For our Meeting on Wednesday 15th March, we were pleased to welcome Julian Reeves, the Charity Manager for Herefordshire Growing Point, who gave a very interesting talk and presentation on the work carried out by this Charity.
Julian explained that they are a registered Charity, based at Headway House, Credenhill, Hereford and have been established for over 30 years.
Their aim is to give disabled and vulnerable people of all ages the chance to enjoy Gardening and get the benefits of Social and Horticultural Therapy.
He explained that Horticultural Therapy involves being outside amongst plants, trees and shrubs and carrying out various gardening activities in relation to them, which has been shown to improve mental and physical health, build confidence and make people happier.
Their Sessions usually last one or two hours and normally take place in the garden at Credenhill, where people are divided into groups that suit their abilities and interests.
Julian explained that they also offer outreach sessions to care homes, sheltered housing locations and lunch clubs throughout the county.
Julian also brought along several common gardening tools which had been adapted to assist people with physical disabilities.
This was a very enlightening talk and presentation to promote this valuable charity and Julian has offered us the chance to visit their Garden at Headway House, to view their work, which we are arranging to do later in the year.
Also, at the March Meeting we held our “Spring Bulb Competition”.
Due to the adverse weather in the days prior to our Meeting, the support for our Competition was not as good as in previous years, so many thanks to those that were able to provide exhibits for this event.
The results were as follows:
Dwarf Narcissi – 5 or more stems of one kind in pot or vase: 1st.Chris Morris. 2nd Janice Goy.
3rd.Carol Ealy.
Daffodils or Narcissi Long Trumpets – 5 or more stems of one kind in pot or cut in vase:
1st.Chris Morris.
Daffodils or Narcissi Short Trumpets – 5 or more stems of one kind in pot or cut in vase:
1st Jenny Crisp. 2nd Lynne Jones Rodgers.
Polyanthus or Primula – 1 plant in pot and in flower: 1st Jean Wise. 2nd Victoria Seymour.
Vase of mixed spring flowers: 1st Janice Goy. 2nd Chris Morris. 3rd Jenny Crisp.
Any other bulb or plant in pot or vase, in flower: 1st Lynne Jones Rodgers. 2nd Jean Wise.
3rd Jenny Crisp.
Once again, the overall winner of the Spring Bulb Competition was Chris Morris. Second Place was tied between Lynne Jones Rodgers, Janice Goy and Jenny Crisp.
Third Place went to Jean Wise.
Well done to all those who submitted entries for the Competition.
For our Meeting on Wednesday 19th April, we are very much looking forward to a visit from Helen Picton, the Proprietor of the Picton Garden and Old Court Nursery, based at Colwall.
Helen is a very knowledgeable horticulturalist and an excellent speaker.
She will be giving a talk on “The Cultivation of Clematis”.
Also in April, members of gardening Club have been invited to the local Madley Plants Nursery, by Simon and Michelle.
They will talk to us about their future plans for the Nursery and the new plants they are now growing. Michele will also give a demonstration on planting containers for some beautiful summer colour.
A full report on these two events will be given in the next edition of Tracking the News.
Our Gardening Club Meeting for May, normally held on the third Wednesday of the month has been cancelled, as we will be away that week on our Gardening Club Holiday, to visit Gardens in the Cumbria area.
We are hoping to arrange a trip to view the “Bluebells” and other Spring Flowers in the Wye Valley and details of this will be given to Members in due course.