Category: Did you know?

Broadband Update – January 2013

DEFRA
Indications are that DEFRA will advise on funding before the month is out.

Leo Hughes has confirmed on 15 January that “DT11 have the broadband funding approved”. There have been no recent updates in the DT11 Forum website or the North Dorset Broadband website.

Gardening Club – Jobs for November

  1. Should you want to plant a new hedge or new roses for next year, now is the time to order bare rooted stock. This will save you a great deal of cash. If you need advice as to some suppliers, please speak to Pete at the next meeting.
  2. Once all the leaves have left your apple trees it is time for their yearly prune. Collect fallen leaves, not diseased ones, and either put on your compost heap or store in black bags. This will encourage them to break down and you will then be able to use them for mulch.
  3. Now is the time to plant tulip bulbs ready for spring.
    Clean out and replenish bird baths and feeders regularly Tennis balls are a good addition to ponds, fountains and birdbaths alike, to stop them from freezing over completely.
  4. We’ve already experienced ground frost so all vulnerable and precious plants should be covered or moved to a safer place for winter.
  5. Outside taps should be well insulated, or better still, the supply turned off for winter months. We don’t want the trouble of burst pipes.

Gardening Club – Jobs for December

Now is the time for a general tidy-up.

  1. With the fresh memory of planting, move plants to a new home, at the same time splitting perennials to make more plants. Whilst doing this give the borders a good dig over, feeding the soil and planting bulbs at the same time.
  2. Containers will need freshening up for the winter, so these can be planted up with bulbs and other fresh material. Exotic plants need to be protected from frost, so either move inside or wrap next month. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
  3. Pick fruit and compost fallen fruit that is too bad to use. This in turn will remove wasps to one spot therefore making the garden safer for children and grandchildren. This is now the time to prune raspberries and blackberries.
  4. Greenhouses, especially if you have had blight, can now be cleared out and cleaned, to allow the sowing of winter salad crops etc. You could also pin up bubble polythene insulation for warmth.
  5. This is also a good time to clean your pond. Use a rod or pole to remove blanket weed by twisting it round the pole. Be careful to return any wildlife which gets caught up in it.
  6. If your lawn is the worse for wear, aerate, scarify and dress ,sowing a thin layer of seed at the same time.

The Wheelies are Coming

 New recycle for Dorset collection service – dorsetforyou.com.

Stourpaine is in Tranche 2 so service in for July 2013.

The ‘recycle for Dorset’ service at a glance

With the new ‘recycle for Dorset’ service, you have one regular collection day. Food waste is collected every week together with either recycling or rubbish, which are collected on alternate weeks. The standard ‘recycle for Dorset’ service consists of:

You can also apply for an optional, fortnightly garden waste service using either a 240-litre wheelie bin (for £35 a year) or a 120-litre reusable bag (for £25 a year).

101 NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER

101 NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER

Members of the public in Dorset must now ring 101 to contact Dorset Police for non-urgent enquiries. See Stourpaine Matters > Emergencies.

The 101 number has replaced the previous non-emergency police number in Dorset of T: 01202  222 222 or T: 01305 222 222.

Chief Superintendent Colin Searle, Communications and Contact Services Commander, said:

“The new 101 police non-emergency telephone number is easy to remember and will be live across the whole country early next year [Postnote: 2012].

“It is important that the public in Dorset know that they must dial 101 to contact the police in Dorset for non-urgent business from now on.

“The public should call 101 to report crime, to contact their local Safer Neighbourhood Team, to provide us with information about crimes that have been committed or to make a general enquiry.

“As ever, people should always dial 999 in an emergency – when life is in danger or a crime is in progress.”

Calls to the 101 non-emergency number – from both landlines and mobile phones – cost 15 pence per call no matter what time of day you call, or how long you are on the phone.

If you have any information regarding the contents of this message, please call either Dorset Police on:

  • T: 01202 222 222 or T: 01305 222 222.
  • Crimestoppers, anonymously on T: 0800 555 111.
  • You may prefer to contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team.