Welcome to the SRT blog No. 52
7th May 2021 – Welcome to our blog post No. 52
The spring flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and it seems a little more joyful, day by day! The name May is the modern-day English adaption of the Latin word Maius, which has origins going back to the time of the ancient Greeks. They named the month of May (or Maius) after the Greek goddess of growth.
May used to have a very different name in Old English. Back then, the month was referred to as the “month of three milkings.” Unsurprisingly, this meant that during this month, you could milk your cows up to three times per day!
There’s the Cornish superstition that buying a new broom in May is unlucky. Oh, and apparently, you shouldn’t wash any blankets either!
May is a special time for ‘Star Wars’ fans worldwide and always a good reason to re-watch the movies. May the 4th is celebrated as Star Wars day, due to the way the date sounds similar to “May the Force.”
The Empire State Building opened its doors on May1 1931 At the point of its construction, it held the record for being the tallest building in the world.
May Day is a public holiday, in some regions, usually celebrated on 1 May or the first Monday of May. It is an ancient festival marking the first day of summer, and a current traditional spring holiday in many European cultures. Dances around the maypole, singing, and cake are usually part of the festivities.
The birthstone for May is the emerald. Emeralds are symbols of fertility and rebirth. 
May has two birth flowers – the Lily-of-the-Valley and the Hawthorn. The Hawthorn flower is a symbol of hope, while the Lily-of-the-Valley represents the return of happiness and sweetness.
There are two Zodiac signs, Taurus and Gemini.
Many famous people were born in May, such as Mark Zuckerberg, Karl Marx, Clint Eastwood, Wes Anderson, John F. Kennedy, Queen Victoria, and Catherine the Great!
*************************
Luka & Tim have been weeding on the Activity Centre site this week….
….and dramatically the woodshed has now been demolished!
This will be replaced with a new one – more easy to get into and use and dry! We’ll keep you up to date.
Noreen, Lewis, Graham and David are helping to put the finishing touches to the poly tunnel in place.
*************************
Graham from Northchurch, was helping out on the New Road Cemetery mowing contract .
Thursday is ‘craft’ day and this team are helping make wooden plant labels from our own coppiced wood for our stand at Hampton Court. It also means they get to avoid the showers!
Chloe, with Maggie serving cake from the cafe.
Over 150 rescue chickens have arrived at Northchurch over a couple of days.
Supervised on this journey by Sam.
Sorting and washing the eggs after todays collection from the chickens.
Sam’s also checking out how this is going – he gets about doesn’t he.
A moth taking a drink from the wet window. We think its a White Ermine after a check on the butterfly conservation link http://www.butterfly-conservation.org/moths/white-ermine
*************************
Hemel Food Garden Bakery – the room is now being fitted out and has had the baking oven, cooling racks, wash stations, the giant fridge and kitchen units with work tops fixed in place. Next arrivals are the central steel islands.
There’s a new seasonal flavoured smoothie at the Sunnyside Up Café – Carrot & Orange – packed full of sunshine & goodness. 
Bit of a foamy moment in the dishwasher
And Camilla is practising for Sundays National Garden Day Home – Garden Day l UK’s Garden Day
And adding flowers to her hair….
The cats will be arriving soon and there will be more than the shed can take, so Hemel have taken possession of a small container for their shelter.
An awesome team effort from the trainees on the allotment. Interplanting leeks and parsnips in very neat rows (easier to hoe between).
Then mixing nematodes with water, ready to be unleashed on the potatoes to commence their mission to hunt down the hole making potatoes as a biological pest control.
The chickens arrived back from their winter holiday in ‘lockdown’ from Northchurch where they have been out but with netting over the top of their space to protect them from avian flu.
They even came with gifts!
*************************
Annette was busy over the bank holiday weekend last week potting on dahlia plants and putting them into the protective cold frame. Good idea whilst it’s still so cold. Do send i any photos of what you hav e been up to.
