Newsletter – September 2023

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Welcome back to the Hall for our first meeting of the autumn and our speaker is Paul Green on “Plants of the season”. I have a friend who lives in the Cotswolds and her Club had Paul to speak again two weeks ago and she says he is brilliant!

THANKS:
To Bobbie Stubbs and Diane Russell for organising the refreshments this month and to those who help setting up the chairs before the meeting and clearing away at the end of the evening.

AUGUST SHOW:
Considering the number of entries was down by over 30, the percentage of members entering increased – thank to Jane Cross for all the statistics! Have you seen the photos and results?

The Show was a great success and will definitely be back next year and Jane Cross has offered to organise a group of members to organise it.

The Committee discussed the Show at length at our last meeting and have already agreed some significant changes for next year but because I have been away since the committee meeting, I haven’t had time to write them up so watch this space.

Also, we realise that newer members may not be clear on some little points to make their exhibits better to judge than those who have been around a bit longer know – bubbles in jars of jam, how to straighten beans, for example, and I learnt something new – pickles and chutneys must be over 3 months old to be judged, so we will be putting together a new list of tips.

The Trophies have been engraved so will be available for collection on Club night or by arrangement with Monica for collection from her home.

NOVEMBER LUNCH:

Our annual lunch is again at the Fountain Inn, Tenbury Wells and the menu and application form are now available on the Website.

Once again, you are very welcome to bring visitors as there is plenty of space!

SEED ORDERS:

Marshalls catalogues are available, but not the new order forms. However, they have changed their terms and I am not really clear on all of them and can’t speak to my contact until Tuesday, so hopefully will be able to finalise things for Club night.

One thing is certain! The discount on seeds remains 50% and is now 15% on everything else.

Also clear is that the first order has to be over £200 gross and will be delivered to me, not direct to you. They are also adding £1.50 to each order to be individually packed. However, your committee has agreed that this year, we will pay this cost.

Because of these changes, I have contacted another seed company I know some of our members use and they don’t offer any discount to Clubs and we have already had to stop T&M because of their conditions!

I am happy to contact any other company if you have any suggestions!!

PLANT TABLE:
Just a gentle reminder that we have a plant sales table every month we are in the Hall (not AGM night and possibly not January in future). Over time we seem to have forgotten that not everyone grows fruit and vegetables so remember, if you have any surplus produce bring it along and donate it to the Club for sale on Club night.

Also, we are always looking for used empty plant pots! Especially 5” and above.