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 £2 entry to the monthly meeting to include tea and biscuits.

Committee:

Chairman – Sally Evans
Membership Secretary – Richie Line
Treasurer – Sue Line
Show Secretary – Sue Brown
Committee Members:
 Maureen Bowen
 Derek McCourty
 Liz McCourty
 Peta-Jane Onslow 
 Rita Simmons

Dates for 2023:

31st March – 7:30pm monthly meeting 
Guest speaker: Martyn Jarvis, Culberry Nursery, Herbs

8th April – 2pm Spring Flower Show 

28th April – 7:30pm monthly meeting    
Guest speaker: Geoff Hawkins, Bugs - the good the bad and the ugly

26th May – 7:30pm monthly meeting     
Guest speaker: Martin Burkinshaw, Gardens and Outdoor Manager at Petworth. The development of the gardens

30th June – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: David Standing, Cottage Gardens

28th July – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Sarah Oldridge - The history and work of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew

5th August - 2pm Summer Flower Show

25th August – Quiz Night, BYOB

29th September – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Frances Farrer-Brown, History of gardens in the south east of England

27th October – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest Speaker: Neil Hulme - Sublime Sussex Wildlife

24th November – 7:30pm monthly meeting
Guest speaker: Ian Everest - The Women's Land Army

8th December - 7.30pm Christmas Social  

NOVEMBER MEETING

Our November meeting is this Friday, 24th, at 7:30, when we have Ian Everest giving a talk on the Women's Land Army.

We will also be selling tickets for the Christmas Social on 8th December, so if you don't have your ticket yet, you have an opportunity to buy them on Friday.  We have to give the caterers a final number a week before the event, ie, on 1st December, so we do need to have all tickets paid for by then, as we will be charged according to the figure we give them. If you haven't paid for your tickets yet and can't be there on Friday, let me know and we can organise alternative arrangements for you. 

We have our last flower of the month competition of the year and the usual raffle.

See you on Friday.

Sally

OCTOBER MEETING

Our next meeting is this Friday, 27th October at 7:30, when we will be welcoming Neil Hulme, who will be talking about Sublime Sussex Wildlife.  You may remember that Neil visited us last year and gave us a very enlightening talk about the rewilding of the Knepp Estate.

We will also be taking bookings and selling tickets for our Christmas Social on 8th December .  We have been working hard to ensure that, despite the increases in the cost of everything over the last year, we can keep the ticket price at the same level as last year. The Caterers have come back to us with a menu that we are happy with and we hope that many of you will join us again this year.  So the cost for members will be £23 and for non-members £25.  If you would like to buy tickets on Friday, please come with your cash or cheque (made payable to FVGA).  However, you may just register your interest this month and pay at November's meeting if you wish.  Please do let us know if you intend to come to the social and are going to pay next month, as it helps with our planning.  I will include the menu on the newsletter on Friday, so you can all see what will be on offer.

Don't forget flower of the month - if you have anything that survives all the rain!

Sally

QUIZ NIGHT

This Friday (25th) is our quiz night, which is a general knowledge quiz, so no specialist gardening knowledge is required.  It is a bring your own night, so please come along with your own drinks, glasses and nibbles, as the kitchen will be closed.  We will have teams of six and if you already have your team and want to reserve a table, just let me know.  Otherwise you can just fill tables as you choose, which is a great opportunity to get to know people.  Mo will be doing a raffle, so don't forget to bring some cash for that.  Prizes will be given for the winning team; no expense spared!  Well, maybe not a round the world cruise.....

Joan Francis has sent me the following message, which I am passing on in case anyone would like some bamboo.
"I have taken out some clump-forming bamboo (Red Panda) if anyone would like some, we can deliver in the Findon area. Contact 0780 717 3665Donations appreciated but not essential which I will give to Pancreatic cancer research charity."

I look forward to seeing lots of you on Friday.

Sally