Members were treated to a very informative and interesting talk by Richard Cripps, his topic was soft and hardwood cuttings. Grafting and budding has been around since ancient times, but we were given an insight to the everyman’s way to do things! All cuttings keep the likeness of the parent plant, unlike seed planting. One simple way for soft cuttings, taken in the growing season, is to cut off the top of the stem leaving four major leaf branches, pinch out the top, especially if flowering, and put in a jar of water. Roots should form after 3-4 weeks. Another way is to put these cuttings into a mixture 50/50 of good general compost and sharp (fine) sand, not builders sand! Place a polythene bag over the top, acting as a mini greenhouse. Several different cuttings can be put in together, for both these systems. Richard also told us about layering and cutting up rhizomes. For hard wood cuttings, usually done in November/ December, longer cuttings can be taken, 2/3rds of the cutting is put in the soil or pot, and it can take up to 2 seasons to root. Hormone rooting powder is only needed on the more difficult plants to root.

Edington & District Gardening Club – First Thursday in the month Parish Hall, from 7.00pm

At the May meeting we had a very interesting talk from Lynda Warren, all about sowing, growing, harvesting, and preserving of herbs. Her enthusiasm kept us interested and amused.

In the spring, sow using 75% peat free compost and 25% washed horticultural grit, and prune rosemary, sage, bay, and hyssop. In the summer plant out seedlings, dead head to prolong the harvesting, prune lavender and thyme, feed once a week with liquid seaweed. In the Autumn cut back plants to retain the shape, protect from frost. In the winter cut out feeding and protect exposed plants. Air drying, oven drying, sugar and salt and freezing can all be used to preserve your herbs together with blended butter, flavoured oils, or vinegars, Lynda brought along samples to taste!

Let’s hope for a good entry in the ‘herbs in a vase’ at the Flower & Produce Show in September!

The next event for the Club is Saturday 1^st June. Please let us have any plants for the Village Fete for our stall, these can be dropped off at the entrance to the Coal Path field at 1.30pm or to any committee member beforehand.

The next meeting will be June 6^th in the Parish Hall with Richard Cripps with a hands-on talk about cuttings – both soft and hard wood.

The first trip for the year will be to Abbotsbury on June 27^th.

If you would like to come along to the meetings you are most welcome.

Check out the village web page for details.

It was a full house for our 20^th Birthday. One visitor joined 29 members for a celebratory evening.

2 cakes, made by Maxine and David (thank you both), were soon demolished together with cheese on biscuits and a sparkly drink!

A special mention was made to those who had started the ball rolling in April 2004, Stella and Edward Callaway, me, Carol and Roger Mussell and Vera Tyler, George and Joy Fraser.

Our speaker for the evening, Alex Learmont, gave an excellent talk on the endeavours of Shapwick Moor in Somerset on the Avalon Marshes. Owned by the Hawk and Owl Trust, the 150 acres, formerly arable land, is managed by Alex together with 14 volunteers. It was bought in 2007 and is being transformed into meadow. Ruby Red cows are used to graze, and the grass is removed in late summer. Hedgerows have been planted, high and wide! and the Rhynes are cleared of vegetation and there are ponds and scrapes. The result has seen not only birds of prey increase, barn owls, buzzards, kestrels, sparrowhawks, marsh harriers, peregrine and other seasonal birds of prey, but the butterfly count has increased together with harvest mice, otters, and hares.

Check out the web site for more information hhtps://hawkandowltrust.org

Next month, MAY 1^st, WEDNESDAY, (due to the elections) is the AGM when subscriptions are due. The new Programme will be available, and the Schedules for the Flower & Produce Show being held on 7^th September.

The speaker will be Lynda Brown – Herbs, sowing, growing, harvesting, and preserving.

Visitors are always welcome.

Contact 830133 for further information.

Spring must be in the air, 25 people attended the meeting to listen to Jackie Hames talk all about fruits – soft, bushes, trees, citrus, all kinds. We were not sure whether Rhubarb was fruit, but this was also discussed! A little history was included from Alfred the Great, Romans, and the Victorians who gave us our passion for fruit. In general, over winter mulch and feed in the spring and summer to help give the best crops.

Jackie brought along some of her plants to sell from Bratton Center preventing her wild fieldmouse from eating them!

Next month is our 20^th Birthday, so there will be cake! Cheese and drinks as well as speaker Alex Learmont, from the Hawk and Owl Trust talking about the Shapwick Nature Reserve.

For further information about our meetings and visits ring 830133.

After welcoming a new member to our meeting this month, details were given of planned trips for the remainder of this programme, and for the new programme starting in June.

Visits to local snowdrops at Lacock, bluebells at Clatford Woods, Exbury Gardens, Abbotsbury, Forde Abbey, and the Taunton Flower Show should keep us busy.

Matt Simpson from Horningsham gave us an insight to his business which is now moving from the walled garden to another site but is still in Horningsham. Simpson Seeds is well known and specialises in seeds, harvesting their own. Matt is now making his own chilli sauces in small batches. Members couldn’t resist buying some bottles. He is also experimenting with hydroponics and showed us how to make a simple, cheap system using a square 17litres tub with bars set just below the top, covered and then a 10l pot placed on the top with a wick wrapped around the plant reaching into the tub below, which is filled with water. Nutrients are added weekly. Yellowing of plants indicate underfeeding. Interestingly mistreated peppers are hotter than well fed ones!

We hope to visit Matt at Keepers Yard in August.

Next Month, March 7^th, Jackie Hames, from Bratton Plant Center has kindly filled in last minute for us.

The topic is the same, as advertised – Soft fruits and fruits.

If you would like more details about the club, please check on the village web page. If you would like to come along visitors are most welcome.

Jacky

(830133)