Newsletter – April 2023

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As over two thirds of members have not sent “read receipts” to my email cancelling our April talk, I am starting this newsletter repeating the fact that we have had to cancel the meeting planned for the 25th April.
In view of this our next event is our annual plant sale:

PLANT SALE 21ST MAY:
A successful plant sale means we can spend more on sourcing quality speakers throughout the year. So, please can we ask for more plants, flowers and vegetables, cuttings and divided plants. It is also a good opportunity to advertise our skills and talents to the local community and encourage others to join.

This year, although the posters were sent to print by our efficient publicity secretary without me advising of the alterations required, we are NOT including a gardening related bric a brac table, but this is being replaced, at the suggestion of our member Stephen Hancocks, by a second hand gardening book table so please have a sort out and bring any good condition books along on the day.

Coincidently, after Stephen had kindly offered to coordinate the book sale, I was contacted by Tony Mortimer, the widower of Nuchia, who had been an enthusiastic and knowledgeable member, asking if he could donate her collection of gardening books to the Club so there will be a very good selection.

Also, this year we will be providing a tool sharpening service for garden tools, knives and scissors.

Very imprortantly, we need volunteers on the day to help set up. Hopefully, weather permitting, we will be having the sale outside again but we will need help with putting the plants out in their price groups and selling during the afternoon.
Volunteers will be needed from 11.00 am on the 21st May.

As we have no meeting before the sale, please let me know via the club email if you are able to help on the day.

Anyone needing help sending plants to the sale could they please contact a member of the committee so we can organise collection.

Also, even more importantly, Alison Coggon and Anne Sinclair have “volunteered” to organise the refreshments on the day.
Please let us know if you are able to help on the day and / or provide a cake.

42nd ANNUAL SHOW – Saturday 19th August 2023:
Apologies for the delay in completing the Schedule but it is nearing completion, just finalising the recipes.
So far, no one has come forward to help organise the Show and cancelling it has been considered as, yet again, everything is falling on the shoulders of your very small committee!!
Therefore, please give consideration to helping and as we will need Stewards on the day.
Please let Monica know if you are able to help.

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO:
Yarpole Gardeners’ Questions, Thursday 18th May at 7.00pm, In the Parish Hall.
On the panel will be:

Ian Fotheringham, a keen amateur gardener, whose gardening mentor was his grandfather. His main interest is growing fruit and vegetables;
Steve Lloyd, who is Head Gardener at Hergest Croft. He began working at Hergest in 1980 and has a particular interest in hardy, woody trees and shrubs;
Sue Russell, author of the Curious Gardener and former nurserywoman. She was Chair of the RHS Pinks Committee and has spoken and taught widely on horticultural matters;

Tickets for the evening will cost £10 (to include tea and biscuits)

The Highwood Open Garden, 21st May 2023.
Open for 1 day, beautiful gardens at The Highwood, with lovely features, walks, views and sumptuous refreshments. 21st May 11.00 – 16.00.
The Highwood is set on a promontory above the gorgeous North Herefordshire village of Yarpole, with its vibrant pub, cafe and shop. Bordered by the National Trust at Croft Castle and Bircher Common, this Georgian house rises out of its Parkland, affording stunning views across woodland and pasture towards a rim of blue hills in the far horizon. Lovely garden and water features and pretty woodland walks are pleasantly spaced across the undulating landscape, full of spots for the visitor to stop and enjoy the views. Plant stall, parking, WC and sumptuous tea, coffee and cakes available. Children and well-behaved dogs welcome. Entry Fee £5, children under 12 free. Locations: 52°17’19.5″N 2°47’38.9″W – Google Maps
Whilst we realise that this clashes with our Plant Sale you do have time to do both!!!

REFRESHMENT ROTA:

Our volunteers for refreshments for April have kindly moved on to May but we still need volunteers for the rest of the year so the rota will be going around again at the next meeting.

SETTING UP ROTA:
As mentioned in my previous email, we will be sending round a rota for members to volunteer setting up and tidying up the Hall on meeting evenings.

E.G.M. – 25th July 2023:
Please remember we are holding an E.G.M. on our Supper evening and your Committee will be publishing the amendments they wish to make next month.
If you have any suggested amendments, these must be received by the Secretary before 22nd May so they can be included in the next newsletter.

Please refer to the Members section of the website to see the Rules and General Information sections.

NEXT MEETING:
Our meeting on the 30th May is Philip Aubury on “Keeping them in shape – Pruning – the why, when and how”.

Monica