The Burton & Rossett Horticultural Society
Autumn Newsletter

Autumn Newsletter

Welcome to the BRHS Autumn Newsletter. Another year of Shows over and the Show Secretary and General Secretary are still married and neither is in jail for Murder. However, we will be soon planning next year’s Shows, so any suggestions will be gratefully received (including sacking both Secretaries).

Looking Back

The June show was sadly disappointing. We had a wonderful selection of plants from Pottles Nursery and Members contributions but we did not have many visitors. The day was dreadful and we ended up paddling to get to our cars and van when clearing away. However, those who bought plants I’m sure are now reaping the benefits.

Our August Show, in conjunction with Rossett Festival, was held on the 27th August and, although we had fewer exhibits, we had more exhibitors, mainly in the Junior Classes. You can find the list of Trophy Winners and more information on our website (www.brhs.org.uk).

I must mention Mike Jarvis, who won the Banksian Medal, which is awarded by the RHS for the highest aggregate points in the Vegetable and Flower Classes and 11-year-old Phoebe Lloyd who, not only won the Trophy for The Most Meritorious in the Junior Classes, also won with the heaviest pumpkin; it weighed 20kilos and she carried it in herself! Well done to you both and also to all the other winners. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with the Show and to the exhibitors for supporting us; without you there would not be a Show.

Earlier in the year we took two coaches on a four-day trip to Chelsea, which included trips to Hampton Court, Kew and Wisley. Carolyn set a couple of quizzes which got the brain cells going.

Our Society is liaising with Chester Rotary Club regarding an initiative the Rotary is running in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society. This is aimed at promoting support for the eradication of Polio from the World. Contrary to popular belief, Polio is still present in the World, in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Polio kills and paralyses young children. It spreads like wild-fire. There’s no cure but it can be easily prevented through immunisation. 25 years ago, polio struck 350,000 children each year. Thanks to the work of Rotary and others, there were only 74 cases in 2015.

We are ‘this close’ to a polio free world. With your help we can make history and conquer polio. Please see our website (www.brhs.org.uk/polio) for further information on what we are doing.

What have we got in store for you in the remainder of our 2016/2017 calendar?

In October we have a Fungus Forage: this has had to be rescheduled for Sunday 23rd October.

On Wednesday 19th October we have the AGM. Please do come along and let the Committee know what you would like to see and hear in the coming months (there will be Cheese and Wine). In addition, we will have a short presentation from one of our Sponsors, ‘Just Seed’. They will be distributing special Pumpkin seeds which are used by professional growers to produce Giant Pumpkins. We are hoping that as many of you as possible will ‘Have a Go’ and grow one for the August Show, with a chance to win a Special Prize.

In November we have a Christmas Decorations Workshop and in January we have a talk on Chrysanthemums. Full details are available on our website (www.brhs.org.uk/programme).

Major Speaker

We can now confirm that the Major Speaker for 2017 is Bob Flowerdew. ‘An Evening with Bob Flowerdew’ will take place on 22nd February 2017 at Darland High School. Tickets are available now and cost £13 for members and £15 for non-members. Please contact David Weir on (01244) 571353 or Val Overson on (01978) 853228. For more information visit www.brhs.org.uk/bob.

Looking Ahead

I am in the process of arranging talks and visits for the 2017/2018 programme. (Gardeners are always planning ahead).

I have booked a day trip to the Hall Farm Nursery at Kinnerley, Oswestry. On Saturday 22nd April 2017 (Some of the older serving Members will remember visiting here some years ago). We will have a tour of the gardens and Members will receive a free plant to grow on for the August Show, with a chance to win the President’s Shield. Included in the price is a talk by the Head Gardener, together with instructions for growing on the free plant. The cost of the trip is £16 per person and includes all this plus tea and delicious home-made cake, together with the coach fare.

Bookings to Bob Bates on 01244 571338 or info@brhs.org.uk with deposit of £6. Cheques should be made payable to BRHS, and sent to 77 Harwoods Lane, Rossett, LL12 0EU.

Already arranged is a trip to the new RHS Show at Chatsworth House. The trip is with an overnight stay and a full day at the Show. The date is the 9th June and, although there are no spaces available on the coach we have booked, I have a list of interested parties and, if we get enough interest, we can have a second coach. The cost is £129, with a £50 deposit, but this will not be taken until the second coach is confirmed.

STOP PRESS – I have managed to book a Dinner/Bed/Breakfast, 5 day/4 night coach trip commencing 3rd August 2017 to the Dorset/Somerset area with visits to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Furleigh Estate Vineyard, Hestercombe Gardens, Moreton Walled Gardens, Bicton Park Botanical Gardens and Sheppeys Cider Farm. Initial price is £399 per person but, depending on the numbers attending, there should be a discount. Full itinerary to follow. Expressions of interest only required at present but, if we get enough interest, I will be asking for deposits before the end of November. Further details later on our website.

I hope you have had a successful year in your garden with plenty of produce. My tomatoes have been wonderful and we have some delicious red pepper and tomato soup in the freezer. Pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup will follow with delicious courgette and chocolate cake as we have a glut of courgettes. It is a good job my wife likes cooking and I like eating her creations.

Happy Gardening!

Bob Bates
General Secretary

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