Local Lynx No. 150 - June/July 2023

SHARRINGTON
Contact: Claire Dubbins 01263 862261
cdubbins@btinternet.com
www.sharrington.org.uk
SHARRINGTON AND DISTRICT
GARDENING GROUP
Our programme of evening events (see
sharringtongardening.org.uk) got underway in March.
We had a fabulous turnout for the Bob Coutts talk
‘Gardening for Spring’ which followed our AGM. Bob
had been for many years head gardener at Somerleyton
Hall. He arrived armed with pots, twigs, branches,
compost soil etc. and not only explained in lay-men’s
terms how preparations for spring should be done, but
demonstrated too. Bob is a natural communicator,
humorous too and I am sure the sight of him rolling his
seeds in talcum powder and holding up his freshly
potted young plants by the leaves will fix those valuable
tips in our minds for ever. All in all it was a wonderful
evening.
In April we enjoyed a talk by master bee keeper John
Everett of Appletree Orchard Apiary, Rockland Farm.
We learnt that in Britain we have around 270 species of
bee, 24 of which are species of bumblebee, one
recognised species of honey bee and the remainder
come under the category of solitary bees.
John emphasised the importance of encouraging bees
as pollinators, not only in and for the benefit of our own
gardens but in the wider environment. 75% of crop
plants require some degree of animal pollination,
including many fruit and vegetables, and of all the
different animals and insects that serve as pollinators,
the most important are bees. He encouraged us to be on
the lookout for the solitary bee, which does not live in
large communities with worker bees, and is often
mistaken for a wasp and therefore suffers the same
unfortunate fate. John also brought honey from his
apiary, which proved very popular with our members.
BW
FOODBANK NEWS
There was a great response to our appeal for a
bumper food bank collection to mark the Coronation.
Our 17.6kg donation included both treats and staples,
and of course lots of tea, coffee and biscuits to enjoy in
front of the television. As we know from the press
reports and also from the
dramatic figures Roger Bland
included in his sermon at the
group service in April,
legitimate demand for food
banks is increasing and so as
we move forward to the
summer we are looking to
provide as many items as
possible for children, to help
families having to provide
extra meals during the school
holidays. In the past many of
us have found our grandchildren an excellent source of
ideas for what would be welcome, though a diet
consisting solely of chocolate biscuits would probably
not be recommended by dieticians.
AS
NOBLE ROTTERS WINE CLUB
The last tasting of season eight back in mid-March
featured the wines of Languedoc and Rousillon. 11
wines were perhaps, a bit of a challenge but the two
regions cover a large area around the Mediterranean
coast from Montpelier in the east to Collioure south of
Perpignan in the south-west. Languedoc is
quintessentially French in character but Roussillon
shows clear influences of Spanish and Catalan culture.
The five white wines tasted included a sparkling
Blanquette de Limoux, an increasingly popular Picpoul
de Pinet, a Cotes du Roussillon Blanc and a Limoux
Blanc featuring the chardonnay grape which is widely
grown in the region.
The reds featured a Fitou, a Saint-Chinian, a Pic
Saint-Loup, a Minervois La Lavinière and a Faugères,
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