Ecosystem health, Medway monthly gardening – June

On 5 June, it’s World Environment Day. A day that is all about helping to restore ecosystems. Gardeners can play a big part in this.

To create a healthier ecosystem in your garden, try not to use pesticides. A garden without pesticides can provide food, shelter and water for wildlife.

It also helps predators such as birds, ladybird larvae and hover flies thrive and provide natural pest control.

June plants

Practical tips around June plants include:

  • leaving some of your lawn to grow through summer to see what blooms
  • sowing biennials such as foxgloves, sweet williams and evening primroses for flowering next year.

Bugs and bees

Using our tips, you will hopefully see some more:

  • butterflies – some butterfly larvae eat long grass
  • bees – bumblebees love foxgloves
  • small tortoiseshell butterflies – their favourite food is sweet williams
  • moths – moths enjoy evening primrose.

Fruits and vegetables

For fruits and vegetables, you could try:

  • pinching out the tips of broad bean plants to reduce blackfly or just leave ladybirds and their larvae to eat them
  • leaving last year’s parsnips in the ground so they can grow their beautiful umbelliferous flowers, loved by hover flies and other insects.

Hedges and trees for cleaner air

National Clean Air Day is 17 June. A scientific study by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has shown that thick, dense hedges help absorb pollution from cars.

They found that shrubs with dense canopies and rough, hairy leaves are the best. A good example is the cotoneaster.

Shrubs that flower and have berries look great and provide food and cover for birds and insects.

Container grown shrubs can be planted any time. Just make sure to keep them well watered in their first year.

Sources: Gardening for a Wilder Kent / (RHS’s) hedge your bets with ‘super plant ’to fight air pollution

 

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Applications open for Hampshire county youth ensembles

Complete the application form to apply to become a member of these high-quality Hampshire youth ensembles for 2021-22.

Deadline: end of June 2021 (auditions, where necessary, will be organised for the summer term)

  • Hampshire County Youth Bands (HCYB)
  • Hampshire County Youth Band #
  • Hampshire County Youth Training Band #
  • Hampshire County Youth Junior Band *
  • HAMPSHIRE COUNTY YOUTH CHOIRS (HCYC)
  • Hampshire County Youth Chamber Choir #
  • Hampshire County Youth Choir #
  • Hampshire County Youth Show Choir #
  • Hampshire County Youth Training Choir #
  • Hampshire County Junior Choir *
  • HAMPSHIRE COUNTY YOUTH JAZZ CENTRE*
  • Hampshire County Youth Orchestras (HCYO)
  • Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra #
  • Hampshire County Youth String Orchestra #
  • Hampshire County Youth Wind Ensembles (HCYWE)
  • Hampshire County Youth Wind Ensemble #
  • Hampshire Youth Training Wind Ensemble *
  • Hampshire Flute Choir #
  • Hampshire Double Reed Ensemble #
  • Hampshire Percussion Ensemble *

# Audition required
* No formal audition required.

Please contact Hampshire Music Service for entry criteria.

Before making your youth ensembles application, please see the Ensembles page for detailed information on each group. Contact Hampshire Music Service if you have any further questions. For all auditioned ensembles, we are looking at ways to carry out auditions safely in the current circumstances, including virtual auditions. Details about these will be sent to the relevant applicants.

The County music ensembles build on and extend the opportunities available in Hampshire’s 50 area groups. County ensembles provide high quality performing opportunities for Hampshire’s most able young musicians. Each group has a full schedule of rehearsals and concerts and a high level of commitment is required. You are welcome to visit rehearsals for any of these ensembles before deciding whether to apply.

Membership is open to young people up to the age of 19, who are in full-time education at school/college/home. Priority will be given first to Hampshire residents, and then to non-Hampshire residents attending Hampshire schools and colleges. You may apply for membership on more than one instrument. Please complete a separate form for each instrument. You may also apply for membership of more than one ensemble. Please indicate in order of preference the ensemble for which you are applying, by numbering the relevant boxes overleaf (1 is first choice).

 

 

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