This is my contribution to Rogation (Sunday, 17 May 2020) that has appeared in one of my tubs on my roof terrace... It is so exciting when wild flowers arrive!!

I found some blossom on the little bush a week or so ago which I think was apple... I do put apple pips in the pots sometimes!!

Also chives have arrived and the tiny little daisies. I used to plant lots of things years ago but now I just enjoy what comes naturally!

Elizabeth Garrett

Fresh Food for the Frontline are a charity that provide NHS staff and others - St Philips parishioners included - healthy weekly food box. They are filled with one weeks worth of food: fruit, vegetables, bread, milk, butter and eggs all sourced from farms in the Cotswolds.

"Having been in isolation since early March, I'd like to say thanks a million, for so much shopping to Ros, Jamie and Pippa (tirelessly thinking of everyone) - as well as the Bountiful St Barnabas' Boxes delivered by Roz, and also Simon from St Philips! Chris Luxton

You can help Fresh Food for the Frontline by donating to the crowd funder https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mark-hamilford

Tadpoles Nursery is open for children of frontline workers in the NHS. If you know of any families for whom this might be helpful, please contact the Head (who is also a St Philips parishioner) Claire Dimpfl at tadpolesnursery@gmail.com

Families with 5’s and should look at Tadpoles clubs on Instagram iGTV were they are posting stories, games, recipes and songs all delivered by the Tadpoles teachers, including Claire. You can search Tadpoles Clubs IGTV and will find the posts.

On Tuesday 28 April, we observed a minute of silence at 11am to pay tribute to our NHS and other key workers who have lost their lives to Coronavirus. I have been phoning some of our frontline staff to thank them for all they doing to help protect our shielded residents.

I want to thank all of you who have been pulling together for our community whether by volunteering, keeping essential services running, donating food or donating your time. I also want to thank those who are staying indoors and sticking to social distancing guidelines. It really does make a world of difference in these most challenging times.

We've been making progress supporting our businesses with grants and relief funding, offering help to our vulnerable and shielded residents, redeploying staff in critical roles and feeding the community. There's still a lot work to be done but I'm proud to be part of a borough where residents care so deeply and work so hard to support one another.

As we enter another week of lockdown, we must remember to continue to social distance and stay 2 metres apart. It's important that we follow the rules whilst enjoying our beautiful parks or out on our daily walk. As we have heard from the Government we are nearing the end of the first phase of this battle with this deadly virus but we have not yet won. We are still very much fighting and we cannot become complacent. Please do listen to the Government advice. Our NHS needs your support and co-operation to get this through this

Yours faithfully, Elizabeth Campbell

Our Councillors Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke, Cllr Anne Cyron, and Cllr James Husband have written again to remind us that the council website provides regular updates www.rbkc.gov.uk.

What is the Council doing for you?

1. The Council’s dedicated virtual ‘hub’ for over 70s and people with existing medical conditions is now live. That hub will be providing food, supplies and support to vulnerable people.

2. The Council has suspended parking for NHS key-workers on the roads surrounding our world-class hospitals. We want to support our doctors and our nurses, who are doing such heroic work to safeguard vulnerable people.

3. We have announced we will be extending our Hardship Grants to more residents. Read more details about that here .

4. We will be giving £2,500 up-front to small businesses in the borough. The Government’s £10,000 rate relief may take some days or weeks to come through, so we are front-loading some of that cash - to help our high-streets.

5. We hosted a Coronavirus briefing for all councillors last Thursday night. This means your local representatives should have lots of relevant information about how services may be affected and how to avoid disruption.

St Philips Parisioner, Ragni Trotta has made a video to promote the campaign Frontline Immune Support which is providing NHS staff with high quality immune support supplements to help keep those on the NHS frontline resilient and strong.

Watch the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoNT5nrAKQ4&feature=youtu.be and support the campaign here https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/nhs-frontline-immune-support/comments?page=2#start

Thank you to The Evening Standard and Sir Peter Blake for this wonderful initiative. Even in these uncertain times, it's wonderful to see that art and creativity are uniting people and bringing hope.

“A rainbow of hope as London stands together. A bright symbol of a better time to come, and a reminder that although we are being kept apart physically, for now we stand together in spirit, stronger than ever, as a city.” Read the full article and get your own print-out of Peter Blake's Rainbow, HERE

Join us Wednesdays at 10.30am for an hour of fellowship and bring-your-own refreshments. Whilst the Church is closed, we will meet online using the Zoom ap. Download Zoom and use The Meeting ID: 985 009 1888. During Lent we will reflect on George Herbert's poetry, using Mark Oakley's new book: "My Sour-Sweet days: George Herbert and the Journey of the Soul."

Our monthly bookclub will continue to meet ('virtually' via zoom, see details above). The next one is 28 April

What they are doing and why: Their goal is to strengthen the natural defence system against the virus by providing immunity boosting ingredients (at cost price) to local residents and equipping them with the knowledge to integrate these ingredients into their daily diets to best optimise their immune function. Their immunity building teams combine the expertise of nutritional therapy with leading restauranteurs in the local community.

Who they are: Daisy York dipION (student), mBANT: currently studying Nutritional Therapy at the renowned Institute for Optimum Nutrition and due to qualify in June 2020. For 3 years Daisy has been studying how diet can impact systemic health and have profound effects on our physiology. In keeping with evidenced-based principles, Daisy is eager to share this knowledge with those in high-risk groups who are self-isolating and who could potentially benefit the most from it.

James Chiavarini: local restauranteur whose family has proudly served the community for nearly half a century. James has a thoughtfully curated chain of suppliers who can provide healthful foods to support this initiative.

What they are providing: They will be delivering boxes of nutrient dense immunity boosting foods for 2, 4, or 6 people. In time, boxes will include prepared food from James’s commercial kitchens. Nutrient-rich soups, stews and broths can be made in batches and delivered the same day. Each box will be accompanied by specially prepared information on the nutritional benefits of the contents and ideas for how to incorporate the ingredients into the daily diet. Daisy is on hand to provide people with more general information about immune support for anyone who may be interested.

How they are doing it: The contents of the food boxes are selected by Daisy and James and sourced through James’ restaurant suppliers. James’ restaurant serves as the food preparation hub and boxes are distributed by James and Daisy to the doorsteps of local residents with the support of James’ restaurant team.

Government food safety and hygiene standards will be followed strictly.

Contact Daisy or James on Communityimmunityw8@gmail.com

Please remember we are actively supporting the KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA FOOD BANK, which is part of the Trussell Trust and run by the Notting Hill Methodist Church. They are very grateful for our help - especially NOW! Sadly we can't take donations at Church, but you can donate items at TESCO W. Cromwell Rd, Kensington, London W14 8PB.

Find out more https://kensingtonchelsea.foodbank.org.uk/

This months edition is online only.

Local churches have contributed with their approach to helping all members of the community; they have highlight community initiatives and provide lots of information for how to keep yourself and your families busy even during this period of isolation. Have a look at http://www.thekensingtonmagazine.com/