Talking of whom, we have had a meeting to discuss Speaker and subject ideas for our next season from this September through to May 2024. I know it sounds a long way off as we’ve only just jumped into 2023 but Speakers are rapidly becoming booked up! We hope we shall do our best for you all and make choices that will enthuse and interest you in anything horticultural!
If you are proud of it, you might want to consider adding it to this year’s Open Gardens. The Gardeners Association are now working to finalise details for the event. Contact [email protected] to find out more.
Entry by programme
Programmes for entry to all the gardens and the allotments will be on sale beforehand in shops and businesses; on the day also at the Orpen Hall. The Gardeners Association also plan to have a stall selling plants in the Hall on the day; they would welcome plant contributions to sell.
The Gardeners 2021-22 Programme Started in Wrabness
Despite being unable to meet up since early 2020 the Gardeners’ Club have tried to keep in touch with members; they have done this via email newsletters and also through a self drive visit to Strandlands, Wrabness. Strandlands is an NGS garden; the visit gave them a chance to meet in the lovely setting of an unique, natural garden overlooking the estuary. They also had a stall at the Village Fete in July to publicise the group and to attract new members. They reassured visitors that they are a very informal and friendly club of enthusiastic amateurs; their joint ambition being to gain inspiration and advice from interesting and experienced speakers.
Now that Autumn is rapidly approaching, with shorter days and cooler weather and with the ending of social gathering restrictions we plan to resume monthly meetings from September. They have already booked a full programme of speakers for 2021/2022 dependent upon Covid regulations. All being well, they look forward to being back in the Orpen Hall on Monday, 20th September at 7.30 pm. They look forward to welcoming existing and new members. The full programme will be available at that meeting; it will include a very short AGM and a talk by Roger Pawsey, a rose grower.
After that, on 18th October, Richard Grant, Head Gardener from Madingley Hall, Cambridge will be their speaker. In November they will be learning how to make a Christmas Wreath and they will finish the year with their annual Christmas Quiz evening in December.
The Gardeners’ summer visits this year started after their 2018/19 programme of talks came to a conclusion. They were particularly happy that the weather remained on their side.
Shrubs Farm
In June, a group went on a self-drive trip to Shrubs Farm in Lamarsh, a garden in the National Garden Scheme. The owners, Robert & Sara Erith have lived at the farm since 1966. The farm has superb views over the Stour Valley. Members were given an entertaining and informative tour of the garden, parkland and ancient woodland by the owner. Robert explained the planning and ethos behind the beautiful planting and vistas.
West Bergholt Gardeners recently enjoyed an interesting talk by Dr. Chris Gibson about “Wild Flowers of Essex”. Chris drew on his 30+ year career as a nature conservationist, working to preserve Essex wildlife and landscapes. The Gardeners learnt about the large areas of ancient woodland around the county (which includes Hillhouse Wood) and the flowers and plants which flourish there.
West Bergholt Gardeners certainly got food for thought at their recent meeting on 15th October. Stuart Gough from The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm described the green ethos of the group.
“Farm, Food & People” is Stuart Gough’s topic at the next Gardeners’ Association meeting on 15th October. Stuart is from The Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm which is a Community Supported Agricultural (CSA) Scheme. CSAs bring farms and local communities closer together to provide mutual benefits and reconnect people to the land where their food is grown. Continue reading “Farm, Food & People”
The Open Gardens 2018 event is on 1st July with over 20 gardens (see below) and the allotments being open from 11 am to 5.30 pm. Some gardens and the church halls will be selling refreshments and there will be local artists exhibiting. Morris Dancers will perform at two gardens and “Quire” will be singing songs from around the world at Continue reading “Open Gardens 2018”
The Beth Chatto Gardens have recently been in touch with a summer offer:
The Beth Chatto Water Garden
We’ve come to realise that a lot of the local community have never visited the Beth Chatto Gardens before and so we’re offering free entry to the garden for children under 14, throughout the summer holidays (3 children per paying adult at £6.95), and we’d also like to invite you to a FREE evening of music and art on the 20th September.
It would be lovely to welcome members of your parish to the gardens and if you’d like to sign up for the events newsletter, please do here: http://eepurl.com/bmfHyb.
Beth Chatto Gardens are based on the ecological and creative principles of their founder. They aim to provide an inspirational and sustainable, quality experience for all visitors. Education and enjoyment underpin the gardens’ philosophy. They are located at:
In previous years West Bergholt Gardeners have opened their gardens to the public in aid of charity, most recently in 2014 where well over £3,000 was raised for teenage cancer charities. This year the organizers are taking a break, hopefully to be back reinvigorated next year, but for those still hoping to visit local gardens and get some ideas, we have recently received details of another similar event:
Coggeshall Hidden Gardens 2015
Sunday, 7 June 2:00 PM To 6:00 PM
This year Coggeshall is opening its garden gates so that you can visit walled gardens, kitchen gardens, tiny gardens, gardens that will delight and inspire you. There’s lots to do and see for young and old alike. Follow the children’s trail, visit the plant stall, enjoy a delicious home-made tea – a perfect afternoon out for the whole family! For more information visit the website at www.coggeshallopengardens.org.uk.
If You Can’t Make Coggeshall
There are some 23 Villages/Parishes running Open Gardens in Essex this year, a small sample includes some relatively local:
Walton-on-the Naze – 27th & 28th June – Various gardens open in Walton-on-the-Naze for the benefit of Walton in Bloom. Come and spend a wonderful day by the sea. Refreshments, tombola, raffle, plant sales and crafts for sale. – http://www.waltoninbloom.org/.
Chappel & Wakes Colne – 7th June – About 12 beautiful gardens open in and around the Essex Colne Valley. Lovely garden location for refreshments.
Earls Colne – 21st June – A number of gardens will be open to visit, all within easy walking distance with garden trail for the young ones. St. Andrews church and tower will be open for views across the beautiful Colne valley. Refreshments on sale. http://www.colnevalley.com.
Tollesbury – 27th & 28th June – Over twenty gardens will be open, from small courtyard gardens to larger gardens, from community gardens to gardens as yet unseen by the public.
Pebmarsh – 7th June – This Trail includes a variety of gardens. Snipelands is a stunning two-acre garden in a peaceful setting, on the outskirts of Pebmarsh, at 10 Mill Lane are mature shrubs, herbaceous borders, and a fern garden under trees whilst Matson Lodge is a 1½ acre garden developed for wildlife. http://www.redcross.org.uk/opengardens.
Gardeners’ Summer Visits
