From the Chairman:
"Welcome to the November edition of our newsletter. It contains the reports our officers should have delivered at the AGM – we will hold the actual meeting when we can next get together, I hope in early spring 2021. Meanwhile, the Committee is working hard to plan 2021 events, including the Summer Show – watch out for an announcement about how you can get tubers for the Potato in a Bucket contest, as well as the schedule.
Outside, the weather is getting worse, but there is still plenty to do in the garden and planning for the coming seasons – looking forward is always better than looking back, especially as 2020 has been so difficult for many of us. Stay warm, healthy and busy, and I hope to see you in 2021." - Robin Britton
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In this issue:
- President’s report
- Chairman’s report
- Treasurer’s report
- Virtual Autumn Show – thank you
- What’s coming up?
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- Looking for new poster sites
- Can you identify this plant?
- A recipe from Anita Routley – Chocolate Apple Cake
- Saving our local landscape
- Members’ photos
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Officers’ reports November 2020
President’s report
I have just been flitting back through my ULRHS file. It goes back to 2006 when one of my first tasks was at the Summer Show where I was the steward for the ‘Flowers and Foliage’ judge. I remember the quiet and steadfast way in which the judge skilfully embraced each class and the feeling of being involved in something rather special. Each year since simply stepping into the hushed yet comradely etiquette of the Show Marquee has been like stepping into a very natural wonderland.
In those days the main focus of The Society was the Summer and Autumn Shows, with a couple of plant sales alongside that we ran to help boost funds but was also a great way to share plants around and about the area. But unquestionably with fewer members The Society was struggling financially. However, the intervening years have seen The Society blossom into the hugely successful horticultural group it is today, with close on 400 members. From the excellent monthly talks and demonstrations, adventurous outings, bustling plant sales, quizzes, barn dances, ferret racing evenings as well as the spectacular Summer Shows, The Society has created a hub of horticultural excellence in the community and presently is financially secure.
Of course, none of these things could have been achieved without the resolve of a handful of enthusiastic committee members. This year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic the timeless skills of horticulture - the growing, the preserving and knowing the provenance of the foods we eat have become more paramount than ever. I know we are living through uncertain, extraordinary times, but do keep in mind the brightness of the spring when the good earth will warm and provide for us again. It won’t be long before the first silvery-green leaves of the early snowdrops will be poking up to make us smile.
It’s been both a privilege and a pleasure to be part of it all and to help keep the tradition of the many aspects of horticulture alive and kicking, but now I think it’s important to hand over the reins to others to keep the momentum of this remarkable group vibrant and moving forward. I know the Committee. I know they will!
Warmest of wishes,
Pam
Pam Corbin, President
Chairman’s report
In these unprecedented times, with an in-person AGM not yet possible, this report covers our activities since last November, and looks forward, so far as we can, to 2021.
At our AGM in November 2019, we had no inkling of what was in store. The Christmas Social in December was followed in January by a well-attended showing of a film about Piet Oudolf at the Marine Theatre and a talk by Will Livingstone. February’s talk was from Marcus Dancer about Clematis, and there was a coach trip to Lanhydrock House in early March. The coronavirus lockdown prevented the rest of the talks programme from going ahead – most will be rearranged in the near future, we hope. The Spring Plant Sale was cancelled, the Summer Show and Autumn Show moved on-line. A regular monthly newsletter organised by Tricia Boyd and Lois Wakeman has become the (well-received) main means for our members to be kept in touch.
Once restrictions were relaxed a little, visits in members own cars went to Forde Abbey and Mapperton House, then a coach visit to The Newt went ahead in late September, with restricted numbers and social distancing. All of these activities have been appreciated, but nothing like a “normal” year. The Committee has not been idle, however, as we have tried hard to work out what we could do and how, with ever-changing restrictions on gatherings. My thanks are particularly due to Tricia and Lois for their work on the virtual shows and newsletters, plus everyone who has contributed to them.
Looking forward, we cannot yet see when talks can resume, and coach trips may be uneconomic if numbers are strictly limited, so we will be keeping the situation under close review. The Committee does stand at something of a crossroads – Pam Corbin is standing down after her three-year term as President, Rose Mock is handing over the role of Secretary to Monica Mellor, and John Routley is handing over to Alan Vian as Treasurer, after nearly thirty years of valued service. We owe all three a huge debt of gratitude for their efforts on behalf of the Society and its members, and to their successors for taking on these responsibilities.
We do need to find new Committee members to ensure that the Society’s activities do go forward when conditions permit, so please consider whether you could offer some of your time and energy – events do not just happen! We have booked dates for the Spring Plant Sale (May 15th) and Summer Show (July 10th), and a Show Schedule will be published in the spring when we have a clearer idea of the future. A programme of activities will be arranged as soon as we are able to meet, and in the meantime, the newsletters will continue so long as the membership wants them - please keep your contributions coming.
Robin Britton, Chairman
Treasurer’s report
Please click on the link to download or view a copy of my annual report (PDF file). This report relates to the period 01/01/19 to 31/12/19.
Although 2020 has been a difficult year with most fundraising events, shows, trips and talks being cancelled, which will have had an effect on our financial position, we are on a sound financial footing and this will be reflected in the 01/01/20 to 31/12/20 accounts.
During 2019 membership again increased and we had 378 members as at 31/12/19. The Summer Show made a profit of £916 after donating £450 to both the 1st Lym Valley Scouts and Marie Curie.
The printing and stationery costs increased due to the survey we did to get members’ views on the future of the Summer Show and the extra events leaflets needed for an exhibition. A donation of £542 was made for the landing lights at the Cricket Field, and we also had an exhibition at the Town Mill during November 2019 to promote the society at a cost of £235.
The Society continues to subsidise the talks and trips. Overall the Society’s income exceeded its expenditure by £1074.
John Routley, Treasurer
Virtual Autumn Show – thank you
Thank you to all our members who took part in the Virtual Autumn Show. In all, 39 members contributed over 130 entries – a fantastic result that was great to show off everybody’s hard work in the garden this summer. Our most popular categories were ‘autumn flowers’ and ‘images of autumn’, with some superb photographs being submitted.
If you haven’t had a chance to browse yet, please visit https://ulrhs.wordpress.com/autumn-show-2020. Hover over a picture to see who submitted it and click on it to bring it up full size. You’ll find just a few examples of people’s achievements below to whet your appetite.
What’s coming up?
At the time of writing we are just starting on a second lockdown. While our own Zoom sessions will not be affected, other events may, so please check. Garden centres should be able to remain open during lockdown but again please check if you plan to visit one.
If you would like to join a Zoom session but aren’t confident to use the technology, see if a neighbour, friend or family member might be able to set it up for you. We offer Zoom familiarisation sessions too, so if you would like one of these please contact Tricia Boyd at tricia@thegardenersblacksmith.co.uk, 07767 261444.
November 15th – Rosemoor trip
We have had to postpone this trip owing to latest Government restrictions although RHS gardens are remaining open. We will look to rearrange a visit to Rosemoor in 2021, perhaps in the spring/summer when the weather will be warmer for taking a picnic. ☹
November 25th (Wednesday) – Share members’ gardens
On Wednesday November 25th we shall be holding a Zoom meeting with a second visit to members’ gardens (plus others). Our first venture into each other’s gardens back in August was well received so we’re having a second outing. Expected contributions include:
- Jean Stacey looking at three winter-flowering plants
- Chris Elmore showing a view of his previous garden from some Australian visitors and all set to music (intriguing)!
- Jo Benke-Smith filming local bird-ringing
- Tricia Boyd showing her garden created out of a building site
- An NGS video of a stunning garden
Please join the meeting at 7pm for a 7.15pm start - save the link for your diaries!
https://zoom.us/j/96559886585?pwd=S21yQ1JVZDJlSktHb1paTEdaL2c4QT09
If you have something of interest to other members in your garden, please email tricia@thegardenersblacksmith.co.uk as we’re always looking for new ideas.
December 3rd (Thursday) – Make a Christmas wreath
Sarah Broom will be doing a Zoom demonstration of how to make a Christmas wreath. Some of you may remember that Sarah created some lovely seasonal displays for us at our talk in January 2019.
We’ll be issuing a list of materials you need to make your own wreath, so you can work along as Sarah demonstrates and you’ll be able to ask questions. Or you can just watch someone creating something beautiful. The meeting will open at 7pm for a 7.15pm start. Further details to follow in the Zoom invitation.
January 27th (Wednesday) – ‘Grow your own happiness’
Alan Heeks will be running this Zoom workshop on ‘Grow your own happiness’. The workshop will show how gardening methods can be adapted to improve your wellbeing and resilience, including a chance to try out some techniques. Just what we need in difficult times. Alan gardens with his wife in Bridport, and created a 130-acre organic farm and education centre at Magdalen Farm in West Dorset. Further details to follow in due course.
Artisans’ Bazaar
One of our trips last year was to Sculpture by the Lakes, a wonderful mix of sculpture and gardens. The garden is still open with pre-booked tickets, and you can get takeaways from the café. This year they had planned - before lockdown - to run a free-entry Artisans’ Bazaar from 7th November to 23rd December (please contact them for an update on dates once lockdown ends) – ideal for unique Christmas gifts in a relaxed shopping environment. Work from more than 80 artists and makers will be on sale. See https://www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk/events for more information.
Looking for new poster sites
Posters are an important way for us to remind members about upcoming events. Over the last 18 months our number of sites has dwindled as people have moved away, and as Covid restrictions mean that places like the library are no longer taking posters.
If you’d be willing to put a poster in your window or on your gatepost to publicise our events please contact tricia@thegardenersblacksmith.co.uk.
Can you identify this plant?
Ania Driver has a lovely plant which is doing very well in her garden but she doesn’t know what it is. Can anybody identify it please? In the meantime, Ania has christened it her ‘paint pot plant’. If you know what it is please email twobeedrooms@btinternet.com.
A recipe from Anita Routley – Chocolate Apple Cake
Some of you may have noticed Anita’s chocolate apple cake in the Virtual Autumn Show. It looks delicious so we asked Anita to share the recipe. As she says: “It never lasts long in this house!”
550g (1¼ lb) dessert apples
225g (8 oz) margarine
225g (8 oz) caster sugar
2 – 3 drops vanilla essence
4 eggs, beaten
225g (8 oz) self-raising flour
25g (1 oz) cocoa powder
About 1 tbsp milk
Icing sugar for sprinkling
Preheat the oven to 180 deg C, 350 deg F, Gas mark 4. Grease and line a 23cm (9 in) round cake tin with greased greaseproof paper.
Peel, quarter and core apples. Cream the margarine, sugar and vanilla essence together until light and fluffy, then gradually beat in the eggs. Sift the flour and cocoa powder and stir into the mixture, add milk. Spread just over half of the mixture in the prepared tin. Arrange the apples over the mixture, pressing them in lightly. Cover with the remaining cake mixture and level the surface.
Bake in the centre of the oven for 1¼ to 1½ hours until cake is cooked. (Push a skewer into the centre of the cake and if it comes out clean it’s ready.) Cool in the tin for 10 mins then turn out and remove paper. Transfer to a wire tray to cool. Sprinkle with icing sugar.
Saving our local landscape
Trees are essential to our planet’s wellbeing and oak and ash both form a familiar part of our local landscape.
Society member Ann Fudger decided to make a practical contribution to our future landscape by planting acorns for future generations. She says “Last year I had a friend with loads of acorns littering her garden so I thought I would plant them, and help with the plant a tree scheme. To my surprise I ended up with 40 second year seedlings about 8 inches tall.”
Ann then got in touch with the Bridport Tree Planting Group, who put her in contact with Jean Rainbow. Jean and her husband are planting trees on their land, and to date have planted over 1,000. Coincidentally she had ordered some oak saplings from a nursery, which when they arrived were in a poor condition with their tops cut off or multi stemmed. As Ann describes “They were desperate for replacements, so Jean was delighted to hear I had so many saplings.” Ann is now looking forward to seeing the saplings planted when Covid-19 restrictions allow her to visit.
Meanwhile at a county level a project called ‘Saving Devon’s Treescapes’ has been launched to counter the loss of trees from ash dieback. It’s shocking to learn that more than 90% of Devon’s native ash trees are expected to be lost over the next 15 years. Local communities are therefore being encouraged to plant 250,000 trees over the next five years.
The project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust who are able to offer free saplings of oak, field maple, aspen, lime, beech, birch, and hazel for planting in the garden. The project’s distribution hubs can give away 1-5 trees, along with a free planting guide and tree guards. Each hub will have 200-400 trees to give away and will be run by local volunteers. Anyone interested in finding out more should contact project lead Rosie Cotgreave rcotgreave@devonwildlifetrust.org or visit the website https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/what-we-do/our-projects/saving-devons-treescapes
Members’ photos
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Above left - clematis and hydrangea in Ania Driver's garden, and
above right, autumn colour at Stourhead from Pam Corbin.
Your contributions welcome!
We’re always looking for gardening news and photos of interest to our members. If you have anything to share please contact Tricia Boyd tricia@thegardenersblacksmith.co.uk or call on 07767 261444
Thank you as usual to this month’s contributors, and keep your photos and stories coming to alleviate the difficulties of lockdown at a rather less sunny time of year.
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