Riverhead gets £12,000 grant to help give parkland a facelift

WORK IN THE PARKLAND. Riverhead Parish Council has been awarded a grant of £12,000 from Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust to pay for improvements to the Riverhead Parkland. Work has already started with a digger to clear the brambles from along the banks of the stream and residents are asked to keep children and dogs away from this area. In September new metal parkland type fencing and stock proof netting will be installed to replace the old paling fence along Amherst Hill. Thanks go to Vice-Chairman of the Parish Council Clive Himsworth for obtaining the grant.

ANN BARRETT. Former Chairman of Riverhead Parish Council Ann Barrett died peacefully on 22 July. Ann first joined the Parish Council in 1971 and did a huge amount for the village, especially around the time of the Centenary of the Council in 1994. Since her retirement from the Council she kept up the village scrap books until very recently. Ann’s funeral will be held on Thursday 30 August 30 at 12.30pm at St Mary’s Church, Riverhead. Our thoughts are with her family.

GENTLE WALKING. Everyone is invited to the launch of the new free, weekly ‘Every Step Counts’ Riverhead gentle wellbeing walking group on Tuesday 4 September. Meet at 10am outside Tesco Riverhead, next to the Costa Coffee window. If you wish to know more email Irene Collins at everystepcounts17@gmail.com

RIVERHEAD PARISH COUNCIL. There is no meeting in August and so the next meeting will be on 17 September. If you have any queries before then, you can contact the Parish Clerk on 01732 461278 or email clerk@riverheadparishcouncil.co.uk. The Parish Clerk has an office (open Mondays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 12.30pm) at the Village Hall and phone messages and emails are picked up regularly at other times. The Village Hall and the Committee Room are available for hire. There is more information on the website at www.riverheadpc.kentparishes.gov.uk.

WILDLIFE FUN. On Fridays throughout the school holidays there are family events at the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve (off Bradbourne Vale Road, TN13 3DH) – usually two sessions starting at 11am and 1.30pm. These include Discover the Gruffalo on 10 August and Discover Birds on 17 August.

On 24 August children can experience Leaf Art and Forest Skills and on 31 August it will be Pond Dipping. These events are always very popular, so booking is essential at www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

Click on ‘Things to do’ and use the filters to find events at the Sevenoaks Reserve and the Jeffery Harrison Visitor Centre. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve with its walks around the lakes is open free every day from dawn until dusk. (NB no dogs allowed because of the wildlife). The Visitor Centre with its café, small shop and interesting local natural history displays is open seven days a week from 10 am to 5pm (café until 4.30pm) during the summer months.

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve is also the venue for a Family Open Air Theatre performance of ‘Pirate Pearl and the Big Blue Monster’ on Sunday 26 August, starting at pm. Book for this fantastic outdoor family show on-line at littlebluemonster.co.uk where you can also find more information.

KNIT A POPPY. As part of the nationwide commemorations to mark the 100^th anniversary of the end of world war one, Riverhead Parish Council is planning a display of knitted poppies in the area under The Heights to remember all who lost their lives in the terrible conflict. Anyone who enjoys knitting is invited to contribute to this historic event by knitting poppies. A simple knitting pattern is provided – all you have to do is find some red double-knitting wool and click your needles! For further information and a pattern email Shirley Stewart at shirleyannstewart@aol.com or call her on 01732 455230.