FINDON VILLAGE GARDENS ASSOCIATION
The Findon Village Gardens Association welcomes new members. We meet at 7:30pm on the last Friday in each month (except December) in the Village Hall. We normally have a guest speaker, with subjects ranging from horticulture to the history of canals; from trug making to natural history.
We have an annual light-hearted quiz night, a Christmas Social evening and of course our two Flower shows, enabling members to grow and show prize blooms and vegetables, plus of course the cookery, photography and handicraft sections. During the year, visits to gardens and other places of interest are arranged, which make for a most enjoyable day or half day out. There is truly something for everyone.
Annual membership is £5 with a £1 entry to the monthly meeting to include tea and biscuits. For any membership details please contact David Gear on the number below
For general enquiries, you can contact us via email at info.findongardens@gmail.com or by phone on 07423 265255
Committee:
Chairman – Chris Young
Hon. Secretary/Membership Secretary – David Gear
Hon. Treasurer – Sue Line
Show Secretary – Sally Evans
Maureen Bowen
Graham Hobson
Richie Line
Mike Solomons
Molly Stooks
Dates for 2019:
25th January – AGM and Social with Buffet 7pm.
Please feel free to attend the AGM even if you are not attending the social.
22nd February – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Ian Everest; A Sussex farm during the 1950s
29th March – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: To be confirmed
6th April – Spring Flower Show 2pm
Click here for the Show Schedule
26th April – MEETING CANCELLED
Village Hall Flooring being layed
31st May – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Verity Bradbury; RHS garden at Wisley
28th June – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Sally Botwright; The History of Southwark
26th July – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: John Oliver; The History of RSPB Pulborough Brooks
3rd August – Summer Flower Show 2pm
Click here for the Show Schedule
30th August – 7:30pm Quiz
27th September – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Mark Saunders; A-Z of garden plants
25th October – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest Speaker: Paul Patton; Autumn Inspirations
29th November – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Liz and Tony Gilkes; A Victorian Christmas
6th December – 7:30pm Christmas Social
NOTICES
OCTOBER MEETING
Posted: 22nd October 2019
This Friday, 25th, is our usual monthly meeting. The talk is entitled ‘Autumn Aspirations’ and the speaker is Paul Patton. Paul specialises in plant care including pest and disease control, propagation, feeding and the need to maintain a balance in our gardens and the help given by adding organic matter to the soil.
This month we will also start selling tickets for our regular Christmas Social which will be on December 6th (not the 5th as stated in the membership card). We will be having the same caterer as we had in the last two/three years and the menu includes both hot and cold dishes, meat and fish as well as a vegetarian option. The ticket price will be £18.50 for members, £20 for non-members. As usual will be having a free raffle, heads n tails, a table prize, sing-along carols with David Gear and a light hearted Christmas quiz. What amazing value!
I hoping that rain will stop so that I can get on with some of the many garden jobs to be done! We look forward to seeing you all on Friday.
Chris
SEPTEMBER MEETING
Posted: 24th September 2019
The nights are drawing in, the days are cooler and the rain has arrived – all signs that Summer is over for another year and Christmas is just around the corner!!! Heaven forbid! However we have been out today buying bulbs which is a sure sign that autumn is with us.
This Friday (27th) sees a welcome return of one of longest serving speakers who has always a mountain of practical advice and plenty of stories to tell. The speaker is of course Mark Saunders, Head Gardener at the lovely gardens at Fittleworth House which is always worth a visit. Mark’s talk is entitled A-Z of garden plants, so take pad and paper and be prepared to take notes!
We look forward to seeing you on Friday, best wishes
Chris
AUGUST MEETING
Posted: 26th August 2019
Our next meeting is this coming Friday which is quiz night when the grey cells will be challenged and the memories tested! In order to keep track on the participants we are making this a ticketed evening. So far we have in excess of 90 coming! Don’t forget this is a BYO evening so the tea ladies can relax and join in with the quiz. Please do remember to bring your own glasses and take away the empties afterwards. We are still missing some containers from the Summer show so if you find you have a ‘foreign’ cake container do please bring it along to the meeting.
Mike Solomons is hoping to put together a trip to the West Country next May/June time. This would be a four day trip (3 nights) staying at a hotel in Ilfracombe and visiting gardens such as Hestercombe, Knights Hay and Rosemoor. The cost will be £399 and include coach, tips, entry to the gardens etc. If you are interested please do see Mike or contact him on 01903 877255. Mike is also looking to organise a series of day trips which have always proved popular in the past. Possible places include RHS Wisley, Leeds Castle, Hever Castle and Isabella plantation in Richmond park. Again if these are of interest please contact Mike so we can gauge the response and therefore the viability. If you have any other suggestion you think would be popular please let us know, do bear in mind that an hour and a half in a coach is about the furthest most of members want to go.
