Get back to nature at family event in the beautiful Oxenhill woods this Sunday (9 June)
A FAMILY NATURE EVENT is being held in Oxenhill Woods between 2pm and 4.30pm on Sunday 9 June. The 61 acres of woodland and meadow is set between Otford and Kemsing and can be enjoyed by walkers, dogs with their owners and of course wildlife. The event has been organised by Otford and Kemsing Parish Councils. Kent Wildlife Trust will be there to help with bug hunts, leaf and bark rubbing, nature craft, drawing and painting and wildlife face painting. There will be opportunities to learn more about trees, the names of loads of wildflowers and wild orchids. The entrance is from the bottom of Tudor Drive, Otford (TQ 536589) and cars can park on site, if the ground is dry. Admission is free, but there will be an opportunity for donations as well. Do go along and, hopefully, enjoy the sunshine and maybe take a picnic. There are some rustic seats on some of the paths.
SEVENOAKS FLOWER CLUB will be meeting at 1.45pm on Tuesday 11 June in Otford Memorial Hall when Patricia Ellis will talk about ‘Tin and Things’. Patricia is a past club chairman and an active exhibitor at competitions and is co-ordinator of flowers for Southwark Cathedral. Visitors are very welcome at £5, annual membership £37.
QUIZ NIGHT FOR POD: Many Otford residents will remember the enjoyable Otford Patient Group Quiz held last December in the Church Hall and there will be another chance to exercise your brain cells on Friday 14 June in St Edith’s Hall, Kemsing, 7.30pm start. This event is to raise funds for a second Surgery Pod in addition to the one about to be installed at Otford Surgery. The ‘Pod’ enables patients to check blood pressure, weight and other vital statistics immediately before their Doctor or Nurse appointment. If you would like to raise a team (up to 10 people) or just come as an individual please contact Ken Cardinal 01959 522513 or email kencardinal2@gmail.com.
ST BARTHOLEMEW’S CHURCH FAIR takes place on the village green from 2pm on Saturday 15, although the food area will open earlier at approximately 1.30pm. Stalls will include books, plants, cakes, crafts, white elephant, prize draw, gifts, bottles, toys, soft drinks, strawberries and cream, and ices. Other attractions include children’s games and a bouncy caste. There will be a children’s art competition with the theme of ‘A Celebration of Flight’ with two categories 7-11 and under 7 with prizes. All village children are welcome to submit an entry. For more information contact Christeen Malan 01959 522654.
ART IN JUNE: Angela Bishop and daughter, Suzie Galloway, as part of Art in June, are exhibiting their sculptures, paintings, and glasswork in the garden and studios at 5, Broughton Road, Otford, 01959 523203 from 8-23 June between 11am and 5pm or by appointment. Other Otford artists participating are Ann Bridges at 58 High Street, 07906 310021, and Julian Cheswick, Hope Artists, 3 Spring Head Road, Kemsing T15 6QL. For more details of opening times etc go to the Art in June Open Studios website by CLICKING HERE
Angela Bishop is also exhibiting with The East Surrey Sculpture Society at Ightham Mote from 2-30 June.
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, Sevenoaks Branch, meets on the borders of Otford and Kemsing at 8pm on the third Tuesday of each month. If you are interested in joining them contact John, 01959 524906, for more information.
GIRL GUIDING: Any girls or volunteers interested in joining Girlguiding Otford there is a website to register your interest, log onto www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested or call 0800 1 69 59 01. They especially need female adult volunteers, over 18, who would be interested in helping at their Guide unit meetings.
OTFORD LIBRARY: National Book Week (3 to 9 June) still has a couple more days to run and Otford Library is reminding residents that it now has a Home Library Service, available to anyone who is no longer able to get to the Library covering Farningham, Eynsford, Shoreham, Otford and Knatts Valley. Call 01959 522488 for more information.
The Otford village news is compiled by Kay Drake. If you have any news or events you would like her to consider for the My Sevenoaks Community village column you can email her at: drake_kay@hotmail.com
