Hello and welcome to the Surrey Horticultural Federation winter newsletter!
Following our AGM earlier this month, Janet Arm has been elected as the Surrey Horticultural Federation’s new Chairperson. Our Treasurer, Katharine Deaville has also now taken on the role of Membership Secretary. I’m still running the Surrey Horticultural Federation’s Website, I’ve also taken on the role of Website and Events Secretary – I’ll be publicising your events on the website as usual, but I’ll also be writing and putting together all the Surrey Horticultural Federation newsletters and answering your email questions and queries – if you would like to contact me, please do – my email is beth@pumpkinbeth.com. If you have arranged any events for your club or society, or if there’s something you would like me to mention in the Surrey Horticultural Federation newsletter, or if you have any questions or queries, please email me.
If you have any accounts or membership enquiries, please contact our Treasurer and Membership Secretary, Katharine Deaville. Katharine’s email is kathy.deaville@gmail.com.
Our Chairperson, Janet Arm will be fielding any telephone queries. Janet’s phone number is 01252-783133.
Conserving Resources
Most clubs are now receiving the newsletter and all other SHF correspondence via email – if you’re still getting postal copies, please give us your email address so we can switch you over too! We all need to conserve resources and request that if you receive the Surrey Horticultural Federation newsletter in paper form, perhaps because you don’t have an email address, that you ask another member of your committee to receive our email newsletter on your behalf. Please let me know the email address to send your society or club’s newsletter to – contact me: beth@pumpkinbeth.com. Thank you.
Subscriptions
SHF Subscriptions remain at £10 per annum, and are due on January 1st 2022. Thanks to those clubs who have already paid their 2022 subs and received the new Judges and Lecturers lists. You can download the membership renewal form from the website:
SHF Club Survey
I’ve put together a short survey to help us understand how our clubs and societies are faring and to identify ways in which we can help you succeed. We’d appreciate if you could fill out this quick survey – it only takes a few moments – just click the link below.
This survey does not collect any personal or private information – just your club name and a few stats about member numbers, events and other details relating to your club. Your responses won’t be shared with anyone outside of the Surrey Horticultural Federation and your answers will help us find ways to help you.
SHF SPRING TALK – With Chris Beardshaw
Thursday 10th March 2022, at 2:30pm – SOLD OUT!
Tickets for the cancelled Adam Frost talk are now valid for our Surrey Horticultural Federation Spring Talk with Chris Beardshaw in March 2022. More details on the event page and in the minutes for the AGM below.
Surrey Horticultural Federation 2021 A.G.M.
Minutes of the Meeting held at 2.30 pm, Sunday 7th November 2021 at Normandy Village Hall.
Present: President Daphne Foulsham, Chairman Richard Tabor, Secretary Janet Arm, Treasurer Katharine Deaville, Quizmaster John Negus and Council Members: Roy Lomax, Pam Lomax, Nicky Cornell, Barbara Boyse and Paul Yeoman.
Club Representatives: In addition to the above there were a total of 42 club members present, representing the following clubs: Elstead, Ewhurst, Farnham, Froyle, Growing Redhill, Jacobs Well, Lightwater, Onslow Village, Plant Heritage, Thursley, Tilford, Wonersh and Worplesdon.
President Daphne Foulsham gave a welcome to all members and to the clubs who were entering into the quiz, and then Chairman Richard Tabor took the meeting.
- Apologies for absence: Council Members Beth Otway, Anne Bradbeer and Jane Swift, and from clubs Banstead, Caterham, Dogmersfield/Winchfield/Crookham, Egham, Frensham/Dockenfield, Merrow, Staines and Witley.
- The Minutes of the 2020 AGM (which was held by proxy vote) had been circulated, were read, and then signed.
- Matters Arising. There were none.
Yearly Report
Richard Tabor read his report for 2021, as follows:
After six years as your Chairman, I shall be standing down at the end of what I hope has been the final disrupted year, before we hopefully return to normality in 2022 under our new Chair.
Although, due to Covid restrictions, we were again unable to entertain our national speaker Adam Frost in March, we were able to enjoy our President’s lovely garden at Vale End in the summer, and also to visit the Goodridges’ garden in Wonersh on the same day. Our grateful thanks to both for lifting our spirits at this difficult time.
Our plans for the forthcoming year are well advanced. The SHF Council are most encouraged to hear how many of our clubs have weathered the storm of the last couple of years with the number of member clubs being maintained.
In conclusion, I would like to offer my thanks to our President, to Janet, to Kathy, and all my Committee for their guidance and support throughout my tenure as your Chairman. My very best wishes to my successor.
Treasurers Report
A copy of the audited accounts for the past two years was circulated. Katharine reported that the Federation currently has £7,743.00 in hand. The total Income for the past year was £445.00 made up of new subscriptions and very generous donations from clubs considering this was subscription free year because of the covid situation. Expenditure was £233.32 made up of Affiliation fees, donations, insurance, newsletters and general expenses. The net result was a surplus of £211.68 for the year.
As the Spring Talk was unable to take place in either 2020 or 2021 the decision was made with the auditor to create a reserve (applied to both years) grouping all Spring talk income and expenditure together until a talk is held.
We propose to keep subscriptions unchanged yet again for 2022. Katharine then gave her thanks to auditor John Manches for examining the books for 2020 and 2021 and advised he is prepared to continue.
The Chairman called for a proposer for the Report – Jane Gates, and a seconder – Nicky Cornell, and all agreed. Then for the proposal of John Manches as Auditor. Proposed by Doug Grant, Seconded by Debbie Fox and agreed.
Election of High Officers and Council Members
President Daphne Foulsham announced that this year Chairman Richard Tabor has completed a second term of 3 years, but had decided it was time to retire. Daphne thanked him for his work and added that the SHF Council had recommended that Richard was offered the vacant position of Vice President, to which he has agreed. This is a life position which must be ratified at the AGM. He was then given a present of a planted tub from the Council in recognition of his contribution to the SHF.
Daphne then said that there was really only one candidate suitable for the position of Chairman and that was Janet Arm who has now completed 18 years as Secretary – this was applauded by the audience.
This means, however, that there is a vacancy as Secretary – and Daphne listed all the work which had to be done. After discussion within the Council, Kathy Deaville has offered to take up some of the extra work and add Membership Secretary to her position as Treasurer, and Beth Otway will add other Secretarial jobs such as the Newsletter to her work as Webmaster. These two will work with Janet to see that change will go forward smoothly.
All the above High Officer changes were proposed by Jackie Aylott, seconded by Richard Tabor and approved by all.
SHF Council Members stand for a single year at a time. They are Anne Bradbeer, Barbara Boyse, Nicky Cornell, Roy Lomax, Pam Lomax, John Negus, Jane Swift, and Paul Yeoman.
All of these were proposed en-bloc by David Ward, seconded by Wendy Bentall and agreed by all.
Future Events, by Janet
The last two years have been very strange, and we have had to cancel the Adam Frost Spring talk twice, but three years ago we booked Chris Beardshaw for our 2022 Talk, and we hope we will be able to hear his new talk. The date is Thursday, 10th March 2022, at 2.30 pm and those holding tickets from the 2020 Adam Frost talk will be able to use them. However, because we will need a bit more space in the Hall for social distancing we are not selling any more tickets for now.
Thankfully we were able to go ahead with our annual summer Garden Visits this year. Everyone enjoyed visiting the stunning gardens, and my thanks to our President Daphne and the Goodridges for allowing us to visit their gardens. You can see pictures on the SHF Website. We are now in the process of booking another garden for you for this coming summer – details to follow.
Anne Bradbeer and Beth Otway took part in a Zoom RHS Meeting of specialist nurseries and other organisations at Wisley last year, (where we are usually the only Federation) but there doesn’t seem to be a meeting this year.
It seems a lot of you are looking forward to running a full event list for next year – please send details to Beth for our website. We don’t include commercial events – the website is exclusively for the events of clubs and societies that are members of the Surrey Horticultural Federation. There are new lists of Judges and Lecturers this year, and the Guild has a new Secretary so there will also be new Feedback forms this year – if you know of other good speakers not on the lists, please let us know.
I was delighted that so many teams have booked for our quiz today, and I hope those of you who have not competed before enjoy it. I am sure our new Quizmaster John Negus has set us some tricky questions!
Thank you for your confidence in my becoming your new Chairperson – I will still be fielding telephone enquiries from clubs, and I am sure Kathy, Beth, and I will manage our new jobs.
Any other business
Debbie Fox said that the East Surrey area was getting together again, and invited Janet to come to their next meeting, which she was pleased to accept.
Inter Club Quiz
After the AGM 15 teams took part in the quiz with new Quizmaster John Negus. It was a close-fought contest, with most clubs scoring well, and ended in a tie-break between Tilford and Plant Heritage 1, and won by Plant Heritage 1 with Tilford in 2nd place and Froyle in 3rd place.
Janet presented the Quiz Trophy and cheques to winners and runners-up, and audience prizes were handed out.
Thanks were given to all those who kindly brought raffle prizes.
Send us your 2022 Events!
Have you sent us your programme of 2022 events? If you would like your event to be listed on the website, please email Beth (beth@pumpkinbeth.com) with your event title, date, time, location, cost, and contact details for booking!
Club Event Highlight: The Therapy Garden
Welcome to our newest member, The Therapy Garden, who have two Christmas Wreath workshops during November. See below for details of how to get involved!
Upcoming Events
The SHF Website has a complete list of events for all clubs, and is updated regularly, so that’s the best source to find talks and other events for clubs across Surrey. Below is a list of events scheduled for the next few months (see our calendar in full here).
| November 2021 | ||||
| Mon 15-Nov-2021 | How to make your own floral Christmas decorations: a demonstration by Sue French | Ripley and District Horticultural Society | Mrs. Sue Stranger | 01483-210168 |
| Wed 17-Nov-2021 | Pests & Diseases Live! A talk with Ray Broughton | Sandhurst & District Gardening Club | Mrs. Chris Dresler | 01420-768965 |
| Thu 18-Nov-2021 | AGM & Chelsea Spectacular: a talk by John Negus | Churt Horticultural & Produce Society (CHAPS) | Mrs. Maggie Wright | 01428-715304 |
| Tue 23-Nov-2021 | William Robinson, the Wild Gardener: a talk by Richard Bisgrove | West End Village Gardening Club | Mrs. Judy Douch | 01483-475133 |
| Tue 23-Nov-2021 | Savill Gardens through the seasons: a talk by Michelle Cleave | Ewhurst Horticultural Society | Mrs. Anne Dyball | 01483-271812 |
| Thu 25-Nov-2021 | The Therapy Garden Christmas Wreath Workshop | The Therapy Garden | ||
| Sat 27-Nov-2021 | Aldershot Floral Design Club presents ‘Floral Fashion’ | Aldershot Floral Design Club | Dee Kelly | 01252-350944 |
| Sat 27-Nov-2021 | The Therapy Garden Christmas Wreath Workshop | The Therapy Garden | ||
| Sun 28-Nov-2021 | Aldershot Floral Design Club presents ‘Floral Fashion’ | Aldershot Floral Design Club | Dee Kelly | 01252-350944 |
| December 2021 | ||||
| Wed 1-Dec-2021 | Cleves Wood Floristry: Seasonal Cheer a ‘live’ Demonstration by Vivien Withers | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Ann Cochrane | 01932-889722 |
| Fri 3-Dec-2021 | Plants have feelings too: a talk by Peter Almond | Woodham & New Haw Horticultural Club | Louise Clubley | 01932-347297 |
| Mon 6-Dec-2021 | California Gardeners’ Club Christmas Celebration | California Gardeners’ Club | Dick Hawes | |
| Wed 8-Dec-2021 | Chilean Adventures: a talk by Harry Baldwin | Grayshott Gardeners | Sue Wheeler | 07719 457821 |
| Wed 15-Dec-2021 | Coffee Morning and opportunity to learn more about the charity Perennial with James Burns | Banstead Horticultural Society | Mrs. Diana Beck | 01737-271243 |
| January 2022 | ||||
| Mon 3-Jan-2022 | Tozer Seeds: a talk by Jamie Claxton | California Gardeners’ Club | Dick Hawes | |
| Wed 5-Jan-2022 | The Secrets of Hever Castle Gardens | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Ann Cochrane | 01932-889722 |
| Wed 19-Jan-2022 | For the Love of Snowdrops: a talk with Lyn Miles | Sandhurst & District Gardening Club | Mrs. Chris Dresler | 01420-768965 |
| February 2022 | ||||
| Wed 2-Feb-2022 | What do I do with this space? A talk by Darren Lerigo | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Ann Cochrane | 01932-889722 |
| Mon 7-Feb-2022 | Friend or Foe – what’s that bug? | Merstham Horticultural Society | ||
| Wed 16-Feb-2022 | AGM & Parks & Countryside with Bracknell Forest Rangers | Sandhurst & District Gardening Club | Mrs. Chris Dresler | 01420-768965 |
| March 2022 | ||||
| Wed 2-Mar-2022 | Tulips & Turbans: a talk by Cherrill Sands | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Ann Cochrane | 01932-889722 |
| Mon 7-Mar-2022 | Clematis | Merstham Horticultural Society | ||
| Thu 10-Mar-2022 | Mount Grace Priory Gardens: a talk by Chris Beardshaw | Surrey Horticultural Federation | Ms. Beth Otway | beth@pumpkinbeth.com |
| April 2022 | ||||
| Mon 4-Apr-2022 | A to Z of Fuchsias | Merstham Horticultural Society | ||
| Wed 6-Apr-2022 | Brooklands Horticultural Society Spring Show & AGM | Brooklands Horticultural Society | Ann Cochrane | 01932-889722 |
Online Talks Calendar
I’ve put together a calendar of interesting virtual/online/zoom gardening and nature talks on my website (www.pumpkinbeth.com), which clubs may want to share with their members. Beth hopes this calendar will be useful if you’re looking to book zoom speakers, as you have the opportunity to listen to speakers and hear talks on a wide range of topics before making a booking:
Merry Christmas!
On behalf of everyone on the Surrey Horticultural Federation Council, I’d like to wish you a very merry Christmas! Don’t forget to fill out our SHF Club survey!
Best wishes to you all
Beth Otway
Website and Events Secretary
beth@pumpkinbeth.com
Surrey Horticultural Federation
www.surreyhorticulturalfederation.org