News


downsmail.co.uk Spreading theword about sewage


A SIGH of relief will go up from many as we approach the end of the sewage spreading season. The soil enriching operation has


been a feature of the farming calen- dar for decades – but it is the smell of today’s various organic soil im- provers that never fails to cause complaints. But as North Downs arable


farmerKevinAttwood explains, the seven-week operation – which ran from July to September – is one of the most sustainable ways to deal with a waste issue that we all con- tribute to. “Farmers don’t go out of their


way to create smells and a nui- sance,” he said, adding: “As a soci- ety we have quite rightly decided not to pollute our seaswith sewage


outfalls andwe have newrecycling targets. Farming now plays an in- creasing role in helping to achieve these targets and to recycle its waste by returning organic matter to the soil, which improves yields and soil quality and means we use less artificial fertiliser.” With every town having its own


sewage works and various recy- cling operations, such as domestic refuse composting, most organic waste also travels less than 15miles before being incorporated back into the soil. In theMaidstone area, a number


of products, with their own signa- ture smell, are making the short trip, including: Poultry manure (probably the mostwhiffy on the smell scale);


Compost from Maidstone


Council’s brown bins (surprisingly smelly and black in colour); Heat-treated sewage sludge


(strong odour and black in colour); Waste gypsum (limited odour


and blue/grey in colour) Mr Attwood, who farms 4,500


“Muck” spreading is an efficient, if whiffy, use of waste products


Paper waste from mills like


those at Snodland and Sitting- bourne (pungent and grey in colour);


acres, said: “The downside is they all have an aroma. Nevertheless, farmers do all they can to incorpo- rate waste within 24 hours and if the weather is fine the smell lifts quite quickly. “While somewill say the smell is


a pain, there is much to be gained fromrecycling in thisway.” Maidstone Borough Councilwas


unable to tell us if it had received any complaints as we went to press.


Community is at heart of awards


THE “inspirational” minds behind three initiatives inMaidstone have made it into the finals in the search to find Kent’s community heroes. Nikki Gough (35), from Lincoln


Pub landlord AdamPhillips


Adam’s 10k challenge for Demelza


MAIDSTONE publican Adam Phillips has completed a gruelling open water swimming challenge to raise more than £3,000 for the children’s charity named after his sister. Adam, landlord of the Duke of


Edinburgh pub in Heath Road, Barming, took on the Dart 10k Swim in Devon, which follows the RiverDart fromTotnes to the estu- ary at Dittisham, finishing in 2 hours and 26minutes. The money will go to Demelza


Hospice Care for Children, which carries the name of his sister, Demelza, who died of a brain tu- mour, age 24. Adam followed a strict training


regime in the 10 weeks leading up to the swim. He documented his progress on his Facebook page, SwimmingwithDemelza,which he hopes will inspire more people to take part in fundraising events for the Sittingbourne-based charity. At the finish line, he said: “It’s


been an amazing journey and I’ve loved every bit of it. The feeling is simply fantastic. “Demelza was my sister, and I


amimmensely proud that the hos- pice not only carries her name, but continues to thrive on the very simplest of family values; care, support and love.”


36 Maidstone November 2017


Road, has been recognised for her work to turn disused council allot- ments inHampshire Drive into the Shepway Chariots Community Garden. Themum-of-fourwas nominated


by her partner Ian Prentice, who said: “By turning a half-acre patch of unloved land into a thriving al- lotment, not only is Nikki and her team promoting a healthy and ac- tive lifestyle, but encouraging en- gagementwithin our community.”


Blooming Green, at Linton, has


also been shortlisted for an Excep- tional Business Award. The farm- based business, which has been running for 10 years, grows flowers to organic and renewable stan- dards and provides a pick-your- own option, creative workshops and bespoke arrangements for events. Jen Stuart-Smith, from Blooming Green, said: “Visitors love picking their own flowers. As far as we know, we were the first company in the county to offer PYOwedding flowers.” The Kent Football Association at


Aylesford is the third local concern to earn a nomination for the


awards, run for the second year by Perrys Chartered Accountants, which has offices inMaidstone. The association is one of three or-


ganisations nominated for the Ex- ceptional Business Community Initiative Award after partnering with Demelza Hospice Care for Children to help refurbish its soft play and therapy room. Paul Dolan, from the Kent


County Football Association, said: “Weworkedwith the hospice to co- ordinate local businesses, football leagues and clubs and the Kent Schools’ FA to raise £25,164.” The winners will be announced at Leeds Castle on November 9.


School cooks up a special birthday treat


PUPILS at Tiger Primary School had a grrrrrr-eat time celebrating the school’s fifth birthday. Tiggy the Tiger was there to


meet the children who sang a rousing chorus of Happy Birth- day before blowing out the can- dle on a birthday cake, baked by Tina Boyling, one of the school’s cooks. Tiger Primary, in Boughton


Lane, Loose,wasKent’s first free school when it opened in Sep- tember 2012 – the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Openingwith just three classes


and 72 pupils, it was the first new primary school in Maid- stone for 25 years. The school nowhas a full complement in all year groups and a roll of 390 chil- dren. Tiger Primary prides itself on a


creative curriculum which in- cludes French and German, music, dance and creative writ- ing, as well as access to the school farm and ecology wood-


Left to right: Primary pupils Charlie, Harvey, Sophie, Cailyn and Anezka with Tiggy and school cook Tina Boyling


land. Head teacher Hayley Liddon,


who took over at the start of term, said: “The school has proved all the critics wrong. “We have gone from strength


to strength and are a popular choice among parents in Maid- stone who love that we are able to offer subjects not normally available on the national curricu- lum.”


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