August 2007 - Contents Magnificent Buildings 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 Church Picnic, Sunday 2nd September Coffee Morning - please note the date! Shell (for children aged 7+) Baptisms, Marriages, Funerals and Burial of Ashes Baptisms William Leonard Storey Marriages Benjamin Cole and Catherine Foster Funerals and Burial of Ashes Mrs Phyllis Harrison Repton Benefice Cut the Carbon Challenge Spanish Trip, 16th - 23rd October 'Ride & Stride', Saturday 8th September St Wystan's News Sam Beeton in Repton! St Wystan's Church Development Repton M.U. Handbells Summer Garden Party, Saturday 4th August Table Top Sale, Saturday 18th August Garden Party, Monday 27th August Village Show, Saturday 1st September St Mary's Harvest Lunch, Sunday 23rd September Repton Village and History Repton Village Show, Saturday 1st September Repton Christmas Tree Festival, St Wystan's Church, 7th - 10th December 2007 Repton Neighbourhood Help Dates Repton Rainbows JOGS, Guides and Scouts . . . Repton Evergreens Repton Casuals Football Club Repton Open Gardens Scarecrow Competition Results Open Gardens Prize Draw Repton W.I. Repton Village Society Results of the RVS Floral Container and Front Garden Competition 2007 Repton Village History Group Repton Parish Council Jottings Summer Play Activities provided by Repton Parish Council Collection for the British Heart Foundation Milton & Foremark Village Matters Milton Open Gardens Newton Solney Village Matters Newton Solney W.I. Gardening Notes

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Magnificent Buildings

Have you been watching the David Dimbleby series 'How we built Britain'? I particularly enjoyed the episode about the Victorians. David showed us splendid examples of public buildings built with the wealth which came from the Industrial Revolution. From Newcastle's railway station, with its steel and glass roof and imposing entrance and offices, he moved to Manchester's Town Hall, which was more like a palace. Then he turned to Manchester's sewers, beautifully constructed at the beginning of the Victorian era in 1837.

The Victorians were not just concerned with showy magnificence but also with the well-being of all people. At the beginning of the 19th century, disease was rampant in the big cities. The construction of an efficient sewage system did much to eradicate fatal diseases such as cholera. Other cities followed Manchester's example and everyone benefited, not just the wealthy.

The Romans, too, united architectural splendour and utility. TV often portrays them as barbaric and violent, but excavations in York have shown that many of the sewers which still serve the city were built by the Romans. Their larger villas had running water, baths and central heating. In this respect they were way ahead of Elizabethan or Stuart England, or of Louis XIV's France. The palace of Versailles is magnificent but most of the nobility had only one bath a year, and toilet arrangements were unspeakable!

The Victorians, like the Romans, believed both in magnificence and health. They felt that society needed both. Today's society seems to neglect magnificence. Our public buildings are utilitarian, our railway stations little more than bus shelters.

At least, we in Repton can be proud of our buildings. As we approach the village from Willington, the sight of the church spire always gives me a thrill. I feel privileged to worship in a historic and beautiful building like St Wystan's Church. But magnificence alone is not enough. Life and health are just as important, and St Wystan's was built to enable the community to be spiritually healthy. I hope to see the Church here come alive spiritually, using the splendour of the building as only a means to an end - to give those who worship in this place a glimpse of heaven.

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Services at Foremark, Newton Solney
and Repton Churches

St Wystan's, Repton

St Saviour's, Foremark

St Mary's, Newton Solney

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Readers, Intercessors and Offertory at St Wystan's

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Altar Flowers (contact Frances Wimbush, 703180)

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Brasses (contact Pauline Beckett, 500132)

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Altar Flowers & Cleaning at St Saviour's (contact Polly Glasby)

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The United Reformed Church

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Church Picnic, Sunday 2nd September

On this Sunday morning there will be a short service at 11 am, then we will take our sandwiches for a picnic. Drinks will be provided for the children.

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Coffee Morning - please note the date!

The next coffee morning will be on Saturday 8th September, the day of the rural churches' 'Ride and Stride'. The Hall will be open from 10 am to greet cyclists and walkers; the coffee morning will be between 10.30 and 11.30 am; jacket potato lunches will be served between noon and 1 pm. The Hall will close at 2 pm.

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Shell Group (age 7+)

Shell Group meets on Mondays, from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. New members are welcome. The first meeting of the autumn season will be on Monday 10th September.

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Baptisms

William Leonard Storey, son of Chris and Zoë, of 96 High Street, Repton, was baptised at St Wystan's Church on Sunday 17th June.

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Marriages

Benjamin Cole and Catherine Foster were married at St Wystan's Church, Repton, on Friday 6th July.

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Funerals

Mrs Phyllis Harrison of The Dales, Repton died on 27th June aged 83. A funeral service at Bretby crematorium on 6th July was followed by cremation.

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Repton Benefice

Cut the Carbon Challenge

On Thursday 23rd August, Christian Aid representatives from around the world will be passing through Repton as part of a 1000 mile walk from Ireland to St Paul's Cathedral. From 1 pm they will be lunching at Repton School sports complex, where Mark Todd MP will be meeting them.

It is hoped that as many people as possible will be there to welcome them and offer support, so do come. You can also join the walk from Repton to Burton Town Hall. On the Friday, the walkers will be calling at the National Memorial Arboretum.

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Spanish Trip, 16th - 23rd October

We now have 15 people definitely going with another four thinking seriously about it. Brochures are available from Peter Paine at the Vicarage. Please ring 703317 for personal delivery in the village or by post outside.

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'Ride & Stride' - Sponsored Bicycle Ride or Walk

The annual sponsored 'Bike & Hike', now rechristened 'Ride & Stride', in aid of the Derbyshire Churches and Chapels Preservation Trust, takes place on Saturday 8th September. Once again, all four of our local churches will be open from 10 am for visits from cyclists or walkers, the URC building until 2 pm and the others until 6 pm.

If you are willing and able in this good cause to cycle or walk between some of the churches in Derbyshire and neighbouring counties, to act as a steward in your own church, or simply to sponsor any of the more active participants, please contact one of the following for more information: Linda Pettitt (Repton URC), 701223, Pamela Clifford (St Wystan's), 702471, Ann Redfern (St Saviour's), 01332 862350, Jennifer Haynes (St Mary's), 703827.

In 2006 our four churches contributed £391.23 (including Gift Aid) towards the total of £17,715 sponsorship money earned for the Trust. Let us aim for even more this time - especially as half the money is passed back to help us maintain our own buildings.

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St Wystan's News

Sam Beeton in Repton!

At Evensong on 12th August we shall be very pleased to welcome Sam Beeton, who teaches at St Paul's Theological College in Antananarivo, the key training centre for the Church of Madagascar. It is a mission that St Wystan's Church has long supported, recently through Bishop Benzies, and now through Sam.

The Church in Madagascar today now numbers half the Malagasy population and is growing rapidly. In the Diocese of Antananarivo alone, seven churches have been built in the last three years and a new diocese is being created in the south to co-ordinate mission there. Today, the Anglican Church in Madagascar numbers 100 priests, 500 churches and about 5,000 members.

Sam will be accompanied by his wife, Violette. Do come!

To support the work of Sam, or the USPG - Anglicans in World Mission, visit www.uspg.org.uk or ring 020 7378 5678.

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St Wystan's Church Development

Any work undertaken in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ is likely to meet 'opposition'. And I venture to put the West End Development on this high level because it is more than just a utilitarian addition.

The provision of a meeting room in the tower puts this development on the plain of 'mission'. The meeting room makes provision for us to proclaim the love of God to this generation and the next. To begin with, we will have space for a Sunday Club separate from the crèche. But it could and should be much more. The room can be used for adult groups and for groups of all ages throughout the week. It can and I hope will be used by groups in the community who may not have any religious affiliation. It is very important to us that this could be a community asset. This is 'mission' in the broad sense of making space for all people in God's house.

The tower screen, which will separate the room from the rest of the church, will be an exceptionally fine feature, undoubtedly worthy of the building in which it will be accommodated. If you are in any doubt, please come into the church and see the drawings of the screen and the engravings for yourself. Because we are building for posterity - since we believe this building and the development will be here for a very long time to come - we will use the best materials for the job. Solid oak will be used throughout.

Including these 'missionary' and 'community' elements in our plans - and because we intend to achieve the highest quality - has two effects. One is to put the cost up to an estimated £370,000. The other is that we can appeal for funds to charities which support community-enhancing projects.

I began by mentioning 'opposition'. The 'opposition' we may encounter will not be from outside but from within our own hearts and minds. Because of the very high cost, we may feel a degree of pessimism which puts in question our support for the whole endeavour. May I humbly remind you that God rarely gives us something to do that we can easily achieve on our own. More often He gives us a seemingly impossible task and then, when we ask, He gives us the means to accomplish it. So it is in this case. It is quite remarkable how God has already been paving the way. Now we are faced with a situation in which we need to pray for ourselves. If you are experiencing the 'opposition' I have referred to, I would ask that you pray for three things in this order:

• That you might catch the vision of this project, because I am of the firm conviction, as many have been before me, that where there is vision the money will follow;
• That having caught the vision you may be prepared to make a genuine financial sacrifice;
• That having caught the vision and made a sacrifice you will be an example to others, and you will be able to speak positively and confidently about the project whenever the opportunity arises.

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Repton M.U.

'Peace is flowing like a river', sung at the start of the July meeting, made a good introduction to Morag Hill's talk about the river Trent. For one module of her Fine Arts degree, Morag had produced an album of photographs from the Trent's origin on Biddulph Moor to the point where it flows into the Humber. She had found appropriate quotations to match each set of photos and we all enjoyed what she had entitled 'A River Journey'.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 19th September: Visit to Twyford Church with Sylvia Fox. There is no meeting in August.

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Handbells

In June, Repton Mercian Handbell Ringers hosted a rally in Findern Village Hall, helping to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain. In spite of the floods, around 40 of us gathered to ring, eat and chat, and we had a very enjoyable time.

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Summer Garden Party Saturday 4th August at 2 pm at The Dales, Fisher Close, Repton Everyone welcome!

Table Top Sale Saturday 18th August, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm The Den, Mitre Drive Further details from Carol on 703991

Garden Party Monday 27th August, 2.30 - 5 pm On August Bank Holiday Monday you are invited to a garden party in Repton Vicarage Garden. Stalls will include a Home-made Produce Stall, Plant Stall and Book Stall, together with games and a raffle. It will be a relaxed opportunity to meet with friends over tea and cakes, and to enjoy the various activities.

Village Show Saturday 1st September in Repton Village Hall Staging from 10 to 11.45 am Show opens at 2.30 pm Schedules & entry forms at the Post Office or the Show on the day

St Mary's Church Newton Solney Harvest Lunch Sunday 23rd September at 1 pm in Newton Solney Village Hall Tickets from Hazel Ward, 21 Blacksmith's Lane, Newton Solney. Tel. 701244

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Repton Village & History

Repton Village Show, Saturday 1st September, Repton Village Hall

Perhaps you saw the programmes about the 'Village Show' on television, the first of them coming from close by at Calke Abbey.

Repton has had its own Village Show for the past 17 years. It's not intimidating; just like the competitors in the programmes, we are mostly amateurs when it comes to baking, making jams and chutneys, or to creating pictures and handicrafts, and vegetables, fruit and flowers usually depend on what we can find in the garden. So why don't you join in and support the show this year? There are plenty of classes for everyone, and we particularly welcome entries from children. A schedule for this year's show appeared in the May edition of the Parish Magazine, and an entry form is on page 32 of this edition. From the middle of August there will be copies of both the form and the schedule in the Post Office, and at the Village Hall on the day.

If you can't wait for that, or if you would like more information or to talk it over, contact Carol Lloyd on 702410 or Caroline Thompson on 704084.

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Repton Christmas Tree Festival, St Wystan's Church, Friday 7th to Monday 10th December 2007

Planning for the Christmas Tree Festival is well under way. Already 34 trees are promised, so if we haven't contacted you - or if you haven't yet replied - and you or your organisation would like to be involved, please contact Audrey Morris on 703453 as soon as possible to ensure we make room for you.

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Repton Neighbourhood Help - Dates for your Diary

Our August outing is on Tuesday 14th. For details, please contact Melodie Bordoli on 212652. Luncheons begin again after the summer break on Friday 7th September at 12.30 pm. The Christmas Luncheon will be on Friday 8th December, and the Tea Party on Friday 15th December.

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Repton Rainbows

If you are one of the mums who registered their daughters for Rainbows at the May Day Village Party, could you please contact me asap.

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JOGS, Guides and Scouts . . .

Thank you to all who responded to our request for help. The result is that we now have a full committee to run The Den and, as a bonus, an executive committee for the Scouts.

There are still opportunities to help run the young people's meetings. If you would be interested in helping on a regular basis, please contact one of the Leaders whose names appear on the inside back cover of the magazine.

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Repton Evergreens

Members enjoyed a lovely half-day Peak District outing in May, followed by afternoon tea in the Village Hall. Day-trip to Llandudno: We are having a day-trip to Llandudno on Thursday 6th September, leaving the Village Hall car park at 9.30 am. Non-members are welcome to come along, the cost is £10 each. Please contact Mrs. C. Yeomans on 702975 to book your place.

Come and join us! Are you over 50? Come and join us on the last Thursday of every month. You will be most welcome.

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Repton Casuals Football Club

Ball Skills sessions for children aged 5 and upwards re-commence on Saturday 8th September at Broomhills Lane Playing Fields. For further information contact Bob Errington on 701183. Newcomers welcome.

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Repton Open Gardens

In view of the predictions of dire weather, we were lucky to get through the weekend so well. Our sincere thanks go to the many, many people who made this possible, those who supported us through advertising and prizes for the draw, provided home produce, exhibited in church, provided tea and cakes or helped to serve them, acted as stewards, sold programmes and prize draw tickets, and particularly to those who opened their gardens, and despite the weather provided - once again - a stunning display. Thank you too to all of you who attended and brought along your family and friends. The activities within St Wystan's Church made a big contribution and deserve a special mention. These included a flower display, an exhibition of art and crafts, and a photographic display by the Village History Group. The bells rang, and the organ played.

The exhibition of art and crafts was a spectacular success and attracted great interest. It was well worth a visit in its own right. The variety of media and the quality were quite astonishing. Can it be repeated? If it is, don't miss it.

In all, the weekend was a great success and raised over £3,200 for St Wystan's Church funds. Thank you. Scarecrow Competition Results

There were 19 entries, and the standard was again very high with many inventive entries including a dalek, a witch and Dr. Who's Tardis.

Many thanks to everyone who entered and to Nick Wells who judged the competition and presented the prizes. Despite being unable to enter the competition, Nick added to the entertainment with his own very funny scarecrow. Our thanks also to Twycross Zoo, Snibston Discovery Park and Conkers for generously donating the prizes.

Open Gardens Prize Draw

Many thanks to all who donated prizes, and to all who sold and bought raffle tickets. The winning tickets were drawn on 30th June, and winners have been contacted.

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Repton W.I.

Organizations in South Derbyshire are lucky to be able to book a Community Minibus for visits, and in June we took advantage of this and of the services of Martin Wimbush as driver. A party visited Leek market, where we had lunch and then admired, in the church for which they were made, the Leek embroideries that Rowena Lovatt had described to us at our meeting in March. A cream tea followed to round off a successful trip.

At the July meeting we enjoyed a splendid double act from Jean and Stuart Groom. Jean brought along everything from sheep's wool to finished garments, and demonstrated the craft of spinning. Stuart, who said he took up weaving in self-defence, showed us scarves, sample squares and braids. They were thanked by Lilwen Guest.

Tuesday 14th August: Guided tour of Melbourne Hall starting at 2.30 pm.

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Repton Village Society

Our coach trip to the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley and Brooklands Motor Racing Museum was surprisingly little affected by the wet weather. Wisley was as enviable as ever, with the added attraction of the recently opened glasshouse, built to commemorate the bicentenary of the Society. The Brooklands Museum is on the site of the race track opened 100 years ago, with many of the original buildings and parts of the banked circuit still to be seen. As well as collections of cars and memorabilia, there are several aviation exhibits to reflect the many types of aircraft constructed on the site.

'Repton to the End', Thursday 6th September (members only)

There is no meeting in August, but in September John Plowright, Master of the Scholars at Repton, will be giving a talk entitled 'Repton to the End'. He is the author of a book of the same title, written as part of the 450th anniversary celebrations. His talk will be in the Tithe Barn, not the School Library as previously advertised. It starts at 7.30 pm and will be limited to Society members only by advance ticket (£1.50) from Alan Webster on 701838. The Society is most grateful to the Headmaster for allowing this talk to be held in the Barn. Results of the RVS Floral Container and Front Garden Competition 2007

Walking round the village there were many very good hanging baskets and front gardens that were a credit to their owners, especially given the weather we have had. Not all had entered the free competition but, of those that did, the standard was high, again setting the judge some tough decisions.

The prizes (vouchers for Bretby Nurseries) and the Judge's Bowl for the 'Best in Show' will be presented at Repton Village Show Prizegiving on Saturday 1st September, and have been sponsored by both Repton Parish Council and Bretby Nurseries.

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Repton Village History Group

Our June event was a visit to the less well known areas of Repton School. Almost forty members assembled at the Arch hoping that the torrential rain which was forecast would pass us by. Paul Stevens and John Ward led us on a most interesting tour of parts of the grounds, whilst giving a running commentary about the history of the areas we were viewing. Despite a sharp shower as we approached the cricket pavilion it was an excellent evening, and many Repton residents confessed to seeing areas where they had not been before. We are very grateful to Repton School for this opportunity.

Foremark Hall and Church, Tuesday 7th August

In August we visit Foremark Hall and Church. With Julian Hawtree as our guide we will visit the charming and historic church and then go on to see some of the more interesting parts of the Hall. This event is currently fully booked.

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Repton Parish Council Jottings

A monthly newsletter covering issues from the most recent Parish Council meeting - July 2007.

• An application for a late licence at the Bulls Head has been withdrawn. The number of objections from people living in the vicinity of the pub had prompted a date to be set for a formal hearing, but Richard Pope, the licensee, decided that he did not wish proceed at the risk alienating his neighbours. Mr. Pope has said he does not intend to re-apply in the near future.
• There are growing fears about road safety at the junction of High Street and The Pastures. Many customers of the Jaipur Restaurant park in The Pastures, and a recent reduction in the number of parking spaces in front of the Royal British Legion is believed to have added to parking congestion in the area. Photographic evidence of cars parked too near the corner is to be gathered for possible police action. Separately in The Pastures, Derbyshire County Council is being requested to carry out a street lighting survey, following a report that it may be inadequate in places.
• An anti-graffiti kit has been received from the Safer Neighbourhoods Group. It contains a variety of solvents and equipment needed to deal with most graffiti vandalism. Fortunately graffiti is not a major problem locally, but it does arise from time to time, and now the means are available to remove it quite easily. Please inform the council clerk if you know of anywhere that needs attention.
• Five planning applications were considered this month without any objections being lodged, though SDDC's Conservation Officer is being asked to advise on an application to erect a sizeable new notice board beside the lych-gate at St Wystan's Church. The two small existing boards would be removed.
• Repton Parish Council is now in a position to seek Quality Council accreditation: it has 100% elected Parish Councillors and a professionally qualified Council Clerk to steer the process. As part of the changes needed to achieve the benchmark standards, these 'Jottings' have been formally adopted as a monthly newsletter, and Council Surgeries reintroduced to give residents an opportunity to talk to a parish councillor on a one-to-one basis. In the autumn, an Annual Report and Accounts will be published and distributed to every household in the Parish. A 12-month period of qualification is necessary to achieve Quality Council status.
• Correction: In the July magazine we gave one of the Skate Park dates as 29th July. This should read 29th August. There is a full list of dates below.
• Biodegradable bin-liners are available from the Spar Shop for a small charge; they have been organised by SDDC and their purpose is to keep the brown bins clean.

A Parish Meeting will be held in Milton Village Hall on Monday 10th September at 7 pm, followed by the next meeting of Repton Parish Council at 7.30 pm. There is no parish council meeting in August.

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Summer Play Activities provided by Repton Parish Council

Apology: There is no skate park session on Wednesday 29th July as shown in the July Parish Magazine; it should have read Wednesday 29th August. There is no need to book; just turn up on the day. The decision whether it is safe to use the skate park and laser games will be made by the operators alone.

Skate Park 8 - 19 year olds; under 8's must be accompanied by an adult.

Repton Primary School
Friday 3rd August, 12 - 2pm - £2 per session
Tuesday 21st August, 4 - 6 pm - free
Wednesday 29th August, 4 - 6 pm - £2 per session

n.b. The mobile skate park can not be used when the surface is wet or when it is raining, as it can become damgerous. All participants must wear a helmet (no helmet - no skating and no BMXing). Protective knee and elbow pads are strongly recommended; SDDC have some which can be borrowed, but they recommend that you bring your own if possible.

Climbing Wall Age 8+; under 8's must be accompanied by an adult.

The Mitre Field
Tuesday 31st July, 6 - 8 pm - free

n.b. Suitable clothing and footwear must be worn - no sharp objects. At the leaders' discretion, the mobile climbing wall can be used when it is wet or raining.

Inflatable Laser Games Age 8+; under 8's must be accompanied by an adult.

The Mitre Field
Tuesday 7th August, 2 - 4 pm - free
Thursday 16th August, 2 - 4 pm - £1 per go or £5 per session

n.b. Suitable clothing and footwear should be worn - no sharp objects allowed. The inflatable laser games can not be used when the surface is wet or when it is raining as it can endanger the participants.

Sports Mobile 8 - 14 year olds; under 8's must be accompanied by an adult.

The Mitre Field
Thursday 9th August, 10 am - 12 noon - free
Tuesday 14th August, 2 - 4 pm - free

n.b. Sports equipment, sumo suits and bouncy castle. If the weather is bad, some of the play facilities will be transferred into the Den, but not the bouncy castle!

Except where shown, there will be no charge to users. The free sessions are funded by the Parish Council, but the District Council has also offered us further sessions for which they will have to charge the users.

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Collection for the British Heart Foundation

An envelope collection for the British Heart Foundation took place in the High Street in June, and £72.80 was sent towards the valuable research that the foundation does. Many thanks to everyone who donated.

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Milton & Foremark Village Matters

Milton Open Gardens

I'm sure that those of you who joined us on 10th June will agree what a great day out our Open Gardens event was. The weather was good to us, and hundreds (approximately 350) of you came to see our gardens and farm. Thank you all for your support. We (the WI that is) made over £800 profit, of which £300 has been given to the Village Hall to help with the purchase of new tables.

We enjoyed it so much, we are going to do it again next year, so the early date for your diaries is Sunday 15th June 2008. We hope to have some new gardens open as well as those from this year, so if you didn't have time to get around them all, please try again next year! The profit in 2008 will be shared with the Air Ambulance. Once again thank you for your support, hope to see you next year

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Newton Solney Village Matters

Newton Solney W.I.

There was a good attendance at our July Meeting, our last before the summer break. President Jo Parfitt welcomed three visitors.

The speaker was Ann Marie Jolivet, Manager of the Witness Service for Staffordshire Courts, who explained that this service provides support for victims of crime, either as victims or as witnesses. At each stage of the criminal justice process, practical help and information is available to victims of crime or witnesses called to give evidence. Most members were unaware of this service and were very interested in all aspects of the procedure.

Arrangements were made for the collection of cakes to be delivered to St Giles Hospice on Thursday 26th July. There will be a practical meeting on Wednesday 29th August to start to make decorations for the W.I. Church Christmas Tree. We are also arranging a visit to the theatre to see 'Carousel' on Wednesday 12th September.

Members were asked to sign up for the Annual Council Meeting in Derby, with Pam Ayres as the principal speaker. The picnic trip to Heage Windmill is on Tuesday 14th August and members are to make their own way there for 2 pm. A coach has been organised for a trip to Leeds Television Centre on Thursday 27th September for 40 members to see a recording of 'Countdown'.

Next Meeting: Tuesday 11th September. Ann Wood will speak on 'Careers, Concerts and Catastrophes'.

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Gardening Notes

August is always a difficult month in the border. Many herbaceous plants will have finished flowering, and the autumn display is still to come. If coping with drought, both phlox and Michaelmas daisies may suffer from mildew. Give them a good soaking; though a spray with one part milk in ten of water is also said to help. Michaelmas daisy flowers, especially those of the novi-belgii type, are sometimes damaged by the Michaelmas daisy mite. Flowers fail to develop and go gray or dry off. There is no definite cure for this, but I have found that a spray with a systemic insecticide during August does seem to check it.

The border will need tidying up; support sagging stems, deadhead regularly, and remove yellowing or dead leaves. Dahlias, especially, benefit from regular attention, and the taller varieties may need further support.

Crocosmias are in flower in all shades of yellow and orange, and the newer varieties of aconitum are worth growing for flowering now. Agapanthus, once they have time to settle in, should flower well. There is quite a range of varieties, mostly blue but some white. The bigger ones, coming from South Africa, are generally less hardy and need frost-free shelter in winter, but some, such as the Headbourne hybrids, are much hardier and - if covered with a good mulch - can be left in the border. Next year's buds form at the end of this flowering season, so give them a good feed with tomato fertiliser then.

In the shrub world, fuschias and lavateras are easy subjects, as are hydrangeas. There are more than 80 species of hydrangea from the woodlands of North and South America and eastern Asia, deciduous and evergreen, shrubs and climbers, but the ones we meet most commonly are those of the Hydrangea macrophylla group, the mopheads and lacecaps. These are fairly hardy, though the young growth may be damaged by frost. They need no regular pruning except for removing last year's dead flower heads. Any further pruning will remove the already formed buds. The species H. arborescens 'Annabelle' has large, white, globular flowers, and those of H. paniculata are conical, in shades of white and pink. H. quercifolia is mostly grown for its oak-shaped leaves, which turn bronze-purple in autumn. H. petiolaris scandens is a climbing hydrangea with white flowers. The specialist will find many more of interest.

Most hedges need trimming in August, though yew, laurel, privet and established conifer hedges may well have been trimmed already. Prune climbing and rambling roses as necessary after flowering, and tie in the long shoots. Cut out the fruited canes of summer raspberries, and tie in the new ones.

The most important thing with runner beans is to keep watering at the base of the plant, and to pick them every other day to ensure a continuing harvest. In a dry spell, a fine spray of water over the flowers in the evening will help them to set. As soon as small sprouts appear on your Brussels sprouts, give them a feed of nitrogen, as in ammonium sulphate. Stems of celery will be blanched and more tender if you tie black plastic collars round them. Take the collars off from time to time to remove slugs and snails. This method is more tedious than earthing up, but works better. You can sow spring cabbage in a seed bed now, and spinach where it is to grow. Winter lettuce and parsley are best sown under glass and planted out later.

Take cuttings of tender perennials, clematis, honeysuckle, roses and many shrubs from semi-ripe wood. Plums and sweet cherries do not normally need pruning unless grown on the cordon system, but if they do, do it in August to limit the risk of silver-leaf disease. Shorten the long new shoots of wisterias. W. sinensis - the Chinese wisteria - flowers in April and May, and often has a second flush later in the summer. W. floribunda - the Japanese wisteria - flowers a bit later, has longer racemes, and is more fragrant. There are named varieties of each, varying in colour from violet and lilac to white.

Think of ordering spring bulbs; if you want to grow the Madonna lily, plant it now during its brief spell of dormancy.