Winterslow & District Horticultural Society
(incorporating Pitton, Farley & Lopcombe Corner)
Sat 5 Sept 09 – Future visit to Shepton Mallet Show at the Bath & West Show Ground
Members £22 Non-members £24
When you read this, our visit to this first class show will only be a few days away. There may be an opportunity to secure a seat on our coach if you act now.
Fri 13 Nov 09 – Our A.G.M. at 7.00p.m.
and Harvest Supper at 8.00p.m. in Winterslow Village Hall, Our Harvest Supper following the A.G.M. will be a sit down waitress served hot meal provided by Mrs Jill Kay and her assistants. The price will be £12 per head with menu items being given in next month’s magazine.
I hope that your Cabbage Walking Stick plant provided by the Society early this year is healthy and growing well like Jack’s Beanstalk in the Nursery Story. I am sure that everyone will be most interested to see the final height of these when they are displayed at our A.G.M. for the chance to win one of the prizes for the tallest to the most interesting looking one.
Cabbage Walking Stock entrants should just wash off soil, trim the roots a little, but leave foliage in tact. Specific categories will be given in next month’s magazine.
Dobies Seeds – Catalogues and order forms will be available shortly for all Members who can pick them up at our A.G.M. in the first instance, but will be circulated after that. As a recognised society we benefit when ordering in bulk by paying very much reduced prices for seeds and some reduction for other garden products. This is a service provided for Members as all discounts are passed directly to you.
The Weather – This is always a topic of conversation in England as it is so changeable and this year to date has been no exception. The severe frosts & snow, cold winter winds and rain has affected all those who work or have hobbies out of doors.
Our Members have reported various things, among them being severe slug/snail damage, fungi on lawns, Black Fly infestation, Lily Beetle damage, Black Leg on potatoes, wind & storm damage to blooms, etc. etc. Quite a sorry list, but gardeners are a rather philosophical group and dismiss previous failures and look forward in anticipation to a pest free season next year.
Did You Know – Joe Swift on BBC 2 Gardeners World programme said that stinging nettles can be an aid in the garden as it contains Nitrogen and a mild organic pest control ingredient. Put in a container, pour hot water over it and mash down periodically. When cool you can water it on or allow it to ferment for a few weeks before use to gain maximum effect.
Saturday 16 May 2009 – Visit to Exbury Gardens
The weather forecast for this day was not very promising, showers with some sunshine, so our party of 24 setting off by coach at 9.30am were all prepared for it to be wet at times during the day. Fortunately we only had one longish shower at midday and so had good sunshine before it and sunshine after it to dry everyone off.
Exbury Gardens in the New Forest near Beaulieu celebrates its 90th anniversary this year having been purchased by Lionel de Rothschild in 1919 and is still a private garden owned by his descendants. Many people used one or both of the choices of transport available, train or multi-seated buggy, to view much of the gardens, supplemented by a closer inspection by walking.
It was the right time of the year to see the massive clumps of the many different coloured flowering rhododendrons & azaleas, which with the areas of bluebells in the woodlands, and the spectacular over 200 year old lavender coloured wisteria with its convoluted tree like trunk and hanging blooms 2ft 6ins (750mm) in length that we saw in the Sun Dial garden, was a delight to all.
The collection of rare trees and shrubs in this 200 acre garden enhanced this memorable visit as we left at 3.30pm for home with many photos having been taken.
Depending on distance and/or time taken on a journey, hire of coaches can cost the society from £350 to £450, so in excess of 35 people are required to make ach visit a viable prospect. E.g. the visit to Exbury had to be subsidised by £80, so come on support your society’s visits not just 24 individuals out of our 140 strong households membership.
Saturday 23 May 2009 – The Society’s Plant Sale
This annual plant sale, together with a small supporting book sale, started off as usual with a rush when the doors opened at 2.00pm. Our committee and volunteer helpers were kept extremely busy trying to satisfy the demand for the flower, shrub and vegetable plants that were being sold at competitive prices.
With such enthusiasm as there is now for gardening in general it was still a surprise by 2.30pm the majority of the plants had been snaffled up as people departed loaded down with their purchases. This was the quickest time that our stalls have been emptied as our society benefited by over £300. Thank you to all helpers and buyers.
Cabbage Walking Stick
The competition to judge the tallest will be carried out during the first week of November 2009.
A vote of thanks to David Tullis for the initial growing of these plants and suggesting this competition.
Saturday 22 August 2009 – Summer Show
The classes that you can enter and the official entry form can be found in our current Year Book. There are no fees for entering our show so we look forward to entries from you all. All entry forms must be received by any Committee member before 6.30pm on Thursday 20 August 2009.
Saturday 5 September 2009 – Visit to the National Amateur Garden Show at Shepton Mallett
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens visit
To make this visit of extra special interest, a talk by the Head Gardener has been arranged concluding with a question and answer session. A cream tea is also included in the package deal to make this a memorable visit.
Inclusive cost of coach, entry to park, talk and cream tea: - Members £24 & Non-Members £26
Departure times: - 8.30am from Firs Road
8.35am from Ilynton Avenue
8.45am from Winterslow Village Hall
Saturday 22 August 2009
The Society’s Summer Show
Our next major item in our calendar is the Summer Show in the Winterslow Village Hall. For full details look in our Year Book or go to our website –
http://sites.google.com/site/wdhortsoc/
You may think that this show is quite a way in the future, but planning in the garden for items to enter in the show does require a long term strategy, so get to it!!!
Those members who have expressed a desire to grow-on the cabbage walking stick and begonia semperfloren plants provided free by the society for our competition, will be receiving them as they become available.
Saturday 16 May 2009 – Visit to Exbury Gardens
The weather forecast for this day was not very promising, showers with some sunshine, so our party of 24 setting off by coach at 9.30am were all prepared for it to be wet at times during the day. Fortunately we only had one longish shower at midday and so had good sunshine before it and sunshine after it to dry everyone off.
Exbury Gardens in the New Forest near Beaulieu celebrates its 90th anniversary this year having been purchased by Lionel de Rothschild in 1919 and is still a private garden owned by his descendants. Many people used one or both of the choices of transport available, train or multi-seated buggy, to view much of the gardens, supplemented by a closer inspection by walking.
It was the right time of the year to see the massive clumps of the many different coloured flowering rhododendrons & azaleas, which with the areas of bluebells in the woodlands, and the spectacular over 200 year old lavender coloured wisteria with its convoluted tree like trunk and hanging blooms 2ft 6ins (750mm) in length that we saw in the Sun Dial garden, was a delight to all.
The collection of rare trees and shrubs in this 200 acre garden enhanced this memorable visit as we left at 3.30pm for home with many photos having been taken.
Depending on distance and/or time taken on a journey, hire of coaches can cost the society from £350 to £450, so in excess of 35 people are required to make each visit a viable prospect. E.g. the visit to Exbury had to be subsidised by £80, so come on support your society’s visits not just 24 individuals out of our 140 strong households membership.
Saturday 23 May 2009 – The Society’s Plant Sale
This annual plant sale, together with a small supporting book sale, started off as usual with a rush when the doors opened at 2.00pm. Our committee and volunteer helpers were kept extremely busy trying to satisfy the demand for the flower, shrub and vegetable plants that were being sold at competitive prices.
With such enthusiasm as there is now for gardening in general it was still a surprise by 2.30pm the majority of the plants had been snaffled up as people departed loaded down with their purchases. This was the quickest time that our stalls have been emptied as our society benefited by over £300. Thank you to all helpers and buyers.
Cabbage Walking Stick
the competition to judge the tallest will be carried out during the first week of November 2009.
A vote of thanks to David Tullis for the initial growing of these plants and suggesting this competition.
Saturday 22 August 2009 – Summer Show
The classes that you can enter and the official entry form can be found in our current Year Book. There are no fees for entering our show so we look forward to entries from you all. All entry forms must be received by any Committee member before 6.30pm on Thursday 20 August 2009.
Saturday 5 September 2009 – Visit to the National Amateur Garden Show at Shepton Mallett
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens visit
To make this visit of extra special interest, a talk by the Head Gardener has been arranged concluding with a question and answer session. A cream tea is also included in the package deal to make this a memorable visit.
Inclusive cost of coach, entry to park, talk and cream tea: - Members £24 & Non-Members £26
Departure times: - 8.30am from 100 Firs Road
8.35am from Ilynton Avenue
8.45am from Winterslow Village Hall
Saturday 22 August 2009
The Society’s Summer Show
Our next major item in our calendar is the Summer Show in the Winterslow Village Hall. For full details look in our Year Book or go to our website –
http://sites.google.com/site/wdhortsoc/
You may think that this show is quite a way in the future, but planning in the garden for items to enter in the show does require a long term strategy, so get to it!!!
Those members who have expressed a desire to grow-on the cabbage walking stick and begonia semperfloren plants provided free by the society for our competition, will be receiving them as they become available.
Geoffrey Russell - Chairman
Winterslow & District Horticultural Society
Vegetable Growing – Talk by Ray Broughton held on Friday 20th March 2009
This talk must have struck just the right note for all our members and guests as from an expected 40 people audience it grew and grew until our original booked room in the Winterslow Village hall became too small and we had to relocate into the main hall where numbers reached about 70. Pleased to see residents from Pitton & Farley in the audience. The audience were not disappointed as the well qualified and friendly Ray Broughton, who is a Senior Lecturer at Sparsholt College, gave his illustrated lecture on planting and growing vegetables coming just at the right time of the year.
Just a few quick items from his talk, which put a new twist to old methods.
a. His quick acting method of producing compost in three months gave us an alternative to what we normally do.
The main points of this were:
1. A solid base to prevent worms gaining access
2. A sprinkling of Calcium Carbonate between each thin layer of compost
3. Container should have holes in sides for aeration and contents kept dry
b. Humming lines can be purchased which product a loud noise in only a slight wind. Criss-crossed over brassicas give a very effective protection against predators.
c. If you wish to increase the works in your ground then a worm bin can be the answer, but as Ray said, works can drown in wet compost, so work bins should always have a sieve at its base to allow moisture to drain away.
d. Flowers of Sulphur are an ideal protection against wire worms. When planting potatoes, dig a trench and sprinkle a small dusting of Sulphur in it – cover with a layer of paper and plant potatoes on top of paper and refill trench. If cutting a seed potato – dip the cut surface into the Sulphur before planting. Rake in a dusting for other root crops.
e. Black or brown seeds can be clearly seen when sowing if shaken up with a small portion of white flour first.
In conclusion, the questions from the audience and answers from knowledgeable Ray completed a very fine evening. Many more tips from Ray Broughton can be seen on our website http://sites.google.com/site/wdhortsoc/
The Society’s Spring Show held on Saturday, 28th March 2009
As numerous members of the public walked into the Winterslow Village Hall they saw a terrific display of colour from all the spring flowers on show. After a winter of rain, freezing nights and then snow, nature fooled everyone by catching up to allow our members to exhibit such a variety of blooms. Congratulations to all entrants for achieving this. With classes in photography, art, home craft, handicraft, a children’s section and of course all the various classes involving flowers, every person who visited our show in the afternoon could find something of special interest to them.
We thank the Revd Cynthia Buttimer for presenting the awards to those gaining the most points in the various sections. Shows do not just happen, much work has been carried out by all the Society’s Committee and volunteers, especially from our Show Secretary, Mrs Maria Taylor, and our General Secretary, Mrs Rosemary Jacks, for which we must congratulate them all for such a fine show.
We also thank all the Judges and Stewards for their determination of award winners and congratulate those winners.
Judges: Flowers – Ted Perrin Homecraft/Handicraft – Mary Bordass Art – Sarah Penny
Photography – Tony Oliver Flower Arranging – Wendy Howden Juniors – Mollie Wilson
Stewards: Ruth Banks, Mavis Charnley, Rosemary Griffiths, Hilary Sandle, Christine Brookes
Trophy Winners: Flowers – Maria Taylor, Caroline Morgan-Jones & Sheila Martin. Handicraft – Emma Bagshaw
Homecraft – Maria Taylor, Photography – Emma Bagshaw, Flower Arranging – Sheila Martin
Art – Diana Jarvis Junior Winners – Jacob Nicolle, Fred Hunt, Ian Moody & David Moody
Exbury Gardens Visit – Saturday, 16 May 2009 Cost £18 Members & £20 Non Members
Coach will depart Winterslow Village Hall at 9.30a.m. with pick up points in Firs Road at 9.40a.m.
Society’s Plant Stall – Saturday 23 May 2009 Commences in Winterslow Village Hall at 2.00p.m.
In order to have plants to sell at our very popular sale, we rely on donations of plants from you and any books that you may have for our book stall. It would be most helpful if you can name donated plants. Items can be brought to the Village Hall after 12.00 noon on the 23rd or can be collected if you contact any Committee member. If you have a basic knowledge of plants and can help us as stall holders on the day you would be most welcome.
Cotswold Wildlife Park & Garden – Wednesday, 24 June 2009 Visit with Talk by the Head Gardner and a Cream Tea Cost £24 Members & £26 Non Members
Departing from 100 Firs Road at 8.30a.m., Ilynton Avenue at 8.35a.m. and Winterslow Village Hall at 8.45a.m.
Chairman's Report.
Jumble Sale held on Saturday 7th March 2009
The Winterslow Village Hall was a hive of activity on the 7th with people looking for that bargain from the variety of items for sale while at the same time having time for social conversations. It is certainly interesting to note that the income from this year and last year was within £3 of each other - £281 in 2009 compared to £283 in 2008.
We thank all those who so kindly donated items for sale, all the helpers on the day and you the public for supporting us by coming along and buying.
Spring Show on Saturday 28 March 2009
The report for this show will be in the next issue of this magazine as it also came too late in the month to be included in this one.
Exbury Gardens – This visit will take place on Saturday 16th May 2009
It has been many years since our Society last visited Exbury, so here is a chance to see how it has developed to date. Spending a leisurely walk about to view all the flora and fauna for which it is so rightly famous must offer a special interest for everyone. Alternatively, you may first wish to take the small passenger train that circles the gardens in order to familiarise yourself with the area before walking round. Bring your own food, or use the restaurant or coffee shop at Exbury.
There are some seats still available on the coach, but these must be reserved. The price of £18 pp includes the coach and entry into the gardens for Members. (Non Members £20).
The coach will depart from Winterslow Village Hall at 9.30a.m. (where cars can be parked), and 9.40a.m. from Ilynton Avenue, Firsdown. It is envisaged that we will depart from Exbury for home
at 3.30p.m.
Chairman's News Letter
Winterslow & District Horticultural Society Jumble Sale
Saturday 07 March 2009 at 2.00p.m. in the Village Hall
This is one of our main fund raising events, so we hope that you will support your local Society by first donating and then coming along to buy from our stalls of bric-a-brac, toys, books, clean 2nd hand clothing, nearly new clothing and good general jumble.
The Village Hall will be open between 12.00noon to 1.30p.m. for your donations. Any Committee Member will be willing to collect items for this sale from people who have no means of transporting items to the hall.
Vegetable Growing Talk – free admission to everyone
Friday 20 March at 7.30p.m. in the Table Tennis Room of the Village Hall
This talk is by that well known expert, Ray Broughton, of Sparsholt Agricultural College, which is particularly relevant because now is the time that we should be thinking and acting gardening if we are to produce a crop of vegetables that we can pick or dig later in the year, and then cook without delay to get that full tasty flavour that shop bought ones often lack.
As the Horticultural Society considers this of great interest and of high importance to assist not only our own members, but the general public as well, to grow their own vegetables, this talk will be completely free to anyone wishing to attend. There will also be a complimentary free coffee/tea and a biscuit to encourage a social feel to the evening.
The Society’s Spring Show
Saturday 28 March 2009 in the Village Hall
Just to remind Members and give information to non-members, the time table for the day relating to this show is given below.
Time Event
08.15a.m. Staging of exhibits
10.15a.m. Exhibitors to leave the Hall
10.50a.m. Judging will commence
12.30p.m. Judging completed
02.00p.m. Show Hall open to members & the public
02.00 – 03.30p.m. Raffle tickets now on sale
02.00 – 03.30p.m. Light refreshments available
02.15 – 03.30p.m. Prize money available for collection
03.45p.m. Draw for raffle will take place
04.00p.m. Presentation of trophies
04.30p.m. Exhibitors to now remove their entries
Members return slips
A thank you to those that have already completed and returned the questionnaire in your Year Book relating to the proposed visits and talks for 2009. There has been a very positive response so far for all items, but we do still require a few more to ensure that we are going to have enough to run the visits. Come on now, support your Committee by declaring your interest in one or more of the listed events. Non-members of our Society are welcome to join us on any of our visits, if space is available for an additional fee of £2.00
Vegetable Growing talk – Friday 20 March 09 – free to all
Exbury Gardens visit – Saturday 16 May 09 - £18 per person
Cotswold Park & Gardens – visit and talk – Wednesday 24 June 09 - £22 per person
Shepton Mallett Show – visit – Saturday 5 September 09 - £20 per person
Chairman's News Letter
Best Wishes for the New Year and may all your garden weeds in 2009 be little ones.
After the record low temperatures (-12c on Tuesday pm/am Wednesday 6/7 Jan 2009) where did global warming go? One weather forecaster said that our temperatures were lower than those in Iceland at that time. However, nature is already getting ready for the Spring as bulbs are shooting and the first week in January I saw blooms breaking out on early daffodils.
It will be a most unusual occurrence if each of our members has not received our Year Book by now. If there has been a rare hic-up in our distribution system which leaves a Member of our Society without a Year Book or a person wishes to join, the fee of which is £5.00 annually covering the whole household, then contact our Secretary.
A reminder that our first activity in 2009 will be our Jumble Sale on Saturday 7th March, commencing with doors open at 2.00p.m. This is to remind you to start sorting out your own items and gathering more from relatives and friends for our various stalls covering bric-a-brac, toys, books, clean second-hand clothing, nearly new clothing and good general jumble. Our Committee members will arrange to collect items if asked, but would prefer the majority of items to be brought to the Winterslow Village Hall between 12.00 noon and 1.30p.m. on the 7th.
Members who have ordered Dobies Seeds through our Society at very discounted prices should have now received them.
There is a loose sheet in the Year Book with reference to our visits and talks, so if you have not already returned it please complete it now so that we can assess the numbers interested in each event and do some forward planning.
Membership for 2009
The Committee has decided that the annual fee per household will remain at £5. Current members will be visited by one of our dedicated band of distributors who will hand over a Year Book in exchange for the fee. Prospective new members should email horticulture@winterslow.org.uk. Alternatively, contact any committee member.
A.G.M. on 31 October in the Winterslow Village Hall
There were 44 members present at the A.G.M. to hear the various officers’ reports covering the past year. These will be printed in our Year Book 2009. Members of the committee to carry on the business of running the Society were ratified with Mrs Mollie Wilson being unanimously elected as President.
The surprise item of “Cabbage Walking Stick” on the agenda caused astonishment and laughter as David Tullis and his wife, Joyce, showed off the enormous plant that he had grown from seed, over 6ft tall. Members were asked if they would support a competition based on this and a very positive response came from them. David will germinate and grow seedlings for planting out/potting on which will be available to members (in April 09) who have previously indicated they wish to participate, so watch out for more details of this unique competition.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Eileen Lockett, who has been a member of the Society for 43 years (the majority as a Committee member) decided that it is now time for her to retire from the Committee. She was presented with a pot of orchids in appreciation of this achievement and to thank her for the help she has given the Society over all these years.