March 2005 - Contents The Resurrection Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches Holy Week Services Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Celebration of the Last Supper Good Friday Easter Day Services at St. Wystan's, Repton Services at St Saviour's, Foremark Services at St Mary's, Newton Solney Readers and Intercessors at St. Wystan's Altar Flowers at St. Wystan's Brasses at St. Wystan's Altar Flowers at St Saviour's United Reformed Church Services at the United Reformed Church The Women's World Day of Prayer, Friday 4th March at 7.15 pm Mothering Sunday Family Service, Sunday 6th March at 11.00 am Easter Day Services, Sunday 27th March at 11.00 am and 6.30 pm Coffee Morning, Saturday 12th March, 10.30 - 11.30 am Shell Group (age 7+) Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Niamh Flanagan Funerals and Burial of Ashes Mike Jones Michael Peter Roscoe St Wystan's News Repton Annual Parochial Church Meeting Open the Book William Saunders and John Cawdron Mothers' Union St Mary's News Newton Solney Annual Parochial Church Meeting Mothering Sunday Decorating for Easter The Singing Vicar Repton School Concerts Society, The Ambache Chamber Ensemble, Tuesday 1st March Repton School Concerts Society, Onyx Brass, Tuesday 15th March Live and Local: Bones Apart: 12th March at 8.00 pm SDC: Sausage, Mash & Bingo, Thursday 17th March at 7.30 pm Magic and Music, Saturday 16th April at 7.30 pm Thankyou Thankyou from India ... and from Newton Solney Repton Village and History Repton Evergreens Repton & District Care Group invites your help! Village Events and Celebrations Repton Village History Group Malvern Show, 14th May Repton Village Society Repton W.I. Pruning and Felling Trees Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton Village Hall Bingo Milton W.I. Gardening Notes

The Resurrection

With Easter being so early this year, March is the month of the Resurrection. So what? Writing this letter is a challenge. If it is too religious, I am accused of preaching; if it is about social issues, it will be too 'political'. So let's go for both.

Jesus' rising from death is the founding event of the Christian faith. It features in all Paul's addresses in the Acts of the Apostles. From time to time, people throughout the ages have experienced the presence of the Risen Christ, and many others have and do experience the effects of his risen life and the life of the Spirit. But we cannot prove it, and the event itself defies description. Only by first accepting it as a working hypothesis can we discover whether it is true. It is also the case that some people have gone so far as to travel to Palestine to disprove it - only to be convinced of its truth.

One of my favourite resurrection stories is the experience of Anthony Bloom, the late (but only recently late) Orthodox Archbishop in London. At the start of the 19th century, his family had fled from Russia to Paris. As a young man he was rather rebellious but he attended a youth club, and one day the leader invited members to attend a talk by a priest. He didn't want to go but the leader was clever. He suggested that he could sit at the back of the room and pay little attention, but at least the club would not be disgraced by a lack of attendance. He did so and was very unimpressed by what was said. He returned home and asked his mother for a gospel, selecting the shortest story of Jesus' life so as not to waste time. He wanted to see whether what the priest had said about Jesus was true. He said: "While I was reading the beginning of Mark's gospel, before I finished the third chapter, I suddenly became aware that on the other side of my desk there was a presence. And the certainty that it was Christ standing there was so strong that it has never left me. This was the real turning point. Because Christ was alive and I had been in his presence, I could say with certainty that what the gospel said about the crucifixion of the prophet of Galilee was true, and the Centurion was right when he said: 'Truly he is the Son of God.' History I had to believe, the Resurrection I knew for a fact."

Easter celebrates the great hope that Jesus' risen life brings. We need this hope, and we need to bring it to those many desperately painful situations of which we are aware both locally and globally. Humanly speaking we can do little, but our faith is that the Risen Christ goes with us, and indeed is within us, so that when we visit the sick and the bereaved we are his presence for them.

Globally we think our tiny contribution will make little difference, but it is when all those tiny contributions are put together that a difference is made. To give but two examples: We may not be actively involved in Making Poverty History, but those who are need our support. (See the World Development Movement website at www.wdm.org.uk). We may not be able to protest to the Chinese embassy about the torture that is currently practised in Tibetan prisons on religious and political leaders, but we can support those who do, through the Free Tibet campaign. (See www.freetibet.org.)

May this festival be a time of great joy, hope and blessing for all our readers.

Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

Holy Week Services

Holy Week is the most important week in the Christian calendar. In it we celebrate the founding events of the Christian faith. In all four Gospel accounts this one week of Jesus' life takes up roughly a third of the story. Celebrating these events is much more than just another occasion to go to church. As, each year, we enter more deeply into them, we are in some small way transformed by them. We become more like Christ as we follow the path that he chose, out of love for us, to bring us into the light and love of the Father's presence. There are three essential elements of his celebration, and so I would encourage you, if you possibly can, to come to each. They are: the celebration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday evening; the Devotional Three Hour service on Good Friday; and the Easter Day celebration of the Risen Christ.

Palm Sunday

The 10.00 am Parish Communion service will include a Palm Procession and dramatised reading of the Passion taken from Matthew. There is usually no address. This is a dramatic start to a special week. There are no spectators to the Passion as 'the crowd' all had and have something to say.

Maundy Thursday Celebration of the Last Supper

At this special service of Holy Communion, we celebrate three important aspects of our faith. On the occasion of the Last Supper (a) Jesus spoke of the New Commandment that he was giving to his friends: Love one another as I have loved you. So we read and sing about that New Commandment. (b) Jesus washed the disciples' feet as an acted parable of the kind of servant love that he was recommending for the life of his followers. So we re-enact the washing of feet. (Those who would like to volunteer to have a foot washed please speak to Peter on 703317). (c) Jesus instituted the Holy Communion by taking bread and wine and identifying them with his body to be broken on the cross and his blood to be shed, and by requesting that that be 'remembered' whenever the bread and wine are shared. So we receive Holy Communion but do so in a less formal way.

The final piece of drama re-enacts the walk Jesus made from the upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane. We will walk from the altar around the pews to a garden at the north aisle altar, where the service will finish with the singing of a chant. After this, worshippers are invited to remain in silent prayer for as long as they wish, while the servers and ministers remove the altar dressings and moveable furnishings in silence. Silent Prayer will be maintained at the garden until midnight, and people may come and go in silence as they wish.

Good Friday

The Three Hour Devotion is a traditional event on Good Friday. The elements of the first two hours are preaching, singing, praying and silent reflection. In many churches the third hour has focused on a service of veneration of the cross. A central element of this is the reading of the Passion from John's gospel. The veneration itself has changed in form over the years. Sometimes it has been accompanied by a choir and procession, at other times it has been more simple. We will try the latter form this year as it seems to me more in keeping with the previous two hours. The veneration will take the form of prayer around the cross and will use some easy to sing Taizé chants. This can be a simple but very moving form of prayer.

Easter Day

Jesus rose in the early hours of the morning. So, like the women who went to the tomb early to anoint Jesus' body, we go early to church on this joyous occasion, to welcome the Risen Christ at dawn. For many centuries this celebration has started with lighting the Easter Fire (at 5.00 am), from which is ceremonially lit the Easter Candle. (English weather may not permit us to have the fire outside so we usually have a very small fire in the church porch!) The Easter Candle represents Jesus' risen life, and from it we each light our own candles as we progress into the body of the church. The celebration is short but does include the renewal of baptismal promises. It is sometimes followed by a breakfast.

The 8.00 am celebration will be a traditional service of Holy Communion.

At 10.00 am, at appropriate places in the service, we will light our individual candles from the Easter Candle and renew our baptismal vows as well as receive Holy Communion.

St. Wystan's, Repton

St Saviour's, Foremark

St Mary's, Newton Solney

Readers and Intercessors at St. Wystan's

Altar Flowers

Brasses

Altar Flowers and Cleaning Rota at St Saviour's

The United Reformed Church

The Women's World Day of Prayer, Friday 4th March at 7.15 pm

Ladies from the Church in Poland have written this year's service, 'Let Our Light Shine'. 85% of the churches there are Roman Catholic, but there are Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist and Polish Orthodox churches in large numbers. Christians in Poland preserved their traditions when under Communist rule. Poland is the homeland of Pope John Paul II and played a crucial role in the overthrow of Soviet power. Moving from a centralised economy to a free market has been difficult, but the church continues to have a massive influence.

The speaker this year will be June Scott. Everyone is invited to share in this service.

Mothering Sunday Family Service, Sunday 6th March at 11.00 am

Everyone is welcome to give thanks for all that mothers mean. All the ladies will receive a gift from the children.

Easter Day Services, Sunday 27th March at 11.00 am and 6.30 pm

Share in the celebration of the most momentous day in the Christian calendar. The morning service will include Family Communion, led by Gerald Gibbs. The evening service of Easter praise will be led by the Minister.

Coffee Morning, Saturday 12th March, 10.30 - 11.30 am

The usual opportunity to have coffee with friends and to treat yourself to homemade cakes and marmalade. The Webb Ivory stall made a profit of £200 last year, which has gone into church funds. Many thanks to everyone who supports us by buying cards and stationery from us.

Shell Group (age 7+)

... meets at 6.30 pm on Mondays 7th, 14th and 21st March. New members are always welcome. The Coffee Evening organised by the members of the Shell Group in aid of the Tsunami Appeal raised £165. Many thanks to everyone who came along to support the young people, their parents who helped, and especially to the young people themselves for all their hard work and enthusiasm.

Baptisms

Niamh Flanagan, daughter of Clive and Kris Flanagan of 50 Newton Road, Winshill, was baptised at Newton Solney church on Sunday 6th February.

Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Mike Jones of 8 Main Street, Newton Solney, died on 26th January aged 64. His funeral was at Newton Solney church on 9th February followed by the committal at Bretby Crematorium.

Michael Peter Roscoe of 2 Japonica Cottages, Condover, formerly of Newton Solney, died on 17th January aged 69. Following a funeral at Shrewsbury, his ashes were brought to Newton Solney and were interred on 5th February with those of his wife, Myra.

St Wystan's News

Repton Annual Parochial Church Meeting

At the meeting on 15th February, over 70 members of St Wystan's congregation elected Karen Parks and Martin Wimbush as churchwardens for a further year, and Ruth Attwood, Richard Finch, Chris Lloyd and Jan Roberts to serve on the Deanery Synod for the next three years. Jan Gillham, Steve Longden, Ray Thompson and Ted Weston were elected to the Parochial Church Council in place of Ruth Attwood, Glenda Brewin, Jane Griffiths, and Graham Scott, who retired at the end of their three year term. Details of the new PCC are on the notice board at the back of the church. Copies of the accounts and other papers from the meeting are also available at the back of the church for anyone who was unable to attend.

In his address, the vicar thanked everyone for welcoming him and his family, and for their help and support in all the activities of the parish. He particularly thanked the churchwardens, and paid tribute to John Cawdron and William Saunders, who were standing down as deanery synod representatives, for their work and service to the parish over very many years. Looking to the future, he highlighted three areas where he hoped for a building-up of parish life. Firstly the diocesan Mission and Ministry development, which places Repton in a larger group of parishes, presents challenges, but also brings opportunities. We need to pray that people may be called to train and serve in ministry roles. While maintaining the range of traditional worship, we also need to find a place for new forms of worship and a role for children. The proposed building development will provide necessary facilities and meeting-space, while enhancing the church's primary function as a place of worship.

Open the Book

If you have or know children at Repton Primary School, you may have heard them singing the catchy little song, 'Open the Book ... and see'. Have they told you more about it?

On Wednesday mornings, a small team from St Wystan's Church has been going into assemblies to present a Bible story with the help of simple props, costumes and mime, puppets or pictures. A number of people are involved in producing these, with the help of guidelines from elsewhere in Derbyshire and Bedfordshire, where the project began. We hope to help children to enjoy Bible stories and realise that they are still relevant today. Sometimes they are actively involved by joining in an action song or sharing in the story-telling.

The stories are based on 'The Lion Storyteller Bible', retold by Bob Hartman. If you would like to re-read these stories with your children, you can buy a copy from 'Link Up' bookshop, opposite the Queen's Hotel, just over the bridge in Burton, or ask me to get you one. If you have any other questions, or if you would like to be involved, for example in the production of props, please do contact us. Ruth Attwood, 702804

William Saunders and John Cawdron

2005 sees the retirement from Repton PCC of two distinguished figures who have given many years of outstanding service. They are John Cawdron and William Saunders, who, when Churchwardens together in 1982, were instrumental in the appointment of Julian Barker as Vicar of St Wystan's.

As well as being Churchwarden and a member of the PCC for well over twenty years, William has been a member and lay chairman of Repton Deanery Synod, a member of Derby Diocesan Synod, where he was Chairman of the House of Laity, and a member of several Diocesan and Deanery committees.

John has been Churchwarden, a longstanding member of the PCC and various sub-committees, secretary of the PCC for several years, and a member of the Diocesan and Deanery Synods.

They have been patient and forthright in representing the views of Repton parish on a number of important occasions over the years, as they are both conscious of the historic importance of the parish and its traditions. They have both worked hard and given a great deal of time during busy professional lives to the affairs of the parish. William has great acumen and is a master of detail and procedure, and the PCC has benefited greatly from his advice. John has an ability to produce a "bon mot" at will at meetings to defuse disagreements, and together, in many ways, they have made an invaluable contribution.

They have, for many years, been regular worshippers at St Wystan's, and have taken a full part in services and social occasions. They both hold traditional views on church worship, they are, and always have been, kind, thoughtful and friendly, and the parish owes them a great debt. The PCC will miss their wise counsel.

Mothers' Union

It was a pleasure to have two visitors at our meeting on 16th February to hear the vicar, the Rev'd Peter Paine, speak about the Corrymeela community. Also a small habitat, Corrymeela is situated on the tip of the north coast of Ireland, close to Ballycastle. The community has been there for about 40 years, and its whole aim is to promote and witness to peacemaking and healing divisions in families, communities and religious bodies worldwide. It is here that people from opposing backgrounds meet, discuss and learn about each other, to form an understanding in order to abolish mistrust and violence. Peter completed his talk with a number of slides.

We were very pleased to admit two new members to the branch, Heather Rothera and Hazel Cook, and we hope that they will find much happiness and fulfilment within the Mothers' Union.

Possible dates for an outing were discussed. Also, it was decided to abolish the separate collections for tea and raffles at the monthly meetings; instead, each member present will pay £1 to help with expenses.

At the meeting on 16th March, one of our members, Pam Clifford, will speak on Adult Literacy Work. Hostesses: Margaret Shepherd and Jeanette Griffiths.

St Mary's News

Newton Solney Annual Parochial Church Meeting

The Annual Meeting will be held in St Mary's Church on Tuesday 19th April at 7.30 pm. This is the meeting where Church Officers report on the past year, and elections are held for Churchwardens and the Parochial Church Council. Light refreshments will be available at the end of the meeting for those present, and parishioners are warmly invited to attend.

Nomination slips for candidates for the elections can be found at the back of the church during the weeks before the meeting. If possible, they should be returned to the Secretary by Sunday 10th April. Meanwhile, if you wish to be entered on the Electoral Roll, please request an application form from one of the Churchwardens and return it before the end of March.

St Mary's Church: Mothering Sunday

Posies for distribution at the All-age Service on Mothering Sunday will be prepared in church on the previous morning, Saturday 5th March, at 10.30 am; help would be appreciated. Families will be especially welcome at the 10.00 am service on the Sunday morning.

St Mary's Church: Decorating for Easter

On Easter Eve the wooden cross, which during Lent is 'dressed' with symbols of the Passion, will be decorated to celebrate the Resurrection. On the same day, Saturday 26th March, from 9.30 am, the church will be decorated throughout for Easter. Contributions of flowers and foliage would be very welcome, as also help with the actual decoration.

The Singing Vicar

Those of you who enjoyed hearing Tony's tenor voice at the concert in Newton Solnet last May may be interested to hear that he has produced, at his own expense, a CD featuring opera and well-known tenor songs from the shows. The price is £5.00 per copy, and all proceeds are for charity. If you would like to purchase a disc, please contact Dennis Ward, 21 Blacksmith's Lane, tel. 701244.

Thankyou

Thankyou from India

Carol and Clare Paine wish to thank all those who purchased items from their table-top stall before Christmas at Newton Solney. £30 was sent recently to a small charity operated by a nurse / missionary friend in the Norwich diocese. The charity gives educational help and other kinds of care to 'street children' and children suffering from serious disability in two centres in Southern India, Madurai and Trivandrum. We have received a 'thankyou' letter which says:

"We would like to allocate the £30 to the working children's centre, which offers youngsters from the age of eight who are in bonded labour a place to wash, rest and be loved."

In India, this small amount would have a purchasing power roughly equivalent to £300 in this country.

... and from Newton Solney

Grateful thanks to all who supported the sale in February, especially those who donated towards the Church Stall and the refreshments, and also those who worked so hard behind the scenes. A total of £180 was raised for Church Funds.

Repton Village & History

Repton Evergreens

At our November meeting, we enjoyed a musical treat by Mr. Ernie Musk accompanied by Margaret. In December, we visited Foremarke School for a nativity play, 'The Little Star', a musical concert and tea, which were all appreciated by everyone. We also enjoyed our Christmas Lunch at Brook Farm Tea Rooms.

Our next meeting is on Thursday 24th March at 2.30 pm in Repton Village Hall.

Repton & District Care Group invites your help!

We are a charitable organisation raising funds to buy medical equipment and nursing aids for the relief of sick people in and around Repton. We are looking for volunteers to join our committee and help to organise events. This involves four or five meetings a year and helping with the fundraising events. If you think you may be able to help, please contact Mrs J. Best, 01283 701845, or ask at the Willington surgery.

Village Events and Celebrations

Nelson and Trafalgar - 200 years; Bishops of Repton - 1350 years.

2005 marks the 200th anniversary of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar, which saved Briton from invasion and foreign domination. It is being celebrated nationally, but what will we do in Repton?

2006 is the 1350th anniversary of the consecration of the first Bishop of Mercia, Diuma, who had his seat in Repton. This is a unique event for Repton. Clergy from all over the country will be coming to St Wystan's Church to celebrate this historic occasion, but what will we, the proud inheritors of this history, do?

The Jubilee committee is holding its AGM in the Den at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 8th March, and we will be considering whether there are ways in which we can celebrate these historic events of our forefathers.

We need to start planning for these now if they are to be enjoyed by our village and remembered by our children. Please come along or contact John Perks on 702392 if you or your organisation have ideas or would like to help.

Repton Village History Group

At our well-attended February meeting, we displayed a large amount of material, which included documentary archives, old trade directories on microfiche, details of very old school log books, results of research into specific subjects and a display of recently acquired photographs. These included the opening of the new village hall in 1970 and the summer fêtes of 1968 and 1970. All of these combined to make a very interesting and informative meeting. Details of our website were also shown on a laptop computer.

We are very grateful to the visitors who brought along personal photographs for us to see and copy. These included a class at the village school dating from around 1910 and another of school children with WW II gas masks. Others showed the school VE Day party of 1945 and a children's fancy dress party at the vicarage, dated around 1949. All of these will be used in future displays.

Our next meetings, all at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall, are:

Tuesday 1st March, a talk by Alan Hiley: "How to start researching your Family Tree - basic steps".

Tuesday 19th April, a talk by the Rev'd Dr Stephen Orchard: "Why William Astbury came to Repton". This should be an interesting follow-up to the book published by the group a few years ago called "William Astbury's Repton Diary - Summer 1843", which told us so much about village life in the mid 1800's.

Please note that from the April meeting we will normally meet on the third Tuesday of each month. More information about us is available at www.reptonvillage.org.uk

Malvern Show, 14th May

The Repton Show Committee is organising an outing to the Malvern Show on Saturday 14th May. The coach will depart from Repton at 8.00 am and leave the show at 5.00 pm.

This is one of the first national gardening shows of the season and is set in a lovely location near the Malvern Hills. The RHS Floral Marquee houses thousands of beautiful flowers and plants with many for sale. There are many different trade and craft stands together with the necessary food outlets! The cost will be £16.50, to include entrance to the show. This is a popular trip and early booking is advised. Contact Margaret Rainey on 703748.

Repton Village Society

The next meeting will be on the 3rd March at 7.30 pm in Repton Village Hall. We will first have our AGM, followed by John Jamieson talking on 'The Role of the Police Helicopter'. He is involved in running the helicopter so we should get first hand account on how it is used!

John Jamieson was unable to talk to us in February due to illness, and we would like to thank Alan Gifford from Willington for stepping into the breach at short notice with his interesting and informative talk on the 'Heage Windmill' and its restoration to a working mill.

On 7th April, Rod Pearson will talk on 'The Bass Railway Trips'. (Rod was our excellent guide to Port Sunlight.) The trips were major events in Burton's calendar and involved a great deal of planning so that everyone had a 'grand day out'.

For those who have not yet renewed their membership, due in January, we have maintained the subscriptions at £3.00 for single membership and £6.00 for families.

Repton W.I.

At the February meeting members listened to Steven Paul, a globe-trotting hairdresser now back in Breaston. He talked about changing fashions in cutting and colouring and finished with tips on choosing products to care for the hair. Our speaker was extremely nervous about facing a W.I. audience (I wonder why!) but managed to cope with support from his wife.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 8th March at 7.15 pm in the Village Hall: Simon Richardson: 'Legal Any Questions'. Members are welcome to bring husbands, partners or friends.

Pruning and Felling Trees

Before you can prune or fell trees in the conservation area, you must seek the permission of South Derbyshire District Council. The consequences of doing any work without permission could be a £2,000 fine. If you are not sure whether your property is in the conservation area, contact the Parish Council or South Derbyshire District Council.

Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Village Hall Bingo

With regret it has been decided to cease the Bingo sessions formerly held on the second Tuesday in each month. The Milton Village Hall Committee would like to thank all those who have supported this event in the past.

Milton W.I.

Milton W.I. has a programme of outings planned in addition to our monthly speakers. Already this year, parties have visited 'The Brewhouse' to see 'Dollies to Follies', Littleover Lodge for an evening meal, and the DFWI Spring Council meeting at the Pavilion, Buxton.

The speaker in March will be Sue Boyce, who will talk about her experiences as a professional funeral director.

A date for the future is 22nd April at 7.30 pm in Milton Village Hall, when SOS Fashions will hold a fashion show. Entrance will be £3, by ticket only, available from members. Clothes may be purchased on the night.

Gardening Notes

March sees the start of the busy season in the garden. The roses need to be pruned, the lawn mown, cuttings taken from delphiniums, lupins and the basal shoots of other perennials, and a start made on sowing vegetables out of doors. Broad beans, early peas, parsnips, carrots, beetroot and lettuce can be started in the greenhouse, or sown directly outside when conditions are favourable. Start tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, peppers and melons under glass at 21° C. Plant onion sets; put dahlia tubers in trays of compost and start them into growth to produce shoots for cuttings; plant early potatoes and put maincrop potatoes in trays for chitting. After flowering, congested clumps of snowdrops can be split up and replanted 'in the green'.

March is a good month to start new rhubarb crowns. Rhubarb will grow in most soils except very wet ones. Choose a sunny spot and dig thoroughly, incorporating plenty of well-rotted manure. Rhubarb needs dividing every five years if it is to go on producing good stems.

Check for green- and whitefly on indoor and greenhouse plants. Sow seeds of bedding annuals in the greenhouse or propagator. At this time of year, petunia, lobelia, begonia, African marigold, nicotiana and many similar will need extra heat to germinate.

Some plants produce little or no viable seed and others produce excessive quantities; most weeds fall into this latter category, some germinating rapidly and some lying dormant for years, like the rose bay willow herb that germinated freely on London's bomb sites. Some of our native orchids have the smallest seeds; one flower spike alone is said to contain 6,200. I can't think who counts them, but they calculate that if all the seeds germinated, they would cover the earth's surface in three generations. The seeds of some plants include a chemical inhibitor which will prevent germination until conditions are suitable; many seeds will not germinate in autumn. Some seeds have hard coats that must be breached before germination is possible. To overcome this dormancy, impermeable coatings can be scarified. Large seeds can be nicked with a knife, smaller hard seeds shaken in a jar partly filled with sharp grit. Other hard seeds may need soaking in warm water for short or longer spells; sweet pea seeds often respond to an overnight soak. Some hard seeds will only germinate after exposure to fire. This happens in South Africa, where bush fires are common and do not burn deeply. Other seeds need a period of chilling followed by warming; this is often recommended for primulas and, of course, alpines.

As a general rule, seeds will germinate at a temperature 5° C higher than the minimum temperature required for the plant in growth. For most tender plants, this means a soil temperature of 18 - 21° C. At this time of year, a propagator is useful, particularly an electric propagator with a thermostat, so that the temperature can be maintained day and night. Small propagators cannot manage in cold weather in a cold greenhouse; they need a heated greenhouse or to come indoors. Lily seeds are best placed in a moist compost in a plastic bag in the airing cupboard. To make it easier to sow, and to lessen later thinning out, seed is sometimes available in pellets or paste or gel, or on tapes. With all these, it is important to ensure that the seed itself gets enough water for germination. Sowing compost is also very important. When I first started gardening, we used sterilised loam to sow seeds. Then peat-based composts came along and did better on the whole. Now we try to eliminate peat from the compost, with varying degrees of success. Special seed compost is best for small seeds, but most will do well enough in multi-purpose composts, though these do vary a lot. Always read the instructions on the seed packet!