We’re having a Seed and Plant Exchange day on 26th March, 2.30-4.40 pm at Abbeyfield, Lyme Regis, (Silver Street, Lyme Regis, 01297 443783) for a fund raise for restoration of conservatory and garden.
Tea and strawberry tarts. £3.50 entrance.
We’d be delighted if you could come, bring any seeds or cuttings you wish to swap or of course, just yourselves!
If you have fruit trees and need advice on looking after them, local expert Philip Gamble will be giving a practical explanation of ‘How to prune and care for fruit trees’ on Sunday 15th March from 10.30 – 12.30.
An outstanding horticulturalist with a wide variety of experience as a head gardener, lecturer, garden designer, horticultural writer and photographer, Philip now runs his own advisory business aptly called ‘Garden Reassurance’.
He will demonstrate pruning techniques and talk about suitable tree-care while tending to community trees planted some years ago by Turn Lyme Green in Anning Road and at Slopes Farm.
There is no charge for his demonstration, which is sponsored by Turn Lyme Green.
Because numbers are limited to fifteen, those who would like to attend this event are asked to register their interest in advance with Polly Benfield (01297 446066) if possible before Saturday. The first fifteen applicants will then be sent confirmation with details of where to meet.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND… Due to the success of last year’s race evening the ferrets are back in training to give another fun packed event. Cash prizes for the lucky winners, cash prizes for the mind-blowing table quiz, great prize raffle, and all accompanied by a delicious curry from ‘Spice & Rice’. Ferrets come under starter’s orders on Friday March 6th at 7pm at Uplyme Village Hall. Tickets £8.50 (to include supper, bring your own drinks) from Uplyme Post Office or ring 01297 444034/34733 All bets £1.
St Mary Aldermanbury Garden in Love Lane, London EC2
DATE Wednesday February 25th at 7.30pm
TALK Hidden Gardens of London
VENUE Uplyme Village Hall
Bob Ayers’ illustrated talk ‘Hidden Gardens of London’ includes such gems as Fountain Court in Middle Temple, featured in Charles Dickens’ Martin Chuzzlewit, and St Mary Aldermanbury Garden in Love Lane EC2 with its imposing bust of Shakespeare.
Bob’s knowledge stems from his 30-year career in the City of London police force when, in his spare time, he qualified as a tour guide, cultivating a special knowledge of London’s gardens. He still finds time to conduct London tours in between his current vocation as a legal aid lawyer and the quieter life of running a smallholding with his wife in Burton Bradstock.
Bob Ayers
DATE Wednesday November 26th at 7.30pm
VENUE Uplyme Village Hall
AGENDA
Apologies
Welcome by President
Minutes – resumé of March, 2014 meeting
Matters Arising
Vice Chairman’s report
Election of Officers and Committee
Ballot on change of Society’s name to ‘Uplyme and Lyme Regis Gardeners’ *
Any Other Business
* It was agreed at the March AGM of the Society that a proposal to change its name should be put forward at the AGM to be held on November 26th, 2014. The main reason for the proposed change is to shorten the name, but also to remove the word ‘Horticultural’ – a term that has been thought to put off many potential new members, some of whom have expressed the opinion that it is elitist and implies the Society may be too specialist. The name of Uplyme and Lyme Regis Gardeners has been proposed because it describes succinctly the main interest of the membership.
The ballot papers will be counted and result announced immediately.
Alice Holden – the Society’s January speaker
DATE Wednesday January 28th at 7.30pm
TALK Grown in Dagenham: Growing Food in the City
VENUE Uplyme Village Hall
Alice Holden’s two-acre Dagenham Farm was a neglected local authority nursery only a couple of years ago. She and her team have since turned the gravel and plastic-strewn wasteland into a thriving market garden, growing organic food for local people.
This plot of prime, urban land is part of Growing Communities – a not-for-profit social enterprise providing fruit and vegetables to farmers’ markets and local box schemes from their urban food-production sites. Of her small-scale, community-led farm Alice says, ‘Everyone involved seems to take ownership of the place. Volunteers and salaried staff are equally involved. And every week we’re humbled by how much customers and children love coming here.’
Alice’s route to digging in Dagenham was via the Soil Association’s two-year organic-farming apprenticeship scheme and her work on commercial farms and kitchen gardens around the country, including Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage. Last year she published her first book, Do Grow – Start with 10 Simple Vegetables, with the aim of encouraging beginners to have a go at growing their own veg by optimising space and time available – even if it’s a window box and 10 minutes a week.
The pioneering Alice will talk to us about Dagenham Farm’s trials and successes on January 28th at 7.30pm.
RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP or joining the society for the first time? Jane Godfrey, membership secretary, will be delighted to accept your £6 subscription for 2015 at the meetings on November 26th and January 28th. If you can bring along a completed application form, so much the better – forms are available from Uplyme Post Office, Hunters Lodge Post Office and Ginger Beer in Lyme Regis or DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
If you are not planning to come to the November or January meetings, please send your completed form and subscription to:
Jane Godfrey
Membership Secretary
Dashwood
Lyme Road
Uplyme DT7 3UY
DATE Wednesday October 22nd at 7.30pm
TALK ‘The Botany of Witchcraft’ by Edward Wells
COMPETITION ‘The Best Carved Pumpkin’
VENUE Uplyme Village Hall
October’s speaker, Edward Wells, looks at the history of those plants thought of as sinister – as well as the more bizarre uses of some apparently innocuous ones. After hearing his talk about the deadly and disgusting, you’ll never see your garden in quite the same way again.
Edward is a dedicated naturalist and conservationist, serving for over 30 years on the council of the Somerset Wildlife Trust, as well as shorter stints on the councils of The Mammal Society and The Bat Conservation Trust.
Enjoy refreshments before and after the talk – including pumpkin-themed biscuits and cake.
AND… in the spirit of all things Hallowe’en, bring along your carved pumpkins and enter our competition. Entries are in two classes, adults and children. There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in each section. The pumpkins will be lit during the evening and the audience will be invited to vote for their favourites to decide the winners.
The talk is suitable for children, probably of eight years upwards, depending on attention span! Admission for the evening is free to children and members, £3 non-members.
DATE Wednesday November 26th 2014
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING at 7.30pm
GARDENERS’ QUESTION TIME at 8pm
VENUE Uplyme Village Hall
Annual General Meeting at 7.30pm, please SEE AGENDA HERE
Gardeners Question Time at 8pm with a panel of three local experts – Mary Benger (Burrow Farm Gardens), Phil Gamble (gardens advisor) and Will Livingstone (Head Gardener at River Cottage) – who will answer questions from the audience.
Enjoy tea or coffee and home-made cake before and after the events. Admission is free to members, £3 non-members.
Mary Benger and husband John moved to Burrow Farm in 1959. John built up a dairy herd, and in 1966 Mary began her garden on that land deemed unsuitable for farming. She studied at Bicton and has been an active member of the region’s horticultural societies – Axminster Horticultural Society and Devon Hardy Plants Society. Her show gardens at The Axe Vale Festival have won several Large Gold and Best in Show awards. Mary frequently gives talks to garden groups.
Phil Gamble trained at Cannington College. He worked as Head Gardener to the Lord Lt. of Somerset and the Pecorama Millennium Garden. Following 10 years lecturing with Kingston Maurward Horticulture Department he now develops gardens for private clients. An established speaker and gardens advisor.
Will Livingstone Head Gardener at River Cottage has an impressive knowledge of organic vegetable growing, as demonstrated in his talk to the Society in August. Will is in charge of the vegetable garden at Park Farm which supplies River Cottage’s kitchens. He teaches courses on the wide range of skills and techniques necessary for making the most of organic garden space year round. And he is an expert in the non-chemical control of pests in the veg patch – the worst of which he claims are chefs and TV film crews!
Rob Harvey’s breadmaking is first class. His pear tarts and sausage rolls are also worthy of prizes, as Rob proved on Saturday when he became the first man to win the Horticultural Society’s Cup for home produce at the Autumn Show. He is pictured receiving it from society president Beryl Denham.
Rob began cooking for himself three years ago ‘out of necessity’ and earlier this year attended a bread baking masterclass. His winning ‘plaited loaf decorated with seeds’ was only the second loaf he has ever baked.
Coming a close second to Rob was yet another male contestant, Hugh Corbin.
You can taste Rob’s baking at the next Horticultural Society talk on Wednesday October 22nd when his lemon drizzle cake will be available with tea and coffee before and after the evening’s talk.
Uplyme & Lyme Regis Horticultural Society 