Category: News

GOUDHURST PARISH & PARISH COUNCIL NEWS – NOVEMBER 2024
Issue 46
Chairman’s Update

Goudhurst Parish Council Parish Council News e-Newsletter November 2024 Goudhurst, Kilndown and Curtisden Green
After a five year covid gap The Goudhurst Parish in Bloom award returned this year. A huge thank you to all the participants and winners, thank you for making our village bloom. But there are many more with fine gardens and the gardeners’ touch who we hope will join the challenge for the silver cups and plate next summer. So it would be good to have twice as many entries in May 2025. We look forward to seeing you for Goudhurst in Bloom 2025. With Remembrance Sunday in mind, do join your friends, family and neighbours by the pond at 10.30am on Sunday 10th November for the parade up the hill to St Mary’s Church, followed by the 10.45 Remembrance Sunday service at St Mary’s, Goudhurst. In Kilndown meet by the War Memorial at Christ Church for their 10.45 service. A time to reflect, to give thanks and to pray for peace. The Goudhurst Branch of the British Legion, which supports ex-servicemen injured or on hard times, are looking to enlist support and new members. Whether or not you served in the forces in the past, all are welcome. Contact RBL secretary Ed Bates on 07799 571450 or Ed_bates@hotmail.co.uk<mailto:Ed_bates@hotmail.co.uk> We are very fortunate to have one of the most successful Pre-schools in the Borough. Every weekday during termtime, two sessions between 9 am – 3.30 pm, at the Church Rooms in the heart of the village, next to the children’s playground on Back Lane. They are normally well subscribed which is a great reflection on the team, led by Mrs Jo Galloway. But they could do with some help. So, if you have some spare time and a love of little ones 2 – 5 years, then Jo would love to hear from you (see below). They are also looking for volunteers to join the committee as a Trustee (it’s a charity). Visit their website: goudhurstvillagepreschool.co.uk<goudhurstvillagepreschool.co.uk> or phone on 01580 212777. We also have a wonderful variety of dogs in our village; small, large, friends of the family and companions. However, when passing through the gated Pre-school play area during term time, please keep your dog on the lead, keep to the south side and remember to close the gates at either end. Many thanks! Exciting news …. There were two redundant phone boxes by the Plane, one already converted to contain a defibrillator, and the other old BT box has now been fitted with shelving to convert it to a Book Exchange. If you have surplus books you no longer want, just leave them in the Book Exchange. If you want to find a good read you may find it there; borrow it, keep it or lend it to a friend and if you are able, replace it with another. Happy reading. Events Calendar easily located on our Parish Council website (Click Goudhurst Parish Council Website > Select Menu Option > Calendar-Events > scroll by month or regular event > then dates and click on the item). Note, upcoming in November:
Kilndown Music Festival; Concert with Choir at Christ Church, 7pm on Saturday 23rd November (tickets 07909 946195); and organ Recital by Dr Richard Robertson on Sunday 24th at 3pm. Goudhurst Christmas Fair will be in the Church, around the Plain and village club during the afternoon and early evening Saturday 30th November. All welcome for fun, food and entertainment with neighbours and friends.
Council were pleased to receive applications from two excellent candidates for the vacant Parish Councillor position. We are delighted to confirm that Peter Rolington was duly elected. Peter has been a resident of Goudhurst for over 25 years, is a former Goudhurst Parish councillor and vice Chairman, so welcome back. Peter is Treasurer of the Goudhurst branch of the Royal British Legion and should be familiar to many manning the red poppy tent on the Plain since the annual Poppy Appeal got restarted, post covid. Peter has joined our Planning, Highways and Amenity Committees.
Your Parish Councillors: Craig Broom, Antony Harris (Chairman), Edward Hodgskin, Suzie Kember, Phil Kirkby, David Knight, Geoff Mason, Ed Reed-Cutting, Caroline Richards, Peter Rolington, Paul Wareham, and Alison Webster. Clerk to the Council: Katrina Hoyle. 01580 212552 or 07494 117313 clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk<mailto:clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk>
November meetings Planning Tuesday 12 November at 6.30 pm Parish Council Tuesday 12 November at 7.00 pm Burial Tuesday 19 November 1.00 pm Finance Tuesday 19 November at 7.00 pm Planning Tuesday 26 November at 6.30 pm Amenities Tuesday 26 November at 7.30 pm Goudhurst Parish Council moved into its new (17th century) office in the High Street at the end of September. Our Clerk Katrina and team welcome friendly residents, normally Monday to Thursday between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, other times by arrangement.
Clerk to the Council: Katrina Hoyle. 01580 212552 or 07494 117313 clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk<mailto:clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk>
Goudhurst Pre-School. Winners of the best non-commercial display.
NEW OFFICE ADDRESS
The Parish Council have moved and the new address is:- 3 Fountain House High Street Goudhurst TN17 1AL The office will be open for drop-in visits on Monday to Thursday from 10am to 2pm. Outside of these hours, appointments can be made. We look forward to meeting you all and hope to help facilitate improvements and communication.
On 30th November the Parish Council Office will be open from 1pm to 6pm. Residents are invited to drop in and see the new office and take the opportunity to chat with staff and Councillors.

Goudhurst’s Plan Bee
Goudhurst’s Plan Bee
November’s sky is chill and drear, November’s leaf is red and sear – Sir Walter Scott
During November, autumn gently ebbs away as the last of the leaves fall. Towards the end of the month, much of our natural world breathes a deep sigh before their winter rest. But, before that happens, there’s still plenty of wildlife activity.
We’re approaching our coldest and darkest months of the year. The dramatic reduction in daylight hours and plummeting temperatures are clear cues for wildlife – for many mammals, it’s time to prepare their winter hibernation spots. For birds, it’s time to search for food. Not all wildlife goes dormant during the colder months – and in fact the countryside is full of wildlife in November!
Busy mammals
November is a really good time to spot mammals. Hedgehogs will be scurrying about trying to find a suitable place to hibernate. They’re particularly fond of brash or leaf piles (brash includes twigs and branches). These are some of our best habitats for wildlife. So, a reminder: please check your bonfires before lighting them. According to the 2022 State of Britain’s Hedgehogs Report<www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2022/february/britains-rural-hedgehogs-see-dramatic-population-decline.html#:~:text=Analysis%20from%20The%20State%20of,for%20the%20past%20two%20decades.>, our hedgehogs have seen dramatic decline over the last two decades, so we need to do everything we can to protect them. Please leave brash or leaf piles particularly under hedgerows and they would certainly welcome regular bowls of food at night – kitten biscuits are good but not fish-based flavours. Hogs need to be at least 450g in weight to have enough fat to see them through the winter, if you see one out in daylight it’s likely to be underweight so contact your local wildlife hospital such as Folly Wildlife.
Dormice, squirrels, and voles are also busy stacking their larders for winter. Typically, they can be found around hedgerows and woodland foraging for food. If you walk along a hedgerow this month, take it slow and listen out. You might notice movement in the undergrowth – this could be a mouse or vole preparing their winter homes!
Foxes are also active this month, both in urban and rural areas. They’ll be breaking away from the safety of the family unit in search of new territories to breed. So, a walk this month (particularly during the evening) may indeed feature a bold and intrepid fox, seeking pastures new.
A dance in the sky
There’s a lot to be said about birds during November (and through winter), but starlings deserve their own section. In November, you might be lucky enough to witness one of the most stunning natural spectacles there is: a starling murmuration. These murmurations are essentially thousands and thousands of starlings flying in unison in the sky. It’s breathtaking to see; a constantly transforming mass of birds, which pulsates, shifts and changes as the starlings swoop and dive.
These murmurations occur from around November, when resident starlings are joined by their migrant counterparts from Europe. While we’re not exactly certain why they happen, it’s thought that it’s a combination of things: safety in numbers, exchanging chatter and information, and to keep warm.
Want to see a murmuration this year? Here are some tips:
* Murmurations usually occur over communal roosting sites.
* They often occur around man-made structures like piers, as well as woodland, reed beds and open countryside. Some of the UK’s nature reserves are perfect murmuration sites.
* The best time to spot a murmuration is at dusk.
* Some places in the UK are almost guaranteed spots for murmurations – but they can be extremely busy.
Winter birds
On farmland, parks and gardens, many of our more familiar birds are still flitting around. Resident blackbirds, thrushes and finches will be joined by their migratory counterparts on the lookout for hedgerow berries, nuts and seeds – and plenty of fatty food to see them through the winter.
Butterflies holding on
One or two species of butterfly can still be found in November – particularly if temperatures are fairly mild. Without a doubt the most likely one you’ll spot is the glorious and bold red admiral<butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/red-admiral>. Red admirals feed on sugary (possibly slightly fermented) fallen fruit, as well as ivy flowers – which are one of the best sources of nectar at this time of year. Look out for red admirals on farmland and open countryside – particularly where the hedgerows are bountiful and diverse.
Some British butterflies hibernate as butterflies during the winter – the comma<butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/comma>, brimstone<butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/brimstone>, small tortoiseshell<butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/small-tortoiseshell> and peacock<butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/peacock>. As such, you might get very lucky and spot one of these before they settle down for the winter – though chances are it’ll be the red admiral you see.
Rewilding
An emotive term likely to divide opinion depending on who you talk to!
But wherever you stand on the issue, it’s a startling fact that the UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries, with on average about half its biodiversity left – far below the global average of 75%. It means the UK is in the bottom 10% globally for biodiversity which is a shocking statistic.
In recognition of this, Lamberhurst Community Cinema will be screening WILDING on Saturday 9 November at 7.30pm.
WILDING is a documentary and tells the true story of the Knepp Estate in West Sussex which is unable to farm productively, following years of intensive agriculture. Such is the poor state of the soil, they were forced to take drastic action. They hit on the radical idea of allowing nature to take its course on the estate and the film follows the reclamation of the land by invertebrates, birds and mammals.
Whilst this is a celebration of nature rewilding a parcel of land, it demonstrates what can be done to increase biodiversity in the UK particularly if nature highways can radiate across the country.
Alongside the film, Kent Wildlife Trust will be present for a Q&A session on their recent acquisition of Furnace Farm, on the edge of Lamberhurst consisting of around 145 acres. KWT have plans to adopt some of the approaches seen in WILDING to improve biodiversity on Furnace Farm, which over time hopefully will spread deeper into surrounding countryside.
You can learn more about KWT and the work they do by visiting their website: kentwildlifetrust.org.uk<kentwildlifetrust.org.uk>
This will be a special screening, in aid equally of The Kent Wildlife Trust and the Lamberhurst War Memorial Hall.
Tickets for this special event will be £6 and can be bought online at lamberhurstcinema.org<lamberhurstcinema.org>
The usual bar will be open from 6.30pm together with a warm welcome.
For the bees and hedgehogs
Geoff Mason
geoff.s.j.mason@outlook.com<mailto:geoff.s.j.mason@outlook.com>

Sources
Lewis Townsend – A Countryside Walk in November, Campaign for the Protection of Rural England
Kent Wildlife Trust
Jenny Fox – Lamberhurst Community Cinema

KILNDOWN NEWS
GK Church Community Lunch/Cupboard/Care fund
Lunch is held every Tuesday at St. Mary’s, Goudhurst. Drop in between 11.30am – 1pm for a delicious bowl of homemade soup with bread and cheese, followed by a hot drink and something sweet. Children on school holidays are welcome too. Community Lunch is open to everyone in the Parish. There is no cost.
The Community Cupboard is available for anyone in need. Contact ali.williams@gkchurch<mailto:ali.williams@gkchurch>.org in confidence to arrange a delivery/collection. Care Fund provides financial assistance to individuals, couples or families through a grant system. ‘Phone the Church Office – 01580 211739.
Exercise! Amanda, who runs the adult ballet and tap classes at the Village Hall on a Wednesday evening would love some new members! If you are interested ‘phone Amanda on 07470 074144.
Lindsay, who runs the senior exercise classes also in the Hall, at 9.30pm on Thursday mornings would like a few more takers, to book ‘phone 07538933752.
There are other classes held in the Hall including Yoga and Pilates. Take a look on the Village Hall website or Noticeboard.
Saturday Shop at the Quarry Centre is open from 9am to 12 noon, (give or take tiny bit!)
What’s on sale?
Fresh fruit and vegetables (occasionally from Kilndown gardens) Free range eggs Rye bakery bread Preserves Deli odds & ends Milk, yoghurts, butter, cheeses Selection canned & dry goods (apparently the porridge oats are good) Loose nuts (walnuts from Kilndown) Homemade cake (sometimes) Meats from Park Farm – fresh about once a month (always some in freezer) Ecover laundry & washing up liquid, fabric conditioner, liquid hand soap (bring a bottle for a refill) Whistlefish greeting cards (stamps available)
Plants & cut flowers – as seasonally available (weather/molluscs/rabbit dependent!!) Second hand paperback books (not too dog eared)
Collection boxes for: GK Community Cupboard Used ink cartridges (QC) and postage stamps (RNIB) Balls of wool & fabrics (Quilting Group)
Available to hire: £8 per hour. Once the Shop is ‘flat packed’ there is quite a lot of space.
Raffles throughout the year Look for us on Easy Fundraising and TW Lotto.
All a bit random and possibly chaotic at times, and we apologise in advance for the whiff of embrocation!
*****NEW SHOPPERS WILL RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT ON THEIR FIRST PURCHASE*****

Use the The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK wide service which provides extra advice and support, including when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply.e block’s Settings tab to change the caption position and set other styles. Please click here for more<www.thepsr.co.uk/#join-psr> information<www.thepsr.co.uk/#join-psr> ________________________________ Kilndown Village Hall
The hall is looking fresh and new once more having had the wooden floor completely sanded and re-finished over the summer. A light and airy space, perfect for all kinds of activities and gatherings large and small.
If you are looking for somewhere to hold an event please contact Evie Banfield on 07872 348155 bookings.kilndown@gmail.com<mailto:bookings.kilndown@gmail.com> or for more information go to www.kilndownvillagehall.org<www.kilndownvillagehall.org>
________________________________
What care services do local councils provide?
Kent County Council can help you stay in your own home if you have care needs. They provide meals, carers, transport, home modifications and equipment that helps with the tasks of daily living, although you’ll usually still need to pay something towards your care costs. If you have savings above £23,250 or a high income, you’ll probably have to meet the full cost yourself. If you have a disability or complex medical condition that means you have healthcare needs rather than social care needs, you might qualify for NHS funding.
Getting a local council care needs assessment Contact the social services department of KCC to ask for a care needs assessment. It’s free and it’s your legal right to have one. You shouldn’t be refused an assessment because the local council thinks your needs aren’t great enough or that you won’t qualify for financial help. There is an online form or you can call 03000 41 61 61.
KCC will identify your care needs and check that they meet a nationally agreed set of criteria. If you qualify for help, they have a legal duty to provide or arrange the services you need.
How to find out if you qualify for local council funding for care costs Either at the same time as the needs assessment or soon after, KCC will carry out a financial assessment to see if you qualify for funding if they deem your needs as eligible when assessed against national criteria.
Deciding who manages your personal care budget If you qualify for financial help, you can ask your local council to arrange the care services for you or receive direct payments from the local council and organise your care yourself. Alternatively, you can have a mixture of the two.
This information has been tailored from one of our trusted resources, Money Helper, a website run by HM Government www.moneyhelper.org.uk<www.moneyhelper.org.uk>. More information is also available on KCC’s website www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health<www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health>
PWCAC is OPEN for face-to-face advice (appointments and drop-ins) Monday to Friday, 9:30 – 1:30. If you need advice about consumer issues, housing and homelessness, debt, relationship breakdown, welfare benefits or anything else, get in touch with us:
If the lights do go out… remember to check on neighbours who might need extra help.
PWCAC is OPEN for face-to-face advice (appointments and drop-ins) Monday to Friday, 9:30 – 1:30. If you need advice about the above or about housing and homelessness, debt, relationship breakdown, welfare benefits or anything else, get in touch with us:
info@pwadvice.org<mailto:info@pwadvice.org> | 01892 838619 94 Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6DP Company Limited by Guarantee: 8006468 Charity Registration No: 1147816
________________________________ Report a problem on a road or pavement
You can report non-urgent issues including:
* street light faults * potholes * drainage * traffic signal faults * overgrown vegetation (including hedges and grass)
quickly and easily to Kent Highways via their online reporting tool<www.kent.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/report-a-problem>. ________________________________ Planned Road Closures Details of all road closures, including emergency closures, can be found at: one.network/uk/kent <one.network/uk/kent> ________________________________ Welcome Booklet – Have you got a new neighbour?
A few of us who live in the village, thought that a welcome pack would be useful to people moving in. It includes an information booklet and chocolate donated by Goupie. If you have a new neighbour or are new yourself, please phone: Chris 07952 545472 | Linda 07485 727656 | Sue 07905 791627 ________________________________ Help spread the word!
If you found this e-newsletter interesting and informative please encourage your friends, family and neighbours to sign up. They can do so on our website: goudhurst-pc.gov.uk/e-newsletter-sign-up/ <goudhurst-pc.gov.uk/e-newsletter-sign-up/> or by emailing the Clerk clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk<mailto:clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk> <mailto:clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk> Help spread the word!
If you found this e-newsletter interesting and informative please encourage your friends, family and neighbours to sign up. They can do so on our website: goudhurst-pc.gov.uk/e-newsletter-sign-up/ <goudhurst-pc.gov.uk/e-newsletter-sign-up/> or by emailing the Clerk clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk<mailto:clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk> <mailto:clerk@goudhurst-pc.gov.uk> [Twitter]<www.twitter.com/> [Facebook]<www.facebook.com/> [Website]<mailchimp.com/> Copyright © 2024 Goudhurst Parish Council, All rights reserved.