2015 Spring Newsletter

Northiam
Ho r t icult u r a l So cie t y
(AFFILIATED TO THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY)
PRESIDENT: FERGUS GARRETT BSC (HONS)
S PRING N EWSLETTER 2015
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SUMMER SOCIAL EVENING – FRIDAY 26 JUNE 7.00-9.30PM
The social evening, to be held in the Village Hall, will comprise a quiz, raffle, plant ident competition and three
classes.
Class 1
Your favourite flower – up to 3 cut stems in a bikini vase, of the same type i.e. all roses
Class 2
Interesting foliage – up to 3 cut stems in a bikini vase, of the same type or different
Class 3
Your favourite flower photo – to be judged by public voting
(Prints, taken within the last 12 months and not previously exhibited, should not exceed 8” x 6” and be
mounted on card. Total size, including card, must not exceed 10” x 8”)
Prizes will be awarded and there will also be an impromptu question time. Refreshments will be served and
entry is free. Judging will begin promptly at 7.30pm so please be there between 7.00-7.30pm even if you are
not entering an exhibit.
Any queries please contact Alison on 01797 252525
_______________________________________________________________________________
PLANT SALE – SATURDAY 9 MAY 2.00PM
Many of us have been busy potting up, splitting perennials and starting to sow vegetable and annual seeds
which will all be ready for our Plant Sale – hopefully we will have 1,000+ plants, some donated by Great
Dixter, others grown by Members.
On the day, the main plants will be grouped by price (not alphabetically) so please pay where you select
your prize plant.
If you have any plants you would like to donate to the sale please bring them along to the Village Hall at
9.00am – all contributions gratefully received. Thanks in advance go to Fergus and the students for their help
and support.
_______________________________________________________________________________
INSIDE
CONGRATULATIONS!
THIS ISSUE:
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
2
The Veitch Memorial Medal, awarded in recognition of advancement in the
science and practice of horticulture, has been given to Fergus.
SPRING SHOW 2015
2
COMMITTEE 2015
2
As well as being Head Gardener at Gt Dixter, CEO of the Great Dixter
Charitable Trust he is also a member of several RHS committees and his work
continually raises standards of practical gardening. He is also a prolific writer
and lecturer and we are very privileged to have him as President of our Society.
EVENTS IN & AROUND
NORTHIAM
3
COACH TRIP DETAILS
4
SPRING NEWSLETTER 2015
PA G E 2
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Plant Sale
9 May
2.00pm
Summer Social Evening
26 June
7.00 - 9.30pm
Coach trip to Parham House & Gardens
8 July
9.45am - 7.15pm
Autumn Show
5 September
2.30pm
Gt Dixter open for Parishioners
20 September
2.00 - 5.00pm
Lecture: Orchids - easy exotics for your home – Joseph Ford
2 October
2.30pm
Gt Dixter Plant Fair
3/4 October
11.00am - 4.00pm
Lecture: Arts & Crafts Gardens – Stephen Harmer
6 November
7.30pm
AGM & Christmas Social
4 December
7.30pm
SPRING SHOW 2015
Our recent Spring Show was a big success – the Hall looked very colourful despite being down on exhibits
due to the weather but we were pleased to see new exhibitors taking part.
Thanks also go to Messy Church for their lovely exhibit with the theme of the Garden of Gethsemane.
Frewen made a lovely Spring exhibit as well as entering the photographic section; meanwhile it was nice to
welcome Northiam Primary who had created collages on a Spring theme.
We are hoping the weather leading up to the Summer Social and Autumn Show will enable the number of
exhibitors and exhibits to be increased.
______________________________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE 2015
At the AGM in December we elected the new Society Committee for our 117 th year.
The full Committee is now as follows having welcomed a new Member in January:
President:
Chairman:
Vice-Chairman
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Show Secretary:
Joint Show Secretary:
Membership Secretary:
Fergus Garrett
Tony Pomfret
Linda Belton
Lesley Kennedy
Len Chapman
Alison Kirk
Averil Phillips
Joan Davis
Committee Members:
Lewis Bosher
Peter Gunther
Carol Knowles
Rosemary Husey
We welcome Lewis to our group and we will all work to give the village the dynamic Society it deserves in
2015 and in the future.
SPRING NEWSLETTER 2015
PA G E 3
EVENTS IN AND AROUND NORTHIAM:
COFFEE MORNING & BRIC-A-BRAC SALE
Due to a clash of dates with the Plant Sale, the coffee morning in support of St Michael's Hospice will now
be held on Saturday 16 May in the Village Hall 10.00am - 12.30pm. Donations of bric-a-brac and raffle
prizes will be very welcome. Please contact Eileen Hayes 01797 252871 with any offers or enquiries.
_________________________
PLANT SALE
Friary Gardeners are part of the Parchment Trust, a Hastings based charity serving local people with physical
and learning disabilities. Friary Gardeners offer horticultural training and greater independence to people
with disability through raising plants from seed, growing flowers and vegetables, selling plants and produce to
the general public and providing gardening services to the local community.
As part of its 40th Anniversary celebrations, Day Lewis Pharmacy is working with Friary Gardeners to hold a
plant sale on Battle Abbey Green on Friday 22 May 10.00am - 2.00pm with the promise to double any
money raised.
Come along and find out more about the Parchment Trust and Friary Gardeners – and bag yourself some
lovely plants.
For information call Day Lewis Pharmacy 01424 772010
_________________________
NORTHIAM GARDEN SAFARI
One thing we have realised, whilst planning Northiam Bonfire's Garden Safaris, is that we often don't see
other peoples back gardens. This is a shame, as we gardeners put a lot of ourselves into creating a space
which suits our needs – for growing food, enjoying the colour and form of flowers or just having a pleasant
space to relax or entertain friends.
This year, we are delighted to be invited into five gardens which should interest and inspire us. These are in
Ghyllside Road, Spring Hill and Dixter Lane. More gardens would be very welcome so, if yours is in this area
and you would be happy to allow us to enjoy your personal haven, we would be very pleased to hear from
you.
Northiam Bonfire Society's third Garden Safari is on Sunday 31 May 11.00am – 5.00pm; we hope to see
you.
Terry & Karen Ayling 01797 253375
karen@terenceayling.co.uk
__________________________
GOUDHURST OPEN GARDENS
Five different gardens to view, all within walking distance of central parking will be open for Hospice in the
Weald on Sunday 5 July 10.30am - 4.30pm.
There will be tea and cake available as well as craft, plant and produce stalls as well as music, art and craft
demonstrations throughout the day.
Follow the signs on the day or, for more information, please contact:
Angela 01580 211316 or Melanie 01580 212906
SPRING NEWSLETTER 2015
PA G E 4
COACH VISIT TO PARHAM HOUSE & GARDENS 8 JULY 2015
We are planning a visit to Parham House and Gardens (www.parhaminsussex.co.uk) near Pulborough, West
Sussex on 8 July.
The Elizabethan Manor House has a splendid interior with collections of paintings, furniture, needlework and
antiquities. Rooms to see include the Great Hall and a 160' Long Gallary. It is surrounded by a deer park
and pleasure gardens including a lake as well as an old walled garden, 4 acres of herbaceous borders, a
vegetable garden as well as a conservatory housing fuchsia and old fashioned pelargonium displays. The
cutting borders supply material for the arrangements of cut flowers for which the House is famous.
Facilities include a cafe and restaurant, (picnics are allowed), as well as a plant nursery.
Places on the coach will be on a first come first served basis with a waiting list for cancellations. You will
only be contacted if you are on the waiting list.
TIMETABLE:-
Depart Northiam Car Park
Arrive Parham House
9.45 am (please car share where possible)
12.00 noon
Leave Parham House
Arrive Northiam Car Park
5.00 pm
7.15 pm approximately
Cost to cover coach travel (and driver's tip), refreshments on arrival and entry to the house and gardens is
£20 per person.
Please complete the form below and return it with your payment no later than 31 May to the address
below:
Linda Belton, South Grange, Quickbourne Lane, Northiam, East Sussex TN31 6QY (01797 252984).
BOOKING FORM
For the visit by coach to Parham House & Gardens
Please reserve _________ places at £ 20 per person
Name(s)
____________________________________________________________
Address
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Telephone
__________________________
Email
____________________________________________________________
Payment of
£ ________ enclosed (cheques payable to Northiam Horticultural Society)