June 2005 - Contents Turkey and Europe Repton, Foremark and Newton Solney Parish Churches 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 Coffee Morning, Saturday: 11th June 10.30 - 11.30 am Shell Cream Teas: Saturday 18th June, 3.00 - 5.00 pm Summer Barbecue: Saturday 16th July at 5 Monsom Lane Family Church Picnic: Sunday 28th August Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms Adam Sebastian Ryalls Marriages Robin Richard Dobson and Emma Frances Groom Anthony Mallinson and Maeve Hannah Patricia Groom Funerals and Burial of Ashes Gladys Mary Dooley Bernard Collier Gladys Mary Dooley St Wystan's News VE Day Parade and Thanksgiving Service St Wystan's Building Development Farewell, Ros, we shall miss you! Repton Open Gardens, 18th - 19th June Mothers' Union St Mary's News VE Day, 60 Years On St Mary's Church Brain-teaser Quiz Repton School Concerts Society, Tuesday 7th June at 7.45 pm St Wystan's School Under 5's Fun Afternoon, Thursday 16th June Newton Solney Infant School Summer Fair, 18th June Repton Primary School PTA Summer Fayre, Friday 24th June A Cabaret Evening of Music, Song & Dance, 29th / 30th June at 7.30 pm Strawberry Tea, 9th July, 2.30 - 4.30 pm Carl Orff, Carmina Burana, Saturday 9th July at 8 pm Floral Container / Front Garden Competition Thankyou Dorothy Adams Repton and District Care Group Thankyou from Rosalind Hudson Repton Village and History Repton Council Jottings Repton Village Society Repton Village History Group Repton Evergreens Repton W.I. JOGS Funday, Saturday 2nd July JOGS AGM Rainbows are recycling! Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton W.I. Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney Activity Club Gardening Notes

Turkey and Europe

I have just returned from a trip to Turkey led by Abba Seraphim, the Metropolitan bishop of the Coptic Church in Great Britain. I particularly wanted to travel in the footsteps of William Dalrymple, whose book 'From the Holy Mountain' had rekindled my enthusiasm for the eastern Church, and also to see for myself the pros and cons of Turkey's application to the EU with particular regard to its persecuted minorities. With such eminent clerical credentials, we were granted audiences with the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul, who is head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul. Both were in good heart despite threats from Muslim extremists. Both considered that EU membership would greatly benefit the Christian minorities in Turkey, since membership would only be granted if human rights abuses ceased, and historical sites were preserved.

After two days in Istanbul we took an internal flight to Diyarbakir, a city of over a million inhabitants, in the south east of Turkey. This is an area between the great rivers, Euphrates and Tigris, which forms the top of what is known as the fertile crescent, stretching from southern Iraq to Israel and the Jordan valley. It has been the birthplace of civilisations; Abraham drove his sheep on this route. It has also been the site of the earliest Christian communities of the Syrian Orthodox Church and of many Armenian churches.

It was the Armenian Church that suffered so badly when the Ottoman empire broke up before and during the First World War. Hundreds of thousands of Armenian Christians were killed in Turkey, most of them in the eastern areas. Even within the last ten years there has been persecution, and Armenian church buildings have been deliberately neglected or destroyed. It was therefore one of the particular aims of this trip to meet representatives of this persecuted minority, to encourage them, and to ascertain what support we might give.

In Diyarbakir we visited a parish priest of the Syrian Orthodox Church, which still worships in Aramean, the language of Jesus. He had recently been six months in prison awaiting trial, just for mentioning the genocide of 1915, when it is thought that between 700,000 and 800,000 Armenians were killed. Outside Mardin we visited the beautiful monastery of Deir el Zafaran, where after many decades a new bishop presides over a small but growing community. Our longest stay, three nights, was at a monastery of the Syrian Church, Mar Gabriel, where Dalrymple had stayed ten years earlier. Here morning worship starts at 5.30 am. Although we could understand nothing of the Aramean language, there is so much to observe in the action of the liturgy. There was a choir of 22 boys, ranging from about ten to eighteen in age. After morning worship, which lasts about one hour, they catch a bus to the town of Mardin, where they attend the state school. Many will expect to go on to university. They are the future of the Christian Church in this area.

Although in past times the monastery had over 700 monks and now has only two (together with the bishop and about ten nuns), it has undertaken a massive building programme and appeared in excellent repair. This was also true of Deir el Zaffaran. One benefit of so many Syrian Christians fleeing persecution in recent years has been the return of western money to maintain and repair these magnificent monasteries. In one village we met a Syrian Christian who had returned from Sweden to live in his ancestral home. It is the hope and prayer of those living there that more will do the same.

Despite the traumas of recent and past years, these tiny Christian communities were in good heart. They were looking with hope to the future rather than with bitterness for the past. A significant element of that hope is the eventual admittance of Turkey to the European Union.

With best wishes and prayers,

Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

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

Coffee Morning, Saturday: 11th June 10.30 - 11.30 am

The last coffee morning of the season; make sure you are stocked up with homemade marmalade to last you until September! Cakes and goodies galore, the children's game, and the Webb Ivory stall will be there to entice you.

Shell Group (age 7+)

... meets on Mondays from 6.30 pm. New members are always welcome.

Cream Teas: Saturday 18th June, 3.00 - 5.00 pm

On the Saturday afternoon of the Open Gardens weekend in the village, the URC will be serving cream teas in the hall from 3.00 pm.

Summer Barbecue: Saturday 16th July at 5 Monsom Lane

The smell of barbecued chicken and sausages is in the air, children on the Bouncy Castle are even higher in the air - you can't miss it! Tickets are available from church members, or ring 701581.

Family Church Picnic: Sunday 28th August

Following a short family service at the usual time of 11.00 am, we will travel by car to our picnic destination, eat our picnic lunch together, followed by a walk and games.

Baptisms

Adam Sebastian Ryalls of 12 Wystan Court, Repton, was baptised on Sunday 1st May at St Wystan's Church.

Marriages

Robin Richard Dobson and Emma Frances Groom were married at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Saturday 15th April.

Anthony Mallinson and Maeve Hannah Patricia Groom of Shakespeare Close, Repton, were married at Weybridge Register Office on Saturday 21st May, followed by a blessing at St George's Church, Esher.

Funerals and Burial of Ashes

Gladys Mary Dooley of 18 Askew Grove, Repton, died on 14th April. Her funeral at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on 21st April was followed by cremation at Bretby Crematorium.

Bernard Collier

News of Bernard's death on 17th May, after a short illness, was received with great sadness but also with a sense of shock. His weekly presence in St Mary's Churchyard had become so much a part of village routine that it is hard to imagine life without him. A warm smile and ready wit always greeted those who paused to chat, and his particular line in self-deprecating banter gave every conversation a lift. But even those who rarely saw him were aware of the loving care and dedication with which he tended the graves and mowed the grass, latterly with the help of his brother Jim.

Our best memorial to Bernard would surely be to maintain the churchyard in the good order in which he left it. To keep up his standards will not be easy but we hope to try.

Gladys Mary Dooley

The family of Gladys Mary Dooley would like to thank friends and neighbours for their kind messages of sympathy, flowers and donations to her chosen charity, Cancer Research UK, and also for attending her funeral service.

St Wystan's News

VE Day Parade and Thanksgiving Service

Despite the uncertain weather, the Parade and Thanksgiving Service on Sunday 8th May were most successful and provided a splendid tribute to all those who took part in the 1939 - 45 War and in subsequent conflicts.

The Repton Branch of the Royal British Legion would like to thank all those who participated in the occasion, particularly the Scout and Guide movements, Rev'd David Rymer and Rev'd Brian Norris, who took the service, the churchwardens and sidespeople of St Wystan's Church, who organised the service arrangements, and the RBL Club, who generously provided the excellent buffet for everyone taking part in the event.

The collection taken at the service raised a splendid £317.35 for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

St Wystan's Building Development

About forty parishioners attended an open meeting on 3rd May to hear about the revised proposals for alterations to the west end of the church. At a special meeting in March, the Parochial Church Council had voted overwhelmingly to seek a faculty (ecclesiastical planning permission) for this work, subject to receiving comments from the open meeting.

The Vicar spoke briefly about how the building has changed over the centuries, and how we are now seeking a re-ordering to meet the needs of our present day congregation and community.

Fred Hill, who has led the committee to develop the proposals, reminded us that the Parish Focus back in 2001 had highlighted the need for toilets, an improved kitchen and better facilities generally. The committee had been set up to make proposals, and a scheme had been presented last year. This generated various queries and objections that have been addressed by the revised proposals. He also explained that the changes are designed to have minimal impact on the fabric of the building, that high quality finishes and furniture would be used in keeping with the building, and that the overall seating capacity would be maintained at around 400. The plans are on display in church and described on the website at www.reptonchurch.org.uk.

Gerard Smith, of the architects Smith & Roper, went through the proposals in detail, indicating the possibility of undertaking the work in three phases:

1. A ramp covering the floor of the porch; toilets, kitchen and storage in the north-west corner, where the organ previously stood; removal of pews from the west end.
2. A ringing gallery at the west end with a meeting room underneath; repositioning the font.
3. Narthex entrance area.

Following the architect's presentation, there was general enthusiasm for the scheme but several questions were raised on specific aspects. These were considered further at the PCC meeting the next evening and the following points are being pursued with the architects:

• The costs of the different phases of the scheme. The initial estimate for the complete project is £180,000.
• Ensuring that the number and arrangement of toilets comply with disability legislation.
• The level of the proposed ringing gallery floor. This needs to retain the best possible view of the west window, and also to be aligned to enable access from the existing tower stairs.
• The number of pews to be removed from the back of the main block in the nave. The plans show four rows to be removed; there is general support for removing only two, if a satisfactory arrangement can be achieved.
• The ramp in the porch. Should this should cover the whole width or not?
• The position of the font and possible arrangement of overhead lighting.
• The time scale for completing the project.
• Re-arranging the west doors to allow light into the room under the ringing gallery.
• Arrangement of the storage area for chairs etc.
• The possibility of re-using the existing screening around the outer vestry.

These points will be looked at again at the next PCC meeting at the beginning of July. In the meantime the plans remain on display in church. Anyone with questions is invited to talk to Fred Hill or any member of the PCC. Having reached this stage, the PCC is keen to keep the project moving forward, so if you want to know more or have any queries, do ask now.

Farewell, Ros, we shall miss you!

A native of Repton, Ros Hudson has spent many years of her life supporting the organisations which work within the church and the village community, being both generous and unselfish in the sharing of her time, her home and her enthusiasm, not to mention her readiness to use her car as transport for any who needed it.

Her family owned Repton Laundry, which was situated at the end of Tanner's Lane on what is now part of Repton School sports ground.

Educated at Derby High School, she started her teaching career at the Montessori Froebel school followed by time at Overdale School and the Manor Boys School in Mickleover until, with the Second World War impending, she joined the WAAF's, where she spent four years.

It was in 1937 that she met the Rev'd Osric Hudson, a curate at St Wystan's. They married in 1945 and spent the following year in parishes at Manthorpe and Burton Coggles in Lincolnshire.

The untimely death of Osric and the demise of her mother saw Ros return to Repton in 1959, to live in the house at the bottom of the Pastures with two young daughters and to resume her teaching career in Derby. Later she moved to 32 High Street, and then to Askew Grove.

The church has several very special reasons to remember her: the donation of the very lovely limed oak cupboard, which matches the organ and discreetly hides the church electrics; the oak floral pedestal; her support for church fundraising events; her attendances at services; her loyalty to the Mothers' Union, serving as Branch Treasurer for several years.

We wish her every happiness in her new home in Axminster; her departure from Repton will leave an unfillable void.

Repton Open Gardens, 18th - 19th June

This year's Open Gardens will again spread over the weekend, and 16 gardens are opening on the Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6 pm. Programmes (which serve also as entry tickets) will be on sale in the village beforehand, at the Church lychgate, and in the gardens on the day; adults £3.00, children free.

There will be floral decorations in the church and an exhibition organised by Repton Village History Group. Tours of the church will be at times shown in the programme. There will be a number of stalls in gardens and at the Village Hall, among them a tombola, a bookstall and a home produce stall; donations for these will be gratefully received. In addition there will be a Grand Prize Draw with tickets on sale in the village beforehand and over the weekend; the draw itself will take place on Sunday 26th June. Other gardens will also have activities - plant sales, guess the weight, refreshments etc.

Ploughman's Lunch
The Village Hall will have refreshments between 1 and 5.30 pm; an innovation this year will be 'ploughman's lunches' served between 1 and 2 pm. Jan Gillham, 703340, and Glenda Brewin, 702040, would be particularly grateful for offers of help. Jan would like cakes for teas, and Glenda, anything for the produce stall (fruit, veg, home made produce etc). Both would like help on the day. Please do get in touch. The United Reformed Church will be open on Saturday 18th, serving cream teas.

The Scarecrow Competition is also taking place with judging on Saturday 18th. It would be great if there were lots of scarecrows around the village to add to the festivities, so get making now!

It promises to be a super weekend; we hope you will all join in to make it a real success.

Mothers' Union

At the meeting on 20th April, one of our oldest and most loyal members, Rosalind Hudson, took us for a long trip down memory lane, telling us of her life and times. Born at Laurel Hill in Repton almost 90 years ago, into a house with no running water but with two very efficient wells, one for drinking and the other for garden use, she recounted many of her childhood memories: her spell as a pupil at Derby High School; her service in the WAAF; her marriage and life as a clergyman's wife. Returning to Repton as a widow with two young daughters, she became integrated once again into village life and a member of numerous committees. Particularly, she was involved in starting the Abbeyfield House in the High Street, and also the village History Group.

An old friend, Sylvia Fox, spoke at the meeting on 18th May. She took the Book of Psalms as her subject, and revealed for many of us a totally different dimension of their meaning. Most psalms are written as poetry, and the words in the Common Prayer Book and the old and new versions of the Bible are often quite different. Psalms portray the mood of the writer. Some are in the form of meditation and some of praise. There is nothing to prove that they were written by David, a supposition which is very popular.

The meeting ended with a 'tea party' to say farewell to Ros Hudson. She was presented with a framed photograph of branch members. We wish her every happiness in her new environment. We shall miss her! We were pleased to have Frances Bamford with us again, and also an old member, Evelyn Oldham.

The speaker on l5th June will be Mr. John Cawdron, who is going to tell us about his time in National Service. There will be a special Bring & Buy stall for overseas. Hostesses: The committee.

St Mary's News

VE Day, 60 Years On

This was indeed an evening for nostalgia; warmest thanks go to everyone who contributed to the success of the occasion, in particular the host, Joe Bailey, and his committee, the compère, the Burton Big Band and the children from the Village School, who jitterbugged with such enthusiasm. At the time of going to press the final reckoning has yet to be taken, but the Roof Appeal seems likely to benefit by at least £2000. Thank you.

St Mary's Church Brain-teaser Quiz

At the Sunday lunch on 24th April, another quiz was launched in aid of church funds, the name of the winner to be announced at the Harvest Lunch in early autumn. Copies (£1 each) may be obtained from the Newton Solney Village Shop or from Hairs & Graces in Repton.

Thankyou

Dorothy Adams

Dorothy Adams wishes to thank all her friends and neighbours for their cards and 'get well' wishes during her recent stay in hospital; they were much appreciated. Particular thanks to Barbara Astle for all the help she has given.

Repton and District Care Group

The Repton and District Care Group would like to thank Mrs. Rosalind Hudson for the wonderful gift of £550.00.

Rosalind asked for donations to this charity in place of presents for her 90th birthday. The money will go towards buying equipment for the Willington surgery and all the patients that it serves. We will let you know more about the items when the medical staff have made their decision.

Once again a great big THANK YOU for your generosity, Rosalind, and a happy 91st year.

Thankyou from Rosalind Hudson

I would like to thank my family and friends for donating so much money to the Repton and District Carers on my 90th birthday, 26th April. Especially I would like to thank Maureen and her friendly class of Extenders for starting off my celebrations, a week full of surprises and celebrations. They gave me a lovely floral arrangement and an enlarged framed photograph of us all, which will have pride of place in my new home at Flat 35, Minster Court, Devon, when I leave at the end of June.

Repton Village & History

Repton Council Jottings

A few subjects discussed at the Parish Council Meeting on 9th May 2005:

• Our local policeman, Chris Staley, is carrying out traffic speed checks in Burton Road, Main Street, High Street and Milton Road. A number of offenders have already been caught - I hope none are readers of this magazine! PC Staley has himself expressed surprise at the high speeds he has recorded.



• From time to time complaints are aired about the way police cars are driven through the village. Responding to these grievances Chief Superintendent Hurrell has asked concerned residents to advise him if they see a police car being driven in an unsafe manner. Make a note of the time and place, plus the registration number (assuming the car isn't going too fast to record it, of course) and phone 01332 613063



• Four local residents have applied to fill a vacancy on the Parish Council. To decide who is to be to co-opted, a secret ballot will be held before the next meeting in June. Unsuccessful candidates are encouraged to stand at the election in 2007.



• For the first time that anyone can recollect, there were no planning applications this month.



• Having endured recurring vandalism and criminal damage at the Mitre Field for a long time, it has finally been decided to install CCTV. It is regrettable that this step has to be taken, but anti-social behaviour by a few youths is having an adverse effect on other users of the amenities there. The Parish Council has a duty to do all it can to deter crime in the locality, and it is acting with the full support and co-operation of the police. Accredited contractors have been engaged to put in a technically advanced system that will be effective both day and night.
  
  The Mitre Field should be available for use, in a proper manner, by all young people in Repton. CCTV is not intended to drive them away, rather to ensure they behave with due regard to others. Teresa Cain, the Youth Officer at DCC is helping to establish the most appropriate items of sports equipment that might be purchased to provide a legitimate outlet for the energy of teenagers. We can but try.

The next Parish Council meeting will take place in the Village Hall at 7.30 pm on Monday 13th June.

Repton Village Society

We had a well-attended meeting on 12th May to hear Mike Charlesworth's 'Repton Reminiscences'. We were treated to an enthralling evening, during which he regaled us with some of the escapades he was involved in, and the characters in the school and the village. Mike took us through from when he came to Repton School as a boarder, to his well-earned retirement. Thanks, Mike, for a wonderful talk. Mike has waived his fee, and the RVS is making a donation to Repton Primary School to provide a violin for the school.

Thursday 2nd June: Diana Perowne, 'The Lunar Society of Birmingham'
The meeting will start at 7.30 pm in Repton Village Hall. Diana Perowne is a Birmingham Blue Badge Guide, so the talk should be very informative. In the 1760s, a group of amateur experimenters (including Whitehurst from Derby, Boulton, Watt, Priestly, Wedgewood and Erasmus Darwin) met and changed the face of England. The Lunar Society was named because they meet at each full moon to make the travelling easier! The talk will be followed by a coach trip to Birmingham on Saturday 4th June, conducted by Mrs Perowne, to see Brindley Place, Soho House (Matthew Boulton's house), the Jewellery Quarter and Edgbaston, before finishing at the Bournville Model Village.

Thursday 7th July: Evening Trip to Belper for a guided walk round the Strutt Housing (Part of the World Heritage Site).

We are to meet at Belper at 7.00 pm. Details from Alan Webster (701838) or David Guest (703650). Our guides will point out many features of the houses and street layout that we would otherwise miss. Look forward to seeing you on the trip.

Repton Village History Group

The History Group is pleased to announce that, on behalf of himself and his wife, Colin Kitching has accepted an invitation to become our first Honorary President. Colin and Betty have been an inspiration to the group over many years, and we owe our existence today to their enthusiasm and drive in researching and recording the history of Repton.

We had an extremely successful and well-attended April meeting, when the Rev'd Dr. Stephen Orchard gave us a fascinating and witty talk about William Astbury, and why he spent 3 months in Repton in 1843.

Our next meetings are:

Open Gardens Weekend, 18th - 19th June: We will have a photographic display in St Wystan's Church during this event. Please call to see us.

Tuesday 21st June at 7.30pm in the Village Hall: 'World War Records held by the Magic Attic', a talk by Keith Foster about the research into all the reports in local newspapers about casualties in the World Wars. Visitors are welcome.

Tuesday 19th July: 'The Findern Trail', a guided walk round Findern. Limited numbers. Contact Alan & Gill Hiley on 01332 273445 for booking and details.

Repton Evergreens

At our April meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Hargreaves gave us an afternoon's entertainment of music hall songs and verse.

Our visit to Foremarke Hall (members only) will be on Thursday 23rd June. The coach will leave the Cross at 2 pm. Our next meeting in the Village Hall is at 2.30 pm on Thursday 30th June for a game of bingo.

We are always glad to welcome new members.

Repton W.I.

At the May meeting, resolutions about farm-gate milk prices and the reduction of waste were presented to members by Angela Mayger and Audrey Morris. Our delegate was instructed to vote in favour of both resolutions at the National AGM in the Albert Hall.

Once the serious business was over, the committee served a delicious supper, and there was plenty of time for a chat.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 14th June at 7.15 pm in the Village Hall: 'Fun with Origami' - a hands-on session with Mrs. J. Wilcox.

JOGS Funday, Saturday 2nd July

The Guides and Scouts are having a fund raising event on the Mitre Field at 2.00 pm on 2nd July. Please come and support us if you can. There will be all sorts of stalls and fun for all the family. Our aim is to raise funds for The Den.

JOGS AGM

The AGM of the committee that runs The Guide and Scout HQ takes place on 1st June at 8.00 pm in The Den, Mitre Drive.

Rainbows are recycling!

Do you use a printer? Do you throw your used cartridges in the bin? Now there is an alternative. We are collecting used printer cartridges (inkjet and laser) for Action Aid. There is a collection box at The Den. Peter in the Post Office has kindly offered to provide a carrier bag for collection. Alternatively they can be handed in at 24 Brook End, but please do not leave them on the doorstep. This charity will also recycle old mobile phones. Freepost envelopes are available from me or at The Den. Money raised from this venture will be used for Third World Development.

Rainbow Quiz, £50 first prize - only a few weeks left to fill in your answer sheets. Copies available from The Post Office, Brook Farm Tea Rooms, Willington Pharmacy, or any Rainbow Parent.

For further information on the above, just phone Carol on 703991.

Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton W.I.

"Oh Mum, what have you done?" was the title of Barbara Dakin's talk at the April meeting. What Barbara had done was to be awarded the MBE for services to education. Her story was very entertaining as she recounted the events of her day, which included leaving her cottage in a stretch limousine and arriving at Buckingham Palace where the Queen presented her award.

The Fashion Show organised by SOS Fashions in April was a sell-out. Our thanks go to the attractive local models, who were much admired!

Also in April, several WI members visited the newly formed Breedon on the Hill WI, to hear an executive of DHL freight carriers explain their plans to minimize air traffic nuisance in the area.

The speaker in June will be Patrick Cook, Organ Grinder.

Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney Activity Club

... runs during term time after school until 6 pm in Newton Solney School hall. A range of exciting activities is planned, including special fun afternoons and events. Places are available on a regular or casual basis for any children aged 4 - 12. For more information, contact the club co-ordinator, Stacey Plowman, on 01283 703461.

Gardening Notes

I have been writing these notes for just over 10 years now, and in what we do, very little has changed. New plants have been introduced and we use fewer chemicals - some for sound reasons, and some taken off the market because of the cost of EC regulations. For all its increased popularity, gardening for the amateur remains but a small part of wider commercial interests.

We sow carrots, beetroot, cauliflowers and calabrese in June. Oriental greens have become popular and can also be sown now. Continue regular sowings of lettuce, and a late sowing of early pea varieties will be ready for picking in September. Brussels sprouts and winter cabbage should be planted out, and leeks planted in their final position when they are pencil-thick. Plant out the tender marrow, courgette, sweetcorn and tomato plants after hardening off. Also runner and French beans, hardened-off bedding plants and tender perennials.

Thin directly sown seedlings of annuals and vegetables. Sow perennials to flower next year - lupins, delphiniums, hollyhock, sweet williams - as well as winter pansies and wallflowers.

Cuttings can be taken from the new growth of many shrubs and plants such as dahlias, verbenas, pelargoniums, pinks, philadelphus, weigelia and fuchsias. To take cuttings of old-fashioned roses, take a small, flowering shoot, preferably with a small heel of wood, remove the flower-head and a few lower leaves, insert the shoot in a small pot of multipurpose compost and horticultural sand and keep moist in a propagator.

Start to feed containers and pots, unless they contain slow-release fertiliser. Dig up tulips and other spring bulbs from borders and containers and store in a dry, mouse-proof place. Support delphiniums, hollyhocks and other tall perennials. Deadhead delphiniums and pinch out the main stems of dahlias to produce flowering side shoots and encourage bushiness. You can extend the flowering season of other perennials such as phlox, heleniums and Michaelmas daisies by shortening one in three stems by about 10 cm. These will then branch and bloom later.

Trim back roses when they have flowered, as also aubretia, arabis and alyssum saxatile. Evergreen ceanothus and osmanthus can be pruned after flowering, if necessary; brooms can have half the new growth trimmed back, but do not prune Cytisus battandieri, the Moroccan broom. Mahonias and weigelia can be cut back by cutting out some of the oldest branches. Privet hedges may need cutting, and also lonicera nitida and berberis. Cut spring-flowering clematis back after flowering, if they are growing too big. Remove any green shoots from variegated shrubs.

Thin apple and pear fruitlets if they are too abundant. This allows the remaining fruit to grow in size, prevents branches breaking under the weight of fruit and helps to prevent biennial cropping, in which a tree bears fruit one year but not the next.

As soon as the blossom falls, hang pheremone traps at head height on the branches of apple trees. The female codling moth lays her eggs on young apples in early to mid-summer, and the hatchling larvae burrow into the eye of the fruit. The male moths are attracted to the traps instead of the females, so fewer eggs are fertilised.

I think I can be allowed to say that there is one import we certainly do not need, a new, large ladybird which is spreading from the south. It has a voracious appetite for aphids, but having eaten them, starts on other ladybirds. Watch out also for the bright red lily beetle, whose larvae eat lilies and fritillaries; it has been reported as far north as Cheshire. Green-, white- and blackfly are abundant in June and can be squashed or sprayed with bifenthrin or pyrethrin. In the greenhouse, use sticky yellow cards to trap them. Earwigs can be a nuisance, chewing holes in leaves and flower petals; dahlias and chrysanthemums are always attacked. Trap them in small pots filled with straw or wood-shavings and inverted over a 3 foot stick. But earwigs also feed on aphids and other insects. Watch out for slugs and snails on the emerging shoots of many plants and seedlings.

Plant new water lilies in June, and rake out blanket and duckweed if they are a problem. Introduce new fish into ponds and feed more often as the days warm up. Don't use chemicals near ponds.