New charges at main Riverhead car park – but restaurant customers can still park for free

PARKING CHARGES: The Miller & Carter restaurant, which owns the main Riverhead car park, has changed its charges. Their own customers continue to park free, provided they enter their vehicle registration on the console within the restaurant. For other users fees now apply Monday to Friday from 6am to 5pm. Charges are 50p for up to one hour, £2 for up to three hours and £10 for up to 24 hours. It is now also possible to play by phone. Some places are reserved for village businesses and these are allocated by ballot.

WILDLIFE RESERVE: The February ‘Walk with a Warden’ at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (off Bradbourne Vale Rd TN13 3DH) on Sunday morning (3 February) offers a chance to see, hear and identify some of the wide variety of birds at this SSSI reserve under the guidance of expert warden Susanna. Book for this at www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events.

HALF TERM ACTIVITIES: Looking ahead to the school half term, the Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (see above) has various activities planned. On Sunday 17 February you and your children can build your own bird box and then go on a bird walk to spot what birds might nest in it? Or on Wednesday, 20 February you could try pond-dipping. Then on Thursday 21 February it is the Wiggly Wild Show again – a chance to get up close to some amazing creepy crawlies with the help of an experienced bug wrangler. For more information about all these activities (and more) and to book go to www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/events. These activities are always very popular, so don’t leave it too late.

A TASTE OF CLASSICS: Several Riverhead residents play in the Sevenoaks Symphony Orchestra which will be giving its annual Taste of Classics concert on Wednesday evening, 6 February at the Stag Theatre Sevenoaks. If you are not sure if you like classical music but would like to give it a go, or would just like to know more about it, this short (one hour) enjoyable concert offers a varied selection of well-known pieces/excerpts by composers including Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Fauré, Schubert and Johann Strauss, played by a full live symphony orchestra on stage, with a short introduction to each item by conductor Darrell Davison. This concert starts at 8.30pm (to give you time to get home from work and have something to eat somewhere beforehand). The ticket price of £11 (£8 for under 16s) includes a glass of wine or soft drink which you can take into the theatre with you. What’s not to like? For more information or to book go to www.sevenoakssymphonyorchestra.org.uk (where there is also a  link to the Stag Theatre Box Office) or direct to www.stagsevenoaks.co.uk. Or just go along on the night.

PARKLAND WORKING PARTY: The next Riverhead Parkland Working Party will be held on Wednesday, 14 February, from 9.30am to 11.30am when the regular volunteer group of Riverhead Parish Councillors and local residents would once again welcome you to join them. The village is very fortunate to have this wonderful parkland area in the centre of our village, but your help is needed to keep it looking good. For anyone who is able to come to the working party, tools and refreshments are provided but do come appropriately clad, including sturdy footwear and gardening gloves. Not arduous, but fresh air and good company. Meet at the entrance to the Parkland off St Mary’s Drive at 9.30am. More information on the Parish Council web-site at www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk or phone 01732 461278.

CHIPSTEAD WI: The next meeting of Chipstead WI, which always welcomes Riverhead residents, will be on Tuesday, 12 February, when Iain Smith will give a talk entitled ‘Valentine’s Day – how Hever castle evokes images of love and romance’. The meeting starts at 8pm and the venue, as always, is Chevening Parish Hall, Homedean Rd, Chipstead (TN13 2RU). For more information about Chipstead WI call Janet Sharp on 01732 452715 or email barjansharp@tiscali.co.uk

The Riverhead village news is compiled by Maggie Miles. If you have any news or events you would like her to consider for the My Sevenoaks Community village column you can email it to her at: maggiejmiles@gmail.com