Category: Missed a ThameNews story?

SURVIVING the Rush Hour madness of the M40, not to mention the driving rain, fog and the usual lane-hogging morons that seem to occupy motorways up and down the land, I arrived at The Thatch after eventually locating mother: Queen of the missed-calls.
We were welcomed by Jonathon Taylor, the manager, and offered an Aperitif at the bar whilst we looked at the menus and took in the atmosphere. If you remember the Thatch in its pre- Raymond Blanc days, then the changes to the building will come as a pleasant surprise: They certainly did for me. The building has been sympathetically restored whilst maintaining the charm and features that make such a beautiful building: The roaring open fires, impossibly low ceilings and floors that make you feel drunk are still there in abundance but the whole place feels fresher and more looked after.

I enjoyed my local bitter served in perfect condition, and mum?s Gin and Tonic looked well made with the correct amount of ice and some fresh lime: Just as it should be. As we glanced over the concise, seasonal and well thought out menus, a waiter stumbled over (mind those floors) with a black board displaying the specials, that was almost as big as he was. He proceeded to read said specials word for word in what was probably the heaviest French accent I have ever heard: An informative and amusing experience that set the ball rolling for the rest of the evening.
Specials on a Monday worry me: They scream over ordering and a quiet weekend almost as much as specials on a Tuesday, but never the less there were some interesting options so we dived in.

We were sat, thankfully, in the old section of the restaurant that still oozes the same charm and character that the Old Trout did. I love the mismatch of chairs and tables, and they?ve plonked a pot of cutlery and napkins on the tables which is ? in my opinion ? a great way to break down the formality of a classically set table top, although may not go down so well with the traditionalists among you.

After being enthusiastically guided to a couple of good glasses of wine by our new French friend, our starters arrived right on time. Mum?s tomato soup was lovely: Fresh, thick and screaming homemade. My Pork and Basil terrine with Spiced Apple Relish was also well executed and served with just the right amount of fresh toast. The Frenchman was there to ensure that everything was to our liking (which it was) almost too often, but we couldn?t help being charmed his zealous approach: I just wish I could remember where our conversation had got to every time I had to kick-start it again.

Main courses of Tuna Nicoise and Rump of Lamb arrived looking great. Much fuss had been made over the cooking temperature of mum?s Tuna so it was disappointing to see it arrive cooked through where rare was suggested, and accepted. My lamb was lovely: Placed atop a satisfyingly creamy heap of well made mash and served with a jus Nicoise that was based on some really good homemade stock. Slightly underwhelming sides of Roasted Root Vegetables and Mixed Greens were offered to make a couple of our five-a-day. Why do restaurants never pay enough attention to their side orders? (Interjection from mum: the crispy green leaves were perfect from my point of view, but then what do I know? He’s the expert!)

Much talking, and increasingly frequent Gallic interruptions later we were contemplating dessert. We were both glad that we went for it! Mum had a trifle of the specials board and I tried out the pastry chef with a classic Sticky Toffee pudding. Both were great, and accompanied by good coffee and a neat little dish of smarties.

We left full, and feeling well looked after. It?s nice to see that food ? save the aforementioned glitches – is still taken seriously here, and still served with a friendly personal approach. Well priced, and offering good value; The Thatch is a welcome oasis in the culinary dessert of Thame town centre. Whilst a drive out of town cannot truly be justified, I?d be over the moon if I had this place on my doorstep.

FROM his early life in Thame, Long Crendon and Towersey, to the achievement of his goal to become a man of the church, Clive Shrimpton’s adult life became one of dedication and service.
A facinating biography of Clive, who was born in Thame in 1914, has recently been published by his daughter, Gillian Mary Webb. The book includes Clive’s early years at the old Thame National School (now John Hampden Primary School), Lord Williams’s Grammar school and early memories of walking off across Cuttlebrook to visit his grandmothers in Towersey and Long Crendon.

An idylic childhood of cycle rides to Oxford and the around the Chilterns, travelling alone from Thame railway station, aged 9, in the care of the guard to stay with relatives in London, singing in the church choir and playing the organ, led to a growing sense of vocation, more-or-less cemented by the age of 15.

Whilst working in a Thame solicitor’s office, Clive was recommended to the Bishop of Oxford by the then, vicar of Thame, and managed to fight for grants to enable him to study theology in London. Ministries in Hastings, Battle, Brighton and finally Ruddington in Nottinghamshire followed.

Along the line Clive spent six months in a sanatorium with TB, married and brought up a family and administered to his flock – including two exorcisms.

As Gillian writes in the book, “during his life as a minister, Clive touched many people’s hearts. So many friends and parishioners said how glad, how happy and how lucky they were to have known him.”

The book is available to buy in Thame Museum and the Bookhouse, price

ACCORDING to ex Thame, now London-based food and wine fanatic, Eddie Francis, its essential! Here’s Eddie’s take on where and how to make the most of your eating experience in London, in the first of a series of regular features.

IF one is to believe the press, the end of the world is just around the corner. A financial meltdown is pending and there?s nothing any of us can do to stop it from crashing down all around us: causing untold chaos and destruction throughout the land. Providing you have not fallen victim of your own success – or the success of the institutions whose coffers you have been callously filling in the hope of a fat bonus in time for that last minute blow out skiing trip to the slopes ? the chances are that a little belt tightening, a pinch of restraint and a large dollop of patience will see you through. Staying positive ? I have concluded ? is the key to survival.

Wrapping yourself up at home; turning off the heating and switching off the lights; shivering over stale bread and water will not do you ? or anyone else – any favours. Life is still for living, Army?s are made for fighting, and these are fighting times. If you believe Napoleon when he said ?An Army marches on its stomach? then what you eat has never mattered more.

For one reason or another, you will probably find yourself making the journey up to London once in a while, and whilst there you will no doubt spend some of your hard earned cash on something to eat. As a resident of this fine city, and avid ‘foodie’, my column ? that will be appearing sporadically on this fine local site ? will give you the heads up and the low down, on the best places to eat, drink and be merry in ‘the smoke’ (and occasionally other outposts of culinary greatness!)

From a recession proof

As I write this, it is the first Monday since the clocks went back which means we will all be travelling home in the dark! Not my favourite time
of year.
Despite the reduced hours of sunshine there is still quite a lot to do in the garden, not least clearing up leaves. I know I say this every year, but don?t take them to the tip. Once you have raked them up, put them into black plastic bags, compact well and tie up the tops of the bags. Pierce a few holes and store in a cool place. They will rot down and you will have wonderful leaf mould by this time next year.

I am still struggling to tidy up the garden but it seems every weekend when I have spare time the weather decides I?d be better off in front of a
roaring fire with a good book. The vegetable patch is the worst area, but even though it is a frightful mess, I am still picking crops. The last of the
aubergines and courgettes were put to good use at the weekend. There are still a few runner beans and tomatoes trying to survive, but they are past their best.
Hopefully I shall find some time to dig it over soon and incorporate the lovely mix of compost I have produced this year. Then, it will be time to plan for next year ? starting with a row of broad beans.

Jim and I are still working on the new company name. It has caused all sorts of emotions from frustration to hilarity. We think we have found something perfect only to find someone else has obviously thought the
same and we had no idea so many Latin names can be likened to anything from an alcopop to plain pornography!!

It is now narrowed down to two names and we still need to do a bit of delving. Hopefully, we shall make a decision very soon and all will be revealed. The greatest problem has been to find something that relates to the poppy. PAPAVER is the Latin name for a poppy but it doesn?t exactly roll off the tongue.

Business is still brisk with some interesting projects underway and I have recently been taken on as a freelance designer with a very prestigious
tree nursery. This is great because it means we can larger projects and I have the pick of wonderful trees at my fingertips. Thus far it is working really well. I am also hoping to run some courses,
locally, next year on how to design your own garden, including planting advice. More information next month on venues etc.

Remember to look at The Garden Boutique Website ?
www.gardenboutique.co.uk. Quote the promotional code JF268 and you will be entitled to a discount.

RECIPE
Haddock and Chorizo Risotto
1pt Fish Stock Onion
Garlic 125g Arborio Rice
slug of Vermouth 125g Haddock, skinned

IT seems summer has finally arrived and it is the end of September!!
Better late than never as they say. At least the last two weekends have been dry and it has been possible to get out into the garden to begin tidying up. Jim and Rosie were home for the weekend and we actually
managed to eat outside. A rare treat?
Don?t be fooled by this sudden clement weather. October can produce the first frosts and towards the end of the month it is wise to protect any tender plants either by lifting and storing or covering in horticultural fleece. It is also the month for bulb planting. Mine are on order for any of you who asked for them. Delivery will hopefully be mid to end of the
month.
It is also the month for harvesting fruit and jam making. My raspberries are still producing a plentiful crop but they never get further than a bowlin the kitchen ? it seems sacrilegious to boil them up.
I have been collecting seeds from my perennials. What I really need is space for a huge polytunnel and then I could produce all my own stock. One of my dreams for the future perhaps?
A good clean up of flower borders can be done now, but most can be left until spring. It is good to leave it so that birds and other wildlife can find
shelter and sustenance over the winter. However, if you have persistent weeds, like bindweed, try and tackle them now. Remember to burn them rather than put them on the compost heap.
I shall be tidying up the vegetable plot this weekend. I still have plenty growing and some good specimens waiting to be picked. My order for next year went in earlier this week and as usual there are plenty of grand ideas. Let?s just pray the weather gives more incentive next year? I still recommend Marshalls ? www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk and
www.seedsofitaly.com as great suppliers of unusual varieties.
The summer has been spent doing a lot of thinking about where I am and where I want to be? It has thrown up all sorts of ideas not least to introduce a new company name. Jim and I shall be working on this
together ? his first challenge will be to get around the Latin names of plants and come up with some very clever connection. Watch this space.

Remember to look at The Garden Boutique Website ?
www.gardenboutique.co.uk. Quote the promotional code JF268 and you will be entitled to a discount.

RECIPE
Elderflower Jelly
We had this at a restaurant recently and it was completely yummy. Here is my version.

4 Gelatine leaves
500ml of Elderflower Cordial
75g Castor sugar
125g of mixed berries
Immerse the gelatine leaves, one at a time, into a shallow bowl of cold water and leave for a minute or two until soft. I used concentrated Elderflower cordial and diluted it until I was happy with the taste. Bring 100ml of the elderflower cordial to the boil and add the sugar. Stir until dissolved. Drain and squeeze the gelatine leaves, then add the hot
elderflower cordial. Stir until melted. Remove from the head and add the rest of the elderflower. Put the pan of jelly somewhere to cool, but do not let is set.
Divide half the berries among four individual moulds. Pour in HALF of the cooled jelly.
Chill for an hour or so to set, then top up with the rest of the berries and unset jelly. This ensures the berries stay suspended and don?t float to the top. Return to the fridge to set.
I used a combination of blueberries, raspberries and red currants.
To serve. Dip into boiling water for a couple of seconds to help release the jelly. Turn on plates and serve. They look really professional and go really well with a simple Lemon Possett or just cream.

SEASONAL TIPS
This is a good month to divide perennials, although keep an eye on the weather ? we might just have a warm Indian summer, which means continued watering.
Give the lawn an autumn feed. Ideally, it is best to aerate before doing this. Use a feed which is high in phosphate and low in nitrogen. This will strengthen the roots to withstand frosts and wet. This is a good
month to lay new turf. Regularly, rake fallen leaves.
With the damp summer we have had I have noticed a few plants are suffering from powdery mildew. It is best to cut off all the affected foliage and dispose of it.
Continue to plant bulbs. Do remember to plant them twice the depth of the bulb, otherwise they may come up ?blind?, i.e. with no blooms.
Lift and store dahlias to protect them through the winter. When the first frost has blackened the leaves, cut the stems right back and lift the tubers. Dry them off and then store in a peat-free compost.
Take cuttings of fuchsias and perlargoniums and store in a cold frame and out of direct sunlight.

VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
Lift maincrop potatoes for storage by the end of October.
Carrots, Swedes, turnips and parsnips can be left in the ground. The colder weather really improves the flavour of parsnips.
Pick maturing fruit and vegetables frequently.
Apply grease or grease bands to apple trees to trap crawling insects.
Use cloches to cover any salad crops sown in late July and August. This will help to prolong the harvesting.
In late October sow broad beans and extra-hardy pea varieties.
Order new soft fruit and top fruit as soon as possible. I recommend www.agroforestry.co.uk. They have a really good range of all fruits and
are very reasonably priced. Most of the stock is sent out either root-balled or bare rooted starting in November.
Put apples and pears into store. Pick the fruit during a cool part of the day and don?t store any that is damaged. Wrap each fruit individually to
avoid any disease spreading.
Lift and divide old rhubarb crowns.
Outdoor figs. Remove green unripe fruits as they are unlikely to be of any use. However, be careful not to touch the embryo fruits ? about the size of a pea as these will produce next year?s crop.
For more detailed information on what to do in the garden in July, visit: www.rhs.org.uk/advice/calandar.asp.

GREENHOUSE
Depending on the weather, the shading can be removed progressively.
Check the condition of greenhouse heaters and service them in plenty of time before the weather changes. Pay particular attention to thermostats.
Check gutters and downpipes and unblock if necessary.
Conservatory/greenhouse plants benefit from being moved outside during the summer, but if tender bring them in at night.

POINTS OF INTEREST

FEED THE BIRDS
October is the perfect time to start feeding the birds for the winter. The RSPB have a ?Feed the Birds Day? on 18th October. www.rspb.org.uk (01767 680551).

BEWARE
It has been reported that a lot of farmyard manure has been contaminated by an agricultural weedkiller called aminopyralid. It has been temporarily suspended while investigations take place, but stocks
of the manure are still likely to be for sale.

BBOWT
I have a great friend, Maggie Piggott, who works at the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust as the Community Wildlife Officer for Bucks. She is
an expert on wildlife gardening. BBOWT has a Wildlife Information Service which takes over 700 calls per year. The service is open on a Monday ? 01865 788307. There are over 38 fact sheets available. For a
list please visit ? www.bbowt.org.uk. Maggie will send me an article each month which I am happy to forward on to anyone.

This month she is covering ?How to make a wildflower meadow?

PLACES TO VISIT
Petersham Nurseries
Richmond, Surrey.

The nursery has launched its own Home Grown Range of unusual vegetable plants. An interesting place to visit in any event.
Lunch is very good, although I feel at rather inflated prices.
It is essential to book.
www.petershamnurseries.com. 020 8940 5230

Painswick Rococo Garden, Cotswolds 20th October ? 2nd
November – Learn the art of pressing apples, tips on growing your own and unusual varieties of historic fruit and vegetables.
www.rococogarden.co.uk 01452 813204

Sulgrave Manor, Oxon, 11 th ? 12th October, 10.30 to 5.00pm.
See over 350 varieties of apple.
www.sulgravemanor.org.uk 01295 760205

EVENTS
BEST OF BRITISH FORTNIGHT
To celebrate the best of British. Events throughout the country 20th September to 6th October
www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk

A TASTE OF AUTUMN, RHS Wisley, 17th-20th October
www.rhs.org.uk/gardenevents

GRAND DESIGNS LIVE
10-12th October NEC ? Birmingham
Tel: 0871 2305586

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

A THAME poet and philosopher?s latest book has earned the praise of a BBC TV presenter and the Mayor of London.
Pam Rhodes, long standing presenter of the BBC?s Songs of Praise, says of Eric Gladwin?s book: ?Eric Gladwin is a wordsmith weaving together experience, empathy and vision in verse which becomes more than mere poetry. The book is wonderful. The work in it takes my breath away. Well done!?

Eric?s collection of poems has been released recently by Trafford Publishing and entitled ?The Beauty of the Feminine, Love and Family.?

Thame?s MP until recently, Boris Johnson, now the Mayor of London, has read Eric?s work and said: ?This book of poems touches in a thought provoking way on a variety of subjects and its main themes make it an interesting and enjoyable read.?

The book does indeed touch on many aspects of love and family life, imbuing that journey we all take through life, with both a spiritual and a humanistic glow that only the poet can do for the rest of us humanity, by looking at things through a metaphorical pair of upside down binoculars.

Eric?s observations and questions transport the reader from the poet?s acute appreciation of a woman?s naked body, ?stripped of the camouflage of fashion?s art, Free? Knowing.. Of the deepest of all things feminine? – through flirting and courting, to special moments of love when observing a child playing, or the burning feelings of loss when they leave home for the first time:

?They mourn.
As their forefathers mourned
As those now grown will mourn in turn
And those that follow them..
Perhaps this price should not be grudged
For this loss in the flesh
Is the Young?s fulfilment
And a joyousness?.?

There are too some less optimistic moments caught, as in ?The Child and the Chick?:

?Golden chick, in small boy?s hand
A light upon his face
Mark well the look that will be gone
For, as a man, that is his fate.?

Yes, such subjects as these in our more sceptical times are in danger of being called ?corny? but Eric?s treatment of these things that touch us all despite our armour, draws us in to his view of love and nature and what he calls ?the healing of the sun?. And we cannot help but be touched at some level that may surprise us.

?GRUMPY YOUNG MAN? – The incoherent mutterings of a humanitarian misanthrope, by Vaughan Humphries. “People look at me, with my eclectic tastes, and eccentricity, and think, “There goes a weird bastard”. Admittedly I dress like a country squire and have the oddest accent you will ever encounter. I would describe myself more as a ?bohemian gentleman???
Also sprachen Vaughan Humphries ? aka the Irascible Kiwi ? whose valiant attempts to live up to the iconic status of New Zealand?s Grumpy Young Man are continuously subverted by a fatal and irredeemably cheerful optimism.

From grumpy to cheerful and back again. If only life was that simple … but things are not quite as they seem …

It was not until he finished his undergraduate studies that he had an epiphany, when he started to make sense of a lot of things in his life that had never quite added up.

Fast forward ten years, and we see the beginnings of a grumpy man beginning to come out of his shell, and start learning how to be human, or at least act like one. Vaughan was raised for a society that no longer exists. He is a man out of time with his generation, putting the world to right with peers that are old enough to be his parents and grandparents.

From his childhood in the suburbs of NaeNae in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, through to his arrival in England at the age of 22, his curious life and times at the Birdcage tavern in Thame, and his travels to all points of the globe, it can truly be said that Vaughan has often been to paradise but never quite been to me ? though he?s been making a damn good effort trying.

And now, before you open this book, a few words of caution …

The first rule of Grumpy Young Man is that it never quite sticks to the point ? it?s funny, irreverent, discursive, usually politically incorrect and definitely written from a male point of view.

The second rule of Grumpy Young Man is that it never even begins to stick to the point, so if you?re looking for a pointy sticky rulebook, don?t even think of reading any further.

To place orders for the book, contact:

AuthorHouse
500 Avebury Boulevard
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 2BE

Tel: 0800 1974 150
Fax: 0800 1974 151
URL: www.authorhouse.co.uk

ISBN: 9781434387684

AUTHOR and thinker, Professor Richard Dawkins was recently interviewed by Nicholas Newman of oxfordprospects.co.uk, at Dawkins’ Oxford home.

RICHARD Dawkins is the well known advocate of atheism and rationalism and for his criticism of religion. He holds the Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University. I interviewed Richard Dawkins at his Oxford home recently.

Nicholas Newman

As a life long atheist, I find myself almost entirely in agreement with the views expressed in your writings, but nevertheless, it is still possible to see the utility of certain physiological aspects in some religious beliefs or customs. I?m thinking of: Comfort to a soldier about to die, or succour for a mother on the death of her child or belief in the after life of a husband who is mourning the death of his wife? Such comfort or succour would be called upon particularly in cases where no human aid would be available?

Richard Dawkins

Yes, I do see psychological value, if it does have a real value, and I would not wish to be the person who destroys that person?s psychological succour. But I would not, however, compromise with my public speaking out in the public forum and writing, but if I was visiting someone who was recently bereaved, I might dissemble somewhat in what I said, but would not do so in when writing a newspaper article. It is also I think disputable whether it is that comforting, given that people are brought up to fear hell for example. They might actually be comforted by the lack of religion, depending on their upbringing. Although many of us fear death, I think there is something illogical about it. As Mark Twain once said ?I was dead before I was born without the slightest inconvenience.?

Nicholas Newman

Cannot religion, however misguided, also provide a useful social mechanism, irrespective of people?s beliefs by reinforcing social discipline by using the power of religious sin to gain reinforce adherence to man made laws? E.g. Thou shall not kill? Of course such beliefs have, throughout history, been used by rulers to enforce their particular forms of governance, or lack of governance. The best example of this aspect has, perhaps been emperors, kings, and popes claiming they have been appointed by a god?

Follow the LINK
to read the rest of Nicholas’s facinating and revealing interview.

CHELSEA is over for another year and with a week of glorious weather it gave hope for things to come? What a hideous bank holiday weekend we have had. All plans for a relaxing and peaceful couple of days in the garden thwarted by incessant rain. The show was fabulous though and I loved the tranquillity offered by designers such as Tom Stuart-Smith, Cleve West and Andy Sturgeon. I have always admired their work, but this year I thought they surpassed themselves.

Personally, I love tackling shaded gardens and the flowers that thrive seem to give an ethereal feel, bobbing so proudly amongst the sea of green. What I wouldn?t give for just one of those beautiful Carpinus cloud trees, although I am not sure my bank manager would endorse such a frivolity! We are all wondering where Tom found them ? probably some far-flung corner of the globe? Rumour has it that he sources his trees first and then designs his gardens around his find. What a luxury.
I rarely get to Chelsea but the TV coverage is probably more satisfactory anyhow. The crowds are such that you can only really go in one direction whilst desperately trying to glimpse gardens through a sea of heads, usually about 12 deep. I find the whole experience rather frustrating. Next year I think I might try one of the horrendously expensive pre-show dinners or try and get a ticket for Press Day on the Monday. Now that is bliss. You can wander around, talking to designers and friends and actually see and feel everything.

I really do love this time of year in the garden with all the perennials coming in to their own. The new area I created seems to be doing well and I can?t wait for all the new stock to come through. I can see it here from my office and hope it doesn?t distract me from my work too much in the coming months. My excuse is that the beauty of it will inspire my designs?

Business continues to be brisk, to say the least. It gets increasingly difficult to fit everything in to a normal working week. At least we are at a point in the year where it is impossible to build a garden for this summer and this does begin to release the pressure. I still find it hard to say ?no?, but I am getting better!

This year I hope to take the best part of July off to re-charge the batteries and spend some quality time at home, see my family and take a break away. I seem to have been neglecting all of these for too long and feel it is time to re-address the balance.

Remember to look at The Garden Boutique Website ? www.gardenboutique.co.uk. Quote the promotional code JF268 and you will be entitled to a discount.

RECIPE
BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH OLIVE OIL, LEMON AND PARMESAN
Bunch of Asparagus Parmesan cheese
Olive Oil Lemon Juice

This is such a simple recipe and I often put Parma Ham over the top of it for extra flavour. Break the asparagus stems. Take the tip in one finger and the stem in the other and bend. The asparagus will break naturally and what you are left with is the edible bit without any stringy bits. Throw into a tray and liberally cover with olive oil making sure it is covered well. Sprinkle on some freshly ground pepper.
Pop in the oven to bake, turning occasionally. It takes about 10minutes. When the tips feel soft add the parmesan shavings and return to the oven for a few moments. This would be when I add the Parma Ham.
Take out of the oven and squeeze over a little lemon juice and add a little more parmesan. Serve with crusty bread.

SEASONAL TIPS
With all this rain we have had the lawns are growing well. Mow regularly but don?t set the blades too low as this could create bare patches which
in turn can lead to moss invasion later.

I know it sounds daft, but if you do have a new lawn, don?t rely on the rain, it will still need to be soaked thoroughly whilst it is getting established. The same goes for any new plants ? the odd sprinkle with a watering can is simply not enough. However, avoid over-watering Mediterranean style plants such as Lavander and Rosemary.

Deadhead early flowering perennials to encourage a second flush of flowers. Now that the primulas have finished flowering, dig them Up and divide for next year. Remember these are great indicators of lack of water in the garden. If the leaves are looking limp and sad it means your garden needs watering.

Lift tulip and narcissus (daffodil) bulbs and store in a cool place ready for re-planting in the autumn. I tend not to do this and leave them to multiply in situ.
Continue to stake taller perennials. Deadhead spring flowering shrubs such as Azaleas and feed with sulphate of ammonia to encourage new growth and flower buds for next year.

Roses, of all types will probably need spraying against aphids. Remove dead flowers and feed towards the end of the month.

VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
Despite the rain make sure any newly transplanted seedlings are watered in well and kept watered whilst they are establishing themselves.

Start a new compost heap. There are plenty of grass cuttings available at this time of year and for me, loads of bits from the kitchen and garden. Compost tends to break down in the heat of summer more quickly.

Thin vegetables sown in April and May and earth up potatoes.

As usual there are just too many vegetables to cover in this issue. In my own garden the tomatoes are enormous and are actually fruiting. I nurtured them from seedlings in my office and then potted them on and left them in an unheated greenhouse from about the beginning of May.

The aubergines, squash and pumpkin are desperate to be potted on. These are in the greenhouse, but as I am growing an Aubergine capable of growing outside these will be put outside early this month.

The leeks, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbages, fennel and endive are all ready to be transplanted into the vegetable patch.

Growing outside and coming on apace, I have Broad Beans, French Beans, Jerusalem Artichoke, Horseradish, Greek Cress, Salad crops, Spinach, Carrotts, Onions and Garlic. Hopefully, I can sow much more this weekend. The Goji berries and raspberries (my only fruit) are doing well although there is no sign of fruit of the Goji berries as yet.

If any of you love growing your own vegetables and enjoy cooking them I can highly recommend Jamie Oliver?s ?Jamie at Home?. He is the inspiration for growing so many tomatoes this year. ISBN 978-0-718-15243-7.
Net soft fruit against birds.
Don?t forget to water all fruit trees.
Plums should be thinned in two stages. In early June prune lightly and then in late June thin to 5-8cm apart.
Lay straw under strawberries. Cut old canes of raspberries and other cane fruits to ground level once the new suckers have appeared.
Thin gooseberries.
Thin out apples and pears to encourage larger fruits. Spray against scab and mildew at the end of the month.
Pinch out the tips of new fig shoots once they have five leaves.

GREENHOUSE
This is the month for feeding. Nitrogen and potash are the foods most
needed at this time of year. It is a good idea to get into the habit of
feeding once a week.
Sow cucumbers for late summer and autumn fruiting. Pinch out male
flowers on those already established.
Thin out grapes.
Ventilate regularly and apply shading. Damp down and keep the door open on warmer days.
Watch out for pests and diseases.
Conservatory/greenhouse plants benefit from being moved outside
during the summer, but if tender bring them in at night.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Patio Heaters. I know I keep going on about these, but here are some
facts. I shall leave this item in the Newsletter for some months!
* One hour of heating uses the same energy as making 400 cups of tea.
* We could power a small town with the energy needed to power the UK?s one million patio heaters.
* They do not heat your patio, they heat the atmosphere.
* They are hugely unattractive
* By burning wood or charcoal, we are releasing back into the atmosphere carbon which has only just been locked up in that wood.
* The Market Transformation Programme has calculated that a heater used regularly in a pub or restaurant produces 2.2 tonnes of CO2 per annum. The average household only produces 6.

Portable firepits or bowls are fashionable and stylish options. Please take a look at what is available and help redress the balance. I?d be happy to help or even design a permanent sunken firepit as a feature in your gardens.

The Soil Association has launched A Taste of the Good Life. These are classes held on organic farms throughout the UK. Anything from sausage making, yarn spinning to hedge laying. www.soilassociation.org/masterclasses.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint. Schumacher College in Devon is running a practical course (7-11th April) to help you do just this with facts and inspiration from leading experts in sustainability.
Tel: 01803 865 934. www.schumachercollege.org.uk

The Plant Exchange. Buy and sell plants from small local growers or offload anything surplus in your own garden.
www.theplantexchange.co.uk / tel: 01387 370707

Japanese knotweed is a highly invasive plant and if you know of anyone who has it perhaps you could get them to contact www.environet-uk.co.uk . The website shows how to identify it and what action to take.
This stuff can grow three meters in a year, overwhelms other plants, causes extensive damage to property and can lower property value.

BBOWT
I have a great friend, Maggie Piggott, who works at the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust as the Community Wildlife Officer for Bucks. She is an expert on wildlife gardening. BBOWT has a Wildlife Information Service which takes over 700 calls per year. The service is open on a Monday ? 01865 788307. There are over 38 fact sheets available. For a list please visit ? www.bbowt.org.uk. Maggie will send me an article each month which I am happy to forward on to anyone.
This month she is covering ?Batty about Bats?.

PLACES TO VISIT

Schooldays in the Garden
Offer garden events at various venues all through the summer.
www.schooldaysinthegarden.com / Tel: 01962 760346

Leeds Castle
Castle of Roses Flower Festival and Gardening Weekend
18-22nd June Tel: 0870 6008880
www.leeds-castle.com

Open Garden Squares Weekend
See London?s secret green spaces 7-8th June
Tickets from www.opensquares.org

Hampton Court Flower Show
8th ? 13th July
Charity Gala Preview Monday 7th July 6 ? 11pm Tickets from

A THAME volunteer, who has worked tirelessly for the Thame and District Day Centre almost since it opened 22 years-ago, was thanked for her tireless and dedicated service at a special garden lunch party this week.
After presenting flowers on behalf of the members of the Day Centre, the other volunteers and the Trustees, the Chair to the Trustees, Brenda Prosser, told Sheila Schleising that she was “a part of the history” of the Day Centre.

Sheila replied:”You havn’t got rid of me quite. I will be popping in on the odd occassion because I do love a good old chat.”

Sheila will also be giving up the organising of the Thame Community Car in July.

Brenda Prosser said that in losing Sheila, the Day Centre is now even more in need of more volunteers if it is to continue offering support to elderly, frail and socially isolated people.
She explained how they are competing with a number of more visible worthy causes in the town, like Charity shops, for volunteers in a climate where more and more people are working for longer or “going off ski-ing and the like, spending the kids’ inheritance!”
“We suffer,” she said, because we are less visible being attached to the hospital and people thinking that we are part of it.
“If we do not have volunteers to give a listening ear and work with the Members of the Day Centre, the centre cannot continue.”

Gillain Coleman, the centre’s Manager, told ThameNews.Net: “Working at the Thame and District Day Centre, as far as I’m concerned, is the best job in the world. The members are lovely and I get great satisfaction in bringing things like seated exercise, professional entertainment, quizes and even May Pole dancing into their daily lives.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer at the Thame and District Day Centre, for even just one day a week, can contact Gill Coleman at the Day Centre by calling: 01844 212080.