mental stamina.

A Thame member of Wycombe Cycle Club, John Francis, recently completed the Marmotte 2009, and won himself a Silver Award, completing the course in 10hrs and 31 minutes. Here is John’s story of that epic, achievement.

A TWENTY minute ride from our gite to the start. As I get nearer Bourg D’Oisans, every possible parking space is occupied by cyclists assembling bikes and preparing themselves for the ride ahead. I tag on to the back of a group making their way in my direction. There is a quiet tension, an expectation in the air.

On arriving in Bourg we are directed down a side road and from there through several filters to sort the riders into three groups according to start numbers. Luckily I have an early start number and soon I am joining a group about 20 yards from the front. There is a buzz of conversation from the crowd, supporters taking pictures from balconies and advantage points. I take my place bizarrely next to a rider I was chatting to on the Dragon Ride a couple of weeks earlier, we exchange a few words. Thirty minutes to the off. Because of the buildings and the mountains around us it?s still quite chilly so I am glad of my race cape.

With fifteen minutes to go the rider in front of me decides to take his front mech. apart, embarrassingly he appears to be English, I look towards a tall, tanned and athletic looking Italian. He raises his eyes to the heavens, I shrug.

With surprisingly little ceremony we shuffle forward and we are away, past the town band whose instruments hang redundant at their sides whilst the PA system blasts out ?Eye of the Tiger?.

One of my concerns was that with 7,000 riders, I would be jostled along at a faster pace than I was comfortable with, but as I tuck in behind a rather well built German the faster riders stream past down the centre of the road.

My big fear is not completing the ride, but with no broom wagon there is no need to run the risk of blowing up by starting too quickly, so I am happy to spin along in the slow lane.

We arrive at Rochataillee and swing right to start the climb to the Col du Glandon at 1924 meters. At 23 Km this is officially the longest climb of the day. We snake our way around the Barrage du Verney and into the woods to start the climb proper. As I warm up I decide to stop to take my race cape off and take advantage of the stop to eat an energy bar. Through the village of le Rivier and we get our first sight of sunshine, as the road levels out here it?s a chance to eat more and grab a drink. A short downhill and then the climb steepens as we make our way up to the Barrage de Grand Maison. There is little conversation now, the riders concentrating on the task in hand, just rasping breath. The gradient levels off as we pass the lake then we are out of the woods and into the open. The road divides then it?s a short climb up to the Col.

After refilling the water bottles it?s the descent to St Etienne de-Guines. I have been warned to take the first few hairpins carefully, which is no problem for me. As I get my confidence I raise the speed but I am amazed by the descending skills of some riders as they fly past me.

We pick our way through several villages and the road flattens out as we arrive in St Etienne. There are a few locals about now to cheer us on our way. It feels good to stretch my back and spin my legs out after the long descent. Eventually we join the main road and there are plenty of strings of riders to join as we ride the long drag through the industrial setting to the base of the climb to Col du Telegraphe.

A water stop at St Michel de-Maurienne and a chance for some food and water before taking on the climb of 12km to the Col at 1566m. It?s a constant gradient and the shade is welcome as the temperature is steadily rising. Occasionally you get a glimpse into the valley below which gives you a bit of a lift when you see the height you have climbed. Without warning the summit appears. Another water stop and then it?s the short descent to Valloire.

As we climb away from Valloire I spot a rider who?s lost his saddle, his bottom dangling dangerously over his unprotected seat post. Although it?s only a few minutes since the last water stop, when the feed station comes into sight I can?t resist the chance of more food before we take on Galibier. After all the sweet stuff I go for the cheese sandwhich, gulp it down and it?s ?Encore? and then off. The road is long, fairly straight with a steepish gradient, until we reach Plan de-Lachat. I know what?s coming so I pause where the road takes a sharp right and kicks up towards the Galibier at 2642m. More food, gels etc and I strain up the 8-9% gradient. Ahead there is a long ribbon of riders. There?s a distant rumble of thunder and a few large raindrops fall, but luckily it comes to nothing, the sky is largely overcast which shelters us from the worst of the heat.

It?s a long hard relentless drag, although I have had a compact fitted since I last did the climb it?s still not enough, and I grind up the mountain at a cadence that seems to be in single figures. I pass a few riders slumped over their bars, some furiously rubbing their cramped up legs. After what seems like an eternity I arrive at the caf