Marcham Moldova Lifeline

To find out more about Marcham Moldova Lifeline, contact MADNews who can pass your enquiry on: Email editor@madnews.co.uk

Summer Sunflower Competition

To everyone who bought a sunflower seedling earlier in the summer, it is time to think about entering the competition. If you think your sunflower could win the prize for tallest sunflower, please measure it before it goes over, and record its height either on the form which accompanied the seedling, or, if you no longer have the form, email the details with your name and address to Paul Davies: pjdavies871@btinternet.com (Tel: 391912) Entry forms may be left off in the collecting boxes at the Post Office, school and church.

Don’t forget to mention which of the two categories your seedling was: the shorter, agricultural sunflower, or the taller, ornamental sunflower. There will be a cash prize in each category for the tallest plant. The deadline for entries is 30 September.

Thanks again to local grower Murray Maclean for his generous assistance in planting the seeds, and providing pots and compost.

Sunflowers are a vivid symbol of our link with Moldova because one of the first things which Marcham was able to do there was to support two villages with sunflower seed following a devastating drought in 2007. Sunflowers are an important crop in Moldova, grown for cooking oil.

Our Sunflower growing competition is a fun way to support the on-going Marcham Moldova Lifeline project, and we hope by September for the gardens of Marcham to be full of sunflowers. Download our free poster which you can colour in and stick in your window to show that you are taking part. If you missed buying your seedlings during launch week, email pjdavies871@btinternet.com for details of how to catch up.

In September you will have the opportunity to enter your Sunflowers for judging, either as a Tallest Sunflower, or as a Sunflower with the Largest Head. Judging will take place at the end of September. There will be a £25 prize for each category.

Growing tips:

• Keep your seedlings watered and frost free until a second set of leaves have grown
• Once they are big enough, plant straight into the garden, they like full sun, and not too much wind.
• Support the plants with stakes to help them grow tall and strong.

While you are waiing for your sunflowers to grow, why not colour in this page as you think they will look!

To find out more about Marcham Moldova Lifeline contact Mary Embleton: Email