News Classics club


THEOld BridgeMusicClub is look- ing for newmembers partial to clas- sical tunes. The group, which has beenmeet-


ing since 1951, organises pro- grammes of CDs, tapes and vinyl records featuring theworks of great composers. It next meets at Aylesford Com-


munity Centre in Forstal Road be- tween 2pmand 4pmon January 25. Formore information, contact Betty Crouch on 01622 754564.


Saving a life


FIREFIGHTERS in Larkfield are of- fering free training to turnmembers of thepublic intopotential lifesavers. The basic life support sessions,


planned for January 26 and Febru- ary 23, will cover administering chest compressions and using a de- fibrillator to assist casualties suffer- ing cardiac arrests. The sessions run from10amuntil 4pmat Larkfield Fire Station.


Unity service


ST MARY’S Church,West Malling, will be hosting a service at 4pm on Sunday, January 27 tomark the con- clusion of the Week of Prayer for ChristianUnity. Parishioners from all denomina- tions and churches are invited.


downsmail.co.uk


Race to find stink bug before crops destroyed


EAST Malling scientists are on a mission to sniff out Asian stink bugs before they lay waste to British crops. The pests, which are properly


known as brownmarmorated stink bugs, originated in eastern Asia and are thought to have spread around the globe through interna- tional shipping containers. They caused alarm in European


agricultural circleswhen theywere first identified in Switzerland, and they have now been spotted in Greece, Italy,Germany and France. They have since caused “significant damage to crops” in mainland Europe. They also surfaced in Australia


and NewZealand lastmonth. Scientists at East Malling Re-


search say it is just amatter of time before the species settles on UK shores. Entomologist Dr Glen Powell


said: “We’ve long been at the fore- front of finding, and developing, practical control strategies for newly-arriving pest species. “It is likely this is a ‘when’ not ‘if’


bug pheromones. As an industry, we need to be ready tomitigate po- tential damage by this pest, which causes major damage to crops by eating the foliage of fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops,” said Dr Powell. This particular stink bug, one of


a group which takes its name from the pungent odour it emits when handled, is listed on the UK Plant Health Risk Register. Government officials say it is


The brownmarmorated stink bug Picture: Hectonichus,Wikimedia Commons


pest species, as there have already been a couple of instances on im- ported timber.” East Malling’s horticultural re-


searchers and crop specialists at Berry Garden Growers, say they have been monitoring seven fruit- growing sites in south east Eng- land, using traps containing stink


both likely to enter the UK and to establish itself in the countryside. They claimits appearancewill her- ald “significant economic impact to affected crops”. NIAB EMR, the company behind


East Malling Research, says the pest can be identified through the “unique combination of alternating light bands on its antennae and dark bands on the side of its ab- domen”. It says growers who think they


have found a brown marmorated stink bug should take a photograph of it and send it to Dr Powell at glen.powell@emr.ac.uk.


Introducing The Brand New Ifor Williams HBX range of Horse Trailers.


Superbly engineered with an all-aluminium body and streamlined roof design. Order yours now.


The Eventa Gold with Luxurious Living, designed with you and your horse in mind. A trailer that is both functional and comfortable.


“We carry your load” www.johnpagetrailers.co.uk 10 Malling January 2019


Tel: 01580 291088 Email: sales@johnpagetrailers.co.uk


New for 2019


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44