Another Successful year

May’s AGM is the last formal meeting of our programme and an opportunity to review the past year.

It is also a chance to thank everyone who made the programme so enjoyable and successful
and this year in particular to thank Sheila Maddocks. Sheila has been a member of the
gardening club for over 40 years, but has decided to stand down from her role as chairperson which she has successfully held for many years. In addition, we have welcomed many new members to the club, so have increased our membership considerably.

We have had a good variety of speakers whose talks were enjoyable, informative and at times good fun. In October we travelled ‘Coast to Coast by Gardens’ with Jill and Alun Whitehead, giving us plenty of ideas of gardens to visit. Katie Briggs Thomas from Monkhopton talked in November about her career change from ‘Lady Gardner to Flower Farmer’, a fascinating journey! An old favourite, Nancy Lowe returned to our club in February to tell us about the ‘Secret Life of the Soil. I think we all gained much inspiration from Nancy. March’s speaker was Samantha Hopes, who spoke about ‘Plants with a Story’. She was so dynamic that we have booked her again for next year.
This year’s programme of events included our usual Christmas afternoon tea with a member’s talk from Tricia John, a quiz, a Christmas decoration competition and a new item ‘Desert Island Gardening Tools’ which was a great success.
We changed venue this year for our post Christmas luncheon to The Swan at Aston Munslow which served a very good meal.
The Spring Show with quiz and photograph competition all took place as usual
and again it was a most enjoyable afternoon.
All in all, it has been a very successful and enjoyable year. The AGM was followed by the plant sale. It is interesting to see what other members bring along. It gives an insight into what members grow in their gardens and greenhouses and it is an opportunity to grab a bargain. I like to find something new and this year it was four sweet box seedlings. I have no idea what I am going to do with them, but they looked so tempting, I couldn’t resist.

The AGM is the final meeting, but there is still much more to come. On Thursday 18th June, we are visiting Aulden Farm which is the home and gardens of October’s speakers, Jill and Alun Whitehead. Their tree acre plot has many fascinating features and there will be tea and cake of course.
July is our final meeting, so we end with a garden picnic. This year, we are off to Stockton Bury Gardens in Kimbolton to explore the gardens and have afternoon tea.

If you would like to join our small, friendly and very active gardening club, please get in touch. We are always pleased to welcome new members, who bring new ideas to our exciting programme of events.
Bev Harris
Secretary
07933724728
[email protected]
www.stokestmilborough.info/burwarton-gardening-club.htm