SUMMER GARDEN VISITS
Sunday 21st June 2020, 2 CHINTHURST LODGE, WONERSH COMMON VALE END, CHILWORTH ROAD, ALBURY
This year we not only have one garden lined up for all your club members to visit, but two for the price of one! Both of .these lovely gardens have previously been open under the NGS Scheme but now are only opening for selected clubs, so it may be your only chance to see them this year. It’s on Father’s Day, so how about this for an outing for Dad?
Firstly, by kind permission of owners Michael and Hilary Goodridge, their garden at 2 Chinthurst Lodge, Wonersh Common, GU5 0PR will open from 11.30 am until 4.30 pm, and secondly our own President Daphne Foulsham will open her garden at Vale End, Chilworth Road, Albury, GU5 9BE from 2.00 pm with final entry at 4.30 pm. Both will be offering a selection of tea/coffee and home-made cakes – sales of which will go to their own selected charities – and the entry fee to include both gardens will be £5 pp, also to charity. Members are welcome to bring visitors for the same price.
The two gardens are only a couple of miles apart, and free off-road parking available at both.
SUBSCRIPTIONS, AND JUDGES AND LECTURERS.
Many thanks to most clubs who have paid their subscription. The price is still £10, so we would appreciate this as soon as possible, and if an invoice is sent just after this Newsletter, we don’t seem to have had your subscription yet! Please could you check and send payment a.s.a.p. Thanks!
Once you have paid your subscription you will be sent the latest Judges and Lecturers lists. If you are interested in either Judging or Lecturing or know someone who would like to join the Guild, please contact info@shjl.co.uk as some of the current judges are retiring and we need replacements!
We have been contacted by Alan Horgan who lives at Liss, who would like to do some more judging (he may well join the Judges Guild) but if not and you need a judge at the last minute do contact him on 01730-892266 or email: alan.horgan@btinternet.com He will judge flowers, fruit and vegtables so could be a useful person to know.
Another new lecturer (who was listed on one of the Feedback Sheets) is Derek Dexter, living in Woking who will cover up to a 2 hr journey to a venue, with costs between £65 and £95 including travel. He is taking bookings for the next couple of years, and subjects are mostly about Fuchsias. Contact him on 01483-714957 or email: derek.dexter@tiscali.co.uk
We have also been contacted by Beverley Law, who is a horticultural consultant, part time advisor at Wisley and works freelance. Her subjects cover a wide range including: Composting, leaf mould and wormeries; Hiring a Gardener – busting the myths; and Wildlife Gardening. Charge around £100 but negotiable. Beverley can be contacted on 07867-544845
WEBSITE REQUEST from our Webmaster BETH
The SHF website – www.surreyhorticulturalfederation.org – is up and running again with a lot more information on it!
If you haven’t yet sent me information about your club, please do so a.s.a.p. – possibly how much membership costs and any additional info I can include, which hopefully will encourage new members to join. If there is an out of date contact listed on the website – please let me know, and I’ll change it. This, of course, applies to those clubs who have already paid for 2020, or as soon as you renew your subscription. My email is beth@pumpkinbeth.com
Many clubs have now sent their details for inclusion on the website, but if you haven’t then please send me your events in an email – they don’t need to be on a spreadsheet – just give me these details:
- The name of the speaker and the title of the talk
- The venue, and time the talk starts
- The price for visitors
And/or if you’re holding a show:
- What sort of show it is – ie Spring Show, Floral Art Show, etc
- Where the show is held, and what time the show opens
If you’re holding a plant sale:
- Where the plant sale is held and what time it opens.
Any private events, such as an AGM or club garden visit, won’t be added to the website. Nothing needs to be sent in a specific format, so don’t worry – just email me the details. If there’s anything else please let me know. Beth.
CLUBS IN THE EAST SURREY AREA
On Saturday 7th March the SHF will be helping to chair a meeting of groups to the East of the county in the hope of creating more contact and helping each other learn from your successes (or lack of them!) If your club is in this area and you haven’t had an invite please contact host Debbie Fox, email: secretary@growingredhill.co.uk
OPEN GARDENS FOR THE PHYLLIS TUCKWELL HOSPICE.
Do you love your garden? Why not open it to friends or the local community and help raise money for Hospice care.
For more information please call 01252-729446 or email: fundraising@pth.org.uk There is a poster available.
DAFFODIL SHOW
The Mid Southern Daffodil Show is on Sunday 29th March, and is at a new venue – Gardeners’ Hall, 213 St. Leonards Road, Windsor, Berks. SL4 3DR and if you would like to try showing then there are 55 classes, some for novices as well as experts. Contact Alex Burke (Secretary) on 01189-667900 or Graham Thirkettle (Show Secretary) email: gathirkettle@gmail.com for a schedule, or just go along and have a look at all the wonderful blooms from 2.30-4.00 pm.
NEW RHS COMPETITION
Have you seen the following which has been sent out by the RHS?
RHS Affiliated Societies ‘Growing Together’ Flower and Produce Competition at Wisley, 8 to 13th September 2020
(also being held at Tatton Park and Hyde Hall RHS shows).
A new competition started last year, aimed at showcasing the range of growing skills in your society, and encouraging teamwork, fun and imagination. Entry is free and there will a range of prizes. Exhibitors will be provided with a 1m X 1m square space, covered in green hessian to interpret the theme ‘This is us!’ – the rest is up to you.
A few simple conditions:
- You can use any produce, or edibles made from your produce, eg jams, chutneys, flowers and other decorative or display materials, but they must all fit within the space provided. Entries must incorporate a picture frame.
- Judges will be looking for a range and quality of exhibits, overall impact and evidence of teamwork.
- You will be asked to supply a 100 word description nearer the time.
- Space is limited to 25 clubs, so first come, first served.
To apply to take part in the competition please email the following details: Your name, Name of your society, Your affiliated number, Contact email, and Contact phone number ASAP to: affiliated@rhs.org.uk by the latest Monday 17th February 2020 (N.B. We realise this date has passed, but they might allow late entries if they have space.)
One of our clubs, Milford Horticultural Society, won this competition at Wisley last year – well done Milford.!
CLUB FOCUS – WITLEY GARDENING ASSOCIATION
Tracing its roots back over 125 years, Witley Gardening Association is a friendly local club for anyone interested in plants and gardening on any scale, from houseplants on a windowsill to fruit trees and allotments. There is a wealth of knowledge among members, all of which is readily shared. Meeting regularly from Spring through to late Autumn the Association has a variety of events for members ranging from guest speakers to garden visits and workshops, and not forgetting two Flower Shows where professional judges cast their eye over exhibitors’ prize blooms and produce.
It’s not just gardening either – the Association’s Shows include classes in cookery, photography and flower arranging and visitors can tuck in to homemade cakes in the tea-room. Exhibiting at shows is open to all and there is always plenty of friendly help on hand for anyone who hasn’t exhibited before. Newcomers are encouraged to give it a try, they may well take home a cup or trophy!
Talks in the Spring and Autumn feature speakers ranging from household-name writers and broadcasters to local experts. In recent years we have welcomed Gardeners’ Question Time panellists Bob Flowerdew, Jim Buttress and Roy Lancaster along with management from local Tuesley Fruit Farm, who also treated members to a fantastic private visit last June. Evening visits such as these provide members the chance to visit local places of interest with like-minded company.
In recent years the Association launched a series of floral art workshops which have proved highly successful, giving participants the chance to learn about both traditional and contemporary floral design with professional guidance yet in a relaxed and sociable setting. Seasonal workshops such as Christmas Wreath-making provide a fun and cost-effective way for members to create their own beautiful decorations without having to buy lots of specialist equipment or materials.
Whilst many of the events are open to all, members get reduced admission prices to Association events and priority booking as well as great discounts at local garden centres and suppliers. Subscription fees for 2020 are just £5 per person. To join please email admin@witleygardening.org or telephone 01428 683281. Visit www.witleygardening.org for more information about the Association and its 2020 programme of events. You can see the SHF Entry for Witley here.
Many thanks to Georgina Ellerton for this report.
DATES for COUNCIL MEETINGS:
Friday 28th February and Friday 30th October, at Onslow Village Hall.
AGM AND QUIZ:
Sunday 8th November, 2.30 pm at Normandy Village Hall. Why not start to round up your team now – it was great to have so many taking part last year.