Friday 6th June 2025 - Japanese Knotweed, Light Mornings and The Belfry Summer Fair

I’m starting today’s blog with a follow up regarding the Japanese Knotweed.  This is in relation to my emails earlier this year, to North Norfolk District Council and the Parish Council’s Annual Meeting, back in April, all of which I featured in earlier blogs.  Having not heard or read anything, regarding the current situation and in particular whether the NNDC have investigated as to whether knotweed can be consumed by marine life or if salt water will kill it, I sent an email to Coastal Management, requesting an update.  I have copied my email below, together with Coastal Management’s reply, for all to read.   

‘Hi xxxxx

Please would you update me with the situation regarding the slump over the promenade here in Overstrand, which contains knotweed.

At the Overstrand Annual Parish meeting in April, my husband suggested to Rob Young that the Council investigate (as I have suggested too in an email) as to whether it is edible by marine life and could therefore, be deposited in the sea.  Knotweed can be eaten by humans and certain animals.  

Neither of us have heard anything back, either directly or via the Parish Council. 

Kind regards

Janet

Good Afternoon Janet,

Many thanks for your email.

We have commissioned a specialist to look into the best way to deal with the wider Knotweed issue in this location, and we are expecting their draft report later this month, as such I will be able to update more fully once we have received it.

In the short term, we are still investigating how best to dispose of the cliff material which is currently on the prom, but we hope to have a solution soon.

Kind regards,

Coastal Management’

Not everyone likes early mornings but for me, it’s the best time of the day; I particularly love sunrises.  As we head towards the longest day, if I wake around four (which I often do) and providing it’s not cloudy, I can see a red glow in the sky, signifying the sun will soon by bursting over the horizon.  By five it’s light but far too early to get up, instead I listen to the birds singing and maybe doze a little until six.  I am not complaining about these early morning wake-ups, in fact I welcome the light mornings and longer days.  I expect, if I ventured out into the garden, at five, the pollinating insects would already have started their day and be busy visiting the flowers in our garden.  This year I have noticed more holes in the ground, the homes of ground nesting bees.  When I am gardening, I take care not to accidentally cover the openings, or disturb, or remove surrounding vegetation, or flowers as these are used by the bees to enable them to find their way back to their individual nests.  Our pyracanthas are amazing this year and are covered in bloom.  The past two springs were wet and as a result these shrubs suffered from scab, dropping leaves and flower buds but fortunately later reviving.  They are certainly making up for it this year, attracting a variety of different bumble bees, insects, red admiral butterflies and to my delight, painted lady butterflies, the latter I’ve not seen for a couple of years.

Something a bit different today, instead of a photo I am sharing a poster for the forthcoming Belfry School Summer Fair.  I understand there are a few remaining stalls available to book.  Anyone interested in having a stall, can contact the Friends of The Belfry using their email address – friendsofthebelfry@gmail.com